Deuteronomy 4:1-49 + Luke 6:39-7:10 + Psalm 68:1-18 + Proverbs 11:28
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Old Testament – Today in Deuteronomy chapter 4 verse 29 we read: “But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.” How does this verse speak to you today? Do you believe it is true? Have you sought God with all of your heart and with all of your soul? This verse also reminds me of Jesus’ teaching of one of the two great commands – which he quoted from Deuteronomy chapter 6 verse 5 – “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” So – if you have sought after God and found him, do you now today love God with all your heart and with all of your soul and with all your strength? What does this look like in your life? How do you love God in your life today?
New Testament – The passages on the faith of the centurion today are powerful – especially his words in verse 7 – “Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed.” Can we learn something from the faith of the centurion in our lives today?
Bible.org’s commentary on Luke chapter 6 readings today titled “Tough Love” is at this link. And commentary on Luke chapter 7’s readings titled “Jesus the Healer” is at this link.
Psalms – I always like the idea and reminder to sing to God! Do you sing to God at places other than church? Maybe in your car? Maybe at home with the headphones on? Do you “sing” to God with the way you live your life? Here’s verse 4 in Psalm 68 today which I love – “Sing praises to God and to his name! Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds. His name is the LORD– rejoice in his presence!” How do you sing your praises to the Lord each day? Is it done as passionately as this fella below? 🙂
Proverbs – Proverbs 11:28 today teaches us: “Trust in your money and down you go! But the godly flourish like leaves in spring.” Great proverb! It tells us that trusting in money is not godly and “down” we will go. Why? Because if we are trusting in money then we are not trusting in God. And who can ultimately hold us “up” – now and for eternity? God or money? How very interesting is it that the back of U.S. money says “In God We Trust”? 🙂
Worship Video: Today’s readings in Deuteronomy chapter 4 and Psalm 68 remind me of the Matt Maher song “Alive Again:”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSTaVmDQP5s
Do you need to be made alive again? Click here for Life!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “”Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” Luke 6:46 NIV
Prayer Point: Pray that you will call upon Jesus as your Lord, each and every day. Pray that you will be obedient to Jesus’ Word, each and every day. Pray that you will be a doer of Jesus’ Word, and not just a hearer.
Comments from You & Questions of the Day: Back to our Psalm today – how many folks out there belt out worship tunes while driving in your car?? 🙂 Feel free to fess up in the Comments below. I will confess here and now that I do belt out tunes from various worship CD’s – Chris Tomlin and Phil Wickham lately. However, what’s interesting is sometimes I feel a bit guilty spending so much time listening to music and singing along. I have one great friend who almost never listens to music – he thinks it’s a waste of time and he wants to listen to news / preaching in the car instead. To try to learn something he says. And I can appreciate this… but I think it’s still quite allright to sing our praises to the Lord on a frequent basis in the car! What say you? Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!
God bless,
Mike
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BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
(our Group Bible Study is below! : )
======= Ramona:
Deuteronomy 4:1-49
2 Do not add to or subtract from these commands I am giving you from the LORD your God. Just obey them. (NLT)
“Just obey them,” a simple sentence but a powerful Word from God. I believe we like to add or take away from God’s commands to better understand in our minds, why God is asking us to adhere to a specific code of conduct and it is in our explanations of “why” where we get messed up. Funny thing about understanding, at least with God, I find that understanding comes as I just do what God tells me to do. It may not come right away, but understanding, by way of revelation and or study, does come as we mature.
That concept is not hard to understand when we think about why we send our children to school. They do not go into the first grade with a full understanding of E=MC2, a mathematical formula of energy, a formula language founded on 1 + 1 = 2. However, if one decides to go into physics, the simple arithmetic basic will come into play. My son, a stress analyst for Boeing’s new 787 plane, works with numbers and formulas all the time, which I don’t understand; however, he has taken the time to study the math and physics behind the “why,” and I haven’t. That doesn’t’ mean the laws of aerodynamics will work for him but not for me because I don’t understand the laws. Yes, “Just obey them,” is a powerful sentence.
Grace and peace,
Ramona
======= Anka:
RE:singing to God….
Last weekend I went for a retreat at mt Sinaia(mountains named after mt Sinai in Romania)and was so awed by the scenary that I began to sing out “How great thou art”…it was pretty cold there so I came back with a sore throat but it was really one of the best worship experiences in my life..singing with all of my heart cos no one except God was around to hear…
A thought came to me this morning even before I got to read today’s scriptures…I kept pondering on the Reubenites,the Gadites and that half tribe of Manassah..God had promised the land AFTER the crossing of the Jordan,Moses tried to talk God into letting him cross the Jordan to get to the land…but these other people preffered to not go to the promised land…Well,I don’t mean to offend anyone…just thinking aloud…There are Christians who love God,believe in Jesus even the Holy Spirit but draw the line at the gifts of the Holy Spirit…well,if Jesus baptised us with the Holy Spirit…he lives in us yet we refuse to receive his gifts.My pastor was excommunicated from his church because he spoke in other tongues and the church didn’t believe in that…there are “believers” who don’t believe in casting out demons(even though scriptures approve)…We have the Holy Spirit…yet refuse to use the gifts He gives….kinda like those tribes belonging to God,fighting with the rest of Israel yet having no portion of the land promised because they thought they got a better deal on the east of Jordan…
Just a thought,I may be wrong and I sure am open to corrections.
I heard the first American constitutions were built on Godly principles…anyone who wondered why the american economy was booming…the american dollar has on it “in God we trust”!!American missionaries are everywhere…I pray that God doesn’t forget the labour of love of the americans and that He restores their trust in God…and God alone….
God bless you all
Anka
======= Gary:
Just a Thank You Mike. Thanks for the inspiration to continue with the daily readings. I have kept up for the first time in my life. God knows I’ve tried to do this many times before. I know there is a long way to go, but I’ve never made it this far before. I’m sure the layout, Old, New Testament and Psalms, Proverbs has really helped to continue the move forward.
Thanks, Again
Gary
======= Roslyn:
“But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Truly, we can only find God if we fully believe in Him, if we look deeply into our hearts and give Him our unconditional acceptance and love just as Jesus has—no if’s and but’s.
Roslyn
======= Luch:
I have tended to be one who prefers to ‘learn’ while driving in the car, so have avoided an overdosing on ‘worship music.’
However I have been observing that God gave us ‘songs for the journey’. For example, the songs of ascent–Psalm 120-132 are what I call ‘soul music’..As God’s people ‘traveled up’ to the LORD, they sang these songs. For a better understanding of this I refer you to Eugene’s Peterson classic book “A Long obedience in the same direction.”
Music is good if it stimulates my thinking about God, and if it stirs my heart to love God and to serve Him. However I have also seen that ‘worship music’ can be very self serving, where people never respond to the ‘songs’ that carry a lot of depth and meaning, and that are designed to ‘set us on fire for God and His purposes.’
Luch
======= Beth:
Yes, I’m one of the ones who listens to worship music in the car, and sings along. I listen to channel 23 on XM radio which is a contemporary Christian music station. I find that those songs are in my head during the day when I need some encouragement, and even when I lay down to sleep at night. Thanks be to God!
Beth
======= Sue:
As I read about the Israelites journies after coming out of Egypt, I am struck by what motivated them to sin:
They had no concept of how much God loved them.
When we know we are loved, and by whom we are loved, we trust and obey; we want to please the one who loves us, and we want more of that love.
When we fear, though–and God repeatedly says “Fear not,” we doubt His love for us; we start depending on ourselves and we find ourselves in disobedience and oftentimes in frightful situations like the Israelites found themselves, and with God’s wrath, and chastisement.
Yesterday my cat jumped up on my lap, and I was moved by his absolute trust in my rubbing his chin, behind his ears, and he drooled–yes, drooled on me. I had asked the vet about this drooling, and she and her assistant laughed mockingly at me when I was concerned; they said it was because he feels complete trust!
I know how it makes me feel when my cat trusts me completely (he runs out the house when we have company or the housekeeper comes on her regular visits). His confidence in me to protect him from danger is quite a feeling of enjoyment; I wonder if God feels that way when we turn to Him, enjoy Him, and desire Him unfeigned like my cat.
Just a thought.
Sue
======= Pam:
The new dollor coin is being minted with the words In God We Trust on the edge of the coin.
I am so Glad when I have a chance to sing loud and praise God with no critics (I have three children who have never been a fan of my tone-deaf sound)! It is writen “Make a joyful sound”… in the car, I have my best opportunity to really let loose! God bless you all this Morning!
Pam
======= Gina:
I LOVE to sing in the car! I’ve got some really great worship cd’s also that I listen to. I know people driving near me think I’m nuts! : ) I do enjoy good preaching too. I listen to CSN Radio (Calvary Satellite Network) in the car also. Just depends on the mood I’m in!
Poverbs is great today…my hubby and I are in that test right now…trusting God regarding money. we’ve been hit all at once with some bit money issues but we totally know God is in control and we can trust Him to provide.
Gina
======= Alan:
Until last week I was on the road over 40,000 miles a year for the last 2 years. I’d listen to Moody radio in Florida, music, programming, news & then from time to time, put in a Florida Boys CD, Gaithers & occaisionally Marantha Singers from Promise Keepers. I’m already missing my time, but have a 12 mile commute now and a lot more family time.
Alan
======= Jenny:
lots of good readings!!! Kinda hard to concentrate, i brought my friend to church tonight and she accepted Christ!! i”m so overjoyed! there are no words, its just a complete miracle! PRAISE GOD!!!
I dont see anything wrong with praising God in song! I think its individual, your friend isnt so into music, but i am! Some of us just love music! We are made differently. I know God loves to hear His people worship! In fact, we were created to worship Him! I think it depends on the individual, but what does God want from us more then anything? Our hearts, our worship, our obedience! We can listen to sermons, yes thats awesome, but we definitely need worship and to apply things in our lives, be a doer, not just a hearer! i alternate between the two…probly more music (i’m talking about in my car). Yes I belt it out and sing to Him…i even lift my hands in praise, or one hand, haha, drive with the other. A heart devoted to Christ is a blessed one and it pleases the Lord that we love the things of HIM, whether it be sermons or Godly music!!!
Jenny
======= Margaret:
I confess to singing when I’m upset but I suspect initially it is to comfort me first and THEN praise to “the Great Comforter”.
What struck me today is in the OT–Deu 4:21 among other places when Moses cannot go into the Promised Land “because of you”. Moses repeatedly blamed the Israelites for HIS sin of disobeying God. I probably shouldn’t be so hard on Moses because I prefer to blame other people for my sinning also.
Margaret
======= Joy:
Yes, I drive a van with 10 speakers, and it is awesome to listen to and sing along with praise music in a rolling concert hall. My favorite right now is The Hymn Project by Chris Rice.
It gets me back on track after a long day at the office.
Joy
======== Jim:
Which is better: singing or preaching?
The reason we have both at service is not to “cover our bases” but because some people learn more through words (and some read, which is why churches include the text in a PowerPoint presentation) and others through music… while the rest of us learn by all three… and so, we need all three. Thus, the question is not if one is better than the other but is one better for you (not measured by how good it makes you feel but by how you change for the better – seen in your good works afterwards).
Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your MONEY!
“Strength” is actually a common mistranslation… I guess money sounded too Jew for whitey. Clearly, however, our checkbooks are by far the best measurement of our faith. Moreover, that’s how the Jews understood it for thousands of years before one special Jew quoted it again (in a book written by Jews, for Jews, about Jews). If fact, this is the first Bible phrase taught to a young Jewish child, it is spoken four times a day (long before Christ), and every Jew tries to say it with their last breath as this is one of the two most important Jewish prayers (the Shema – Hebrew for Listen, and the Amidah – Hebrew for Standing as it is said standing, facing and bowing to Jerusalem, the gateway to heaven… long before the Muslims did it). For example, five members of a Dutch family were part of the fifteen deaths in the Sbarro Pizza bombing in Jerusalem. The father had managed to reach over and hold the hand of his 4-year old son as the two of them lay bleeding, burning, and dying. Together, their last words were heard to be the Shema prayer. “Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God, the LORD is One.” The cry of “Shema Yisrael” (Listen O Israel) has always symbolized the ultimate manifestation of faith in the deadliest of situations (and so was an especially important aspect of Jewish life in German concentration camps).
The idea that God (and all) is one runs contrary to the earlier Zoroastrian (origin of all modern religions and members were known at the time of Christ as the Magi, which means astrologers) doctrine of dualism, which propounds the idea of two conflicting powers — good and evil (common belief to other religions). The Shema is specifically spoken with one’s eyes closed (as in death) to symbolize striving for an understanding upon death of how even the “bad” in our lives was actually for our “good.” To love with our “heart” means to love with our emotional desires, to love with our “soul” means to love specifically in our worst moments (to death), and to love with all our “resources” means to love even with our money.
As the Torah traditionally progresses a series from easiest to hardest, does this suggest we love money more than life? In Nevada, in fact, hotel room windows are always built to open no more than a crack to stop people who have lost all their money not to jump out and also lose their seemingly less important lives. The oral traditions passed down to Moses also speak of a man walking through a thorny field who pulled up his pant legs so that even though his legs were torn up, his pants were saved. Finally, Machiavelli sadly noted in “The Prince” that people are likewise generally more affected by the lose of property than by the lose of their father.
Jesus also refers to the Shema in The Gospel of John 10:30. A group of Jews in the Temple in Jerusalem at the Feast of Dedication, or Hanukkah, asks him if he is Messiah, the anointed one of God. Jesus concludes his response with the words “I and my Father are one” (NIV). This is an allusion to the Shema, which any Jew then or today would immediately recognize.
Therefore, Jesus was being somewhat of a sarcastic cuss when He was asked, “How do we get to heaven?” and He replied with the Shema as He was really saying, “You recite the answer at every service and whenever you retire to bed and whenever you arise, and yet you still harass me!” In the same way, when they asked Him how to pray and He replied with a summary of the Amidah (the Lord’s Prayer), He was really saying, “You recite the answer three times a day – even to replace the offerings as prophesied by Hosea – and, yet you still harass me!”
The reality is that, if we are honest, we generally know the answers but lack the faith to obey. We read the Bible not to primarily increase our knowledge but hopefully to first help increase our faith and obedience (as demonstrated by our checkbooks).
Shalom
Jim
======= Lila:
I have regular Praise and worship in my car all the time. I pray, sing, and talk to God.
The Word of God says to “make joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.
Ps 98:4.
Also Sing a new song to the Lord. All you people of the earth, sing to the Lord. Sing to the Lord. Praise him. Day after day tell about how he saves us. Ps 96:1
Lila
======= Helen:
For those of you that have a car/van etc.I think it’s fine to sing God’s praises or to listen to a preaching.
(Your friend who isn’t into the singing, perhaps one day God will suprise them – by teaching them something through a scripture based song)!
I usually travel by bus or train. I have often met other Christians, been able to help someone in some way or ended up silently praying for people around me.
You hear many peoples difficultites overhearing their ‘private’ mobile phone converstaions now days! Instead of just thinking well I would have never said all that in a public place. . .!!I pray for them and their situations. If you are doing the driving you probably need to concentrate more on the road more than a passenger who can more easily get into praying for others.
Helen
======= Jill:
Thank you for doing all that you do to help spread the Word. Your words and thoughts mean more to people than you can ever know. God Bless you Mike.
Jill
======= Elizabeth:
Hello Mike and Everyone,
Interesting that you should mention this passage:
“But from there you will seek the LORD your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.” -Deuteronomy 4:29
I remember this verse from many years ago–before I became a Christian and was seeking Him through His word. I clung to this verse as His promise to me—that if I would truly seek Him with of all myself, that He would be faithful to reveal Himself to me.
Sixteen years later, I can testify that He did reveal Himself! : ) He has been faithful, and He continues to reveal Himself to me in new ways, every day…
Still giving Him my heart, my soul, my strength….because He is SO worth it all,
Elizabeth
======= Barb:
WOW! Today’s picture of the dollar bill with “In God We Trust” enlarged is a powerful visual. Great choice! Especially having just listened to the President address the American people about our debt last night. Our founding fathers sure knew what they were doing. If only America would focus on God and trust in Him first, like the founding fathers did…
Thanks Mike, for this blessing of a blog.
Barb
======= Josh:
I am in a wheelchair & I do not drive but I sure love rockin’ out to Godly tunes on my computer. Toby Mac, Casting Crowns, & Third Day are my favs. Also, I am not physically able to turn pages in my One Year Bibe so without you Mike, I would be stuck. Thanks to the online OYB I can get my faith on!!
Josh
======== Reuben:
I do like your worship selections … but disagree with this one. I think these are more on target with Psalm 68.
Paul Wilbur –
https://www.youtube.com/embed/LfasHGpvowc?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent
Chris Tomlin –
https://www.youtube.com/embed/SaLckqfvZHQ?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent
Reuben
======= Steve:
Deuteronomy 4:1-49
Moses was a Sheppard, it must have been hard for him to watch but not be permitted to accompany his flock as they finally cross over into the Promise Land. Imagine the responsibility of managing such a huge number of people, a people that are so prone to wander off in different directions. Got me to thinking about the way God sometimes uses Sheppard’s as leaders. The theme of Deuteronomy is love and obedience, the same agenda the good Sheppard has for his flock. The good Sheppard wants to take us out of the bondage of our own territory and lead us into the green pastures of the Promise Land.
The good Sheppard is willing to lay his life down for his sheep; he leads the sheep with love but at times the Sheppard must be harsh on the sheep when they wander. The Sheppard does not enjoy being harsh, he is only harsh because he knows the great danger facing the sheep that wander, realizing those that stray could permanently be separated from the flock forever.
Moses as a good Sheppard pleads with his flock to hearken to the word of the Lord by giving them reason after reason to obey God so that it will go well with them. Deuteronomy expresses the magnitude of God, His love for us and His awesome power as a God of consuming fire and a God of love.
In the words of my Pastor, “Yes, He’s a consuming fire and those enemies of God shall be destroyed by that consuming fire. Consuming is just a qualifying word and that is a word that qualifies really the enemies of God; that which the fire will do to enemies of God. But that same fire transmits us into permanency because from us it consumes the dross and the impurities of our life. It’s the refining fire of God burning within our hearts, consuming dross transmitting into permanency”.
Steve
======= Duane:
I love to sing. I sing when I wake up. I sing in the shower ,I sing in the car, and at work. the bible says, make a joyful noise to the Lord, and thats exactly what I do. I also sing on the praise and worship team as well as the sanctuary choir. The songs we go over during choir practice, I sing continuously. There are times when God will bring to rememberance songs from my past that I learned when I was a kid.Its hard to sing and not be joyful. I believe that singing is a wonderful gift God gives us in order to praise and lift him up.
Duane
======= Chris:
I think Moses got it; despite his blaming the Israelites for not being able to enter the promised land, he seems to understand (and conveys that understanding to them) that they absolutely MUST obey God. The thing about Moses and Aaron striking the rock displayed frustration but also arrogance. The rock had done nothing to them, so why hit the rock? Hit the disobedient complainers about water…at least that would have been more appropriate. So, the lesson I think he recognized was that if they wanted God’s blessing(s) (and who doesn’t), they better learn better than he and Aaron, to OBEY God.
I also liked the reference to fruit in Luke. So many times we wrestle with judging. We are first reminded to remove our own “timber” from our eye before getting that speck of dust out of our brothers, but the “flip” side of that is that we need to recognize when someone is intentionally not being genuine, as in: Is there any fruit on that vine? Is it all just a bunch of brambles in those bushes.
I am particularly moved when I read about God’s care of widows and orphans, as I know and love a young woman with three children whose husband was electrocuted while operating machinery on the job. It is a comfort to her knowing that God is her protector. When someone undertakes to leave a husband or start a family without a husband for a protector, it is a whole different scenario from one who loves and obeys her spouse and he is taken away instantly; yes, I know it is God’s plans for their lives. She knows it too, and loves God. That kind of individual really encourages others to step up to the plate.
So many good lessons in Luke with building houses on sand as opposed to a firm rock foundation. That’s what we are doing reading the One-year-Bible, isn’t it? As I read the Easy to read, next to the NIV, and the King James Bible, I feel the rock hard foundation being cemented in my heart (or at least I hope it is).
Praises in the psalms, and a reminder in proverbs about reliance on the riches. My gym teacher told me back in 8th grade that “good enough is never good enough,” and that lesson kind of extends to riches, doesn’t it? I mean, no matter how much money a rich man/woman has, it’s never enough, is it?
Chris
======= Jill:
Mike are you kidding me? Feeling guilty for singin aloud and praising your Father? You can’t do that enough! First God wants us to have a spirt of thankfulness. Continually. How better than to,praise him in song! It keeps us from dwelling on the negative and keeps satan away! Keep singing!
Jill
======= Carol:
Listening to Christian music helps keeps me focused during the day! I’ve tried the teaching/preaching channels but then I’m bombarded by so much that it’s hard to focus/meditate/work on the few things that the Lord has brought to me for that particular day! I love the “What Now” book that goes along with our readings and that right there is enough to munch on for me during the day!!
Carol
======= Doug:
A Gaither song I really like and sing usually in the car “Because He lives I can face Tomorrow”
Thanks Mike for leading us.
Doug
======= Joyce:
Mike and everyone,
This passage stands out to me, Luke 7:3-7
3 And when the centurion heard of Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to Him, requesting Him to come and make his bond servant well.
4 And when they reached Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying, He is worthy that You should do this for him,
5 For he loves our nation and he built us our synagogue [at his own expense].
6 And Jesus went with them. But when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent [some] friends to Him, saying, Lord, do not trouble [Yourself], for I am not sufficiently worthy to have You come under my roof;
7 Neither did I consider myself worthy to come to You… (Amplified Bible)
I admire the centurion’s humble faith. Though others praised him for what he had done, he saw himself as not worthy of Jesus.
We also are not worthy of Jesus. It is by His grace and mercy that He comes to us, and heals us!
Blessings,
Joyce
======= Rita:
The Lord enjoy our singing and praising as much as we do. What’s the point of learning but not being able to feel joyful and to freely express our love to Him. I confess I, too, love to sing and praise while driving, at church, and at home. I also like listening to sermons, reading the oneyearbibleblog, and praying. One does not exclude the other; in fact, it complements it.
P.S. There’s a Lebanese praising band called Strongholds that’s quite awesome. Check it out.
Rita
======= Robert:
Numbers 4: 1-43
I read a commentary about how this scripture should be pondered on how the chosen people spoke so warmly of their relationship with God. That really is evangelism! It sounds like they have a pride about the law and decrees. Laws are a source of wisdom and discernment and there is a holiness that will even affect people that do not believe in God. We see how many people and nations, through out the Bible are attracted to this one true God by the relationship He wants.
Deuteronomy 4:41-43
Cities of Refuge.
Re: Numbers 35:6-34. Again we hear about these places that are set up with the intention of providing a safe place to “get your act together”. I work in a place that provides accommodation to transients of all kinds. The staff treats everyone that comes here with this sense of our place being a refuge, if they need it or not. There is a mixture of needs: safety, time, money, stability, rehabilitation, hope, and a kind word. It may only be one night or several months but the objective is to provide that environment to allow a person to get their act together. Guess who sends them here? The interesting thing about this is that it is never discussed with the patron but only the staff is in the know. Not all the staff are Christians but we use the same principles described in these readings in the Bible. It makes all our work have a higher purpose and what joy when the person can leave in a better state of affairs.
Robert
======= Christine:
God loves praise and worship. Its a way to be closer to HIm. David sang and danced before the Lord. Miriam sang to the Lord as have many more. Shabbatt is a good time to study His word.
Christine
======= Dee:
Well, Mike I am one of those worship song gurus like you! I love it!! That’s how I usually get through house work when I do get around to the work at home. lol!! But just this morning I couldn’t resist listening to Mikeschair, Let the Waters Rise, and singing passionately to it because I have been there, felt that, experienced that raging emotion and it takes you back to the tender moments you have with God and it is in those moments that I really “feel” Gods presence moving in my life..
Anyway, back to the readings today..
Deuteronomy..its hard to believe we are already in Deut..I was writing numbers before I knew it and had to subtract that..then I had to check my spelling of Deuteronomy..can you believe this word was on my 4th grade sons spelling test recently..jeesh.. However, good read in there today, I was going to comment on yesterdays since I didn’t blog and say in likes with Karens comments that I do get saddened for poor Moses asking yet again to God about crossing the Jordon, and God giving an emphatic, No, you may go up on a mountain and look and oversee the promises I have given to your desendants but thats all..you can’t blame Moses for making one last plea..and I know God knows and has ways that are different from ours, however..he still loves and cares for us, and I still commend Moses for all his efforts in trying to lead these crazy bunch of people, I again, would have just let the Lord smote them way back when..Todays readings almost sounded like a sermon of sorts because Moses was really poring his heart out to the people..
Deut. 4:1-49 (1) Listen, give heed to what I am about to tell you, that you may go out and possess the land in which the Lord our God has given you. (2) Don’t add to Gods words or take anything away from..but follow the Lord all the days of your life(paraphrasing) He gives them lots of remembrances again to bore in their thick skulls, verse 9 was good, Only take heed, and guard your life diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes have seen and lest you depart from your mind and heart all the days of your life. teach them to your children and your childrens children..This tells us, we have to teach and show our kids what we have learned from the Lord and be on guard ourselves, lest we slip and fall into sin.. verse 29, is precious..But if from there you will seek (inquire for and require as necessity) the Lord your God, you will find Him if you (truly) seek Him with all your heart (and mind) and soul and life..That is what I search for and set out to do each and every day of my life and was my prayer this morning.. I pray that everyone else commissions this prayer in their life..and verse 30, When you are in tribulation and all these things come upon you, in the latter days you will turn to the Lord your God and be obedient to His voice..(it reminds me of a worship song at my church that says.. Your latter days will be greater than the rest, basically saying that even all the trials you had from the beginning the latter will be so much greater than the former times, and you will be overwhelmed be the Love of God and His move and your maturing you have done in the Kingdom that you wouldn’t trade it for nothing!
I loved the Beatitudes yesterday..I finally got to sit and read them well and read them to my son while he went to bed last night..trying to brighten his mood..he’s almost ten and sometimes as grumpy as an Israelite in the wilderness. Lol!! But I always like to simmer him down and read to him whether he wants to hear the Word or not..Faith comes by hearing..and what we give our attention to, eventually becomes our affection.. so..it is life changing for us..but today..I admire the centurion..I only hope oneday..Jesus can look at me as I feel he looked towards the centurion with admiration and marvel..and say to me..Never before have I seen much faith..That would truly be a compliment from our Big Brother-Jesus!
Ps 69: 3, I don’t want to feel like that again..where I am weary with my crying: my throat is parched , my eyes fill with waiting for My God..Scary feeling when you like that..However I listened to Joyce Meyer this morning and she said somthing that had me thinking..She said “we can be pitiful or powerful but we can’t be both!” thats is so true its like having faith but walking in fear..can’t happen. we have to on purpose Do what we know to do..Stand on the Word with all our might..lean not to our own understanding, trust in Him..Do it anyway, even if your scared..thats a natural feeling.. and I truly believe you can still be trusting in God and leaning to Him and be a little scared at the outcome but the whole time saying..You know what..none the less..Lord..Your Will Be Done!!
Love and blessings~~
Dee
======= John:
Deuteronomy
Deut 4:35
“You were shown these things so that you might know that the LORD is God; besides him there is no other.” NIV
Hebrew Words for:
LORD – Jehovah or Yaweh. The God of personal relationship whose name first appeared in Genesis 3 with Adam.
GOD – Elohim. The name for God that points to Him as strength, power, the Creator. The name used exclusively in Gen 1-2. Elohim is always in the plural (interesting; perhaps pointing to the Trinity).
Jehovah is Elohim – they are one and the same. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the Creator.
God has blessed the Israelites that they have had a personal and front row seat to His revealing Himself. How could they ever doubt??? How could they be disobediant??? There is no other.
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Deut Breakdown
Saw this and never realized it before:
Early Deut – Looking back (History)
Mid to most of Deut – Looking Up (the Law)
Late Deut – Looking ahead (prophecy)
Deuteronomy is the most quoted Scripture by Jesus.
John
======= Emily:
1.) I think the ”gifts” like speaking in tongues and casting out demons can still be very subjective. Church cannot make it the policy of whole congregation. In Deutronomy God is asking people to fight for the material gift of Land… And later he commands Joshua to take over land and promises to be with his army. And Joshua did make the most of it!!!
But ”gifts’ of casting out demons etc. are vague. We cannot pinpoint them. So, they got to remain personal lest we are overwhelmed with individuals who claim to have gifts like speaking in tongues etc.
It is also interesting that Jesus gave the authority to his disciples to cast out demons. I know that stuff.Yes, but we can’t risk in this modern day to recognize demon casters or exorcists in churches all over the world. It would be too much if all over the world there arise demon bashers and Benny Hinns. YAWN~~~~
I think Christians can do more to relieve this suffering world of drug addictions, poverty,hunger, crime, domestic abuse, child sexual abuses. They are the real demons.
Emily
======= Emily:
Contradictions in Bible?
Not long ago, someone posted a comment ( I think it was John) that there are no contradictions in Bible. I am posting a couple from a website. It would be nice if someone takes the time to study them..
God be seen?
Exod. 24:9,10; Amos 9:1; Gen. 26:2; and John 14:9
God CAN be seen:
“And I will take away my hand, and thou shalt see my backparts.” (Ex. 33:23)
“And the Lord spake to Moses face to face, as a man speaketh to his friend.” (Ex. 33:11)
“For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” (Gen. 32:30)
God CANNOT be seen:
“No man hath seen God at any time.” (John 1:18)
“And he said, Thou canst not see my face; for there shall no man see me and live.” (Ex. 33:20)
“Whom no man hath seen nor can see.” (1 Tim. 6:16)
Jesus’ last words
Matt.27:46,50: “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, eli, lama sabachthani?” that is to say, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” …Jesus, when he cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.”
Luke23:46: “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, “Father, unto thy hands I commend my spirit:” and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.”
John19:30: “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished:” and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”
Tempts?
“And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham.” (Gen 22:1)
“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.” (James 1:13)
Emily
======= Ramona:
Emily,
You know what would be better than “someone” researching the supposed contradictions, you researching them. Just be sure that you look up the Greek and Hebrew words behind the English Translation, than begin a WEB site that addresses your concerns.
I have been in this “walk” too long to not recognize when someone throws in something to be a distraction and not something that edifies the group. This is a site that encourages people to read through the Bible in one year. If you think, and fully believe the Bible is full of contradictions, why are you here?
Are you implying that only you have the wisdom and insight to lead us on this journey? Maybe someone will take you up on your suggestion; however, maybe you need to do it off-line e-mail to e-mail.
You know we all find what we are looking for what ever that may be. What we see with our eyes and hear with our ears is colored or filtered by the content of our hearts
Grace and peace,
Ramona
======= Emily:
Ramona, Sorry if it was upsetting. Yes, I would wish to have a dialogue through emails. But it is important to bring stuff up sometimes (by someone who does believe in God) or at a later stage someone could strike you down at a critical juncture in life and you may not be ready for it.
”Just Obey them” is definitly a very powerful sentence that is also the motivation as well as justification behind Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Islam, Communism, Nazism and the list goes on…..
So, yeah, I would try not to repeat material like that in future. But I would sure feel very very dishonest towards you all. But maybe I can make up for that in email discussions…
Emily
======= John:
Emily,
Perhaps a nice compromise, would be if someone sees a problem with consistency in that day’s reading – than it would be appropriate to ask for clarification. If one is behind in readings, then certainly something within a reasonable time frome can be brought up.
I believe Cory, Dwayne, Anka, and Andrew among others have done this in the past, and it seems to work out O.K.
To me – it is a blog. If the comment is pertinent to the day’s reading then I say – fire away. I don’t see how blog comments should keep people from doing the daily readings – if that is why they signed up.
If a reader gets irritated by a poster, then first I would say – examine why you are irritated. If it continues as a source of irritation, then it is pretty easy to scan the list of posts and choose not to read those comments from the “irritant”.
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I would be remiss if I did not point out, that ‘Just obey them’ is vastly different when it comes from God versus the list you made in post. The same God that had proven himself over and over to the Israelite nation.
You are right that the populace has fallen for “man-made” dictates way too often throughout History. They have also fallen for “religious dictates” that seem to fill a void or need.
But these man-made/religious dictates should never be confused with the Authority and the “Word” of God.
John
======== Roslyn:
I don’t see why you can’t raise or share your researched contradictions regarding the bible. As far as I’m concerned, it’s part of reading and studying the bible together. The seeming contradictions do not the least lessen my faith…
Part of the reason why people get so turned off by “experts of the bible”
is their inability to tolerate others that contradict them.
Roslyn
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