February 8, 2010 9:58 AM
Sam wrote:
God is getting his people ready for a challenging time. He knows the conditions they will meet on the western banks of the Jordan and farther toward the afternoon sun. He knows they will be enticed by many things they see. They'll come upon riches like they have never seen and be tested by God to see if they can beat the sin of greed and envy. Oh yes, they WILL be tested. They will see beautiful women, those who do not veil their faces (or other parts of their bodies). Tested they will be. HENCE, God is giving them some very exacting instructions. He wants His people to love HIM, not all those other things.
God hasn't changed. The PEOPLE He favors have. He now (through Jesus and the early Disciples) has expanded 'His People' to all those who follow His Son, Jesus. The rules haven't really changed either. Oh yeah, the specifics certainly have, but the the intent of the rules have not. We are still to give 10% of everything we own/earn to God. We are still to love Him only, NO OTHER 'gods'. We are to go to Him, not at one certain place, but now, at any place, as we have part of Him living right inside our bodies, hearts and minds.
But, there are still rules, and we are still to obey them. If you are wondering WHAT rules, re-read Matthew 4, 5 6 and 7....they are all very well laid out for us. Yes, they have changed in specifics since God laid these original laws on His people before they ventured into new territory, but the intent has always been the same. Love God with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your soul.
As YOU venture forth in life, much like the Israelites will venture forth across the Jordan into the face of many enticements, be very careful that you are also not led astray by the many things out there begging you to take. Refrain from greed, lust and envy. Instead, set your heart on what is right with God. Please HIM, and He'll please you.
I am feeling very lonely on this site again. Dustin gets in every once in a while but doesn't say too much about the reading assignment, so I am wondering if he is even reading. I know Tony has been without a computer, but he has had one now for a coupla days and I haven't seen much from him. Rich seems to have withdrawn again, and nothing at all from Rick either. The 'big guy' from California didn't last long.
I'll probably not continue this after the month of February if ya'll don't want to participate. I can do my QT's in another venue, recording my own thoughts for my own review later on in life when I come across situations in which I need help/guidance. These write-ups, as well as the many on-line studies I did over the years, I refer to often to help me fight certain things. I am still alcohol free, 39 days into the year....51 to go. My exercise program is consistent....consistent in that I do my pushups and situps everyday, and am improving. I intend not to miss a day of THAT, nor of my Bible study. How about you? Reply to this
February 8, 2010 11:06 AM
Tony wrote:
You are the main strand that the other fibers wrap around. You are consistent, you are dependable. Why do we do things on a daily basis for our boss, yet we don't do daily for God? I will tell you why. No immediate results for the act of defiance. We don't go to work every day, eventually we will get fired. We don't go to God everyday and, well,you know what I mean. Problem is is that there is consiquences for not going to God daily. Look at our lives. Look at what problems we think we have and how we try to fix them. God is usually not first on the matter. I need to change, any suggestions how? Reply to this
February 8, 2010 12:05 PM
Tony wrote:
Please don't withdraw Mac. I know I can always count on you to be their and put the guilt for my laziness in place. To have some thought for inspiration. To have a totally different outlook on things we all know about, ie Joseph. Have a great day, and do this not only for God, but for us. Love ya man! Reply to this
February 8, 2010 12:00 PM
Tony wrote:
Chapter 12 seems to repeat itself two or three times. All about the meat. Does this answer the question from Exodus about the quail? Is this when they are first given permission to eat their own livestock? 15 “But you may butcher your animals and eat their meat in any town whenever you want. You may freely eat the animals with which the Lord your God blesses you. All of you, whether ceremonially clean or unclean, may eat that meat, just as you now eat gazelle and deer. 22 Anyone, whether ceremonially clean or unclean, may eat that meat, just as you do now with gazelle and deer Maybe all this time they were not allowed to eat their own livestock but only what was wild. We say that we, and by we I mean we, don't understand how the Israelites and the disciples could have strayed or had doubt. The Israelites had God following them day and night. Speaking to them in the tent of meeting through Moses and others. The disciples had Jesus walking with them, doing miracles among them and yet they all deserted Him at His time of need. How often do we do the same? Let's look at my life, you can look at your own. Let's start with the most recent disaster, my marriage. 21 years gone. Terry decides she wants drugs, alcohol, and other relationships more than she wants to be married. She quits on me, do I quit on God? NO! Everything that is wrong in her life is because she quit seeking God. Am I hurt, angry, upset, yes. Am I struggling with my convictions of God, no. God has ALWAYS taken care of us. Through the good and the bad, whether we ask or not, whether we deserve or not. We think life is hard at times and we think life is great at times. Imagine what life would be if we would be pleasing to God in all that we do, not just some that we do, and we were to reap the rewards that He has in mind for us. I am not strong in my faith or I would be sharing and outgoing and daily blogging. What is the scripture in Revelation about being lukewarm? Passage Revelation 3:16: 16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! Are we even in God's grace still? How many of us, I know I am, are luke warm. What is so important that we cannot be hot for God? This is my question, for me as much as it is for you, Dustin, Rich, big guy in la. I know Rick is doing really great with God up in Knoxville. Very involved in the teens, Janette is doing much better, actually took the Lords supper a couple weeks ago. Chapter 14, allot of do and do not as far as what you can and cannot eat. 3 “You must not eat any detestable animals that are ceremonially unclean. Interesting that back in chpt 13 vrs 15, God is talking about the people being clean and unclean and here we are talking about the animals. Tithe is interesting. Verse 22 and on basically says to set aside a tenth, go to the place God has chosen, and have a party in his presence. What say you? Reply to this
February 8, 2010 1:19 PM
Sam wrote:
Party, party, party...that's what "I" am saying!!! But, if you read it again, you will also see that people are to 'not forget the Levites', bring their goodwill and other offerings as well as their 'tithe'. So, it looks like God asked from them a whole lot more than He asks from us. But, forgetting the 'rules', the 'laws', the commandments for a moment; if you do what God tells them (us) to do, love Him with all your heart, etc, then that is all you REALLY have to do. All the rest are rules to live by, not to die by. If you die, and you will, and can't seem to love God (I know you do though, Tony), then one stands in danger of not being with Him for all of eternity. If you (all) haven't seen "The Perfect Stranger", then I highly recommend you rent/buy and see it. It answers a whole lot of questions that "I" would like to ask Jesus. And the bottomline? Love God! Reply to this
God is getting his people ready for a challenging time. He knows the conditions they will meet on the western banks of the Jordan and farther toward the afternoon sun. He knows they will be enticed by many things they see. They'll come upon riches like they have never seen and be tested by God to see if they can beat the sin of greed and envy. Oh yes, they WILL be tested. They will see beautiful women, those who do not veil their faces (or other parts of their bodies). Tested they will be. HENCE, God is giving them some very exacting instructions. He wants His people to love HIM, not all those other things.
God hasn't changed. The PEOPLE He favors have. He now (through Jesus and the early Disciples) has expanded 'His People' to all those who follow His Son, Jesus. The rules haven't really changed either. Oh yeah, the specifics certainly have, but the the intent of the rules have not. We are still to give 10% of everything we own/earn to God. We are still to love Him only, NO OTHER 'gods'. We are to go to Him, not at one certain place, but now, at any place, as we have part of Him living right inside our bodies, hearts and minds.
But, there are still rules, and we are still to obey them. If you are wondering WHAT rules, re-read Matthew 4, 5 6 and 7....they are all very well laid out for us. Yes, they have changed in specifics since God laid these original laws on His people before they ventured into new territory, but the intent has always been the same. Love God with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your soul.
As YOU venture forth in life, much like the Israelites will venture forth across the Jordan into the face of many enticements, be very careful that you are also not led astray by the many things out there begging you to take. Refrain from greed, lust and envy. Instead, set your heart on what is right with God. Please HIM, and He'll please you.
I am feeling very lonely on this site again. Dustin gets in every once in a while but doesn't say too much about the reading assignment, so I am wondering if he is even reading. I know Tony has been without a computer, but he has had one now for a coupla days and I haven't seen much from him. Rich seems to have withdrawn again, and nothing at all from Rick either. The 'big guy' from California didn't last long.
I'll probably not continue this after the month of February if ya'll don't want to participate. I can do my QT's in another venue, recording my own thoughts for my own review later on in life when I come across situations in which I need help/guidance. These write-ups, as well as the many on-line studies I did over the years, I refer to often to help me fight certain things. I am still alcohol free, 39 days into the year....51 to go. My exercise program is consistent....consistent in that I do my pushups and situps everyday, and am improving. I intend not to miss a day of THAT, nor of my Bible study. How about you?
Reply to this
You are the main strand that the other fibers wrap around. You are consistent, you are dependable. Why do we do things on a daily basis for our boss, yet we don't do daily for God? I will tell you why. No immediate results for the act of defiance. We don't go to work every day, eventually we will get fired. We don't go to God everyday and, well,you know what I mean. Problem is is that there is consiquences for not going to God daily. Look at our lives. Look at what problems we think we have and how we try to fix them. God is usually not first on the matter. I need to change, any suggestions how?
Reply to this
Please don't withdraw Mac. I know I can always count on you to be their and put the guilt for my laziness in place. To have some thought for inspiration. To have a totally different outlook on things we all know about, ie Joseph. Have a great day, and do this not only for God, but for us. Love ya man!
Reply to this
Chapter 12 seems to repeat itself two or three times. All about the meat. Does this answer the question from Exodus about the quail? Is this when they are first given permission to eat their own livestock?
15 “But you may butcher your animals and eat their meat in any town whenever you want. You may freely eat the animals with which the Lord your God blesses you. All of you, whether ceremonially clean or unclean, may eat that meat, just as you now eat gazelle and deer.
22 Anyone, whether ceremonially clean or unclean, may eat that meat, just as you do now with gazelle and deer
Maybe all this time they were not allowed to eat their own livestock but only what was wild.
We say that we, and by we I mean we, don't understand how the Israelites and the disciples could have strayed or had doubt. The Israelites had God following them day and night. Speaking to them in the tent of meeting through Moses and others. The disciples had Jesus walking with them, doing miracles among them and yet they all deserted Him at His time of need.
How often do we do the same? Let's look at my life, you can look at your own. Let's start with the most recent disaster, my marriage. 21 years gone. Terry decides she wants drugs, alcohol, and other relationships more than she wants to be married. She quits on me, do I quit on God? NO! Everything that is wrong in her life is because she quit seeking God. Am I hurt, angry, upset, yes. Am I struggling with my convictions of God, no. God has ALWAYS taken care of us. Through the good and the bad, whether we ask or not, whether we deserve or not. We think life is hard at times and we think life is great at times. Imagine what life would be if we would be pleasing to God in all that we do, not just some that we do, and we were to reap the rewards that He has in mind for us.
I am not strong in my faith or I would be sharing and outgoing and daily blogging. What is the scripture in Revelation about being lukewarm?
Passage Revelation 3:16:
16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!
Are we even in God's grace still? How many of us, I know I am, are luke warm. What is so important that we cannot be hot for God? This is my question, for me as much as it is for you, Dustin, Rich, big guy in la. I know Rick is doing really great with God up in Knoxville. Very involved in the teens, Janette is doing much better, actually took the Lords supper a couple weeks ago.
Chapter 14, allot of do and do not as far as what you can and cannot eat. 3 “You must not eat any detestable animals that are ceremonially unclean. Interesting that back in chpt 13 vrs 15, God is talking about the people being clean and unclean and here we are talking about the animals.
Tithe is interesting. Verse 22 and on basically says to set aside a tenth, go to the place God has chosen, and have a party in his presence. What say you?
Reply to this
Party, party, party...that's what "I" am saying!!!
But, if you read it again, you will also see that people are to 'not forget the Levites', bring their goodwill and other offerings as well as their 'tithe'. So, it looks like God asked from them a whole lot more than He asks from us. But, forgetting the 'rules', the 'laws', the commandments for a moment; if you do what God tells them (us) to do, love Him with all your heart, etc, then that is all you REALLY have to do. All the rest are rules to live by, not to die by. If you die, and you will, and can't seem to love God (I know you do though, Tony), then one stands in danger of not being with Him for all of eternity. If you (all) haven't seen "The Perfect Stranger", then I highly recommend you rent/buy and see it. It answers a whole lot of questions that "I" would like to ask Jesus. And the bottomline? Love God!
Reply to this