I think that a true prophet of the Lord not only loves and serves God but has the want for Gods name to be praised and known above all else. The prophets of Israel were not always so popular because they always preached about how the people are doing stuff wrong and they need to change their ways. Daniel was probably tempted to quit with all the threats he was facing. A difficult aspect of Daniel's job was constantly being persecuted.
Daniels message to the people was to trust in God and he will get us through tough times. This can apply to us today because God is still with us even when we feel alone and forgotten. If we don't get a job or promotion we can know in our hearts that God is with us and will one day save us from hell. One verse that summarizes Daniel's message is Daniel 6: 26-27. Also Daniel 1:9. Both of these verses show that God was still with the Israelites.
I personally love the message that Daniel preaches. I feel the effects when going through tough times. Like when someone is mad at me and I don't even know why I can just remember that God is with me and will help me through it.
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Jonah
In chapter one God tells Jonah to go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it. Jonah had another plan in mind, he ran away from Nineveh and went to Joppa in the opposite direction. He got on a boat but God sent heavy winds and a storm. The sailors started freaking out and praying to all their own Gods. Then they cast lots to see who did it? The lot cast on Jonah who was sleeping below deck. The sailors woke him up and said "what should we do?" Jonah responded and told them to throw him overboard, but the sailors said no and tried to row back to shore...it didn't work. Then they threw him over and the sea calmed. Then a huge fish came and swallowed him and he was in there for three days and nights.
In chapter two Jonah prayed from inside the fish and told God that he would preach to Nineveh. God commanded the fish to spit Jonah onto dry land.
In chapter three Jonah obeyed God and went through the city and proclaimed that God would destroy them so they should wear sackcloth. When God saw that they did this he did not destroy them.
In chapter four Jonah was mad at God and said that it would be better for himself to die. The lord replied "Is it right for you to be angry?" Jonah went out of the city and made himself a shelter to wait and see what will happen to the city. while he was there a leaf grew over his head and provided shade for him. The next day God sent a worm to eat the plant and it did. Jonah was very angry and God asked him if his anger was justified, he said it was.
The verse that I picked is:10 But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”
I picked this because it really puts God love and compassion into perspective. An example of this is when I was wondering why God wouldn't "speak" to me. One day it just finally hit me, why don't I talk to God in prayer? This was an impacting experience on me and has helped me to pray more every day.
In chapter two Jonah prayed from inside the fish and told God that he would preach to Nineveh. God commanded the fish to spit Jonah onto dry land.
In chapter three Jonah obeyed God and went through the city and proclaimed that God would destroy them so they should wear sackcloth. When God saw that they did this he did not destroy them.
In chapter four Jonah was mad at God and said that it would be better for himself to die. The lord replied "Is it right for you to be angry?" Jonah went out of the city and made himself a shelter to wait and see what will happen to the city. while he was there a leaf grew over his head and provided shade for him. The next day God sent a worm to eat the plant and it did. Jonah was very angry and God asked him if his anger was justified, he said it was.
The verse that I picked is:10 But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”
I picked this because it really puts God love and compassion into perspective. An example of this is when I was wondering why God wouldn't "speak" to me. One day it just finally hit me, why don't I talk to God in prayer? This was an impacting experience on me and has helped me to pray more every day.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Hosea 1-6, 14
In chapter one the lord spoke to Hosea and told him to go marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her. God did this because he knew the woman would cheat on Hosea and he wanted to illustrate how the Israelites disobeyed God. So Hosea married Gomer and they had a son named Jezreeel. He was named this because God would destroy the Israelites in the Valley of Jezreel. Jezreel had another baby named Lo-Ruhamah (which means "not loved".) She is named this because Israel will no longer be loved or forgiven. Then she had one last son named Lo-Ammi ("which means "not my people")
In chapter two Israel is punished and restored
In chapter three the lord told Hosea to go to his wife and show her she is loved even though she was cheating on him with another man/men. So Hosea bought her and told her that she will live with him for the rest of their days.
In chapter four God tells all the Israelites of their wrongdoings and rejects them.
In chapter five God judges all the Israelites.
In chapter six the Israelites repent.
In chapter fourteen I think Hosea is telling the Israelites to return to God and ask for forgiveness. He also says Assyria cannot save us, but the ways of the lord are right.
My verse is "The ways of the Lord are right the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.
This verse means to me that if we try to run from Gods word it will come back and stop us. An example is if I am not sure if God really exists and I just tiptoe around that question, Gods word will trip me and make me think deeper about it./
In chapter two Israel is punished and restored
In chapter three the lord told Hosea to go to his wife and show her she is loved even though she was cheating on him with another man/men. So Hosea bought her and told her that she will live with him for the rest of their days.
In chapter four God tells all the Israelites of their wrongdoings and rejects them.
In chapter five God judges all the Israelites.
In chapter six the Israelites repent.
In chapter fourteen I think Hosea is telling the Israelites to return to God and ask for forgiveness. He also says Assyria cannot save us, but the ways of the lord are right.
My verse is "The ways of the Lord are right the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.
This verse means to me that if we try to run from Gods word it will come back and stop us. An example is if I am not sure if God really exists and I just tiptoe around that question, Gods word will trip me and make me think deeper about it./
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Psalms 51
In this chapter David committed adultery with Bathsheba and prays to God for forgiveness. He asked God for mercy and for unfailing love. Also for his sins to be washed away. Then he talks about how he has been a sinner since he was born. Finally he asks God for a new heart that is pure and steadfast in Gods spirit.
The verse that I chose is verse 11. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
This verse made me think about how much we take advantage of the holy spirit in our lives. The people living back in the old testament would have loved to have what we have today. I think we need to "take advantage: of the holy spirit. Its a gift that we need to cherish and use in our lives. I can do this more when I am trying to make a big decision about school. I can go the holy spirit for help to guide me.
The verse that I chose is verse 11. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
This verse made me think about how much we take advantage of the holy spirit in our lives. The people living back in the old testament would have loved to have what we have today. I think we need to "take advantage: of the holy spirit. Its a gift that we need to cherish and use in our lives. I can do this more when I am trying to make a big decision about school. I can go the holy spirit for help to guide me.
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Judges 4
In this chapter the Israelites go into a relapse of worshiping false idols. The Lord gave the Israelites into the Canaanites hands. Then for twenty years they cried to God for help. Deborah was a prophet leading Israel who would settle disputes. Deborah is told to take ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor, if they do this then they will defeat the Canaanites in battle. She tells this to Barak son of Abinoam. Then Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.” During the battle Sisera fled on foot to the tent of Jael. There Jael welcomed him in and gave him food and water. After he fell asleep Jael took a tent steak and a hammer and drove it through his head.
The verse that I chose is:21 But Jael, Heber’s wife, picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died.
This made me think about taking the life of someone else. I think I could do it if it was necessary, but it would still haunt me for my life. The bible tells us not to kill, so when is a sin okay? If I lie to save someone's life is that wrong? The vast majority of people would most likely say that its fine, but the bible never addresses it (I think.) So lets say hypothetically I kill someone to save someone. Am I doing good? Jesus says that all sins are equal, but then are all things that are righteous in Gods eyes the same? If god loves humans equally then...
Man=Man and Man+Man=2People Therefore Man-Man+Man=2People
I don't know if God looks at us this way but the way I see it we should just avoid killing people.
The verse that I chose is:21 But Jael, Heber’s wife, picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died.
This made me think about taking the life of someone else. I think I could do it if it was necessary, but it would still haunt me for my life. The bible tells us not to kill, so when is a sin okay? If I lie to save someone's life is that wrong? The vast majority of people would most likely say that its fine, but the bible never addresses it (I think.) So lets say hypothetically I kill someone to save someone. Am I doing good? Jesus says that all sins are equal, but then are all things that are righteous in Gods eyes the same? If god loves humans equally then...
Man=Man and Man+Man=2People Therefore Man-Man+Man=2People
I don't know if God looks at us this way but the way I see it we should just avoid killing people.
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Joshua 1-3
In chapter one Joshua son of Nun is made leader by God. God tells Joshua to prepare to cross the Jorden river. God also tells him where the promise land is and that no other nation can stand against Joshua. Joshua is instructed to be strong and courageous and not stray from the law that Moses gave to him (ten commandments.) God promises Joshua that if he meditates and keeps the word of the lord close to his lips then he will be successful. After this Joshua tells his officers to go throughout the camp and tell the people to get their stuff packed up for in three days they would cross the Jordan river.
In chapter two Joshua sent two spies to the land of Jericho, they stayed in the house of a prostitute named Rahab. Soon after the king of Jericho was told of the two spies and he sent a message to Rehab saying to bring the two men to him. Rahab told the king that the men came but left. Then tells the two spies that she is afraid of them and God, she asks them if they could spare her family when they attack. The spies tell her to tie a rope on the window so they know which house not to raid. Three days later the men went back and told Joshua all that had happened.
In chapter three the Israelites went out for the Jorden. When they had stopped to camp the officers went through the camp and told all the people to stand about 3000 feet away from the ark of the covenant. Joshua told all the people that God will help them defeat all the other nations. when they got to the Jorden there were a group of people ahead of them with the ark. when their feet touched the water the river piled up upriver. All of the Israelites passed through on dry land.
The verse I picked is Joshua 3:17. I like this verse because God promised something and then he kept his promise to them. God does this time and time again throughout the whole bible. It show how God still loves us even though we sin against him.
Joshua had faith in that God would lead them across the river. We need to learn faith like that. When we are trying to decide something we ask God, but if we don't feel comfortable doing what he tells us we just stop listening to God instead of trusting in him. We need to have faith in God and let him lead us in life. That is why we should have his words close to our heart.
In chapter two Joshua sent two spies to the land of Jericho, they stayed in the house of a prostitute named Rahab. Soon after the king of Jericho was told of the two spies and he sent a message to Rehab saying to bring the two men to him. Rahab told the king that the men came but left. Then tells the two spies that she is afraid of them and God, she asks them if they could spare her family when they attack. The spies tell her to tie a rope on the window so they know which house not to raid. Three days later the men went back and told Joshua all that had happened.
In chapter three the Israelites went out for the Jorden. When they had stopped to camp the officers went through the camp and told all the people to stand about 3000 feet away from the ark of the covenant. Joshua told all the people that God will help them defeat all the other nations. when they got to the Jorden there were a group of people ahead of them with the ark. when their feet touched the water the river piled up upriver. All of the Israelites passed through on dry land.
The verse I picked is Joshua 3:17. I like this verse because God promised something and then he kept his promise to them. God does this time and time again throughout the whole bible. It show how God still loves us even though we sin against him.
Joshua had faith in that God would lead them across the river. We need to learn faith like that. When we are trying to decide something we ask God, but if we don't feel comfortable doing what he tells us we just stop listening to God instead of trusting in him. We need to have faith in God and let him lead us in life. That is why we should have his words close to our heart.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Exodus 1-3
In chapter one the Israelites are many in number and the pharaoh of Egypt is worried they will take over Egypt. The Israelites are made into slaves and treated poorly. The pharaoh orders a law that all the Israelite babies should be killed and sent down the river.
In chapter two Moses was born and hid for three months, then sent down the river. Pharaohs daughter is bathing in the river and finds Moses. Pharaohs daughter likes Moses and so she gives him to one of her servants to feed him. Moses grows up and sees an Egyptian beating a Israelite, so Moses kills the Egyptian and hides him in the sand. Later there are girls going to get water. Then some shepherds come and like attack the girls or something, so Moses scares them off. The girls go home and tell their father and he tells them to go get Moses. Moses come to their house and the father gives one of his daughters to Moses to marry.
In chapter three Moses is walking on a mountain with his flocks and he sees a burning bush. Moses walks over to the bush and it starts talking. It is God and he tells Moses to take off his shoes because he was on holy ground. God tells Moses that he will bring the Israelites out of Egypt with his power.
This is the verse that I chose is Exodus 1:7, it says: "but the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so numerous that the land was filled with them."
This can be applied to our lives when we think that God is not greater then our problems. This verse shows us how God will always provide for us when we are in need, just like he did for the Israelites and many others before us.
In chapter two Moses was born and hid for three months, then sent down the river. Pharaohs daughter is bathing in the river and finds Moses. Pharaohs daughter likes Moses and so she gives him to one of her servants to feed him. Moses grows up and sees an Egyptian beating a Israelite, so Moses kills the Egyptian and hides him in the sand. Later there are girls going to get water. Then some shepherds come and like attack the girls or something, so Moses scares them off. The girls go home and tell their father and he tells them to go get Moses. Moses come to their house and the father gives one of his daughters to Moses to marry.
In chapter three Moses is walking on a mountain with his flocks and he sees a burning bush. Moses walks over to the bush and it starts talking. It is God and he tells Moses to take off his shoes because he was on holy ground. God tells Moses that he will bring the Israelites out of Egypt with his power.
This is the verse that I chose is Exodus 1:7, it says: "but the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so numerous that the land was filled with them."
This can be applied to our lives when we think that God is not greater then our problems. This verse shows us how God will always provide for us when we are in need, just like he did for the Israelites and many others before us.
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