"All human discoveries seem to be made only for the purpose of confirming more and more strongly the truths contained in the Sacred Scriptures." Sir William Herschel, 1738 - 1822. An English astronomer who mapped the heavens.
"It is impossible to enslave mentally or socially a Bible-reading people. The principles of the Bible are the groundwork of human freedom." Horace Greeley, 1811-1872. An activist who fought to abolish slavery, established the New York Tribune.
"The Bible is no mere book, but a Living Creature, with a power that conquers all that oppose it." Napoleon said this; think we all know who he was.
I could literally fill pages of quotes spoken and written by gifted, educated people who placed great value in this Book. I don't think what I have to say will be very profound compared to all that has been said. But know this, whether you're ruling a nation, rocking a baby, or painting a house - the Bible is is your tool to freedom. A freedom that no government can provide. Children of a sovereign God are never victims of their circumstances.
The Bible teaches over and over again, that those who have a relationship with Christ have overcome this world. . .even if they are in the midst of a crisis. Believers have, not just a place, but a person to go to for help and comfort. I can listen to my children or a friend, give comfort and love to my husband - but I have no power to effect an outcome. Only God does.
I love the Bible because it's true. No piece of literature has been, and is continually, vetted like the Holy Scriptures. It's an incredible masterpiece that only God could write. It's what it says it is. . .God's Word.
Do you love stories?
Do you love action and excitement?
How about history?
Enjoy poetry?
Want to know why this world is such a messy place?
Can you see God's hand in creation?
Would you like to know how to live in peace and experience joy when all about you is falling apart?
Can't rid yourself of your not-so-good past or have difficulty facing the future with confidence?
Are you discouraged to the point of having lost hope for a better time, a better day?
Do you want to know the One who has given you life - and has a purpose for it?
Do you want to be loved unconditionally?
Would you like to know how the Holy Spirit works in us to mold us into the person God wants us to be?
The answers to these questions are all there in one book, the Bible. The Bible has out-sold all other books ever written.
Yes, I will admit there is a lot of 'mystery' in the Bible. It may be confusing at times. The Lord didn't want to make it so easy to study that you would feel like you know it all. Rather, He wants you to come back to His Word, time and time again. As Napoleon said, it's a 'Living Creature' - so alive that God can use it for your benefit at any time. He brings His Word to us so He can meet us where we are, now, in this hour, this minute, in this dilemma.
When I first became aware that I belonged to God, I was so touched by the words from a song written by the Gaithers,
"Something wonderful, something good
All my confusion, He understood.
All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife,
But He made something beautiful of my life."
Thank you Lord for the incredible gift of your living Word. Help us to apply your heavenly principles to our earthly lives, to grow closer to you and share the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all who will listen.
Showing posts with label history. Show all posts
Showing posts with label history. Show all posts
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Saturday, February 6, 2010
A History Lesson in Faith
Has it only been four days since I last posted? Seems like a month. If you ever have an oral surgeon tell you "We'll just put in a couple of dental implants - no problem", don't believe it! I've had a sore jaw all week, at times throbbing, but this too will pass.
My husband had left for the men's monthly breakfast at the church this morning.....he was teaching on 'With God all Things are Possible'.....or something like that. I was on the cell speaking to our daughter in L.A. and in comes our son with his little Cairn Terrier. He was going to go bowling with his Special Olympic friends, then on to work and didn't want her to be alone all day. We call her a Cairn Terrorist! What a little ragamuffin rascal, into everything....comes tearing through the door like a tornado and does about the same kind of damage! Well, not quite. She's our little grand dog, a gift from a cousin near Philly, and we are so crazy in love with her! She's so naughty, doesn't deserve all this love. Somehow, this is how I see God loving us, not that we deserve it, we're a little naughty, never-the-less, he's crazy in love with us!
Last post, we were talking about Joshua. I actually own a copy of the complete, unabridged works of Flavius Josephus (A.D. 32 -100), a prolific Jewish writer-historian. The book of Joshua is about how the Hebrews made war with the Canaanites, destroyed them, and divided their land among the tribes of Israel. Josephus wrote virtually the same information as we have in our Bible. It seems a little odd to me that authors, historians, philosophers, etc. like Josephus, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and such are never 'vetted' in the way the Bible is. Only the Bible falls under such heavy scrutiny.....and that's a good thing. We want to know that it is a source of truth. The Greek word for truth is 'alethia' which means 'reality'.
In the last chapter of Joshua, 24, we see that all the leaders of Israel have gathered together and "presented themselves to God", vs. 1. I think a natural question would be, "How do you do that, present yourself to God?" We who believe do this very often. We come with an attitude of of praise and reverence (no matter where we are physically), giving thanks with an open heart and spiritual ears. O.K., the heart is a muscle, how do you 'open' it? We get so use to our Christian jargon that we forget how it sounds to others. How do you 'hear' spiritual truth? You can't.
If you are a believer, God's spirit lives in you...His Holy Spirit. I don't know how exactly that works, but I know this is what the Scripture says happens. It's a 'reality'. It's the Holy Spirit who enables you to 'come ' and receive the things of God, and hear 'spiritual truth'. The Lord gives, we receive.
Joshua gathered the Israelites for a final 'pep talk' reminding them of their history, and renewing a covenant that had been made. He talks of the years as slaves in Egypt and how the Lord rescued them by parting the Red Sea, the forty years in the desert with Moses, how their enemies were destroyed, the amazing victory of Jericho, acquired new land, all from the hand of God. Joshua took no credit. "It was the Lord our God himself who brought us and our fathers up out of Egypt"...vs. 16. Remember, in Chapter 5, he saw Jesus Christ as the commander of the army and fell face down in reverence. Joshua always knew who was in charge!
He gives a very strong warning about worshipping 'foreign gods'. He tells them to 'throw away' the gods their forefathers worshipped and serve the one true God. He reminds them that God is a holy and jealous God, he will not allow the worship of a 'foreign god' (idol) without bringing disaster on you. First Commandment....'Thou shall have no other god's before you'.....
I find it interesting that Joshua warns, then makes this statement in 24:15, "But if serving the Lord seems undesirable, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve...." Do you know anyone who finds believing in the God of the Bible 'undesirable'? Sure you do, we all do. It may be a co-worker, neighbor, even your own parent or child. I believe we can adopt Joshua's trust in the Lord. There is nothing we can do or say that will make a difference; it's God alone who changes us and gives us a new heart and new spirit....Ezekiel 36:26. And then he made, what has become a favorite statement that many adopt as their own,"But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord".
So relax, trust your heavenly Father. He has a flock of 'sheep' that belong to Him alone...no one will snatch them from His hand, and He will be faithful to bring each one into the fold, in His own time, in His own way. He is the way, the truth and the life.....John 14:6
I'm thinking of family we have back east who are in the midst of a huge snow storm; a friend, Glenna, who is teaching Romans at Sandy Cove near Baltimore, and praying for their safety and comfort. No power failures Lord, please! We can't avoid the storms of life, but we can learn to dance and sing in the rain and snow! The 'SON' will continue to shine!
More next week. Since it Valentines Day, seems appropriate to talk about 'love'.
My husband had left for the men's monthly breakfast at the church this morning.....he was teaching on 'With God all Things are Possible'.....or something like that. I was on the cell speaking to our daughter in L.A. and in comes our son with his little Cairn Terrier. He was going to go bowling with his Special Olympic friends, then on to work and didn't want her to be alone all day. We call her a Cairn Terrorist! What a little ragamuffin rascal, into everything....comes tearing through the door like a tornado and does about the same kind of damage! Well, not quite. She's our little grand dog, a gift from a cousin near Philly, and we are so crazy in love with her! She's so naughty, doesn't deserve all this love. Somehow, this is how I see God loving us, not that we deserve it, we're a little naughty, never-the-less, he's crazy in love with us!
Last post, we were talking about Joshua. I actually own a copy of the complete, unabridged works of Flavius Josephus (A.D. 32 -100), a prolific Jewish writer-historian. The book of Joshua is about how the Hebrews made war with the Canaanites, destroyed them, and divided their land among the tribes of Israel. Josephus wrote virtually the same information as we have in our Bible. It seems a little odd to me that authors, historians, philosophers, etc. like Josephus, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and such are never 'vetted' in the way the Bible is. Only the Bible falls under such heavy scrutiny.....and that's a good thing. We want to know that it is a source of truth. The Greek word for truth is 'alethia' which means 'reality'.
In the last chapter of Joshua, 24, we see that all the leaders of Israel have gathered together and "presented themselves to God", vs. 1. I think a natural question would be, "How do you do that, present yourself to God?" We who believe do this very often. We come with an attitude of of praise and reverence (no matter where we are physically), giving thanks with an open heart and spiritual ears. O.K., the heart is a muscle, how do you 'open' it? We get so use to our Christian jargon that we forget how it sounds to others. How do you 'hear' spiritual truth? You can't.
If you are a believer, God's spirit lives in you...His Holy Spirit. I don't know how exactly that works, but I know this is what the Scripture says happens. It's a 'reality'. It's the Holy Spirit who enables you to 'come ' and receive the things of God, and hear 'spiritual truth'. The Lord gives, we receive.
Joshua gathered the Israelites for a final 'pep talk' reminding them of their history, and renewing a covenant that had been made. He talks of the years as slaves in Egypt and how the Lord rescued them by parting the Red Sea, the forty years in the desert with Moses, how their enemies were destroyed, the amazing victory of Jericho, acquired new land, all from the hand of God. Joshua took no credit. "It was the Lord our God himself who brought us and our fathers up out of Egypt"...vs. 16. Remember, in Chapter 5, he saw Jesus Christ as the commander of the army and fell face down in reverence. Joshua always knew who was in charge!
He gives a very strong warning about worshipping 'foreign gods'. He tells them to 'throw away' the gods their forefathers worshipped and serve the one true God. He reminds them that God is a holy and jealous God, he will not allow the worship of a 'foreign god' (idol) without bringing disaster on you. First Commandment....'Thou shall have no other god's before you'.....
I find it interesting that Joshua warns, then makes this statement in 24:15, "But if serving the Lord seems undesirable, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve...." Do you know anyone who finds believing in the God of the Bible 'undesirable'? Sure you do, we all do. It may be a co-worker, neighbor, even your own parent or child. I believe we can adopt Joshua's trust in the Lord. There is nothing we can do or say that will make a difference; it's God alone who changes us and gives us a new heart and new spirit....Ezekiel 36:26. And then he made, what has become a favorite statement that many adopt as their own,"But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord".
So relax, trust your heavenly Father. He has a flock of 'sheep' that belong to Him alone...no one will snatch them from His hand, and He will be faithful to bring each one into the fold, in His own time, in His own way. He is the way, the truth and the life.....John 14:6
I'm thinking of family we have back east who are in the midst of a huge snow storm; a friend, Glenna, who is teaching Romans at Sandy Cove near Baltimore, and praying for their safety and comfort. No power failures Lord, please! We can't avoid the storms of life, but we can learn to dance and sing in the rain and snow! The 'SON' will continue to shine!
More next week. Since it Valentines Day, seems appropriate to talk about 'love'.
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