Methinks the Sadducees doth protest to much!
Monday, January 6, 2014
the 12 disciples
Matthew 10:2-4 MSG
This is the list of the twelve he sent: Simon (they called him Peter, or "Rock"),
Andrew,
his brother, James,
Zebedee's son, John,
his brother, Philip,
Bartholomew,
Thomas,
Matthew, the tax man,
James, son of Alphaeus,
Thaddaeus,
Simon, the Canaanite,
Judas Iscariot (who later turned on him).
This is the list of the twelve he sent: Simon (they called him Peter, or "Rock"),
Andrew,
his brother, James,
Zebedee's son, John,
his brother, Philip,
Bartholomew,
Thomas,
Matthew, the tax man,
James, son of Alphaeus,
Thaddaeus,
Simon, the Canaanite,
Judas Iscariot (who later turned on him).
the formula
God has promises for us and in the bible we are reminded of the things He has done for His people before us. So we need to believe Him and ask what it is He requires of us.
it always starts with a woman!
First Eve offered Adam a fruit from the forbidden tree. Here Sarai offers Abram her maid so he can have an heir. Had these women rested in your faith and trust in God, they would not have succumbed to their own machinations.
circumcision and the modern christian
What is the new testament relation to circumcision? Paul and the early church had conversations around whether or not new believers should have to get circumcised. I'll have to research more, but I know they decided that circumcision was not a tenet of christianity but a law of Moses. As christians we are not under that law.
why lie?
Sarah, God not only knows your heart, He knows your thoughts, your ways, the very number of hairs on your head. Don't bother lying to God, He has been knowing you were gonna tell that lie since before time! You really think that will work?!
old testament hospitality
This part of the account always troubled me. Lot was willing to allow these men to defile his virgin daughters to spare his guests. I guess daughters were handy to have around for more than helping around the house. I know at this time in history, women were property and heir makers, little more. Thankfully, in more parts of the world than then, less young girls are handed over to the hand of mobs in place of strangers. I hope...
pillars of salt
How many christians are frozen in faith as they look upon a world dying in sin? Don't be like Lot's wife, run with your focus above. Don't allow the flames of destruction in this world distract you from the race of you're life...for your eternal soul.
biblical incest
So obviously the first generations of Adam all had no choice but to take their sisters as wives. After the flood, however, Noah and his sons all had wives unrelated to them. At this point, people were going past kissing cousins. Here, the daughters have taken advantage of a recent Godly destruction, got their father drunk, and took it upon themselves to keep the family going. They could have waited until they moved to another town! What is it about people and their parents after God does a little earthly cleansing? Someone always gets drunk and there is usually nudity involved.
God can save you from sexual sin
He prevented Abimelech from having sex with this woman because his intentions were pure. He can do the same for me and you. However, your end of the deal is to be pure. Your thoughts, what you see, and of course, what you do all effect your purity. If you wouldn't tell your church leader, your mother, or your grandmother with ease, chances are you should strongly consider not doing it. Ideally, you're relationship with Jesus is strong enough that He is your ultimate spiritual guide. For me, it helps to picture Him in the room. If my behavior starts going south, I see Him reaching for the crown of thorns. Hopefully, my actions never take Him all the way back through the crucifixion!
half truths are still lies!
Yes, Abraham and Sarah were brother and sister...sort of. They shared the same father. When Abraham stated using this half truth to protect his own life, God had to call him out on it because it was hurting the lives of others. What half truths are you damaging others with?
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
God is serious about honesty
Nothing got God's peoples'attention faster that a closed womb. From the womb, life and heirs flowed. To this day, a woman's womb should still be treasured and respected.
biblical perspective
That mansion you want, the car, the corner office...its all going to pass away with time. Instead, focus on the gift of eternal life that never fades, breaks, cracks, or needs batteries!
now that's what I call obedience!
- Genesis 22:10 (MSG)
- Genesis 22:9 (MSG)
- Genesis 22:11 (MSG)
- Genesis 22:12 (MSG)
- Genesis 22:13 (MSG)
- Genesis 22:16 (MSG)
- Genesis 22:17 (MSG)
- Genesis 22:18 (MSG)
What is something God has asked Of you that seems impossible, too hard, or just makes no sense? Give you're last to the collection plate? Leave a relationship that deep down you know is not God honoring (even a friendship)? Speak up to someone about your faith? God asks these kinds of things of us all the time in an effort to grow both us and our faith. Imagine how difficult it was for Abraham as he tied his miracle child to the altar to be sacrificed! But also imagine his strength of faith after God stayed his hands and assured him of his blessings!! Step out on faith and the God of Abraham will meet you there.
Abraham used quite a swear
Putting your hand under a man's thigh was a heady swear indeed. You might as well spit in your hand and shake!
biblical nose ring?
Yep, a gold nose ring was offered to Isaac's future wife. Imagine if that trend overtook the now traditional proposal of a finger ring!
raw deal
Really Esau? You were so hungry that you traded your birthright for soup when you could have walked a few more yards to a tent for an apple! Smh Esau, smh.
God's men and their "sisters"
First Abraham and now his son Isaac! They keep marrying beautiful women then lied TO THE SAME GUY Abimelech and his people about their relationship with their wives. At least Abraham was only half lying, Isaac must have grown up with those stories about the early years of his parent's time in this land. Whereas his father's lie was one of omission, his was simply bold faced!
sheba
I always thought the name Sheba was beautiful. However, as a child the first time I heard it was for a dog. Apparently it is also the name of wells and cities! When u did read it in the bible, though, the occasion that stuck out the most was for Queen Sheba. I an a huge fan of interracial relationships and that over seemed particularly steamy. So much so that at One point in jewish culture I read that men had to wait until they were 30 to even read the song of solomon...and I don't mean toni morrison's sentinel work.
what if Jesus showed up...
What if He shows up when you are in the middle of something (or someone) you know not to be in the middle of? Everytime I'm doing something to placate my fleshly or worldly desires, thinking about how awful (and awkward) it would be to hear the trumpets at that moment usually helps snap me out of my sinful stupor.
the first of many old testament female schemers
- Genesis 27:5 (MSG)
- Genesis 27:6 (MSG)
- Genesis 27:7 (MSG)
- Genesis 27:10 (MSG)
- Genesis 27:8 (MSG)
- Genesis 27:9 (MSG)
- Genesis 27:11 (MSG)
- Genesis 27:12 (MSG)
- Genesis 27:13 (MSG)
This mother wanted the blessing if the first born on her favorite twin. Later, other mothers would plot and twist the arms of the great patriarchs and even in the new testament a mother gets her daughter to manipulate the king and get John the baptist killed! The first few chapters of proverbs are about why you need to stay away from lose and cunning women. These are tales of what not to do with your womanhood.
lying on the Lord
Jacob knew better than to lie, but he was knee deep in this nefarious plot to get the firstborn blessing so he even threw in a bold faced lie about God to help seal the ill-gained deal.
sometimes I feel like I'm always the girl with the nice eyes
Or smile really...but here it's coast that one sister was obviously more beautiful than the other. I have been steadily working hard to improve the image I have of myself and it helps to know that I am beautifully and wonderfully made. If the creator of the universe sees the stunning beauty in me, surely I can learn to gain his perspective not only of myself but of others.
one if the biggest psyche outs of the ot
So you work seven years for your uncle to marry your gorgeous cousin rachel, only to wake up after the wedding with her older less stunning sister Leah! Abe, your uncle only then explains that the oldest daughter had to be married before the younger so in order to marry rachel you now have to work another seven years! Every time I read this I get royally upset at this guy! He could have told him from the jump! Jacob could have found Leah a husband instead of being married to two sisters and everyone knows which One you love. Smh!
you can't win the love of a man with a baby
God didn't open Leah's womb to bring Jacob to love her. Instead, Leah was able to better appreciate God in her life and change her perspective though her situation didn't change. In tough times, God can still bless you abundantly so keep your heart open to Him and your eyes peeled for those uplifting gifts from God during trials and tribulations.
drama queen!
First she manipulates her husband and son, then she complains about the native women as poor potential daughters in law! Well she never be satisfied?
Though rachel had Jacob's love, her lack of children caused her to overlook that important fact. Be warned, don't focus on your lack, but instead marvel and revel in the blessings and abundance in your life.
don't get it twisted
Jacob realized he was not to blame for rachel's closed womb. Usually, when God closes a womb, it is seen as a poor reflection of the woman. In my opinion, the uncle/grandfather here is to blame for this sordid tale!
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