The disciples were rowing the boat across the
Sea of Galilee and
'the sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing.'
But when Jesus came to them,
walking on the rough sea,
and got into the boat with them,
'immediately the boat was at the land
to which they were going.'
What an experience that must have been.
From severe struggles to an instant arrival
at their destination.
And I wonder about that.
Does He do that today for His disciples?
Or does He stay with us in the storm
till we reach our destination?
(John 6)
Monday, July 4, 2011
Mercy Undeserved
Jonah is certainly not an admirable person.
He is extemely depressed because the Ninevites repented
and God relented of the disaster that He said He would do to them.
Jonah mentions that he wants to die three times
in Chapter 4. and to him the fact that 'God was a gracious God,
and merciful, slow to anger
and abounding in steadfast love,'
was a deficit especially in His dealings
with those that Jonah hated.
But God was all that to Jonah-
saving him from death in the ocean,
and causing a plant to grow and
'made it come up over Jonah,
that if might be a shade over his head,
to save him from his discomfort.'
All undeserved.
And I wondered why.
And then I realized You have dealt the same way with me.
Time and again.
And also all undeserved.
He is extemely depressed because the Ninevites repented
and God relented of the disaster that He said He would do to them.
Jonah mentions that he wants to die three times
in Chapter 4. and to him the fact that 'God was a gracious God,
and merciful, slow to anger
and abounding in steadfast love,'
was a deficit especially in His dealings
with those that Jonah hated.
But God was all that to Jonah-
saving him from death in the ocean,
and causing a plant to grow and
'made it come up over Jonah,
that if might be a shade over his head,
to save him from his discomfort.'
All undeserved.
And I wondered why.
And then I realized You have dealt the same way with me.
Time and again.
And also all undeserved.
First Fruits
The words of that dear suffering criminal really touched me today.
"Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." Luke 23:42
He perceived and believed that Jesus was His Savior and King.
And what a boon this must have been to the dear suffering Savior.
Here was the first fruits of His living and dying on earth!
"Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." Luke 23:42
He perceived and believed that Jesus was His Savior and King.
And what a boon this must have been to the dear suffering Savior.
Here was the first fruits of His living and dying on earth!
Me Too
All these wonderful things that the Lord says about Israel in Hosea 14, He also says about us, doesn't He? For we are His chosen ones also.
Just a few:
"I will love them freely.." v.4
"They shall return and dwell beneath My shadow." v.7
"It is I who answer and look after you." v.8
"From Me comes your fruit." v.8
Just a few:
"I will love them freely.." v.4
"They shall return and dwell beneath My shadow." v.7
"It is I who answer and look after you." v.8
"From Me comes your fruit." v.8
My Sheep
God says at least 13 times in Ezekial 34, that the people of Israel are "My Sheep." And He is grieved because His shepherds have treated them so badly. And there is pomise after promise of how He will take care of them and make up to them all the wrong that has been done unto them.
It's a blessing just to read this chapter seeing Jesus as our Good Shepherd, doing the same for us.
It's a blessing just to read this chapter seeing Jesus as our Good Shepherd, doing the same for us.
Sad Commentary
What a sad commentary on anyone:
"They (the Pharisees and lawyers) rejected
the purpose of God for themselves." Luke 7:30
How careful we must be to follow where He leads.
"They (the Pharisees and lawyers) rejected
the purpose of God for themselves." Luke 7:30
How careful we must be to follow where He leads.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Darkness and God
"The people stood afar off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was. "Ex. 20:21
What a contrast. And what courage Moses had. I'm sure all his previous experiences with God enabled him to do this. God and darkness do not seem compatible. How does this relate to those dark times in our lives? Certainly He is there for one thing.
I would rather go into the darkness where God is than to follow that 'angel of light' where He is not.
What a contrast. And what courage Moses had. I'm sure all his previous experiences with God enabled him to do this. God and darkness do not seem compatible. How does this relate to those dark times in our lives? Certainly He is there for one thing.
I would rather go into the darkness where God is than to follow that 'angel of light' where He is not.
Happy to do it
"You meet Him who joyfully works righteousness." Isaiah 64:5
That is so nice to know. Every good thing that He does for us, He does it joyfully. He doesn't grudgingly meet it out. I like this picture of Him which is the exact portrait of a God of love.
That is so nice to know. Every good thing that He does for us, He does it joyfully. He doesn't grudgingly meet it out. I like this picture of Him which is the exact portrait of a God of love.
God fulfills His Promises
This gave me a surge of hope because I struggle sometimes with unbelief.
Zechariah did not believe God's promise of a son and Gabriel said that Zechariah would be punished "because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time." (Luke 1)
His unbelief did not keep God from fulfilling His promise!
Zechariah did not believe God's promise of a son and Gabriel said that Zechariah would be punished "because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time." (Luke 1)
His unbelief did not keep God from fulfilling His promise!
Children of Israel
"Aaron spoke all the words that the Lord had spoken to Moses and did all the signs.~~And the people believed~~and bowed their heads and worshipped."
And soon afterward life became unbelievably worse.
"The foremen of the taskmasters were beaten" because the people could not make their quota of bricks because now they had to find their own straw. What a faith tester! And when Moses found out about it, he went straight to the Lord and challenged Him. "You have not delivered your people at all."
(Ex. 4,5)
In the story of the plagues it says that either "Pharaoh hardened his heart or Pharaoh's heart was hardened." But after the final plague it says that "the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh. (Ex. 9-11)
It is a dangerous progression~~our hardening of our hearts till He finally does the hardening. We are warned not to "Quench the Spirit!"
And soon afterward life became unbelievably worse.
"The foremen of the taskmasters were beaten" because the people could not make their quota of bricks because now they had to find their own straw. What a faith tester! And when Moses found out about it, he went straight to the Lord and challenged Him. "You have not delivered your people at all."
(Ex. 4,5)
In the story of the plagues it says that either "Pharaoh hardened his heart or Pharaoh's heart was hardened." But after the final plague it says that "the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh. (Ex. 9-11)
It is a dangerous progression~~our hardening of our hearts till He finally does the hardening. We are warned not to "Quench the Spirit!"
Job Idioms
Is this where the idiom about a talkative person being windy comes from?
"How long will~~the words of your mouth be like a strong wind?" Job 8:2
And "I will~~wear a smile." Job 9:27
Those people who don't read the Bible rob themselves of so much-not just spiritually. There is much picturesque reading. It is just plain good literature.
"How long will~~the words of your mouth be like a strong wind?" Job 8:2
And "I will~~wear a smile." Job 9:27
Those people who don't read the Bible rob themselves of so much-not just spiritually. There is much picturesque reading. It is just plain good literature.
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