Inscribed by His finger!!!!

This weekend I started a study on the 10 Commandments. I learned some awesome things... some I already knew but is is fantastic when God reveals a new light to things you have read before ... or He shows you things that your don't remember reading.

The study starts out talking about how Moses took the tablets (10 commandments) down to the people who were frolicking in sin. He got mad and threw the stones and they broke. God called him back up and talked to him again... wrote it out again on new stones. This verse I love: "When the Lord finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God."
Exodus 31:18

Another thing I was amazed by was those Philistines... but not in a good way. Moses built an "Ark of the Covenant" for the tablets. They were sacred to the Israelites and they carried them from place to place because they had not settled in the land God had for them yet. So they hauled them around.
Until the Philistines attacked and stole it! They took it to their temple and set it next to the statue of their God (Dagon). A funny thing happened... the next morning Dagon was face down. They set it up and the next morning it was not only facedown... but broken! lol! That's our God for you! He was being gentle at first just showing them who was God.
But they kept the Ark and God plagued them with tumors. So they decided to get rid of it and unloaded it on the people of Gath.... the tumors went with it. So they sent it to Ekron.... the people fared no better and many people died!!! By now the Philistines were getting the picture that the God of Israel was NOT happy!!!

They decided to try an experiment to see if the God of Israel was the One and Only God!!!!!
They sent the Ark of the Covenant in a cart pulled by 2 mama oxen. They locked up the babies. Now by nature... mama's won't leave their babies behind. The oxen went strait to the Israelite camp without a glance back! Israelites were thrilled to have their Tablets back.... the Philistines were thrilled to be rid of them.
God is amazing. He can control everything. ;D

What I don't understand though.... you would think that would have turned the Philistines heart over to God, wouldn't you?

Is God here to serve us... or are we here to serve Him?

Often I’ve asked God to meet a specific need. I want Him to do it soon and in a very practical way. Sometimes, He does. But sometimes He doesn’t.

A dear friend helped me get some perspective on this. “Instead of continually asking God to give you something, ask Him to make you into something. For instance, pray, ‘Make me more like Jesus. Make me more compassionate. Make me a woman of faith’.”

When we pray “Give me” we’re treating God as though He exists to serve us. Whereas, when we pray “make me” we acknowledge that He is our God and we want to serve him.

Above all else, God is interested in our eternal welfare. For that reason, He is more interested in our character than in our comfort. To conform us to Christ-like-ness takes time. It also takes adversity. The answers to “give me” are temporal, whereas the answers to “make me” are eternal.

Father, thank you that you love me enough not to give me everything I ask for. Make me into a woman of faith. I want to be more like Jesus. Amen.

Are you toe-dipping?

"Toe-dipping" is stuck in my head. I am guilty and I know others that are guilty.
Years ago we did a bible study and discussed "toe-dipping". It is basically when we get right to the edge where sin is located and start dipping our toes in it... knowing we shouldn't do it. Pretty soon we are wading in sin.... next thing you know you are swimming in it. Been there done that. Starts out harmful enough. Next thing you know when you're wading in it you think "This is ok... it's not that big of sin.".... or "It's not that bad." When you are swimming in it you can totally justify the sin as fun, God forgivcs, is it really a sin, who is it hurting?

What is the pool? Any place you know is dangerous... bad for you... may hurt our family or others.... destroys our witness as God's child... makes God unhappy that we are there.... sin.
Some place I thought of were....

1. Sex outside a marriage.... starts out flirting or porn... that is toe-dipping. I don't think I need to go any farther with it. We know where it will lead.

2. Drinking alcohol .... is it a sin? The general contours of biblical teaching are that wine is a blessing from the Lord, something to be enjoyed. But like any good gift from God, it can be abused: in this case, abuse involves addiction and drunkenness. But whenever we condemn others who are able to enjoy God’s good gifts in moderation as though they were abusers, we misrepresent biblical Christianity. So if dipping your toe in alcohol lake could lead you to sin... addiction or getting drunk... I guess you have to ask yourself if it will lead to wading often or worse yet swimming in it? It happens before you know it.... I saw it in my own family... and it is a dip that hurts the whole family and your witness. Has drinking changed your relationship with God?

3. Tobacco....Is the use of tobacco wrong? Does the Bible say it is sin? These are frequently asked questions that deserve an answer. No, the Bible does not specifically mention the use of tobacco. But it does give directions and principles that can be used as a guide. The Bible clearly teaches that our bodies arc not our own, that they are intended to be temples for God and for the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 3:16,17 shows that it is sinful to harm or defile our bodies: The use of tobacco has been clearly shown to weaken and even destroy the body that was meant to bring honor and service to God. God pleads with men to abstain from those fleshly appetites that dull their spiritual senses. 1 Peter 2:11. Can it be said that the use of tobacco is a clean, pure, harmless habit that is inoffensive to others? Does it belong to a person who has been separated from the world by the cross of Christ? We must conclude that its use identifies one with those many others on the broad road who seek their own pleasure rather than the will of God.

4. Gluttony..... Is over eating a sin? Being fat sinful? The real root of so many illnesses and diseases we struggle with in our society are spiritual, not just poor nutritional habits and inactivity as many would suggest is the case in obesity. What about the faith factor? I think that it, or the absence of it, makes all the difference in the world. Jesus was once asked what the greatest commandment was. His reply, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” If we do not love God as He intends for us to, and love others and ourselves as He desires us to, then we’re going to have many problems in our lives. Think about it – God calls us to love him with our entire being. He calls us to be in loving relationships with others just as we love ourselves. The unhealthy and long-term thinking patterns and associated toxic emotions of feeling unacceptable, worthless, unloved, guilty and anxious is not loving ourselves. What does this do to your relationship with Christ?

5. Anger and Unforgiveness. We can start out being perturbed with a person... pretty soon we can't stand to be around them and have made the issue bigger than it was because we cannot forgive. Next thing you know you are swimming in bitterness and hate. Who are you hurting? Are you hurting God? The other person or people around you? Your relationship with Christ?

God love you and wants you to come to him just as you are. He is well able to deliver you. Even though tobacco, alcohol, gambling, over-eating is strongly addictive, and you may have a craving for it, God will gladly bring His almighty power to bear upon your problem.

Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love.(Micah 7:18,19).

If you are using _______ there may be many questions that come to your mind!You may ask, "What will my friends think if I stop _______ ? What will they think if I can't stop? I've tried before and failed. The desire for _______ is so strong. ________ gives me some relief until I need the next one. Who will help? Does God understand how I feel?"

You can fill in your own blanks...

God sees your heart. He not only sees your habits and problems, but he sees how Satan has trapped you. Your own pride may have brought you into these problems through your desire to find acceptance from your friends. Jesus died on the cross to bring deliverance from the hard master of sin. Those who recognize then need for deliverance and crucify self will find help. Romans 6:5,6 instructs us: "If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin." (This was Andrew's verse today!)

Remember this....

There are many areas that are called grey areas.... and the things that get lumped into this cauldron of evil deeds are quite numerous: attending the opera, playing cards, attending any kind of motion pictures, owning a television, listening to rock or country-western or even Mozart, investing in the stock market, observing Christmas with a decorated tree, reading mystery novels, spouses having separate checking accounts, women wearing make-up or slacks, etc. What all these areas have in common is that they are not discussed in scripture. Thus, if one wants to label them as evil, he either has to do some rather ingenious interpretation of the Bible or else simply appeal to one’s conscience as the standard by which others are to be measured.

We can package such as ‘practical Christianity’ or ‘a wise and godly lifestyle’ or ‘principles to live by,’ but at bottom when such advice goes beyond the scriptures and turns into more than advice, it is legalism. I don't want to be legalistic... I want to be close to my Lord and Savior.

Do you need a GPS?

“Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.” (Psalms 119:35)

Imagine this.... Stopping to get gas in unfamiliar territory, finding yourself on a one way street heading in the opposite direction from where you need to go. It's rush hour. The intersections are busy with preoccupied drivers, and everyone knows where they are going, except for you. Lane changes are out of the question. A series of wrong turns deepens your plight, and you soon realize there is no getting back to the exact point where you first made the wrong move.

But then you remember your GPS. Unused and unplugged, it's hidden beneath the passenger’s seat, just waiting to be asked the question, “How do I get back on the right path?”

Our spiritual lives are similar to this. A few ill advised steps to the right or the left quickly turn into massive detours; unplanned and full of obstacles. But we keep moving, never recognizing how lost we are until we finally stop to look back. We no longer recognize our surroundings. Unintentionally perhaps, but because of our own choices, we left the people who once traveled with us far behind.

But just like the GPS underneath the passenger’s seat, there lies the Bible, just waiting to be asked the question, “How do I get back on the right path?”

A GPS and a Bible only point me in the right direction when I choose to use them. Many might say my Bible is filled with nothing but rules. But I know better. If I follow what it recommends, I will make fewer mistakes. I will hurt less. My family and loved ones will hurt less. My Bible tells me to embrace life; to “go, and sin no more.”

The GPS tells me to make a U-turn. Stop following this path that leads in the opposite direction from where I want to end up. “Turn around when possible,” it cautions repeatedly.

They both recognize the dangers of being lost and alone. Thank goodness.

Dear God,

Sometime I make the wrong turn. I am slow to realize what happened and why. But I thank you for never giving up on me. I thank you for creating a path just for me that will lead to eternity. I pray that you give me the strength to follow. I thank you for the Bible, our GPS systems, and for each other. All are needed for this journey.

In the name of Jesus I pray! AMEN!

Just some one liners I learned about me and God...

• This world is not our home nor is it where our focus should be.
• Don't take refuge in people.... take it in God. Man cannot be trusted or able to handle the burden.
• The Lord has saved you and brought you all this way... don't go backwards!
• You must live according to Him not the world to stay on the right path.
• The Bible needs to be my map. Man can lead you the wrong direction.
• I don't have to worry about pleasing others. I need to please God first.
• The Lord is my protector.... He gives me help, watches over me while I sleep, He will keep me from harm, He will watch my comings and goings over my life!
• We should NEVER trust a lesser power than God Himself!
• God is never diverted or deterred.
• God is holding nothing against me!
• We need to please God.... not grieve God with our thoughts, attitudes and activities.
  

MARK 4: 38 & 39 God is in control... have peace!

When you read the passage you can see that Jesus was tired. His human side needed sleep! Jesus' disciples woke him up and said to him,"Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" Chaos in the sea, Although they were used to storms, this one terrified the disciples. These rough, dirty, smelly fishermen had given up everything to be with Jesus, given up good-paying jobs, homes, family, and friends to live outside and ask for handouts. These men were afraid.

In my imagination I can see these disciples, like children deciding which one will go into the room to wake up mom or dad. Finally they, probably led by Peter, awakened Jesus as the howling winds got louder and louder. Can't you hear them? "Master, Teacher, don't you care we are about to die? The storm is going to kill us. Get up, Jesus; save us, Lord!"

Verse 39 says, "He woke up". Can't you see Jesus? He had slept through the storm. Jesus knew who had the entire world in creative hands.

Jesus didn't touch the wind, didn't run his hand over the water, didn't call a psychic network. He just said.... the Bible doesn't say he yelled, "Peace, be still!!"

The storm became silent. Silent, like the eye of a hurricane, where only stillness prevails.Silent, like the moment just before you answer a difficult question. It was silent....no more confusion, no more noise, no more anxiety, just no more, no more. It was silent.

Isn't it interesting that the wind and waves don't think.... but had sense enough to do what God said to do? What is our excuse? The the wind and waves obeyed Jesus. No coaxing, no threats, no promises to be halfway obedient. They shut up and stood at attention in recognition of the voice that created the world. Peace entered the sea. Quiet engulfed the boat.

By the word of the Word, peace ruled the lake. By his word, the disciples were saved because the Word spoke a word to nature and dead silence followed. God was still in control.

In verse 40: "He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?'" Can't you see the disciples shaking, sweating, with hearts beating, knees knocking, stomachs in knots now beginning to relax? Can you feel the power? Jesus asks, "Why are you afraid? Don't you get it; haven't you been with me long enough; didn't you see the miracle? Didn't you listen to the sermons? Where is your faith? This storm was only the beginning. Prepare for many more."

Filled with awe, the disciples said, "Who is this?" They knew his earthly identity, but so much was yet to be learned. Who is this standing in the gap, in the tension between faith and fear, between power and paralysis, between life and death, between freedom and bondage, between "Yes, I can" and "No, I can't," between darkness and light? They asked, "Who is this, that even the wind and waves obey?" Who stills the storms in our lives?

Sometimes we must be reminded of who created this world. At any given time in our lives we can face storms, are in storms or storms have just passed. Sometimes we don't know we are in one until we get out of it and we look back and wonder how we got over. Look at the storms in our lives. Some are unexpected. We can't forecast them. Others are self-produced. We know how to avoid them, but something within us keeps us holding onto what is unhealthy or unhappy. Whatever they are, they are your storms.

But we can have peace!!! True peace is not found in positive thinking, in absence of conflict, or in good feelings. It comes from knowing God is in control. Have peace today.

Key to having a Jesus Attitude!

Philippians 4:8 is one of my favorite verses. There are so many.... I seem to say that alot! It is really hard to think about such things 24/7! Ask God to help you focus your mind on what is good and pure. Since your thought-life is the door to sin.... keep your thought-life holy. With God's help and practicing.... it can be done!