Shalt Become a Plain

Are you facing a hard time? Something that seems insurmountable? A mountain in your life? Get out your bible and read Zechariah 4:6-10. I will post the passage at the end if you don't have a bible. However, I strongly encourage you to use a bible.

I love this passage. When I read it, it literally spoke life into me. Just a little background first. The Israelites were in captivity and the temple of The Lord had been destroyed. The Lord told Zerubbable to rebuild the temple. However, they were still captive in the land that destroyed the temple. It seemed a bit impossible. Still, God had a plan. So, here are my thoughts on this particular passage. 

First: He had to give his problem to God. 

"Not by might not by power but by my spirit says The Lord or hosts." When we face difficult situations in our lives we have to stop using our human strength, no matter how amazing and wonderful and strong we are, and lean on the Spirit of God. 

Second: When we lean on God amazing things happen. 

"Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain." When we face the mountains in life with the Spirit of God they can become plains. It doesn't matter what that mountain is, God is still bigger, stronger, and more powerful, not to mention wise. He can level those mountains in an instant if you stop trying to do things in your human strength. But I would like to add that just because he can, doesn't mean he will right away. Sometimes we have to face things longer than we think we should. God is still there and he has a plan just trust him. Proverbs 3:5,6

Third: Even the smallest thing, if done in obedience, can make a huge difference. 

"For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel..." When God asks you to do something do it, no matter how insignificant it seems. Zerubbable just had to take those first steps. What do you need to do? God expects us to do our part. We can't just sit back and say "Fix my life God!" and then not do anything. But when we do our part God will do amazing things through and for us. He doesn't leave us to do it all alone. So ask God "what do I need to do?" And then do it. 

Zechariah 4:6-10 KJV

[6] Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. [7] Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying , Grace, grace unto it. [8] Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, [9] The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto you. [10] For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the Lord , which run to and fro through the whole earth.

Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV

[5] Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. [6] In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

An often response to problems and distress in our lives is to get mad at God. We think everything must his fault since he is the creator of the universe. But I think we often forget that he has an enemy who wants to destroy us. When things come against us we need to turn to our Savior, who loved us enough to die to save us. without him we are nothing. But, with him we can over come all evil that may come against us. he will comfort you and given you strength for whatever the devil may throw your way. True, he may let bad things happen. But, he knows all, and is always doing what is best for you. Because he loves you.

 

 

Psalm 70^a

For the director of music. Of David. A petition.

1Hasten, O God, to save me;

come quickly, Lord, to help me.

2May those who want to take my life

be put to shame and confusion;

may all who desire my ruin

be turned back in disgrace.

3May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”

turn back because of their shame.

4But may all who seek you

rejoice and be glad in you;

may those who long for your saving help always say,

“The Lord is great!”

5But as for me, I am poor and needy;

come quickly to me, O God.

You are my help and my deliverer;

Lord, do not delay.

HEY CHURCH, Wake up!

I recently heard someone say something to the effect of "we want the church to be something fun to do on the weekend that doesn't really affect peoples lives." I was filled with so much sorrow by this small statement because I realized that so many christians in America are doing just that. We have one, maybe two, days of "God party" then 5 or 6 days, being part of the world. Where are the people of God?! Jesus said in Luke 11:23 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters." How much time do I spend against God? My point is, Wake Up! If we spend more time working against God, how can we expect to spend eternity with him? We can make a change in this world, but it has to start in our own lives. If we aren't willing to do that, we can't call ourselves God's children. Lets be willing to change. 

Stand Up, Speak Out, Do Not be Afraid

It is often brought up in the church, the nation is rebellious. Ezekiel 2 talks about this. God told Ezekiel what he was supposed to do. He was supposed to stand up, speak, and not be afraid. There is something very interesting about standing up.

Ezekiel 2:1,2 He said to me, "Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you." As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. 

It was the Spirit who raised him up. When God told him to stand, it was the Spirit who made him stand. He didn't do it on his own. Likewise we cannot stand on our own. We need to help of the Spirit of God. He will raise us up and make us stand. But when we try to stand on our own we usually just fall back down.

So now he is filled with the Spirit. The Spirit is what will give him the strength to speak to the nation whether they "listen or fail to listen." Ezekiel is empowered and will not be afraid. It is important to tell the people even when you know the will not listen. But we don't do it alone. He is always by our side. and when everyone opposes us, we should not be afraid. He will take care of us. We are never alone.

The Reason Love is Important

I will admit, I'm not that consistent. I have trouble sticking with things. But it does not mean I have forgotten about them. I am working very hard at being more consistent and post more things. It is a process, but, Philippians 4:13 "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." So because of this I will try to be more consistent.

If you haven't noticed, I talk about love a lot. Love is the basis of the Christian faith. Love is what takes it from religion to relationship. You see, in so many other religions it's about the things you do. If you are a good person you get the reward. But Christianity is different in that it is about what he did for us and how we choose to respond to that. Further more actions can't get you to heaven. It is the attitude behind your actions. Christianity is having a relationship with someone who loved you so much he was willing to die for you, and letting him teach you how to be filled with a love beyond comprehension, joy unexplainable, and peace undefinable. He can give you purpose and a future. And best of all he will NEVER leave you or forsake you. He is alive and will stay by your side. No one else could ever love you as much as he does. He loves everyone no matter what they have done. And his invitation is open to anyone.

Romans 10:9 If you confess with your mouth "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 

So, I will love!

I have not posted anything and for that I am sorry. :( I have been having a crazy summer! I leave next week to go on a ten day missions trip to Ireland. It is very exiting but has left me running this way and that to get ready! Through all the craziness it has been often times all to easy to forget who it's really for and what it's really about. I find myself under lots of stress and being very short tempered with the people around me or just ready to give up at times. At times like this when life gets difficult I often find myself not wanting to love the people around me (not romantic love). But love is important!

1 Corinthians 13:1-8a
"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,b but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails...."

This is what I strive for! A love that never fails. And not just for God, my family and close friends but for everyone. I will chose to love and will work hard to act in love toward everyone I encounter. I don't want to be a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. I don't want to be nothing. And i don't want to gain nothing. So, I will love!

Whatever is noble

Nobility is something kind of lost in our culture. The definition of Noble is possessing outstanding qualities. Possessing outstanding qualities is something to work for. I know very few people who I would consider noble. I myself am not one of them. In our society good qualities are hard to find in a person. Let alone outstanding qualities. It's all about "I." So much energy is spent worrying about ourselves. But a noble person would be worrying about everyone else. We work so hard just to survive. But a noble person wouldn't care what happened to themselves but would work hard for the survival of the people around them. 

So this is how I see nobility.
Noble: What you are when you care about others more than yourself.