Doubting?
When those "why" questions threaten to undermine your faith, remember Job. Turn to God and trust him completely with your situation.
"Think of how you have instructed many,
how you have stregthened feeble hands.
Your words have supported those who stumbled;
you have stregthened faltering knees.
But now trouble comes to you, and you are discouraged;
it strikes you, and you are dismayed.
Should not your piety be your confidence
and your blameless ways your hope?"
Thursday, April 30
Learning: Hosea
There are two main lessons to learn from the story in Hosea-
1. We are to love people, and love them again when we falter no matter how undeserved it may be. God said to Hosea "Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Isralites..." "For the Israelites will live many days without king of prince, without sacrifice of sacred stones, without ephod or idol. Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the LORD and to his blessings in the last days." "I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them."
2. No matter what your name is, what the earth calls you or what the earth says you are, Jesus WILL change your name if you simply go to him. He is waiting with open arms, and he will overcome the ways of this world, he will change your purpose and change your name.
I will show love to the one called 'not my loved one'. I will say to those called 'not my people' "you are my people"; and they will say "you are my God.
Hosea 2:23
1. We are to love people, and love them again when we falter no matter how undeserved it may be. God said to Hosea "Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Isralites..." "For the Israelites will live many days without king of prince, without sacrifice of sacred stones, without ephod or idol. Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the LORD and to his blessings in the last days." "I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them."
2. No matter what your name is, what the earth calls you or what the earth says you are, Jesus WILL change your name if you simply go to him. He is waiting with open arms, and he will overcome the ways of this world, he will change your purpose and change your name.
I will show love to the one called 'not my loved one'. I will say to those called 'not my people' "you are my people"; and they will say "you are my God.
Hosea 2:23
Friday, April 24
Learning: Psalms (35-40)
Psalm 35-40
I heard that Psalm 35 was good, I don't remember where or when I did, it may have even been in a sermon or from a mentor, I'm not sure. But I kinda just opened my Bible up and there it was, and it's prominence stood out, so I decided to start.
I was planning on only reading 35 because I needed to study some algebra and apush so that I could make a decent grade on exams, but I just couldn't cajole myself into parting with the words. It was cool. :)
I like it when He talks, I really, really do.
I realized quite a few things. One, (Ps. 35:27) that not only does God love us, and love us enough to save us, have a relationship and be there at any moment- he takes joy in it. Joy, in helping me! What other creator could enjoy helping their servant? Certainly it is the only one who fills with undeserved mercy. Then I remembered how I get to experience joy helping others, and thought that if that makes me so happy, how much more does God care for all of us if my experience just a little glimpse of Him?
36, mentions unfailing love quite a few times, through out is describes it as vast, mighty, precious and he pours it out over all the nations.
37, Don't worry. Day by day God takes care of us, and he will make our innocence as clear as the dawn. Though they stumble they will not fall, for the Lord holds them by hand.
38-39, Even king David, very faithful still suffered through many trials and hard times. We will all be faced with trials, for they test our faith and trust.
40, David's patience rewarded-
I waited patiently for the Lord to help me; and he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.
Then David shows that he is true, 40:8-11 and sets an incredible example for all of us :)
Application?
"As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord is thinking about me right now. You are my helper and my savior. Do not delay, O my God." Psalm 40:17 ♥
(these may be a different version, I am currently using a New Living Translation for this study)
One more thing? I should have been doing these more consistently, and for that my seincerest apologies. I have times where I go off and on with devotion, and like everyone else I get off track, but this time I think I should just listen. Kinda funny how he talks to you even if it's not directly from scripture, simply because you open yourself up. It's truly amazing to listen to him fill you with knowledge though. I wonder if that's discernment?
I heard that Psalm 35 was good, I don't remember where or when I did, it may have even been in a sermon or from a mentor, I'm not sure. But I kinda just opened my Bible up and there it was, and it's prominence stood out, so I decided to start.
I was planning on only reading 35 because I needed to study some algebra and apush so that I could make a decent grade on exams, but I just couldn't cajole myself into parting with the words. It was cool. :)
I like it when He talks, I really, really do.
I realized quite a few things. One, (Ps. 35:27) that not only does God love us, and love us enough to save us, have a relationship and be there at any moment- he takes joy in it. Joy, in helping me! What other creator could enjoy helping their servant? Certainly it is the only one who fills with undeserved mercy. Then I remembered how I get to experience joy helping others, and thought that if that makes me so happy, how much more does God care for all of us if my experience just a little glimpse of Him?
36, mentions unfailing love quite a few times, through out is describes it as vast, mighty, precious and he pours it out over all the nations.
37, Don't worry. Day by day God takes care of us, and he will make our innocence as clear as the dawn. Though they stumble they will not fall, for the Lord holds them by hand.
38-39, Even king David, very faithful still suffered through many trials and hard times. We will all be faced with trials, for they test our faith and trust.
40, David's patience rewarded-
I waited patiently for the Lord to help me; and he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.
Then David shows that he is true, 40:8-11 and sets an incredible example for all of us :)
Application?
"As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord is thinking about me right now. You are my helper and my savior. Do not delay, O my God." Psalm 40:17 ♥
(these may be a different version, I am currently using a New Living Translation for this study)
One more thing? I should have been doing these more consistently, and for that my seincerest apologies. I have times where I go off and on with devotion, and like everyone else I get off track, but this time I think I should just listen. Kinda funny how he talks to you even if it's not directly from scripture, simply because you open yourself up. It's truly amazing to listen to him fill you with knowledge though. I wonder if that's discernment?
