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./
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