Hello,
I hope your week has gone well. The cooler temps are ushering fall in and I don't think I'm ready. The prospect of winter doesn't sit well with me. I like warm weather better than cold. It's too bad we won't have beautiful fall leaves. Our lack of rain has played havoc with the system.
The verse for today is one that I really like: Matthew 5:6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." I hunger and thirst for righteousness, do you? When I seek God and His precepts in His Word, I am filled, full to overflowing.
Do you remember the song with the line: 'you fill up my senses, like a walk in the sleepy blue ocean'? God fills our senses with Him when we study His Word. When I was a new believer, I didn't know anything about the Bible. I thought I would never be able to learn anything. As a stay at home mom, I felt that my brain had gone to mush. But, as I studied His Word, I did learn. I found things in the Bible that I had never known. It showed me how I should live a righteous life before God.
Have you found that as you study His Word, that you find nuggets of gold? Do you want to find more? Does the information meet a need in your life? What do you do with the information after you've read it? Do you apply it? Remember, studying His Word is called hermeneutics, applying is called exegesis.
What would you think if after sending your children to school, then off to college that when they got out they didn't know anything? A waste of time andmoney right? Well, when we become Christians, it's our responsibility to learn from God's Word what He wants us to know. Then, we need to apply it.
Hunger and thirst for righteousness, for you will be filled; God guarantees it.
Hungering and thirsting,
Sandy
Friday, October 12, 2007
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Jeremiah 35
Hi,
Praise the Lord, that even in the midst of many difficulties all around us, He is Sovereign. With many friends going through trials, every time I open His Word, I'm reminded that He is with us, carrying us and walking with us through these trial and tribulations. So many people to pray for and with revival coming to our church, Satan is working overtime.
The chapter I gave you to look at today is long, but worth the reading. It really speaks toward revival. The Jews were being 'stiff necked people' and not listening to the Lord as He was calling them into obedience. Verse 17b says:"I spoke to them, but they did not listen; I called to them, but they did not answer."
That's where we are as a church, as a country and world. God is calling, and we're not listening. Daily as I pray for revival, I have to ask myself: Do I need to be revived? No matter how close we walk with the Lord, I do believe that we all need to be revived.
In some cases, people have walked away from the Lord, their first love. Others, are walking with Him, but not as closely as He desires. Still others are walking close and delighting in the fellowship, but just long for more of Him and less of them. Where are you?
Because Chuck is gone for his job, our time on the weekends is catchup time. Not just to get work done, but to spend time together. When we don't get that time because of family or other obligations, we both end our weekend knowing that even though we've been together, we've missed out on something precious.
Revival comes in all shapes and sizes. What is your shape or size? What is your need or want in your walk with the Lord? As you read this chapter, see that the Lord blesses the descendants of Jonadab, because of their obedience to Him. God rewards our obedience. Come to the alter and be revived.
Seeking Him,
Sandy
Praise the Lord, that even in the midst of many difficulties all around us, He is Sovereign. With many friends going through trials, every time I open His Word, I'm reminded that He is with us, carrying us and walking with us through these trial and tribulations. So many people to pray for and with revival coming to our church, Satan is working overtime.
The chapter I gave you to look at today is long, but worth the reading. It really speaks toward revival. The Jews were being 'stiff necked people' and not listening to the Lord as He was calling them into obedience. Verse 17b says:"I spoke to them, but they did not listen; I called to them, but they did not answer."
That's where we are as a church, as a country and world. God is calling, and we're not listening. Daily as I pray for revival, I have to ask myself: Do I need to be revived? No matter how close we walk with the Lord, I do believe that we all need to be revived.
In some cases, people have walked away from the Lord, their first love. Others, are walking with Him, but not as closely as He desires. Still others are walking close and delighting in the fellowship, but just long for more of Him and less of them. Where are you?
Because Chuck is gone for his job, our time on the weekends is catchup time. Not just to get work done, but to spend time together. When we don't get that time because of family or other obligations, we both end our weekend knowing that even though we've been together, we've missed out on something precious.
Revival comes in all shapes and sizes. What is your shape or size? What is your need or want in your walk with the Lord? As you read this chapter, see that the Lord blesses the descendants of Jonadab, because of their obedience to Him. God rewards our obedience. Come to the alter and be revived.
Seeking Him,
Sandy
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Matthew 5:5
Hi,
I see that it's been awhile since I've blogged. Sorry; my days are jumbled I guess. I hope that you're all doing well. The evil world is working overtime with our church preparing for revival. We need it badly. Too many people are not loving God like they should, or each other. Thank you for all who pray.
When I was preparing this portion today, I tried to think of a word picture. The story that I'm going to share comes from just before we moved to the Czech Republic in 1993. Chuck had gone over to be a part of an Evangelistic English Language Camp in Northern Czech, near the Polish and Slovak border. Sitting on top of a mountain has its rewards, for the beauty, but also its trials.
Chuck had a young man in one of his classes that proclaimed he was an atheist and was quite vocal about it. Chuck just kept loving the guy even through his persecution.
The pump for the well gave out and before they could get another one and get it hauled up the mountain, some one had to get the water drawn so the cooks and people could have the much needed liquid.
Early in the mornings, before anyone was up, Chuck would go up to the well and start the process of running the generator to draw the water. It was quite a process with the generator being fussy.
One morning, much to Chuck surprise, the young atheist joined him. Slowly Chuck built a re pore with him and was able to share Christ. By the end of the camp the guy said that he finally believed that there was a God. Not a Christian yet, but at least the first major step.
Our verse from Matthew 5:5 teaches: "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." This young man was on his way to meekness. By acknowledging that God exists, he was surrendering his idea about God; that's meekness.
Secondly, Chuck was meek to not force the issue of God being God. He just calmly shared his heart with this young man and God used Chuck's meekness to draw that young man to Him.
The point of this verse is two fold. One, we are to be meek and this brings Heavenly rewards. Meekness is basically 'power under control' and we are to be meek toward others. Secondly, we are to be meek toward God, thereby being submissive to His power.
Trying to be meek,
Sandy
I see that it's been awhile since I've blogged. Sorry; my days are jumbled I guess. I hope that you're all doing well. The evil world is working overtime with our church preparing for revival. We need it badly. Too many people are not loving God like they should, or each other. Thank you for all who pray.
When I was preparing this portion today, I tried to think of a word picture. The story that I'm going to share comes from just before we moved to the Czech Republic in 1993. Chuck had gone over to be a part of an Evangelistic English Language Camp in Northern Czech, near the Polish and Slovak border. Sitting on top of a mountain has its rewards, for the beauty, but also its trials.
Chuck had a young man in one of his classes that proclaimed he was an atheist and was quite vocal about it. Chuck just kept loving the guy even through his persecution.
The pump for the well gave out and before they could get another one and get it hauled up the mountain, some one had to get the water drawn so the cooks and people could have the much needed liquid.
Early in the mornings, before anyone was up, Chuck would go up to the well and start the process of running the generator to draw the water. It was quite a process with the generator being fussy.
One morning, much to Chuck surprise, the young atheist joined him. Slowly Chuck built a re pore with him and was able to share Christ. By the end of the camp the guy said that he finally believed that there was a God. Not a Christian yet, but at least the first major step.
Our verse from Matthew 5:5 teaches: "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." This young man was on his way to meekness. By acknowledging that God exists, he was surrendering his idea about God; that's meekness.
Secondly, Chuck was meek to not force the issue of God being God. He just calmly shared his heart with this young man and God used Chuck's meekness to draw that young man to Him.
The point of this verse is two fold. One, we are to be meek and this brings Heavenly rewards. Meekness is basically 'power under control' and we are to be meek toward others. Secondly, we are to be meek toward God, thereby being submissive to His power.
Trying to be meek,
Sandy
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Matthew 5:4
Greetings,
The Lord has been pouring out His blessings with the fine weather we've been having. It's so pleasant to sit outside and enjoy. Tucker likes when I sit on the deck, then she can keep the squirrels from reaching ground and going about their day. There has to be a blog in that somewhere! I know, Satan prowling around like a roaring lion, waiting to attack us. Thankfully, the Lord is bigger and stronger and can protect us.
Matthew 5:4 tells us: Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Have you ever looked at this verse as mourning our sin instead of mourning the loss of a loved one? Because, that's what it's talking about. Do you mourn over your sins? Does it motivate you to do better?
In what ways can you do better, as in not sinning, or perpetuating a particular sin in your life? I think the best way is to repent. To turn away and not do the sin. What does the Word teach about your particular sin? Have you studied it? What does the Word say as to how you're supposed to live a victorious life?
The last part of the verse gives us the fruit: for they will be comforted. I know that when I'm sorry for my sin, truly repent, then the Lord brings the comfort that I'm forgiven and cleansed. He also gives me help to not continue in the old way, but to forge ahead into a new way of living.
So, confess your sins and be comforted, knowing that you are right with our wonderful Heavenly Father in your obedience. Revival is on the heels of confession, you know.
Comforted,
Sandy
The Lord has been pouring out His blessings with the fine weather we've been having. It's so pleasant to sit outside and enjoy. Tucker likes when I sit on the deck, then she can keep the squirrels from reaching ground and going about their day. There has to be a blog in that somewhere! I know, Satan prowling around like a roaring lion, waiting to attack us. Thankfully, the Lord is bigger and stronger and can protect us.
Matthew 5:4 tells us: Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Have you ever looked at this verse as mourning our sin instead of mourning the loss of a loved one? Because, that's what it's talking about. Do you mourn over your sins? Does it motivate you to do better?
In what ways can you do better, as in not sinning, or perpetuating a particular sin in your life? I think the best way is to repent. To turn away and not do the sin. What does the Word teach about your particular sin? Have you studied it? What does the Word say as to how you're supposed to live a victorious life?
The last part of the verse gives us the fruit: for they will be comforted. I know that when I'm sorry for my sin, truly repent, then the Lord brings the comfort that I'm forgiven and cleansed. He also gives me help to not continue in the old way, but to forge ahead into a new way of living.
So, confess your sins and be comforted, knowing that you are right with our wonderful Heavenly Father in your obedience. Revival is on the heels of confession, you know.
Comforted,
Sandy
Friday, September 28, 2007
Matthew 5:3
Good Morning all,
Another beautiful day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. I've spent the morning watering trees. I sure wish the Lord would bring us some much needed rain. Are we being judged? Considering the spiritual state of our town and with the prison in our area, probably so. But, that's another blog entirely.
I told you that I'm doing a study on Matthew, chapters 5-7. It's called the sermon on the mount. It's also called the beatitudes. 'Be' is the key here. We are to 'be'. What are we to 'be'? We are blessed if we: are poor in spirit.
Today's verse is 5:3: "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Have you ever really looked at this portion of scripture? Why are we blessed if we are 'poor'? In order to better understand what this verse and portion (vs. 3-11) you have to understand the history of the Jews.
They thought that material wealth meant the God was blessing them. If a person was poor materially, then they were under condemnation. It's the same with women that were childless. If a woman had a child(ren) then she was blessed. If not, she was cursed. I know, such nonsense.
What Jesus was doing with this teaching is telling the people that material wealth was not an indication of God's blessing, or lack there of. We are to be poor in spirit, toward God. I think this means to be submissive to Him in all areas of our lives.
When we realize that we are literally paupers spiritually, then we are ready to surrender all to Him. That means we have to shove everything aside that we hold dear and rest in His arms. This could be people, or things, maybe projects and ministries.
So, are you poor spiritually toward God? If not, why not? What is in your life that you need to forsake so that you can 'take' God as He wants you to take Him?
God's motive for helping us to be 'poor in spirit' is that He loves us so much. Being poor in spirit is a good thing and delights our Heavenly Father, right down to His toes!
Trusting,
Sandy
Another beautiful day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. I've spent the morning watering trees. I sure wish the Lord would bring us some much needed rain. Are we being judged? Considering the spiritual state of our town and with the prison in our area, probably so. But, that's another blog entirely.
I told you that I'm doing a study on Matthew, chapters 5-7. It's called the sermon on the mount. It's also called the beatitudes. 'Be' is the key here. We are to 'be'. What are we to 'be'? We are blessed if we: are poor in spirit.
Today's verse is 5:3: "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Have you ever really looked at this portion of scripture? Why are we blessed if we are 'poor'? In order to better understand what this verse and portion (vs. 3-11) you have to understand the history of the Jews.
They thought that material wealth meant the God was blessing them. If a person was poor materially, then they were under condemnation. It's the same with women that were childless. If a woman had a child(ren) then she was blessed. If not, she was cursed. I know, such nonsense.
What Jesus was doing with this teaching is telling the people that material wealth was not an indication of God's blessing, or lack there of. We are to be poor in spirit, toward God. I think this means to be submissive to Him in all areas of our lives.
When we realize that we are literally paupers spiritually, then we are ready to surrender all to Him. That means we have to shove everything aside that we hold dear and rest in His arms. This could be people, or things, maybe projects and ministries.
So, are you poor spiritually toward God? If not, why not? What is in your life that you need to forsake so that you can 'take' God as He wants you to take Him?
God's motive for helping us to be 'poor in spirit' is that He loves us so much. Being poor in spirit is a good thing and delights our Heavenly Father, right down to His toes!
Trusting,
Sandy
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Isaiah 45:8-10
Hello,
Isn't the weather gorgeous? I hung clothes and sheets out today and they dried so nicely. I like the smell of clothes hung outside to dry. The sky is such a vivid blue that I always connect with Autumn.
I read these verses a couple of days ago and really felt led by the Lord to study them. So here is what I came up with: God is Sovereign. Isaiah 46:8-10. After you've read them, come join me....
Verse 8 tells us to remember. We are not to forget what this is saying. In other words: it's important what I'm going to tell you. If something is fixed in our minds, it's there permanently. When it's God's Word, that's a good thing. But, it calls the Israelites rebels. Are you a rebel? If so, in what way? Is your heart soft toward the Lord? Are you surrendered?
In Verse 9 God states: I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me. That's quite a statement, but one that He can tell truthfully and we need to obey. He is God. Because He is God, we owe Him our very lives. Do you live your life in such a way that you always honor Him? Do you fully understand what it means when God says that He is God? If not, why not?
Verse 10 teaches that He makes known the end from the beginning. We have the Bible, God's written word to tell us just that. Have you read His book from cover to cover? What did you learn? About who God is? About how He wants you to live your life?
The last sentence tells us: and I will do all that I please. Have you heard people who think that God should stop all the trouble in the world? Why do innocent children die or are abused? Why so many people die of drought, hunger and disease? Well, God has a purpose for causing and allowing these things to happen.
Sometimes it's judgment. On a government, a group of people or one individual. Sometimes innocent people are hurt because of sin by those who act unrighteously. God knows the final story. He knows everything because He's omniscient (all-knowing).
So, here's the question: are you going to trust our Sovereign God to know what's best for your life and live accordingly? How will you manifest this belief? If you don't trust Him, why not? He is trustworthy. How do I know this? Because He's proven Himself so many times in my life that I can't even count them.
God knew before I got sick, the beginning from the end. He allowed me to get sick, and to stay sick. He has a purpose. Some of it I know, but not all. I'm sure some day I'll be able to know the 'beginning from the end' as He allows me to understand His purpose. I just know this: I trust my Sovereign God to work His perfect divine will in my life to His glory. What will you do?
Trusting,
Sandy
Isn't the weather gorgeous? I hung clothes and sheets out today and they dried so nicely. I like the smell of clothes hung outside to dry. The sky is such a vivid blue that I always connect with Autumn.
I read these verses a couple of days ago and really felt led by the Lord to study them. So here is what I came up with: God is Sovereign. Isaiah 46:8-10. After you've read them, come join me....
Verse 8 tells us to remember. We are not to forget what this is saying. In other words: it's important what I'm going to tell you. If something is fixed in our minds, it's there permanently. When it's God's Word, that's a good thing. But, it calls the Israelites rebels. Are you a rebel? If so, in what way? Is your heart soft toward the Lord? Are you surrendered?
In Verse 9 God states: I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me. That's quite a statement, but one that He can tell truthfully and we need to obey. He is God. Because He is God, we owe Him our very lives. Do you live your life in such a way that you always honor Him? Do you fully understand what it means when God says that He is God? If not, why not?
Verse 10 teaches that He makes known the end from the beginning. We have the Bible, God's written word to tell us just that. Have you read His book from cover to cover? What did you learn? About who God is? About how He wants you to live your life?
The last sentence tells us: and I will do all that I please. Have you heard people who think that God should stop all the trouble in the world? Why do innocent children die or are abused? Why so many people die of drought, hunger and disease? Well, God has a purpose for causing and allowing these things to happen.
Sometimes it's judgment. On a government, a group of people or one individual. Sometimes innocent people are hurt because of sin by those who act unrighteously. God knows the final story. He knows everything because He's omniscient (all-knowing).
So, here's the question: are you going to trust our Sovereign God to know what's best for your life and live accordingly? How will you manifest this belief? If you don't trust Him, why not? He is trustworthy. How do I know this? Because He's proven Himself so many times in my life that I can't even count them.
God knew before I got sick, the beginning from the end. He allowed me to get sick, and to stay sick. He has a purpose. Some of it I know, but not all. I'm sure some day I'll be able to know the 'beginning from the end' as He allows me to understand His purpose. I just know this: I trust my Sovereign God to work His perfect divine will in my life to His glory. What will you do?
Trusting,
Sandy
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Psalm 33:4
Hi,
After a busy weekend, it's nice to slow down just a little. I trust your weekend was a good one too. We're trying to get things accomplished outside; we're buttoning down for the winter, so to speak. I like to call it "cozying in for the winter".
The scripture I've chosen today is from Psalm 33:4: "For the word of the Lord is right and true; He is faithful in all He does." I look at this verse as a sure foundation that I can hang on to when life gets difficult. As I search His word, His promises remind me that God is faithful and that I can depend on that.
Anytime that Chuck and I have stepped out in faith to begin a ministry that we haven't been a part of before, like going overseas as missionaries, we've had to depend on God to be faithful to us in many ways.
We needed His word to teach us how to be good servants to Him. We definitely needed help with all the myriad of emotions that accompanied our leaving our son behind to continue his education at college.
We were stepping out into unknown (to us) territory by living in a foreign culture. We didn't know the language, or custom's of the Czech Republic. He helped us to acclimate fairly quickly and well so that we could begin ministry to the wonderful people He brought before us.
We asked Him to help us to love the Czech people and He was faithful to pour out His love in us and through us. So many times we'd hear people ask: "why do you love us so much?" That warmed our hearts and I know it pleased the Lord. We were depending on Him for everything and He was faithful.
In what ways do you see God faithful to you? Do you even look for His faithfulness? How are you faithful to Him? It's surprising how little He asks of us, but yet He promises us so much, if we are obedient to Him.
Do you remember 1 John 1:9? Go look. He is faithful. Depend on His faithfulness to help you live a faithful life before Him.
Striving to be faithful to Him,
Sandy
After a busy weekend, it's nice to slow down just a little. I trust your weekend was a good one too. We're trying to get things accomplished outside; we're buttoning down for the winter, so to speak. I like to call it "cozying in for the winter".
The scripture I've chosen today is from Psalm 33:4: "For the word of the Lord is right and true; He is faithful in all He does." I look at this verse as a sure foundation that I can hang on to when life gets difficult. As I search His word, His promises remind me that God is faithful and that I can depend on that.
Anytime that Chuck and I have stepped out in faith to begin a ministry that we haven't been a part of before, like going overseas as missionaries, we've had to depend on God to be faithful to us in many ways.
We needed His word to teach us how to be good servants to Him. We definitely needed help with all the myriad of emotions that accompanied our leaving our son behind to continue his education at college.
We were stepping out into unknown (to us) territory by living in a foreign culture. We didn't know the language, or custom's of the Czech Republic. He helped us to acclimate fairly quickly and well so that we could begin ministry to the wonderful people He brought before us.
We asked Him to help us to love the Czech people and He was faithful to pour out His love in us and through us. So many times we'd hear people ask: "why do you love us so much?" That warmed our hearts and I know it pleased the Lord. We were depending on Him for everything and He was faithful.
In what ways do you see God faithful to you? Do you even look for His faithfulness? How are you faithful to Him? It's surprising how little He asks of us, but yet He promises us so much, if we are obedient to Him.
Do you remember 1 John 1:9? Go look. He is faithful. Depend on His faithfulness to help you live a faithful life before Him.
Striving to be faithful to Him,
Sandy
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