We talk a lot about giving up your life for God, in the Christian faith. I think chapter 2 is the point where Jonah willingly gives up his life. He crossed his breaking point, and now sees that God is so much larger and greater than himself. He is now ready to serve God in whatever facet he needs.
Funny thing is......I make the same choice, and then in about 3 days, I'm back to running my life by my own desires again. It takes something to shake my boots again, and I rededicate........its crazy.
I think rather than beating myself up over it. Its important to know it, own it, and understand that Satan is doing everything he can to cloud my vision and end my dedication to God. I have to daily recommitt.
Today........"as for me and my house, I will serve the Lord God Almighty"
Tomorrow? I will re-dedicate......again!
see that, I remembered a verse that we read. Its working.
tp
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Monday, September 29, 2014
Jonah 1
I read thru the first book of Jonah this morning. Its a quick read. Really quick. But, the movie in my head is pretty extensive here. My movie is a mix between a dramatic water scene, not unlike the Clash of the Titans, and Veggie tales. (I've seen the Jonah story with Larry the Cucumber)
There's a lot in this first chapter.
1. God sent Jonah to Nineveh. This idea just keeps pounding me. God sends us. He works thru us to create his will and sometimes miracles. Every night before bed, the boys pray for the poor, and the less fortunate. I've had stronger and stronger feeling that I need to help them understand that WE are the hands and feet and if those people are going to be taken care of, its because of our actions.
2. Its crazy to think that you can run from God. If you believe he is the Creator, and God of everything.....then to think you could run seems really short-sighted. Jonah is a little loopey.....because.
3. When pushed to the edge, Jonah admits its him that is causing the problem, and volunteers to be thrown overboard. Is this really worse than going to Nineveh in the first place? Maybe thats short sighted on my part. But, if you're willing to be thrown inot the sea, where you are SURE to die.....why wouldn't you be willing to go to Nineveh, where there a multiple possible outcomes. Only some of the outcomes are bad (like being slapped with fish. Veggie tales reference)
Its seems silly to think this way. But, at the same time, we have all run from the things we know God is asking us to do........I've done it.
tp
There's a lot in this first chapter.
1. God sent Jonah to Nineveh. This idea just keeps pounding me. God sends us. He works thru us to create his will and sometimes miracles. Every night before bed, the boys pray for the poor, and the less fortunate. I've had stronger and stronger feeling that I need to help them understand that WE are the hands and feet and if those people are going to be taken care of, its because of our actions.
2. Its crazy to think that you can run from God. If you believe he is the Creator, and God of everything.....then to think you could run seems really short-sighted. Jonah is a little loopey.....because.
3. When pushed to the edge, Jonah admits its him that is causing the problem, and volunteers to be thrown overboard. Is this really worse than going to Nineveh in the first place? Maybe thats short sighted on my part. But, if you're willing to be thrown inot the sea, where you are SURE to die.....why wouldn't you be willing to go to Nineveh, where there a multiple possible outcomes. Only some of the outcomes are bad (like being slapped with fish. Veggie tales reference)
Its seems silly to think this way. But, at the same time, we have all run from the things we know God is asking us to do........I've done it.
tp
Friday, September 26, 2014
Obadiah 1
18 Jacob will be a fire and Joseph a flame;Esau will be stubble, and they will set him on fire and destroy him. There will be no survivors from Esau.”The Lord has spoken.
We were talking at our small group about all of the history woven through the bible and how we would love to investigate and understand all of the interconnections and how prophesies have or have not yet played out. Today I found some explanations on the timing of this prophesies fulfillment, I find it all so interesting. If more people understood the accuracy of Gods word I would think they would find it difficult to deny him. This is probably another reason for us to be so into the word that we can easily and confidently share truth from the scripture. but boy does it take time, I have 30min wrapped up today in looking into one verse. it makes it feel like a mountain of knowledge to climb because there is just so much to learn.
here is an execerpt from the sight I was on Have a great weekend!--
http://www.gotquestions.org/prophecies-against-Edom.html
If the later date is correct, the prophecy of Obadiah regarding Edom’s doom is more dramatic. Babylon completed its invasion of Jerusalem under King Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C. In the fifth century B.C., a people called the Nabateans defeated the Edomites and forced them from the city of Petra. The interval between prediction and fulfillment would, therefore, have been very short.
Regardless of the exact date, the predictions against Edom have already been fulfilled. Edom was removed from its land in the fifth century B.C., and there are no survivors of Edom today. This fulfilled the prediction inObadiah 1:18: “They shall burn them and consume them, and there shall be no survivor for the house of Esau.” Some first-century leaders, such as Herod the Great, still traced their ancestry to Edom, but all mention of Edomites fades after the Jewish Wars of that era. At the end of the 4th century, Jerome referenced the land of Idumea (Edom), but the people of the region had long since disappeared.
Read more:http://www.gotquestions.org/prophecies-against-Edom.html#ixzz3EPxFtMT0
18
We were talking at our small group about all of the history woven through the bible and how we would love to investigate and understand all of the interconnections and how prophesies have or have not yet played out. Today I found some explanations on the timing of this prophesies fulfillment, I find it all so interesting. If more people understood the accuracy of Gods word I would think they would find it difficult to deny him. This is probably another reason for us to be so into the word that we can easily and confidently share truth from the scripture. but boy does it take time, I have 30min wrapped up today in looking into one verse. it makes it feel like a mountain of knowledge to climb because there is just so much to learn.
here is an execerpt from the sight I was on Have a great weekend!--
http://www.gotquestions.org/prophecies-against-Edom.html
If the later date is correct, the prophecy of Obadiah regarding Edom’s doom is more dramatic. Babylon completed its invasion of Jerusalem under King Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C. In the fifth century B.C., a people called the Nabateans defeated the Edomites and forced them from the city of Petra. The interval between prediction and fulfillment would, therefore, have been very short.
Regardless of the exact date, the predictions against Edom have already been fulfilled. Edom was removed from its land in the fifth century B.C., and there are no survivors of Edom today. This fulfilled the prediction inObadiah 1:18: “They shall burn them and consume them, and there shall be no survivor for the house of Esau.” Some first-century leaders, such as Herod the Great, still traced their ancestry to Edom, but all mention of Edomites fades after the Jewish Wars of that era. At the end of the 4th century, Jerome referenced the land of Idumea (Edom), but the people of the region had long since disappeared.
Read more:http://www.gotquestions.org/prophecies-against-Edom.html#ixzz3EPxFtMT0
18
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Amos 9
I don't have a lot to add today.
The first part is a little scary. I think anytime the Ultimate being says he is going to bring down destruction to this level......YIKES!
But, as is the history with God and his chosen people. He ends the chapter with some words of resotration. It seems that we (people) only catch glimpses of living right in God's eyes, and then we quickly fall back into our same old selfish habits and lifestyle. God's patience runs out.....but, he still loves us, and follows up the wrath with love.
He's pretty amazing.
tp
The first part is a little scary. I think anytime the Ultimate being says he is going to bring down destruction to this level......YIKES!
But, as is the history with God and his chosen people. He ends the chapter with some words of resotration. It seems that we (people) only catch glimpses of living right in God's eyes, and then we quickly fall back into our same old selfish habits and lifestyle. God's patience runs out.....but, he still loves us, and follows up the wrath with love.
He's pretty amazing.
tp
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Amos 8
2 “What do you see, Amos?” he asked.
“A basket of ripe fruit,” I answered.
Then the Lord said to me, “The time is ripe for my people Israel; I will spare them no longer.
I have to be honest, I struggle to get the message God wants me to hear from this chapter. I do feel a theme related to the US society--we may be a basket of ripe fruit. I wonder if people would feel this way at any time in history, kind of the 'back in my day people worked hard...blah blah blah' or is there something truly ripe in the US. It feels like the latter, at least in some point in our history it was okay to include God in our culture now he seems more than just missing but actually actively blocked out by many.
knut
Monday, September 22, 2014
Amos 7
12 Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Get out, you seer! Go back to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there and do your prophesying there. 13 Don’t prophesy anymore at Bethel,because this is the king’s sanctuary and the temple of the kingdom.”
Amziah is a bit like a lot of media and people in our US culture. He tells Amos stop telling us about God, we don't like your message just get out of here.
It seems leaders and general media here in the US are a bit like Amziah too. Preaching tolerance to all sorts of behavior, except if the behavior includes praying or sharing God's word--then its shut up or you don't have the right to push that on people.
Shutting out God and worshiping other gods is a sure way to destruction for any country and we seem to be on that path.
Knut
Amziah is a bit like a lot of media and people in our US culture. He tells Amos stop telling us about God, we don't like your message just get out of here.
It seems leaders and general media here in the US are a bit like Amziah too. Preaching tolerance to all sorts of behavior, except if the behavior includes praying or sharing God's word--then its shut up or you don't have the right to push that on people.
Shutting out God and worshiping other gods is a sure way to destruction for any country and we seem to be on that path.
Knut
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Amos 6
6:1 Woe to you who are complacent in Zion,
and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria...
I don't have much today but thought the NIV spoke to me a little more. I think living in a suburb of Des Moines here in the US give plenty of opportunity to feel secure and put my trust somewhere other than God. He's says to be careful having that feeling or acting in that matter, it will lead to destruction.
knut
and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria...
I don't have much today but thought the NIV spoke to me a little more. I think living in a suburb of Des Moines here in the US give plenty of opportunity to feel secure and put my trust somewhere other than God. He's says to be careful having that feeling or acting in that matter, it will lead to destruction.
knut
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