Ripe Huckleberries with Psalm 32:14

The photograph above of ripe huckleberries was taken on a walk through a provincial park in late summer.  I chose Psalm 92:14 as the verse because just as the huckleberries have reached their maturity and are at their best, so the word of God promises that His saints in their old age will still bring forth fruit, they will be "fat and flourishing"

Lord let me be as one of these huckleberries.

Bible Women: Ruth - Part 1

Ruth - Part 1

In our study of Naomi, we learned that when the Lord brought a famine to the land of Bethlehem-Judah, Naomi went with her husband Elimelech, when he chose to leave his home there  and to travel to the country of Moab,  rather than to stay and trust the Lord to provide for his family.  Elimelech went to "sojourn" which is a temporary journey.  He did not know that he would not return to Bethlehem-Judah. Proverbs 3:5-6 "trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not on thine own understanding, in all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths." Moab was a  pagan land with pagan gods, and that fact alone should have kept Elimelech in his own land, with his own people, trusting the Lord to provide for them.

But, "we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose". (Romans 8:28) and as the story of Ruth progresses we will see how the Lord used this famine to bring a Gentile woman into the line of the Lord Jesus Christ.

V2 says that when they came to the country of Moab they "continued" there, now more than a "sojourn".  After a time Elimelech died, and Naomi was left with her two sons Mahlon and Chileon.  Instead of returning to Bethelem-Judah, they made their own decision to stay in Moab and Mahlon and Chilion married wives of the women of Moab, one named Orpah, the other named Ruth.  Ruth means "beauty". V4 "and they dwelled there about ten years."  then Mahlon and Chileon also died.  The timing of their deaths is an example of God's perfect timing, for it is now that Naomi heard that "the LORD has visited his people in giving them bread." (Ruth 1:6)  We can see from this that Naomi recognizes that it is the LORD who has ended the famine.

Bible Men: Elijah and the Prophets of Baal

Elijah and the Prophets of Baal

1 Kings 18

In my first post of Elijah, we learned that Elijah was a Tishbite, who lived in Gilead, and that he was a prophet proclaiming the word of the LORD God of Israel.   We learned that it was Elijah who told the wicked king Ahab that there would be no rain but by Elijah's word. And in that study we learned how the LORD God sent Elijah to the brook Cherith, and how the ravens were sent by God to feed Elijah.  After that Elijah was sent to the widow of Zarephath where she, her son and Elijah were sustained. And we learned how the widow's son died, and Elijah prayed fervently for him, and how, by the grace of God the child was raised to life again.

 Now in the third year, the LORD God spoke to Elijah again and said "go, shew thyself unto Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth." There was a famine in the land by that time.  When Ahab learned that Elijah was coming, he went to meet him and greeted Elijah with these words, "Art thou he that troubleth Israel?" (V17) and Elijah responded "I have not troubled Israel; but thou and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and hast followed Balaam" (V18)  The cause of Israel's problems rests on the king's shoulders because of his disobedience to the commandments of the LORD God.  But there is about to come a mighty demonstration of Sovereign God's awesome power and the answering of Elijah's prayers.

Elijah tells Ahab to "gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal, four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table"(V19) Jezebel is Ahab's wicked wife. And so Ahab gathers together all that Elijah asked for.  And Elijah addressed the congregation  with a question that reverberates down through history, even to us today. "How long halt ye between two opinions.?  If the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him". (V21) Just as in Matthew 6:24 the Lord Jesus said "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.  Ye cannot serve God and mammon."  And just as the apostle Paul said  in Galatians 1:10 "For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ."
When the people heard Elijah ask this question, they "answered not a word"(V21) and no doubt wondered why they had been summoned there.

The Beautiful Rising Misty Moon

 

I knew that the moon was nearing full, but it was by chance that I saw it last Friday night, rising seemingly near a fir tree across the road.  To me it was beautiful with its misty look, more beautiful than all the photographs I have taken of a clear full moon.  These photographs are untouched except for being resized.

Genesis 1:16-17 "And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.  And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth." 

It Was a Beautiful Cloudy Morning

Its a photo day today.  Following on the post with the Roosevelt Elk, above is a photo of beautiful morning clouds that I took from our front yard a couple of days ago.  I don't know if the grey areas are smoke, it wouldn't surprise me because there are forest fires burning not too far away and the smoke has been blowing over, but in any event, I loved the silvery clouds and the smoky appearance with the blue of the sky.

So many people never bother to look up to see the beauty that is there.  I urge you to do so, and have a camera handy because the Creation is amazing.

Being Thankful for Three Small Things

Today I am thankful for small things that happened yesterday.  None of them are spiritual, but they are all in answer to prayer.

The first one is that it is raining today..  after a very hot and dry July and August with hardly any rainfall and extreme fire conditions, we had a good rain yesterday and today, with more forecast.  Praise the Lord!  

The next one is that one week ago my trusty old computer froze up.  I was upset, didn't want to buy a new one, thought it was the end of my blogs.  But my husband thought it was worth it to take in the tower and see what was going on.  We found out that the hard drive was toast, and my old XP had seen the end of its days.  But yesterday I got my tower back with a new hard drive and Windows 7 installed, its a little different from what I was used to, but it is so much faster, and best of all, was $100 cheaper than we thought it would be to have it repaired.

The last one is that we finally saw one of the elusive Roosevelt Elk that inhabit the town of Youbou at this time of year.  We have driven there many times and have only seen hoof prints down by the waters of Lake Cowichan.  But yesterday we tried again, and I prayed a little prayer for one animal sighting.  Husband drove down a road we had never been on before, in a residential area, and there was a bull elk standing in someone's front yard.  He looked like he had recently shed the velvet, and was carrying some netting on the edge of one of them.  As we watched from the car, he walked up to the front door and proceeded to eat the flowers in a planter box, then he headed down the driveway towards our car on the street and walked right past the car.  It was thrilling to have him so close.  Here are some photos. 

 

Bible Men: Elijah Part 1 - the Ravens and the Widow of Zarephath

1 Kings 17

When Ahab became king he did evil in the sight of the LORD. Ahab married a woman called Jezebel, which marriage was to have disastrous consequences.  Ahab worshiped and built an altar for the pagan god Baal, and made a grove and did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him. (1 Kings 16: 30-33).

In the days of King Ahab the LORD God raised up a prophet named Elijah the Tishbite who was from Gilead.  Elijah told King Ahab by the word of the LORD that there would be no rain or dew in the land for three years. (17:1) The word of the LORD came to Elijah again and told him to hide himself by the brook called Cherith, “and it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there” (V3-4) Elijah was obedient to the word of the LORD and went and dwelt by the brook.  "And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook." (V6)  Sovereign God, the Creator of the universe, is in control of all things, and even the ravens obeyed Him.  They who are scavengers and would have  eaten all for themselves,  in obedience brought to Elijah bread and meat. But after a time the brook dried up for lack of rain.  And so God, who provides for all the needs of one who believes on Him,  brought His word to Elijah again saying "Get thee to Zarephath..and dwell there: behold I have commanded a widow woman to sustain thee."(V9) The hand of God will be over this woman’s life in many ways.  Her heart has been prepared by God to receive Elijah and provide for him.  I wonder how many times in our own lives, God has prepared us for a certain person?  Proverbs 16:9 “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.”

Why Do Christians Live Differently?

Ephesians 5:1-10

The command for the believer is this: in the light of Christ’s sacrifice for you, be children of light, walk as children of light.  In V3-7 we see a stern warning concerning Christian duties, the warning consists of: flee foolish talking,  pointless talking, flee covetousness.  Christian duties are so important as to be an indicator of your spiritual state.  Let no man deceive you with vain words, worthless words. The person who neglects Christian duties has no part in the kingdom of God 1 John 2:4-5 “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.”

It’s your Christian duty to flee from sin.   If you do not flee from sin, you are not a Christian.   This is a major New Testament doctrine.  You cannot say you believe in Jesus and live like the world.  Christ saves us by grace and then changes us from darkness into light and now we live differently and we do what our Lord wants us to do, not to save us but because he saved us.  True salvation that changes people works out their life.  Works do not save but true salvation works.  Your submission to the Lord of glory, your obedience to God’s word is the test of your true Christianity.

Why do we do our Christian duty?  Why do we live differently as Christians.

Beau with 1 Samuel 16:7

 

 

The photo above is of our Shih Tzu Beau.  When we look at Beau we see a cute but very stubborn and demanding toddler in a dog costume but we look on his outward appearance.  I chose 1 Samuel 16:7 because I am positive that God would see Beau very differently than we do.

The Subject of Smiles and the Christian Lady

What is a smile?  It is very common these days to see celebrities who smile on demand, looking this way and that, wherever the camera is.  But for most of them, it seems to be part of the job, and they smile with their mouth but not with their eyes.  It is also common to watch television news and see the journalists with this same smile, with their mouth but not with their eyes.  I often wonder if this constant smiling is part of the job description.

There are many types of smiles, a pet dog’s goofy, toothy grin (any dog owner will attest to the fact that their dog does indeed smile.)  There is a child’s innocent, joyful smile; or the sad smile of a person who might be depressed, or who has learned of a betrayal or a family tragedy, where the mouth is smiling, but the eyes tell a different story.  There is the brave smile that one sees when a person who has been through a natural disaster is interviewed, in this case the eyes have a resigned or shocked appearance while the mouth smiles, depending on how long ago the disaster happened.  There is the deceptive smile of a flatterer.  I know a flatterer and to see this smile is to see a deceitful, subtle and somewhat evil expression in the eyes.  Notice that in most of these examples, there is a difference between the eyes and the mouth when smiling.

I would like to post about a subject that is rather difficult to put into words, but it has been on my heart for years, that being the subject of the smile and the Christian lady who believes it is necessary for her to smile all the time.  I say lady because I have never seen Christian men be part of this seeming need.

Bible Women: Naomi, the Book of Ruth

Naomi is one of the central characters in the book of Ruth.  Her history begins in the time of the judges, when "...every man did that which was right in his own eyes." (Judges 21:25).

In the days of Naomi, God brought a  famine to Bethelehem-Judah, and Naomi's husband Elimelech,  instead of staying and trusting God, made the unwise choice to leave his home in Bethlehem, and journey to the land of Moab with his wife and two sons Mahlon and Chilion. (Ruth 1:1-2)  There,  Naomi's husband died, and Naomi, instead of returning home with her two sons, decided to stay in Moab with her sons.  This was a pagan land, with pagan gods.  Naomi's sons made the choice to marry  Moabite women..they "took them wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years" (Ruth 1:4).  While at first glance this is an unequal yoke of Jew and Gentile, we will  soon find out that it was in the providential will of God for Ruth to marry Mahlon, one of the sons.

After ten years, both sons die too, and Naomi is left with her daughters-in-law.  Hearing that the Lord has brought bread to the land of Bethlehem-Judah, Naomi  decides to return to Judah, and tells Orpah and Ruth to return to their mother's homes, as she has no more sons for them to marry -  Ruth 1:11 "And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?"   But the two ladies desire to stay with Naomi.  She knows that if they stay with her, they will still be considered part of her family, and as such, would be required to marry within the family and raise up sons as unto their dead husbands, and Naomi knows that even should she remarry and have sons, it would be a very long time before they were reach the age of marrying.  And so Naomi wants them to go back to their own land.   At this time, Naomi believes that "the hand of the LORD is gone out against me" (Ruth 1:13). She does not know of the wonderful blessing to come.

At first Orpah and Ruth want to stay with Naomi, but after more urging, Orpah turns and goes back to Moab where her heart truly lay..we never hear from her again and she is a reminder like king Agrippa "almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian"  almost, but in choosing the gods of Moab, Orpah has destined herself to be eternally separated from the Lord.   Ruth, however, "cleaves unto her" (V14) and confesses that most wonderful "...for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:" (V 16) 

Will We Know Each Other in Heaven?

2 Samuel 12:15-23 "...and the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick. David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.....neither did he eat bread....And it came to pass on the seventh day that the child died.  And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead:...But when David saw that that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead...Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshiped: then he came to his own house; ...and he did eat....And he said, While the child was yet alive I fasted and wept: for I said, who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me."

1 Thess 2: 17-20 "But we, brethren,being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire...For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory, and joy."

When we think of heaven we realize that heaven will be altogether wonderful.  When we think of heaven there is a longing to be home, and perfection is in the believer’s heart.  But there is a question that bothers some people: will we know one another in heaven?   We begin with evidence from the bible that we will.

Storm Clouds at Sunrise with Psalm 19:1

 

These beautiful storm clouds were photographed one Summer morning at sunrise.  We had a good thunder storm later in the day.  I chose Psalm 19:1 for the verse as to me the color and shape of the clouds really do declare the glory of God.

Bible Men: Nicodemus - Ye Must be Born Again

John 3

Nicodemus was a Pharisee, and a ruler of the Jews.  A Pharisee according to Websters 1828 Dictionary, was a sect among the Jews, whose religion consisted in a strict observance of rites and ceremonies and of the traditions of the elders, and whose pretended holiness led them to separate themselves as a sect, considering themselves as more righteous than other Jews.

Nicodemus came to Jesus by night.  Perhaps this was because he would have been busy with the duties of the day, as was the Lord Jesus with his ministry.  But Nicodemus sought the Lord Jesus out when they could be by themselves, and Nicodemus could ask the Lord Jesus the many questions he had on his mind.  To Nicodemus, and to some of the others, it was obvious that Jesus was someone worthy of respect and honour.  He addressed Jesus thus "Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him."(V2)  We know that Nicodemus had seen the miracles the Lord Jesus had done, and known in his heart that God was with Jesus.  But what he did not understand was that Jesus is the Son of God.

 Jesus told Nicodemus, as he is telling every person in the world, "verily verily (truly, truly) I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (V3) But Nicodemus didn't understand this, he was thinking in the fleshly sense, of a baby being born, and how can a man be born a second time when he is old? Could he go back into mother’s womb, and be born? (V4) A very impossible concept to someone who did not understand.  Jesus explained to him that a man must be born of water (the fleshly birth) and of the Spirit (the spiritual birth). And that Nicodemus should not “marvel” that Jesus told him he must be born again.  Jesus gave an earthly example, that the wind blows where it wants to and we can hear it, but we can't tell where it comes from or where it is going, so likewise does everyone that is born of the Spirit.  They are led by the Spirit where the Spirit wants them to go, and we don't know where that will be.

Bible Women: The Woman Eve

Genesis 2:20 - 4:25

How many times we have heard mention of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and of the apple and the fall of man. Yet the truth is that Eve is not called Eve until Genesis 3:20 "And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living" before that she is called Woman.  The word apple is never mentioned.  It is called "fruit" Genesis 3:2-3 "...We may eat of the fruit of the trees....." "But of the fruit of the tree ....." Changing the Woman to Eve too soon, and changing fruit to apple may seem insignificant, yet they change the word of God, and changing the word of God is the basis for Woman's downfall.  The history of that downfall is deception, altering the word of God, recognition that something has changed, lost fellowship with God, blame, and then that most blessed, reconciliation with God through His grace and mercy, and not Adam and the woman’s works.  Yet there are consequences to pay, which continue to this day. Because of the disobedience of Adam, sin has passed to every man, Romans 5:12 "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned;" and because sin entered this world, we can only have forgiveness of sin and fellowship with God through the shed blood of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:24 "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." 1 Peter 1:18-19 "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."

The history of Eve begins in Genesis 2:16.  The Lord has put Adam in the Garden of Eden to care for it, and he is given only one command Genesis 2:16-17 "And the LORD God commanded the man, saying Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" This demands obedience, and Adam will be tested on what God said.  In Gen. 2:20, after naming all the animals and birds, Adam has found that in all creation, only he is without a helpmeet. Then 2:21  the intervention of God, Adam is put into a deep sleep, one of his ribs is removed, and in Gen 2:22 "..the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man". Adam is created from the dust of the ground, but the woman was made from his body, and for what purpose? Genesis 2:23-24 is the answer " ...This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."  The Woman is his counterpart, and they two were made to be together.  This is the definitive answer to homosexuality.  God created the man and woman. Not the man and the man, nor the woman and the woman. Genesis 2:25 shows their purity. "And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed." They lived a beautiful, perfect life in fellowship with their Creator.

Bluebells in the Wind with Isaiah 40:8

The photograph above is of bluebells in the wind.  I liked the blur from the movement of the wind.  I chose Isaiah 40:8 as the verse because the flower fades and is gone in a moment as our lives are also but a vapor, but the word of our God shall stand forever..  steadfast and true.

Bible Men - Stephen: the Face of an Angel

Acts 6:5 -8:2

Stephen, by his life and  death, is a most wonderful testimony of faith and grace.

Stephen was chosen, along  with six others, to minister to daily needs of others so that the apostles could continue  their work of prayer and ministry of the Word. The men  desired for this job were to be "of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom" (Acts 6:3), and Stephen is said to be  "a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost." Stephen may have been chosen to minister to the needs of others, but Acts 6:8 tells us  that he "full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people".   But there arose V9-11 "certain of the synagogue....and they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke."  And they "suborned (bribed) men to say "we have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God." They stirred up the people and Stephen was caught and taken to the council.  Then  V12-14 These men set up false witnesses to say that Stephen spoke blasphemous words against the synagogue and the law.

The Lord Jesus spoke of a time when his disciples would be taken and persecuted, and we are not to even think beforehand what we will say, his promise was as surely for us as it was for Stephen "For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist." (Luke 21:15)

 But when Stephen was before the council "all that sat in the council, looking steadfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel." (Acts 6:15)  Surely it must have shone with that inner beauty and glow of peace and joy of one who is so devoted to the Lord Jesus that His light is seen by others.  Have you ever seen such a one?  I have seen many elderly saints whose faces shone with that inner peace and beauty.   What an example this should be to us, and cause us to examine our own lives to see how devoted we are to the Lord Jesus so that others see that light in us. 

To Be Like Daniel

To Be Like Daniel

For some time now, my body has not done well with red meat. Last Sunday we visited some friends who have a large and luscious vegetable garden. They were kind enough to send us home with  freshly picked carrots, beets, zucchini, heirloom tomatoes, and green beans. There was enough for the two of us that we had delicious vegetable meals for most of this week. Not one time did we have meat with the vegetables and did not miss it at all. We enjoyed the meatless meals so much that we have decided to only have fish or chicken on occasion and fresh veggies in season the rest of the time.

This gift brought to memory the book of Daniel and how, when he was held in captivity in Babylon with his 3 friends, he requested pulse (legumes, peas according to Websters 1828 dictionary) instead of accepting the king's meat and wine he was provided. Daniel is such a wonderful book, full of God's intervention in Daniel's life and his friend's lives. I will be doing different articles from this book and it seems fitting that the first one should be when Daniel requested pulse. The Lord's control of all things is seen from the beginning of this book, as it is in all the bible.

Daniel 1

When Jehoiakim had been king of Judah for 3 years, Jerusalem was besieged by king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, "and the Lord gave Jehoiakim into his hands, with part of the vessels of the house of God which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god." These vessel are prominent in a later chapter of the book of Daniel.

V3-4 The king told the master of his eunuchs (a castrated male), to bring certain of the children of Israel, of the king's offspring, and of the princes. These children were to have no blemish, be "well-favoured", skilful in wisdom, cunning in knowledge, understanding science, and that had the ability in them to stand in the king's palace, children whom they could teach the learning and language of the Chaldeans. These are very specific requests, and it seems likely that these "children" were teenagers at the youngest. V5 has the king appointing them a daily portion of the king's meat, and of his wine, and they were to be nourished for 3 years. At the end of that time they would stand before the king.

Little Orphan Deer with 1 Corinthians 1:27

 

This little sweetheart was photographed in Spring on a road in Cobble Hill on Vancouver Island.  Her mother was nowhere in sight, so I believe that she was an orphan.  How she made it through the winter is a miracle because she was very thin.  She walked down the road towards our car, and then went into a yard and began eating the new Spring grass.   I chose 1 Corinthians 1:27 as the verse because it just seemed fitting.

Bible Women: Tamar, Sister of Absalom

2 Samuel 13: 1-20

In a previous study of Bathsheba, we learned of King David's sin of adultery and of his plot to have Bathsheba's husband killed.  Because of this, in 2 Samuel 12:9-10 Nathan the prophet, speaking the words of the LORD, tells King David "Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Amnon.  Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife."

And so, we have the tragic story of Tamar, daughter of David, sister of Absalom, half-sister to Amnon.  2 Samuel 13:1 “and it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.”  But this was a not a pure love of a brother for a sister, no, Amnon according to V2 was “so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her." This statement brings out that he lusted after her, but because she was a virgin, he hesitated to carry through with his emotions.  How much better it would have been for Tamar and for Amnon if he would have listened to his conscience.  James 1:14-15 "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."  But also that, as believers, by the Holy Spirit we have the power to resist temptations James 4:7-8 "Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.  Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded".

And then we find in V3 that "Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother:". Jonadab was Amnon's cousin, and he possessed that terrible quality "Jonadab was a very subtil man"  As in Genesis 3:1 "Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made" Jonadab notices Amnon's troubled countenance and asks Amnon V4 "why art thou, being the king's son, lean from day to day?  wilt thou not tell me?" to which Amnon admits "I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister."  Rather than being a true friend and helping Amnon to overcome his obsession for Tamar, Jonadab shows his evil mind by giving Amnon a plan to fulfill his desires - V5 "And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand." Not only deceive an innocent maiden, but bolder than that, involve the King of Israel in the deception!  Truly Jeremiah 17:9 "the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"  But we must also pay close heed to the next verse Jeremiah 17:10 "I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings."

Bible Men: John the Baptist, His Ministry

John the Baptist - His Ministry

Matthew 3,  Mark 1,  Luke 3,  John 1

In the previous study of John the Baptist, his birth,(to read go here)  we ended with John growing in the spirit, and living in the desert until the day when the word of God came to John when he was in the wilderness. (Luke 3:2).. the book of Matthew gives more detailed description of this time: Matthew 3:1-3 "In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.  For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight."  A physical description of John follows; V4 "...John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey." (Matthew 3:4) Surely this time of separation and austerity must have made John physically a very strong person.

The gospel of John presents the deity of the Lord Jesus, and so when we first hear of John in that gospel, he is presented thus: John 1:6-8 "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.  He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light."  How clear is this?  John the Baptist was a man sent by God to be a witness of the true Light, the Lord Jesus Christ.  "  John is the promised forerunner of Malachi 3:1 "Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple..."

And so John began his ministry of preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying "Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 3:2) this, according to Mark 1:4 was the "baptism of repentance for the remission of sins."  This is completely different from the baptism we know today, which is the believers identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, which is baptism by immersion, upon a confession of faith. Believing the gospel, accepting that we are sinners, and on our way to a lost eternity, repenting - turning from that sin and towards the Saviour, receiving by grace through faith the Lord Jesus as our Saviour. Ephesians 3:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast"  (and say that they saved themselves.) The baptism of repentance for the remission of sins preached by John is also different from the baptism of the Holy Spirit which indwells us upon our receiving the Lord Jesus as our Saviour.  Ephesians 1:13-14 "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory." Those taking part in John's baptism of repentance for the remission of sins were preparing themselves by acknowledging their sins and repenting of them in preparation for the "kingdom of heaven" which John announced was "at hand"

John was very bold as he preached to the multitude that came forth be baptised "O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" (Luke 3:7)   There were those who wondered whether or not John was the Christ, but John was very quick to confess 3:16-18 "I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:..and many other things preached he.." John 1:15 further tells us that John "bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me." What a marvelous statement that is, "he was before me".  Colossians 1:17 tells us "And he is before all things, and by him all things consist."  John 1:17 "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."

The Creation: St. Mary Lake and Psalm 36:6

 

The photo above is of beautiful St. Mary Lake in Glacier National Park, Montana.  

Bible Women: Mary Magdelene

Mary Magdalene

What is the first thing you think of when you hear the name "Mary Magdalene"?  Some people think that Mary was a prostitute who came to know Jesus as her Lord, yet there is absolutely no biblical evidence for this lie, that she was a prostitute. Neither should she be confused with the woman who was a sinner that came to Simon's house where Jesus was.  That woman was nameless, and scripture tells us that her weeping and repentance had saved her from her sins. This study will attempt to portray the truth about Mary Magdalene, a woman greatly blessed.

Verses pertaining to Mary are scattered throughout the gospels, each a piece of her story.  We will bring them in chronological order, to best learn the truth.

Luke 8:1-3 is the earliest mention of Mary "And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, and certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,.....and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.".  Reading a few verses before, Luke 7:37-50 is the story of the woman who was a sinner.  Luke 8:1 clearly states "and it came to pass afterward,"  Thus we know that Mary Magdalene was NOT the woman who was a sinner.

Mary, along with others were healed of their infirmities. The name Magdalene signifies where she came from, Mary of Magdala. Imagine what a terrible state this poor woman must have been in.  As the bible often does, it states an incredible occurrence in the simple statement "out of whom went seven devils". This combines with Mark 16:9...he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils."  The devils acknowledge the Lord.  Even today, we are told in Ephesians 6:12,16 "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked."  In James 4:7 we learn that as believers we have the power thru the indwelling holy spirit to "resist the devil and he will flee from you".

Next in Luke 8:1-3 we learn that Mary and some of the other women who Jesus healed accompanied the Lord and his apostles as he went "throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God:"  Every city and village - the news was spread everywhere, no one had excuse to say that they did not hear the good news. A reminder that today, we ought to be going everywhere telling the good news.  Mark 15:40,41 tell us that Mary was among those women who had followed him from when he was in Galilee, and ministered unto him and came up with him unto Jerusalem.  These women "ministered unto  him of their substance" Luke 8:3. Matthew 27:55-56 confirms that the women followed him from Galilee, with whom one was Mary Magdalene.

Fly Away - A Devotion

Psalm 90:10  "The days of our years are three-score years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away."

Yesterday we drove to the town of Chemainus, down to the beach where there was a lovely breeze and an outgoing tide.  In the Cowichan Valley where we live it was very hot, almost 90 degrees, and so this breeze was very welcome.  We sat on a log which was shaded by a large tree, enjoying the relief from the oppressive heat back home.

Offshore there is a lighthouse on a rocky knoll and we watched as a group of people set out to walk to it.  If it was an incoming tide, this would have been a very dangerous thing to do as they had small children with them who could walk most of the way but had to be carried the rest of the way. Had the tide been incoming, they would have been trapped.  One of the men was carrying what looked like a large blow-up chair and husband and I assumed that they were going to set out blankets and spend some time on the rocks which had no shade at all.  We couldn't have been more wrong. Not long after they all reached the rocks and had gathered together, we saw a huge dragon-fly climbing up in the sky and we thought it was a kite, because one of the men appeared to be holding a large container where the string would be.  But then the dragon-fly got too far away to be a kite, and we saw that it was a helium balloon shaped like a dragon-fly.  It flew higher, over the trees and towards the town of Chemainus.  Then the container turned out to be a large red heart-shaped helium balloon which climbed into the sky and followed after the dragon-fly.  There was another balloon as well, but it was smaller and darker, I don't know what it was. 

After the balloons were released, the group of adults and children made their way back to the shore and husband and I left the beach and drove home.  I wondered what this balloon-releasing meant.  That was certainly the intention of the trip out to the rocky knoll, it seemed rather a long way to walk to entertain children, and it was the adults that released the balloons, not the children. I came to the conclusion that it was a memorial to someone who had recently passed away, or perhaps a memorial to someone who had passed away years ago. At any rate, when I got home I looked up "fly away" at Blue Letter Bible and settled on Psalm 90:10 "The days of our years are three-score years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away."

Abel and Cain

Genesis 4: 1-17

Cain and Abel are studies in contrasts of the human nature, Abel was a worshipper, Cain was one who sought the acceptance of God by his works.  And so it is today, nothing has changed.

It is important to mention here that the parents of Cain and Abel, Adam and Eve were driven out of the garden of Eden because of their disobedience of the LORD God's command to Adam not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.   They are now in a sinful state, they make coverings for themselves with fig leaves (Gen 3:7) but God in his mercy, provided a covering for them, animal skins, which necessitated the slaying of an animal. (Gen 3:21) Thus we know that it is not by the works of our hands that we are acceptable to God.  He provides the way, by the shedding of blood without which there is no remission of sins,  it is only by faith in this sacrifice that we are acceptable.  To Adam and Eve, it was by the blood of an animal, but for us today, it is through the shed precious blood of the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.

And so after being driven out Gen 4:1 tells us that "Adam knew Eve his wife and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said I have gotten a man from the Lord."  Maybe Eve thought that this was the promised deliverer of Gen 3:15.  Gen 4:2 tells us "she again bare his brother Abel."  Some people think that Cain and Abel were twins because "again" here  is a different Hebrew word than "again" in Gen 4:25.   In any event, Verse 2 tells us "Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground." Interesting here that Abel's name is given first, and regarding that little word "but"  when it appears like this, problems are sure to follow.

Gen 4:3 "In process of time it came to pass that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD..." there was a place "Cain brought the fruit" and there was a time "in process of time" where an offering was to be made to the LORD God.  And it is here that the complete difference between Cain and Abel is seen.  Gen 4:4 "And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof...."

Just as the LORD God provided coverings of animal skins to his parents, Abel brought "the firstlings" and as he was a keeper of sheep (V2), this would be a lamb,  a type of the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ.   The firstlings means that this was the very best of his flock.   But Cain chose to bring the fruit of the ground, the works of his hands, and at that, not even the best but just "of" the fruit of the ground"    He chose his way instead of God's way, even though God had cursed the ground for the sin of Adam. (Gen 3:17  "..cursed is the ground for thy sake..") and the result? Gen 4:4-5 "And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: but unto Cain and to his offering he had no respect.  And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell."

Hebrews 11:4  "By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain by which he obtained witness that he was righteous..."  Hebrews 11:6  "but without faith it is impossible to please Him..."   Matthew 23:35 calls Abel "righteous Abel" his heart was righteous, and the omniscient Lord knew that the heart of Cain was not righteous.   The fact that Cain became very angry when God did not accept his offering, goes to show that it was not offered in faith,  for if it were by faith, he would not have become angry.   Cain lacked humility but was confident in himself.

Gen 4:6 "And the LORD said unto Cain, why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If you doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door..."   Cain is given opportunity to repent of his anger and bring the proper offering, but also given a warning that if he does not repent, sin is awaiting..  1 Peter 5:8  "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"

The Adversary

 Yesterday was a rather trying day.  I was extremely agitated, didn't quite know why,  that old adversary impressed on me that I was wasting my time blogging God's word, that I should delete everything and forget about it.  But my husband said "where do you think that is coming from?" and that I was only sowing seed, it was not up to me for results.  Good encouragement, so I will continue on, and the Lord will send who he will send.  So if you are sharing the Word of God, and it comes to you to quit, remember where it is coming from and continue on..

 

Bible Women: The Woman at the Well

John 4: 7-42

The woman at the well was a woman of Sychar, a city in Samaria.  She is presented in the book of John, and this portion of scripture is one of the most well known.

This meeting takes place when John the Baptist was still baptizing people, (John 3:23-24) and probably word of his preachings had spread to Samaria.  Jesus has departed Judea and is on his way to Galilee, but scripture tells us John 4:4 "And he must needs go through Samaria."  He must needs, our Lord knew the events that would transpire there in the city of Sychar, at Jacob's well.   V5-6 "Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob's well was there.  Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour."  V8 tells us that the disciples of Jesus "were gone away unto the city to buy meat." The plan of the Lord to be alone and to have quiet time for the meeting which he knew was to take place.

Verse 6 "..Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour." What a statement.  The Lord of the Universe, but weary as a man.  V7 "There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink."  The woman is surprised that he, whom she recognizes as a Jew, would even speak to her, and  addresses him thus, V9 "How is it that thou being a Jew, askest drink of me, a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans" She as yet has no clue that the man seated before her is God incarnate.

And now the Lord Jesus begins to speak to her of deeper things than a mere glass of water.  Water could satisfy the physical thirst of a man, but the Lord was about to show this woman that secret thirst that all sinners possess, whether they know it or not, that unquenched thirst for something more in this life. V10 "Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water."  the gift of God, John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.".  This is the first suggestion to the woman that this was no ordinary request for a simple drink of water.  He speaks to her of "living water" and thisis a reminder of John 7:38-39 "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)"

The Creation: Sleeping Mallard

 

The photograph above of a sleeping male Mallard duck was taken at Somenos Lake.   Mallards are common ducks, but they are endlessly interesting and entertaining to me.  Its a lesson for us that the animal world lives for the moment, takes things as they come, whether good or bad. 

For the believer its Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not on thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

John the Baptist - Part 1: His birth

John the Baptist

Part 1 -  Concerning Zacharias, the priest; his wife Elisabeth, a visit by the angel Gabriel, and the birth of the baby called John

One of the best known men in the bible, John's coming is foretold in Malachi 3:1 "Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: ......." and in Isaiah 40:3 "The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD...".   Where Matthew, Mark, and Luke announce John as an adult with his ministry underway, the gospel of Luke shows us that John was chosen by God before his birth, to prepare the people for the coming of the Lord.

We begin in Luke chapter 1, where we are told of John's parents, a priest named Zacharias, and his wife, Elisabeth, who was of the line of Aaron.  God's Word tells us that they were Luke 1:6 "both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless."  But V7 "..they had no child, because Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years."  This is very important.  They had no idea that they were to fulfill a special purpose in the plan of God, but they followed the Lord in obedience to Him.  Are we following the Lord in obedience?  How do we know what special purpose the Lord may have for our lives which will be revealed as we daily follow the leading of the Spirit..

The fact that Elisabeth was barren and well on in years is a reminder of Abraham's wife Sarah, who bore Isaac well past the age of child bearing.  All things shall be possible with God in order to accomplish His plan and purpose.

Bible Women: Rahab - The Woman Who Hid the Spies

Joshua Chapters 2 and 6

This study of Rahab is taken from the book of Joshua, Chapters 2 and 6.  Rahab was a woman who demonstrated great faith, to the salvation of herself and her family.  In Joshua 2:1-2, we have Joshua sending two spies into the walled city of Jericho, "to spy secretly..to view the land, even Jericho" and they "came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there".

Someone must have seen the men come into the city and enter Rahab's house, and they knew they were of the "children of Israel"  and that they had come to search out all the country. V2 "and it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold there came men in  hither tonight out of the children of Israel to search out the country." We are not told whether or not the spies knew Rahab was a harlot, but it was surely the divine intervention of God that they came upon the house of a harlot, where it would not be unusual for men to go.  Nevertheless, the king of Jericho sends word to Rahab  V3 "bring forth the men that are come to thee which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country"  But V4 "Rahab took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were" and she further told them V5 "when it was dark that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them."  But V6 Rahab "had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof."  And the king's men V7 "pursued after them the way to Jordan...."

 Before the spies had laid down V8 "she came  up unto them upon the roof" and in Vs 9-11 Rahab gives the reasons for her actions. "I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.  For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon an Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.  And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath". Rahab knew and believed that the LORD had given them the land, that the inhabitants were terribly afraid, and that they had heard about the parting of the Red Sea, and what had befallen the Amorites.  Then she makes the great confession of faith;  "for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath".  Rahab, who is a Gentile, believes in God and exhibits saving faith.  As Galatians 3:28 says "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus".