Sunday 23 March 2008 and God is at work!
sabbath
Archived Posts from this Category
March 2, 2008
February 17, 2008
A book by Philip Yancy “Dissappointment with God”, that I picked up this morning at church, rekindled something in me and galvanised other things. What do I do when I feel God is unfair? Usually I come to the point of saying “
All things work together for good…” but this morning’s experience was unnerving – now the mist is clearing. Writing about will help, so this morning, at some time in the night when I was set on doing one thing -sleeping! As I tried to nodded off, God prompted me to get up. I must of said something like, in my mind, “No, I need the sleep” Well I nodded off and did actually get up some hours later and nearly ran into the kitchen. I was so motivated! God came down, it was a moment of His annointing and I cried out for God. I was desperate for Him. There was no particular drama or crisis, I just so much wanted more of God! It was a real step up - I was not normally like this.
What does all this mean? – I am not advocating disobedience or refusing to obey but I know that God esteems allegiance and determination. I think of the wrestling of Jacob:
Genesis 32:24-26 New International Version (NIV)
24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”
But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
27 The man asked him, “What is your name?”
”Jacob,” he answered.
”Jacob,” he answered.
28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, [e] because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.”
29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.”
But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.
The key verse verse here is 29 – we really really need to know our boundary. Whilst God admires guts, Jacob went to far and conveyed in 29 that God was on man’s level and so answerable to a man!!!!!!!!!!!
January 27, 2008
Exodus 3
4 When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
God knows and He sees. God is indeed all knowing but we kinda forget – doesn’t he realise the pain I am going thro” we say. He absolutely does realise and identifies/empathises. He is outside time and knows what happens to us before it happens to us! Why does He let it happen -
James 1
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Why is perserverance so imoportant -because maturity is esteemed by Him. Think of a peach…it is perfect from day 1 (assuming no disease) but definetly not mature till the season takes it’s course.
January 6, 2008
8 am
Went to St Andrews anglican service, communion and worship
Very quiet, traditional service but I enjoyed the reverant attitude promoted by this style. Sat right at the back since my mobility (brought on , according to the specialists, by neurological things – your prayers would not go amiss here) and confidwence demanded this. My giddiness wass not too good.
Bible Study at 11.30 am
There is a scripture I have been chewing over for the last 2 days. I think I may of got a head start in understandng it’s application to 2day from The Message version but that would have made it too easy – it would take away the need to mediate on the Word which is honourable according to
Psalm 1
1 Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
The Word is:
Deuteronomy 24:19
When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
For me this would be:
When I am producing fruit or pursueing God’s will in some area, and forget/overlook/neglect a more righteous attitude/comment/reaction or a godly fruit, do not “sweat it”. Remedy by sowing/acting justly, showing mercy and walking humbly with them and God and this will honour God!
1-3 pm
Had a brilliant sharing time with a uncommonly loyal bruised reed today. I admire him greatly and his future is destined to be exceptional. We looked at Deuteronomy 24:19
December 31, 2007
Today i felt convicted that i spend the whole week on the same routine and pigeon hole Bible study away in the free moments during the week. This usually means that I seldom get round to anything much – i really want to now earmark my sabbath (which happens to be sundays) to really investigative study of the truth amidst the love letter called the Holy Bible.
8 am
Job 28:28 And he said to man,
‘The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom,
and to shun evil is understanding.’ “
I did not realise that it is understanding to shun evil – this really seems very logical…Godly wisdom in entirely reasonable, pure, perfect and noble!
We are required to aim to be “holy and blameless”…we do fail/falter/mess up but our goal is undiminished
-
- Ephesians 1:4
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love
Ephesians 1:3-5 (in Context) Ephesians 1 (Whole Chapter) - Ephesians 5:27
and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
Ephesians 5:26-28 (in Context) Ephesians 5 (Whole Chapter) - 1 Thessalonians 2:10
You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.
1 Thessalonians 2:9-11 (in Context) 1 Thessalonians 2 (Whole Chapter) - 1 Thessalonians 3:13
May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 (in Context) 1 Thessalonians 3 (WholChapter) - Hebrews 7:26
Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.
Hebrews 7:25-27 (in Context) Hebrews 7 (Whole Chapter)
- Ephesians 1:4
11 am
I wonder if being jealous is different from having envy. According to 1 Corinthians 13:4 envy is bad but here jealousy is good.
Exodus 20
4 “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
6 but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Is jealousy a fruit of love but envy a sin of covetness?
2 pm
The masquerading of satan – not a very attractive study but a neccessary one since we are to live in the world. And be as ”cunning/wise as serpents but as innocent as doves”
2 Corinthians 11
14…for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
15It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness.
I think of “fruit insperction”, that is testing of their fruits…is it love, is it pure, wholesome, edifying.
