Tumors?

I Kings 5:6,9

When the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant, God afflicted them with tumors, tumors in the groin.

What would affect the human body to grow tumors? Radiation? Electro-magnetism? Why did they affect the Philistines? Why were the Israelites, and especially the Levites, immune to these tumors? This is a very curious phenomenon that is recorded here.

If anyone reading this blog has any ideas, please comment. Thank you.

The Prodigal

Luke 15:11-32

I read again the story of the lost son. My older daughter has shared with me that she felt like that prodigal son's older brother, since I let my younger daughter come back home. In that story, the father represented God, and did nothing wrong; the one in the wrong was the older brother, in not appreciating what he already had, and being jealous and resentful of his little brother. And my older daughter has "never" accepted her sister. But I am not God, and so I recognize that I have not done righteously toward my older daughter. Lord, please show me my fault, how I have wronged my children, and how to make amends to them to heal our relationships.

Even so, come. Lord Jesus!

(Note: This is my journal entry of several years ago. Much has passed "under the bridge" since that time. God is faithful and answered my prayer in ways I did not expect.)

Weighed Down Or Cheered Up?

Proverbs 12:25

An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.

O my Father, Your kind words have consoled me so often! Please teach me to be kind in my attitude and words; help me to allow Your compassion to temper, or replace, my own attitudes, so that my words will be gracious and kind.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Kindness

Proverbs 11:16

A kindhearted woman gains respect . . .

O my Father, You have been so kind to me and mine. Please help me to give Your kindnesses to others. Teach me how to soften my words and attitudes with Your kindnesses and compassion. Help me to be more like You, Father, to grow each day into Your image, continually putting off the "old man" and putting on the "new man," forming new habits and new ways of responding.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

The Golden Rule

Matthew 7:12

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

O my Father, please help me to always consider others in this way; to continuously treat them in the way I would want to be treated, and to listen to my own words as they would hear them. Grant me Your love and compassion, for my own are so inadequate!

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Following His Commands

Genesis 6:22; 7:5

Noah did everything just as God commanded him.

And Noah did all that the Lord commanded him.

O my Father God, teach me also Your ways, that I will delight in following You, that I may be strengthened to obey, doing everything You have commanded me to do; to do all those things You have planned ahead of time for me to accomplish for Your kingdom. Thank You for all You have done in my life, and keep me close to You, not turning away from following You in any manner.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Every Thought Captive

II Corinthians 10:5b

We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

O my Father, teach me to take every thought captive to consider every thought, so that when I open my mouth or pick up my pen or approach my keyboard to send a message, that my words would come from You, and be obedient to everything I know and have learned of Christ.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

The Power Of Words

Proverbs 12:18

Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Words are very powerful. God used His Word to create everything that exists. He has made us in His very image, in His likeness, and our words also have amazing power. We can both build up and tear down relationships with our words. I know that I need to be very careful with my own words, because in the past I have wounded others and erected barriers; and I have also been able to mend feelings and heal relationships, all with words. I know that I need to think first, considering how the hearer may receive the words I utter, text and email.

O my Father, I know that my words have pierced like a sword! Please, Father, help me be mindful, not absent-minded, in the midst of whatever is happening! Keep Your arm around my shoulder and Your hand over my mouth. Give me Your wisdom, and let kindness be under my tongue; that Your words on my tongue may bring healing! Teach me to rely on You in the crunch of this life, that Your ways would be my instinct, not the ways of my flesh!

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

No Weapon

Isaiah 54:17

"No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me," declares the Lord.

O my Father, grant me the strength to prevail over whatever weapons are forged against me, and the wisdom and grace to refute what accusations may have gone out against me. Father, vindicate me, in Your way and in Your time, according to Your plans for me to fulfill Your purposes.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

A Refuge

Proverbs 10:29

The way of the Lord is a refuge for the righteous, but it is the ruin of those who do evil.

O my Father, teach me Your ways that I may walk in Your way; let me take refuge under Your wings.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Weighed Answers

Proverbs 15:28

The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.

O my Father, please help me to weigh my answers, and not let my mouth gush out answers that are defensive or offensive. Remind me who You are and who I am in You, and who others are in You, also. Teach me how to love others as You love them.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Unity In Love

John 17:23

May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me.

O my Father, please work in us to bring us to that complete unity! Begin with families, even my own family -- bring us to unity in You, that we may show the world Your love. O Father, Your love is so great, full, complete! Your love makes me complete; it also makes my family members complete: Let that fullness of Your love unite us as one, even as You are one! Then let my family show the world Your love for them, and spread to all the families on Earth!

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Singleness Of Heart And Action

Jeremiah 32:38,40b

They will be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them singleness of heart and action....I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me.

O my Father, please give me focus--singleness of heart and action. Inspire me to fear You, to be aware of Your attention on me as I interact with others. Teach me to listen to others to hear the desires and needs of their hearts, not just the surface of their words. Grant me Your compassion for others!

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

God's Ways Or My Own?

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.

O  my Father, please continue to teach me to trust in You rather than my own understanding; let me not go off in my own strength, but rely on You and Your ways. Teach me of Yourself and lead me in the straight paths of Your righteousness.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

To Stand Before The Son Of Man

Luke 21:36

 

Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.

O My Father, I pray that You would strengthen me and enable me to escape all that is to happen in this world, hide me under the shadow of Your wings, carry me as the Shepherd carries the lamb; that I may survive to the very coming of our King, and behold Him with my own eyes, and be able to stand before Him!
Even so, come Lord Jesus!

Christians And Money

Luke 16:8-13

 

The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.  I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own? No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

This whole passage is about money: How we manage our finances shows our views of God and His provisions. We can learn from the world about financial management because they can be wiser in money matters than Christians, who can be naive, thinking that it's "holier" to disdain handling "filthy lucre." But money is a tool, it has no intrinsic moral value either good or bad. If we make Money a god, a goal in itself, that is evil, so loving money is at odds with loving God. Learning good financial practices is just as righteous a concept as any "holy" activity. Money is a tool that we need to learn more about how to use, in order to promote God's Kingdom, as His hands and feet.

Note: See also my post of June 24, 2015.

Paul's Final Charge

II Timothy 4:1-2, 6-8

 

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, - Keeping my focus on the spiritual, eternal Truths; and expecting Jesus' appearing, when He will judge, and set up His Kingdom.

I give you this charge: - This is what I need to do.

Preach the word; - God's Word, not theories of men.

be prepared in season and out of season; - When I've planned it, and when it's spontaneous.

correct, rebuke and encourage -- Whatever the hearer needs.

with great patience - Don't rush it, there's time.

and careful instruction. - Watch your words.

For I am already being  poured out like a drink offering, - Paul was suffering and in pain.

and the time has come for my departure. - He fully expected to die soon.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. - 'Nuff said.

Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, -   The reward.

Which the Lord, the righteous Judge, - Jesus.

will award me on that day -- The Day of His Appearing.

And not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing. - Everyone who is focused on the spiritual, and are eagerly expecting Him to come soon.

The Body

I Corinthians 12:14-20

 

The body is a unit - It is one, unified into a single entity.

though it is made up of many parts; - body parts, gross when separated from the body, and won't work unless connected to the body.

and though all its parts are many, they form one body. - Each body is made up of various kinds of cells that become different kinds of organs, etc.

So it is with Christ. - God's Annointed is One, yet made up of many kinds of parts.

For we were all baptized by one Spirit - The same One immersed all of us, each one of us.

into one body --  Now we are all a part of one another.

whether Jews or Greeks - No matter our birth pedigree.

slave or free -- No matter our political or economic standing.

and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. - To slake our spiritual thirst; to be filled with, controlled by.

Now the body is not made up of one part but many. - A lot of different kinds of parts comprising one whole.

If the foot should say, - Have this attitude.

"Because I'm not a hand," - Envy of another's ability.

"I do not belong to the body," - I'm not important or needed.

It would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. - Attitude does not change reality.

And if the ear should say, -  Again, attitude.

"Because I'm not an eye," - Envy of another's perception.

"I do not belong to the body," - Not connected or appreciated.

it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. - Again, perception is not necessarily reality.

If the whole body were an eye, -  All perceive by seeing.

where would the sense of hearing be? - No one would be able to hear.

If the whole body were an ear, - Blind, but hearing.

where would the sense of smell be? - No one would catch the whiff of decay, nor the fragrance of a rose.

But in fact God has arranged - It's His plan and doing, not ours.

the parts in the body, - He designed and engineered it.

every one of them, - Each part has an important part to play.

just as He wanted them to be. - His choice, not ours.

If they were all one part, where would the body be? - If we were all the same, it wouldn't work.

As it is, - Reality.

there are many parts - We are all different. 

but one body. - It takes all of our different personalities, abilities, gifts, etc. to get everything done and make it work.




 

Who Do We Pray To?

John 16:26-28

 

In that day - The day is now, when Jesus began to speak plainly about the Father to the disciples, without using figurative speech.

you will ask - He says we will ask, we will converse with God and ask for what we need, without fear.

in My Name. - When we ask in Jesus' Name, we are admitting that Jesus is the Authority, not myself, and the term refers to His Kingdom.

I'm not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. - Jesus will not triangulate between us and the Father. When we involve a third person to communicate with a second person for us, the first person, it is not a psychologically healthy way to relate, because it shows a fear of the second person. Our communication needs to be directly with the second person for a healthy encounter. Jesus refuses to enable us to give in to our fear.

No, the Father Himself loves you - God Himself loves us, and His love is perfect. Perfect love casts out fear, so we need have no fear when we pray directly to God and ask Him for whatever it is we need.

because you have loved me -  The Father Himself loves us because we love Jesus.

and have believed that I came from God. - We trust that He really is who He says He is (came from God) and has finished, accomplished the work He came to do in paying off the debt we owe for our sins, and purchasing the World.

I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father - Because He finished His work and fulfilled the purpose for His coming, He is now returning to the Father to complete the rest of His plans for us.




 

God And America

Job 12:23-25

 

He makes nations great, and destroys them - God has blessed America and made her powerful in the world, a super-power, to spread her Godly influence into other nations; then God can destroy her, He is taking away her blessings, our influence in the world is waning and there is talk of our Dollar not being regarded as the world's currency.

He enlarges nations, and disperses them - We see God having done this in Israel: They were a world power under David and Solomon, but after that they waned and were eventually dispersed among all the other nations. The same can and may happen in America.

He deprives the leaders of the Earth of their reason - Our American president and Congress cannot be reasoned with, they have their own agendas, and history and logic are twisted.

He sends them wandering through a trackless waste - Economically they are leading us into places no one has had the timerity to go before.

They grope in darkness with no light - They do Quantitave Easings and raise the debt ceiling beyond anything that has ever been done before.

He makes them stagger like drunkards - 'nuff said! 




 

God Is Light

I John 1:5

 

God is light, in Him there is no darkness at all; no shadow of turning, pure light.

3:2

 

Now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

4:12a

 

No one has ever seen God . . .

When Moses spent time with God on the mountain, and actually saw God's "back," he came down from that mountain glowing, so that he had to wear a veil over his face.

God is pure, unadulterated light, with no "shadow of turning." Our eyes are incapable, unable to "see" light, we need shadows to define what we're looking at; pure light would be a glare, that would burn our eyes to look at, like looking into the Sun, which is a "light holder" reflecting a small portion of God's glory. But when Jesus returns, and our bodies are "changed," then we'll have "new eyes" and will be able to behold Him, see Him as He is.

Thoroughly Equipped

II Timothy 3:14-17

Personalized Paraphrase:

As for me, I must continue in the Truth I was taught since I was a child, which led me to the Salvation You granted me so many years ago, and continues to inform me through my trust in Your Word and the faithfulness of my Savior, Christ Jesus. Because I know that the whole Bible is the Holy Scripture that You, God, breathed into Your prophets to write down, and all of it as a whole is for teaching me what to believe, calling me out on what I do wrong, fixing my weaknesses and errors, and training me in the Godly lifestyle You, Father, made me to live. Then I will be thoroughly equipped and fitted to accomplish every good work You planned ahead of time for me to do for Your glory and toward Your kingdom here on this Earth, that Your will shall be done down here just as it is done now in Heaven. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Wisdom And Understanding

Proverbs 2:1-11

Pray it:

O my Father, my Abba, Daddy, I have read and studied Your words to me, I have sought to apply my heart to Your wisdom and understanding Your ways. I call out for insight and I cry out loud for understanding; I have looked for it as for silver and searched for it as for hidden treasure. Please, Father dear, grant me understanding that I may worship You in true knowledge and wisdom, for all true wisdom, understanding and knowledge is from You. Only in You will I achieve victory, for You are my shield, guarding my way and protecting me. Keep me faithful to Your righteousness, and forgive my failings, that I may be found blameless. Then please grant me Your understanding if what is right and just and fair--every good path. Then let Your wisdom enter my heart, and the knowledge of You and Your ways will be pleasant to my soul; and let discretion protect me, and understanding guard me.

Make My (Day?) Joy!

Philippians 2:2

Make - My choice, I must do it.

My - God's pleasure, not mine.

Joy - God's smile, His deep happiness and approval.

Complete - Full, whole, finished.

Being like-minded - Understanding and agreeing

Having the same love - Real, true love, not just affection or lust or owning.

Being one in spirit - Agreeing in mind, emotion and desires.

And purpose - The reason why, the goal, the finish line.

O my Father, please help me to want to and do what You want for me. Help me to see others, especially my own family members, as You see them; teach me to discern their thoughts and thought processes so that I will be able to agree in my thoughts with them. Help me to love them with Your true, pure, deep and genuine love, in spite of and because of their faults and failings. Teach me to understand their fears, shame and pride in the light of Your Truth for them, so that I will be able to agree with them in accomplishing Your purposes for each of us and for all of us; to promote Your kingdom here--that Your will would be done here on this Earth just as it is done now in Heaven. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Our Few Days

Psalm 39:4

Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.

My Prayer:

O my Father, my Divine Daddy, I ask you to show me what shall be the end of my life, and the number, how many days You will have given me; let me know and realize how fleeting my life is, so that I will treasure each day, not wasting the moments I still have here. Show me what You would have me do each moment of every day, realizing my end, to accomplish all the purposes You have planned for me to fulfill during these few days. Teach me to continually look to You for direction, to walk in Your steps the path You have set before me, seeing others through Your eyes and allowing my heart to break for what breaks Your heart.

Delight In The Lord

Psalm 1:2-3

But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Personalized:

O my dear daughter, I will bless you because your delight is in My law I have given you, and your thoughts are continually on Me. So, sweetie, I see you as though you are a tree planted by the stream of My Living Water that nourishes you so that you bear your fruit for me every time I desire it, and your leaf will never wither whatsoever the weather around you, and I will cause you to succeed in everything you do for Me.

Love,

Dad

In Trouble? Pray!

James 5:13a

 

Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray!

O my Father, I pray for my friend in her trouble; I pray that Your peace shall rest upon her so that others around her would not understand, and that the joy of the Lord would give her such strength in carrying on through this month; I pray that You would show Yourself to be her sustainer and her supply in not only finances, but in all her needs. Thank you that You had her call me right as I was reading this verse in Your Word! Your timing is perfect! You do all things well!




 

 

 

His Provision In My Need

Psalm 73:21-28

Paraphrased:

When my husband was taken from me, I was thrown into a grief so deep that I was no better than a useless animal, sleeping away the days on the couch, neglecting my duties.

Yet You never left me! You carried me like a shepherd carries a wounded lamb, and led me by the hand out of the moroseness and back into Your joy! You are all I ever needed, in Heaven or on Earth, You are my all, nothing else can compete with You! Even if my health and finances shall fail, You will still be my strength and provision. You are good, and You are good to me; I will stay close by Your side, with Your arm around me. Those who refuse to acknowledge You will disappear as a dream is gone when I awaken from sleep, but You have given me Your eternal life, to prosper my days here, and spend forever with You. So I will talk about all You have done for me.

The Owner And King Of The World

Psalm 24 

Personalized:

My sweet little daughter, the whole Earth is Mine, and everything in it; the whole world is Mine, and everyone in it; because I planned it, plotted it, graphed it, devised it, and I made it and put it all together for you. I made sure that this Earth would be just so far from your Sun for it to allow life to be here, and I planned for all the Nations to be spread out over the whole world.

But Sweetie, to approach Me, I have provided for you to have clean hands and a pure heart, for you have not chased after any other for your provisions. So I will bless you, Darling, and vindicate you, because you are trusting Me as your Lord, as I AM.

I am coming soon, My Princess; I am returning to this Earth soon. Just as I came as a baby the first time, I will come back as King to reign. I am the Lord over all lords, to win not only every battle but the entire war. I am your Lord Almighty, Superhero, the King over all kings, worthy of all glory, honor and worship.

[And you, my dearest, shall reign with me on My throne.]

See Yourself As A Shepherd

Luke 2:8-21

Put yourself in the picture:

We shepherds were just out with our sheep as usual. Then suddenly there was this Angel, and light shown all around us--we were terrified! But the Angel told us not to be afraid, because he had good news for everybody: Today in the town of David a Savior has just been born, who is Messiah, the Lord. The Angel told us what to look for: A baby, wrapped up tightly, and lying in a manger (instead of a crib). All of a sudden, there were a lot more Angels, praising God loudly! When it was all over, we just stood around and looked at each other, and somebody said, "What are we doing standing around--let's go find this Baby!" So we all took off into Bethlehem, looking in all the barns and stables on the way, and when we got to town, there they were: The parents and the Baby, lying in the manger, exactly like the Angel said! We were so excited, we told everybody all about it, and they were all amazed, too. We saw everything just like we'd been told!