Joshua 4-13
More miracles! God parted the Jordan and His people (once again) walked on dry ground! Honestly, it's hard to believe that they are going to turn away from God again. It's just a matter of when.
As I was reading this passage, I'm embarrassed to admit that I wasn't exactly cheering for the Israelites. I was fist pumping God, excited that He showed his power again but I couldn't help but think, "They don't deserve all that God has done for them."
Wow. Self-righteous much?
But really, I couldn't help but think about how much God has done for the Israelites. I mean, He did A LOT! And it's not just what He's done for them, but how many times He's forgiven them!
And Moses has already prophesied that they are going to turn their backs on God again! "Why, those ungrateful, disobedient, sandal wearing, cloud following...."
Then the light bulb flickered.
How have I been any different? How many times have I expected God to give me HIS best, when I was so unwilling to give him MY best?
It's caused me to change the way I look at obedience. It's made me want to please God.
Even though I know that God knows my heart inside and out...there are times when I don't. I know my salvation is not about acts but I kind of like having a "tangible" way to show God that I love Him back.
Boy, it's real easy to see the faults in others, eh? Maybe I ought to take the plank out of my eye next time I look in the mirror.
Showing posts with label loving God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label loving God. Show all posts
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
...the end of book five.
So it turns out I really enjoyed the book of Deuteronomy. It was basically a review of the first four books of the bible.
It gave me many glimpses of God's character and how faithful His love is - even when we are stubborn and rebellious. There were a lot of great verses in this book about fear and loving God.
Jesus himself quoted this book a few times during his ministry. When he was asked by the Pharisees what the greatest commandment was, He answered them:
I also loved one of the messages that Moses tried to get through to the Israelites in this chapter. He explained to them that God didn't chose them as a nation because they were a great people but simply because He loves them and because He made a promise to their ancestors.
It's that simple.
God keeps His promises. Love Him with all your heart, mind and soul.
Yes, Deuteronomy was a great book.
It gave me many glimpses of God's character and how faithful His love is - even when we are stubborn and rebellious. There were a lot of great verses in this book about fear and loving God.
Jesus himself quoted this book a few times during his ministry. When he was asked by the Pharisees what the greatest commandment was, He answered them:
I also loved one of the messages that Moses tried to get through to the Israelites in this chapter. He explained to them that God didn't chose them as a nation because they were a great people but simply because He loves them and because He made a promise to their ancestors.
It's that simple.
God keeps His promises. Love Him with all your heart, mind and soul.
Yes, Deuteronomy was a great book.
Friday, February 4, 2011
...the end of book three.
It turns out Leviticus wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I mean, it's God's word....I really shouldn't say I expected it to be bad, (in fact, the more I think about it, that was prob wasn't a very good thing to say) but I figured it would be like reading the "driver's ed" manual before taking the car out. Or, getting a new game that you are really excited to play, you have a table of people waiting to play with you...but, wait! You have to read the instructions....
I guess that's how I expected Leviticus to be.
But, like I said...turns out it wasn't bad at all! I'm actually really beginning to love the old testament! There are a lot of great verses that come from the OT, verses of comfort and victory, and it's also a huge building block for the new testament. It's all starting to piece together for me.
My favorite verse in Leviticus was in Chapter 2, verse 32.
"Do no treat my name as ordinary and common. I must be treated as holy. It is I that makes you holy. It was I that rescued you, that I might be you very own God. I am the Lord."
Leviticus focused a great deal on worship, and it made me think about my own practices of worship.
A while back, I'd been feeling "unsettled" or "dissatisfied" during worship at my church. It was to the point that I had even considered trying a new church.
I insisted that it was the music. Too loud, too fast, to slow, or it wasn't my favorite worship leader. Perhaps it was where I was sitting...or who I was sitting with. Sometimes it was who was sitting behind me, or across from me. Who's watching me? Then I started to compare myself to other people. Wow, look at that person worshiping God. They must REALLY love God....at least more than me. I can't even concentrate on him for 20 straight minutes!
I had made it all about me.
God opened my eyes and helped me realized that worship isn't about me at all. It's about God! It doesn't matter if I "feel" like it.
He's still worthy.
He doesn't "need" my worship, but it pleases Him. There are so few ways I can show God how much I love Him, how thankful I am that He rescued me...and worship is one of them.
He also taught me that that worship isn't just about the music on Sunday mornings. It's praising Him when you see a beautiful sunset, acknowledging His creation when you see tiny, newborn baby fingernails, it's realizing over and over again that His way is the best way. It's glorifying Him in everything we do.
And although I am beginning to see Him in everything I do, I very much believe that we each have our own special "ways
that we draw even nearer to Him. Our own approach to feel "extra" close, if only for a few moments. For some it's music for others it could be watching little children, being surrounded by nature, praying, running or reading His word.
There are Sunday mornings that I still feel those old thoughts and habits creeping up, I get distracted by someone or something. When that happens now, I simply ask God to clear my mind so I can focus more on Him.
Because He is worthy.
I guess that's how I expected Leviticus to be.
But, like I said...turns out it wasn't bad at all! I'm actually really beginning to love the old testament! There are a lot of great verses that come from the OT, verses of comfort and victory, and it's also a huge building block for the new testament. It's all starting to piece together for me.
My favorite verse in Leviticus was in Chapter 2, verse 32.
"Do no treat my name as ordinary and common. I must be treated as holy. It is I that makes you holy. It was I that rescued you, that I might be you very own God. I am the Lord."
Leviticus focused a great deal on worship, and it made me think about my own practices of worship.
A while back, I'd been feeling "unsettled" or "dissatisfied" during worship at my church. It was to the point that I had even considered trying a new church.
I insisted that it was the music. Too loud, too fast, to slow, or it wasn't my favorite worship leader. Perhaps it was where I was sitting...or who I was sitting with. Sometimes it was who was sitting behind me, or across from me. Who's watching me? Then I started to compare myself to other people. Wow, look at that person worshiping God. They must REALLY love God....at least more than me. I can't even concentrate on him for 20 straight minutes!
I had made it all about me.
God opened my eyes and helped me realized that worship isn't about me at all. It's about God! It doesn't matter if I "feel" like it.
He's still worthy.
He doesn't "need" my worship, but it pleases Him. There are so few ways I can show God how much I love Him, how thankful I am that He rescued me...and worship is one of them.
He also taught me that that worship isn't just about the music on Sunday mornings. It's praising Him when you see a beautiful sunset, acknowledging His creation when you see tiny, newborn baby fingernails, it's realizing over and over again that His way is the best way. It's glorifying Him in everything we do.
And although I am beginning to see Him in everything I do, I very much believe that we each have our own special "ways
that we draw even nearer to Him. Our own approach to feel "extra" close, if only for a few moments. For some it's music for others it could be watching little children, being surrounded by nature, praying, running or reading His word.
There are Sunday mornings that I still feel those old thoughts and habits creeping up, I get distracted by someone or something. When that happens now, I simply ask God to clear my mind so I can focus more on Him.
Because He is worthy.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Who's fault is it anyway?
Genesis 1 - 9
Isn't it typical that Adam blamed everyone BUT himself when he was caught sinning? But the woman you gave me made me do it!"
"But Mom, if you hadn't put that plant there, I wouldn't have knocked it over!", or my favorite, "It's my brothers fault I hit him...he was bugging me!"
Ah, silly children. ...and then we grow up into mature adults who would never blame anyone for mistakes we make...right?
Really though, I don't know why we even bother to make excuses. God knows why we did it. He knew were were going to sin before we did! He's probably just like we are with our children, shaking our head saying, "Just clean it up and try to not do it again, OK?" Sheesh.
You know, I really don't think it matters to God so much why we sin but that we acknowledge it for what it is and ask for forgiveness when it does happen. Ideally, we go even one step further and try to resist it in the first place. God gave us the power to do so! He's given us authority over the enemy!!
"Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy..." - Luke 10:19
So..I have power over the enemy - after letting that truth sink in for a moment I come to a realization. Shoot! Does that mean I can't even blame satan? But how in the world does God expect me to resist temptation?
After digging a little, I found instruction.
"Humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." - James 4:7
"Run from anything that stimulates youthful desires. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts" 2 - Tim 2:22
It's awesome for me to understand that I have a Father that doesn't just command me to resist temptation but He gives me instruction on how to do it! Even when I do mess up (and that's often) He forgives me over and over again - so patiently.
I wonder, how many people see God as someone "up there watching, just waiting for me to mess up so he can punish me? Disappointed in me...once again..."
Nothing could be further from the truth!
When our children are learning to walk and they fall down (over and over again) we don't shake our head, call them a screw up, start planning on how we are going to punish them this time and walk away! We don't say, "I can't believe they fell down again! I'm done with them! They will NEVER learn how to walk!!"
No, we help them up and we lovingly send them on their way again. At times, we even hold their hand for as long as they need us too.
Why would I expect anything different from my heavenly Father?
Something that surprised me (and caused me look at my sin in a whole different way) in Genesis, Chapter 6 was when God said that He was sorry He even made mankind and that their wickedness "broke His heart".
Wow. God's heart breaks. MY thoughts and actions break God's heart. The creator of the universe. He, who made the tiny little legs on a centipede and commands the sun to rise, is grieved when I sin.
It's humbling to know that God loves me that much. There are so many times I disregard His love by sinning (on purpose) because I know he will forgive me. Isn't that taking advantage of God?
"Yeah, I'm gossiping but God knows my heart. He knows I would never hurt any one's feelings on purpose. I'm only doing it to be funny or fit in."
"I'm just going to download this one movie, God knows I'm broke. I'll buy a membership on payday and that will make up for it."
"God knew how frustrated when I used that language. He forgives me."
He does forgive....but it still grieves Him. There's not a lot I can do for God. He doesn't "need" anything from little ol' me. How then, can I prove to Him that I love Him? I can obey.
I heard a quote the other day and I love it....
"We don't obey God so he will love us. We do it to show we love Him."
Isn't it typical that Adam blamed everyone BUT himself when he was caught sinning? But the woman you gave me made me do it!"
Was he blaming the woman for giving him the apple or was he blaming God for giving him the woman? Perhaps both? (...and YES, I realize Eve did her own share of blaming too!)
It's funny how we hear the same ol' story from our children!
"But Mom, if you hadn't put that plant there, I wouldn't have knocked it over!", or my favorite, "It's my brothers fault I hit him...he was bugging me!"
Ah, silly children. ...and then we grow up into mature adults who would never blame anyone for mistakes we make...right?
Really though, I don't know why we even bother to make excuses. God knows why we did it. He knew were were going to sin before we did! He's probably just like we are with our children, shaking our head saying, "Just clean it up and try to not do it again, OK?" Sheesh.
You know, I really don't think it matters to God so much why we sin but that we acknowledge it for what it is and ask for forgiveness when it does happen. Ideally, we go even one step further and try to resist it in the first place. God gave us the power to do so! He's given us authority over the enemy!!
"Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy..." - Luke 10:19
So..I have power over the enemy - after letting that truth sink in for a moment I come to a realization. Shoot! Does that mean I can't even blame satan? But how in the world does God expect me to resist temptation?
After digging a little, I found instruction.
"Humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." - James 4:7
"Run from anything that stimulates youthful desires. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts" 2 - Tim 2:22
It's awesome for me to understand that I have a Father that doesn't just command me to resist temptation but He gives me instruction on how to do it! Even when I do mess up (and that's often) He forgives me over and over again - so patiently.
I wonder, how many people see God as someone "up there watching, just waiting for me to mess up so he can punish me? Disappointed in me...once again..."
Nothing could be further from the truth!
When our children are learning to walk and they fall down (over and over again) we don't shake our head, call them a screw up, start planning on how we are going to punish them this time and walk away! We don't say, "I can't believe they fell down again! I'm done with them! They will NEVER learn how to walk!!"
No, we help them up and we lovingly send them on their way again. At times, we even hold their hand for as long as they need us too.
Why would I expect anything different from my heavenly Father?
Something that surprised me (and caused me look at my sin in a whole different way) in Genesis, Chapter 6 was when God said that He was sorry He even made mankind and that their wickedness "broke His heart".
Wow. God's heart breaks. MY thoughts and actions break God's heart. The creator of the universe. He, who made the tiny little legs on a centipede and commands the sun to rise, is grieved when I sin.
It's humbling to know that God loves me that much. There are so many times I disregard His love by sinning (on purpose) because I know he will forgive me. Isn't that taking advantage of God?
"Yeah, I'm gossiping but God knows my heart. He knows I would never hurt any one's feelings on purpose. I'm only doing it to be funny or fit in."
"I'm just going to download this one movie, God knows I'm broke. I'll buy a membership on payday and that will make up for it."
"God knew how frustrated when I used that language. He forgives me."
He does forgive....but it still grieves Him. There's not a lot I can do for God. He doesn't "need" anything from little ol' me. How then, can I prove to Him that I love Him? I can obey.
I heard a quote the other day and I love it....
"We don't obey God so he will love us. We do it to show we love Him."
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