"...ask, and it will be given to you, seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be open to you...suppose one of your fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? Or if he is asked for an egg, h will not give him a scorpion, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?" v.9-13
Worry, my middle name is worry; actually it is my first name. I tossed and turned in the early morning today as well as yesterday and the day before. I worry about the pickle I got myself into; I worry about things that might happen, I worry about how much I am worrying. Aaugh!! Worry, fret and fear are not from God. My mornings before I read the Bible or start my blog, is to present my anxiousness to Jesus in prayer, try to be quiet and listen for the Holy Spirit - the Holy Spirit that He has given me so I wouldn't worry, fret and fear.
Also in this chapter, Jesus talks about Jonah and the 'whale'. He mentions Jonah when speaking to the crowds; Jonah's emergence from the fish's belly pictured Christ's resurrection. Jesus clearly regarded Jonah's account as historically accurate. - thought that was interesting.
I found this verse to be particularly poetic: "Woe to you! (speaking to the pharisees) For you are like concealed tombs, and the people who walk over them are unaware of it." v. 44 Wow, I'll have to remember that and use that in my writings someday. How true a picture of a con-artist! The video below...LOL...btw, the pup looks just like our Dusty!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Luke 11
The Lord's prayer. Note, Hallowed be Your Name represents all His character, all His attributes.
If Heaven is anything like this - it's going to be a grand eternity! Amazing pictures. It's worth copy and pasting. (Youtube wouldn't let me take the ebbing.) You will find it a blessing. Enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfpIWJSjWx4
I'll finish the rest of the chapter tomorrow.
If Heaven is anything like this - it's going to be a grand eternity! Amazing pictures. It's worth copy and pasting. (Youtube wouldn't let me take the ebbing.) You will find it a blessing. Enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfpIWJSjWx4
I'll finish the rest of the chapter tomorrow.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Luke 10
"'Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.' And He said to them, 'I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.'" v. 17-20
The cats dragged in a huge ugly lizard (actually a salamander; even worse) - still moving - into the kitchen today! LOL...interesting since I was reading about serpents and scorpions! I find these creatures terrifying. How much more afraid should I be of any attempt Satan might have to get a hold on me; but I have power in Jesus name to keep him at bay. At the end of these verses, Jesus warns against taking pride in the power God had given them.
Only Luke records Jesus' witness to Satan being cast out of heaven. Interesting, the scene of Lucifer being cast out and taking 1/3 of the angels with him is not recorded in Genesis like I assumed it was - to me it would make sense to include the story with the chronological order of things. The story is only alluded to in these verses: Luke 10:18, Rev. 12:8-10, Gen. 3: 13-14, Ez 28:12-17 and a Psalm. The actual image of the story is more like a mythological occurrence like Zeus and such. Do you know any more about this?
"Turning to the disciples, He said privately, 'Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see, for I say to you, that many prophets and kings wished to see the things which you see, and did not see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and did not hear them.'" v. 23-24
Am I hearing and seeing? I believe so...I know people that I can witness to and show to the Light but continually refuse to look, to see, to hear.
The end of the chapter we see Mary and Martha again. Martha is being busy with housework and Mary is sitting at Jesus' feet. I wanted to mention here - I just learned this - that this was the house where Lazarus lived, Jesus' friend. Sort of gave new meaning to this story.
The cats dragged in a huge ugly lizard (actually a salamander; even worse) - still moving - into the kitchen today! LOL...interesting since I was reading about serpents and scorpions! I find these creatures terrifying. How much more afraid should I be of any attempt Satan might have to get a hold on me; but I have power in Jesus name to keep him at bay. At the end of these verses, Jesus warns against taking pride in the power God had given them.
Only Luke records Jesus' witness to Satan being cast out of heaven. Interesting, the scene of Lucifer being cast out and taking 1/3 of the angels with him is not recorded in Genesis like I assumed it was - to me it would make sense to include the story with the chronological order of things. The story is only alluded to in these verses: Luke 10:18, Rev. 12:8-10, Gen. 3: 13-14, Ez 28:12-17 and a Psalm. The actual image of the story is more like a mythological occurrence like Zeus and such. Do you know any more about this?
"Turning to the disciples, He said privately, 'Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see, for I say to you, that many prophets and kings wished to see the things which you see, and did not see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and did not hear them.'" v. 23-24
Am I hearing and seeing? I believe so...I know people that I can witness to and show to the Light but continually refuse to look, to see, to hear.
The end of the chapter we see Mary and Martha again. Martha is being busy with housework and Mary is sitting at Jesus' feet. I wanted to mention here - I just learned this - that this was the house where Lazarus lived, Jesus' friend. Sort of gave new meaning to this story.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Luke 9
Contemplating the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan on Friday, I am wondering how many will look to our God of the Bible for help, deliverance and blessing to rebuild their infrastructure. I'm sure God has placed Christ followers among the people that will be there to provide and guide. In Luke 9, like so many of the chapters, has miracles that bring the people to faith in Christ. I wonder if there will be such miracles in the days and weeks to come, as the Japanese search for and find their loved ones; miracles that might draw a people to Himself.
Chapter 9 talks about the cost of discipleship, the cost to follow Christ. He wants us to deny ourselves and follow Him; let go of everything and He will provide. He asked the disciples to go to the people but bring nothing with them...
"Take nothing for your journey, neither a staff, nor a bag, nor bread, not money, and do not have two tunics apiece" v.3
As He provided for them and fed the 5000; He will provide for us. Before they ate, Jesus asked for blessing on the bread and fish. So we too need to follow Him, ask for blessing, and we have the promise of His provision.
I love this! Enjoy!
Chapter 9 talks about the cost of discipleship, the cost to follow Christ. He wants us to deny ourselves and follow Him; let go of everything and He will provide. He asked the disciples to go to the people but bring nothing with them...
"Take nothing for your journey, neither a staff, nor a bag, nor bread, not money, and do not have two tunics apiece" v.3
As He provided for them and fed the 5000; He will provide for us. Before they ate, Jesus asked for blessing on the bread and fish. So we too need to follow Him, ask for blessing, and we have the promise of His provision.
I love this! Enjoy!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Luke 8
Praise You, Heavenly Father, for this Marvelous Mystery....that the God of the universe would walk and talk with me!
Chapter 8 is very long, filled with 2 parables and 4 miracles.
From the parable of the soils, I learn that God wants us to be like the seed in the good soil; He wants us to hear the Word with an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with steadfastness. v.15 My bearing fruit seems to be at a standstill as of now, I guess, unless something is happening that I am not going to see until the future. About the only thing I can see presently, is encouraging my daughter to go to Christ and His Word where she is at right now. I would like to see more happen at work. Work is tough for me; it is a source of anxiety and it can be where I can sometimes be at my worst: selfishness gossip, anger, unsettled...not being the best example. God has used me there before; I am looking forward to when He will use me there again.
"Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light." v.17 This verse also makes me think about flowers...things that are beautiful we display.
From the miracles what I see is His asking us to have faith : Where is your faith? v. 25; your faith has made you well, go in peace. v. 48; do not be afraid any longer, only believe. v.50
"Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him!" v. 25
Chapter 8 is very long, filled with 2 parables and 4 miracles.
From the parable of the soils, I learn that God wants us to be like the seed in the good soil; He wants us to hear the Word with an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with steadfastness. v.15 My bearing fruit seems to be at a standstill as of now, I guess, unless something is happening that I am not going to see until the future. About the only thing I can see presently, is encouraging my daughter to go to Christ and His Word where she is at right now. I would like to see more happen at work. Work is tough for me; it is a source of anxiety and it can be where I can sometimes be at my worst: selfishness gossip, anger, unsettled...not being the best example. God has used me there before; I am looking forward to when He will use me there again.
"Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light." v.17 This verse also makes me think about flowers...things that are beautiful we display.
From the miracles what I see is His asking us to have faith : Where is your faith? v. 25; your faith has made you well, go in peace. v. 48; do not be afraid any longer, only believe. v.50
"Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him!" v. 25
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