Revelation 3:1–22 (Continued)

July 29, 2013

When Jesus/God sent His message to the seven churches in Asia, each message followed the same format.

1. They each started with who He is—The One who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lamp stands; The One who is the First and Last, who died and came alive again; The One who has the sharp, double-edged sword; The Son of God, who has eyes that blaze like the fire and feet like shining bronze; The One who has the seven spirits and the seven stars; The One who is holy and true, who holds the key of David; The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of all God has made. He is The One, the authority on and in ALL things.
2. I know—After his authority was established, he informed them that he knew. I know what you do; I know you work hard and never give up; I know you don't put up with the false teachings of evil people; I know what has happened to you; I know you are poor but that actually makes you rich; I know the bad things some are saying against you; I know where you live; I know you have stayed true to me even though you are surrounded by evil; I know what you do; I know about your love, your faith, your service, and your patience; I know you are growing; I know the truth behind the "why" of what you do; I know people think you are alive but you are really dead; I know what you do, I have put an open door before you; I know the truth about you, that you are not hot or cold. I know... I know... I KNOW. The One who has the authority in ALL things—KNOWS everything about us and KNOWS what we do.  
3. He tells them what is right and/or wrong—Nothing is left to guessing. "This is what I have against you." He step by step tells them where they have gotten off track. He also tells them what they are doing right. He clearly lays out a road map—a path for them to follow.
4. He offers them the solution—"Change your hearts and lives." There are no excuses. He clearly defines the problem and He clearly defines the solutions. He also clearly defines the rewards for obedience.
5. Finally, He says what He is going to do—What He decides to do hinges on our obedience to His corrections.The IF—THEN "I will" promises of God. If you choose disobedience: I will take away your witness; I will fight against you; I will cause suffering; I will destroy; I will repay you for what you have done; I will come like a thief when you do not know I am coming; I will make you bow down to those you have opposed; I will make you know that I have loved them. I will correct and punish those whom I love. Discipline is promised. But those who choose obedience receive blessings rather that discipline. To those who win the victory: I will give the right to eat the fruit from the tree of life; I will give them the crown of life; I will protect them from the second death; I will give them some of the hidden manna; I will give them a white stone with a new name written on it; I will give them power over other nations; I will give them the morning star; I will say they belong to me; I will keep you from the time of trouble; I will make them pillars in the temple of God; I will keep them secure; I will write on them the name of God; I will come in and fellowship with you; I will keep you with me. Two different choices. Two very different results.

This is who I am.
This is what I know.
This is who you are.
This is what you need to do.
This is what I am going to do.

After each letter He said the exact same thing: "Everyone who has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches." Some may be blinded to the truth, but if they listen to the Spirit of Truth they will no longer be blinded, and the Truth is what sets us free. Everyone who has ears should listen. We all have blind spots. It is the Holy Spirit who reveals those blind spots to us.

Listen! Change your hearts and lives. Surrender. Obey. Do.

Addendum: 2/2/17 ~ Jesus said the exact same statement seven different times to the seven churches. "Everyone who has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches." What a powerful statement. Listen!

Why did God say seven different times—Listen? Why not look or let me show you? In the next chapter God showed John what was to come. John looked and saw an open door in heaven and God asked John to come up so he could have him look and see. But to the seven churches, He instructed the people to—Listen.

I've been thinking about the differences between listen and look and why I believe it is important to understand those differences. It all boils down to faith. When you listen it is all about by faith receiving the instruction of The One; by faith believing what He is saying is Truth; by faith accepting His words; and by faith changing your life to follow His Truth. When you accept by faith what He is saying then HE is the balm for your blinded eyes, HE is revealed to you, and your faith increases. The emphasis is on you receiving (hearing) and then by faith responding. It all goes back to obeying the very first commandment and understanding the

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relationship. He is to be MASTER of our lives and we are to—Listen!

 Hebrews 1:1 - "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (KJV)  

Belief by sight is entirely different than belief by listening. When you need proof you are no longer trusting. You put your faith in the known (seen) rather than the unknown (unseen). Depending upon what you see, you will make the decision on whether or not you will believe. Show me and then I will decide. The God to man relationship changes and instead of trusting and being reliant on God, it becomes an attitude of telling God what you want, how you want it done, and what you need in order for you to believe. Instead of listening to Master Jesus and being God-reliant, you become self-reliant, you want proof, and faith becomes (wrongfully so) irrelevant.

God wants us to listen! He wants us to believe Him by faith first. IF—we believe by faith He becomes the balm for our eyes and THEN—we can see Truth.  It is in that order. Faith comes first.

Listen!! Believe!! See!!


Next Entry: Revelation 4:1 – 6:17

Revelation 3:1–22

July 26, 2013

To the Church in Sardis the One says this:

"I know what you do."

• People say you are alive (a believer)
• But you are really dead (religious unbeliever)
• Wake up!
• You are doing less than what God wants
• Strengthen what little truth is left in you
• Don't forget what you've heard and received
• Obey it!
• Change your heart and lives!
• You must wake up!

Or, when you least expect it, "I will come like a thief and you will not know when I will come..." and your name will be erased from the Book of Life. There are a few of you who have remained servants of God. To those who have won the victory I will call worthy and "I will say they belong to me before my Father and before his angels."

Revelations 3:6 - "Everyone who has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches."

To the Church in Philadelphia the One who is holy and true, who holds the key of David says:

"I know what you do."

• I have put an open door before you
• A door that no one else can close
• I know (and you've known too) that by yourself you have little strength
• But you have obeyed my teachings
• You were not afraid to proclaim my name
• You did not give up your faith

As a true believer your body is a temple of the Lord.

Temple—The one and only place where sacrifices were performed. Jesus Christ was the sacrifice for our sins. When we accept His sacrifice and receive Him as our personal Savior, our bodies literally become the temple of the Lord. There are those who say they believe, but their actions show otherwise. They are "religious," but the truth is they are unbelievers, and their bodies are "a synagogue that belongs to Satan." (Revelation 2:9b)

Synagogue—A building, a gathering place, a "town hall" of sorts. It is ran by people, financed by people, and is a place of worship and study. As religious unbelievers, one's body is NOT a temple of the Lord, but instead it is a synagogue, a gathering place—of Satan.

Revelation 3:9b–10 - "I will make them (religious unbelievers) come before you and bow at your feet and they will know that I have loved you. You have obeyed my teachings about not giving up your faith. So I will keep you from the time of trouble that will come to the whole world to test those who live on earth."

God put an open door before the Church of Philadelphia. When He opens a door no one can close it. When He closes a door no one else can open it. So, hang on and continue strong in your faith. Then no one can take away your crown. Revelation 3:12 - "I am coming soon... I will make those who win the victory pillars in the temple of my God." Their position with me and my Father is secure.

Revelation 3:13 - "Everyone who has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches."

To the Church in Laodicea, the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of all God has made says:

"I know what you do."

• You are not hot or cold
• Your are just blah—lukewarm
• I am ready to vomit you out of me
• Your attitude/actions are not compatible with my Holiness and I am close to rejecting you
• You think you are rich
• You have worked to become wealthy
• You think you are in control and self-sufficient
• You don't get it—what you are working for (material things) means nothing
• You think one thing—but the truth is you are miserable, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked 
• The very things you don't want to be—is what you really are

The only way to get what you desire is to come to me. When you depend on me and keep your faith in whose you are instead of who you are, I will bring you through the fires of life as pure gold—tested and true. THEN you will be rich in the only thing that matters—ME. Surrender and submit to me as Master Jesus and your nakedness will be covered and you will be clothed in forgiveness. Come to me. When you search for me I will be as a balm for your eyes, and your eyes will be opened to truth and you will be able truly see.

Revelation 3:19–20 - "I will correct and punish those whom I love. So be eager to do what is right, and change your hearts and lives. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice (everyone who has ears should listen) and open the door (you have to respond) I will come in and eat with you, and you will eat with me."

He is ready and waiting. He doesn't want anyone to be lost. He is knocking, but He won't take us by force. We must listen and respond to Him by opening the door, by inviting Him in, and by obeying His teachings. THEN we have the promise of winning the victory and (you) "will sit with me on my throne..."

Revelation 3:22 - "Everyone who has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches."

From Christ Through the Bible:

JESUS: The One Who Stand at the Door

"Let me state something important. There is never a time during which Jesus is not speaking. Never. There is never a place in which Jesus is not present. Never. There is never a (place)... that the ever-present, ever-pursuing, relentlessly tender Friend is not there, tapping gently on the door of our hearts—waiting to be invited in.

Few hear his voice. Fewer still open the door.

But never interpret our numbness as his absence. For amidst the fleeting promises of pleasure is the timeless promise of his presence...

There is no chorus so loud that the voice of God cannot be heard... if we will but listen."  ~ From In the Eye of the Storm by Max Lucado

Next Entry: Revelation 3:1–22 (Continued) 

Acts 21 – 28 (Continued)

January 05, 2013

So Paul was sent to Caeser. Caeser was the Emperor of Rome and the Roman Empire, which at that time was almost all of the known world. It would be a long journey by ship. Julius was an officer in the Emperor's army and he guarded Paul during the long journey. Julius was very good to Paul and gave Paul much freedom. Paul was still a prisoner—yet he was free.

The journey was slow and they sailed for weeks. The trip had taken so long that it had become a dangerous voyage and was almost impossible to continue. The owner of the ship and the captain were in a very difficult situation because they couldn't harbor for the winter where they were. So, despite Paul's warning about the dangers ahead, they decided to push on. God sent them a warning, but they refused to listen and they eventually ended up losing their cargo and their ship.

As they disregarded God's warning and continued their trip, it first appeared as if they had made a good decision. The wind was blowing in the right direction and they thought all was well. But they thought wrong. THE STORM hit. The ship got caught in the wind and they could not sail or steer against it, so they had no choice but to let the wind take them wherever it was blowing. The storm was relentless. They tied ropes around the boat to try and hold it together; they threw out some of the cargo; they threw out the ship's equipment; and they didn't see the sun or the stars for many days. It was a horrible storm and they lost all hope of ever being saved.

God warned them about pursuing this path, but they ignored the warning and went their own way. The men on the ship had not eaten for days. Paul stood up and told them, "You should have listened to me... you should not have sailed... then you would not have had all this trouble and loss. But now I tell you to cheer up because none of you will die. Only the ship will be lost." (Acts 27:21–22) Paul goes on to tell them that an angel was sent to him from the God he belonged to and worshiped. (I like how Paul said, "...from the God I belong to." It clearly shows he understood and accepted the

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relationship and that he was surrendered to the authority of God.) This angel told Paul not to be afraid. The angel said, "Paul, do not be afraid. You must stand before Caeser. And God has promised you that he will save the lives of everyone sailing with you. So men, have courage. I trust in God that everything will happen as his angel told me... but we will crash on an island." (Acts 27:24–26)

The storm raged for weeks. At one point the sailors thought they were nearing land, so they checked the depth of the sea. They went a little farther and checked again. Sure enough, it appeared they were getting closer to land. Some of the sailors wanted to get off the ship. They wanted to be in charge of their own destiny. So they lowered the life boat while they were pretending to put down anchors. Paul saw what they were doing and told the officer, "If these men do not stay in the ship, your lives cannot be saved." (Acts 27:31) So the soldiers cut the ropes and let the lifeboat fall into the water.   

That is where God wants us. He wants all of our own safety nets gone. He wants our total dependence on HIM and not on what we can accomplish ourselves. 

As I'm writing this, the word "lifeboat" jumps out at me. The analogy of a lifeboat was given to my husband and I years ago (2007) during our daily walks together while we prayed about "the storm." We were just about ready to leave the wooded part where we were walking and enter the open area. It was dark out. We were walking and praying as we did each day when suddenly the analogy of a lifeboat hit me. We stopped right at the edge of the clearing. The picture I saw in my mind was my husband and I in the lifeboat with Jesus. My sister and brother-in-law were floundering in the water.  Jesus was extending his arms out to them. All they had to do was reach up and take His hand and He would lift them to safety. But instead of taking His hand and accepting salvation, they kept pushing His hand aside and out of the way. They were so focused and intent on grabbing us and pulling us out of the lifeboat that they only saw Jesus' hands as being in the way even though they were in danger of drowning. Jesus wants us in HIS lifeboat and not our own. He will remove from us whatever it is that is keeping us from surrendering ALL to Him.

Just before dawn Paul persuaded all the people to eat something. It had been fourteen days of waiting, watching, and not eating. Acts 27:34 - "Now I beg you to eat something. You need it to stay alive. None of you will lose even one hair off your heads." When we go through trials, or have been taken into deep waters, we still need to live. When the Israelites were being held captive in Babylon they were told to build houses and settle in the land. They were told to plant gardens and eat the food they grew. They were told to get married and have children. They were told to LIVE even though they were in bondage—BECAUSE—God knew the plans he had for them and it was "... good plans for you, not plans to harm you. I will give you hope and a good future..." (Jeremiah 29:4–14) So Paul took bread, thanked God for it, and began to eat. Soon the others began to eat as well. There were 276 people aboard the ship. When they had eaten all they wanted they began to make the ship lighter by throwing all the grain into the sea.  

When daylight came they saw land. They didn't know what land it was but they hoped to be able to sail the boat to the beach. They cut the ropes to the anchors. They didn't haul the anchors back on board. They left them in the sea. They cut the ropes to free the rudders. They raised the front sail and began sailing toward the beach... and then they crashed. The ship hit a sand bank and was stuck. The front of the ship couldn't move. The back of the ship broke apart in the big waves. If they would have made it safely to land using their own efforts and conventional wisdom, they would have thought they saved themselves. God was not going to allow that to happen. He had promised Paul safety for all those on board but it would be done HIS WAY.

The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners so none of them could escape. But Julius wanted to let Paul live so he did not allow the soldiers to kill the prisoners. Julius ordered everyone who could swim to jump in and swim to land. The rest were to follow using wooden boards or pieces of the ship to hold them afloat. They committed themselves to the sea—total surrender. Acts 27:44 - "And this is how all the people made it safely to land."

All 276 of them arrived safely on shore. The land was an island called Malta. The people were very good to them. Because it was raining and cold the people built a fire for them. Paul was helping to gather sticks to put on the fire. A poisonous snake came out of the pile because of the heat and bit Paul on the hand. The people saw the poisonous snake hanging from Paul's hand and they thought, this guy must be guilty and he is getting what he deserves.

I am sure there were plenty of onlookers who looked at us the same way. A lawsuit was filed against us, hmm... I wonder what they did wrong, and we were watched to see what would happen to us. Paul shook the snake that came out of the fire off.  (BTW - snakes are like that. When the situation gets hot they strike to try and take advantage.) The people thought Paul would swell up or fall down dead. They waited, and they watched for a long time, but nothing bad happened to him. So, they changed their minds.

They were welcomed into the home of an important man on the island. This man's father was ill and Paul healed him. Paul healed other people on the island as well. They were there for three months, and were well taken care of. I love how God works the circumstances they were in for good even though the disobedience of others is what put them shipwrecked on an island. After the three months they got on another ship and continued the journey to Rome. God used other believers to encourage Paul along the way, and Paul thanked God for them.

They finally arrived in Rome. Paul was allowed to live alone with the soldier who guarded him. Paul sent for the leaders and told them what had happened—he had done nothing wrong but was arrested and turned over to the Romans. He explained how he was questioned, but they could find nothing wrong. The authorities wanted to let him go, but the evil people argued against it, and that was why he was now in Rome.

Paul was falsely and wrongly accused, yet he sought no revenge against those who were seeking his life. Acts 28:19 - "I have no charge to bring against my own people." (We are not seeking any revenge or damages from my sister and brother-in-law even though we have also been falsely and wrongly accused.) Paul was in prison because of his beliefs, not because of his actions. The people were interested in hearing about Paul's beliefs. A date and time was set to meet. They gathered together and Paul shared with them from the prophet's writings. He explained the kingdom of God, and told them about Jesus. Some believed—and some did not.

Not everyone will believe. It was Paul's responsibility to tell God's Truth. It is ours as well. It was not Paul's responsibility if some chose not to believe. It is not our responsibility either. Paul quoted to them what the Holy Spirit spoke to their ancestors through Isaiah the prophet.

"Go to this people and say: You will listen and listen, but you will not understand. You will look and look, but you will not learn, because these people have become stubborn. They don't hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise, they might really understand what they see with their eyes and hear with their ears. They might really understand in their minds and come back to me to be healed." Isaiah 6:9–10

Acts 28:30–31 - "Paul stayed for two full years in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to visit him. He boldly preached about the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ, and no one tried to stop him." Not exactly what his accusers expected to happen to him.

What a journey Paul had. What a journey we are on.

It was six years ago today that I met Jane (Her Name Was Jane) for the first time.What an amazing divine appointment orchestrated by God. There will never be enough human words to adequately express our praise to the Lord of lords and our gratitude for ALL HE HAS DONE!  Psalm 8:1 - "O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is YOUR name in ALL the earth..." The best expression of our thanks it not words, it is our actions. We must BE! We must live our lives pleasing and obedient to HIM. Then (and only then), can HE receive all the Honor, Glory and Praise due HIM!

God has provided many insights to us along this journey. One insight he has not provided is how this journey is going to end. We know the end result. God promised us His protection through Jane's lips when she told us to read Psalm 140. That is a done deal. When God says "I will"—He does. What we don't know is the how. Will we go to trial or not?  We don't believe it will go to trial, but it may. Will the lawsuit be dropped? Will my sister and brother-in-law be like the Saul of the Old Testament or become like the Saul/Paul of the New Testament? Will the judge make a ruling? Will it continue in limbo for many more years? How will God make sure that only HE gets the Honor and Glory? I don't know, but it will be interesting to watch and see.

What we do know is this: God is our protector—and that is enough! Paul's years in prison were not wasted years. They were years of earnest seeking, meditation, and quietness. And from that time came the books of Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians.

Addendum: 3/16/16 ~  God has a purpose and plan. HIS will—will be done and HIS story—will be told. The Jews were out to kill Paul but God's plan was to get HIS story out, and He did. Paul was able to tell others about Christ because of the circumstances surrounding him, not in spite of his circumstances. Paul was right where God wanted him. It is just amazing to look at all the opportunities Paul had to share the Way of Jesus with the crowds and those around him, many of which he would have never had the opportunity to come into contact with in any other way. No matter what your circumstance, you will ALWAYS have the opportunity to share Christ. Wow!

As I was writing these verses Paul quoted from Isaiah 6:9–10, a brand new thought came to my mind.

 "Go to this people and say: You will listen and listen, but you will not understand. You will look and look, but you will not learn, because these people have become stubborn. They don't hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise, they might really understand what they see with their eyes and hear with their ears. They might really understand in their minds and come back to me to be healed." Isaiah 6:9–10;  

In the past, when I have read these verses (and others like them), I have always thought it meant that because of their refusal to surrender they were blinded and could not hear or see truth. But this time as I was reading them I realized there is another explanation as well. They don't hear, and they don't understand, because they don't want to hear and they don't want to understand. IF—they heard, and IF—they understand, THEN—they would have to make a choice. They would either have to:

• Change their hearts and lives and get a new way of thinking, OR
• They would have to openly defy what God is saying and admit they are shaking their fists in the face of God.

As long as they refuse to hear and refuse to understand, then they can live with their heads buried in the sand and pretend that all is well and pretend they are not really rebelling against God. They can then continue their selfish and stubborn ways and think all is well. Not only are they blinded, they are also deceived.

The only ones they are fooling is themselves. They most certainly are not fooling God. Refusing to see or hear does not change TRUTH. Oh, what a dangerous path to pursue.


Next Entry:  Romans 1:1–32 

Luke 20:1–47

September 25, 2012

Luke 20:2 - "What authority do you have?"
Luke 20:2 - "Who gave you this authority?"

Jesus is in the Temple. He is teaching people the Good News of Salvation and many are listening and surrendering. Yet there are those who just refuse to accept the truth and believe—and Jesus becomes a stumbling block and a crushing stone instead of a cornerstone to build upon.

"The stone that the builders rejected became the cornerstone." (Jesus quoting Psalm 118:22.) "Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken, and the person on whom it falls, that person will be crushed!" (Luke 20:17-18)

Strong words—Jesus' words. The leading priests (Sadducees) and the Pharisees (religious unbelievers) KNEW He was talking about them, but still they would not surrender. Instead, it made them all the more determined to prove they were right and all the more determined to prove Him wrong. And Jesus says, "Beware of the Pharisees (religious unbelievers). They like to walk around wearing fancy clothes, and they love for people to greet them with respect in the marketplaces. They love to have the most important seats in the synagogues and at feasts. But they cheat widows and steal their houses and then try to make themselves look good by saying long prayers. They will receive a greater punishment." (Luke 20:46–47)

There will come a time when enough is enough. The God of Achan; Eli's sons; Sodom and Gomorrah; Aaron's sons; and Lots' wife of the Old Testament, is the same God of Ananias and Sapphira and Romans 1 of the New Testament. And there will come a day when enough is enough.

God's Grace, so freely given, is described in Acts 4.

• Prevenient (a pulling towards)
• Saving
• Sanctifying
• Dying
• Sustaining
• Living

Grace—given to us by God to be used—often times becomes misused and abused instead. (Acts 5) It becomes a license for some. A license or "permission" to do what they want when they want because after all, God is a God of grace. As our Pastor said last Sunday:

• Never underestimate the awfulness of sin
• Hold in one hand the beauty of Grace and in the other hand the awfulness of sin

"Ananias and Sapphira were not so much misers as they were thieves. They wanted the credit and prestige for sacrificial giving without the inconvenience of it. So in order to gain the reputation they had no right to, they told a brazen lie." ~ John Stott

• God desires to protect his people
• God desires to keep pure and healthy that which is his

"The act of deceit interrupts the victorious progress of God's people." ~ F.F. Bruce

• Grace removes the deadly infection that could destroy the body (God's people)
• God removed Ananias and Sapphira—BUT what he really did was SAVE THE CHURCH!!
• God reaches a point where he says, "Enough is enough!"

I never thought about what God was saving (His people; His church; His ministry; His will) when He removed the cancerous people. They were removed because of their choice to follow self instead of submission to God, and because of the harm they would inflict on the overall body of Christ.

While there is still time, before God removes His Spirit, please—repent! There will come a time when enough is enough and time will have ran out.

II Chronicles 7:14 - "Then if my people, who are called by my name, are sorry for what they have done, if they pray and obey me and stop their evil ways, THEN I will hear them from heaven. I will forgive their sin, and I will heal their land."

IF—THEN. It's up to you. It's up to me.


Next Entry: Luke 21:1 – 22:71

Luke 18:1–43

September 18, 2012

God will answer His people! WILL! Not might. Not maybe. Not won't. WILL! Period. But, here is where "His people" (Christians) have taken God's promises and have claimed them for selfish purposes. God is not our servant that we can demand things from. He wants us to go to Him in prayer. Not with our "to do" list, but with a heart that is seeking Him. Sammy Tippit says prayer is what brings our hearts into alignment with God's will. Jesus will give us the desires of our heart when our hearts are aligned with Him, when the

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relationship is in the correct order. God is not to be "used" by man. Man is to be "of use" to God. 

The widow kept going to the judge asking for her rights against an adversary. She wasn't falsely accusing someone and she wasn't trying to get what wasn't hers. She was a widow who was protecting herself and requesting what was rightfully hers. The judge didn't care about God and he didn't care about people, not a good combination! He kept refusing to help her, but she kept going. Finally, he gets tired of her coming and he thinks to himself, "Even though I don't respect God or care about people, I will see that she gets her rights..." (Luke 18:4–5) He didn't do it because it was the right thing to do. He did it because he didn't want to be bothered by it anymore. No matter what the reason, the right thing was finally done and she was given her rights. The unfair judge eventually did what was right.

How much more then will the only true, honorable, and righteous judge do for His children? Luke 18:7–8 - "God will always give what is right to his people who cry to him night and day, and he will not be slow to answer them. I tell you, God will help his people quickly."

When I think about the situation we are in, there are probably some who would say God has been slow to answer us. But that is not truth. We found out on a Friday we were being sued and by Monday morning God had given us HIS promise. Psalm 140:12 - "I KNOW the LORD will get justice for the poor and will defend the needy in court." WILL with God is past tense, it is a done deal. Even before that answer there was another time God answered quickly. The very first January meeting, where my sister and brother-in-law systematically tried to destroy and control my will, ended in the wee hours of the morning. Yet that same day, God answered my cry for help by having Jane (Her Name Was Jane) and I meet and Jane praying a prayer of blessing over my life.  

Is the lawsuit still going? Yes. Are we still waiting on an answer from God? No. He gave us His promise and we believe Him. Are we waiting on an earthly fulfillment of God's promise? Yes, but that is of the least importance. Where there is much trouble there is much grace. And we are the recipients of MUCH GRACE. How God accomplishes His will in an earthly fashion is of little importance to us. That is His decision—not ours. That is His responsibility—not ours. We are to continue to believe; continue to be faithful; continue to follow; and continue to testify of His faithfulness. The rest is up to Him. He is in control.

God was quick to respond. We will continue to believe HIS promises. 


Next Entry: Luke 18:1–43 (Continued)

Luke 1:1–80

August 21, 2012

Luke—a letter written by a doctor to his friend.  It is a carefully written and full-of-detail letter, almost like a research paper. Luke thought he was just writing his thoughts and findings to a friend, but God had other plans. He had a role to play—a God-given role—and his writings, now part of the New Testament, have influenced millions of people. Our responsibility is to be faithful to the role God has given us. What God does with the role He has given us is His responsibility.

Zechariah and Elizabeth "truly did what God said was good."  hey had major disappointments in their lives (they didn't have children) but that did not stop them from living right. They continued on and did what God said was good. They persevered and God heard their prayers. Even though God heard their prayer, they did not see their prayer answered until many years later. When God sent an angel to tell Zechariah their prayers had been heard, Zechariah had a hard time believing it was actually true and he questioned the angel. Luke 1:18 - "How can I know that what you say is true?" God sent Gabriel to tell Zechariah he was going to be the recipient of a Blessed Event and he questioned the truth of it. Let's face it. We would have probably questioned it as well.

Did Zechariah believe—truly believe—what he said he believed? Do we believe—truly believe—what we say we believe? Zechariah and Elizabeth were good people. They followed God's ways. They knew what God had done for Abraham. They knew God was capable of anything. But, Zechariah did not ask, "Who am I to receive this Blessed Event?" No, he asked, "How do I know this is true?" And because his tongue questioned God, his tongue was quieted. He was unable to speak again until he acknowledged this was indeed a Blessed Event. He acknowledged where this gift came from when he named the child the name Gabriel gave him—John.

Mary by contrast, was startled when the angel appeared to her and told her she was going to have a child, but she was not doubtful. She asked, "How will this happen?" She didn't say, "How will I know this is true" or "if" this happens. The angel told her how; he answered her question; he told her what was happening with Elizabeth; and he assured her saying, "God can do anything." Mary replied, "I am the servant of the Lord. Let this happen to me as you say." (Luke 1:38  She unashamedly accepted the role God gave her to play. The key phrase—she was a "servant of the Lord."

Mary went to see Elizabeth. Elizabeth said, "You are blessed because you believed that what the Lord said to you would really happen." Mary was blessed because she believed. Zechariah became mute because he doubted. Then Mary did the most important thing we've learned these last five plus years. She praised God.

"My soul praises the Lord; my heart rejoices in God my Savior, because he has shown his concern for his humble servant girl. From now on, all people will say that I am blessed, because the Powerful One has done great things for me. His name is holy. God will show his mercy forever and ever to those who worship and serve him. He has done mighty deeds by his power. He has scattered the people who are proud and think great things about themselves. He has brought down rulers from their thrones and raised up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with nothing. He has helped his servant, the people of Israel, remembering to show them mercy as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his children forever." Luke 1:46–56

Elizabeth gave birth.Everyone expected the child to be named after a family member but Elizabeth said no, he is to be named John. So, they go to Zechariah, thinking he will have something different to say. Zechariah, who was still unable to speak, asks for a writing tablet and writes, "His name is John," and immediately he could speak again and "he began praising God." When Zechariah obeyed he was immediately restored, and his desire was to praise God.

"Let us praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to help his people and has given them freedom. He has given us a powerful Savior from the family of God's servant David. He said that he would do this through his holy prophets who lived long ago. He promised he would save us from our enemies and from the power of those who hate us. He said he would give mercy to our fathers and that he would remember his holy promise. God promised Abraham, our father, that he would save us from the power of our enemies so we could serve him without fear, being holy and good before God as long as we live. Now, you child, will be called a prophet of the Most High God. You will go before the Lord to prepare his way. You will make his people know that they will be saved by having their sins forgiven. With the loving mercy of our God, a new day from heaven will dawn upon us. It will shine on those who live in darkness, in the shadow of death. It will guide us into the path of peace." Luke 1:68–79

Zechariah went from doubting, to immediately being restored when he accepted and acknowledged God's plan, to praising God with absolute confidence that God was going to do what He said He was going to do. He used past and future tense words to describe what had not yet happened. "He has come... has given freedom... has given Savior... he said... he promised he would save... he said he would give mercy... God promised... you will be called... you will go... you will make... a new day will dawn... it will shine... it will guide." (Luke 1:68–79) From doubting to knowing!

We KNOW what God has promised us. We believe He will do what He has said He will do. We accept the role He has given us to play. First and foremost, we praise His Holy Name.

From the Life Lesson ~

"Hope is not what you expect; it is what you would never dream. It is a wild improbable tale with a pinch-me-I'm-dreaming ending... Hope is not a granted wish or a favor performed; no it is far greater than that. It is a zany, unpredictable dependence on God who loves to surprise us out of our socks and be there in the flesh to see our reactions." ~ From God Came Near by Max Lucado

Well said!!

Life Lesson Application: "Remember, God can do anything. Ask God to show you what he wants you to do, then ask him for the power and courage to do it."

Addendum: 1/25/16 ~ God CAN do anything. WE BELIEVE!


Next Entry: Luke 2:1–52

Matthew 11:20 – 12:50

May 01, 2012

I find it interesting that the same things that kept people from believing in and trusting Jesus back in Bible times, is the same thing that keeps people from believing in (and obeying) Him now; the need to be in control ourselves and wanting a "god" that fits our own agenda instead of getting the

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relationship in the correct order and submitting our lives to His. Control—verses—Submission. It's not about us! It is about Him.

• "We played music for you, but you didn't dance."
• "We sang a sad song, but you did not cry."
• John the Baptist came and did not eat or drink and they accuse him of having demons.
• Jesus comes eating and drinking and they accuse Him of doing it too much.
• Jesus does miracles—but they don't change their lives.
• Jesus' followers pick and eat grain on the Sabbath and the Pharisees throw a fit.
• The Pharisees try to trick and trap Jesus.
• Jesus heals a man's hand on the Sabbath—and the Pharisees make plans to kill Him.
• Jesus heals a blind man who also could not talk—and the Pharisees accuse Him of using Satan's powers. They just could not stand the thought that Jesus did not fit in their mold.

Still today, people try to create a god to their liking. Look at all the different denominations and theologies. All trying to put their own spin on who they think Jesus should be and creating their own god, with a

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model. Man being in control and their "god" subservient. Why do we make things so difficult? Jesus' words are very clear.

• Wisdom is proved to be right by what it does.
• How terrible for you! I did all these miracles, I showed you who I was, but still you would not listen, and you would not change your life and stop sinning. On Judgment day it will be better for Sodom than for you.
• I have hidden truth from those who think themselves wise and smart.  
• I have shown truth to those who will trust me like little children.  
• God the Father and I are one. To know me is to know Him. 
• Come to me! You who are tired and weary and you who have heavy loads. Come to me. I will give you rest.
• Accept my teachings. Learn from me. I am gentle. I am humble, and you will find (Find!!  Not work for, not achieve, but find!) rest for your souls. You will find it because I will give it. 
• What I am asking you to accept is easy. All you have to do is believe me and trust me.
• What I give you to carry is light. If your load is too heavy then you haven't given it all to me. Because what I give you to carry is light.
• I keep telling you this but you just don't seem to get it. Matthew 12:7 - "I want kindness more than animal sacrifice." (See Psalm 51:17) "You don't really know what those words means. If you understood them, you would not judge those who have done nothing wrong."

Next Entry: Matthew 11:20 – 12:50 (Continued)

Matthew 5:1–48

March 07 and 08, 2012

When Jesus began his teaching in Matthew 4, His first words were: "Change your hearts and lives, because the kingdom of heaven is near." Now in chapters 5–7, Jesus explains what He means; what changing your hearts and lives looks like; what the kingdom of heaven is like; and what He expects from us.  (Paraphrased)

• I want you to recognize that you have great spiritual needs. When you recognize that, it means you are no longer self-sufficient but instead are God-reliant—and the kingdom of heaven belongs to you.  
• I want you to understand that your self-sufficiency cannot bring you happiness. In fact, one way I can get your attention is for things to happen to you that you cannot fix. For when that happens you will turn to me—and I will comfort you and bring you happiness.
• I want you to empty yourself of "self." I want you to be humble. When you are empty I can fill you and you will be happy and the earth will be yours—not because of who you are but because of whose you are.  
• I want you to hunger and thirst for what is right. In all you do, I want honesty, fairness, and trustworthiness to be your highest goal—no matter what. When you do that, I will be the one who fully satisfies all your needs. Do what is right and wait for me—I will bring you satisfaction.
• I want you to show mercy to others. Don't take revenge. I am the one who avenges! When you set your "rights" aside and show mercy to others—I will show mercy to you.
• I want you to have pure motives and thinking. For when your heart is pure your actions will be pure as well—and my presence will be with you.
• I want you to be someone who works to bring about peace not someone who stirs up strife.  When you do this, not only will you know me—I will know you as my children.
• I want you to continue to do what is good and right, even if it means people treat you badly for doing what pleases me. I know. I see. When you put yourself in the line of fire to faithfully follow me—you will be rewarded. The kingdom of heaven belongs to you.

"People will insult you and hurt you. They will lie and say all kinds of evil things about you because you follow me. But when they do, you will be happy. Rejoice and be glad, because you have a great reward waiting for you in heaven. People did the same evil things to the prophets who lived before you." Matthew 5:11–12

The secret of happiness? Simple, and yet the most difficult thing. You have to empty yourself of—SELF. You have to understand and accept the

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relationship. Surrendering your ALL to Him so it becomes HIS will, HIS plan, HIS purpose, HIS... only HIS. YOUR will be done, I surrender ALL! THEN God blesses and God provides. 


Next Entry: Matthew 5:1–48 (Continued)

Zephaniah 1:1 – 3:20 (Continued)

February 18, 2012

Zephaniah ends with this amazing promise:

"I will take away the sadness planned for you, which would have made you very ashamed. At that time I will punish all those who harmed you. I will save my people who cannot walk and gather my people who have been thrown out. I will give them praise and honor in every place where they were shamed. At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you back home. I will give you honor and praise from people everywhere when I make things go well for you, as you will see with your own eyes," says the LORD."

Following those verses in the margin of my Bible I wrote the following:

Praise the Lord!

5-19-08 ~ When fear attacks we will claim these verses. We will NOT be afraid and we will NOT give up. We WILL wait on the Lord. Oh, that our lives would be such that He rejoices over us and sings because of us. Hear our cries for mercy, Lord. Restore the land. Save us from those who planned evil against. us. May all honor and glory be yours. Praise the Lord.

What a way to end the Old Testament. When I wrote those words on 5-19-08, I had no way of knowing that on November 16, 2009, I would begin keeping a journal(s) of my journey reading through the Bible and that on February 18, 2012, I would finish the Old Testament with the words that I wrote in the margin of my Bible three years and eight months earlier. 

I read those words from 2008 and I can feel the pain and hurt that person was feeling. What a change there has been. The pain and hurt has been replaced with peace and joy. My faith and confidence in the LORD has grown immeasurably. Even the way I wrote/write Lord has changed. LORD to me now is all caps: I AM; Yahweh; the God who is. We have been on quite a journey these last five years. It has been a path of unknowns, but we have been led the entire way by the great I AM. How well I remember those first unsure steps as we began our faith journey. God is faithful and I believe He has found us faithful. 

"The LORD your God is with you; the mighty One will save you... you will see with your own eyes."

Praise the LORD.

Addendum:  10/4/15 ~ And now, three and one half years later, I am transcribing my writings, the lawsuit has been going on for over eight years and the judge has ordered a Settlement Conference. Unless God intervenes, the Settlement Conference will be an act of futility. BUT—like I first wrote in my margins over seven years ago:

When fear attacks we will claim these verses. We will NOT be afraid and we will NOT give up. We WILL wait on the Lord. Oh, that our lives would be such that He rejoices over us and sings because of us. Hear our cries for mercy, Lord. Restore the land. Save us from those who planned evil against us. May all honor and glory be yours. Praise the Lord."

A "new day" is coming. "At that time" God's promises will be fulfilled. "As you will see with your own eyes." We believe—WE BELIEVE! 

Life Lesson: "Hear God's Word through his faithful prophet—surely he will judge sin. But there is hope, deliverance, and salvation for those who trust in Him.  The storm is over; take a walk in the sun!"


Next Entry: Old Testament Epilogue

Zephaniah 1:1 – 3:20 (Continued)

February 17, 2012

Gather together! Gather together!

"Do it before it's too late, before you are blown away like chaff, before the LORD's terrible anger reaches you, before the day of the LORD's anger comes to you. Come to the LORD, all you who are not proud, who obey his laws. DO what is right. Learn to be humble. Maybe you will escape on the day the LORD shows his anger." Zephaniah 2:1–3

The LORD pleads with the people. He begs them! Do it before it's too late! Please! Do it! Now! Don't wait!! There will be a day when it's too late! Do it now! Before! Before you are blown away like chaff. Come to me! Do you hear me? Come to me!! It will mean you have to put yourself aside, you will have to lay your pride down. Lay your pride down! Come to me! Put your own dreams, wishes, and demands aside. Obey my laws! Come to me! Don't try to help yourself! Don't go to others for help! Come to me! Do what is right! Get a new way of thinking! Learn to be humble! You are going to have to change their hearts and get a new way of thinking. You are going to have to learn to be humble and to put me above anything and everything! Come to me! Do it before it is too late!!

God so wants His people to repent and return to Him. He pursues them and gives them every opportunity. But there comes a time when the day of grace is over and punishment happens. 

"How terrible it will be..." There will be a distinguishable difference between those who have chosen to follow me (God) and those who have chosen to follow their own ways. Ruin and destruction will come to those who think they are in control of their own lives; who think they have safely protected themselves; who think their deeds (actions and actual) are hidden; who thinks there is no one else as strong or as smart as they are; who say to themselves, "I am, and there is none besides me. (Zephaniah 2:15)

What a revealing quote. They think they are the "I am." They think "there is none besides me." God is the only I AM. God is the one who said, "I AM, and there is none besides me."(Deuteronomy 32:39; Isaiah 43:11; Isaiah 44:6–8; Isaiah 45:5,21; Hosea 13:4) Their thoughts reveal the root of the problem. It was pride and self—the problem of "I." The

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relationship was not acknowledged. There was no surrendering of the heart. They had elevated themselves to the position of god. They trusted in their own wisdom, own power, own strength, own business savvy, own devices, own schemes... it was all about them. The first two commandments were broken, and the breaking of all the rest soon followed.

We look at the quote of their thoughts and we think—what arrogance. Yet sadly, that is the way the vast majority of people "live" even if they don't have the brashness to "say" their thoughts out loud. Our actions reveal the truth. We may try to fool ourselves and we may be successful in fooling others, but we are not fooling God. He knows the truth. We may try to honor God with our lips but our actions belie the truth.

God says, "How terrible..." for the people who are wicked, stubborn, who hurt their own people, will not obey, refuse to be taught to do right, won't trust the LORD, won't worship the LORD, who attack people, who are proud, who can't be trusted, who break God's teachings, who are not ashamed of their actions. I (God) have already held them accountable in many ways. I said, "Surely now (they) will respect me and will accept my teaching." Then I would not have to punish them. "But they were still eager to do evil in everything they did." And the LORD, the LORD who is good, the LORD who can do no wrong, the LORD who judges fairly, the LORD who can be trusted (Zephaniah 3:5) says:

"Just wait, someday I will stand up as a witness."

The wicked will be punished and my people will be protected. A new day is coming. The proud will be removed, but I will leave my people who are humble and they will trust in me. They will not do wrong. They won't tell lies. They won't trick people with their words. They will eat and lie down. They will go about their day-to-day lives and no one will make them afraid.

Sing! Shout for joy! Be happy! Rejoice! The days of trial and punishments are over! Your enemies have been sent away! The LORD is with you! Never again will you fear any harm. Zephaniah 3:16–17 - "On that day (you) will be told,

Don't be afraid... don't give up. The LORD God is with you; the mighty one will save you. He will rejoice over you. You will rest in his love; he will sign and be joyful about you."

Wow! Wow! A thousand times—Wow! Such emotion. God—the God all of creation, the God who is worthy of ALL praise, ALL honor, ALL glory both now and forevermore—not only is with us and will save us, but He will rejoice over us! He will sing and be joyful about us! We will rest in HIS love! Not because of who we are—NO! Because of WHOSE we are! We are children of THE King. We sing and lift our praises to HIM—the LORD of ALL. And when we "get it," when we understand the

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relationship, when we surrender ALL, when we finally say, "I'm all in GOD" no matter what, YOUR will be done—THEN! God rejoices over us and sings and is joyful about us! Oh, what a picture. Our God and Savior rejoices over us. What could ever be better than that? Fame? Wealth? Power? Esteem? No. Nothing. NOTHING can compare or even come close to the joy in knowing that your surrendered life brings joy to the God of ALL creation. Nothing.

"I will take away the sadness planned for you, which would have made you very ashamed. At that time I will punish all those who harmed you. I will save my people who cannot walk and gather my people who have been thrown out. I will give them praise and honor in every place where they were shamed. At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you back home. I will give you honor and praise from people everywhere when I make things go well again for you, as you will see with your own eyes," says the LORD." Zephaniah 3:18-20

I'm speechless. There are no words.

To God be the Honor and Glory!  Praise the LORD!

Addendum: 10/3/15 ~ Oh the contrast between "I think" of the people who insist on being in charge of their own lives; the "I know" of the people whose faith and trust is in God alone; and the "I will" promises of God. I don't want to "think." I want to "know." God passionately pleaded for His people to return to Him. What a contrast between God pleading for His people to return to Him and His reaction to those who are surrendered to Him. Pleading—verses—Singing and joyful rejoicing over us. I want my life to be such that it brings joy to my Savior. 


Next Entry: Zephaniah 1:1 – 3:20 (Continued)

Nahum 1:1 – 3:19

February 14, 2012

"God doesn't want people to fail; rather, he gives them opportunities to repent and enter Heaven. But if they persist in sin, they will be punished." ~ Life Lesson

Nahum prophesies about the city of Ninevah. Ninevah—the same town Jonah was sent to. The same town who had accepted Jonah's/God's message and repented and therefore was saved. The same town—100 years later. Their repentance was short lived. They did not pass it down through the generations, and now Nahum is prophesying about God's impending and thorough judgment. Nahum 1:3 - "The LORD does not become angry quickly, and his power is great. The LORD will not let the guilty go unpunished."

"The LORD is good, giving protection in times of trouble. He knows who trusts in him." Nahum 1:7

"But, like a rushing flood, he will completely destroy Ninevah. He will pursue his foes into darkness. Whatever they plot against the LORD he will bring to an end... they will be entangled... they will be consumed... it will be defeated and brought to an end." (Nahum 1:8–12)

Nahum 1:13 - "Now I will free you from their control and tear away your chains." (NIV - "Now I will break their yoke from your neck and tear your shackles away.") Nahum 1:15 - "The wicked will not come to attack you again; they have been completely destroyed."

God—He is the One! How exciting it will be to see how HE is going to free us! No power of hell, no scheme of man can EVER pluck us from His hand. God is our Deliverer, Refuge and Strength!

In the margins of Jane's (Her Name Was Jane) KJV she has written:

Take Heed!

Hebrews 4:1 - "Now, since God has left us the promise that we may enter his rest, let us be very careful so none of you will fail to enter."

Hosea 4:6–10 - "My people will be destroyed, because they have no knowledge. You have refused to learn, so I will refuse to let you be priests to me. You have forgotten the teachings of your God, so I will forget your children. The more priests there are, the more they sin against me. I will take away their honor and give them shame. Since the priests live off the sin offerings of the people, they want the people to sin more and more. The priests are as wrong as the people, and I will punish them both for what they have done. I will repay them for the wrong they have done. They will eat but not have enough... because they have left the LORD."

I Corinthians 3:10 - "Using the gift God gave me, I laid the foundation of that house like an expert builder. Others are building on that foundation, but all people should be careful how they build on it."

I Corinthians 10: 12–13 - "If you think you are strong, you should be careful not to fall. The only temptation that has come to you is that which everyone has. But you can trust God, who will not permit you to be tempted more than you can stand. But when you are tempted, he will also give you a way to escape so that you will be able to stand it."

II Peter 1:5–10 - "Because you have these blessings, do your best to add these things to your lives: to your faith, add goodness; and to your goodness, add knowledge; and to your knowledge, add self-control; and to your self-control, add patience; and to your patience, add service to God; and to your service to God, add kindness for your brothers and sisters in Christ; and to this kindness, add love. If all these things are in you and are growing, they will help you to be useful and productive in your knowledge of our LORD Jesus Christ. But anyone who does not have these things cannot see clearly. He is blind and has forgotten that he was made clean from his past sins. My brothers and sisters, try hard to be certain that you really are called and chosen by God."

Luke 21:8 - Jesus said, "Be careful so you are not fooled. Many people will come in my name, saying, 'I am the One', and, 'the time has come!' But don't follow them."

Galatians 6:7 - "Do not be fooled: you cannot cheat God. People harvest only what they plant."

Luke 21:34 - "Be careful not to spend your time feasting, drinking, or worrying about worldly things. If you do, that day might come upon you suddenly, like a trap on all people on earth."

Jeremiah 48:10a - "A curse will be on anyone who doesn't do what the LORD says."

Psalm 37:23 - "When a person's steps follow the LORD, God is pleased with his ways."

Ephesians 2:10 - "God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing."

John 13:17 - "If you know these things, you will be happy if you do them."

I Corinthians 15:57–58 - "But we thank God! He gives us the victory through our LORD Jesus Christ. So my dear Brothers and Sisters, stand strong. Do not let anything change you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the LORD, because you know that your work in the LORD is never wasted."

Joshua 1:8 - "Always remember what is written in the Book of the Teachings. Study it day and night to be sure to obey everything that is written there. If you do this, you will be wise and successful in everything." (Only verse that has "success.")

Addendum:  9/30/15 ~ What a blessing it has been to have Jane's Bibles. I love that because of her faithfulness to the LORD, she is still teaching us and impacting our lives to this very day – seven years after her earthly death and the beginning of her eternal life. Her Take Heed! verses are just amazing. We should indeed all take heed. God has clearly laid out the blueprint for successful living. It is up to us to follow it. If we do, He will guide our paths and give us joy in the journey.

I just realized it's September. It's been eight years since Jane told us to read Isaiah 30. Nahum and Isaiah 30 – written 50-100 years apart from each other but with the same basic messages of each other and Jane's "Take Heed."

• Warnings against trying to do things your own way
• There will come a day for accountability
• God will protect those who trust in Him
• God's justice WILL prevail

We believe!  Thank you again, LORD, for blessing our lives with Jane.


Next Entry: Habakkuk 1:1 – 3:19

Micah 6:1 – 7:20

February 14, 2012

It is the LORD who brings peace. (Micah 5:5)

Micah 6:1–2 - "Hear what the LORD says: Get up; plead your case in front of the mountains; let the hills hear your story... listen to the LORD's legal case... listen, the LORD has a legal case... and he will accuse." Micah 6:8 - "The LORD has told you what he wants from you: to do what is right (act justly) to other people, love being kind to others, (love mercy) and live humbly obeying your God."

The voice of the LORD calls. The wise person listens and chooses to honor Him. Micah 6:9 - "Pay attention to the rod of punishment, pay attention to the One who threatens to punish."

• Are you still hanging on to those things that I call wicked?
• Are you still using cursed false measures?
• Can I forgive people who cheat others with wrong weights and scales?
• Are you still doing cruel things?
• Are you still telling lies?

As for me (the LORD), this is what I will do:

• I will attack
• I will ruin
• I will make you sick
• You will not be satisfied
• You will work and work but you won't be successful
• You will plant but you won't harvest
• You will try everything but nothing will come of it

This is because you chose to follow other gods instead of following me, "so I will let you be destroyed." Micah goes on to say that it is your own family that will turn on you, setting traps, doing evil, untrustworthy, ruthless, anything to seek their own gain. But! The LORD is kind. Micah 7:7 - "I will look to the LORD for help. I will wait for God to save me; my God will hear me." The NIV says it this way: "But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior, my God will hear me."

What a contrast between the statement, "My God will hear me" in Micah 7:7 and, "They will cry to the LORD but he won't answer them" in Micah 3:4.

God is in control (Micah 7:9–10):

• He will defend me
• He will bring about what is right for me
• He will bring me out into the light
• I will see HIM set things right
• My enemies will see this
• They will be ashamed

Micah 7:10 (NIV) - "She who said, 'Where is the LORD your God?' My eyes will see her downfall; even now she will be trampled under foot like mire in the streets."

Micah 7:15 - "As in the days when I brought you out of Egypt I will show them miracles." Then they will know that I AM the LORD. Micah 7:18 - "There is no God like you. You pardon sin. You forgive the transgressor. You are full of mercy and compassion. There is hope for the lost."

LORD, please give my sister and brother-in-law another opportunity to change their hearts and minds. Wrestle from their hands anything that is keeping them from turning to you. May they know that you are the LORD God All-Mighty. Amen.


Next Entry: Nahum 1:1 – 3:19

Amos 7:1 – 9:15

February 07, 2012

Amos saw a vision of locusts and another vision of fire. What he saw would completely destroy Israel. He begged God not to go through with His plans—and God changed His mind. Then God showed him the vision of a plumb line. The LORD stood by a straight wall with a plumb line in His hand. The LORD said, "See, I will put a plumb line among my people... to show how crooked they are. I will not look the other way any longer." I won't destroy everyone like you saw in the first two visions, but I will hold the people accountable for their individual actions. Amos 7:8 - "I will not look the other way any longer."

The people of Israel didn't want to hear this message. They didn't want to hear "truth." Amos was from Judah. The people said—go back to your own people and prophecy there. Leave us alone. It was God who sent Amos to warn Israel. Amos was "just a" shepherd. He had no aspirations to be a prophet. He was just following God's directions. But the people didn't want to hear it.

Whether you want to "hear" it or not, the truth is the TRUTH. It can either set you free, or you can refuse the message and remain in bondage. Refusal to listen doesn't change it. The truth is still the truth.

Amos sees another vision, the vision of ripe fruit. God said, "An end has come for my people... I will not overlook their sins anymore." Listen! Listen to me! You who walk over helpless people, you who go through the motions on Sunday but can't wait to get back to "the business at hand" of over charging people, giving them less, using dishonest scales to cheat people, raising prices, willing to do anything to increase your own wealth. I (God) say, "I will never forget everything that these people did... so they will fall and never get up again." (Amos 8:7 and Amos 8:14)

Between Amos 8:7 (I will never forget) and Amos 8:14 (they will fall) there are seventeen "will" statements. The I "wills" of God. Written in stone and the same as past tense. "I will never forget... so they will fall" with seventeen other "wills" between. God goes on in Amos 9 to say "not one person will get away; no one will escape." There is no escape. There is no place to hide.

     "If they dig down as deep as the place of the dead,
          I will pull them up from there.
     If they climb up into heaven,
          I will bring them down from there.
     If they hide at the top of Mount Carmel,
          I will find them and take them away.
     If they try to hide from me at the bottom of the sea,
          I will command a snake to bite them.
     If they are captured and taken away by their enemies,
          I will command the sword to kill them.
     I will keep watch over them,
          but I will keep watch to give them trouble, not to do them good."

Wow! Strong words. No place to run to. No place to hide. What a contrast between those verses and Romans 8:38–39 - "Yes, I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor ruling spirits, nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us, nothing below us, nor anything else in the whole world will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our LORD." No fear! Total peace! Nothing, outside of ourselves, can ever separate us from God's love. Nothing has that power, except ourselves.

We have eternal security in Christ. He will never leave us or forsake us. Unfortunately, "we" sometimes leave and forsake Him. The people of Israel left God. They chose to follow their own selfish ways instead of choosing to follow God's ways. After repeated attempts to get them to return to Him, He finally says, "I will not look the other way any longer." There is nowhere you can go to hide from me. "Not one person will get away; no one will escape... I will keep watch over them, but I will keep watch to give them trouble, not to do them good." They have thought, "nothing bad will happen to us." (Amos 9:10) But it is the LORD who is in control. He tears down those who refuse Him; and He builds up his people. 

"I will plant my people on their land, and they will not be pulled out again from the land which I have given them," says the LORD your God. Amos 9:15

The LORD is His name.

Addendum:  9/24/15 ~ "I will keep watch over them, but I will keep watch to give them trouble, not to do them good." Oh, what sobering words that ought to bring all of us to our knees. May I live my life in such a way that my heavenly Father will NEVER speak those words about me.  


Next Entry: Obadiah 1 

Hosea 6:1 – 10:15

January 30, 2012

"Come, let's go back to the LORD..." and God says, "I want faithful love" more than I want your sacrifices. "I want people to know me" (NIV - acknowledgment of God) more than your offerings. I want you to change your hearts and minds and get a new way of thinking. 

Instead, "It never enters their minds that I remember all their evil deeds." I know. I see. But they somehow don't think it matters. Your "hearts burn inside of (you). All night long their anger is low, but when morning comes, it becomes a roaring fire." Greed and revenge consumes them. Their strength is already eaten up but they don't know it. "(Their) pride will cause their defeat; they will not turn back to the LORD their God or look to him for help in all of this." I will bring them down. I will punish them, how terrible it will be. Hosea 7:13 - "I want to save them, but they have spoken lies against me." They have trusted in the wrong things. Their foolish plans are like planting the wind— they will reap a whirlwind.   

Truth and lies cannot be mixed. That is "like a pancake cooked only on one side." (Gotta love the way the Bible is written in such a visually descriptive manner.) You've tried everything but coming to me. You've chosen your own leaders. You've chosen your own path. You've created your own idols. You've come up with your own plans. You've went outside of me to seek help. You've hired others to protect you. You built altars to remove sin but they have become altars for sinning. You keep trying to do everything yourself.

You have forgotten that I am your Maker. 


Next Entry: Hosea 6:1 – 10:15 (Continued)

Hosea 4:1 – 5:15

January 30, 2012

The LORD's word against Israel—You are not faithful to me. You are not loyal or true. You break all bounds. All the things I hate: cursing, lying, killing, stealing, and adultery are everywhere. You don't even know me. You do not acknowledge me as God. Because of this there are consequences. The land is drying up. The beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea that I put under your control (See Psalm 8) are dying. Because of this the people are wasting away.

God's case against the priests—Don't blame other people. You have brought this on yourself. You will be ruined. You have refused to learn... so I will refuse. You have forgotten... so I will forget. "I will take away their honor and give them shame." Instead of being an example and leading people to me, you've instead encouraged people to turn away from me so you could profit from it. I will punish. I will repay. You will not be satisfied with what you have. You have mixed truth with lies. Because of this your ability to understand has been taken away.

God's case against the people—You have prostituted yourselves. You have left me and chased after other gods. You are stubborn. You have chosen to leave me, so leave them alone. You love the wrong that you do. Because of this you will be swept away like a whirlwind. What you bring as an offering to me will only bring your shame.

God's word against the leaders—Pay attention! You will be judged. You have done many evil things, so I will punish you. What you have done is not hidden from me. You will not give up what you have done and return to me. In fact, what you have done prevents you from returning to me. You are determined to be unfaithful to me. You don't know me. You do not acknowledge me as LORD. Your pride has caused this. Because of this you will fall. You will come to look for me but you will not find me. You have been intent on following idols so my punishment will pour over you like a flood of water. I will be like a lion. I will attack. I will drag you off. "Then I will go back to my place until they suffer for their guilt and turn back to me. In their trouble they will look for me." The KJV says it this way, "I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offense, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early." The NIV says, "Then I will go back to my place until they admit their guilt. And they will seek my face; in their misery they will earnestly seek me."

O Father, that is our prayer. That is our prayer. Remove the scales from their eyes, Lord. May YOU get the honor and glory. May all know that you are the God.  Amen.

*Yesterday our oldest granddaughter asked Jesus to live in her heart. WooHoo!!


Next Entry: Hosea 6:1 – 10:15

Hosea 1:1 – 3:5

January 27, 2015

Hosea 1:9 - "You are not my people, and I am not your God."
Hosea 2:23 - "You are my people... you are our God."

What a contrast between Hosea 1:9 and Hosea 2:23. Hosea's message came during the reign of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, which was prior to the fall of Jerusalem. God was still trying to get the message to Israel. You are like an adulteress woman. You have prostituted yourself and have been unfaithful to me.

They had turned away from God and God was pursuing them. Judah, for the most part, was faithful during this time period and God said, "I will save them, but not by using bows and sword, horses or horsemen, or weapons of war. I, the LORD their God, will save them." (Hosea 1:7)

Israel was not faithful, and God is telling them what He will do and the consequences they will face in order for there to be any hope for restoration. His words are strong:

• I will strip...
• I will not take pity...
• I will block...
• I will hem her in...
• I will take away...
• I will take back what I have given...
• I will stop...
• I will destroy...
• I will punish...

But, I will pursue her and I will make the "Valley of Trouble a door of hope."

Hope. There is always hope. Hope that "in the last days they will turn in fear to the LORD, and he will bless them." (Hosea 3:5) Hope that Hosea 1:9 - "You are not my people, and I am not your God," will turn into Hosea 2:23 - "You are my people... you are our God." Hope. Always hope.

God pursues, but it is man's choice. We either turn to God or we turn away from Him.  

Hope. Always hope.


Next Entry: Hosea 4:1 – 5:15

Ezekiel 33:1 – 36:38

January 09, 2012

There is a beautiful full moon out this morning. It's beauty is breathtaking as it casts a glow across the frozen pond. Streams of light are radiating out from it in the shape of a cross. "Let the heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Psalm 19:1

God has Ezekiel tell the people the story of a watchman. If the watchman sees the enemy coming to attack them, he must blow the trumpet and warn the people. If they hear the warning and do nothing they are responsible for whatever happens to them. But if the watchman sees the enemy coming to attack and does not warn the people, then the people are still responsible for their own destruction, but the watchman will also be held accountable.

Ezekiel was appointed by God to be a watchman for Israel (God's people). God wanted His people to know their wicked and evil actions would be punished. If Ezekiel didn't warn them, then the people would be destroyed because of their actions, and Ezekiel would be punished for not telling them. But, if Ezekiel warned them and they refused to listen, then the people would still bear the consequences of their choices, but Ezekiel would be released from any responsibility. The people of Israel knew they weren't living how they should, but they wanted to find ways to save themselves instead of returning to follow the Lord. Ezekiel 33:11 - "Say to them: 'The Lord God says, As surely as I live, I do not want any who are wicked to die. I want them to stop doing evil and live. Stop! Stop your wicked ways! You don't want to die, do you, people of Israel?' "

In today's world, one of the questions people often ask is, "Why does a loving God send someone to hell?" The answer is—He doesn't. God doesn't send anyone to hell, the choices the people make and their refusal to change their hearts and lives, is what decides where they will spend eternity. God is a kind, loving, and patient God who wants no one to miss out on His grace. The sins of the wicked break His heart. He went to extreme measures to offer life and salvation to ALL. But it is just that... an offer. We have to choose to take it. The truth of the matter is this: Your eternal destiny is determined by what you choose. Be careful! The choice we make matters. It literally can mean the difference between Heaven and Hell. Confess. Repent. Surrender. Choose to accept God's free gift of salvation.

God continues to give Ezekiel the words to say to the people of Israel. Ezekiel 33:12 -  "Say to your people: 'The goodness of those who do right will not save them when they sin. The evil of wicked people will not cause them to be punished if they stop doing it. If good people sin, they will not be able to live by the good they did earlier.' "  f I tell good people, "You will surely live" they might think they have done enough good and rely on their past for protection. But that isn't how it works. If they start doing evil the good they did in the past won't be remembered and they will be held accountable for the evil they are now doing. Conversely, a wicked person, when they understand they will suffer the consequences for their actions, "may stop sinning and do what is right and honest. For example, they may return what somebody gave them as a promise to repay a loan, or pay back what they stole. If they live by the rules that give life and do not sin, then they will surely live, and they will not die. They will not be punished for any of their sins. They now do what is right and fair, so they will surely live." (Ezekiel 33:14-16)

The people say: "The way of the LORD is not fair." They said the same thing in Ezekiel 18:25–29. When I read it the first time I thought it was odd that they felt it unfair that everyone is accountable for their actions, but I didn't give it much thought. As I read it again I wondered why. Why in the world would they think that was unfair? God's ways made perfect sense to me. God says, "it is their own ways that are not fair." (Ezekiel 33:17)

I think I understand now. They were so sure they were "safe." After all, they were God's children; they were the Israelites; they were "Christians." They were sure they were "safe" because of their heritage. They did not think it necessary or true that they would be personally responsible for their actions. After all, what about God's grace? They didn't want anyone, even God, to tell them what to do. They acted "as if" they were listening but refused to change. How patronizing. They might as well as slapped God in the face. (See Hebrews 6:4–8) It was all about who they were, not whose they were. How dare God hold them accountable for their actions! Doesn't he understand who they are? How dare God forgive their enemies! Doesn't he understand what they have done to me!? I, I, I... me, me, me. It was all about them. How dare God!!

Oh my goodness, what dangerous thinking. That kind of thinking is the very root of the problem. They wanted God to be a god of their choosing, for their purposes. It doesn't work that way. The people said – Abraham was our father, this is our land. And God says, really? You really think you can depend on yourself instead of me? You really think you can disobey my commands and still live in the land? Really?!? Watch and see. I will make the land empty. Ezekiel 34:28–29 - "The people's pride in the land's power will end... They will know I am the LORD when I make the land an empty desert because of the things they have done that I hate."

Ezekiel was a faithful watchman. He warned the people. The people came "as if" they wanted to hear the message from the LORD. They sat in front of him "as if" they were God's people and they acted "as if" they wanted to listen, but the truth is they didn't want to listen and they didn't want to obey. Ezekiel 33:31 - "With their mouths they tell me they love me, but their hearts desire their selfish profits." Ezekiel, the people view you and your warnings as entertainment. Ezekiel 33:32 - "They hear your words but they will not obey them." Ezekiel tried to warn them. God tried to warn them. He will send messengers, He will alter circumstances, He will do everything in His power to change their minds, but He will not force anyone to surrender to His Lordship. Ultimately, we are solely responsible for the choices we make. God makes it very clear in scripture what His response to our choices will be. He is just and fair. Ezekiel 33:20 - "Israel, I will judge all of you by your own ways."

Then God talks to the people about the leaders of Israel. He compared them to shepherds who should have been taking care of the people. But instead of caring for others, they only thought of themselves. They didn't search for lost sheep; they didn't care for or feed the sheep; they only concerned themselves with their own wants. And God says, "How terrible it will be... I am against the shepherds. I will blame them..." I will remove them and I will take care of my people/sheep myself. I will search for them; care for them; feed them; put bandages on where they've been hurt; I'll make the weak strong. I will destroy those who only looked after themselves. "I will tend the sheep with fairness." I will take care of my people. I will judge fairly. Ezekiel 34:21 - "You push with your side and with you shoulder, and you knock down all the weak sheep with your horns until you have forced them away." You try to get your way, but that will end. I will save my people and they will not be hurt anymore. I will remove the danger from around them and they will live safely. I will bless them. There will be showers of blessings. They will reap harvests from the land. They "will be safe on their land." Ezekiel 34:27-31 - "Then they will know that I am the LORD when I break the bars of their captivity and save them from the power of those who made them slaves... then they will know that I, the LORD their God, am with them... you my human sheep, are the sheep I care for, and I am your God, says the LORD God."

In Ezekiel 35 God explains why He is against Edom, all for the purpose of, "then you will know that I am the LORD." Edom was angry and jealous of Israel/Judah. Edom hated them. They greedily wanted their (Israel and Judah's) things as their own. Ezekiel 35:10 - "These two lands will be ours. We will take them for our own." God says, I will treat you Edom just as you treated them. You were pleased when you thought you could take their land and things. So I, the LORD say, "All the earth will be happy when I make you an empty ruin." (Psalm 140:9 - "Those around me have planned trouble. Now let it come to them.") Then you will know. Edom took what wasn't theirs, "with joy and with hate in their hearts." They forced people out. And God says, "In my jealous anger"... I will avenge those who have chosen to be against me. But to my people I say, "I am concerned about you; I am on your side. You will be plowed, and seed will be planted in you... the ruins will be rebuilt... I will make you better off than at the beginning." I will act for the holiness of my name. I will restore you. "I will teach you to respect me completely, and I will put a new way of thinking inside you. I will take out the stubborn hearts of stone from your bodies, and I will give you obedient hearts of flesh. I will put my Spirit inside you and help you live by my rules and carefully obey my laws. You will live in the land I gave to your ancestors, and you will be my people, and I will be your God." (See Ezekiel 11:19; 18:30-31)

It's not too late. There is still time for repentance and forgiveness. (Ezekiel 33:11) "I do not want any who are wicked to die. I want them to stop doing evil and live. Stop! Stop your wicked ways!" Choose to do the right things. Change your hearts and minds.

From Life Lesson:

"Scripture teaches us that grace and salvation are unconditional. This is absolutely true in the sense that there is no way we can earn God's grace or love; there is nothing we can do in order to achieve it. Our salvation is given to us freely as the gift of God's love. But when we read scripture carefully, we discover that before God forgives us, he expects us to forgive others. It seems as if God made us psychologically so that we are not able to receive forgiveness unless we first forgive... Again and again we get this message that Jesus expects us to be willing to forgive others as he is to forgive us. This... points to a basic biblical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual principle—if we want to receive forgiveness without giving forgiveness, we're asking God to violate principles he has built into us... God's laws are a given of his existence. They are built into our muscles, brains, personalities, and social interactions. His highest law, love, is what brought the world into being, and love is nourished by forgiveness. The opposite of love is hate, and hate is kept alive by resentment." ~ From Practical Christianity By David Seamands

The opposite of forgiveness is resentment. Resentment is a cancer to relationships, our souls, and our bodies.


Next Entry: Ezekiel 37:1 – 39:29