I forgot to mention this earlier, and He reminded me of it just now. It’s important because God is sharing it with me again. This morning in church, the thought came into my head (God breathed it into my heart!) that I should read the bible like a book I’ve never read. Read it as if you don’t know what the next page says, much less the ending. Wow! That brings a whole new perspective to things. I was thankful that we no longer have to sacrifice! If I look at it as it is, a true living story, and don’t know the ending, it’s pretty frightening. I think we are blessed that our God is a patient and loving God, because He has put up with a lot of garbage from people along the way. If I didn’t already know how to receive salvation, or saving grace, I’d really be worried.
Category Archives: faith
Sunday Scripture 9
Numbers 14:8-9 If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. 9 Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.
Joshua and Caleb spoke these words to the Israelites who had gone and explored Canaan and came back saying there was a vast amount of people living there who would overtake them. What separated Joshua and Caleb from the rest of the group of explorers? Faith. The others had lost sight of all God had done for them, and didn’t trust that God would continue to take care of them. Joshua and Caleb stood up to them in faith, or full confidence as my notes say, that God would protect them.
He promises us a new earth. Do you trust Him enough to stand up for Him, or will you forsake Him. I pray that He is pleased with us, and He brings us into Heaven and the new earth, to live eternally in His presence.
Stop over at Amy’s to read more Sunday Scripture.
God Has a Plan
When you’re cast about by the storms of life,
when your days are filled with doubt and strife,
when nothing makes sense, when it’s hard to stand,
Remember this-God has a plan.
God has a plan, keep clinging to this,
forget your agenda and look to His.
He’s kept every promise he ever made.
He’s always on time, never early or late.
Time ticks by on a clock wound by Him,
and only He knows when time will end.
As you walk by faith, cling to His hand,
and remember this, God has a plan.
“We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
Sunday Scripture 8
Genesis 45:7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
This comes from my daily reading, and it’s Joseph talking to his brothers after they’ve been reunited. (They tried to kill him, then sold him to slavery because they were jealous of their fathers affections for him.) Now Joseph had every right to be upset with his brothers, and want to seek revenge against them. But he doesn’t. Instead, he sees that God used the wickedness of his brothers, and he carried out a plan to make Joseph great. Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream, and told him of the 7 years of abundance, followed by a 7 year famine. God made Joseph ruler of all Egypt, so that he could save the very lives that tried to kill him. That’s the kind of forgiveness that I’m working on this year!!!
90 Day Bible Reading-Day 3
GENESIS 27-39
Today’s reading depicts alot of deceit, jealousy and bitterness. We start off reading about Esau and Isaac. Isaac told Esau to go out and hunt for game, then prepare his favorite meal for him, so that he could give him his blessing. Rebekah overheard, and told Jacob how to deceive his father. Isaac mistakenly gave Jacob the blessing. Esau was very angered and vowed to take Jacob’s life, so Rebekah and Isaac sent Jacob away. Now if you remember, God had already told Isaac that the older child Esau would serve the younger, Jacob. So Isaac was taking action to bless Esau, and going against God. Also, Jacob deceived his family twice to get what he wanted, and what he was going to rightfully get in good time. In the end, he had to leave his home, and he would never see his mother again. He would also never obtain spiritual success. It makes me really want to be patient, and wait for God’s timing. Jacob got what he wanted, but it turned out to be more of a curse than a blessing without God on his side.
When Jacob left Beersheba to travel to Haran, he stopped to rest at night. The angels of God came to him in a dream, and after them came the Lord. God promised to be with him as his guide and to protect him always. Jacob found his uncle Laban, and eventually married his 2 daughters. Between his wives and their maidservants, Jacob had 12 sons, whose descendants would later become the 12 tribes of Israel. Jacob and his family fled from Laban, and he traveled home to meet Esau. Esau greeted him with a hug and tears, so after many years of separation, God’s grace brought them back together. Jacob again lies to his brother about where he is going, and travels to Shechem. God had told Jacob to go to the home of his father Isaac, but he didn’t listen. Now I struggle with God sometimes, with things like forgiveness and anger, and try to take things into my own hands, but I don’t think if God came to me as a manifestation that I could do that. I guess that he’s always with me though, and sees how ugly I can be with built up unforgiveness, and that should be my motivation. But I think about what it will be like in Heaven, to be able to have a face to face conversation with God! How Awesome that will be!!
As I now type, it is a new day…stay with me.
Jacob failed to listen to God and live where He told him to, and instead chose to live by a pagan city. His daughter Dinah was violated from Shechem. This immorality reminds me of Lot and his daughters. Makes me want to move somewhere very very rural with my kids and shelter them. I pray that they get what they need from me, and not wander away from God seeking something else.
Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi, killed the men of the city. Jacob’s sons did not bring him glory from their actions. God told Jacob to go build an altar at Bethel, and this time he listened. He found a renewed faith in God, and instructed his family to giet rid of the foreign gods they had and to purify themselves. Because of this, God again gave him protection, blessing, and the land gave to Abraham and Isaac, and changed his name from Jacob to Israel. Jacob singles out Joseph by giving him an ornate robe, thus causing great jealousy to the other brothers. They sold him as a slave, and told Jacob that animals must have attacked him. God used this to work out his plan for Joseph’s life. Joseph was faithful to God, even in trials, and God remained with him, showing him such love and mercy. Joseph was different from his brothers, and I think that’s why God chose him to protect.
Judah, Jacob’s 4th son from Leah, also possessed loose morals. He slept with his daughter in law, thinking she was a prostitute, and she bore twins, Perez and Zerah.
Joseph’s master saw that he was blessed to have him as a servant, and trusted him with everything he owned. His masters wife tried to seduce Joseph on occasions, but he refused her. One day she kept his cloak and claimed that he had tried to seduce her, so Joseph was thrown into prison. Even then, God was with him. Does it strike you in any way, how completely faithful Joseph was? He struggled and had a difficult life, but did not quit believing that God would bring him through. Joseph faced 3 tests for God while in Egypt. He faced the test of sexual sin, or purity, and he did not fail. He faced an opportunity for revenge, and he did not fail. Lastly, he faced death. Why did Joseph overcome? Because he had a deep trust in God, and he ran from sin. He claimed victory over sin, and was obedient to God, therefore he was blessed abundantly. I want to profess that kind of FAITH!!! Thank You God, for giving me many second chances, and allowing me to confess and repent of my sins to You, to ask You for forgiveness, and know that you will grant it. Bless me with wisdom and discernment, just like Joseph had, so that I may be victorious in this battle too. Thank You for Your infinite love, and the gift of Jesus.
The Reading for Sunday is Genesis 40 – Exodus 2
“Moore” Thursday
Normally it is a Monday post, but I’m behind and playing catch up.
GOD’S WORD DOES NOT SAY WE’LL HAVE PEACE LIKE A POND
BUT PEACE LIKE A RIVER, RIGHTEOUSNESS LIKE THE WAVES OF THE SEA.
Lord, I come to you in prayer, and ask You now to let Your peace, God, which transcends all understanding, guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:7). Help me not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time I will reap a harvest if I do not give up (Gal. 6:9).
Lord, when You bring this captive completely back to You, I will be like those who dream! My mouth will be filled with laughter and my tongue with songs of joy! The Lord has done great things for me, and I am filled with joy! (Ps. 126:1-3). You, O Lord, have filled my heart with greater joy than when my grain and new wine abound (Ps. 4:7).
From Beth Moore’s Praying God’s Word Day by Day
I’m getting ready to start something new in my life, and God is prompting me to share and invite you. I’m going to read the bible in 90 days, and I’ll tell you more about that in the next post. For right now, focus on the joy that God fills you with every day.
Sunday Scripture 7
2 Corinthians 6:2 For he says, ” In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
Paul is urging, can’t you feel it? Christ is urging…
We had a great sermon today on baptism. It was one of those powerful, God’s in the place and smiling, sermons. There were 4 baptisms today, praise God! What I wanted to highlight in this is, NOW IS THE TIME, NOW IS THE DAY. NOW. When is the time? NOW! If you’ve already given your life to Jesus, then recommit NOW to live the new life that Jesus died to give you. If you haven’t made that commitment yet, NOW IS THE TIME. Jesus is coming again, do it Now. Don’t wait, He’s urging. From this moment on, die to sin and live for Jesus.
For more Sunday Scripture, check out Amy at P2P.
Christmas Eve
The following is a communion meditation written by my dad, for the Christmas Eve service at his church tonight. I got the chance to read it on Saturday and it gave me goosebumps. I just had to share it.
THE SCENE IS A SPARSE HILL IN ANCIENT JUDEA, NOT FAR FORM JERUSALEM. NEARBY IS A CAVE. JESUS WEARS ONE MEAGER GARMENT. MARY IS WATCHING, WONDERING WHAT IT ALL MEANS. A MAN IS STANDING BESIDE HER, NOT THE FATHER OF JESUS, BUT THE ONE WHO WILL CARE FOR HER. BENEATH JESUS ARE BEAMS OF ROUGH WOOD. ABOVE, THE HEAVENS SPARKLE WITH SUPERNATURAL SPLENDOR. IN THE CITY SITS HEROD PONDERING JESUS DEATH. JEWISH LEADERS DISCUSS HIS COMING. NEARBY ARE OUTCASTS, GIVING THEIR OWN CRUDE TESTIMONY. SOON RICH MEN ARRIVE WITH GIFTS JUST AS SUITED FOR A BURIAL AS A BIRTH. ARE WE REMEMBERING A BIRTH OR A DEATH? A MANGER OR A CROSS. THE HILL COULD BE A SHEEP STUDDED HILL NEAR BETHLEHEM, OR IT COULD BE THE HILL CALLED GOLGATHA. THE CAVE COULD BE A STABLE CRUDELY CUT INTO ONE OF BETHLEHEMS HILLS, OR IT COULD BE A BURIAL VAULT RECENTLY CARVED IN A NEARBY CEMETARY. THE MEAGER GARMENT COULD BE SWADDLING CLOTHES OR A BLOODY, RAGGED LOINCLOTH. IT IS JESUS OF COURSE, BUT IS HE A NEWBORN BABY OR A DYING MAN? IT IS MARY, BUT IS SHE SITTING AT A CRADLE COMFORTING HER BABY OR CROUCHING, CRYING, HERSELF IN NEED OF COMFORT? IS THE MAN JOSEPH THE CARPENTER, OR JOHN, WHO WILL MAKE HER A HOME? ARE THE ROUGH WOODEN BEAMS BENEATH JESUS A MANGER OR A CROSS? ARE THEY SEEING THE HEAVENS SPARKLE, OR AN ECLIPSED SUN AND A BLOOD RED MOON? THE HEROD COULD BE THE GREAT WHO TRIED TO KILL THE BABY, OR HIS SON WHO IN A SENSE SUCCEEDED. THE OUTCASTS COULD BE SHEPHERDS, KNEELING AT THE MANGER, OR THIEVES HANGING ON EITHER SIDE OF JESUS. THE RICH MEN COULD BE MAGI WHO OFFER EXPENSIVE GIFTS, OR NICODEMUS AND JOSEPH WHO OFFER ONLY AN EMPTY TOMB. IT’S AS THOUGH THERE WAS A MIRROR IN THE MANGER, A BIRTH REFLECTING A DEATH. WE COME TONIGHT TO CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOUR, WE COME TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF JESUS, BUT WE COME TO THIS TIME OF COMMUNION TO REMEMBER THE SACRIFICE THAT HE MADE WHEN HE WENT TO THE CROSS AND WILLINGLY GAVE HIS LIFE, THAT YOU AND I, AND ALL MANKIND COULD BE FORGIVEN AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF ETERNAL LIFE IN HEAVEN WITH JESUS WHO WAS BORN TO DIE FOR OUR SINS.
“Moore” Monday #4
THE LORD GOD OMNIPOTENT REIGNETH. HE IS GOD, AND THERE IS NO OTHER.
WHEN HE STANDS TO HIS FEET, HIS ENEMIES ARE SCATTERED.
Lord Jesus, You have revealed to us that one day, You whose name is the Word of God will be dressed in a robe dipped in blood. The armies of heaven will follow you, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.
Out of Your mouth will come a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. You will rule them with an iron scepter. You will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On Your robe and on Your thigh You have this name written: King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev. 19:13-16).
Yes, You are coming soon! Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! Untin then, Your grace is with Your people (Rev. 22:20-21).
This is another installment in my Beth Moore journey..Praying God’s Word Every Day. Yes, He is coming. Are you ready? Do you think we are living in the end times? Is there something more we have left to do? I think we are living in the end times, and our job, our goal, is to win people over for Jesus Christ. Lord, I just pray that You would give me the words to speak, and the wisdom and understanding that only You can provide. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, so that I can move souls to reach out to you. Amen
Sunday Scripture 6
Proverbs 2:11 says “Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.” God gives us the knowledge, wisdom, and understanding that we need. We just have to remember to fully trust in Him.
For more Sunday Scripture, please visit Amy.