Jewels in a #jewelry box are fascinating #treasures or so my young grandchildren thought when they played with them. You see I had a special chest which contained fake bobbles for them to wear while they played. For a short time they could be a king or queen with all the embellished regalia! Today I see a society that is enthralled with jewels and their manufactured reality. Have you noticed how many TV networks are promoting jewelry/silver/gold 24 hrs a day? We all know jewels have monetary value and it doesn’t hurt if they add beauty to our life. Does the Bible mention jewels? Luke 12:34 “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” Isaiah 2:5 “Walk in the light of the LORD. 7.Their land is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures…8.Their land is also full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made. 3:18 In that day the LORD will take away the beauty of their anklets, earrings, bracelets, rings, nose jewels. 2:11 The proud lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day” Mal.3:2 “Who may abide the day of HIS coming? Who shall stand when He appears?…He (LORD) shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.” Now if we treasure our jewels of silver and gold, what does our LORD, THE LIVING GOD TREASURE? … Y O U … Mal.3:16-18 “They that feared the LORD spake often one to another and the LORD .. heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and thought upon His name.. ‘they shall be mine’, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up MY JEWELS; and I spare them, as a man spares his own son that serves him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serves God and him that does not serve God.” Have you heard it said, “They’re a real jewel“! R U?
from Barbara’s Bible
THE LIVING GOD #CROWN
Worldly Word: #Drink up and be #merry! #Live for the moment! #Party like there is no tomorrow! Heard any of those cliches? Many people have had their lives destroyed by strong drink. Oh you say, I’m just sociable having fun partying with friends who will show me the restroom and call someone for a ride home. Really! And that’s living? Have you ever watched a flower fading? Have you seen an intelligent, strong individual lose everything because of addiction? I have seen the destructive domino effect on all the lives surrounding strong drinking in my own extended family. It is hard to watch all the while feeling so helpless like observing a plane falling from the sky. I know it grieves GOD to see us disregard His Word. “Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower which are on the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine! They also have sinned through wine and strong drink; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision they stumble in judgment. For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean. But the WORD OF THE LORD was to them precept upon precept…line upon line…here a little and there a little; that they might go and fall backward and be broken, snared, and taken. Wherefore HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD…Give ear, and hear God’s voice; hear My speech. For GOD instructs and teaches us to act properly with discretion” Isaiah 28 Do you listen to everyone around you saying, ‘accept everything just go along to get along’? Roses fade. Please turn to the WORD OF THE LORD of hosts for there will be a crown of glory for a diadem of beauty unto the residue of His people. Will you choose a crown of pride or GOD’s CROWN OF GLORY?
THE LIVING GOD #INSTRUCTS
#School starts back on Monday here ending a short summer break from #teachers’ #instructions. #Parents and #children are given rules to follow so that the year will go smoothly; however, it is up to each individual whether or not they comply. I have been both a student and a teacher so I know that you have to be “carefully taught”. A teacher’s plan has to be in place before instruction can begin to effectively achieve a goal step by step. With each bit of knowledge that is revealed the student has the choice to hear or block-out instruction. “Listen unto me now, children, and attend to the words of my mouth Prov.7:24” Sound familiar? If you read the Bible, God’s Word, you will realize GOD has written His teaching plan for us to follow. “Give ear and hear my voice; and hear my speech. For GOD INSTRUCTS him to act properly and does teach him. This comes from the LORD OF HOSTS which is WONDERFUL in COUNSEL and EXCELLENT in WORKING. Isaiah 28:23,26,29″ “The Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is His name, Great in COUNSEL, and Mighty in Work; for thine eyes are open *(not just in the back of the head of the teacher)* upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. Jer.32:19″ My prayer for all of us is that we will turn from our own plan walking after selfish imaginations of our evil hearts to God’s Instructions written so clearly in HIS WORD. “For I know the plans I have for you, declared the LORD, PLANS TO PROSPER YOU AND NOT TO HARM YOU, PLANS TO GIVE YOU HOPE AND A FUTURE” Jer.29:11
THE LIVING GOD #SWALLOWS
“That was a #bitter #pill to #swallow!” That is a cliche which I have heard and said all my life. How about YOU? Maybe you have said, “Just take it with a grain of #salt” or “A spoonful of #sugar makes the medicine go down” We know life has many circumstances that require some needed HELP. However, pills can have the ultimate fatal solution. I observe a society that thinks drugs will not only give them relief, but let them escape into another place by simply taking a bitter pill adding some salt, and then sprinkling it with sugar! The LORD SWALLOWED that bitter pill for you so you can be reconciled to Him with a fulfilled life and eternal joy. Isaiah 25:8,9 “HE WILL SWALLOW UP DEATH IN VICTORY; (1Corth.15:54-57 “Death is SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY. O death, where is thy sting: O grave, where is thy victory: The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.) and the LORD GOD WILL WIPE AWAY TEARS FROM OFF ALL FACES; and the rebuke of His people shall He take away from off all the earth: for the LORD HAS SPOKEN IT. It shall be said in that day Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us; this is the LORD; …we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.” Isaiah 26:3,4 “Thou will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusts in Thee. Trust in the LORD FOREVER, for in the LORD JEHOVAH IS EVERLASTING STRENGTH” That is no placebo (medicine given merely to satisfy a patient or just a soothing word) “TASTE AND SEE that the LORD IS GOOD; blessed is the man that trusts in Him” Ps.34:8
THE LIVING GOD #BLESSES
“Words, Words, Words, I’m so sick of #words” (quote from My Fair Lady) That is what I am feeling with all the bannering of words with no substance, but constant degradation on others’ character bombarding us day and night. Have we as a society degenerated to the stage that the wearing away from Truth is accepted? I see everyone making their words up as they speak all the while saying their truth is changeable depending on the circumstances. What or Who do you believe today? There is a standard which God set in HIS WORD and it does not change! When God says it – it happens – it is Truth – I believe it. Is.19:22-25 “The LORD shall smite Egypt: He shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the Lord, and He shall be entreated of them, and shall heal them. In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. In that day shall Israel be the third party with Egypt and with Assyria, even a BLESSING in the midst of the land: Whom the LORD of hosts shall BLESS, saying BLESSED be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel mine inheritance.” Eph.2 “God, who is full of mercy..love..even when we were dead in sins, has given us life together with Christ….that in ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace we are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them….Remember the time you were without Christ being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: but now through Christ Jesus you who were far off are made nigh(close) by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace who has made both one and has broken down the division between us….Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God….In Jesus Christ we are built together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” Now these are God’s Words of Truth which are a constant reminder of His Love, Correction, Direction, Purpose, Prophesy, Forgiveness and Blessing. These words from our Lord and Savior do not make us “sick”, but fill us with blessed everlasting Truth..the same yesterday, today, and forever!
THE LIVING GOD #PURPOSED
Do you have a #purpose? Do you have #intentions to do something or do you just go with the flow? As a child, I always had plans for the weekend to skate, swim, tennis, play softball, go to the library, ride horses, Saturday matinee movie, over-nights with girlfriends, and then Sunday School and Church on Sunday. Those were some of my favorite ways to spend my time which required making plans and scheduling with my parents permission. I could only do one or two things on my list weekly, but over time I enjoyed it all. As I matured, I realized I needed God’s guidance through His Word to make purposeful productive choices in my life. Today, as I read from the Holy Bible, I see how God has always had intentions for our good and purposed to love us by redeeming through His Son, Jesus and comforting by the Holy Spirit. Isaiah 14 tells us that the Lord’s purpose is still unfolding as His intentions are told, “The LORD of hosts has sworn, saying Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I HAVE PURPOSED, SO SHALL IT STAND; …The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers. ..How are you fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how are you cut down to the ground, which did weaken the nations!…LORD will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke be removed and his burden depart from off their shoulders. This is the PURPOSE that is PURPOSED UPON THE WHOLE EARTH: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations. For the LORD OF HOSTS HAS PURPOSED IT.” Jesus said in Luke 9:56,59 “For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them”.. . … “FOLLOW ME”
THE LIVING GOD #VICTOR
“The victor is the #winner in any #test of #skill or #strength in any #struggle. #Victory is the defeat of one’s opponent by conquest producing subjugation.” as defined in Webster’s dictionary. I see our society backing away from promoting individual victors and national victory. Many just follow the yellow brick road without a clue where they are going as long as there is entertainment and the promise of sustenance.(Pied Piper Syndrome) Yet, God’s Word promotes Victory for us individually and as a nation “if” we turn from our wicked ways (Jer.18:8) and turn to the only true living Lord, our creator, sustainer, and Savior. It is written in the old testament Isaiah 42:1-4 and new testament Matthew 12:20,21 what Esaias the prophet said prophetically about Jesus, “A bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax shall He not quench, till He send forth judgment unto Victory, and in His name shall the Gentiles trust.” 1John 5:1,4-5 “Whosoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: …Whoever is born of God overcomes the world and THIS IS THE VICTORY THAT OVERCOMES THE WORLD, even our FAITH. Who is he that overcomes the world, but HE THAT BELIEVES THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD.” Be a WINNER, c h o o s e JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD….Share in His Victory. “THANKS BE TO GOD, WHO GIVES US THE VICTORY THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST” 1Corth15:57 As you enjoy the fireworks and music on this 4th of July, remember there is an Eternal Victory to celebrate!
THE LIVING GOD #STATUTES
“#Listen, my friends, I’m here to tell you…We’ve got #trouble..Trouble right here in River City” (famous line from the ‘Music Man’) My friends, I believe we have even more turmoil today than yesterday! Why? Because the Bible tells me so and sheds some light on our distress. The Lord made us in His own image and then gave us some statutes (personal laws) to observe/keep/respect. Our society seems to delight in breaking any resemblance of obedience to order. God gave us commands for our own good and the good of others. I have observed our society does not know or care to know God’s Word or to obey the word ‘no‘. I see people that are proud of breaking rules and living any way they choose. God’s personal laws for us are recorded in Leviticus 19. “You shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another. You shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shall you profane the name of thy God: I AM the LORD. You shall not curse the deaf, or put a stumbling block before the blind, but shall fear thy God: I AM the LORD. You shall do no unrighteousness in judgment….You shall not go up and down as a gossip against your neighbor: I AM the LORD,…You shall love your neighbor as thyself: I AM the LORD. You shall keep my STATUTES (obey my laws) You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks upon you: I AM the LORD. You shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence (honor) my sanctuary: I AM the LORD. Do not turn to mediums or spiritists: do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I AM the LORD YOUR GOD. You shall not rise up against the greyheaded , but honor the aged and you shall revere your God: I AM the LORD. . . . You shall observe all MY STATUTES, and all My ordinances, and do them: I AM THE LORD” God has red and green lights depicted in His word for us to follow His directions for our journey through life, but He gives us the choice to STOP or GO.