(Editor's note-I remember listening to the beautiful singing of men's choirs on the radio and from our record player.)(2007-08 journal)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I guess the nearest description as I read this passage is that my spirit was quickened within me. "At midnight, Paul and Silas were singing hymns to God." Acts 16:25
I love men's singing and I'm sure they harmonized with each other. I am sure they sounded like the two tenors. "The prisoners were listening to them"
and being blessed, I'm sure.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Nehemiah
Another outstanding man who had been taken in captivity to Babylon was Nehemiah. Ezra, Daniel, and Zerubabal were others. They did not deserve to be taken with the other reprobates but it did not destroy their faith.
Nehemiah's beautiful prayer in Nehemiah 1:1-11 has all the attributes of a perfect prayer-just a few phrases.
Worship-"O Great and awesome God"
Confession-"I confess the sins of the children of Israel-
Both my father's house and I have sinned."
Intercession-"Hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before
You now, day and night,
for the children of Israel, Your servants."
Claiming God's Promises-Remember Your word-
"If you return to Me and keep my commandments-
I will gather them----
and bring them to the place which I have chosen."
Asking God's blessing on ourselves-
"Let Your servant prosper this day, I pray."
Nehemiah's beautiful prayer in Nehemiah 1:1-11 has all the attributes of a perfect prayer-just a few phrases.
Worship-"O Great and awesome God"
Confession-"I confess the sins of the children of Israel-
Both my father's house and I have sinned."
Intercession-"Hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before
You now, day and night,
for the children of Israel, Your servants."
Claiming God's Promises-Remember Your word-
"If you return to Me and keep my commandments-
I will gather them----
and bring them to the place which I have chosen."
Asking God's blessing on ourselves-
"Let Your servant prosper this day, I pray."
Fickle
(From 2007-08 journal)
(Acts 12:15,19,23; 14:11,20)-
After experiencing so much rejection everywhere you would think that Paul and Barnabas would have been tempted to accept some of the acclaim that came to them-the gods have come down to us in the likeness of men.
Instead the tore their clothes-crying out and saying--"we also are men with the same nature as you!"
And what happened next?
They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead, proving that it is better to stay with God than with people for men are fickle and easily swayed. Had Paul and Barnabas accepted the worship of the people, God may have destroyed them as He did Herod when he did not give glory to God.
Instead, after the terrible stoning Paul rose up and went into the city.
(Acts 12:15,19,23; 14:11,20)-
After experiencing so much rejection everywhere you would think that Paul and Barnabas would have been tempted to accept some of the acclaim that came to them-the gods have come down to us in the likeness of men.
Instead the tore their clothes-crying out and saying--"we also are men with the same nature as you!"
And what happened next?
They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead, proving that it is better to stay with God than with people for men are fickle and easily swayed. Had Paul and Barnabas accepted the worship of the people, God may have destroyed them as He did Herod when he did not give glory to God.
Instead, after the terrible stoning Paul rose up and went into the city.
Fallen Leaders
(Editor's notes: Mother had these entries at different places in her journal. I think the two ideas can bring a wise balance to our perceptions in this matter.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1 Samuel 3:13; 4:4~Eli's sons "made themselves vile"-the Lord's words to describe them and yet they had the audacity to be "with the ark of the covenant of God" during the war with the Philistines.
There are those today, prominent leaders, who make themselves vile and yet claim the aura of God and use all the correct religious language. And one is tempted , because of that, to make allowances for them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We continually hear of prominent leaders who have sinned. ~~~~ ~~~~ has just resigned because of using funds for an elaborate life style.
Do we react as Samuel did when Saul failed as an obedient leader?
"It grieved Samuel and he cried out to the Lord all night."
"Samuel grieved for Saul." (1 Sam. 15:11, 35)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(2007-2008 journal)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1 Samuel 3:13; 4:4~Eli's sons "made themselves vile"-the Lord's words to describe them and yet they had the audacity to be "with the ark of the covenant of God" during the war with the Philistines.
There are those today, prominent leaders, who make themselves vile and yet claim the aura of God and use all the correct religious language. And one is tempted , because of that, to make allowances for them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We continually hear of prominent leaders who have sinned. ~~~~ ~~~~ has just resigned because of using funds for an elaborate life style.
Do we react as Samuel did when Saul failed as an obedient leader?
"It grieved Samuel and he cried out to the Lord all night."
"Samuel grieved for Saul." (1 Sam. 15:11, 35)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(2007-2008 journal)
Because
"We do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds,
but because of Your great mercies." (Dan. 9:18b)
We can come to Him with boldness when we make that plea.
but because of Your great mercies." (Dan. 9:18b)
We can come to Him with boldness when we make that plea.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Choose
I have often wondered how to reconcile
the fact that Solomon was so wise
and yet did such foolish things.
He may give the clue here.
"I set my heart to know wisdom and folly."
(Eccl. 1:17)
Editor's note:
If we want to be wise,
we must not want to know folly.
the fact that Solomon was so wise
and yet did such foolish things.
He may give the clue here.
"I set my heart to know wisdom and folly."
(Eccl. 1:17)
Editor's note:
If we want to be wise,
we must not want to know folly.
Grace Grace
When I read how they attacked you,
dear Peter,-"You went in to uncircumcised
men and ate with them!" (Acts 11:2)-
I bristled.
But not you.
You graciously and convincingly told them
the whole story.
And they were big enough to receive it.
"When they heard these things,
they became silent,
and they glorified God."
(v.16)
dear Peter,-"You went in to uncircumcised
men and ate with them!" (Acts 11:2)-
I bristled.
But not you.
You graciously and convincingly told them
the whole story.
And they were big enough to receive it.
"When they heard these things,
they became silent,
and they glorified God."
(v.16)
Judah
One word connected with Judah-
at his birth and regarding his future-
is the word "Praise."
Leah, when she named Him Judah
at his birth, proclaimed,
"Now I will praise the LORD!"
(Gen. 29:35)
And in Gen. 49:8,
it is said of him,
"Judah, you are the one whom
your brothers shall praise."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Editor's note:
It makes me think of the song,
"Lion of Judah on the throne,
We shout Your name let it be known,
You're the King of Kings,
You are the Prince of Peace,
May Your kingdom's reign never cease.
Alleluia..."
Sounds like praise to me.
at his birth and regarding his future-
is the word "Praise."
Leah, when she named Him Judah
at his birth, proclaimed,
"Now I will praise the LORD!"
(Gen. 29:35)
And in Gen. 49:8,
it is said of him,
"Judah, you are the one whom
your brothers shall praise."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Editor's note:
It makes me think of the song,
"Lion of Judah on the throne,
We shout Your name let it be known,
You're the King of Kings,
You are the Prince of Peace,
May Your kingdom's reign never cease.
Alleluia..."
Sounds like praise to me.
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