He Will Deliver You, Micah 5:5-9

He Will Deliver You
Micah 5:6b He will deliver you from the Assyrian when he invades our land and marches into our borders.

The are many scriptures which talk about the deliverance power of our God. God delivered Noah and his family from the flood, Lot from Sodom, Jacob from Esau, Joseph from his brothers and from prison, the Israelites from bondage, Jonah from the whale, Peter from sinking, the woman from bleeding, lepers from disgrace, and Paul and Silas from prison.... and many, many more.

God has promised to protect his people. This was a promise to the people of Israel, and it is true for us as Christians. God told the people of Israel, I will take you as my people and I will be your God. Moses said, The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still. Paul told the Thessalonians, the Lord will protect you from the evil one. And, of course, the often used ones; nothing can snatch you out of his hand, and nothing can separates us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus!

K and A, God is there for you to in the good times, but he is also there for you to lean on in the bad times as well. In fact that is of most importance. He is a true friend, who will not leave you when hardships and troubles come your way. He will stick close by and deliver you out of them! He not only has the love and faithfulness of a friend, but he experienced our weaknesses and temptations and is able to sympathize, even empathize with you. But even better, he has the power to deliver you from those troubles! So daughters, call on him in your times of trouble and he will set you free.

~Dad

Peace Proclaimed, Micah 5:5a

Peace Proclaimed

Micah 5:5a And he will be their peace.

I do not pretend to be a prophesy scholar not that spiritually wise to understand it all, especially without any study. This is just written with the limited knowledge I have.

This is typical prophetic writing. It appears to me to have many fulfillments. Certainly we can see Jesus in this passage. It also appears to talk about the return of Israel to the promised land, possibly before Christ, and I would think after as well. And usually prophesies have an end time ring to them as well.

The point I want to bring out of this passage is what comes when God's plan come to fruition, that is peace. Now, one must remember that in order for peace to manifest, there is usually a time of hardship and trial. Also, peace is for those on the side of the peacemaker. Yeah, we don't like that thought, but throughout the Bible we see clearly see both sides. David brought much peace to Israel, but much destruction on the Philistines. Thought the book of Judges, God raised up many who brought peace to Israel, but always at a cost, often to both sides. Jesus brought peace, yet even he had to suffer for it to come to us. And ultimately, when Christ returns, he will come to bring final lasting peace, yet he will come riding on a white horse, a sign of victory, waging war. One side loses the other wins.

What am I trying to say, K and A? First, you must be on the side of Jesus who is victorious in the final battle when he returns to defeat Satan and his minions. There, ultimate peace will be yours throughout eternity. Second, peace is possible now! An underlying calm and satisfaction, believing the promise that God has given us through Jesus... You are on the winning team. Jesus is our savior and his act of love and sacrifice brings us back into the right relationship with God which allows us on his team... the right to become children of God. And, just like most prophesies,there is more. Third, there are many battles you will have in life to overcome in order for peace to reign in your heart and mind. You will need to fight them dressed in the full armor of God. If you do, you will find victory over sin and trials, and then you will find peace in that area of life. Today, I proclaim peace for you, for as a believer, Christ is your peace!

~Dad

But You, Though Small, Micah 5:2

But You, Though Small

Micah 5:2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of yo will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times.

How the people of Israel and the wise men who visited had a clue that this referred to Jesus is amazing to me. Apparently, they were much wiser than I, maybe you too. As with many of the prophesies, knowing what they mean at the time they were delivered can be difficult. Also, prophesies often have multiple fulfillments. They are not only for Israel but relate to Christ and the church. Sometimes, we use them to teach other lessons as well.

Though you are small... Small, here, can refer not only to size of the clan but its importance. Often in our lives, we do not feel very important. This is true for most people, even arrogant ones at times. We must remember that to God, we are important. We see this not only here in reference to Bethlehem, a small town in the small tribe of Judah, but we see it often throughout the Scriptures... Rahab, Gideon, Hanna, Ruth, and many more. God cares for everyone great and small.

K and A, God wants to use you in his kingdom. You are not a nobody. Certainly you have inadequacies, but God has a place for you. Now, I am not one that thinks that God has this perfect plan for you, well at least not for me. I have already messed that up if he did... What I am trying to say is that God is willing to use you in his kingdom work despite your past, despite your present, despite your current abilities, despite your lack of intelligence or courage to use what you know you have. God reaches out and cares for his children. He will develop you even when you do not know he is. He is preparing you for service for him. Now, it is true that you can slow or alter what he desires, but when you are a willing vessel, he will cause you to do great things. Out of you will come blessing that will be for all people... that he brings across your path and beyond. You, though small now, must be open and willing to serve your Lord, then he will use you to reach others for him.

~Dad

God Wants You Back, Micah 4:6-13

God Wants You Back

Micah 4:6 In that day, declares the Lord, I will gather the lame; I will assemble the exiles and those I have brought to grief.

The people of Judah were soon to be destroyed. Their sin against the Lord had become too great and judgement was coming. Much destruction awaited them. Suffering, heartache, and regret would be their lot. God had Micah forewarn them of the coming destruction yet in the midst of bad news was a sign of hope... God would not destroy all of them. He would gather those left and bring them back. Those captured and taken away, weak as they would be, would one day return!

Often, we can correlate what happened to the nation of Israel and Judah with the Christian walk. Yet, difficulties arise since one refers to a nation and the other to a person. Most of the people taken into captivity never returned to Jerusalem, but I still think we can find a correlation here. Despite being God's people, God will punish the sin that may come into our life as Christians. Like Judah, we will suffer for sinning against God and heartache and regret will set in. But, we must remember that God is using these hardships to bring us back to him, not just to punish the sin. He desires us to return to him, and when we do, he will raise us up that we may once again live with him!

K and A, God is slow to anger and abounding in love but he will not just look the other way if you sin. Yet in the midst of his anger, he still reaches out to draw you back to himself. Both he and I never want you to sin, but if you do Jesus is there as your advocate, the Spirit is there as your comforter, working on your behalf, calling you to return. The Father is willing to forgive, just reach out to him, he wants you back.

~Dad

In That Day, Micah 4:6a

In That Day

Micah 4:6a In that day, declares the Lord,

In That Day... K and A, the Lord is not sitting idly by. He isn't just waiting for your life to run its course. No, he is actively involved in directing the lives of those who love and live for him. This is you! Be obedient to his calling and you will find that there are a lot of In That Days along your path of life. In that day you were born. In that day you desired the Lord. In that day you found salvation. In that day you graduated, went to college, got married, had many children, led someone to Christ, stood up against wrong, defeated a plaguing sin, got sanctified... and so much more until the great day when you meet your Savior -Jesus the Christ! Well done good and faithful servant, that's what you will hear In That Day!

~Dad

Come On Along, Micah 4:1-5

Come On Along

Micah 4:2b Come, let us go to the mountain of the lord, to the house of the God of Jacob.

While I was growing up, I remember Grandpa teach us a song in VBS. It was to the tune of John Jacob Jingle Heimerschidt sp. It went something like this (go ahead sing the words)... Come on along to Bible school, That's where I want to be, Whenever we go out, to the people we always shout, Come on along to Bible school. da da da da da da da da and repeat... It got those children all roused up!

What's the point of the song... VBS is where it's at. There you will find the teachings of the Lord for walking the paths of life (vs 2c). There you will find peace and contentment. You will learn how to get along and how to rest in the arms of God. There you will learn to trust the Lord and will desire to always be in step with God and his ways. You will want to be with him for ever and ever. (vs 3-5). This is true for SS, Church service, Revivals etc...

K and A, I hope you learned those things in Bible school. And I hope you are teaching those things in VBS and in Sunday School. It is a good thing to go to the house of the Lord. God first, His Church second! You may say, but I thought family was second... not true, daughters! You and your family need to put God first and His Church second... together. Family must not be separate from them. When you combine family and the things of God, you will find that same peace and contentment in your family. So, grab your family and others and sing...   come on along!

~Dad

Too Late, Micah 3:1-12

Too Late

Micah 3:4 Then they will cry out to the Lord, but he will not answer them. At that time he will hide his face from them because of the evil they have done.

What a sad verse. God reached out time and time again to the people of Israel and Judah for the wrong they had done, but they would not repent. He sent them prophets, but many of them became corrupt as well. They would proclaim "the word of the lord"... if you gave them the right amount of money. They would proclaim good news and prosperity, for a price!

But now Judah's time to repent was past. Micah spoke the truth. He spoke the true Word of God. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, he gave them the bad news. God had enough! Their time of destruction was coming. It was too late now!

K and A, Repent for the day is at hand, for today is the day of Salvation! If you choose not to listen, you may miss out on the opportunity to repent (there is a verse for this that I can't find at the moment) But, if you do repent, God will bring times of refreshment, and you will again be filled with joy!

Daughters, if you are caught in a sin and know it, do not wait for someone to come and help you be restored. Run to God, he will purify you and put his Spirit in you to comfort and lift you, restoring you as his child!

~Dad

Deliverance For Those Who Remain, Micah 2:8-13

Deliverance For Those Who Remain

Micah 2:12a I will surely gather all of you, O Jacob

There is a common teaching in religions called universalism, which basically teaches that since God is a loving God, in the end all people will be saved. The is also a common teaching in Christianity called eternal security, which teaches that in the end all those who have once been saved will spend eternity with God. Both of these are false!

Biblical truths abound against these teachings, but it is easy to see how people who desire to live their own way get deluded into thinking all will be fine in the end. Take a look at Paul's writing to Timothy; if we are faithless, he remains faithful, and today's verse; he will gather all of you. Yet we must not forget to check out the context of these verses. Timothy was told that Christ is faithful to those who endure. In Micah, God said that he would gather the remnant - those who remain.

But, I do not want you to lose track of the promise of these verses here in Micah: God will not abandon Israel, nor will God abandon his church. Even if we must suffer - and Judah certainly did, even if we must go through trials and hardships, we can count on God to carry his people through into eternity. But some will say, well I know a wonderful Christian who suffered cancer and died, or what about all the martyrs? Listen to what was written about these people in Hebrews... the world was not worthy of them. Some people go through harrowing times, yet God takes them safely into heaven.

K and A, remember that eternity is forever. Your life today is temporary. Those people spoken of in Hebrew, some of them we sawed in two... gruesome. Today, more than ever, people are dying for their faith. Yet, God is faithful and will deliver them into his arms and carry them into eternity. Daughters, remain faithful to the end, and he will deliver you as well.

~Dad

Itchy ears, Micah 2:6-11

Itchy Ears

Micah 2:11  If a liar and deceiver comes and says, 'I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer,' he would be just the prophet for this people.

God's word's are sweet to the taste, sweeter than honey from the honeycomb! They are life itself for those whose trust is in him. But to the wicked, they bring heartache and pain. The people of Judah pleaded with the prophets not to prophesy bad news. They said, God is not like that. He will not bring about the demise of his people. He is a loving and kind God. He will not bring us disgrace. They wanted the prophets to prophesy only what their itching ears wanted to hear. They could not handle the truth, and when the prophet would proclaim the true word of God, they would kill them.

When people want to find an excuse for a sin, a habit or a questionable way of living, they just look it up in the Bible, they find it. When Messiah College wanted to permit dancing, Grantham church did a search, a study in  the Word, and eureka, they found it! What they couldn't locate for centuries just popped out of the Scriptures all noble and good. So today, they dance and party and feel good about themselves.

K and A, never search the Scriptures for permission to do something you already know is wrong or questionable. As we see in today's passage, this has been a problem for thousands of years. Certainly God would want to deprive us of something so good? This is a lie Satan has been pushing since the Garden of Eden. You will find preachers proclaiming the benefits of becoming like the world to win the world, but I have seen the destruction of the church from this practice in my lifetime. So sad.

The church has followed the path of Judah. As Paul warned Timothy, people will put away sound doctrine and go listen to teacher that will preach what they want to hear. choosing a church to attend can be daunting task. Pray for and desire one that preaches sound doctrine, not just want you want to hear no matter how loving the people are or what programs they may have for you. The truth does not center around how good it makes you feel! Desire the true word of God, they will do you good even when hard to swallow.

~Dad

Problems in or coming to the church today as I see it: (not all inclusive)

• Secular Music
• Secular christian Music
• Dancing
• Alcohol
• Fornication
• Divorce/ Divorce & Remarriage
• Homosexuality
• Gender Idenity
• Marijuana
• Swearing/Course Talk
• Lying/ Fudging Truth
• Lack of Forgiveness/Grudges
• Discipline
• Sacrilege - Not Treating Holy Things Holy
• Lack of Holiness

A Blessing To Others, Micah 2:1-5

A Blessing To Others

Micah 2:1 Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds. At morning's light they carry it out because it is in their power to do so.

I see a couple things here... There are people who go around plotting evil. They steal, terrorize and kill for fun or power. We see this happening in gangs throughout America's cities and around the world. Those of us who do not live in those areas cannot imagine the horror of it. There is also a class of people who plot evil who are in positions of power. Their concern is themselves, and they care not about the people they represent. These could be bosses, church leaders, and local and national political leaders. In both of these situations, we often are powerless to do anything about it. Many times, though, we look the other way and have no concern, because the problem doesn't effect us. Yet, when it is in our power to stop them, we must stand up against them, or we become part of the problem.

Just as important, we need to be careful in our own lives, for we too need to avoid the trap of self-empowerment through the demise of others. We cannot lie down and think of how to better ourselves by stepping on others along the way. Children do this among siblings, bullies in school, and we see it happen in the work place. These attitudes and evils can be found in all aspects of life in small yet powerful ways.

K and A, if you see those who are plotting the demise of others, do not go along with them. God will certainly destroy you along with them. Instead, lift those whom you meet. A boss, a co-worker, a stranger along the way, you are to be Christ to everyone. Live as a blessing to others!

~Dad

Mourn Over Sin 1, Micah 1:8-18

Mourn Over Sin, Micah 1:8-18

Posted: 30 Sep 2019 09:13 AM PDT This was originally posted but lost in Blogger. Only a draft was saved so I rewrote it and finished it differently. Later I found this version in my emails...

Mourn Over Sin 1

Micah 1:8 Because of this I will weep and wail; I will go about barefoot and naked, I will howl like a jackal and moan like an owl.

The people of Judah had committed the sins of Israel. They gave themselves over to other gods, to idols who have no power. God would certainly destroy them, for their sin was too great! God, despite his slowness to anger, despite his great love, the people of Judah would be destroyed and taken into captivity! 

In these verses, God himself is crying, and he wails for his people. They seem oblivious to the fact that their sin is destroying them, so they continue on their merry way. Sin has blinded them! So, God delivers the bad news; you will be destroyed just like Israel. Your sins are many and death, destruction, and captivity are at hand!

K and A, make sure you understand that God hates sin. His love for you will bring will not stop the penalty of sin. Certainly, he has prepared a way for redemption, but you must be willing to take the way of Christ; submission and obedience. Take a look at your life... if there is sin, you moan and wail, understanding that God is not happy with you. Repent and do right to keep him from crying about you and the destruction he must bring in your life. Live in such a way that pleases the Lord!

~Dad

Mourn Over Sin 2, Micah 1:8-18

Mourn Over Sin 2 See note on previous post Mourn Over Sin 1)

Micah 1:8 Because of this I will weep and wail; I will go about barefoot and naked, I will howl like a jackal and moan like an owl.

The people of Judah had committed the sins of Israel, they had given themselves over to other gods, to idols who have no power. God would certainly destroy them, for their sin was too great! God, despite his slowness to anger, despite his love, many of the people of Judah would be destroyed and some taken into captivity! 

In these verses, God himself is crying, and he wails for his people, the ones he loves. He cries for they do not see their sin and repent. He cries for he knows their end. He cries for he knows what he must do. O, how much better it would be if they saw their sin and cried and wailed for what they had done. how much better it would be for they would find forgiveness and restoration, but soon they will be awakened to fear and terror and it will be too late.

K and A, do not take sinning lightly. The ultimate destination for sinners is everlasting torment in the Lake of Fire. Do not be foolish like so many in the church today and believe that since you once took Jesus as your savior you can go on sinning. Mourn over any sin you may be caught in, seek to be holy and pure by living in the power of the Spirit of God, so you may live above sin and find everlasting life!

~Dad

Replacing God, Micah 1:1-7

Replacing God

Micah 1:5 All this is because of Jacob's transgression, because of the sons of the house of Israel. What is Jacob's transgression? Is it not Samaria? What is Judah's hig place? Is it not Jerusalem?

Verse 5 show the main sin that the two kingdoms of Israel had perpetrated. They replaced the one true God with a god made out of the figment of their imagination. The created idols to bow down and devote their lives to. They created a sacrificial system to help "cleanse" their consciences. They worship false gods to plead for protection and to provide the necessities of life. They traded the hope and contentment for sadness and despair. Their lives were empty and they didn't realize why. The Israelites and Jews had broken the first 2 commandments of the Lord: Do not have any other god's before me and Do not make for yourselves idols and bow down to them... They had broken the covenant they had made with the Lord!

K and A, you cannot not replace the Lord with a god of your choosing and expect God not to be hurt. At some point, like Israel and Judah, he will judge your for it, and you will know that he truly is the only God. The Israelites were God's people, his children. He loved and protected them, yet they forsook him and his ways, his commandments. Be careful. You too, are God's children. He loves you and desires to care for you, but if you forsake his ways and choose your own way, he will surely judge you. Remember, what you read in the OT is a lesson to guide you in following the Lord. Jesus is your Savior today, but in the future, he will be your judge! Live in such a way that pleases the Father and you will be confident on that Day.

~Dad

The Lord Knows, Micah 1:2b

The Lord Knows

Micah 1:2b that the Sovereign Lord may witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple.

We are going to go through the book of Micah next. It is not a pleasant book full of cheery accolades, yet in the midst of doom and promised destruction, we find hope. God is not blind to our sin. He will not sit idly by and pretend that he does not see or does not care. He is acutely aware, works to bring correction and commences judgement at the right times.

Daughters, I do not know this book. I am sure as we go through it, a passage here and there will jog my memory, and I'll remember some of the verses. Keep in mind that my writings are not exposes on the passages that we cover. They are thoughts and promptings that I believe are from the Lord for your encouragement toward living holy. I expect the book of  Micah to more difficult to cover than most I have done, but with the grace of God you will find in my writings the same hope the people of Judah and Israel realized in the midst of their tough times. Sin does not bring about God's love and affection, yet in the middle of our struggles, God, in his infinite love, reaches to us to bring us out of the mire we have gotten ourselves into. If you ever find yourself stuck, reach up to him, and let him pull you out.

~Dad

Song:
  He Brought Me Out

I'm Impressed. Deuteronomy 6:6-9

I.m Impressed

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. talk about them when you sit at home, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them on as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

I am wrapping up my writings on the Ten Commandments. These verses say much about what God expects from his children; they are to become like him! He, then, expects us to pass them on to our children. It is not to be done in a way that is taught in many circles today... optional.

We must not make the commandments of the Lord - of God the Father and of Jesus Christ, and the promptings of the Holy Spirit, optional suggestions. We are not to allow children to decide for themselves what is right and wrong, moral or unjust. The must know what God expects of them and what righteousness looks like. We first must live it, then we are to teach it as well! All the areas of our lives are to show that we believe what God says is best for our lives; at church , at home, in the workplace or during times of pleasure... Our Lives Must Show We Love God.

K and A, Many parents want to impress their children... look what a great cook I am, look how well I can sing, see what an amazing athlete I became... But you are not to be that way! Surely I want you to work hard, do well, and excel in all you put your mind and hand to, but that matters little compared to obedience to the Lord. Show your family, your spouse, your children, the people around you that you love God and are totally devoted to him and his ways... I want to know you love God! Impress me!

~Dad

Song
  Live for Jesus, That's What Matters

Not to the Left, Nor To Your Right, Deuteronomy 5:33

Not To the Left, Not To The Right

Deuteronomy 5:33 Walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.

Often when someone is giving me directions as we travel, they say, just go straight. As I am about to run off the road at the next curve, I find that they really do not mean what they say. They still want me to go left or right around every curve we come to. What they are really saying is, they do not want me to turn off the road we are travelling.

God is the saying the same to us. Certainly, on our road of life, there are many curves we must travel around, or we will run off the road, and our lives will be wrecked. Conversely, there are other times in our lives where we need to decide which road to take. Despite the need to make a decision, there is path that God is leading you down. What do you do when God leads you to a fork in the road? I have found that God wants to lead us, and we must trust him to guide us. Proverbs 3:5&6 says... Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lead not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths. Do we really believe that?

K and A, there is a path that God wants you to take. I look less for the "perfect" plan, and I look more for the way he has already shown me. Is it right for us to cheat on our taxes and not claim monies received for work done "under the table"? No, he has already shown us the path of honesty. Do not swerve from what he has already shown you. Abide by these Ten Commandments. Do not swerve from any of them, even commandment number 4. Do this even when other "good" people you know choose not to do so. And, Listen to his voice of leading, trust his way, then walk on the path he has for you. You will find it the best road to travel!

~Dad

Go Straight, Deuteronomy 5:32

Go Straight

Deuteronomy 5:32 So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the left or to the right.

We must stay on the straight and narrow path. Technically, that saying is not an accurate quote. but the truth still lies in what it purports. That is, we must walk the Christian life without turning off the path to walk the ways of the world.

K and A, God has a way to live, and we are not to deviate from it. Everything may not be clear cut, but for those things that are... do what you know is right! Do not allow today's misinterpretations fool you. Follow his commands both the NT one and the OT one - as clarified by the NT writings. Devote yourselves to the teachings and flee the temptations of pleasure and ease. Be careful to do as God directs.

~Dad

Inclined To Obey, Deuteronomy 5:29

inclined To Obey

Deuteronomy 5:29 Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children  forever!

The Lord's desire for Israel was that their instinctive response would be to follow him. The Israelites seemed to fail God more often than not. Of all the Kings of Israel, David was the most godly, two others were fair, and after that, the northern kingdom had zero good kings. In the kingdom of Judah, the were 8 good kings and 12 evil ones. Even in Judah, we can see that their inclination was to do evil. They chose to fear the nations around them and serve their gods.

David, a man chosen by God to take over for the failed king Saul, was called a man after God's own heart. Yet, he too failed God by stealing a man's wife, and then had that man killed in battle, so he could take her to be his wife. Although those were certainly egregious acts, God forgave David when he repented of his sin... He was a man after God's own heart because he was inclined to follow the Lord's commands, not because he would always be perfect. David's desire was to please his Lord!

K and A, seek to please the Lord in all you say and do. Plan to take the high road and stay far from the edge of sin. This seems to be a contrary view from most in the church today, yet this is where we are called to live. Make it your desire to find out what the Lord desires and live it even when other good people walk a different path. Then, you will find that it will go well for you and your future children!

~Dad

More Than Words, Deuteronomy 5:27

More Than Words

Deuteronomy 5:27Go near and listen to all that the Lord our God tells you. We will listen and obey.

After the people of Israel heard the voice of God delivery the Ten Commandments from the out of the fire, they were fearful. Apparently the whole mountain appeared to be on fire, and they thought it would consume them. They asked Moses if he would speak with the Lord and be an intermediary for them... You listen to the Lord, then tell us what he says, and we will obey.

The people of Israel were a finicky bunch. Moaning and complaining, committed then weak, These people seemed to be committed only in word and failed to fully trust the Lord. We must learn from their example. As the Israelites heard from the Lord, they believed what he said was good, but they couldn't see that God was good and would protect them. God spoke to them, not in a vision, not through an intermediary, but thunderously through the fire. Certainly, this was an awesome sight. One that would cause you to have reverence and a degree of fear. They recognized his law was good and wanted to hear more from God, but they did not want to be close to him. That was for somebody else. They tasted the Lord and he was good, but they could not take refuge in him.

K and A, It is common for people to go to church throughout their life and never really be committed to the Lord. Any real encounter with the Lord scares them, and they do not want to "go through" with him. An association with Christ is enough for them. But you, be willing to fully trust the Lord. There have been times for me when the commitment God called me to seemed bigger than I could handle, but I have found that victory and peace comes in following his ways. Understand, daughters, that being a Chrstian is much more than just salvation. You are to go on from there unto perfection. It more than just saying, I believe in Jesus Christ.

~Dad

Spoken By God, Deuteronomy 5:22

SPoken By God

Deuteronomy 5:22 These are the commandments the Lord proclaimed in a loud voice to your whole assembly there on the mountain from out of the fire, the cloud and the deep darkness; and he added nothing more. Then, he wrote them on two stone tablets and gave them to me.

The Ten Commandments are not a set of moral codes set up by Moses for the people of Israel. These laws are commanded by God himself! He spoke them, so all who were in attendance could hear. These he also wrote down on stone tablets, so those who were not there could know them as well.

That would be us! We too have heard the Word God spoke to the Israelites. We know his commands. But is that enough? No! It is not. We are not called to just know them but to do them. Jesus said that when we obey his God's commands, it shows that we truly love him. If we obey his commands, God will love us. (Oh now, before you get all snowflakey on me, There is a love God has for us that is not dependent on our spiritual condition. I am not talking about that type of love.) God has a special love for his children which goes beyond his love for all people. There is a closeness with God that comes to those who obey the Words he has spoken.

K and A, Do you obey all the ten commandments? Or do you pick and choose. They are the voice of God given for you. Do you have the closeness to God that is possible for those that truly love him? If you are obedient to his Word, his Spirit will come close, and you will never be the same! Seek to know his Word. Purpose to carry out his decrees. You will find nothing better than following his voice!

~Dad

Do Not Covet, Deuteronomy 5:21

Do Not Covet

Deuteronomy 5:21 You shall not covet your neighbors wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor's house or land, his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

If your neighbor is anyone you meet, and you are not to covet anything your neighbor has... that about covers it. Do not covet! As the second sentence of this verse says, to covet is to desire what your neighbor has. Failure to follow this command can lead to violating many of the other commands relating to your fellow man. If you covet someone's wife, you may commit adultery. If you covet their land, you may murder. If you covet anything they have, you may end up stealing those possessions. Covetousness goes hand in hand with jealousy, and they change how people act toward one another and how they respect what others have. Great evils come from not controlling the desires of the heart.

What do we do when others succeed? Do we covet their award, their accolades? Do we get upset at them? If others get a new car, new clothes, glasses, hair style... Why are their new fads? Too often, we don't want to look out of place, or we desire what others will say, how "hip" or how fashionable we are. We must not seek such pride.

K and A, desire the things of the Lord. Desire more of him in your life. Forget chasing after the ways of the world. Seek to be acceptable to him. There is much talk about being your own person... who cares what others think. Yet, this too is not good. Instead of seeking acceptance from man, or from self, seek acceptance from God. It only matters what he thinks. When you earnestly desire him, you will become the apple of his eye. There you will find his protection and love. You will have everything you always wanted and more!

~Dad

Do Not Lie II, Deuteronomy 5:19

Do Not Lie, II

Deuteronomy 5:19 You shall not bear false testimony against your neighbor.

A little sick today so Friday's post is coming out on Saturday...

I wanted to talk a little about more about lying. In what ways do people lie?

Little White Lies These, no matter how good the intention are untrue statements and often lead to greater lies.

• Did you do your homework last night? Yes, but I left it on the table. You had never done you homework
• Are you coming to the picnic? No, I'm not feeling well. You feel fine you just don't want to go.
• Come along, Mom. We'll go to their anniversary celebration. Actually it was a surprise birthday party for her.

Lies of Protection These lies are set to protect someone, yourself or others, Similar to white lies, these are still falsehoods. Sad thing is they normally create a larger issue than they were that must be dealt with later, when it could have been settled at the beginning with minor pain on either side.

• Is your father there, says the boss on the phone. He's not here right now. Really, your dad just doesn't want to be called into work, and you are protecting his name on the call in list.
• Is Sally there? No, she had to go out to the store with her dad. Actually, she can't stand her "friend" but doesn't want to hurt her feelings.
• Do you want to go get something to eat together? No, I'm not really hungry. Sadly you don't have the nerve to tell him you can't stand him. 

Direct Lies These lies most people believe are wrong yet some do them anyway.

• Anyone see my hacksaw? George, did you see it? No, I don't even know what it looks like. You stole it while he was at lunch.
• Did you tattle on me? No! Liar, Jordan said you told him and that you were going to tell the boss! He's lying. I didn't say that! You are caught but you make up other lies to cover it up.

K and A, there are all kinds of lies. I just wanted to spark your mind into thinking about the things you have said, or heard others say. Remember that all liars have their place in the lake of fire! That is an important truth we cannot deny. As I said in my last post, we don't have to blabber all the brutal truth, but when we are confronted directly, we must never tell an untruth!

~Dad

Here is an example of not telling the whole truth yet being honest to keep from saying an untruth...

I once was working for a farmer. He needed a special breaker I did not have and was a special order item. Later, when I went to his place to work he asked if I had the breaker... I had not ordered it, but I should have y then. So, trying to protect myself I said, it is not in yet. That is not untrue, but when he asked did I order it... I had to say no, I hadn't. Doing otherwise was certainly a lie that God would held me accountable for! Be careful not to lie, eternity depends on it. You may save face now but loose your soul forever!

Do Not Lie, Deuteronomy 5:19

Do Not Lie

Deuteronomy 5:19 You shall not bear false testimony against your neighbor.

But who is my neighbor? said an expert in the law to Jesus. Although this commandment does not specifically specify lying, to bear false testimony is lying. And as Jesus said through the parable of the good Samaritan , our neighbor is anyone we meet. We must not take someone down by making up a story about them. It is the Christian's duty to encourage and lift those whom we meet or are in acquaintance with. To tear them down, is contrary to God's character and ours!

Now lying is very similar. We may not be tearing someone down, but we are certainly trying to keep others from seeing the truth. We are altering the truth by creating a false picture. We may be seeking to protect our character or hide something from others. What ever the reason, we must keep in mind that the Lord said that all liars have their place in the lake of fire!

K and A, lying for any reason is wrong. There certainly are cases in which it is wise not to tell everything we know. I have heard people say, well, to be truthful..., in backing up what they say (let your yes be yes and your no, no). It is as if they are saying, at other times I am lying. Better to say something like, well, to be completely open...  I am certainly not open with everything I talk about. You don't have enough time to hear it all anyway. Live above the temptation of lying for any reason. White lies are just as black as regular lies.  Even when you find that the truth may hurt you, even when you feel it may hurt the person you are talking to, it always hurts less than the trouble a lie creates! Remember that honesty is always best.

~Dad

PS. I never said you should be brutally honest. Remember we are to encourage and lift others. Sometimes, it is best to keep our mouths shut!

Do Not Steal, Deuteronomy 5:19

Do Not Steal

Deuteronomy 5:19 You shall not steal.

When people desire to have what another has and their hearts are evil, the steal it. At work, people have stolen items worth hundreds of dollars. People also steal lost cost items of only a few dollars. Recently, we were set to have a picnic and the main gas grill was missing. No one knew where it had gone. Apparently, it must have vanished into thin air?!

Are things the only way to steal. We had a pastor once who remembered a sermon he had heard over 50 years earlier preached on stealing people's time. There's a thought. What other things can we think of... stealing honor, someone's credit, stealing glory from God, stealing someone's self-esteem... Taking what belongs to another without their permission is stealing. We must be careful, we must be honest with ourselves.

K and A, I try never to steal... but I have taken some things that belonged to others thinking they would thrown out and as the Lord kept bothering me, I took them back. One was an old  pencil sharpener from a jobsite. It would have gone in the dumpster, so I unscrewed it from the counter before the counter was discarded. Later the banker, Mr. Singer if I'm not mistaken, came and asked if anyone saw the pencil sharpener... I never said a word, until months later well after the job was complete... I returned with the sharpener and asked for Mr. Singer... I explained what I had done and asked for forgiveness. He said it was okay, and that I could keep it. I remember telling him to keep it. The point: when the Lord convicts you, do as he asks and clear your conscience, before it gets seared! Otherwise, you won't mind sinning any more. Repentance helps build our faith and trust in God.

~Dad

Do Not Commit Adultery, Deuteronomy 5:18

Do Not Commit Adultery

Deuteronomy 5:18 You shall not commit adultery

Having sexual intercourse with a married person is considered adultery. It could be a person who is married having intercourse with a person who is not married, or two married persons who each have spouses. Two unmarried person having intercourse is considered fornication and is against God 's law as well, but is not specifically covered by this commandment.

Jesus, in the Sermon on The Mount, toughened this commandment. As with murder, he took it back to where it starts, in the heart and mind. He says, if anyone looks lustfully on a woman, he has already committed adultery in his heart. Lust is to adultery as hate is to killing! It begins in the heart and mind and pervade the parts of your body. As another example, Jesus says that what comes out of the mouth started in the heart and defiles the man.

K and A, there are two things that I heard often  over the years... when speaking about swearing, oops that slipped, I don't talk that way - what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart. It's okay to look, just so you don't touch - you already committed adultery in your heart. Sexual sin is rampant today. Whether married or single, sexual sin and temptations are real. It has been a problem throughout all generations. TV and movies, the internet are full of it. When you begin to minimize the issue, it begins to suck you in and soon you'll be caught. So stay far from it... I have saved a post... it applies to married and unmarried alike entitled, I Kept My Virginity but Not My Purity. Stay far from the boundary of sin! It can happen to you if not vigilant.

~Dad

Do Not Murder, Deuteronomy 5:17

Do Not Murder

Deuteronomy 5:17 You shall not murder.

You may think, what is there to say about this verse? Everyone know and believes that... This is not the case. What is murder? Is killing murder? What if you shoot someone in self-defense, how about if they killed one of your family members, killed someone in a war, ran them over with a car? Utilized capital punishment? Is it right to put someone to death if they rape someone? I heard a man say that if someone tortures an animal, they should the death penalty. It is not so cut and dry.

We cannot cover every area in one post. First of all, I do not know all the answers, nor does anyone else. I believe that this "murder" is a purposed taking of another's life, an action planned and carried out outside of the justice system and war. Now I caution people who want to join the armed forces... remember you are taking a persons life without your decision. If they are not saved, you cease their possibility of turning to Christ. The same goes for police, killing in self-defense, or to protect others... each one must consider these areas of decision.

Christ expanded on this commandment in the Sermon on the Mount. He said, if you call someone a fool, you are in danger of the fires of hell; if you are angry with someone, you are subject to judgement. Later, John says that if you hate your brother, you are a murderer! We minimize these teachings, but we should join them to help in understanding the meaning of this commandment: you shall not kill.

K and A, Jesus says he gave you a new command; love one another. He also told you to not hate, rather if someone strikes you, do not strike back, allow them to do it again?! The Lord say that it is his duty to avenge. You are to leave it go and allow room for his wrath to commence. Be assured, God will repay. I doubt if you will actually murder someone physically... but be careful not to destroy someone's spirit... as a teacher, as a aunt, as mother that can happen. I do not think hurting someone's feeling is murder (unless extreme), but we must always be sensitive to how our words hurt. Show love and build others up, that's what God desires.

~Dad

Honor Your Parents, Deuteronomy 5:16

Honor Your Parents

Deuteronomy 5:16 Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

I don't know why, but until this year I had always looked at this commandment as a child's rule. But, it is not just for them. In fact, I believe it is more for the adult. Sure, Paul tells children, "obey your parents," but here God is telling the people of Israel to honor their parents. This goes well beyond childhood... Selah. (think for awhile about how you can make that happen)

K and A, as you may know, I took Grandpa out and rode with him on the tractor to allow him to mow lawn while blind... It took a year of convincing, but he finally agreed to go. Contrary to his first rejection, he enjoyed it! That is honoring your parents. About a month ago, Grandma needed to go get a test done at the doctors in Newport, and it would take 1-1/2 hours. I wanted to go help a friend clean up their house, because they were soon moving... I told the friend that as much as I wanted to be there early, I would need to take my mom to the doctor's. What the friend didn't know was that My Mom decided to take herself after I said I was busy... I changed my mind and took her. That is honoring your parents.

You see, honoring your parents goes on after you grow up. In fact, it continues even after they die... you honor them for as long as you live and you teach your children to honor them as well. Be careful how you speak about your parents in front of your own children. Honor them before everyone.

~Dad

Observe The Sabbath V: God Has Commanded, Deuteronomy 5:14c

Observe The Sabbath V: God Has Commanded

Deuteronomy 5:14c  Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.

This exhortation by God has me slightly confused. What does coming out of Egypt have to do with observing the Sabbath? I believe what God is saying here is that he did a wonderful amazing act in their lives, and that this gives him the right to set the rules. He delivered them from slavery, so they now owe him their devotion. If God says this particular day is holy and dedicated to him, then they must respect him and follow his decree. They owe him their lives.

K and A, you too were delivered from slavery. You owe God your very life and devotion. In general, whatever he commands you are to do. I believe the Sundays, the Sabbath, are to be considered holy. Do not try to see how much you can do and not call it work for you or for others. Live in such a way that your conscience is clear. This need not be a burden. Will it be tougher than not respecting God on this day? Certainly. This is because the rest of the church and society ignores this commandment. I am asking you to be different and follow the teaching of the Word. Read and study it for yourself and I believe you will find out for yourself that the Sabbath is to be holy.

~Dad

Observe The Sabbath IV: No One Is To Work, Deuteronomy 5:14b

Observe The Sabbath IV: No One Is To Work

Deuteronomy 5:14b On it you shall not do any work, neither you nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox, your donkey, nor any of your animals, nor the aliens within your gates, so that you manservants and maidservants may rest, as you do.

This is straight forward: Do not do any work on the Sabbath, Not you, not your children, and not those who work for you. God even went as far as to say that those living among you must not work. That is pretty comprehensive: no one is to be working even if they aren't Israelites and not even your animals.

But what is considered work? Jesus helped to clarify that for some who were polluting God's Law. He basically said, look, David did what was unlawful when it was a necessity, and my disciples did as well. He also said, if someone else is in great need, it is proper to help them.

K and A, I believe my generation has polluted many things in the Scriptures, and I believe your generation has embraced what we have taught. K you have not had tight upbringing on this subject... I ask you to reconsider and read what the Bible has to say on the subject, not what you see good people do. What I am teaching you is not some new and strange teaching. It wasn't until the 70's that stores began to be open on Sunday. It was then that church people started to go out to eat and soon after go to the stores themselves. Did you know there are states that restrict Sunday sales on some items, like cars, yet today!

You say, but that was nearly 50 years ago... so its been nearly 2000 years since Christ spoke on the subject, and we are just now figuring out what he meant by it... are we that narcissistic to think we are now somehow more enlightened?! 

Daughters, stick to this... God said, do not do any work or have others do it for you. Jesus clarified God's command and said of course you should help those in need, including yourself. I say, follow their decrees and consider doing nothing that can be done another day. Pulling weeds, mowing lawn, changing oil, washing the car, going out to eat - making others work, etc... I even caution you on travelling on Sundays and  going to sporting events. We do a lot of things and then call them good so we can say, Jesus said we can do good on the Sabbath! Don't make excuses to see what you can get away with. Live in a way that seek to satisfy God and his Word.

~Dad

Note: 2 examples of  a warped church

We had a pastor who preached you can do anything on Sunday that you do any other day! Now one of our attendees often doesn't come in the summer, because he has to bale hay... he never did before that sermon. I know that first hand. It is sad.

The same pastor skipped church to attend a college football game for his nephew... family time is necessary he said.

These are not just examples of breaking the Sabbath, but they show how the church is affected by those in leadership and are given a reasons to make excuses for themselves of why not to keep the Sabbath.

Observe The Sabbath III: To The Lord, Deuteronomy 5:14

Observe The Sabbath III, To The Lord

Deuteronomy 5:14a but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.

We need to remember that the Sabbath - the day of rest, is not just for our benefit. It says here that the it is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. I do not remember hearing it posed that way before. Normally, I hear it, wait let me correct that, I never hear it taught any more, rather I have heard it preached in the past... onward, I have heard it taught in the past in light of how beneficial it is for us to observe the Sabbath. It gives us a day to recuperate for the week's work, it is good for our bodies and minds. It is good for us spiritually, a time for people to worship together. It builds families and friends. We can visit and spend time with each other. There are numerous benefits for us, But how does it benefit God? How does our observance of the Sabbath bring God honor?

Keep in mind that these posts that I write are not comprehensive... they are ideas and thoughts on the scripture we are covering interpreted from what I have learned over the years, my best thought at the time I write them...

We honor God through obedience to him. Observing the Sabbath is one way we do that. It is a way that we show we truly love him. At creation, God established the Sabbath. On that day he ceased from his work. When the people of Israel received the manna from heaven, God did not send them any on the Sabbath. They were to gather extra the sixth day, so they had enough for the Sabbath day. Bake and prepare what you want they day before for tomorrow is a day of rest.

K and A, you bring honor to the Lord when you observe the Sabbath. You show your respect for him when you respect the day he sanctified and made holy... it is a day for him. Yes, it benefits you, but following the Sabbath honors him! Show your love by keeping the day holy.

~Dad

Observe The Sabbath II: Work Is Good, Deuteronomy 5:13

Observe The Sabbath II: Work Is Good

Deuteronomy 5:13 Six days shall you labor and do all you work

Saturdays, the first full day of the weekend, time to get out the boat and head to the lake, time to sit by the pool and relax, time to kick back. No, the Bible says that six days shall you work! I heard that in a sermon over 20 years ago and it still rings in my ear. Looking back, I am sure that was not the point of the sermon, but I took it to heart. Now, God doesn't expect us to work all the time. First of all there is the Sabbath, but more than that, we see in the life of the OT Hebrew, God created all kinds of holidays and sabbaths where they rejoiced, relaxed, and ate together. Yet, when God set down the laws of the Israel, he reiterated a work standard that he began at creation.

K and A, God is constantly at work in you life, and you are created in his image. God values work, for work is a good thing. It has many beneficial elements in relation to health. This is true physically, emotionally, and even spiritually. God desires to complete his work in you. Completing a task produces great satisfaction and self-worth. When God was finished creating, the Bible says that he saw all he had made and it was very good. A job, well done, does the same for us. Daughters, keep busy, be that Proverbs 31 woman. In doing so, you will avoid many of the pit falls and evils in life. Work is good for you!

~Dad

Observe The Sabbath, Deuteronomy 5:12

Ibserve The Sabbath

Deuteronomy 5:12 Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you.

This a commandment with which most do not agree, nor do they follow. I think most American Christians only believe in nine commandments, but to them the fourth one is not applicable for today. Some believe Jesus did away with it in the NT. Others believe everyday is to be holy unto the Lord, so the Sabbath is like another day. There is thought that you can make any day a Sabbath, not just a specific day that everyone follows. It is rare to find someone who lives it out.

To keep something holy, is to keep it separated from the sinful ways of the world and dedicated to God. That concept is good for every day but the Sabbath day is not just to be holy, it is to be a sabbath. A sabbath is a resting time, a time of no work, a period of time in which we cut out our efforts to advance our plans and agendas and only do things that have to be done. I believe Jesus clarified that with the Pharisees.

K and A, the sabbath principle was established at creation. The Lord reiterated it with the people of Israel on Mount Sinai. Jesus helped clarify some points with the Pharisees. Jesus said he is Lord of the Sabbath, but I believe many are acting today as if they are. I doubt that I have it all understood exactly as God designed it. I know it is hard to keep this commandment when the church chooses to ignore it. I challenge you to read Genesis and NT passages, and then choose to honor the day as God designed it; a day of no work. I believe it will deepen your walk with him!

~Dad

God's Name Holy, Detueronomy 5:11

God's name Holy

Deuteronomy 5:11 You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

Weak... many modern translations do a poor job in translation of the use of God's name. The Hebrew for the word the NIV translates into misuse actually translates to the word vain. It is unclear what it means to misuse God's name. It is much more clear to understand what it means to take the Lord's name in vain. Synonyms for vain include, worthless, useless, pointless, without purpose, and, of course, inefficacious! Basically, it is to use God's name as a by-word, an add on, or to make you sound more believable. (Another definition for vain is about one's self - narcissistic, self absorbed. I couldn't see how that fit until now.)  To use the word vain helps us understand what it means to misuse God's name.

K and A, sadly, it is way to common to hear someone swear using the name of God. Especially... I can't write it. You know what it is. That became popular by the original Magnum PI TV program and it has taken on life in abbreviated form in social media. Growing up, people would use substitutes for the word God or Jesus. Today, people say it without qualm. Only Christians use the substitutes.

Daughters, please be careful not to get caught in the trap of using substitutes words. I have seen good people write out the abbreviation on Facebook. I'll name a few word for this post that I feel uncomfortable even thinking long enough saying and writing them... OM gosh, I've seen people write. We all know what they mean. Jesus said let your yes be yes... you do not have to add to your words to make it believable. Some say they don't mean anything by it. It's just an expression, an interjection to give emphasis. Isn't that the whole point of the commandment!

God's name is Holy! We are not to use it flippantly. It is not to be used to boost our points, not to be given as a promise to swear by. He is not an expression. His name is to be as Holy as the One it represents.

Isn't it then just as wrong to use words a substitute for him and his name? Take Geez - here is what the top definition is on urbandictionary.com - Short for Jesus. Used by Christians who don't want to "use the Lord's name in vain" Check out the word Sheesh on that site too. The world knows what they mean when good people say it. Why don't Christians understand what they are saying... Should we really have a substitute for God or his name - NO!

Remember what God says - he will not hold anyone guiltless... I do not understand fully what that means, but it sure doesn't sound good! K, I understand that you haven't grown up with this teaching, and it can be hard to accept when you know so many good people who use substitute words for God. Please consider this exhortation, and treat God and his name with respect and holiness.

~Dad

Understand that although the Bible talks about  harsh words - swearing. We must understand that taking the Lord's name in vain is much worse than any 4 letter swear word we can utter!

No Idols IV: Today's Idols, Deuteronomy 5:9a

No Idol IV: Today's Idols

Deuteronomy 5:9a You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God am a jealous God,

 In thinking of this topic, we need to consider what an idol is. Specific to this commandment, it is a graven image, something made in the image of God's creation to which we bow down and worship instead of its Creator. I do not think it is wrong to expand on this concept to mean anything we place in importance or give credit to for our needs or even desires. All belongs to God and whether we have created or developed it physically or mentally, it can fall into the realm of worshipping something other than God.

So let's name some areas in life where they exist and also name some specific ones. If you think of anything else or disagree, you can make comment;

People: Spouses, Boss, TV/Movie Stars, Music groups, Sports Players, Business People, Preacher, Teachers, Self

Events: Holidays, Anniversaries, Race Day, Football, Sports, Hunting, Get-togethers Revival/Camp Meetings Church

Animals: Pets, Farm Animals, Show Animals

Things: Cars, Houses, Tools, Kitchen, Man Cave, Cabin, Camper, Guns, Clothing, Jewelry, Phone,

Other: Money Success, Education, Aptitude, Training, Abilities, Career, Physical Build, Good Looks, Sex, Drugs, Alcohol, Food, Safety

It appears that anything can become a god, if we choose to worship it other than the true God, the I Am. There is a website that is devoted to teen idols called teenidols4you.com. The most common adult idols are pornographic or sexual related, of course that could be said about the teen one in a lighter way - sexual in nature that is. There are adults idols whose names I never heard of - of the top 25 listed when I "binged" common idols of today, I heard of name 24 - Emma Watson. Not sure who she is, but I heard of her.

K and A, What idols have a tendency to creep into your life? What takes your time, what encompasses your thinking, what do you spend your free time doing, where does your money go, what do you rely on to make life worthwhile.

• TV & Movies steal time away from God, Bible reading and meditation
• Clothing/Jewelry/Makeup can rob you of true worth... your hair really isn't that important, your clothes don't have to be the latest style.
• A spouse is a partner you lift and encourage to help them succeed in serving God. God is your protector, supplier, emotional stability
• Music is crucial in worshipping God, but elevating a group or style steals from his glory
• Technology steals money and gives direct access into wickedness - twill be the death of the Amish if they aren't careful

Daughters, you know what I think of pride. It steals the glory from the Lord. It is directly related to idol worship. Idol worship is anything that we look to which brings hope in life, which give a sense of security, and an ere of satisfaction and contentment. These attributes are not to be stolen from God. He is the one who supplies what we need. Give him the credit, the glory, for what you have and look to him for what you need. He hold the keys to it all, for he owns it all! 

~Dad

No Idols III: God's Love, Deuteronomy 5:10

No Idols III: God's Love

Deuteronomy 5:10 but showing love to a thousands generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

What is the opposite of punishment... LOVE. Now we know that God is love and that he loved us and gave his son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Therefor we know that he loved us before we loved him, for we could not truly love him before he took away our sin.

Wait, doesn't this verse say that if we do not love him he will not show us love? Sounds like we are in a catch 22. It looks as if it says that he won't show love to us unless we love him, but then we can't love him unless we have been saved, but that can't happen if he hasn't shown him love to us but he won't show love to us unless we love him... that make my head spin!

Daughters, God loves you and desires you. Long before you understood anything spiritual or felt the tug of the Spirit on your heart, God reached out to you. Yet you must realize now that you are a follower of Jesus, you must be obedient to him and to his Father, or he will punish you. First that is in the form of discipline, but if you refuse to acknowledge him and worship other gods, you will bear his eternal punishment! John 14:21 says that those who obey Christ's commands are the one who truly love him. Those are the ones the Father loves and Christ does as well!

K and A, The Lord loves everyone, yet wide is the road to destruction... sadly many follow it. Narrow is the way to eternal life, few find it. You have found it! Walk in it daily by following the Lord's commands and you will sense the love of the Lord in your life and later in those whom you bear.

~Dad

No Idols II: Or Else, Deuteronomy 5:9

No Idols II: Or Else

Deuteronomy 5:9 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sins of their fathers to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me.

Again, I said in the last post, it seems odd to us in the US to see someone bow down to an idol. It happens everyday, but in our circles it is not seen, even on TV we do not see it portrayed. Be assured it is happening, and it will increase in frequency. Know this, God is not pleased! He told the Israelites that he would be sure to punish them for doing so, and not only them but their decedents as well. God expects everyone to give him honor, but to those who know who he is, he expects adherence to his ways. And with those who lead his people, he demands a greater accounting.

There is a truth in the OT that we think nothing of today. Our sin does affect others. We are not an island unto ourselves. Not only do sinful escapades have direct affect on the lives of those who commit them, but when Christians sin, it often destroys the faith of others. Not only that, but this verse shows us how disturbed God is with not keeping him first in our lives... he says he will punish those that sin and also carry that punishment to their children down to their great-grand children... that seems severe! It is. Sin is not to be thought of lightly especially worshipping someone or something other than him!

K and A, determine to only worship the Lord. You cannot have two master, you cannot serve God and partake in the pleasures of sin. You must choose and God is the only real choice to make. Live for him!

~Dad