I will yet Praise God!

I came across a wonderful passage of scripture in Habakkuk that I wanted to share.

Habakkuk 3:17-19

Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines,the produce of the olive failand the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the foldand there be no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places.

In this day and age of uncertainty we should take great comfort and be able to rejoice as Habakkuk did, that though all our earthly comforts may fail, when our hope and vision is set on God, we recognize that He is our salvation. He is our strength. Even in the midst of what could surely make one heavy with worry, he makes our feet like that of a deer. Can you picture a deer leaping? I can. They are so "sure of foot", and can climb the steepest hills or mountains. That my friends is what God gives us.

Yes the external forecast may look bleak by human standards, and there may be times of trouble, but resolve within yourself to say:

I will take joy in the God of my salvation. GOD, the Lord, is my strength

The wonderful Symmetry of Scripture!

There are so many people in our culture today that say that the Bible is fragmented and contradicts itself. Those of us who are learning each and every day the wonderful interweaving of scripture know better.

Below is just one place that I've come upon recently that shows how wonderfully the scriptures flow and compliment each other. I use the word Symmetry to describe it. Here is the definition of Symmetry:

1.

the correspondence in size, form, and arrangement of parts on opposite sides of a plane, line, or point; regularity of form or arrangement in terms of like, reciprocal, or corresponding parts.

2.

the proper or due proportion of the parts of a body or whole to one another with regard to size and form; excellence of proportion.

3.

beauty based on or characterized by such excellence of proportion.

Don't you just love #3, I do!! Any way here is the scripture:

Isaiah 8:18
Here am I and the children the Lord has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the Lord Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion.

John 17:2
"Father the time has come, Glorify your Son, that your Son may Glorify you. For you granted Him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.

Hebrews 2:13
And again I will put my trust in Him. And Again Behold I and the children God has given me.

Just another wonderful reason to dive into scripture.

1.

the correspondence

Peter's denial of Jesus in 4 parts

I am almost done with my study of Matthew! 2 more chapters to go! It has taken me on a few tangents and today's post is another one. When I got to the part of Peter's denial of Christ I decided to look at all 4 versions and how different each author wrote things, and how they observe different things. Again this is very simplistic, because that is who I am, (I wish I didn't always feel compelled to state that!!!), but I hope it blesses any of you.

Matthew 26: 69-75

• 1st Peter just denies knowing Christ. He claims he does not understand
• 2nd Peter denies with an oath. (Getting stronger)
• 3rd Peter invokes (calls out) a curse on himself and begins to swear
• Then the Rooster crows
  

Mark 14:66-72

• After the first denial, Peter leaves the courtyard and hangs out by the gate.
• The rooster crows once.
• Marks account says the same servant girl who first asked him, speaks to people around her about him, and this brings the 2nd denial.
• The bystanders begin to question Peter, and he invokes the curse.
• The Rooster Crows a 2nd time.
  
• (This is different from Matthews account of the Rooster crowing just at the end)

Luke 22:54-62

• Peter followed at a distance - He ran but not far.
• Luke's is mostly facts, except for one BIG detail - After the Rooster crowed it says in verse 61 - "And the LORD turned and looked at Peter". Can you imagine it!!! To not only hear the Rooster crow, but at that very moment Christ turns and looks at you!! As I write this I feel such intense sorrow! How often do I deny Christ, and he turns to me, and what I see is pain brought on by great LOVE!
  

John 18: 15-18, 25-27

• Peter is with another disciple (most likely John)
• This disciple is "known by the High Priest". It says this twice, within this context. I wonder how he was know by him, don't you?
• Because he was known by the High Priest, he was able to go into the court with Jesus. He returned after he ran, and walked the rest of the way with Christ to his crucifixion.
• This disciple was the one who got Peter into the courtyard in the first place, because he was known by the High Priest.
• A servant of the High Priest, who just happened to be a relative of the servant whose ear Peter cut off was one who was observing that Peter was one of those with Jesus.
• At once the Rooster crowed

But thanks be to God that was not the end of the story, and it isn't for me as well. Christ restored Peter and gave him a job to do:

John 21:15-19

¹⁵When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."

¹⁶Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"
He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."

¹⁷ The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."

Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. ¹⁸ I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." ¹⁹Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"

Immutable and why that matters!

Immutable -not capable of or susceptible to change.

Not susceptible to change. That is our God! For my birthday my family gave me the book "Holy, Holy, Holy, Proclaiming the Perfections of God". I haven't read the whole book yet because I have several books I'm reading, but I have read the first chapter. In this chapter it talks about one of the methods used to describe the character of God called Negation. Negation defines something by saying what it is not. One of the characteristic of God that it describes there is his immutability. Where we change and are in a constant form of change, God does not change. He will not change, he cannot change.

Numbers 23:19

God is not man, that he should lie,
or a son of man, that he should change his mind.
Has he said, and will he not do it?
Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

1 Samuel 15:29

And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret,
for he is not a man, that he should have regret."

Job 23:13

But he is unchangeable, and who can turn him back?
What he desires, that he does.

Psalms 33:11

The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
the plans of his heart to all generations.

So what does it mean for us that God does not change?

1. It means what he has said down through history still stands. God speaks over and over again in scripture about his covenants. His covenant with Abraham was forever. Therefore since God does not change that covenant is still in effect. The Children of Israel are still his chosen people. The only difference is that through Christ (and only through Christ) we gentiles have been grafted into that chosen line.
2. It means that the God of the O.T. is still the God today. So many people today say that the Bible is no longer relevant. The words written over 2000 years ago cannot and do not hold up today. Oh, but God never changes, so his word that he used men to write still is valid today. What he meant to say back in Genesis, still holds true for the world in 2010 and beyond. God is Omniscient:

having infinite awareness, understanding, and insight
2 : possessed of universal or complete knowledge

this means that God has known since before time what 2010 would be like. He is not surprised by the evil that has come down through the ages. His Word was and always will be complete and relevant. Those that believe otherwise DO NOT know the True Sovereign God.

3. In the O.T. God shows himself to us his holiness, his righteousness, his justice, his love. In the N.T. he continues to show us who he is through his son Jesus Christ. The perfect representation of God.

Hebrews 1:3
The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

Also the following verse speaks of Christ never changing (because he is God in the flesh).

Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

The symmetry of scripture is amazing to me! God who is immutable has set this world in place, knowing the heart of man. He has given to those he has called a wonderful tool to know his whole character ~ The Holy Bible. Anyone who disparages even one portion of scripture, disparages the whole, for it all points to God the Father.

The conclusion for me: In this world today I see so much evil. I see so much acceptance of things that are contrary to God and scripture, even within the organized church. I get weary of pseudo Christians who are apathetic toward God and his fullness and only concentrate on the parts of Him that jive with their hedonistic lifestyle. I desire so much for not only myself but the "true Church" to WAKE UP! We need to get rid of all things that hinder (Hebrews 12:1), and there are so many things within the church that hinders the work of Christ, and rise up to be what God, who is immutable, has called us to be: living stones (1 Peter 2: 4 & 5).

RISE UP OH CHURCH OF GOD! Seek God while he may be found! Do not settle for man's idea of God, but seek him through His word. If you seek, you will find, he promises that in Matt 7:8 and Luke 11:10. He is so much more then this world could ever imagine!

HE IS IMMUTABLE!!

Word-filled Wednesday - Psalm 19:14

Join others at the Internet Cafe for more inspiring words from The Word!

Is it Love or Infatuation?

Back on December 1, 1990 I cut the following Ann Landers column out of the paper and put it on my refrigerator. Mind you I would not meet Steve for 4 more years. It is still on my refrigerator today. I don't know if I've ever shared this on my blog or not, but I thought about it the other day and know it's worthy of posting again:

Essay's Message still as relevant as ever:

Dear Ann Landers: Last weekend while going through some family photos, I found this old column. The message is as relevant as it was 15 years ago.

These days, when divorce is commonplace and teen-age pregnancy at an all-time high, people need tangible guidelines. Please reprint this column.

Here is Ann's Reply: The essay you've asked me to rerun is one of the most frequently requested. I'm pleased to publish it again. Thanks for asking. Is it Love or Infatuation?

Infatuation is instant desire - one set of glands calling to another.

Love is friendship that has caught fire. It takes root and grows, one day at a time.

Infatuation is marked by a feeling of insecurity. You are excited and eager but not genuinely happy. There are nagging doubts, unanswered questions, little bits and pieces about your beloved that you would just as soon not examine too closely. It might spoil the dream.

Love is the quiet understanding and mature acceptance of imperfection. It is real. It give you strength and grows beyond you - to bolster your beloved. You are warmed by his/her presence, even when he/she is away. Miles do not separate you. You want him/her near. But near or far, you know he/she is yours and you can wait.

Infatuations says, "We must get married right away. I can't risk losing him". Love says "Be patient. He/she is yours. Plan your future with confidence".

Infatuation has an element of sexual excitement. Whenever you are in one's another's company you are hoping it will end in intimacy. Love is the maturation of friendship. You must be friends before you are lovers (here I would add and married).

Infatuation lacks confidence. When he's away, you wonder if he's cheating. Sometimes you check.

Love means trust. You are calm, secure and unthreatened. He feels your trust and it makes him even more trustworthy. Infatuation might lead you to do things you'll regret later, but love never will.

Love lifts you up. It makes you look up. It makes you think up. It makes you a better person then you were before.

~

The only thing I would add to this is that he or she must be a follower of Christ. You must keep him in the center of your relationship.

A "Merry Christmas" in July Party & Award

E-Mom over at Chrysalis is having a Christmas Party! Since coming back from some cold temps out west this just feels right. She has several things to check out so head on over and have some fun! One thing that blew me away is she gave me an award!! Now I haven't been blogging regularly in quite a while, and E-mom is one of my faithful commenters. Not only that but I have been so blessed by her teachings over at Chrysalis, so me getting an award from her is ~ well a big deal! Thanks E-mom! Here is my award:

Here are the rules attached to this award:

1. Thank the person who gave you this award.

2. Share 7 things about yourself.

3. Pass the award along to 15 bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic!

4. Contact the bloggers you’ve picked and let them know about the award.

So I am supposed to share 7 things about myself. WoW do they have to be interesting? I don't know if I have 7 things to share that would peak someones interests, hummm....... let's try:

1. I can read while traveling. I know many people, my daughter and mother included who get car sick if they read. I so appreciate the fact I can read while riding. It helps the time pass.
2. I have been told I have Indian as part of my ancestry. You can see it in my mom and a few sisters, but it appears if that is true, the only thing I received from it is my bone straight hair. Some day I would like to research this to see if it indeed is true or legend. On our recent trip though I asked the kids who this old Indian woman looked like in a picture and they both said "grandma".
3. When in a museum I cannot stand and read all the information near exhibits. I'm more a visual person. My husband on the other hand can spend hours doing it. So I wait alot at the the end of exhibits for him. Good thing I have a book to read!
4. When I was younger my hair was so blonde someone asked if I bleached it. I was in 6th grade. Do mothers let their 6th graders bleach their hair? I know mine wouldn't!!!
5. I used to collect tea cups. I have them all boxed up downstairs in storage, because we have not place for them to display. My favorite cup came from my sister Kam and her husband Jeff. It belonged to his grandparents. It has 22 carat gold trim on it. It's dainty and beautiful! The largest part of the collection came from my Grandma Olsen through my mother.
   
6. I was once in a television commercial. It was very short lived and was for the insurance company I worked for. I didn't think anyone would see it, but my sister told me she was watching T.V. and there I was. It didn't air very long.
7. Speaking of insurance. That is what I did before I became a mom. I was an underwriter at Lake States Insurance Company, based out of Traverse City Michigan. I had been in insurance for quite a few years. My favorite job though was being a Commercial Lines Rater (they are the ones who calculate the premiums on policies). I am a numbers person, and this job dealt in that. I miss it actually. Don't know if I could do it again or not, very rusty!

Well there you have it. 7 things you may not have known.

I am also supposed to give this to 15 new blogs I have gone to, but I haven't been stepping out lately to new blogs. Just my tried and true! There is one I have gone to that I love, but she has received the award from E-mom too. It's Stones of Remembrance! Can you see why went to her blog in the first place? Her posts have blessed my heart!