Proverbs 29 then 1 and 2

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans

Comments, thoughts and reflections welcome

February 29 allowed me to read Proverbs 29. The verse that stood out for me was 25:

Fearing human beings is a snare; but he who trusts in Adonai will be raised high.

This one is unafraid and their soul is secure; safe from the second death.

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March 1 led me to Proverbs 1 and verse 22 stood out for me.

How long, you whose lives have no purpose, will you love the thoughtless living? How long will scorners find pleasure in mocking? How long will fools hate knowledge?

Lord, have mercy, forgive our thoughtless ways and Holy Spirit help us turn toward God and his ways not away from them.  Thank you, Jesus Christ, for your sacrifice that enables us to be reconciled to God the Father in unity with Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

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March 2 gave me Proverbs 2 and several verses stood out for me. Verses 6-11 with verse 3 and 4 thrown in for good measure.  Bear with me:

6 For Adonai gives wisdom; from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding-– (3 yes, if you will call for insight and raise your voice for discernment, 4 if you seek it as you would silver and search for it as for hidden treasure–) 7 He stores up common sense for the upright, is a shield to those whose conduct is blameless, 8 in order to guard the courses of justice and preserve the way of those faithful to him. 9 Then you will understand righteousness, justice, fairness and every good path. 10 For wisdom will enter your heart, knowledge will be enjoyable for you, 11 discretion will watch over you, and discernment will guard you. 

1. Wisdom
2. understanding
3. knowledge
4. discretion
5. discernment

Ask and He will give this to you.

James 1:5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously and without reproach; and it will be given to him.

Lord, I ask for wisdom to gain knowledge of You and understanding to apply to my walk with you.

Is there a need for this in today’s society?  Do we lack in these qualities? What can be done?

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Fighting Deception…

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans

Comments, thoughts and reflections welcome

From Ephesians:

We will then no longer be infants tossed about the waves and blown along by every wind of teaching, at the mercy of people clever in devising ways to deceive.  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will  in every respect grow up into him who is the head, the Messiah.  Under his control, the whole body is being fitted and held together by the support of every joint, with each part working to fulfill its function; this is how the body grows and builds itself up in love.

Each believer has a given task and when they act in obedience they assist in building a strong fellowship.  This can be visualized as soldiers who position themselves arms locked together in a line and standing firm supported on all sides by comrades with a similar purpose under the leadership of Christ.  A line that cannot be broken.

Any teaching, any  new ‘wave’ that breaks up the line is not of God.  Instruction comes today as it did for Paul and the apostles through the scripture and personal experience that lines up with scripture.  These men all received instruction in scripture from an early age.  Jesus did as well.

It is a sign of maturity that one who is grounded in scripture will not be tossed about by every wave, every wind promising something new because they have been firmly planted in God’s teaching, God’s words.

Pray – Help me, God, to stand firm with the belt of truth buckled around my waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place and with my feet fitted with peace.  Also,  help me to take up the shield of faith, with which I can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Help me to put on the helmet of salvation and take up  the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.  Help me to pray, in the Spirit, on all occasions, with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, help me to be alert and always keep on praying for all the those you have placed in my path.

Repent – I repent for wasting time and energy being concerned about what may be the onslaught of deception instead of spreading the truth of your Word, sharing what is right. I repent for having my focus on the error rather than on righteousness.

Ask – Mighty God, Your Word clearly states that Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.  Help me to be able to discern by your Spirit because his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Guard the hearts and minds of your children against deception with the sure knowledge that even the evil one knows and uses your words.

Yes – Glorious God, I thank you for qualifying me to share in the inheritance of those in the kingdom of light.  For you have rescued me from the dominion of darkness and brought me into the kingdom of the Son You love, in whom I have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Thank you for the continued growth and maturity available to all who search your word.

Resources: Colossians 1, 2 Corinthians 11, Ephesians 6

Thanks to Beth Moore: Praying God’s Word. 

Putting on Armor Daily…

Pray – Your word is truth and truth sets me free to function without restriction in the boundaries of your love and truth.  I am set free from doubt and insecurity; you said it, it is so.

Repent-   I repent for the times I allow the thought that I am inadequate to color the requests you make of me.  I am a daughter of the King; made in His image; given His righteousness and able to accomplish what He gives me to do.  I repent also for allowing feelings and emotions to determine my actions rather than following what I know from your Word.

Ask –   May my action be determined by your Word; your promises are true.

Yes – Thank you for forgiveness and for the truth that enables me to move forward encouraging others by your Word.

Now help us take on the day beginning and ending with prayer:

Putting on Armor daily follows a series of steps:

1. Rise with prayer and song.
2.  Put on the uniform; belt or girdle of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of peace and helmet of salvation.
3.  Pick up the shield of faith and the sword of God’s Word.
4.  Pray, repent, ask, and say Yes! Thank you.

The belt of truth – we are strengthened by truth and use the truth found in God’s Word to stand strong. The belt surrounds the inner core of our being; that area that enables us to stand upright.  It gives us the strength to endure any force that may come against us.

The breastplate of righteousness – a gift from God through Christ.  He gives us His righteousness and we rest secure that our most vulnerable places are protected.  The belt supports the breastplate and we do not have to carry the weight of it in our own strength for that would be our righteousness, weak and incapable.  Our heart is protected by God and His righteousness; right living leaves no room for accusations of wrong living, something  that can become a source of guilt leading to depression and from there to death.

The shoes of peace –  are a gift from God; His peace allows us to stand firm when needed and dig in when necessary to advance.  The turmoil and doubt that abound in the circumstances do not cause anxiety in the inner parts of our being and have little to no effect on our actions in the situation.  This sets the believer apart from the norm.  The shoes of peace keep the believer stable; not blown about by external conditions.

The helmet of salvation – begins with belief and faith that what God says is so. Salvation includes blessings, status and identity – a transformed being drawing from the spiritual blessings available upon request.  It protects the mind from external attacks for it is founded and rooted in the love of Christ. Salvation continues active in our daily walk.

The shield of faith – indicates action.  Pick it up and advance, protected from the fire-studded arrows of accusation and doubt.

The sword of the Spirit is truth; God’s Word, a dagger sharper than any two-edged sword.  It defends and leads an attack against evil perpetrated by deception.

The final piece is prayer – activation of the rest of the armor.  It is communication with the Commander and more powerful than realized when praying God’s Word.  Note the defense and routing of the enemy used by Jesus.

“If you continue in my Word; then you are truly disciples of Mine.”

Pray – Jesus, you say, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete…”  “You shall know the truth and it shall set you free.”  John later repeats, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in truth.”  Implant in me your truth as I search your Word.

Repent – Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for your love is ever before me, and I desire to walk continually in your truth.

Ask – Do not withhold Your mercy from me, O Lord; may your love and your truth always protect me.

Yes! – Father, this moment I am choosing the way of truth.  I want to set my heart on your laws.  Help me to choose the way of truth the rest of my days.

Reference:  3 John 1:4, Psalm 119:30; 26:2-3; 40:11; Ephesians, John 15:11, John 8:32

Images taken from Google Images

 

 

Establish righteousness O God…

 

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans

Comments, thoughts and reflections welcome.

Psalm 7

A Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning the words of Cush, a Benjaminite. O LORD my God, in you do I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers and deliver me,

lest like a lion they tear my soul apart, rending it in pieces, with none to deliver.

O LORD my God, if I have done this, if there is wrong in my hands,

if I have repaid my friend with evil or plundered my enemy without cause,

let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it, and let him trample my life to the ground and lay my glory in the dust. Selah.

Arise, O LORD, in your anger; lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies; awake for me; you have appointed a judgment.

Let the assembly of the peoples be gathered about you; over it return on high.

The LORD judges the peoples; judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me.

Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end, and may you establish the righteous— you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God!

My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart.

God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day.

If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow;

he has prepared for him his deadly weapons, making his arrows fiery shafts.

Behold, the wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies.

He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made.

His mischief returns upon his own head, and on his own skull his violence descends.

I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High.

 

God is a righteous judge who: holds anger at evil, expects repentance, allows the wicked to fall into their own trap. Let the evil of the wicked come to an end. We can join with one another through prayer and effect change in our world for we have the collective power of what God has given to us. Let the evil of the wicked come to an end let them fall into their own traps.

 

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A cry for justice and safety…

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans

Comments, thoughts and reflections welcome.

Isaiah 16:1-5

  Send the lamb to the ruler of the land, from Sela, by way of the desert, to the mount of the daughter of Zion.

  Like fleeing birds,

like a scattered nest,

so are the daughters of Moab

at the fords of the Arnon.

  “Give counsel;

 grant justice;

 make your shade like night

 at the height of noon;

shelter the outcasts;

do not reveal the fugitive;

  let the outcasts of Moab

sojourn among you;

be a shelter to them

 from the destroyer.

 When the oppressor is no more,

 and destruction has ceased,

 and he who tramples underfoot

 has vanished from the land,

  then a throne will be established in steadfast love,

and on it will sit in faithfulness

in the tent of David

 one who judges

 and seeks justice

and is swift to do righteousness.”

What does humanity cry for?  It cries for justice, peace and safety from the oppressor.  It cries for righteousness, a way of living that demonstrates love for one another.  And where will this be found?  Is there any place upon this earth that is free of oppression, free of destruction?  Only in Christ is this found.  There is a place in the spirit that transcends the physical and outlasts the temporal. Only in Christ, sent by God to establish a kingdom ruled by love, faithfulness and right living.  A place of justice where there is no oppression and no destruction.  This is a promise we can hold onto.  In Christ we are found in that safe place with a promise of good not evil, of eternity with God that starts now.

Disclaimer:  if ads are appearing anywhere on this page it is because they are placed there by WordPress not by me.  I have read the information on ads and in order to be ad free now, Word Press charges a fee.  I apologize for any inconvenience these ads may cause you and if they are inappropriate please message me.  Thank you, gracie

Burning the rebelliousness…

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans

Comments, thoughts and reflections welcome.

Isaiah 1:31-31

 How the faithful city has become a whore,

 she who was full of justice!

 Righteousness lodged in her,

 but now murderers.

 Your silver has become dross,

 your best wine mixed with water.

 Your princes are rebels

 and companions of thieves.

 Everyone loves a bribe

 and runs after gifts.

They do not bring justice to the fatherless,

 and the widow’s cause does not come to them.

  Therefore the Lord declares,

the LORD of hosts,

 the Mighty One of Israel:

 “Ah, I will get relief from my enemies

and avenge myself on my foes.

  I will turn my hand against you

and will smelt away your dross as with lye

 and remove all your alloy.

 And I will restore your judges as at the first,

 and your counselors as at the beginning.

 Afterward you shall be called

the city of righteousness,

 the faithful city.”

  Zion shall be redeemed by justice,

 and those in her who repent,

 by righteousness.

But rebels and sinners shall be broken together,

 and those who forsake the LORD

shall be consumed.

 For they shall be ashamed of the oaks

 that you desired;

and you shall blush for the gardens

 that you have chosen.

  For you shall be like an oak

 whose leaf withers,

and like a garden without water.

 And the strong shall become tinder,

 and his work a spark,

 and both of them shall burn together,

 with none to quench them.

This is a promise to burn off the rebelliousness.  This is a promise to purify the filth and leave the pure once again – restored.

There is a promise of restoration with a new beginning as it was originally.  This promise is spoken directly to those who repent.  It doesn’t stop with repentance.  They will be redeemed by righteousness.  Two things here, repentance leads to change.  It is a turning away from the filth to the pure.  Second, righteousness comes to us through Christ.  We are redeemed by his blood.  Justice is served.  And the new will have a new name; righteous and faithful.

We have been redeemed.  We stand for justice.  We work to give relief to the fatherless and the widow, those who cannot help themselves.  We live by the commands/words of Jesus.  In that place we can be called righteous and faithful.

Disclaimer:  if ads are appearing anywhere on this page it is because they are placed there by WordPress not by me.  I have read the information on ads and in order to be ad free now, Word Press charges a fee.  I apologize for any inconvenience these ads may cause you and if they are inappropriate please message me.  Thank you, gracie

Webs of deception…

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans

Comments, thoughts and reflections welcome.

Ezra 10:16-44

  Then the returned exiles did so. Ezra the priest selected men, heads of fathers’ houses, according to their fathers’ houses, each of them designated by name. On the first day of the tenth month they sat down to examine the matter;  and by the first day of the first month they had come to the end of all the men who had married foreign women.

  Now there were found some of the sons of the priests who had married foreign women: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah, some of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brothers.  They pledged themselves to put away their wives, and their guilt offering was a ram of the flock for their guilt.   Of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.   Of the sons of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.  Of the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.  

 Of the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (that is, Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.  Of the singers: Eliashib. Of the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.

   And of Israel: of the sons of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Hashabiah, and Benaiah.  Of the sons of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah.   Of the sons of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza.   Of the sons of Bebai were Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.  Of the sons of Bani were Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth.   Of the sons of Pahath-moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.   Of the sons of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,  Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.  Of the sons of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.   Of the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel, Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi,   Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,   Mattaniah, Mattenai, Jaasu.  Of the sons of Binnui: Shimei, Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah,  Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,  Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah, Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.   Of the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.

  All these had married foreign women, and some of the women had even borne children.

There is a place in scriptures that talks of the sins of the fathers affecting the children.  What a hard place to be!  However, history shows how this intimate relationship among God’s people time and again eroded their relationship with God.  It brought judgment, pain, and destruction.  Can we learn from the past?  We cannot have intimate relationships with that which God has commanded abstinence from;  whatever it may be.  Can we  see that it is for our own protection and the protection of our relationship with Him?  Our relationship with God is paramount.  Knowledge is the key.  Did these men not know scripture?  We have free access to God’s Word; we can know truth and what is righteous.  They had it available and disobeyed.  It caused them pain to make their relationship with God right.  Let us not be caught in the same web of deception!

webs of deception entangle

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Right, righteous, righteousness…

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans

Comments, thoughts and reflections welcome.

Psalm 119 Tsadhe vs 137-144

 Righteous are you, O LORD,

and right are your rules.

  You have appointed your testimonies in righteousness

and in all faithfulness.

 My zeal consumes me,

because my foes forget your words.

 Your promise is well tried,

and your servant loves it.

 I am small and despised,

yet I do not forget your precepts.

  Your righteousness is righteous forever,

and your law is true.

 Trouble and anguish have found me out,

 but your commandments are my delight.

 Your testimonies are righteous forever;

give me understanding that I may live.

There is that which is right and that which is not.  We live in an age that would deceive us into a mindset that says this is not so.  That alone would identify the source!  It is not of God!

“…Righteous are you, O LORD,

and right are your rules. …”

This truth has been tried and found true over time.  Therefore it is no longer theory it is law.  It has moved from “I think…”  to “This is so…”

God’s precepts are right, true and faithful.  If we follow them we find the promise of life and abundance filled life at that.  When we don’t we open ourselves up to the consequences.  And because we do not live alone we are at the effect of those who do not.  In that place God is faithful to bring us through the consequences shaping us in the process.  We can truly say with the psalmist…

“…Trouble and anguish have found me out,

 but your commandments are my delight. …”

“…give me understanding that I may live. …”

Wherever we find ourselves is life; He is there and He is truth.

Disclaimer:  if ads are appearing anywhere on this page it is because they are placed there by WordPress not by me.  I have read the information on ads and in order to be ad free now, WordPress charges a fee.  I apologize for any inconvenience these ads may cause you and if they are inappropriate please message me.  Thank you, gracie

It is God’s righteousness…

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans

Comments, thoughts and reflections welcome.

Romans 4

What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh?

For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”

Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due.

And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,

just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:

“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;

blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”

Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness.

How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised.

He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well,

and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

We receive the righteousness of God through our faith, our believing God for what he says.  It is not some thing to be earned, it is not a result of any symbolism, or sign.  This gift, being found right in God’s eyes, comes only through the faith in us that says he is who he says he is and he does what he says he does.  This faith confirms that he sent Jesus, Jesus is the Christ and he paid our debt.  This faith accepts the gift Christ gives of new birth, spiritual birth bringing a new creature and so we are new, remade in and through the love of God.

Two worlds…

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans

Comments, thoughts and reflections welcome.

Psalm 17

Hear a just cause, O LORD,

​​Attend to my cry;

​​Give ear to my prayer which is not from deceitful lips.

Let my vindication come from Your presence;

​​Let Your eyes look on the things that are upright.

​

You have tested my heart;

​​You have visited me in the night;

​​You have tried me and have found nothing;

​​I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

Concerning the works of men,

​​By the word of Your lips,

​​I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer.

 ​​Uphold my steps in Your paths,

​​That my footsteps may not slip.

​

I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God;

​​Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech.

Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand,

​​O You who save those who trust in You

​​From those who rise up against them.

​​Keep me as the apple of Your eye;

​​Hide me under the shadow of Your wings,

From the wicked who oppress me,

​​From my deadly enemies who surround me.

​

 ​​They have closed up their fat hearts;

​​With their mouths they speak proudly.

​​They have now surrounded us in our steps;

​​They have set their eyes, crouching down to the earth,

 ​​As a lion is eager to tear his prey,

​​And like a young lion lurking in secret places.

​

Arise, O LORD,

​​Confront him, cast him down;

​​Deliver my life from the wicked with Your sword,

 ​​With Your hand from men, O LORD,

​​From men of the world who have their portion in this life,

​​And whose belly You fill with Your hidden treasure.

​​They are satisfied with children,

​​And leave the rest of their possession for their babes.

​

 ​​As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness;

​​I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.

Pasted from <http://www.blueletterbible.org/tools/printerFriendly.cfm?b=Psa&c=17&t=nkjvp>

Two worlds; one, earthly, destructive, greedy, arrogant and temporal and the other labeled righteous with a reward that grants the privilege to see the likeness of God, are pictured here.  We live in and are at the effect of those who follow only their own desires and ways.  They give no credit to God Almighty and oppress the righteous.

“…​​They have closed up their fat hearts;

​​With their mouths they speak proudly.

​​They have now surrounded us in our steps;

​​They have set their eyes, crouching down to the earth,

 ​​As a lion is eager to tear his prey,

​​And like a young lion lurking in secret places….”

The psalmist states their reward is here and now,

“…​​From men of the world who have their portion in this life,…”

But, in contrast, those who choose to follow the life path set out by God for mankind have His protection here and now and the eternal reward of being with him after the temporal, earthly life has passed.  This is the hope believers in Christ have.  This is the promise life with Him grants.  And we can say with the psalmist

​​”…As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness;

​​I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness….”

Eternity begins with acceptance of His salvation, turning from the ways of humanity to live in His way.