Idolatry

The Israelites worshiped a golden calf in the desert, this was a more blatant form of idolatry, with an actual idol to see, feel and bow before.

 

"Idolatry is not the by-product of forgetting God; it is the means by which we forget Him.... All existential forgetfulness [i.e. forgetting God] begins with suppression, builds on the energy of idolatry, and binds us to an illusion that both numbs the heart to what is missing and blinds us even to our forgetfulness." - Allender (emphasis added)

We remember the Ten Commandments, specifically the First and Second commandments, which read:

"Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.  Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:  Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;  And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments." - Exodus 20:3-6

We are to take this grouping of verses as a whole commandment, (consisting of two parts) - Worship only the ONE true and living God, and serve Him in such a manner as to bring blessings upon the future generations.  Sadly, due to the Fall of man (see Gen. 3), our hearts are, in the words of John Calvin, idol factories : “The human heart is a factory of idols…Everyone of us is, from his mother’s womb, expert in inventing idols.”

A convicting related verse is 1 John 5:21: "Dear children, keep yourselves from idols." I know that in my own life I struggle with idolatry.  Realizing that has helped me to consider what I am investing my time, and energy in.  If the activity does not bring Glory to God's name, I should not be engaged in it.  Whatever I am doing must be conducted in such a worshipful manner as to leave no doubt in my mind, and in the minds of those observing my conduct, whom I worship.

My aim, with Christ's aid, is to worship and serve Christ alone!

Verse of the Day - The Tongue of the Wise

"There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health." - Proverb 12:18

Have you ever noticed how some people are always seemingly cutting others down with their speech? There are some people who don't even seem to care how their words affect others when they speak. However, there are other people who make a concerted effort to come across in a gentle manner, and can rebuke in a gentle way. The analogy that today's text uses is that of a sword. Some folks don't care if they "cut others to pieces" with their words. Others, however, can discern a "cancer" in the life of their hearer, and will carefully and gently use their words like a "scalpel" to remove the "cancer", thus "promoting health." May all of us strive to be "surgeons" rather than "warriors" in our communications today.

 

Verse of the Day - Win Souls

"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise." - Proverbs 11:30

Christians are called to be salt and light in this culture of death and darkness. We must be about the business of being on God's "Loss Prevention Team", by actively witnessing to non-believers. There is not much more I can write on this subject except that when we do witness, there are seeds planted, and, God willing, there will be fruit brought forth.

[Please visit Mark Cahill's website and order a copy of his book One Thing You Can't Do in Heaven. Great book about evangelism, and methods to employ while doing evangelism. This book will encourage and convict you, so beware!]

All the Women of the Bible

Today I was studying 5 women from the Bible. I used the book All the Women of the Bible to find out information about these women. I read about: Lot's wife, Jochebed, Abigail, Jezebel and Phebe (or Phoebe).

When I was reading about Lot's wife, I ran across these interesting words:

"She [Lot's wife] still stands as a permanent symbol of the woman who looks back and refuses to move forward, the woman who, faced toward salvation, still turns to look longingly on material things she has left behind."

After I read that sentence I thought, "Would I have been like Lot's wife and looked back". I hope I wouldn't have. But, is that how I am today? The Lord supplies salvation, but I'd rather have the material things over the immeasurable gift of God? May we, whether we are men or women, never choose material things over God's gift of salvation.

Also, when I was reading about Jezebel, I found this interesting:

"Jezebel's name even appears in the dictionary as a term of reproach. Certainly no woman's name in history has become so commonly accepted as a synonym for wickedness."

Jezebel is remembered as an outstanding example of what every women ought not to be. Instead, we women should strive to be like Jochebed, Abigail and Phebe. Holy, committed, humble, faith-filled, courageous, wise, gracious, nobble, pure and gentle.

Passion Week: Selected Readings 4

Happy Resurrection Day! He is risen! He is risen indeed!

¹ Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. ² But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. ³ Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴ And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. ⁵ Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? ⁶ He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, ⁷ saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’”
⁸ And they remembered His words. ⁹ Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. ¹⁰ It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. ¹¹ And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. ¹² But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened." Luke 24:1-12

Happy Resurrection Day everybody!

Thanks to Abby's blog for this post.

Passion Week: Selected Readings 4

Today we will read from Mark 15, Jesus is buried:

⁴² Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, ⁴³ Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. ⁴⁴ Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time. ⁴⁵ So when he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. ⁴⁶ Then he bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen. And he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. ⁴⁷ And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses observed where He was laid.

Thanks to Abby's blog for this post.

Passion Week: Selected Readings 3

Today is Good Friday and I am going to share my favorite passion week scripture - John 17

John 17

Jesus Prays for Himself

¹ Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, ² as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. ³ And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. ⁴ I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. ⁵ And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

Jesus Prays for His Disciples

⁶ “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. ⁷ Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. ⁸ For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.
⁹ “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. ¹⁰ And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. ¹¹ Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. ¹² While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. ¹³ But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. ¹⁴ I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁵ I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁷ Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. ¹⁸ As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. ¹⁹ And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.

Jesus Prays for All Believers

²⁰ “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; ²¹ that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. ²² And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: ²³ I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
²⁴ “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. ²⁵ O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. ²⁶ And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

Thanks to Abby's blog for this post.

Passion Week: Selected Readings 2

Our reading for today is from Hebrews 9 -

how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. For where there is a testament there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood." Hebrews 9:14-18

Thanks to Abby's blog for this post.

Passion Week: Selected Readings 1

Today I would like to share with you two significant passages speaking of Christ's passion.

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence," Ephesians 1:7-8

And also in Ephesians we read:

For He Himself is our peace who has made both one, and has has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father." Ephesians 2:14-18

Christ is our Peace, Righteousness, and Mediator. Praise His name this Easter!

Photo credit: John Game

Thanks to Abby's blog for this post.

Handel's Messiah

I love classical music, especially from the Baroque period. As such an admirer, I simply adore the gloriously beautiful and rich musical compositions of Handel.

George Frideric Handel was a prolific musician and writer of music. He was masterful at the organ, violin and in music compositions. The Messiah is one of his most well known, well beloved pieces. Universally appreciated and performed.

I personally own 4 discs of the Messiah, two separate recordings. And every year at this time, I love to pop one of them in and listen to the lofty sounds of instruments and voice. Such gloriously uplifting, majestic music!

The Messiah is derived directly from the scriptures that proclaim Jesus as Messiah. For instance:

O thou that tellest good Tidings to Zion, get thee up into the high
Mountain: O thou that tellest good Tidings to Jerusalem, lift up thy Voice with
Strength; lift it up, be not afraid: Say unto the Cities of Judah, Behold your
God. - Isaiah 40:9

Arise,
shine, for thy Light come, and the Glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. -
Isaiah 60:1

The Messiah is one of my favorite Oratorio's because it takes the holy scriptures and sets them to beautiful music, that is not only wonderful to listen to, but is also glorifying to God. It uplifts up the spirits at a time when the skies are grey and it can be depressing.

So, if you have a copy of Handel's Messiah why not listen and rejoice that Jesus is our Savior, our Messiah!

Merry Christmas!

Thought for the Day ~

Psalm 111
1 Praise the LORD! I will praise the LORD
with my whole heart, In the assembly of the upright
and in the congregation.
2 The works of the LORD are great, Studied by all who have pleasure in them.
3 His work is honorable and glorious, And His righteousness
endures forever.
4 He has made His wonderful works
to be remembered; The LORD is gracious and full of compassion.
5 He has given food to those who fear Him;
He will ever be mindful of His covenant.
6 He has declared to His people (Israel) the power of His
works, In giving them the heritage of the nations.
7 The works of His hands are verity and justice.
All His precepts are sure.
8 They stand fast forever and ever,
and are done in truth and uprightness.
9 He has sent redemption to His people; He has
commanded His covenant forever:
Holy and awesome is His name.
10 The fear of the LORD is
the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all
those who do His commandments.
His praise endures forever.

Sometimes David uses my Bible, and marks in it. I ran across these words that he penned near Psalm 111: ‘How am I to respond to God’s great, honorable, glorious, wonderful, power[ful]… work[s]?’
- STUDY them. (verse 2)
- REMEMBER them. (verse 3)
- ACT upon them. (verse 10)"
Thanks, David, dear for that insight.
I also noticed something that I’ve seen throughout the Psalms. In verses 4 and 7 are what I call "the twins" – the balancing law and grace: "gracious and full of compassion" and " "verity and justice." I’ve been playing a little game as I read and re-read Psalms of finding all the times "the twins" are mentioned. This is a display of God’s character.
There are also many occurences of what I call "the trivium" in Proverbs – knowledge, wisdom and discernment (and their synonyms). Once again, an indicator of the character of Jehovah God. Very interesting!

Christ's Blood - What is it?

The following is from my notes on Dad's wonderful sermon this morning:

The blood of Jesus Christ is:

• the New Covenant Blood
• not the blood of the Old Covenant (Hebrews 9:11-15)
• not the blood of bulls & goats (Hebrews 9:11-15)
• untainted, sinless & pure
• for the forgiveness & remission of sin
• debt paying (our debt is bigger than the United State's nation debt!)
• liberating
• substitutionary (Romans 5:6-8 "Christ died for us!")
• justifying (Romans 5:9)
• reconciling (Romans 5:10)
• changing (2 Corinthians 5:17 - "New Creation")
• exchanging (2 Corinthians 5:17 - "Old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.") The best change of all!
• Victorious (Hebrews 2:14-18http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%202:14-18;&version=50;)

If you are a Christian, then all of these things apply to YOU! Praise be to the Lord!

Joy ~ A Study

Note: all scripture passages are taken from the New King James Version.





Luke 6:22, 23
Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake. 23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed you reward is great in heaven, for in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.


Luke 10:17
Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”



Luke 24:52
And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.



John 15:11
“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full."



John 16:22, 24
“Therefore you now have sorrow, but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.” 24 “Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”



John 17:13
“But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.”



Acts 13:52
And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.



Acts 20:24
But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.



Romans 5:11
And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.



Roman 14:17
…for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.



Romans 15:13
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.



Galatians 5:22, 23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is not law.



Philippians 1:4
…always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy.



Philippians 2:17, 18
Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.



Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!



1 Thessalonians 1:6
And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit.



Hebrews 12:2
…looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.



Hebrews 13:17
Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.



James 1:2
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials…



1 Peter 1:8
…whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him (Jesus Christ), yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.



1 Peter 4:13
…but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.



1 John 1:4
And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.



3 John 4
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.



Jude 24, 25
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.







Do you think that maybe, just maybe, God wants us to be joyful?! These are just a very few of the passages in the Bible that talk about Joy. There are many, many more in the Old Testament. If you ever want to do a study like this, just get a "Strong's Concordance" or "Young's Concordance" and look up whatever word you're studying. They are very helpful.

A study ~

"Singing to the LORD" By Johanna R. Kautt, age: 11
Here is a study I started a several weeks. It is very interesting.
"I will sing to the LORD…" Exodus 15:1b
"Sing to the LORD…" Exodus 15:21b
"Hear, O kings! Give ear, O princes! I, even I, will sing to the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel." Judges 5:3
"Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the Gentiles, And sing praises to Your name." 2 Samuel 22:50
"Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works!" 1 Chronicles 16:9
"Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day." 1 Chronicles 16:23
"Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had some against Judah; and they were defeated." 2 Chronicles 20:22
"Moreover King Hezekiah and the leaders commanded the Levites to sing praise to the LORD, with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshiped." 2 Chronicles 29:30
"I will praise the LORD according to His righteousness, And will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High." Psalm 7:17
"I will sing praise to Your name…" Psalm 9:2a
"Sing praise to the LORD…" Psalm 9:11a
"I will sing to the LORD…" Psalm 13:6a
"…And sing praises to Your name." Psalm 18:49b
"…We will sing and praise Your power." Psalm 21:13b
"And now my head shall be lifted up above me enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD." Psalm 27:6
"Sing praise to the LORD, you saints of His..," Psalm 30:4a
"Sing to Him a new song…" Psalm 33:3a
"He has put a new song in my mouth—praise to our God..." Psalm 40:3b
"…And in the night His song is with me…" Psalm 42:8b
"6 Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! 7 For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding." Psalm 47:6,7
"Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of your righteousness." Psalm 51: 14
"My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise." Psalm 57:7
"I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing to You among nations." Psalm 57:9
"16 But I will sing of Your power; Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; For You have been my defense And refuge in the day of my trouble. 17 To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises; For God is my defense, My God of mercy." Psalm 59:16,17
"So I will sing praise to Your name forever, That I may daily perform my vows." Psalm 61:8
"Sing to the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious." Psalm 66:2
"All the earth shall worship You, And sing praises to You; They shall sing praises to Your name. Selah" Psalm 66:4
"Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy! For You shall judge the people righteously, And govern the nations on earth. Selah" Psalm 67:4
"Sing to God, sing praises to His name; Extol Him who rides on the clouds, By his name YAH, And rejoice before Him." Psalm 68:4
"Sing to God; you kingdoms of the earth; Oh, sing praises to the Lord, Selah" Psalm 68:32
"Also with lute I will praise You—And Your faithfulness, O my God! To You I will sing with the harp, O Holy One of Israel." Psalm 71:22
"But I will declare forever, I will sing praises to the God of Jacob." Psalm 75:9
"Sing aloud to God our strength; Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob." Psalm 81:1
"I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever…" Psalm 89:1a
"It is good to give thanks to the LORD, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High." Psalm 92:1
"Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation." Psalm 95:1
"Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Sing to the LORD, bless His name; proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day." Psalm 96: 1,2
"Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! For He has done marvelous things…" Psalm 98:1a
"Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises." Psalm 98:4b
"Sing to the LORD with the harp and the sound of the psalm…" Psalm 98:5
"Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! 2 Serve the LORD with gladness; come before His presence with singing." Psalm 100:1,2
"I will sing of the mercy and justice; to You, O LORD, I will sing praises." Psalm 101:1
"I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being." Psalm 104:33
"Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him…" Psalm 105:2a
"O GOD, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory." Psalm 108:1
"I will praise You, O LORD, among the peoples, And I will sing praises to You among the nations." Psalm 108:3
"Praise the LORD, for the LORD if good; Sing praises to His name, for it is pleasant." Psalm 135:3
"For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song, And those who plundered us requested mirth, Saying, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!" 4 How shall we sing the LORD’s song In a foreign land?" Psalm 137: 3,4
"I will praise You with my whole heart; Before the gods I will sing praises to You." Psalm 138:1
"Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, For great is the glory of the LORD." Psalm 138:5
"I will sing a new song to You, O God; On the harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You," Psalm 144:9
"They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness, And shall sing of Your righteousness." Psalm 145:7
"While I live I will praise the LORD; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being." Psalm 146:2
"Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful." Psalm 147:1
"Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; Sing praises on the harp to our God," Psalm 147:7
"Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, And His praise in the assembly of the saints." Psalm 149:1
"Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp." Psalm 149:3
"5 Let the saints be joyful in glory; Let them sing aloud on their beds. 6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth…" Psalm 149:5,6a
"By transgression an evil man is snared, But the righteous sings and rejoices." Proverbs 29:6
"Now let me sing to my Well-beloved a song of my Beloved regarding His vineyard…" Isaiah 5:1a
"Sing to the LORD, For He has done excellent things; This is know in all the earth." Isaiah 12:5
"They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing; For the majesty of the LORD they shall cry aloud from the sea." Isaiah 24:14
"Sing unto the LORD a new song, And His praise from the ends of the earth…" Isaiah 42:10a
"Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth; Break forth into singing, you mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, And glorified Himself in Israel." Isaiah 44:23
"Sing, O heavens! Be joyful, O earth! And break forth in singing, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted His people, And will have mercy on His afflicted." Isaiah 49:13
"8 Your watchmen shall lift up their voices, With their voices they shall sing together; For they shall see eye to eye when the LORD brings back Zion. 9 Break forth into joy, sing together, You waste places of Jerusalem! For the LORD has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem." Isaiah 52:8,9
"Sing, O barren, You who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, You who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married woman," says the LORD." Isaiah 54:1
"Behold, My servants shall sing for joy of heart, But you shall cry for sorrow of heart, And wail for grief of spirit." Isaiah 65:14
"Sing to the LORD! Praise the LORD! For He has delivered the life of the poor from the hand of the evildoers." Jeremiah 20:13
"For thus says the LORD: "Sing with gladness for Jacob, And shout among the chief of the nations; Proclaim, give praise, and say, ‘O, LORD, save Your people, The remnant of Israel!’" Jeremiah 31:7
"Therefore they shall come and sing on the height of Zion, Streaming to the goodness of the LORD—For wheat and new wine and oil, For the young of the flock and the herd; Their souls shall be like the well-watered garden, And they shall sorrow no more at all." Jeremiah 31:12
"Sing, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!" Zephaniah 3:14
"Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst," says the LORD." Zechariah 2:10

As you can see, there are many, many, many passages about "Singing to the LORD" in just the Old Testament! ;-) Here are two from the New Testament:
"Speaking to one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs and singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord…" Eph. 5:19
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." Col. 3:16
(NKJV used)

Psalm 37:1-11

"Do not fret because of evil doers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. 2 For they shall soon be cut down like grass and wither as the green herb. 3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. 6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. 7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret-- it only causes harm. 9 For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the LORD, They shall inherit the earth. 10 For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more. 11 But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace."

Did you know...?

Did you know that the first Messianic Prophecy is in...Genesis?

Genesis 3:14 - 15 says:

So the Lord God said to the serpent: "because you have done this, you are cursed
more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field; on your belly
you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall
bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel." (NKJV, Emphasis added.)

Walter Marshall - 1692 Quote

Today, while reading through Jerry Bridges' Pursuit of Holiness, I came across this quote from Mr. Walter Marshall from the year 1692. I thought you all would find this very interesting, and maybe even a little convicting:
"What a strange kind of salvation do they desire that care not for holiness... They would be saved by Christ and yet be out of Christ in a fleshly state... They would have their sins forgiven, not that they may walk with God in love, in time to come, but that they may practice their enmity against Him without any fear of punishment."

When I read this quote this morning, I soon thought of a passage of Scripture I learned a while ago that reads: "And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with it’s passions and it’s desires." (Galatians 5:24) [Emphasis mine.]
As is implied in that verse, those who are truly Christ’s will follow Him. The reverse is true, too. Those who claim to be Christ’s and yet do not obey Him are not truly His. After all, what does the word Christian mean? It means "Christ follower," literally.
In conclusion, then, let us who claim to be His, truly follow Him in all things no matter the cost. Jesus said, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." (John 14:15)

Words~

Words... they were what started the universe, spoken by the Almighty Creator. Simple, powerful. Words have shaped the way we think and act. They have been some of the most compelling evidence for God, and yet have often turned people away from Him.

Touching the hearts of many, poets and authors over the centuries, have used words to equip, change and empower people. Words are powerful. They can either build the hearer up or tear them down. Words... why are we so fascinated with them? Because words help to communicate how you feel and what you think and how you love.

Recently, Mother brought a fascinating book to my attention. Simply entitled Words: A book about the origins of everyday words and phrases is a little gem of merely 64 pages. And yet, overflowing with astonishing amount of information.

Did you know?:


"By 1500, if you listened in on a conversation in England, with a bit of puzzling you could understand much of what was said. We call the language spoken then Modern English, our English. Of course, there were still many changes to come: changes in meaning, pronunciation, and especially in spelling. And many words were yet to become English. In Shakespeare's time, the late 1500s, there were about 200,000 English words. Now there are more than 600,000. Some of the words developed to fill new needs, to describe new inventions, to express new ideas. Many new words entered the language when the colonists, who carried English to the New World, met Dutch, Spanish, French, and Native American peoples and languages. Wherever English-speaking people live, work, play, or even fight with people who speak other languages, new words enter English. English is always growing, always changing."

Also this fascinating fact:


Of the 600,000 words that now make up the English language, the average English-speaking adult knows about 15,000. But 99 percent of our everyday speech is made up of 1600 words. All of these words have stories - how down became down and up, up. Why an umpire is called that. Some words have changed their meaning completely over the centuries, some have not changed at all."

Words are important. "Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speak."

James had a timely warning, when it comes to how we use our words. I leave you with his thoughts.

5 "So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.
How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so." James 3:5-10 ESV

~Abby

The Happiness of Those Who Trust in God

"1 I will praise the LORD at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my
mouth.
2 My soul shall make its boast in the
LORD;
The humble shall hear of it and be
glad.
3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
And let us exalt His name together.

4 I sought the LORD, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked to Him and were
radiant,
And their faces were not ashamed.

8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is
good.
Blessed is the man who trust in Him!
9 Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints!
There is no want to those who fear
Him.

15 The eyes of the LORD are on the
rightous,
And His ears are open to their cry.
16 The face of the LORD is against those
who do evil,
To cut off the remembrance of them
from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD
hears,
And delivers them out of all their
troubles.
18 The LORD is near to those who have a
broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite
spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the
righteous,
But the LORD delivers him out of them
all.
20 He guards all his bones;
Not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked,
And those who hate the righteous
shall be condemned.
22 The LORD redeems the soul of His
servants,
And none of those who trust in Him
shall be condemned." - Psalm 34:1-5, 8-9, 15-22

~ Thought for the day ~

Here are a couple scripture passages that I was reading this morning in my personal Bible time:

Luke 21:8-19, 22:

8And He (Jesus) said: "Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time has drawn near.' Therefore do not go after them.
9"But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately." 1
10 Then He (Jesus) said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 2
11 "And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. 3
12 "But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake.
13 "But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony.
14 "Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; 4
15 "for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. 5
16 "You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 6 7
17 "And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. 8
18 "But not a hair of your head shall be lost. 9
19 "By your patience possess your souls.
22 "For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

Here is the second passage of scripture:

1 Kings 8:33 - 40:

33 "When Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and when they turn back to You and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication to You in this temple,10
34 "then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave to their fathers.
35 "When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against You, when they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and turn from their sin because You afflict them, 11
36 "then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, that You may teach them the good way in which they should walk; and send rain on Your land which You have given to Your people as an inheritance. 12
37 "When there is famine in the land, pestilence or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers; when their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities; whatever plague or whatever sickness there is;
38 "whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all of Your people Israel, when each one knows the plague of his own heart, and spreads out his hands toward this temple:
39 "then hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and act, and give to everyone according to all his ways, whose heart You know (for You alone know the hears of all the sons of men), 13
40 "that they may fear You all the days that they live in the land which You gave to our fathers."14

When I think of the continuing evil of America, the continuing downward spiral that we are on, spiritually & politically, I think of these verses. When I think of the foreseeable persecution coming to America I think of the passage in Luke (Luke 21). When I think of the many droughts, famines, wars, I think of the passage in 1 Kings (1 Kings 8), and the passage in 2 Chronicles (2 Chron. 7:13-14), talking about the Lord's people obeying, not the whole country. If only the Lord's people will humble themselves, pray, seek Yahweh's face, and turn from their wicked ways, then the Lord will heal our land. It only takes the people who are called by the Lord's name, to do the necessary repentance, praying, seeking, etc. Remember the destruction of Sodom in Genesis 18? Do your part.

P.S. The past 2 or 3 days some of my family and I listened to a, 4-CD, book-on-tape about a man named Dietrich Bonhoeffer. You might have heard that name before. I had heard of the name before, but didn't know much about his life. Dad got 3 or 4 different books-on-tape from the library, about different people (John Calvin, Bonhoeffer, and 2 others.) Here is a little summary of Dietrich's life, taken from the back of the CD case we got:

This is the biography of a man who refused to compromise his beliefs to save his own life.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) paid the ultimate price for his faith and principles. A pastor and founding member of the Confessing Church in Germany. Bonhoeffer participated in underground conspiracies against Adolf Hitler. This gripping account of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's life puts in context the horrors of Nazi Germany and the challenge Hitler presented for dedicated German Christians. The events of World War II take on a new reality when viewed through the life of one man, his family, and associates.

Best remembered for his writings, Bonhoeffer and his story continue to inspire and instruct Christians more than sixty years after his death.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer helped in several conspiracies theories, which all ultimately failed. For this, one he was found out, he was imprisoned, interigated, and ultimately hung. While the Nazis took over every aspect of German everyday life, the Nazis did not take over Dietrich's beliefs. He calmly endured pursecution, and was even calm while climbing the steps to the gallows.

While listening to this book on tape, I reconized many familiar things (bad things) that happened during Adolf Hitler's 'reign', that are happening...right here in America. The government taking over the schools, jobs, family, pursecuting Christians, etc. Yes, it's not as bad as in Hitler's day in Germany, but if we don't do something really soon, it will be that bad...maybe even worse. We must stand up for our faith, and our Constitutional rights. Act now!

Foot notes: 1. Rev. 6:4, 2. Matt. 24:7, 3. Rev. 6:12, 4. Luke 12:11, 5. Acts 6:10, 6. Micah 7:6, 7. Acts 7:59, 8. Matt. 10:22, 9. Matt. 10:30, 10. Solomon's Temple (see 1 Kings 6 - 7), 11. Lev. 26:19, 12. Psalm 25:4, 13. 1 Sam. 16:7, 14. Psalm 130:4

Writer's note: The words in red are the words of Jesus.