There were quite a few times in David's life when he was in pretty desperate circumstances. He was a shepherd as a youth and had to face bears and lions who wanted an easy meal. Some years later after he had been told by the prophet Samuel that he was to be king, King Saul went after him with all the forces a king could muster. It is no wonder that David, who spent much of his time alone turned to God and talked with him about his fears.
The Bible tells us that God hears everything and nothing is hidden from Him. In Psalm 34 which is a prayer David wrote when he was being confronted by Abimelech who would have killed him, there are two verses that specifically say that he cried out to the Lord and He heard David's cry and saved him from his fears and troubles. Verse 15 states that "the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and His ears are open to their cry." If God's ears can be 'open' they can also be 'closed'.
There is a fast-track to be heard and there is a fast-track not being heard. We get to know a little bit about the God of the Bible as we read it. In 1 Samuel 8 the people of Israel had no earthly ruler over them. Other nations had kings which led armies, but Israel only had judges whom God would raise up and empower them to lead. At this time in their history the people became disgruntled with their prophets and judges and began comparing their country to others and decided God was too distant and judges were undependable and cried out for a king. God told the prophet Samuel that the people had not rejected him, they had rejected God and for Samuel to listen to the people and appoint a king. In verse 18 after Samuel had warned them of what a king would require of them, he states that under the rule of a king they may cry out to the Lord, but the Lord will not answer you.
What does it take for God to hear us? God does not need a hearing-aid. He wants a contrite heart. The definition of 'contrite' is the feeling of regret or remorse or sorrow over wrong actions or thoughts or words that go against God's standard. That is the first step to knowing that God, not just hears us, but listens and upon listening always gives the very best answer.
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Thursday, April 30, 2020
#Transfers
It's been years since I have ridden a bus. When I got my first job as a teenager I had get to work on a bus. It was a forty-five minute ride and I was given a paper transfer because my bus did not go where I needed to go. This enabled me to catch another bus which would take me to work and use the paper transfer instead of paying any more money. Transfers are a good thing.
The Book of Leviticus in the Old Testament is filled with instructions given to Moses regarding worship in the new Tabernacle. The priests had special clothing all made to order according to Jehovah-God. The furniture had been designed by God Himself and had been carefully crafted by talented workmen. The stone tablets on which God's finger had carved out the commandments by which the Israelite people were to live lay in the Ark of the Covenant. All of this was most impressive and it was meant to be. A new way of life was given to God's chosen people.
Centuries went by and it all became even more impressive when the temple was built under King Solomon's rule. All of this beauty and expensive ornamentation, all of this "sparkle" had blinded them. They were God's chosen and even obeying the commandments and offering animal sacrifices added to their pride. It was natural to look down on others and believe all their good works satisfied God.
They had stepped into the 'bus' headed for heaven labeled "You can do it". They were trusting in their own ability to be good enough to satisfy a righteous God. Some of those on this bus believed their baptism or church membership or helping the poor would do it. Some believed that by not committing adultery or murder or stealing made them good enough. This bus was filled with people from every nation and ethnicity, men and women, rich and poor, Jews and Gentiles, this bus of good works.
There had been another bus at the bus stop and it was labeled "Jesus did it all". It had not been appealing to all those who had entered "You can do it" because the idea that they had no part in proving how good they were undercut their self esteem. Fortunately, there were transfers on that bus which would enable them to get off and catch the right bus to heaven. Some came to their senses as the prodigal son did when he realized how foolish he had been and turned around to go to his father and they requested a transfer. They knew deep down that there had been hatred in their hearts and lust and envy and the surface good they could do couldn't erase the wrong in them. The transfer was a good thing.
Please note: my renewal for this site is coming up soon and I am wondering if I should continue "spouting". I would appreciate your input. Please leave a comment in the comment box. Above all, make sure you are on the "Jesus did it all" bus to heaven.
The Book of Leviticus in the Old Testament is filled with instructions given to Moses regarding worship in the new Tabernacle. The priests had special clothing all made to order according to Jehovah-God. The furniture had been designed by God Himself and had been carefully crafted by talented workmen. The stone tablets on which God's finger had carved out the commandments by which the Israelite people were to live lay in the Ark of the Covenant. All of this was most impressive and it was meant to be. A new way of life was given to God's chosen people.
Centuries went by and it all became even more impressive when the temple was built under King Solomon's rule. All of this beauty and expensive ornamentation, all of this "sparkle" had blinded them. They were God's chosen and even obeying the commandments and offering animal sacrifices added to their pride. It was natural to look down on others and believe all their good works satisfied God.
They had stepped into the 'bus' headed for heaven labeled "You can do it". They were trusting in their own ability to be good enough to satisfy a righteous God. Some of those on this bus believed their baptism or church membership or helping the poor would do it. Some believed that by not committing adultery or murder or stealing made them good enough. This bus was filled with people from every nation and ethnicity, men and women, rich and poor, Jews and Gentiles, this bus of good works.
There had been another bus at the bus stop and it was labeled "Jesus did it all". It had not been appealing to all those who had entered "You can do it" because the idea that they had no part in proving how good they were undercut their self esteem. Fortunately, there were transfers on that bus which would enable them to get off and catch the right bus to heaven. Some came to their senses as the prodigal son did when he realized how foolish he had been and turned around to go to his father and they requested a transfer. They knew deep down that there had been hatred in their hearts and lust and envy and the surface good they could do couldn't erase the wrong in them. The transfer was a good thing.
Please note: my renewal for this site is coming up soon and I am wondering if I should continue "spouting". I would appreciate your input. Please leave a comment in the comment box. Above all, make sure you are on the "Jesus did it all" bus to heaven.
Tuesday, February 11, 2020
#Singing
The clouds have been grey for days and the rain has stationed itself over Virginia. It hasn't been a hard rain, just small droplets steadily dripping down on us. It feels like spring, but it isn't. Rain is a wonderful thing as Gene Kelly sang and danced in the movie "Singing in the Rain". He is happy again.
That song came to mind today as I looked out on the wet streets. I used to love to sing, but now with a hearing impairment, I cannot hear the right sound. I do sing and I know it is out of tune, but God hears it correctly. One of these days, in Heaven, I'll be able to sing perfectly. Till then, it is just a "clanging symbol".
I sing in my mind and the words "Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee, How great Thou art, how great Thou art" hangs in my head. This leads me to declare "My Jesus, I love Thee. I know Thou are mine." I could go on because there are so many choruses and hymns learned when I was younger that are stuck in my head and come to my mind so often.
This morning, early, I was singing "Speak to my heart, Lord Jesus. Speak that my soul may hear. Speak to my heart, Lord Jesus. Calm every doubt and fear." I sat waiting to hear what my Savior might say to me. My eyes caught a glimpse of today's verse, so instead of hearing, I read Proverbs 21:21. "He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor." That works for me!
A grey, wet day can be full of songs and words from the Lord.
That song came to mind today as I looked out on the wet streets. I used to love to sing, but now with a hearing impairment, I cannot hear the right sound. I do sing and I know it is out of tune, but God hears it correctly. One of these days, in Heaven, I'll be able to sing perfectly. Till then, it is just a "clanging symbol".
I sing in my mind and the words "Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee, How great Thou art, how great Thou art" hangs in my head. This leads me to declare "My Jesus, I love Thee. I know Thou are mine." I could go on because there are so many choruses and hymns learned when I was younger that are stuck in my head and come to my mind so often.
This morning, early, I was singing "Speak to my heart, Lord Jesus. Speak that my soul may hear. Speak to my heart, Lord Jesus. Calm every doubt and fear." I sat waiting to hear what my Savior might say to me. My eyes caught a glimpse of today's verse, so instead of hearing, I read Proverbs 21:21. "He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor." That works for me!
A grey, wet day can be full of songs and words from the Lord.
Thursday, October 3, 2019
#WallsAndFences
There is no fence or wall. There is only a great chasm. There is no fence that you can sit upon and maybe fall off, one way or the other. You are either in or you are out. Luke 16:26 gives the picture of the great chasm, but no wall or fence is there.
Just being in is a good thing, but, it appears that there are extenuating possibilities even if you are in.
In the parable Jesus told in Matthew 13, he gave four illustrations of what happens to the sowed seed. He explained that the seed was the Word of God and the soil was the soul of man. If you take the percentages demonstrated in this parable, you could come up with the figure of one fourth of those who received the seed actually demonstrating growth. This is disturbing because, if it is a truth, then, three fourths of those who believe they are in, are not.
The hard heart hears it but does not believe it and the seed is taken away. The one who has affliction or persecution in his life and has emotionally received the word will find that the focus on affliction or persecution will not allow the seed to develop roots and the plant dies. Then, the one who has so many cares about being wealthy or worries about being poor allows these concerns choke the growth of the new plant to death.
John 1:12 sheds some light on the viability of the status of being "in". Jesus said that "as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God." Once the seed is planted, we have the right to nurture it or neglect it. This seed can take root and receive nourishment if the heart is prepared or we can allow affliction, persecution, worries and concerns of this world to keep it from growing roots or just chocking the new growth out. It is up to us.
The secret of a successful "in" is abiding. Again, in John 15 Jesus spoke of the absolute importance of abiding. We are to abide in Him and He is to abide in us. His Word should be cultivated in our minds allowing us to understand how to draw the nourishment this new life needs in order for it to grow. There are consequences for not abiding and they are not good. The dead branch is chopped off and thrown into the fire. Where there is life, there is fruit. Fruit is the outward proof of life and Paul lists the evidence of life - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness faithfulness, gentleness and self-control in Galatians 5:22 and 23.
Just being in is a good thing, but, it appears that there are extenuating possibilities even if you are in.
In the parable Jesus told in Matthew 13, he gave four illustrations of what happens to the sowed seed. He explained that the seed was the Word of God and the soil was the soul of man. If you take the percentages demonstrated in this parable, you could come up with the figure of one fourth of those who received the seed actually demonstrating growth. This is disturbing because, if it is a truth, then, three fourths of those who believe they are in, are not.
The hard heart hears it but does not believe it and the seed is taken away. The one who has affliction or persecution in his life and has emotionally received the word will find that the focus on affliction or persecution will not allow the seed to develop roots and the plant dies. Then, the one who has so many cares about being wealthy or worries about being poor allows these concerns choke the growth of the new plant to death.
John 1:12 sheds some light on the viability of the status of being "in". Jesus said that "as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God." Once the seed is planted, we have the right to nurture it or neglect it. This seed can take root and receive nourishment if the heart is prepared or we can allow affliction, persecution, worries and concerns of this world to keep it from growing roots or just chocking the new growth out. It is up to us.
The secret of a successful "in" is abiding. Again, in John 15 Jesus spoke of the absolute importance of abiding. We are to abide in Him and He is to abide in us. His Word should be cultivated in our minds allowing us to understand how to draw the nourishment this new life needs in order for it to grow. There are consequences for not abiding and they are not good. The dead branch is chopped off and thrown into the fire. Where there is life, there is fruit. Fruit is the outward proof of life and Paul lists the evidence of life - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness faithfulness, gentleness and self-control in Galatians 5:22 and 23.
Are you in? Are you in for real?
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
#Negligence
The very special calculator had been delivered. Our son had been accepted into Marquette on an NROTC Scholarship and was studying engineering. He was deposited at school with the calculator on order. A few days later it came and I hurried the hour drive to get it to him. I was on my way home when an awful knocking noise emoted from my Volkswagen. I managed to get out of the city's overpasses and traffic filled highways on to the highway home when my little car pooped out. I could see the service station just a few yards away, so I started walking to call my husband and share the bad news.
It was pure negligence that caused the death of my Volkswagen. I had not read the manual. I had not checked the oil, which was in the back of the car. The engine locked up and I realized it was my fault. This little car was quite special to me. It was my first very own car and it got a lot of use. I had begun to depend on it and by my carelessness I had caused it's demise.
The book of Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians. These people were Jews by birth and belief, but had heard the Good News and had turned to Jesus as their Messiah. The second chapter of the book of Hebrews gives a stern warning to not neglect so great a Salvation. It must be possible to believers to neglect their salvation or the idea of neglect would not have been mentioned.
How can Salvation be neglected? Just like me as I enjoyed the mobility and convenience of my very own car, but didn't read the manual and went on my merry old way, I was neglecting doing the necessary things.
Jesus paid dearly for us to have a right relationship with His Heavenly Father. We should enjoy the freedom and hope it gives us, but we should be so appreciative of the cost that we make sure to take really good care of the gift given us. We should read the manual, even study it and memorize portions, that we "may not sin against" Him. We definitely should not take it for granted. There has been too much invested for us that is so precious, that our being carelessness about it should cause some consequences and not so pleasant ones, at that.
Can't you see that Father God deserves our attention? Can't you understand that appreciating His words and thoughts is a normal response of anyone who has escaped the consequences due them because of His intervention. Can't you see that neglecting the manual is the height of pride?
It was pure negligence that caused the death of my Volkswagen. I had not read the manual. I had not checked the oil, which was in the back of the car. The engine locked up and I realized it was my fault. This little car was quite special to me. It was my first very own car and it got a lot of use. I had begun to depend on it and by my carelessness I had caused it's demise.
The book of Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians. These people were Jews by birth and belief, but had heard the Good News and had turned to Jesus as their Messiah. The second chapter of the book of Hebrews gives a stern warning to not neglect so great a Salvation. It must be possible to believers to neglect their salvation or the idea of neglect would not have been mentioned.
How can Salvation be neglected? Just like me as I enjoyed the mobility and convenience of my very own car, but didn't read the manual and went on my merry old way, I was neglecting doing the necessary things.
Jesus paid dearly for us to have a right relationship with His Heavenly Father. We should enjoy the freedom and hope it gives us, but we should be so appreciative of the cost that we make sure to take really good care of the gift given us. We should read the manual, even study it and memorize portions, that we "may not sin against" Him. We definitely should not take it for granted. There has been too much invested for us that is so precious, that our being carelessness about it should cause some consequences and not so pleasant ones, at that.
Can't you see that Father God deserves our attention? Can't you understand that appreciating His words and thoughts is a normal response of anyone who has escaped the consequences due them because of His intervention. Can't you see that neglecting the manual is the height of pride?
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
#Mysteries
Some mysteries are meant to be solved and some mysteries are meant to be revealed, while some mysteries are meant to be enjoyed.
A dead body is found and detectives are called in to try to determine the who, what and why about the death. The medical examiner does the forensics and finds the cause and decides it wasn't natural and then they start searching for clues. They look for finger prints and other evidence and the all important motive. After all their work, the prosecutor builds a case against the culprit hoping to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt 'who done it' so that justice is carried out.
A rabbit is pulled out of a hat. A specific card is pulled out of the air. A woman is sawed in half and comes out of the box, whole and alive. These mysteries are for enjoyment. No magician wants to divulge how he managed to do these wondrous works. He wants you to be astonished at his powers.
My dear husband became interested in works of magic when he was a teenager. He practiced for hours doing sleight-of-hand with decks of cards. He could hold a card on the back of one hand with his fingers and you would never guess. He learned how to direct the viewer's attention away from a hand that was hiding something or bringing something out of hiding. All the hours he spent practicing were to entertain people. He got very good at being a magician.
Then there are mysteries to be revealed. There is a phenomenon that was hidden for centuries. This mystery does not need to be solved, in fact it, itself, is the solution. There were messages given that only a few understood and then, only partially. There were pictures that pointed out the phenomenal event and the results, but each picture was only part of the puzzle and only a few understood. Then the event took place and more and more people were able to put the pieces together.
God had the plan for the redemption of mankind before the world was created. He did not try to hide it from people. He kept disclosing bit by bit what He was going to do and then He pulled the curtains back and fully disclosed Christ crucified, the mystery revealed - Christ for you, Christ in you - the Hope of Glory!!! Colossians 1:27
A dead body is found and detectives are called in to try to determine the who, what and why about the death. The medical examiner does the forensics and finds the cause and decides it wasn't natural and then they start searching for clues. They look for finger prints and other evidence and the all important motive. After all their work, the prosecutor builds a case against the culprit hoping to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt 'who done it' so that justice is carried out.
A rabbit is pulled out of a hat. A specific card is pulled out of the air. A woman is sawed in half and comes out of the box, whole and alive. These mysteries are for enjoyment. No magician wants to divulge how he managed to do these wondrous works. He wants you to be astonished at his powers.
My dear husband became interested in works of magic when he was a teenager. He practiced for hours doing sleight-of-hand with decks of cards. He could hold a card on the back of one hand with his fingers and you would never guess. He learned how to direct the viewer's attention away from a hand that was hiding something or bringing something out of hiding. All the hours he spent practicing were to entertain people. He got very good at being a magician.
Then there are mysteries to be revealed. There is a phenomenon that was hidden for centuries. This mystery does not need to be solved, in fact it, itself, is the solution. There were messages given that only a few understood and then, only partially. There were pictures that pointed out the phenomenal event and the results, but each picture was only part of the puzzle and only a few understood. Then the event took place and more and more people were able to put the pieces together.
God had the plan for the redemption of mankind before the world was created. He did not try to hide it from people. He kept disclosing bit by bit what He was going to do and then He pulled the curtains back and fully disclosed Christ crucified, the mystery revealed - Christ for you, Christ in you - the Hope of Glory!!! Colossians 1:27
Saturday, September 14, 2019
#Creepy,CrawlyCreatures
Any thing with eight (or more) legs gives me the creeps. This is the time of the year when such creatures begin looking for a nice winter home. Just recently I spied two centipedes and last night I saw something unhealthy looking clinging to the door frame. It was dark and I wasn't sure what it was, but it was not supposed to be there. I grabbed my flashlight and focused it on the big black thing. An ugly black spider was waiting to either hop onto someone to gain entrance or rush in when the door opened. I looked for something to destroy it and carefully squashed it with a book. It dropped to the threshold in a ball and not wanting to be careless, I stomped it to pieces.
On of my sons told me a story about an incident with a creepy, crawly creature. He had bought a house that had been in fore closure at a really good price, but it had lots of serious problems. The previous owner, really angry about loosing his home, had taken revenge and damaged as much as he could before giving up. This was a gigantic undertaking, but my son loves challenges and began tackling each problem with a vision in mind. There was over growth, trees and bushes and wasps nests inside the walls and ants and spiders besides holes in the walls and fixtures torn off of their moorings.
He was taking a shower one night after getting dirty from plastering and painting and just enjoying the hot stream of water on his sore body. As he created suds on his head, he tilted forward to rinse them off and saw a big centipede crawling out of the drain. With no hesitation he grabbed the shower curtain and jumped onto the bath mat on the floor. The wet glazed tiles caused the mat with him falling on it to go sliding halfway across the room, shower curtain, rod and all. Fortunately, nothing was seriously hurt except my son's sense of well being.
All I can say is "BOO!!"
On of my sons told me a story about an incident with a creepy, crawly creature. He had bought a house that had been in fore closure at a really good price, but it had lots of serious problems. The previous owner, really angry about loosing his home, had taken revenge and damaged as much as he could before giving up. This was a gigantic undertaking, but my son loves challenges and began tackling each problem with a vision in mind. There was over growth, trees and bushes and wasps nests inside the walls and ants and spiders besides holes in the walls and fixtures torn off of their moorings.
He was taking a shower one night after getting dirty from plastering and painting and just enjoying the hot stream of water on his sore body. As he created suds on his head, he tilted forward to rinse them off and saw a big centipede crawling out of the drain. With no hesitation he grabbed the shower curtain and jumped onto the bath mat on the floor. The wet glazed tiles caused the mat with him falling on it to go sliding halfway across the room, shower curtain, rod and all. Fortunately, nothing was seriously hurt except my son's sense of well being.
All I can say is "BOO!!"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)