Deut. 11:16-17 - "'Beware that your hearts are not deceived and that you do not turn away and serve other gods and worship them. Or the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you, and He will shut up the heavens so that there will be no rain and the ground will not yield its fruit; and you will perish quickly from the good land which the Lord is giving you.'"
It is terrible how quick people are to blame God when things don't go their way. God pours out His abundance with just one stipulation, to love Him with all our hearts and out of that love, to serve Him in the same way. It is our choice, we love Him, or we don't. Then He makes the choice, to keep the heavens open, or to shut them. Yes, God is sovereign but in His sovereignty He gives us the choice of whether we want to receive His blessings. The doors to those blessings are unlocked to those who love Him. They are not available to those who don't. I'm sure many people could put up an argument against this. But Moses didn't mix words, He was very clear and direct. Plus, he told the people to write the words and strap them to their body so they don't forget. It is that simple: Love Him =blessings; don't love Him = no blessings.
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Promise 43 from Deuteronomy 11:13-15
Deut. 11:13-15 - "'It shall come about, if you listen obediently to my commandments which I am commanding you today, to love the Lord your God and to serve Him with all your heart and all your soul, that He will give the rain for your land in its season, the early and late rain, that you may gather in your grain and your new wine and your oil. He will give grass in your fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied.'"
"The grass is always greener on the other side." Is that because on the other side the people love God more and obey His commands? Maybe! When I think about growing up in the church, I don't recall too many sermons on "really loving God." I remember many about the importance of giving our lives to Him, serving Him, being obedient to Him and then all the negative consequences if we don't. We learn about church disciplines such as reading our Bible in a year, going to Bible studies, taking communion and being Baptized, but what about the "love your God with all you heart and soul" part? Our semi-conservative evangelical camp has put the "love your God with all your heart and soul" into the "charismatic" or "Pentecostal" camp. If someone in the first camp expresses their love and passion for Jesus during worship by hollering out the name of Jesus or clapping while singing about praising Him, then you can almost hear the thoughts of those others around the room, "Oh my, she's gone Pentecostal!" If there is only freedom to express my love and passion for my Jesus (as I am commanded, I might add) in the Pentecostal or charismatic camp, then I will gladly pull up stakes and move toward the other camp. We are commanded to love the Lord our God with ALL our heart and soul. Just raising hands and whooping out the name of Jesus during worship doesn't even cut it. Expressing our love for God needs to be within our life-style, in our conversations, how we respond to situations at work, when the kids spill a glas of milk, when we are cut off or flipped off by someone. When we express our love for God in everyday life, then the raising of hands and whooping out "JESUS!" during worship will just automatically flow out and it doesn't matter where you are, if you are sitting in a monastery or in your conservative camp, it will just flow out from deep within and no one can stop it. Then, the blessings of contentment and satisfaction will flow out of His delight!
"The grass is always greener on the other side." Is that because on the other side the people love God more and obey His commands? Maybe! When I think about growing up in the church, I don't recall too many sermons on "really loving God." I remember many about the importance of giving our lives to Him, serving Him, being obedient to Him and then all the negative consequences if we don't. We learn about church disciplines such as reading our Bible in a year, going to Bible studies, taking communion and being Baptized, but what about the "love your God with all you heart and soul" part? Our semi-conservative evangelical camp has put the "love your God with all your heart and soul" into the "charismatic" or "Pentecostal" camp. If someone in the first camp expresses their love and passion for Jesus during worship by hollering out the name of Jesus or clapping while singing about praising Him, then you can almost hear the thoughts of those others around the room, "Oh my, she's gone Pentecostal!" If there is only freedom to express my love and passion for my Jesus (as I am commanded, I might add) in the Pentecostal or charismatic camp, then I will gladly pull up stakes and move toward the other camp. We are commanded to love the Lord our God with ALL our heart and soul. Just raising hands and whooping out the name of Jesus during worship doesn't even cut it. Expressing our love for God needs to be within our life-style, in our conversations, how we respond to situations at work, when the kids spill a glas of milk, when we are cut off or flipped off by someone. When we express our love for God in everyday life, then the raising of hands and whooping out "JESUS!" during worship will just automatically flow out and it doesn't matter where you are, if you are sitting in a monastery or in your conservative camp, it will just flow out from deep within and no one can stop it. Then, the blessings of contentment and satisfaction will flow out of His delight!
Monday, July 14, 2014
Promise 42 from Deuteronomy 11:11-12
Deut. 11:11-12 - "'But the land into which you are about to cross to posses it, a land of hills and valleys, drinks water from the rain of heaven, a land for which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning even to the end of the year.'"
I just love my yard in the spring. Without doing a thing all year round, when spring comes the yard goes into full bloom, rose trees, ferns, cherry, plum and apricot tree blossoms, beautiful varieties of flowers, for which I don't know the names for. Grass comes up between the holes the dogs dug. It is beautiful. I've lived in this home in Kos*vo for two years (this was written May 2013, moved out of this house three months ago). I don't have a green thumb, but just love the plants that have existed here for years. If I love this small piece of land, I can imagine how my Heavenly Father loves it so much more. He put His care into it so that I and the owners of the house can enjoy it. When I think of the pioneers who came both to this land and to America, they were people who sought after God. God brought them to a place, rich with land which drinks from the rain of heaven. They are both plush with vegetation and green. I can't help but think that God cares for these lands, and His eyes are on them. For the Se*bians and the devout Alb*nians who pioneered the land of Kos*vo, God brought them to this land in order to reveal His care for them down the generations. Even though there has been a decline in dependency on God, which have effected both nations, I still believe that God is the caretaker of His land and will one day, as He poured His glory into the beauty of the soil, He will do the same into the people who have possessed the soil.
I just love my yard in the spring. Without doing a thing all year round, when spring comes the yard goes into full bloom, rose trees, ferns, cherry, plum and apricot tree blossoms, beautiful varieties of flowers, for which I don't know the names for. Grass comes up between the holes the dogs dug. It is beautiful. I've lived in this home in Kos*vo for two years (this was written May 2013, moved out of this house three months ago). I don't have a green thumb, but just love the plants that have existed here for years. If I love this small piece of land, I can imagine how my Heavenly Father loves it so much more. He put His care into it so that I and the owners of the house can enjoy it. When I think of the pioneers who came both to this land and to America, they were people who sought after God. God brought them to a place, rich with land which drinks from the rain of heaven. They are both plush with vegetation and green. I can't help but think that God cares for these lands, and His eyes are on them. For the Se*bians and the devout Alb*nians who pioneered the land of Kos*vo, God brought them to this land in order to reveal His care for them down the generations. Even though there has been a decline in dependency on God, which have effected both nations, I still believe that God is the caretaker of His land and will one day, as He poured His glory into the beauty of the soil, He will do the same into the people who have possessed the soil.
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Promise 41 from Deuteronomy 11:7
Deut. 11:7 - "'But your own eyes have seen all the great work of the Lord which He did.'"
This isn't as much a promise, but a remembrance call. Moses is once again telling the Israelites that they should love the Lord their God, keep His charge, His statues, His ordinances and commands. Why? Because they know what He is like and what He is capable of. They saw His discipline, greatness, mighty hand, outstretched arm, His signs, and works in Egypt. They saw Him destroy the army by raising the sea waters over them and they saw all He did in the wilderness. They also saw the earth open up and swallow all that belonged to Eliab's sons. The good and the bad are all referred to as the "great" work of the Lord. What an amazing journey that must've been to physically "see" God's hand move with such power and in so many ways, the good an the difficult. If we were truly honest with ourselves, if we really sat down and thought over our lives, I know we would be able to give accounts too, where we "saw" the mighty works of God in our lives. Moses is recalling the testimony of the past so that they know what they can expect of God in the future. If you have seen Him, then you know you will see Him again. If He has done mighty and amazing things in your life in the past, then He can do it again in your future. When you remember those events, then you will also find your promise; you will see His mighty works again!
This isn't as much a promise, but a remembrance call. Moses is once again telling the Israelites that they should love the Lord their God, keep His charge, His statues, His ordinances and commands. Why? Because they know what He is like and what He is capable of. They saw His discipline, greatness, mighty hand, outstretched arm, His signs, and works in Egypt. They saw Him destroy the army by raising the sea waters over them and they saw all He did in the wilderness. They also saw the earth open up and swallow all that belonged to Eliab's sons. The good and the bad are all referred to as the "great" work of the Lord. What an amazing journey that must've been to physically "see" God's hand move with such power and in so many ways, the good an the difficult. If we were truly honest with ourselves, if we really sat down and thought over our lives, I know we would be able to give accounts too, where we "saw" the mighty works of God in our lives. Moses is recalling the testimony of the past so that they know what they can expect of God in the future. If you have seen Him, then you know you will see Him again. If He has done mighty and amazing things in your life in the past, then He can do it again in your future. When you remember those events, then you will also find your promise; you will see His mighty works again!
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Promise 40 from Deuteronomy 10:21
Deut. 10:21 - "'He is your praise and He is your God, who has done these great and awesome things for you which your eyes have seen.'"
I've not really thought about God as being my "praise" before. I've seen Him as the One I praise but not considered Him as my praise. However, when I think about all I've done and all I am, none of that has come to being because of what I've done or made myself to be. He not only gets the praise, but He IS my praise. He is the object of who I am and all I do, He is the essence of my being; Christ in me. He is my praise!
I've not really thought about God as being my "praise" before. I've seen Him as the One I praise but not considered Him as my praise. However, when I think about all I've done and all I am, none of that has come to being because of what I've done or made myself to be. He not only gets the praise, but He IS my praise. He is the object of who I am and all I do, He is the essence of my being; Christ in me. He is my praise!
Friday, July 11, 2014
Promise 39 from Deuteronomy 10:18
Deut. 10:18 - "He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing."
There is much injustice in loosing a spouse to death, especially prematurely, or a child, his parents and visa versa. It is just wrong in the order of life. It seems unfair and the mourner (s) is/are left with no one to blame, no one to express their anger to; or their pain. There is such a feeling of powerlessness to reverse the situation or to protect it from happening. A hole of emptiness just pierces the heart and it keeps growing. It seems like such a hopeless situation. However, there is good news on the horizon; God, in His greatness and His great love takes care of the injustice.
I have a client (18 yrs old) now (written in May 2013) who was hit by a car while she was walking home from school. She was left with deformed feet, inability to speak, right-side paralysis and major rehab in front of her. The young man who hit her was fined only 300 euros, because his father had connections in the judicial dept. The father had to stop working so that he could take care of his daughter, plus their younger daughter who has developmental disabilities and his teenage son. His wife was slipping into a depression quickly. They lost all they had, had to sell their home and move into a small house and no one at a government level would go to bat for them. The doctor's told them they needed to go out of country for treatment, a foreign doctor told them that Kosovo has all they need as far as rehab resources, and the rehab place said that she is too advanced in her disability for them to accept. This is injustice! This is that feeling of powerlessness, this is heart-breaking for the family. What can man do? Nothing! But God, in His greatness and compassion will bring justice. He will provide for this girl, this family, He will, in some way deal with the young man, his father and the crooked judge. He will bring joy back into the hearts of that family once again. There is justice, because He is the just One.
There is much injustice in loosing a spouse to death, especially prematurely, or a child, his parents and visa versa. It is just wrong in the order of life. It seems unfair and the mourner (s) is/are left with no one to blame, no one to express their anger to; or their pain. There is such a feeling of powerlessness to reverse the situation or to protect it from happening. A hole of emptiness just pierces the heart and it keeps growing. It seems like such a hopeless situation. However, there is good news on the horizon; God, in His greatness and His great love takes care of the injustice.
I have a client (18 yrs old) now (written in May 2013) who was hit by a car while she was walking home from school. She was left with deformed feet, inability to speak, right-side paralysis and major rehab in front of her. The young man who hit her was fined only 300 euros, because his father had connections in the judicial dept. The father had to stop working so that he could take care of his daughter, plus their younger daughter who has developmental disabilities and his teenage son. His wife was slipping into a depression quickly. They lost all they had, had to sell their home and move into a small house and no one at a government level would go to bat for them. The doctor's told them they needed to go out of country for treatment, a foreign doctor told them that Kosovo has all they need as far as rehab resources, and the rehab place said that she is too advanced in her disability for them to accept. This is injustice! This is that feeling of powerlessness, this is heart-breaking for the family. What can man do? Nothing! But God, in His greatness and compassion will bring justice. He will provide for this girl, this family, He will, in some way deal with the young man, his father and the crooked judge. He will bring joy back into the hearts of that family once again. There is justice, because He is the just One.
Monday, December 16, 2013
Promise 38 from Deuteronomy 10:17
Deut. 10:17 - "' For the lord your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the Mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe.'"
It is all about Him! Sometimes we unintentionally fall into this trap of thinking that we can earn extra favour from God. If we pray more, if we pray longer or on our knees instead of sitting, if we sing certain songs during worship, if we worship longer, if we dance, if we lie still and soak, if we tell more people about Jesus, if we go on a missions trip or if we throw bread or money toward the beggar on the street, we will direct God's eyes on us, He will be happy with us, He will show more favour to us. There is nothing that we can do to make Him love us more or less, to add favour or take it away, because it is all bout Him, not us. Seriously He isn't bothered with how many stars we've earned by our names, when He looks at us, He just sees a full chart anyway. It is NOT about us, it is ALL about Him. That is what Moses was trying to get through the heads of the Israelites, "He is the God of gods, Lord of lords, the Great, the Mighty, the Awesome God!" Does this mean we don't do all those things? No! It means we do those things, not for personal, spiritual gain, but because we acknowledge His greatness and awesomeness as the God of gods and the Lord of lords and we express our love to Him for it.
It is all about Him! Sometimes we unintentionally fall into this trap of thinking that we can earn extra favour from God. If we pray more, if we pray longer or on our knees instead of sitting, if we sing certain songs during worship, if we worship longer, if we dance, if we lie still and soak, if we tell more people about Jesus, if we go on a missions trip or if we throw bread or money toward the beggar on the street, we will direct God's eyes on us, He will be happy with us, He will show more favour to us. There is nothing that we can do to make Him love us more or less, to add favour or take it away, because it is all bout Him, not us. Seriously He isn't bothered with how many stars we've earned by our names, when He looks at us, He just sees a full chart anyway. It is NOT about us, it is ALL about Him. That is what Moses was trying to get through the heads of the Israelites, "He is the God of gods, Lord of lords, the Great, the Mighty, the Awesome God!" Does this mean we don't do all those things? No! It means we do those things, not for personal, spiritual gain, but because we acknowledge His greatness and awesomeness as the God of gods and the Lord of lords and we express our love to Him for it.
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