Being Broken

When you think of the term broken what is the first thing that comes to your mind?

Here are some things that came to my mind.

1. Ruined
2. Trash
3. Destroyed
4. Unusable
5. Worthless

I could easily list many more things and you might have some of the same things on your list. Yet these are only the negative thought about being broken. Do you like nuts? I love them. To get to the nut you have to break the shell. Some shells are easier to break open than others like sunflower seeds or peanuts. Walnuts or pecans are are not so easy to break open. You need a nutcracker to get to the good part of these nuts, and if you don’t have a nutcracker a hammer works as long as you don’t hit the too hard. It takes effort to break their outer shells to get to the good part that you can eat and enjoy.

So being broken even though painful can lead to something good for you. The process hurts and is not fun. Imagine you are the nut and you can see the nutcracker coming for you. Then you feel trapped in its grip till you crack and break open. Scary thought. Most of us would run from pain if we knew it was going to happen was going to hurt. Yet if we all ran away from the possibility of pain we would cease to exist. Women would not have babies because labor is pain! Life is going to have some very painful moments. Just as a woman who goes from the pain of labor to the joy of holding her newborn baby, life can take your pain and turn it into joy.

Look at the life of Joseph. his brothers hate him and throw him into a pit, and want to kill him. Thankfully one brother suggest they sell him to travelers passing by. Then he is bought as a slave and goes from slave to prisoner. He lived a life under pressure of attack and rejection. Yet in the end he was lifted above his circumstance and placed in a position where he was able to save not only the people in Egypt but his own people. (Look up his story in Genesis.)

Sometimes we have to be broken to get to the good part of ourselves that is hidden deep within.

Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

Psalm 34:18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 51:8 Make me to hear joy and gladness, Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.

 

 

Being Broken

When you think of the term broken what is the first thing that comes to your mind?

Here are some things that came to my mind.

1. Ruined
2. Trash
3. Destroyed
4. Unusable
5. Worthless

I could easily list many more things and you might have some of the same things on your list. Yet these are only the negative thought about being broken. Do you like nuts? I love them. To get to the nut you have to break the shell. Some shells are easier to break open than others like sunflower seeds or peanuts. Walnuts or pecans are are not so easy to break open. You need a nutcracker to get to the good part of these nuts, and if you don’t have a nutcracker a hammer works as long as you don’t hit the too hard. It takes effort to break their outer shells to get to the good part that you can eat and enjoy.

So being broken even though painful can lead to something good for you. The process hurts and is not fun. Imagine you are the nut and you can see the nutcracker coming for you. Then you feel trapped in its grip till you crack and break open. Scary thought. Most of us would run from pain if we knew it was going to happen was going to hurt. Yet if we all ran away from the possibility of pain we would cease to exist. Women would not have babies because labor is pain! Life is going to have some very painful moments. Just as a woman who goes from the pain of labor to the joy of holding her newborn baby, life can take your pain and turn it into joy.

Look at the life of Joseph. his brothers hate him and throw him into a pit, and want to kill him. Thankfully one brother suggest they sell him to travelers passing by. Then he is bought as a slave and goes from slave to prisoner. He lived a life under pressure of attack and rejection. Yet in the end he was lifted above his circumstance and placed in a position where he was able to save not only the people in Egypt but his own people. (Look up his story in Genesis.)

Sometimes we have to be broken to get to the good part of ourselves that is hidden deep within.

Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

Psalm 34:18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 51:8 Make me to hear joy and gladness, Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.

 

 

Unyielding Vessels

Instructions have been given to you but you did not do exactly how you were told to perform the task. You thought that you knew a better way. You brought attention to yourself when you were to do the task quietly. Your reward came from men and not from God because of this. How many blessings have you missed because of your refusal to do as you were told to do? How many blessings have you from another because you you would not let go of your own ways.

What areas in your life have you not yielded to Jesus? I know there are things in my life that I have not let go of. I make excuses and reasons that I don’t have to do so right now. I can do it later, or it really isn’t that important, and the list goes on. I am then being an unyielding vessel. My wants, desires and convenience has become more important than doing what God has asked me to do, or not do.

Then there are the things that I have done but instead of doing the task without bringing attention to myself, I announce what I am doing or what I have done. I got the glory when it belonged to God. It was not mine, I was just to be His vessel and carry his message and His love. This does not mean when you have done something for Jesus and someone thanks you that you are wrong, but you should do the task what ever it is without expectation of any reward. Also do it without grumbling and complaining, but do it with a joyful attitude even if what you are called to do is difficult, or you think it is beneath you.

We should be willing vessels. Prepared to do what we are called for at the time we are asked. God will not force you to do it, but then if you refuse, you are the only one keeping you from the blessing He has for you. Remember in the story of Esther, when her cousin sends word to her of how she needed to go to the king to save the Jews who were going to be put to death? He tells her if she does not do this, her fate will be as the rest of her people for she was a Jew. (If Esther approached the king without his invitation, even though she was his wife, she faced death.) He also said that she did not do what was being asked, God would find another. You know the rest of the story, and Esther did save her people. She was obedient even though she put her own life on the line to do so. I have to remind myself of her story when there are things that I have to do, that are unpleasant or even seem impossible for me to do. I then have to remember that even if I don’t have what I need to do what I am called to do, God will provide me with what ever I need to do His will, and in doing this it is truly Him working through me, and not works of my own flesh, or for me to seek reward.

I pray that when God asks me to do something that I will simply obey and know that it His will that shall be done, and that the glory belongs to Him.

Esther chapter 4

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther+4&version=HCSB

Esther chaper 5

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther+5&version=HCSB

Job 22:21 Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you.

 

 

Satan’s seat

Okay if you are a Christian I know you are wondering about the title of this post. So why in the world would I use the name of Satan in the title? I was actually looking at another’s post on the Devil’s Punch Bowl. A place that when I lived in California that I would go hiking. (Please check out their post they took some amazing photos.)

Devil’s PunchBowl (#California #Photos)

Even then I had asked why a place so beautiful would be named for the Devil. One of the trails you can hike here leads to Satan’s Seat. From this spot you reach a beautiful view that takes your breath away. You feel like you are no where near any civilization and it is actually only a short drive from Palmdale, and an hours drive from the San Fernando Valley. You can even drink the water from the stream. It was not until I was looking at the photos on Kevin’s site that revelation came. The story of the temptation of Jesus came to my mind. Mainly the part when Satan took Jesus to a high place and offered Jesus all the kingdoms. Now I know this place is not the actually site of where this took place but it made me realize that Satan uses many things to tempt us with. One thing is the initial appearance of the temptation will always be pleasing to your sight. He will take you to a place that you think that you want and as you are there looking down at things you may desire, you have taken your eyes off of God and this is when we can stumble. We entertain the things of this world until that take a seat in our mind and then they can eventually become an action. so keep your helmet of salvation on and take your every thought captive and be on guard. We all face temptations and the enemy prowls around us waiting for that weakness we give into, so that he can enter in. Stand on the Word of God and keep him out.

Matthew 4:1-11(NKJV) Satan Tempts Jesus

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ² And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. ³ Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

⁴ But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”^[a]

⁵ Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, ⁶ and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:

‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’

and,

‘In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”^[b]

⁷ Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lordyour God.’”^[c]

⁸ Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. ⁹ And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”

¹⁰ Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you,^[d] Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”^[e]

¹¹ Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

Footnotes:

1. Matthew 4:4 Deuteronomy 8:3
2. Matthew 4:6 Psalm 91:11, 12
3. Matthew 4:7 Deuteronomy 6:16
4. Matthew 4:10 M-Text reads Get behind Me.
5. Matthew 4:10 Deuteronomy 6:13

Just some food for thought.

Time for more self evaluation.

The Work Is Complete

It began as a branch that had fallen from a tree. Cut and sanded it began to become something new.

Then the first coat of paint was applied.

It began to take form and an image began to appear.

Art and photography by Julie Sheppard

Now here it is finished with a coat of varnish to protect it. What began as a branch is now a staff. It took time and effort but now that it is finished it has purpose and is ready for use.

Inspiration for what is painted on this staff came from the story of Moses and when he had to go back to Egypt to free the slaves. At one point in the story God tells Moses to throw down his staff and it became a snake. Then God tells him to pick the snake up by the tail and it turned back into a staff.

Moses’ Staff
Exodus 4:2-4 The LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” And he said, “A staff.” 3 Then He said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it. 4 But the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand and grasp it by its tail “– so he stretched out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand–…   New American Standard Bible

Now it was Aaron who threw done the staff when they were before Pharaoh

Aaron’s Staff Becomes a Serpent
Exodus 7:9-11“When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, ‘Work a miracle,’ then you shall say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh, that it may become a serpent.'” 10 So Moses and Aaron came to Pharaoh,and thus they did just as the LORD had commanded;and Aaron threw his staff down before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. 11 Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and the sorcerers, and they also, the magicians of Egypt, did the same with their secret arts.… New American Standard Bible

There are more stories that include a staff or rod being used but those I will save for a later time. Till then God bless and keep you from harm.

.

Miss Your Exit?

Have you ever been driving and missed your exit because you were going too fast? It is easy to do especially when you are in a rush. Then when you realize that you have gone too far, you are frustrated with yourself and it takes even longer to get to the destination you were heading to. Sometimes we get so lost we feel like we will never make it.

I can’t really compare the Hebrews freed from Egypt to this but I do wonder if they were so distracted that they missed their exit? Wandering in the desert for forty years. Do you think they may have lost their way?

Yes I have read the account of their journey in Exodus but even Moses who was the one God sent to lead His people out of Egypt did not get to cross into the promised land of Canaan.

Frustrated, angry, being ungrateful and complaining, these Hebrews left Egypt. They turned to the works of their own hands made an idol and worshiped it. Moses in his anger broke the stone tablets on which God had written the Commandments, and later struck the rock to get water.

What is keeping you from getting to where you are meant to be?

I ask myself that question on a regular basis. I need to evaluate my own actions and think about what I am doing and what I need to be doing.

There are many lessons to learn from Moses and the Hebrew slaves who were freed from Pharaoh.

Read Exodus through Joshua

When Children Think They know Better

I once saw a bumper sticker that said, ‘Hire a teenager while they still know everything’. I remember the conversations I had with my friends when I was a teenager, where we discussed ow different we would be as parents. If I only knew then what I know now. My childhood was no paradise and I had a an abusive parent and one who I had thought had abandoned me but that is a story for a different time. Yet no matter how bad or good my parents may have been, I was still a youth and still had much to learn. In my anger and hate I made some terrible mistakes, like so many others have.

Now here are two daughters who made a very bad decision and the result of their action.

Genesis 19:30-38 / Lot and His Daughters

³⁰ Now Lot went up out of Zoar and lived in the hills with his two daughters, for he was afraid to live in Zoar. So he lived in a cave with his two daughters. ³¹ And the firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth to come in to us after the manner of all the earth. ³² Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve offspring from our father.” ³³ So they made their father drink wine that night. And the firstborn went in and lay with her father. He did not know when she lay down or when she arose.

³⁴ The next day, the firstborn said to the younger, “Behold, I lay last night with my father. Let us make him drink wine tonight also. Then you go in and lie with him, that we may preserve offspring from our father.”³⁵ So they made their father drink wine that night also. And the younger arose and lay with him, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. ³⁶ Thus both the daughters of Lot became pregnant by their father. ³⁷ The firstborn bore a son and called his name Moab.^[b] He is the father of the Moabites to this day. ³⁸ The younger also bore a son and called his name Ben-ammi.^[c] He is the father of the Ammonites to this day.

Footnotes:

1. Genesis 19:22 Zoar means little
2. Genesis 19:37 Moab sounds like the Hebrew for from father
3. Genesis 19:38 Ben-ammi means son of my people

The sons these women gave birth to became the fathers of the nations that became enemies of Israel. They were conceived in in sin. They had perverted the relationship with their father. Scripture tells us how important it is for us to honor our parents.

Exodus 20:12

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

Deuteronomy 5:16

“‘Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be long,and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

Matthew 15:4

For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’

Matthew 19:19

Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Mark 7:10

For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’

Mark 10:19

You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’”

Luke 18:20

You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness,Honor your father and mother.’”

Ephesians 6:2

“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise),

English Standard Version (ESV)The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

As children of God our Lord and creator we still act like children towards are earthly parents no matter what our age is. We think we can do it better and that we know best, but guess what? We don’t and we are wrong.

Psalm 94:11

The Lord knows the thoughts of man, That they are futile.

Isaiah 55:8

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.

Isaiah 55:9

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

Do you remember the old T.V.show ‘Father knows Best?’

Well the title of this show is true, Our Father in Heaven truly knows what is best for us, and we need to stop arguing with Him and learn to honor Him truly. Don’t think you are arguing with Him? Okay, when was the last time you did something your own way? You didn’t have to say a word your actions said it all. You trusted in your own ability instead of seeking His guidance.

Jesus told us if we loved Him we will keep His commands. We like to rate which commands are more important and which sins are the worst. We also like to judge each other and point out each others faults. Hateful looks are given and we reject someone when they are down. I hate to say I have been guilty of this myself. So you can call me a hypocrite and you would be right. Thank God that I have acknowledged this flaw in myself and that He is teaching me how to change, not just in word or action but He is changing my heart and mind. I failed in honoring my mother and father when I was a child and I have failed to honor my Heavenly Father, so I am thankful for His grace and forgiveness and for the ability to repent and change. I pray now to honor Him with all of me, even when I face troubles and attacks. For honoring Him truly blesses with me. For He forgives me and gives me eternal life through Jesus, His son.

I admit now I don’t know it all but I m willing to be taught by The Greatest Teacher, Jesus. For He is the Word, and His Word lights the path I am to follow.

21. Dear Noah (Letters from God Volume II)

21. Dear Noah,

     The world has become a wicked place, and the hearts of man has become evil. The people have angered Me. Yet you Noah have found favor in my eyes. So I am writing to you to warn you what I am about to do so that you may be saved. I will flood the land and destroy all that they have made. They are a sinful people who care only for their own wants and pleasures. They make idols and worship them. They are violent and destructive. There is no love found in them. They have chosen a life that ends in death. You however are chosen to live on. I will save you and your family.

I want you to build an ark. The people will ridicule you, and laugh at you. Yet you will not let this stop you. You will finish the ark. I the Lord, your God, favor you above all the men of the land. So do not listen to them as they ridicule you and judge you. Listen to Me alone and I will instruct you in all your ways.

Once you have built the ark you will then gather the animals and the birds as I have instructed you. Then place them within the ark. You will also gather food and supplies and place them within the ark. I ask you to do this because I am going to send a great flood. It will cleanse the land of the sins of the people, and they will no longer exist.

     Gather your family with you and, close the door to the ark. You will be safe. The flood will come and destroy everything but you and your family. Inside you will have what you need. For forty days and nights it will rain upon the earth, and it will be flooded.

The waters will subside after months have passed. As the waters lower you will send out first a raven then you will send out a dove to find dry land. Many days will pass when the dove shall return with a twig from an olive tree and then you will come out of the ark with your family and all the animals. Then you will be fruitful and multiply. I have saved you from the destruction of man, and blessed you with a new life. Do what I have told you and all will be well. As a sign to you for this covenant I will now make, that I will never again destroy the earth with flood waters, I set my rainbow in the cloud that when you see it you will remember My promise.

 

Love,

Your Lord God Almighty

 

Read

Genesis chapters 6, 7, &8

Regarding ‘Letters from God Volume II’

This is just a little note for those who have been enjoying my series titled Letters from God. I am not done writing for this second volume and I have not forgotten about them. I am currently focused on my Bible studies on Spiritual Health/Physical Health and this is taking my full attention. I will return to continue writing for the Letters from God soon. I had a couple of wonderful requests which have challenged me and I appreciate that. If there are any Biblical characters you are interested in reading a letter to please leave a request in the comments. I will be also writing letters to people who are more current to today’s times. Here is a sample title, ‘ Dear Addicted’. If you have any suggestion for this series please drop me a line. I would like to know what touches your heart and peaks your interest.Have a wonderful and blessed day!

20. Dear Abel (Letters from God Volume II)

Dear Abel,

     You are the second child of Adam and Eve. You are also my child. I love you my son. You are obedient and faithful to Me. You made a proper offering to me. You worked tending to the flock and you offered the best that you have raised.

     Your brother was jealous of your offering and became angry with you because I did not accept his offering. You showed him concern when you saw that he was not happy. He then asked you to go to the field with him where he killed you. His action came as a great surprise to you because you were his brother and you loved him.

     I love you and you are now with me.  I know you miss your mother and father. I will care for them and they will be blessed with a son. They will name him Seth. He is not you, but he will be their child and I will comfort them.

    Do not be afraid for Cain. I will place a mark on him to warn others not to take his life. He will not have an easy life, but he will live with the consequences of his actions. Live in peace with Me my child and know My love.

Love,

 Your Heavenly Father

   

Read

Genesis Chpt. 4