Today I weeded a flower garden. I had to be careful not to pull out the flowers along with the grass that was growing. My friend hadn't weeded since we planted it in May. The grass had shoots that grew along the ground to start a new root.
I wondered about why there were weeds and remembered that it was to make work harder after the fall, but as I pulled the weeds and thought about the tares among the wheat parable, and how Jesus taught with examples of nature I realized that there is probably a parable in all the things we have to work against. God revealing Himself to us about all things. The sheep, the goats, the wheat, the weeds.
This life is good not perfect. All the things we call trials, and the hardest of losses, death of a loved one, all prepare us for the next life.
Saturday, July 9, 2016
Tuesday, July 5, 2016
The 2 drachma tax of Matthew 17:24-27
Someone once told me that they believe Christians stand before the judgment seat the same as non-Christians. I use the word Christians to include anyone who is considered a sheep after the people are divided into two groups of followers and non-followers of the One True God.
In verse 25 Jesus asked Simon [Peter] from whom do kings collect taxes, from their sons or strangers? Simon said strangers.
So from whom will the King of kings and Lord of lords exact justice? From strangers who do not know Him, not from those who He called His family, or His followers who know His voice, His sheep.
Old Testament law also prevented charging interest on loans to fellow Jews. In Deuteronomy 23: 19 & 20 it says, "You shall not charge interest to your countrymen: interest on money, food, or anything that may be loaned at interest. 20 You may charge interest to a foreigner, but to your countrymen you shall not charge interest, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all that you undertake in the land which you are about to enter to possess."
That is the law that Simon [Peter] knew. The poor were also exempt. Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are those who know how wretched they are compared to Jesus, and He will not charge interest on judgment day, but like the 7 year Jubilee, all debts are forgiven. I am sure this will be re-instituted during Jesus' thousand year reign.
Deuteronomy 15:1-3 15 “At the end of every seven years you shall grant a remission of debts. 2 This is the manner of remission: every creditor shall release what he has loaned to his neighbor; he shall not exact it of his neighbor and his brother, because the Lord’s remission has been proclaimed. 3 From a foreigner you may exact it, but your hand shall release whatever of yours is with your brother. "
I love the Law!
Monday, July 4, 2016
Who are the Sadducees and Pharisees of today?
Reading Matt. 16 and wondered who would be the false teachers today? They would be church leaders. Anyone adding to scripture or anyone TAKING AWAY OR IGNORING SCRIPTURE.
Have to write "The Justified Wrath of the LORD God of hosts"
Have to write "The Justified Wrath of the LORD God of hosts"
Friday, June 24, 2016
Jesus spoke in symbolic short story format
Most of us who go to church are familiar with the parables (symbolic stories) and why Jesus spoke using them instead of just revealing God's ways outright. He followed Isaiah the prophet when He taught the thousands of people being entertained by His teaching. Those who wanted to know God and find Him would try to figure it out and would meditate on it thinking of what they already knew of God in their own lives and applying that to what they just heard.
Let's apply that to the parable of the seed because the seed is the parable! LOL Matthew 13 and Isaiah 6 (use BibleGateway and choose New American Standard Version)
So those whose hearts and minds were distracted during the teaching were not even interested in hearing but maybe wanted to get out of the house or be with their friends. The parable was eaten by the birds as soon as it was told. The parable had no way to get into their hearts and minds because their minds were focused not on the teaching but on themselves and their friends.
Those who actually listened and whose hearts and minds are compared to the soil around rocks (how many plants grow in the dry stream beds of MO? River rocks, all round and the size of big potatoes that fill your hand.)...where was I, the little soil. Two examples, when the spring seeds grow in the cracks of the driveway but by summer's end are dead, or the little pine that my mother took home that was found growing on a patch of dirt on a single story high boulder in my back yard. If it had been left there it would have died in a couple more years.
These people listened and loved talking about the teachings on their way home have a little soil in their hearts. They smile at their neighbors who were home that day. However, that evening their friends stop by to talk about their day. They tell them they heard the word. During Jesus' day, or in Israel today, or in any Muslim nation their friends may have warned them not to listen to false prophets but to listen to the priests and teachers. If they followed Him any more they might get kicked out or not be able to offer the sacrifices and holy day gifts of thanksgiving. Today their friends laugh and scoff, "Yeah, I heard about that guy, He's a liar and just wants your money. I've known plenty of teachers who are the same way. Donate here! Bbbwwahahaha! Televangelists! Religious authors making you pay big bucks for their theology books." So these people want to keep their friends and not change their lives and so reject the teaching they heard with joy.
There are others who are not worried about what their friends say or leaving the establishment. They hear the word of truth and go for years living the good life. Then tragedy strikes. Their child gets sick or their house is lost in a hurricane or twister, or flood. They say, God doesn't love me or He can't heal my child. The others are those who are worried about their money. They don't have to give it away or ever ask forgiveness, they just want to make more money! What will they eat? What will they wear? They need the newest styles or sneakers. They no longer think about the good life. They no longer share the joy that they first had because it is now replaced with STRESS.
So what are the people with good soil for their seed like? My mother took the little pine from the boulder and planted it in soil in a county that had been farmed since the revolution (but is now all housing developments) and it is about 25 feet tall. It's a little crooked from the shade of the next tree (goofy mulberry) but it's doing well. Those seeded people who are doing well are not necessarily the missionaries who bring the word of God to hundreds, but are also those who shine the light into the darkness of their neighbors. Their joy is ongoing and a witness. They make others wonder about the source of their peace and joy. I also believe they share the Way, the Truth, and the Life with love and joy and peace, and sometimes in rebuke and warning.
If someone is heading around a curve on a trail that ends with a cliff, how do you tell them?
I started with Matt 13 but then went to Isaiah. Isaiah asked how long it would be until people's eyes were opened and they heard the truth and repented and were healed...the answer?
"Until cities are devastated and without inhabitant,
Houses are without people,
And the land is utterly desolate,
...
The holy seed is its stump."
This election, people are more worried about what they will eat and wear and where they will live than the lives of the innocent unborn. They don't realize that God blessed this land because people didn't worry about those things because when you live as a seed on fertile soil, God takes care to bring the elements together to provide for life.
The Biblical consequence for child sacrifice is invasion and conquest. No wall is going to stop the invasion. Only overturning Roe, outlawing pre-born genocide from conception, and bulldozing clinics (making hospital abortion surgical rooms into nurseries) will be acceptable. And of course trying to keep the grandkids from ever doing it again.
Let's apply that to the parable of the seed because the seed is the parable! LOL Matthew 13 and Isaiah 6 (use BibleGateway and choose New American Standard Version)
So those whose hearts and minds were distracted during the teaching were not even interested in hearing but maybe wanted to get out of the house or be with their friends. The parable was eaten by the birds as soon as it was told. The parable had no way to get into their hearts and minds because their minds were focused not on the teaching but on themselves and their friends.
Those who actually listened and whose hearts and minds are compared to the soil around rocks (how many plants grow in the dry stream beds of MO? River rocks, all round and the size of big potatoes that fill your hand.)...where was I, the little soil. Two examples, when the spring seeds grow in the cracks of the driveway but by summer's end are dead, or the little pine that my mother took home that was found growing on a patch of dirt on a single story high boulder in my back yard. If it had been left there it would have died in a couple more years.
These people listened and loved talking about the teachings on their way home have a little soil in their hearts. They smile at their neighbors who were home that day. However, that evening their friends stop by to talk about their day. They tell them they heard the word. During Jesus' day, or in Israel today, or in any Muslim nation their friends may have warned them not to listen to false prophets but to listen to the priests and teachers. If they followed Him any more they might get kicked out or not be able to offer the sacrifices and holy day gifts of thanksgiving. Today their friends laugh and scoff, "Yeah, I heard about that guy, He's a liar and just wants your money. I've known plenty of teachers who are the same way. Donate here! Bbbwwahahaha! Televangelists! Religious authors making you pay big bucks for their theology books." So these people want to keep their friends and not change their lives and so reject the teaching they heard with joy.
There are others who are not worried about what their friends say or leaving the establishment. They hear the word of truth and go for years living the good life. Then tragedy strikes. Their child gets sick or their house is lost in a hurricane or twister, or flood. They say, God doesn't love me or He can't heal my child. The others are those who are worried about their money. They don't have to give it away or ever ask forgiveness, they just want to make more money! What will they eat? What will they wear? They need the newest styles or sneakers. They no longer think about the good life. They no longer share the joy that they first had because it is now replaced with STRESS.
So what are the people with good soil for their seed like? My mother took the little pine from the boulder and planted it in soil in a county that had been farmed since the revolution (but is now all housing developments) and it is about 25 feet tall. It's a little crooked from the shade of the next tree (goofy mulberry) but it's doing well. Those seeded people who are doing well are not necessarily the missionaries who bring the word of God to hundreds, but are also those who shine the light into the darkness of their neighbors. Their joy is ongoing and a witness. They make others wonder about the source of their peace and joy. I also believe they share the Way, the Truth, and the Life with love and joy and peace, and sometimes in rebuke and warning.
If someone is heading around a curve on a trail that ends with a cliff, how do you tell them?
I started with Matt 13 but then went to Isaiah. Isaiah asked how long it would be until people's eyes were opened and they heard the truth and repented and were healed...the answer?
"Until cities are devastated and without inhabitant,
Houses are without people,
And the land is utterly desolate,
...
The holy seed is its stump."
This election, people are more worried about what they will eat and wear and where they will live than the lives of the innocent unborn. They don't realize that God blessed this land because people didn't worry about those things because when you live as a seed on fertile soil, God takes care to bring the elements together to provide for life.
The Biblical consequence for child sacrifice is invasion and conquest. No wall is going to stop the invasion. Only overturning Roe, outlawing pre-born genocide from conception, and bulldozing clinics (making hospital abortion surgical rooms into nurseries) will be acceptable. And of course trying to keep the grandkids from ever doing it again.
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Dog is smart
Relatively speaking, that is. Mine loves to sit out in the sun, but is a barker and wakes up the neighborhood. I know we are having visitors and so I made her come in. She walked in doing her Eor impression. I picked her up (12 lbs) and told her why and realized that telling her why is the same thing as God telling us why sometimes. We just won't get it.
"The night is almost gone, and the day is near."
I had been searching for any books on how God avenges the innocent. Couple of short papers came up and a LOT about the comic book series. So I read one of the papers about NOT avenging ourselves. It was nice. However, I still believe in Old Testament law, eye for an eye, limb for limb, LIFE for life. The Old Testament law, was it not written for God to rule over the Israelites?
So what do we do? The most commonly used verse about vengeance (justice) is Romans 12:19. Well, I never write about one verse. Too, too dangerous. Let's start with vs 18 and read the following verses AND chapter 13! LOL I just can't help myself.
17 "Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. 19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room [make a place] for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
Chapter 13 tells us to be subject to the GOVERNMENT. [OH, New American Standard Version and always check Young's because he translated it LITERALLY and while it is hard to read, it is not flamboyant]
1. "Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. 3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; 4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil."
Ironic, paradoxical, thing is, God uses people to avenge the innocent. When people rebel and offend God and do things against Him, basically worship false gods or handmade gods, then He can avenge Himself, but we can't so God uses people to avenge the innocent. In Revelation Satan hates ALL people. So first they go after those sealed by God, then they kill each other.
So why did Paul want to go to ROME? Why did Paul APPEAL IN COURT TO DEFEND HIS INNOCENCE? We are to turn the other cheek but not him? I digress.
In Revelation all those who take the mark of the beast, taken AFTER God seals His people, are killed. ALL. So when Paul writes to the Romans and says, "The night is almost gone, and the day is near," I felt such peace and joy because all of history ruled by man is the time of the night and when Yeshua Messhiah rules it will be the time of the light!
Reading Micah because of the republican nominee. You should too, and so should he, LOL chap 7
7 "But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord;
I will wait for the God of my salvation.
My God will hear me.
8 Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy.
Though I fall I will rise;
Though I dwell in darkness, the Lord is a light for me."
So what do we do? The most commonly used verse about vengeance (justice) is Romans 12:19. Well, I never write about one verse. Too, too dangerous. Let's start with vs 18 and read the following verses AND chapter 13! LOL I just can't help myself.
17 "Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. 19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room [make a place] for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
Chapter 13 tells us to be subject to the GOVERNMENT. [OH, New American Standard Version and always check Young's because he translated it LITERALLY and while it is hard to read, it is not flamboyant]
1. "Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. 3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; 4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil."
Ironic, paradoxical, thing is, God uses people to avenge the innocent. When people rebel and offend God and do things against Him, basically worship false gods or handmade gods, then He can avenge Himself, but we can't so God uses people to avenge the innocent. In Revelation Satan hates ALL people. So first they go after those sealed by God, then they kill each other.
So why did Paul want to go to ROME? Why did Paul APPEAL IN COURT TO DEFEND HIS INNOCENCE? We are to turn the other cheek but not him? I digress.
In Revelation all those who take the mark of the beast, taken AFTER God seals His people, are killed. ALL. So when Paul writes to the Romans and says, "The night is almost gone, and the day is near," I felt such peace and joy because all of history ruled by man is the time of the night and when Yeshua Messhiah rules it will be the time of the light!
Reading Micah because of the republican nominee. You should too, and so should he, LOL chap 7
7 "But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord;
I will wait for the God of my salvation.
My God will hear me.
8 Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy.
Though I fall I will rise;
Though I dwell in darkness, the Lord is a light for me."
Saturday, May 21, 2016
Blessed are the peacemakers
"Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God." Matt 5:9
This is the only verse in the New Testament that uses the word peacemakers. We always think of peacemakers as those who negotiate between disagreeable parties or one who makes peace with someone who they have offended. But what about someone who is prophecied in Micah 5
4 "And He will arise and shepherd His flock
In the strength of the Lord,
In the majesty of the name of the Lord His God.
And they will remain,
Because at that time He will be great
To the ends of the earth.
5 "This One will be our peace.
When the Assyrian invades our land,
When he tramples on our citadels,
Then we will raise against him
Seven shepherds and eight leaders of men.
6 "They will shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword,
The land of Nimrod at its entrances;
And He will deliver us from the Assyrian
When he attacks our land
And when he tramples our territory."
Who is this One who will be our peace? How does He bring about peace when the Assyrian invades and destroys? He shepherds the land of Assyria with the sword.
Our warriors are also our peacemakers. They are our policemen. They go out and protect us against our enemies who hate us, want to kill us, want to destroy our nation.
Our nation. In Micah 5:12 - 15 there is some purification going on.
12 “I will cut off sorceries from your hand,
And you will have fortune-tellers no more.
13 “I will cut off your carved images
And your sacred pillars from among you,
So that you will no longer bow down
To the work of your hands.
14 “I will root out your Asherim from among you
And destroy your cities.
15 “And I will execute vengeance in anger and wrath
On the nations which have not obeyed.”
Does the United States obey? Are there fortune-tellers in our land? Is the horoscope in every newspaper? [Why isn't there a Bible study in every newspaper, every day?] Do we worship, sacrifice to, the work of our hands? Do we sacrifice our pre-born to the work of our hands?
The One peacemaker is angry and full of wrath at the shedding of innocent blood. See http://josiahgeneration.blogspot.com/ which explains that these enemies are a consequence of our own evil. The peacemakers are our warriors, but would there be a war on terrorism if we stopped pre-born genocide? Those who will be called sons of God deserve us to have their backs by obeying God.
This is the only verse in the New Testament that uses the word peacemakers. We always think of peacemakers as those who negotiate between disagreeable parties or one who makes peace with someone who they have offended. But what about someone who is prophecied in Micah 5
4 "And He will arise and shepherd His flock
In the strength of the Lord,
In the majesty of the name of the Lord His God.
And they will remain,
Because at that time He will be great
To the ends of the earth.
5 "This One will be our peace.
When the Assyrian invades our land,
When he tramples on our citadels,
Then we will raise against him
Seven shepherds and eight leaders of men.
6 "They will shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword,
The land of Nimrod at its entrances;
And He will deliver us from the Assyrian
When he attacks our land
And when he tramples our territory."
Who is this One who will be our peace? How does He bring about peace when the Assyrian invades and destroys? He shepherds the land of Assyria with the sword.
Our warriors are also our peacemakers. They are our policemen. They go out and protect us against our enemies who hate us, want to kill us, want to destroy our nation.
Our nation. In Micah 5:12 - 15 there is some purification going on.
12 “I will cut off sorceries from your hand,
And you will have fortune-tellers no more.
13 “I will cut off your carved images
And your sacred pillars from among you,
So that you will no longer bow down
To the work of your hands.
14 “I will root out your Asherim from among you
And destroy your cities.
15 “And I will execute vengeance in anger and wrath
On the nations which have not obeyed.”
Does the United States obey? Are there fortune-tellers in our land? Is the horoscope in every newspaper? [Why isn't there a Bible study in every newspaper, every day?] Do we worship, sacrifice to, the work of our hands? Do we sacrifice our pre-born to the work of our hands?
The One peacemaker is angry and full of wrath at the shedding of innocent blood. See http://josiahgeneration.blogspot.com/ which explains that these enemies are a consequence of our own evil. The peacemakers are our warriors, but would there be a war on terrorism if we stopped pre-born genocide? Those who will be called sons of God deserve us to have their backs by obeying God.
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