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A lot went on over these last few readings. The people of Israel give the Levites the towns and pastureland that was commanded through Moses years earlier by the Lord. There were a total of Forty-eight towns with pastureland within Israelite territory given to the Levites. Joshua summons all the tribes of Israel gives the last decrees and regulations of the Lord and records all those things in the Book of God's Instructions. The people all chose to never abandon the Lord and serve other gods. Joshua dies at the age of 110 and the people of Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him. Over the years the different tribes didn't adhere to the Lords commands and lost wars and battles because the Lord wasn't behind them. They would then cry out to the Lord and he would save them. Then a generation would die and another generation would grow up but did not acknowledge the Lord or remember the things he did for Israel. They would go astray and intermarry and serve false gods and images. They would once again be getting their butts kicked when they would cry out to the Lord and he would rescue them again. Then years later the Israelite's would do evil in the Lord's eye and they would get whoooooped and cry out and he would come and save them. I love how God is always there to forgive. No matter what the people did He would always forgive them when they cried out to Him and he would come to save them. It's nice to know we have that direct connection with Him through Jesus. Heck one poor guy gets a tent stake through the head when the Lord helps out his people. I know I get caught up with all the "junk" that goes on in the world and forget to keep my eyes focused on Him....ya things get a whole lot bumpy when that happens. But he's always there for me when I do finally realize to Matthew 6:33. Should tattoo that on my forehead so I would see it everyday in the mirror. I think that would toss me into the Crazy pile of people though:)
In Luke this week Jesus speaks a lot of parables and of coarse the teachers of religious law and the leading priests continue to try to trick him but only become amazed. One of my favorites is the question he gets on marriage in the resurrection Luke 20:27-40 So remember marriage is for only while we are here. Let's treat it as the incredible gift that it is, we only get it for a mist in time the rest of eternity will be spent in heaven praising the Lord. We'll read more about that later I'm sure:) So Satan enters Judas, he betrays Jesus, a disciple lops off one of the guards ears and Jesus says "No more of this." He then touches the man's ear and healed him. They still take him, beat him and push to have him crucified. I'm sorry but if you make a mans ear grow back on after a zillion other miracles I'm pretty sure I'd be letting him go! But as Jesus said "For the time has come for this prophecy about me to be fulfilled." Back when Pharaoh wouldn't let God's people leave even after all the miracles due to God hardening his heart I believe the same thing happened here. There had to be a definite path and showing of power while the scriptures were being fulfilled. So that God could show his mighty power and it could stand the test of time for those who believe and feel the Holy Spirit living inside us...Is that you......It can be if you ask Him......That's the way I see it:)
Apr 15 - 19 Teach Me Your Ways
The old testament "Joshua took control of the the entire land, just as the Lord had instructed Moses. He gave it to the people of Israel as their special possessions, dividing the land among the tribes. So the land finally had rest from war." That's exactly what the next four days did was divide the land for all the tribes except for the tribe of Levi. "Instead as the Lord had promised them, their allotment came from the offerings burned on the altar to the Lord, the God of Israel." The bible talks about how the Levites roll as priests of the Lord is their allotment. The Lord promised the tribe of Levi that he himself would be their allotment. I guess if I had to choose between that and some trees I'd take God any day:)
In Luke these past few days Jesus has been firing off the parables and healing like crazy! He heals ten lepers all at once and says "Go show your selves to the priests." As they went they were cleansed of their leprosy. One of them came back to Jesus,shouting "Praise god!" He fell to the ground at Jesus' feet, thanking him for what he had done. He was a Samaritan.
Jesus asked, "Didn't I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?" I think this is HUGE in today's world. Even as Christians we get so caught up in what's bad going on that when the good does happen we take it for granted. Sometimes we just need to stop and thank God for the luxury of living.....through the good and the bad. When the good kicks in we can really fire up the praises!
Jesus tells a cool story about two men who went to the Temple to pray. "One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector." The Pharisee basically thanks God that he is not a sinner because he doesn't cheat, he fasts...etc. The tax collector on the other hand prayed "O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner." Jesus says "I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." I love the fact that our pastor relates to us in flat out telling you we are all sinners. Him included! The only one to never have sin was Jesus who died for us so that despite our sin we could be close to God. Humbleness....may not get you the big corner office on Park Avenue but it will warm the heart and open the eyes to what really matters in life......well that's the way I see it:)
Be sure to read along in your daily bible!
In Luke these past few days Jesus has been firing off the parables and healing like crazy! He heals ten lepers all at once and says "Go show your selves to the priests." As they went they were cleansed of their leprosy. One of them came back to Jesus,shouting "Praise god!" He fell to the ground at Jesus' feet, thanking him for what he had done. He was a Samaritan.
Jesus asked, "Didn't I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?" I think this is HUGE in today's world. Even as Christians we get so caught up in what's bad going on that when the good does happen we take it for granted. Sometimes we just need to stop and thank God for the luxury of living.....through the good and the bad. When the good kicks in we can really fire up the praises!
Jesus tells a cool story about two men who went to the Temple to pray. "One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector." The Pharisee basically thanks God that he is not a sinner because he doesn't cheat, he fasts...etc. The tax collector on the other hand prayed "O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner." Jesus says "I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." I love the fact that our pastor relates to us in flat out telling you we are all sinners. Him included! The only one to never have sin was Jesus who died for us so that despite our sin we could be close to God. Humbleness....may not get you the big corner office on Park Avenue but it will warm the heart and open the eyes to what really matters in life......well that's the way I see it:)
Be sure to read along in your daily bible!
Apr 10 -14 Moses Dies & Joshua Conquers!
We move through the rest of Deuteronomy in these readings and into Joshua. Moses goes up to Mount Nebo and climbs Pisgah Peak and the Lord shows him the whole land. Then the Lord says to Moses, "This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, isaac, and Jacob when I said, 'I will give it to your descendants.' I have now allowed you to see it with your own eyes, but you will not enter the land." Moses died there in the land of Moab, just as the Lord had said. Now I would feel to bad for Moses because by the sounds of it where Moses went blows the new land for the Israelites away!
Now Joshua talks directly with the Lord as Moses did. The Lord parts the Jordan river for the people to Israel to cross as he did the Red Sea. The people of Israel cross under the guidance of Joshua who speaks to them the Lords instructions. That day the Lord made Joshua a great leader in the eyes of all the Israelites, per the Lords instructions for the rest of his life they revered him as much as they had revered Moses.
Now we go into the circumcision dance again. No one had been circumcised after the Exodus during the 40 years in the wilderness. So Joshua did as the Lord commanded and made flint knives and circumcised the entire male population of Israel. Once they healed the Israealite men started to conquer all the land under the powerful hand of the Lord. Jericho was kind of cool it was surrounded by a huge wall and the gates were tightly shut because the people were afraid of the Israelites, rightfully so. The Lord sent a commander of His army to meet with the Israelites. The Lord said to Joshua You and your fighting men should march around the town once a day for six days. Seven priests will walk ahead of the Ark, each carrying a ram's horn. On the seventh day you are to march around the town seven times, with the priests blowing the horns. When you hear the priests give one long blast on the rams' horns, have all the people shout as loud as they can and the people can charge straight into the town." So Joshua did as the Lord said and when they shouted the walls of Jericho collapsed and they attached and conquered.
They go on to conquer the cities the Lord has promised them but are tricked by Gibeon. They heard of the whopping Joshua did on Jericho and Ai so they sent ambassadors with worn-out pants and moldy bread to make it seem like they travelled from far away. Outside of the area the Lord had told Joshua to conquer. They tricked him into signing a treaty with them guaranteeing their safety but they did this without consulting the Lord. I know about that kind of mistake! They then figure out they were tricked but can't take back the oath to not kill them so Joshua made the Gibeonites the woodcutters and water carriers for the community of Israel and for the altar of the Lord-wherever the Lord would choose to build it.
The King of Jerusalem heard about the Isrealites destroying towns and how they made peace with the Gibeonites so he rallied up several other kings to go destroy Gibeon. Joshua sent the Isrealite army to go destroy all those Amorites as they were going to attack Gibeon. Joshua prayed to the Lord in front of all the people of Israel "Let the sun stand still over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Aijalon." And they did. It is recorded in the book of Jashar that there has never been a day like this one before or since, when the Lord answered such a prayer.
Joshua conquered the whole region of the hill country, the Negev, the western foothills and the mountain slopes. He left no survivors just ads the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded.
Now Joshua talks directly with the Lord as Moses did. The Lord parts the Jordan river for the people to Israel to cross as he did the Red Sea. The people of Israel cross under the guidance of Joshua who speaks to them the Lords instructions. That day the Lord made Joshua a great leader in the eyes of all the Israelites, per the Lords instructions for the rest of his life they revered him as much as they had revered Moses.
Now we go into the circumcision dance again. No one had been circumcised after the Exodus during the 40 years in the wilderness. So Joshua did as the Lord commanded and made flint knives and circumcised the entire male population of Israel. Once they healed the Israealite men started to conquer all the land under the powerful hand of the Lord. Jericho was kind of cool it was surrounded by a huge wall and the gates were tightly shut because the people were afraid of the Israelites, rightfully so. The Lord sent a commander of His army to meet with the Israelites. The Lord said to Joshua You and your fighting men should march around the town once a day for six days. Seven priests will walk ahead of the Ark, each carrying a ram's horn. On the seventh day you are to march around the town seven times, with the priests blowing the horns. When you hear the priests give one long blast on the rams' horns, have all the people shout as loud as they can and the people can charge straight into the town." So Joshua did as the Lord said and when they shouted the walls of Jericho collapsed and they attached and conquered.
They go on to conquer the cities the Lord has promised them but are tricked by Gibeon. They heard of the whopping Joshua did on Jericho and Ai so they sent ambassadors with worn-out pants and moldy bread to make it seem like they travelled from far away. Outside of the area the Lord had told Joshua to conquer. They tricked him into signing a treaty with them guaranteeing their safety but they did this without consulting the Lord. I know about that kind of mistake! They then figure out they were tricked but can't take back the oath to not kill them so Joshua made the Gibeonites the woodcutters and water carriers for the community of Israel and for the altar of the Lord-wherever the Lord would choose to build it.
The King of Jerusalem heard about the Isrealites destroying towns and how they made peace with the Gibeonites so he rallied up several other kings to go destroy Gibeon. Joshua sent the Isrealite army to go destroy all those Amorites as they were going to attack Gibeon. Joshua prayed to the Lord in front of all the people of Israel "Let the sun stand still over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Aijalon." And they did. It is recorded in the book of Jashar that there has never been a day like this one before or since, when the Lord answered such a prayer.
Joshua conquered the whole region of the hill country, the Negev, the western foothills and the mountain slopes. He left no survivors just ads the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded.
Apr 3 - 9 Moses Lives To 120
OK, I have to tell you the reading and blogging everyday has become a little overwhelming. Now I read how much stuff had to be done in the old testament with setting up, breaking down and moving the Temple and it seems a little weird that I would be overwhelmed with reading. Then I think about all that we do now adays with work, side businesses, kids and day to day issues I guess it can snowball before you know it. So from time to time I may be doing some bulk blogging. The main thing I want to take out of all of this is my devotional time with God. I can't sacrifice that just to stick to a regiment that I'm finding hard to keep up with now and again. The old testament right now is a lot of reading and zzzzzzzzzzz uh not necessarily boring but very loooooooooooong, drawn out and repetitive.
The big thing I've found over the last few days is that the Lord is a jealous God and he tells the people of Israel that, through Moses, many times. He is going to give them the land across the Jordan but makes it very clear if they stray and start worshipping false gods and statues he's going to turn from them and curse them and their towns, flocks, fruit baskets....etc. "Just as the Lord has found great pleasure in causing you to prosper and multiply, the Lord will find pleasure in destroying you. You will be torn from the land you are about to enter and occupy." I would think that statement alone would keep anyone from going astray after everything they had seen with the Lords power.
"Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on the heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." This was the statement Moses gave to the people of Israel after he finished giving them all the instructions from the Lord. Moses wrote all the instructions in a book and gave it to the priests who carried the Ark of the Lord's Covenant. He gave them this command "At the end of every seventh year, the Year of Release, during the Festival of Shelters, you must read this Book of Instructions to all the people of Israel when they assemble before the Lord your God at the place he chooses."
The Lord then says to Moses "The time has come for you to die. Call Joshua and present your selves at the Tabernacle, so that I may commission him there." He then gives Moses a song that he recites to the assembly of Israel. He also added that they need to "Take Heart all the words of warning I have given you today." he says the instructions are not empty words-they are their lives!. Then Moses gives blessings to the people of Israel to each individual tribe. I'm just reading about it and am exhausted I can only imagine living it!
The big thing I've found over the last few days is that the Lord is a jealous God and he tells the people of Israel that, through Moses, many times. He is going to give them the land across the Jordan but makes it very clear if they stray and start worshipping false gods and statues he's going to turn from them and curse them and their towns, flocks, fruit baskets....etc. "Just as the Lord has found great pleasure in causing you to prosper and multiply, the Lord will find pleasure in destroying you. You will be torn from the land you are about to enter and occupy." I would think that statement alone would keep anyone from going astray after everything they had seen with the Lords power.
"Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on the heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." This was the statement Moses gave to the people of Israel after he finished giving them all the instructions from the Lord. Moses wrote all the instructions in a book and gave it to the priests who carried the Ark of the Lord's Covenant. He gave them this command "At the end of every seventh year, the Year of Release, during the Festival of Shelters, you must read this Book of Instructions to all the people of Israel when they assemble before the Lord your God at the place he chooses."
The Lord then says to Moses "The time has come for you to die. Call Joshua and present your selves at the Tabernacle, so that I may commission him there." He then gives Moses a song that he recites to the assembly of Israel. He also added that they need to "Take Heart all the words of warning I have given you today." he says the instructions are not empty words-they are their lives!. Then Moses gives blessings to the people of Israel to each individual tribe. I'm just reading about it and am exhausted I can only imagine living it!
Apr 2 - Come Follow Me
So in the old testament today the Lord says "Suppose a man marries a woman but after sleeping with her, he turns against her and publicly accuses her of shameful conduct, saying, 'When I married this woman, I discovered she was not a virgin.' Then the woman's father and mother must bring proof of her virginity to the elders as they hold court at the town gate. Her father must say to them, 'I gave my daughter to this man to be his wife, and now he has turned against her. He has accused her of shameful conduct, saying, "I discovered that your daughter was not a virgin." But here is the proof of my daughter's virginity.' Then they must spread her bed sheet before the elders. The elders must then take the man and punish him. They must also fine him 100 pieces of silver, which he must pay to the woman's father because he publicly accused a virgin of Israel of shameful conduct. The woman will then remain the man's wife, and he may never divorce her.
"But suppose the man's accusations are true, and he can show that she was not a virgin. The woman must be taken to the door of her father's home, and there the men of the town must stone her to death, for she has committed a disgraceful crime in Israel by being promiscuous while living in her parent's home."
"If a man is discovered committing adultery, both he and the woman must die. In this way, you will purge Israel of such evil."
Now I picked these out directly because I think it shows how incredibly sacred God feels virginity and marriage is. In today's society virginity seems to me to be something that is seen as a negative. If you haven't done the hibity dibity in high school then there is something wrong with you. If you don't score in college then you must be a Eunuch or a prude(in a negative form). It seems that on television, movies and even commercials showing sex out of marriage is as normal as having coffee or milk in the morning. Now I'm not pointing a finger or saying "you'll burn in hell" for such and act. I was there....I felt the need to prove my coolness in that arena before I met Jesus. My wife didn't. Thankfully when I "found" (as it's put) Jesus I was forgiven for all of my sins and was washed clean and made new. I can tell you without a doubt, 100% that a night with my wife, thanks to the blessing of God for waiting until we were married, far surpasses any attempts to try to fill my lustful drive when I was younger.
The old testament ends with "A man must not marry his father's former wife, for this would violate his father." uuuuuuuuuuuhhhhhh the only comment I have for that is yuk. Sounds like a talk show topic.
In Luke today Jesus sets out for Jerusalem and meets people along the road who he talks to them in parables about following him. The Lord chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit. His instructions to them "The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his Fields. Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves. Don't take any money with you, nor a traveler's bag, nor an extra pair of sandals. And don't stop to greet anyone on the road." He goes on to tell them not to move around from home to home but to stay in one place in each town. When they enter a town if it welcomes them eat whatever is set before them. "Heal the sick, and tell them, 'The Kingdom of God is near you now.' but if a town refuses to welcome you, go out into it's streets and say, 'We wipe even the dust of your town from our feet to show that we have abandoned you to your fate. And know this-The Kingdom of God is near!' I assure you, even wicked Sodom will be better off than such a town on judgment day!"
I like the verbiage "The harvest is great, but the workers are few." It is so true. You can see it on Easter and Christmas that the Jesus believing churches are packed! Our Christian beliefs that Jesus was the messiah and the only way to heaven is through him is lived by some, preached by even less, but appear to be believed by many. The "workers" walk and talk in the light of Jesus....not in a freaky or crazy way. The "harvest" are all those that don't know Jesus, some go to church every Sunday, some just on Easter and Christmas....others don't know at all. That's a lot of harvest....well That's the way I see it:)
"But suppose the man's accusations are true, and he can show that she was not a virgin. The woman must be taken to the door of her father's home, and there the men of the town must stone her to death, for she has committed a disgraceful crime in Israel by being promiscuous while living in her parent's home."
"If a man is discovered committing adultery, both he and the woman must die. In this way, you will purge Israel of such evil."
Now I picked these out directly because I think it shows how incredibly sacred God feels virginity and marriage is. In today's society virginity seems to me to be something that is seen as a negative. If you haven't done the hibity dibity in high school then there is something wrong with you. If you don't score in college then you must be a Eunuch or a prude(in a negative form). It seems that on television, movies and even commercials showing sex out of marriage is as normal as having coffee or milk in the morning. Now I'm not pointing a finger or saying "you'll burn in hell" for such and act. I was there....I felt the need to prove my coolness in that arena before I met Jesus. My wife didn't. Thankfully when I "found" (as it's put) Jesus I was forgiven for all of my sins and was washed clean and made new. I can tell you without a doubt, 100% that a night with my wife, thanks to the blessing of God for waiting until we were married, far surpasses any attempts to try to fill my lustful drive when I was younger.
The old testament ends with "A man must not marry his father's former wife, for this would violate his father." uuuuuuuuuuuhhhhhh the only comment I have for that is yuk. Sounds like a talk show topic.
In Luke today Jesus sets out for Jerusalem and meets people along the road who he talks to them in parables about following him. The Lord chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit. His instructions to them "The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his Fields. Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves. Don't take any money with you, nor a traveler's bag, nor an extra pair of sandals. And don't stop to greet anyone on the road." He goes on to tell them not to move around from home to home but to stay in one place in each town. When they enter a town if it welcomes them eat whatever is set before them. "Heal the sick, and tell them, 'The Kingdom of God is near you now.' but if a town refuses to welcome you, go out into it's streets and say, 'We wipe even the dust of your town from our feet to show that we have abandoned you to your fate. And know this-The Kingdom of God is near!' I assure you, even wicked Sodom will be better off than such a town on judgment day!"
I like the verbiage "The harvest is great, but the workers are few." It is so true. You can see it on Easter and Christmas that the Jesus believing churches are packed! Our Christian beliefs that Jesus was the messiah and the only way to heaven is through him is lived by some, preached by even less, but appear to be believed by many. The "workers" walk and talk in the light of Jesus....not in a freaky or crazy way. The "harvest" are all those that don't know Jesus, some go to church every Sunday, some just on Easter and Christmas....others don't know at all. That's a lot of harvest....well That's the way I see it:)
April 1 - Chosen One
Still in Deutoronomy - lots of rules and regs for different stuff, like if someone kills someone accidentally, they can flee to one of three cities that the Lord has instructed to be set apart for refuge. They can live there safely. But if someone deliberately ambushes and murders a neighbor and then flees to one of the cities of refuge then the elders of the murders hometown must send agents to go and get him and bring him back to be put to death buy the dead persons avenger. Lots more rules regarding when they attack towns too.
In Luke today Jesus takes Peter James and John up on a mountain to pray. Peter and the others had fallen asleep and when they woke up they saw Jesus' glory and Moses and Elijah standing with him. A cloud came over them and said "This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him." When the voice finished Jesus was standing all alone. The next day after they came down the mountain A man calls out :Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, my only child. An evil spirit keeps seizing him, making him scream. It throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It batters him and hardly ever leaves him alone. I begged your disciples to cast out the spirit, but they couldn't do it."
"You faithless and corrupt people," Jesus said, "how long must I be with you and put up with you?" Then he said to the man, "Bring your son here." Jesus rebuked the evil spirit and healed the boy.
While everyone was marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, "Listen to me and remember what I say. The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies."
But they didn't know what he meant. Its significance was hidden from the, so they couldn't understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.
The reading ends with John talking to Jesus "Master, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he isn't in our group." So even back in biblical days they had clicks.
Jesus said, "Don't stop him! Anyone who is not against you is for you." {Plus a few paragraphs back you seem to have some issues casting out a demon so keep that guys number in your scroll nextime you hit a snag he may be able to help you in a jam:)}
In Luke today Jesus takes Peter James and John up on a mountain to pray. Peter and the others had fallen asleep and when they woke up they saw Jesus' glory and Moses and Elijah standing with him. A cloud came over them and said "This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him." When the voice finished Jesus was standing all alone. The next day after they came down the mountain A man calls out :Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, my only child. An evil spirit keeps seizing him, making him scream. It throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It batters him and hardly ever leaves him alone. I begged your disciples to cast out the spirit, but they couldn't do it."
"You faithless and corrupt people," Jesus said, "how long must I be with you and put up with you?" Then he said to the man, "Bring your son here." Jesus rebuked the evil spirit and healed the boy.
While everyone was marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, "Listen to me and remember what I say. The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies."
But they didn't know what he meant. Its significance was hidden from the, so they couldn't understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.
The reading ends with John talking to Jesus "Master, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he isn't in our group." So even back in biblical days they had clicks.
Jesus said, "Don't stop him! Anyone who is not against you is for you." {Plus a few paragraphs back you seem to have some issues casting out a demon so keep that guys number in your scroll nextime you hit a snag he may be able to help you in a jam:)}
Mar 31 - Jesus Feeds 5,000
Today in the old testament it talks about Passover and the 3 festivals. The Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Harvest, and the Festival of Shelters. Each year every man in Israel must celebrate these 3 festivals and on each occasion, all mean must appear before the Lord at the place he chooses, with a gift. They must give as they are able, according to the blessing given to them by the Lord. So it seems that the restrictions on specific sacrifices are being loosened up a little. But it still applies that you can "Never sacrifice sick or defective cattle, sheep, or goats to the Lord your God, for he detests such gifts."
In Luke today Jesus pulls a rabbit out of his hat....or should I say takes five loaves of bread and two fish and feeds 5,000 men. Everyone at as much as they could and when it was all over the disciples picked up 12 baskets of leftovers! In today's reading also Jesus pops the question to his disciples. "Who do people say I am?" they replied "some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other ancient prophets risen from the dead." Then he asked them, "But who do you say I am?" Peter replied, "You are the Messiah sent from God!"
Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone who he was. "The Son of Man must suffer many terrible things" he said. "He will be rejected by the elders, the leading priest, and the teachers of religious law. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead." How would you like to have that piece of information you couldn't share. Reminds me of the handful of Friends episodes where Joey finds out Chandler is dating Monica but they don't want him to tell anyone. OK not quite the same but funny to watch anyway:) I can tell you I am PHENOMENAL at keeping secrets from everyone but my wife. That's because the minute someone tells me something important I have to tell her because I'm going to forget 10 minutes later! Anywho back to the Word! I personally think it's awesome that Jesus knows all that he is going to have to go through for us, those who are most obviously not worthy! Yet he doesn't miss a beat...."Your will be done not mine".....that's the way I see it:)
In Luke today Jesus pulls a rabbit out of his hat....or should I say takes five loaves of bread and two fish and feeds 5,000 men. Everyone at as much as they could and when it was all over the disciples picked up 12 baskets of leftovers! In today's reading also Jesus pops the question to his disciples. "Who do people say I am?" they replied "some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other ancient prophets risen from the dead." Then he asked them, "But who do you say I am?" Peter replied, "You are the Messiah sent from God!"
Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone who he was. "The Son of Man must suffer many terrible things" he said. "He will be rejected by the elders, the leading priest, and the teachers of religious law. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead." How would you like to have that piece of information you couldn't share. Reminds me of the handful of Friends episodes where Joey finds out Chandler is dating Monica but they don't want him to tell anyone. OK not quite the same but funny to watch anyway:) I can tell you I am PHENOMENAL at keeping secrets from everyone but my wife. That's because the minute someone tells me something important I have to tell her because I'm going to forget 10 minutes later! Anywho back to the Word! I personally think it's awesome that Jesus knows all that he is going to have to go through for us, those who are most obviously not worthy! Yet he doesn't miss a beat...."Your will be done not mine".....that's the way I see it:)
Mar 30 - No Eating Bats
Still reading through Deuteronomy its a lot of reminder stuff. Some of it's on what they can and can't eat when they move into the land promised to them by the Lord......Pigs are still off the list!! No bearded vultures or bats either....bummer. Repeatedly Moses says "And do not neglect the Levites in your town, for they will receive no allotment of land among you." It goes on to talk about setting aside a tithe of crops each year to bring to the place of worship. When they bring the tithe they can eat it at the place of worship not give it to anyone or burn it up they just have to eat it at the place of worship not their towns. The rules don't seem to be as intense when they get into the new land. He is also explicit about taking care of the poor and giving generously to them. The best one is "at the end of every seventh year you must cancel the debts of everyone who owes you money." I'm photocopying that page and sending it to my mortgage company:)
In Luke today Jesus raises a families daughter from the dead and a lady is healed by simply touching his garments while he is walking through the crowd. "One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out demons and to heal all diseases. Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 'Take nothing for your journey,' he instructed them. 'Don't take a walking stick, a traveler's bag, food, money, or even a change of clothes. Wherever you go, stay in the same house until you leave town. And if a town refuses to welcome you, shake it's dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate' So the began their circuit of the villages, preaching the Good News and healing the sick." How cool would that be! Go all across the lands healing and casting out demons! I wonder if they had other tricks up their sleeves.....maybe make a goat talk or something fun like that? OK so Jesus most likely wouldn't trust me with those abilities or put a heck of a restriction on them so I wouldn't be freaking people out by raising a little girls dead cat that just got run over by a cart.
In Luke today Jesus raises a families daughter from the dead and a lady is healed by simply touching his garments while he is walking through the crowd. "One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out demons and to heal all diseases. Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 'Take nothing for your journey,' he instructed them. 'Don't take a walking stick, a traveler's bag, food, money, or even a change of clothes. Wherever you go, stay in the same house until you leave town. And if a town refuses to welcome you, shake it's dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate' So the began their circuit of the villages, preaching the Good News and healing the sick." How cool would that be! Go all across the lands healing and casting out demons! I wonder if they had other tricks up their sleeves.....maybe make a goat talk or something fun like that? OK so Jesus most likely wouldn't trust me with those abilities or put a heck of a restriction on them so I wouldn't be freaking people out by raising a little girls dead cat that just got run over by a cart.
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