Finding comfort and encouragement in both the Old and New Testaments

As I've mentioned before I read a chapter in the OT and chapter in the NT.  Then I mediate on what God is trying to communicate to me in His word that day.

 

Some might wonder, why both Old and New?  Good question!  I just find that there are stories and lessons in both that I can learn and/or draw comfort from.

 

Today's example is from Judges 20.  It is the story about Israel going against Benjamin in a war.  Israel inquires of God before going to war and God says "Go for it.".

So Israel goes for it and they are soundly defeated the first day.  The go back and inquire of God again, making sure they are on the right path.  God again tells them to go for it.

 

Same result.  They go back to God yet again.  The is crying and wailing.  God tells them to go for it yet again.  Israel has paid a pretty steep price in the loss of men already but God tells them to keep trying.

Finally on the 5th try Israel succeeds. 

Ever be working on a goal, heading in a direction you are sure God is telling you to head, and you just don't seem to be getting anywhere?  You inquire of God and God tells you "trust Me.  You are doing what you need to do.  Just keep going!". 

I have been facing that challenge and I just found this story from the OT very encouraging.

And that is why I try to read both.  You never know where God is going to speak to you from!  :)

Sometimes reading the Bible can be like watching an episode of Twin Peaks

Seriously!

One of the things that I loved was the totally random stuff in the show.  One time the shot was from the reception desk at the sheriff's office looking out the front door.  You saw a person pacing back and forth a few times and then the scene just cuts away to something else.

There was no relevance to what was going on.  The was no explanation.  It was just weird.

 

I find some things in Scripture to be the same way.  Here is an example. 
 

Judges 12:13-15(NKJV)

After him, Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel. 

He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy young donkeys. He judged Israel eight years. 

Then Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the mountains of the Amalekites.

 

We know that Scripture is one of the ways that God communicates with us.  So what exactly is God trying to communicate by telling us that this guy had 40 kids, 30 grandkids, and they all rode on donkeys.  This is the only mention in the whole Bible that Abdon gets.  It's not like we will be reading more about him later or anything.  Why do we need to know the number of his kids and grandkids and that they each had a donkey?

Because it is Scripture I look for deeper meanings.  Are there deeper meanings here that I am missing?  Or does God sometimes put stuff like this in here just to screw with us? 

I can hear some people gasp!  How can you say that about God?  Come on, my main paradigm is of God the father.  Every one of you out there, you know you have screwed with your own kids at one time or another.  You know you have.  Why would you think God wouldn't want to screw around with His kids sometimes too?  :)

I hope you all have a great weekend!

 

What a great prayer to start the day!

 I ran across this prayer in my morning readings.  What a nice prayer to start the day!

 

2 Corinthians 9:10-11(NKJV)

Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, 

while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. 

I like this so much I put it on a 3 x 5 index card so I could memorize it. 

I hope you all have a great day!

"cut of his thimbs and big toes" Man they did some weird stuff back in the day!

This just made me burst out laughing.

 

Judges 1:6-7(NKJV)

Then Adoni-Bezek fled, and they pursued him and caught him and cut off his thumbs and big toes. 

And Adoni-Bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off used to gather scraps under my table; as I have done, so God has repaid me.” Then they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died.

 

Cut off his thumbs and big toes?  Now I laughed before reading the reason that they did that to Adoni-Bezek.  I just amazes me the weird ways people come up with to torture and degrade others.  It initially made me laugh but it is pretty sad as well. 

 

What does it mean to "walk in all His way"? Joshua 22:5

I know that sounds like a "well, duh!" question but bear with me.

 

The key word in the title is "all". 

I don't know about you but there are times when I think "God, I'm walking in your ways.  Why is this happening or why isn't that happening?"  Know what I mean?

As I was reading this morning in Joshua I ran across that phrase, "walk in all His ways".  I just went on by but it stuck in my mind.  It was kind of weird.  It gave me a sense of unease and drew me back.  Of all my readings this morning, that is what stuck out. 

 

It was this vague thing I just couldn't quite articulate.  I started going through the list in my head.  I seemed to be walking in His ways pretty good.  What was I missing?  I tried coming at it from a couple different angles.  Nothing.

So I prayed more about it.  I was prepared to wait and study the issue for a few days or weeks until God revealed something to me.  I didn't really expect an instant answer.  But I got it!

"Dude.  "Procrastination!"  Habakkuk 2:2".

Ah.  ALL His ways.  I get it now.  I also know why it made me uneasy.  Let's look at the verse and then I will explain.
 

Habakkuk 2:2(NKJV)

Then the Lord answered me and said:      “Write the vision     And make it plain on tablets,     That he may run who reads it.

 

I have written before about how God's success plan is in the Bible.  Well this is part if it.  Write you vision down, make it plain, and run with it".

 

Put your goals and plans on paper!  I have heard that for the last 40+ years!  Have I ever really put any serious effort into doing it?  Nope.  I did it my way.  I'm more of a go with the flow kind of guy.  It worked pretty well for me.  I raised a great family, built a successful financial planning practice.  Didn't see where I really needed to write the goals down.

 

About 3-4 months ago I was listening to a Steve Harvey motivational video while working out.  He talked about the two principals he built his success on.  One of those principals was Habakkuk 2!  God kind of nudged me and said "hmmm".  I can take a hint.  I put that on my To Do list.

 

And there it sat.  This morning I realized that we are two days from the end of the year and I still haven't made the vision plain.  It has been on my To Do list for months.  I look at it every day.  I think 'yeah, I'll get to that". 

 

So here is my conclusion from this.  Just taking a shot here.  Do you think maybe God is telling me "all of My ways boy. All of My ways!  Write it down!!!!".  :)

I can guarantee you, I will start the year with written goals. 

Thanks God, the journey is always so cool with You!

The Greatest Christmas Gift of All. Faith, Hope, & Love through Jesus!

 

The Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians:

 

1 Corinthians 13:13(NKJV)

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

 

This is the verse that caught my attention this morning.  When I first read it I had a totally different take on it but God brought me around to see what He really wanted me to get out of this verse at this particular time.

 

Faith, Hope, & Love through Jesus - The Greatest Christmas Gift of All!

If it weren't for Jesus' love for us all, we would not have the faith and the hope for the future that we do!

 

Faith in Jesus gives us the peace that surpasses all understanding.  It causes miraculous things to happen in your life, if you will let it. 

 

Folks, God has worked miracles in my life this past year or so and He can do the same for you!

 

The Greatest Christmas Gift of All starts with Jesus.  Are you ready to accept that gift?  Just ask Jesus to lead your life.  Have a conversation with Jesus.  Let Him know where you are at in life and what you need.  He will take it from there.  "Dear Jesus…."

Merry Christmas folks!!!

Wow! God wields a mean 2 X 4!!!

Lol!!  I love the way God can make a point and make me laugh at the same time!

As many of you know, I have "issues" with the Apostle Paul.  There has just always been something about the guy that bugs me.   I ran across one of his quotes today that has always especially bugged me. 
 

Romans 15:19-20(NKJV)

in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. 

And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s foundation, 

 

Even though we are not supposed to be prideful, I thought this made Paul sound like he was being prideful.  I've read this verse many times and have had this same thought many times.  No big deal…until today.

 

Today when I had this thought, another thought popped into my head. 

 

Matthew 7:3-4(NKJV)

And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 

Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 

WHACK!!!

 

Wow, where did that 2 X 4 come from?

"Did you ever consider that maybe part of the reason you have "issues" with Paul is because there are similarities between the two of you?  Aren't you a bit prideful at times"  "And dude, I'm being generous when I say "a bit."  :)

WHACK!!!  WHACK!!!

:)

Lively daily with God is such a hoot!

Afterthought:  I hope that doesn't sound disrespectful or blasphemes.  I don't mean it to be.  It is a joyful thing!!!