planting seeds

When the seed is planted in the ground sometimes it grows and sometimes it doesn’t.  It is the same with us.  GOD plants thoughts in our hearts if we accept them and ponder them they will grow and produce.  The devil also plants thoughts in our minds… thoughts called fiery darts of the devil… we can either accept them or refuse them.  If we accept them and think about them they will also grow and produce.  It doesn’t matter how large or small the seed that is planted if received by the ground it will produce.

I John 3^:1 How great is the manner of love the FATHER has given to us that we may be called the children of GOD and that is what we are. ² …we are now the children of GOD and yet it is not yet manifested (we don’t yet know) what we shall be like.  We know that when JESUS is manifested  we shall be like HIM because we shall see HIM as HE really is.³ and everyone having this hope fixed on HIM (JESUS) purifies himself as JESUS is pure.

            ^:5 and you know that JESUS appeared to take away sin; and in HIM there is no sin.⁶ no one who abides in JESUS sins, and no one who sins has seen HIM or knows HIM.

            ¹⁰ So now we can tell who are the children of GOD and who are the children of the devil.  Anyone who does not obey GOD’s commands and does not love others does not belong to GOD.  23 And this is HIS commandment that we must believe in the name of HIS SON JESUS CHRIST and love one another as HE gave us commandment.  24  the one who keeps HIS commandments abides in JESUS and JESUS in him.  And hereby we know that JESUS abides in us, by the SPIRIT which HE has given us.

Studying the Bible has brought me to the conclusion that to abide in JESUS is to focus on HIM considering how HE thinks and acts according to Scripture Hebrews 12:2,3 and also talking everything over with HIM 2 Corinthians 3:5, Proverbs 3:5-7

If and when we are doing that we will not sin.

But if we turn away from focusing on and talking with JESUS, even for a brief spell… and look at things from a human selfish viewpoint and do things our own way we will sin.  Note at those times, we have our back to JESUS therefore cannot see HIM.  It is only when we see (face)  HIM that we reflect HIS nature.  At those times we are looking to ourselves for the answers it is natural for us to sin because then we are operating according to the world’s standards and the whole world lies in the arms of the evil one.  I John 5: 19

When we accept the thoughts the evil one plants, those thoughts take root and eventually produces sin.  Just as when a sperm connects with an egg or a seed is planted in the ground.   When accepted, the sperm or seed planted by the evil one in our thoughts produces an offspring or a thorn.. which in turn fights against JESUS.  Genesis 3:1-7,15   

Have you ever noticed when you are focused on a hard problem and all you can think of is ”how unfair!” that your thoughts of GOD are rather negative if you think of HIM at all?  That is what is meant by not knowing HIM in I John 3:6.  We have lost sight of HIM and don’t even recognize HIS character.

That is why it is so essential to go to HIM with everything… for when we do, even if we are grumbling we give HIM an opportunity to speak to us and we see HIM.  Even if we have no clue what HE is doing HE has our attention.  At those times it helps me to remember (prodded by the HOLY SPIRIT, I am sure) that GOD is at work stirring every single thing together (just like we stir together  the raw eggs with milk, flour, sugar, baking powder and whatever to make a yummy cake. Romans 8:28

2 Corinthians 4:17,18  For our (comparative) light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory of good things that far outweigh the pain of today. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen (our situation) but on what is not seen (what GOD is achieving for us through our situation) for what is seen (our situation) is temporary, but what is unseen (what GOD is achieving for us through our struggles) is eternal.

We all are aware of the example of these things seen in Eve- the mother of all living Genesis 3:20  When she took her eyes off GOD’s word and focused on the serpent’s lies she received the seed the devil ( Revelations 20:2) planted; she mulled it over and then it produced sin. 

Eve’s 1^st son, the 1^st child born of a woman, Cain also took his eyes off GOD’s way (GOD showed that vegetation was not a good enough offering that a blood sacrifice was required Genesis 3: 7,21) Cain chose to do things his own way and offered to GOD the fruit of his own farming efforts…   His little brother Able, on the other hand did things GOD’s way and GOD showed HIS approval .  That got Cain mad!  And GOD spoke to Cain.  Why are you mad, if you do right, you will be accepted.  But if you do not do right sin is crouching at the door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.  Genesis 4:1-6

Rather than listen to GOD’s warning, Able was stubborn and refused to offer a blood sacrifice.  Then he killed his brother because had Able received the attention that he wanted.  Cain’s 1^st sin was not the murder but the turning from what GOD showed HE wanted and looking to his own ways and efforts to please GOD.  The 2^nd sin was like it, he killed his brother because he was not #1 in GOD’s eyes.   He was the center of his own little world and anything that offended him needed to be dealt with. Genesis 4:1-8

The phrase it (sin= the devil) desires to have you Genesis 4:6is the same exact Hebrew phrase translated, in Genesis 3:16 that your desire will be to (rule) your husband but he shall rule over you.  When we chose to listen to the lies of the devil over the truth and ways of GOD we give the enemy a position of authority over us and do his seditious will 2 Timothy 2:25,26,  2 Corinthians 2:11, Ephesians 4:27

When you and I sin it is when we have refused to do things GOD’s way because have embraced the selfish thoughts the devil has planted in our minds.  When the devil plants thoughts in us is coupled with our receiving, mulling over and embracing them they produce the offspring of sin.  That is why we are to take up the shield of faith in GOD Ephesians 6:16 (that HE is and that HE is a rewarder of those who earnestly seek HIM Hebrews 11:6) for it will stop those fiery darts of lies from taking root in our hearts.

When we focus on JESUS, talk with JESUS about everything and thus abide in HIM then through the work of the HOLY SPIRIT we begin acting like HIM. 2 Corinthians 3:18  The thoughts GOD plants in our hearts, Philippians 2:13 when embraced by us, produce what GOD wants.  For we are allowing GOD to determine our steps.  When HE determines our steps it is impossible for us to sin.

hugs

Sharon

I stand corrected

When I was a tyke I was quite the tomboy and since I would rush ahead without thinking I was taken to the hospital several times for stitches.  This photo shot shows me at age 4, on the see-saw of our back yard swing set in Culver City, CA while my older sister Rose was climbing the ladder.  Another time, I climbed that very ladder and then scooted over to the top of the see-saw and for some unforeseen and forgotten reason I stuck my finger in the hole at the top just as someone started see-sawing and the tip of my finger was severed all but a string.  A quick trip to the hospital and several stitches later we headed home.  Praise the LORD, I still have my pinkie!

Around the same time, we went to visit some cousins and there was a shallow fishpond in the neighborhood.  It was a hot day so several of us kids took off our shoes and waded in the water.  Well, leave it to me, I jumped in and landed on a broken glass bottle and was rushed to the hospital for stitches between two toes.  Well, Mom and Dad went off somewhere for some kind of conference and left us with Nana (Mom’s mom).  My foot still bandaged from the cut somehow got infected and was changing color.  Nana rushed me to the doctor and he feared gangrene and spoke of amputating (remember this was 65 years ago without the advanced knowledge of today.)  But my Nana refused and soaked my foot  constantly in Epson salts.  At that time I was mad cause I couldn’t go out and play with the other kids  but today I am glad for I still have my foot and the scars to prove it really happened. LOL

Gangrene is dangerous and spreads rapidly and is life threatening.  The doctors had reason to fear… but praise the LORD in HIS great mercy HE chose to stop the spread of the deathly gangrene and bring healing to my foot.

This morning I awoke with a verse in my mind… a verse that poked me briefly yesterday during a Bible study.  This morning that verse cried out, exposing me,  I had done wrong.  I got up and looked up the verse and read verses surrounding that text plus checked my concordance  for other references to the issue.  In all of this I came upon the words… “ this type of  talk spreads like gangrene” 2 Timothy 2:17 (other translations say cancer… and we all know of that dread condition of uncontrolled growth of malignant cells and what it does.)

That is scary and the text named 2 guys one of which is also named in I Timothy 1:20  If you check the context you see these guys through their brainstorming and speculations and own ideas wandered, were shipwrecked in their faith and destroyed the faith of some who heard them. Then these guys were turned over to Satan so that they would learn not to blaspheme.  (or speak untruths about divine things) 

Although that is so scary, there is a bright hope in that statement… Job was turned over to Satan and learned awesome things blessed twice over Job chapters  1,2, 42; and Peter was turned over to Satan Luke 22:31,32 but when he learned what he needed to, his faith still intact,  he was greatly used of GOD to open the doors of the church to the Gentiles and was one of the apostles who laid the foundation for the Church to follow and thereby strengthened many believing Jews.

2 Timothy 2:16 shun/ turn away from empty utterances not from GOD (in other words turn away from speaking things we cannot back up or learn from scripture/ our own ideas) for they will lead to more ungodliness… (NIV because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly)  That is saying when we start looking to our own explanations we slowing start looking more and more to ourselves for the answers and less and less to GOD. Thereby, we become more and more ungodly because it is as we see GOD as HE is and as HE works that we are changed into HIS likeness.  2 Corinthians 3:18, I John 3:2

I Timothy 1:4.. they promote more speculations rather than GOD’s work in faith. Speculations do not further the work of GOD.

Interestingly the 3 texts were written to a leader in the church instructing him in what to teach others. (check it out for yourselves in I Timothy chapter 1 and chapter 6 / 2 Timothy chapter 2 )  Now I checked out several translations and the word of emphasis that it all spoke of used in the various translations seemed to conveyed different ideas. So I went to the Greek to see the actual words used.  Ekzatew and zatasis both mean to seek out, question, speculate which might in turn lead to different opinions and to debates or controversies.

Lets look again; What spread like gangrene? Talk… talk based not on knowledge of the Word of GOD but on questions, speculations and personal ideas.  The Bible itself explains itself… any questions the Bible can’t answer by the help of the HOLY SPIRIT are godless…(not from GOD) but they are our personal speculations and vain (pride, conceit) or empty (having no value).  That type of knowledge of good and evil (every man is right in his own eyes Proverbs 21:2;16:2;12:15) is what we inherited from our ancestors who ate the forbidden fruit because they wanted to be in the know… They didn’t want to have to look to GOD for the answers. (Proverbs 3:5-7)

Don’t give heed/ pay attentions to myths I Timothy 1:4 (is a transliteration of the Greek word muthos.  It was the word used of the fictions of the Jewish theosophists ( who rejected Judeo-Christian revelations and theology and based doctrine on special mystical insight or on superior speculations.) and Gnostics (who adhered to a syncretistic-combining of varying often mutually opposed beliefs- again settled on speculations and questions.) because they lead to more questions and speculations.  

Isaiah 55:8-11 GOD ways and thoughts are way higher than ours so by speculations we cannot find HIM out.  But HE has revealed HIMSELF in HIS Word and given us HIS HOLY SPIRIT to translate it for us John 14:26  1 Corinthians 2. 

2 Timothy 2:16-18 Guard what has been entrusted to you, (your faith) turn away from godless and empty talk and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and have wandered from the faith. 2 Timothy 2:16-18 (remember those guys: it was their speculations that caused them to wander and shipwrecked their faith while destroying the faith of some who heard their speculating)  Wandering does not speak of intent but rather of lack of concentration on and the losing sight of their destination/goal 2 Timothy 2:16-18

When I was little I was considered accident prone.  Why?  because I rushed ahead not considering what I was doing.  I have put away my childish ways (and now when I do wrong, GOD is faithful to show me what to change.  HE corrects me Hebrews 12:4-13) and as for me I want to keep my eyes on HIM and on the goal-   Philippians 3:12-14 …I press on to take hold of that for which CHRIST JESUS took hold of me…this one thing I do, forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal...  Romans 8:29 that goal GOD has for me.. that I be transformed, (metamorphosed like a caterpillar changed into a butterfly) into the likeness (godly character) of JESUS my LORD.     Will you join me?

Hugs

Sharon

Restore

GOD says that we do not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of GOD. Matthew 4:4  In other words, GOD’s word is nourishment for me and for you. It is what is necessary to keep us alive and in good condition..

For that reason, I love the Bible.   Often when I am reading the Word of GOD, Bible verses seemingly jump out at me as I read, that is they catch my complete attention.  When that occurs, they either pose a question or  answer a question I have had or they compel me to stop and pray according to what was said.  

When scripture nudges me to pray, I believe it is GOD revealing how HE intends to act and calling me to pray for that very thing.   In Ezekiel 36:36 last clause & verse 37 GOD says:  I will do it for them, but I want them to ask ME for it.

When GOD shows me how to pray, I think it is as much for me personally as it is for the end result.  When HE shows me what HE is doing it renews  my hope and encourages me to endure.  For faith comes from hearing and hearing from the words (rhema) of Christ.  Romans 10:17   Plus we are told that if we asked anything according to GOD’s will HE would do it. I John 5:14,15

Well, today Joel 2:25-26 jumped out at me:  “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you. “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your GOD, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame.

To restore means to give back something that has been taken away.  When you restore furniture, you take something that has been ravished by time and misuse and restore it to its previous glorious state.

I find it reassuring that it was GOD’s army sent by GOD against us to teach us that took something from us and brought shame.  When we have learned what we need to, HE, our marvelous GOD, will restore= give back to us the years HIS army took from us. Praise HIS holy name.

These words caused me to want to stop and pray, LORD you know ______ and _______ are far away and need to be restored.  They feel shame.  Forgive them in JESUS name.  LORD, I don’t know YOUR timing on this but if anything needs to be done before they can be restored to walk with YOU please do it and bring them back and give them back what has been taken from them.  Oh LORD they are confused and miserable and so much has come in and so many years have been wasted.  And it doesn’t just touch them but all who are around them.  Please bring them back and restore to them the years that were taken from them I ask in JESUS name.

I find it reassuring that it was GOD’s army sent by GOD against us to teach us that took from us.  When we have learned what we need to, HE, our marvelous GOD, will restore= give back to us the years HIS army took from us. Praise HIS holy name.

These words caused me to want to stop and pray, LORD you know ______ and _______ are far away and need to be restored.  LORD, I don’t know YOUR timing on this but if anything needs to be done before they can be restored please do it and bring them back and give them back what has been taken from them.  Oh LORD they are confused and miserable and so much has come in and so many years have been wasted.  And it doesn’t just touch them but all who are around them.  Please bring them back and restore to them the years that were taken from them I ask in JESUS.

Stir it up!

My grandchildren love to help me cook.  And stirring up the ingredients for a cake in a bowl is especially fun.  What would happen if you put all the ingredients for a cake into a pan and stuck it in the oven without stirring up the ingredients?

Reading in Ezra chapter 2 I was encouraged and got instructions in how to pray for a loved one.  I am to pray that GOD stir him up.  I love both of the references in Ezra 2 concerning this.  Both times they are hiphil= which means GOD actively caused something to happen. 

In verse 1 GOD actively woke up and rouse to action King Cyrus to do what GOD wanted done (release HIS people and to rebuild HIS temple in Jerusalem.) 

Then in verse 5 GOD actively woke up from sleep (those busily occupied with other things), excited them  in HIS plan and called forth individuals (in bondage in a foreign country) to do HIS bidding.  Plus HE opened the way for this to  happen verse 1.

Looking at this action or way GOD does something, is exciting.  Causing me to claim this way of GOD by asking HIM to stir up my loved one (and me.) 

I am praying:

·         That GOD wake up my loved one to the emptiness of the chasing after the things of this world and living by its standards Ezra 2:5

·         That GOD plant HIS plan in my loved one’s (and my) heart Philippians 2:19

·         And that GOD stir up his heart (and mine) to be actively excited about GOD plan  Ezra 2:5

·         And that GOD call my loved one (and me) to do HIS bidding, Ezra 2:1,5 assigning us to specific territory with authority to do HIS work 2 Corinthians 10:13 and equipping us for our part of the work. Colossians 1:12

I am so glad it is not my job to think up ways to help GOD. I am not the best as brain storming but it excites me that GOD has a plan and wants me part of it. I am very much like my grandkids in that I love "helping" GOD do something HE wants done. I am praying that GOD stir me up with HIS plans.

Hugs

Sharon

What is in a name?

I laughed as the little Walt Disney cartoon fawn Bambi misunderstood Thumper the rabbit and named a little skunk- Flower… But the sweet character within that little skunk showed it was not really a misnomer and it stuck.  When Bambi named the skunk- Flower, the little skunk giggled for it brought him great delight.  Names can bring us pleasure or sorrow.  So we should be careful of what we call others.

Being hearing impaired, I don't always hear a name properly so am uncertain of names.  When I see someone I have met before,  I recognize a face and remember their prayer requests but sometimes struggle with their names.  That is why I love name tags… for after I have seen a name a few times it is easier to remember it. 

A name is a significant concept in both the old and new testaments.  In biblical culture a name did more than identify, it communicated something of the essence, the character, or the reputation of the person or thing named.  We see this vividly in the man Nabal.  His name meant fool and he was a fool. I Samuel 25:25

Names become particularly significant when linked with revelation about GOD.  Of all that HIS names imply, of authority, character, rank, power, or everything the word name covers when speaking of GOD my favorite is how it declares the innate attributes and nature of GOD, showing not just what HE does but what HE is like on the inside.

The LORD GOD ALMIGHTY who was and is and is to come told Moses. “ I know you by name and you have found grace/ favor (Hebrew hen= a free and spontaneous willingness to bestow good on one who needs it/ the word excludes all idea of meriting the good) in MY sight.”  Moses replied, “If I have found grace in YOUR eyes, show me YOUR ways that I may know YOU…show me YOUR glory…” Exodus 33:12,13,18

GOD’s response is interesting but not one I would naturally would have expected.  I would have thought to see a blaze of blinding light and to hear a list of ‘I do it this way and I do it that way’.  Instead, GOD said: “I will make all MY goodness pass before you & I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you… but you cannot see MY face for there shall no human see ME and live.  You will see MY back parts…” Exodus 33:19,20,23  

You see the glory of the LORD is intimately linked with the LORD’s self- revelation.  The root of GOD’s glory is HIS essential nature & in the display of that glorious nature as HE acts in the material universe.   HIS ways are not a list of do’s and don’t but rather a continual outflow of HIS inner nature.

The LORD descended in a cloud and stood with Moses and proclaimed the name of the LORD, “YAHWEY(the self- existent ONE who reveals HIMSELF.. the great I AM), YAHWEY GOD, merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and great in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and yet not leaving entirely unpunished…” 

When we see the word name in connection with GOD in the Bible, we must consider more than a way to address HIM.  HIS names are used in different places according to the need HE is addressing in that place.  In one place, HE is the GOD who sees, in another, the LORD who heals you.  Take the time to stop and consider what is being said about GOD each time one of HIS names is used.

Another aspect when considering names is praying in the name of JESUS.  We are not just to tack that phrase on at the end of a prayer.  That term identifies the believer with JESUS who was born and lived as a mesenger revealing the exact representation of GOD's being Hebrews 1:1,2, who died for our sin and rose from the grave victorious.  To pray in the name of JESUS means to identify the content & motivation of that prayer with all that JESUS is and wants & to pray with full confidence in HIM as HE revealed HIMSELF.  Those prayers, JESUS promised would be answered.

To me there is no other name more precious than the names of GOD.  I never grow tired of reviewing GOD’s names and the situations in the Bible where they are used of HIM.  HIS names soothe me and I love to pray them to HIM.

What is in a name?  so very much! Just as GOD’s ways are an outflow of HIS innate character & HIS names reflect that flow, so it is with you & me.  What is in our hearts is what comes out.  Luke 6:43-45 Aren't you glad the Holy SPIRIT is within you to spread HIS love & all HIS fruit in our hearts to overflow to others John 7:38,39; & that GOD has chosen to & is in the process of transforming us into the image (to have a nature) of JESUS? Romans 8:29 Remember, GOD knows your name & calls you by it.

Hugs

Sharon

An illustration

In a short devotion Scott Allen Gray was talking about Jesus--The Holy and Righteous One (Acts 3:14). The Scriptures testify that Jesus during His time on earth lived a perfectly holy life. He is described as “without sin” (Hebrews 4:15); as One who “committed no sin” (1 Peter 2:22); and as “Him who had no sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21). The Apostle John stated, “In Him is no sin” (1 John 3:5). The Old Testament describes Him prophetically as “the Righteous One” (Isaiah 53:11), and as One who “loved righteousness and hated wickedness (Psalm 45:7). These statements, taken from six different writers of Scripture, show that the sinlessness of Jesus Christ is the universal teaching of the Bible. Even more compelling is Jesus’ own testimony concerning Himself. On one occasion He looked the Pharisees squarely in the eye and asked, “Can any of you prove Me guilty of sin?” (John 8:46).
As I read his devotion, my thoughts flew to the wonder beyond all comprehension: that on HIM (JESUS) who had no sin was laid all sin so that any who choose to believe in JESUS can have forgiveness and eternal life... Colossians 2 ;13,14
I thought of an illustration I saw an Englishman give ... hold your right hand with your palm facing up... then take a book and place it on your hand (the book represents your sin- it is a basrrier between you and GOD)... then turn your left hand palm up and transfer the book to your left hand (representing your sin being taken from you and placed on JESUS - no longer is there a barrier between you and GOD). When I acted out the illustration I was amazed at how light my right hand felt when the book was transferred to my left hand. That is how the weight of our sins and even our struggles are taken off of us when we come to JESUS.
try the book transfer and see how it feels...
hugs
Sharo
n

What do you think is the most important thing about you?

What do you think is the most important thing about you?

My husband once said, “You have become so opinionated.”  I responded, “No, I have not become opinionated, I always have had opinions, only now I am not afraid to speak them out.” 

Anyone who thinks has his own opinion, but that doesn’t make our opinions right.  It is GOD’s opinion that is right.  Therefore, I concur with AW Towzer who said: The most important thing about me, the most important thing about you is what we think about GOD. 

Why is it so important to think rightly about GOD? 

·         If we think wrongly of GOD, we are worshipping a god of our own making (an idol).  Exodus 20:4

·         It is through the knowledge of GOD that we obtain all things for life and godliness 2 Peter 1:3

·         As we learn about what GOD is like we are changed and can even partake of HIS nature 2 Peter 1:4, 2 Corinthians 3:18

·         When we know HE is faithful we will claim HIS great and precious promises so they really become ours. 2 Peter 1:4

·         A dear old evangelist Kieth Ward continually said “we go to the word of GOD not to collect facts but to find out what our FATHER GOD is like so we will know how we, HIS children, are suppose to act….   

Human as we are, we often think of GOD as being altogether such as ourselves. But in the end GOD won’t stand for it.  “These things you have done and I kept silence; you thought that I was altogether just like you; but I will reprove you..now consider this.. lest I tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver..” Psalm 50:21,22   

Because it is so important to think rightly about GOD and because HE wants us to know HIM, HE gave us HIS word through which we can look at different facets of HIS glorious nature.  For instance, GOD is one.  Among other things, that means that each and every facet of GOD’s nature is at oneness/unity with every other facet.  There is no division in GOD.  That means HIS love complements HIS wrath, HIS power complements HIS gentleness, HIS grace compliments HIS truth, HIS joy compliments HIS grief and so on.

There is much about the Most High we, being humans with our human limitations, are not able to see.  But what can be known of GOD is evident to us and made plain in our inner consciousness, because GOD HIMSELF has shown it to us.  For ever since the creation of the world HIS invisible nature and attributes are clearly seen.  That is, HIS eternal power and GODHEAD have been clearly seen and being understood by we who have been made. Romans 1:19,20

GOD’s ways are not our ways, neither are HIS thoughts our thoughts but as high as the heavens are above the earth so much higher are HIS ways than our ways and HIS thoughts than our thoughts. Isaiah 55:8,9  But with the Holy SPIRIT teaching us we can learn many of GOD’s thoughts and ways.  In fact since the Holy SPIRIT lives within each believer we have the very mind of the LORD resident in us that is a source we can check with. 1 Corinthians 2:10-16  It is sort of like, my file cabinet where I have stored information and lessons. There is a lock on it.  But I can unlock the cabinet, pull out one drawer after another and search until I find the right file. 

I once wrote a poem of one of GOD’s ways: I smile when thinking of some ways

GOD’s selected for us to be taught

Delighting much in opposites

for us to receive what is sought.

To climb high, we must bend low,

to learn we need first to forget,

To obtain joy, we must know tears,

filling comes when emptiness hits.

These things appear to contradict,

but this is wisdom for our GOD

Rejects what men esteem as good

bringing to naught what the world applauds.

I Cor 1:27,28                      by Sharon

Now Moses chose to know more about GOD so went to HIM personally to find out more (just as we can.) Moses said to the LORD, YOU have been telling me, ‘Lead MY people, but YOU have not let me know whom YOU will send with me.  YOU have said, “I know you by name and you have found favor with ME.”  If I have found favor with YOU teach me YOUR ways that I may know YOU and continue to find favor with YOU.’  The LORD answered, “MY presence will go with you” And the LORD said, I will make all MY goodness pass before you and I will proclaim MY name (character) before you.” But GOD told Moses that he couldn’t see everything about GOD, the LORD had to hide some things from Moses but showed HIM HIS back parts. Exodus 33:12-23

Then the LORD came down in a cloud and stood before Moses and declared HIS name, the LORD.  And HE passed in front of Moses proclaiming, “ The LORD, the LORD GOD merciful and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in goodness and truth, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.  Yet not leaving the guilty unpunished… Exodus 34:5-7     

Furthermore GOD tells us:  I am the LORD I change not; therefore you sons of Jacob are not consumed.  Malachi 3:6  &  Every good and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the FATHER of lights, who does not change or turn like shifting shadows. James 1:17

It is the glory of GOD to conceal a matter, but to search out a matter is the glory of kings. Proverbs 25:2  I challenge you to join with me and every day in searching GOD’s word to find out more about our glorious GOD who was and is and is to come.  GOD promises that HE will let us find HIM when we search for HIM with all of our hearts.  Jeremiah 29:13

Hugs

Sharon