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Thursday, December 24, 2009
Eph. 6: 10-20
It's so easy to get mad at people for the things they do. Like when guys whistle at me or say things. I get so angry. But those people are blind; they do not know the truth. So instead of getting mad at them I should pray for them, and pray against the evil that keeps them blind. Verse 13 says, "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." The armor must be put on in order to withstand evil. Don't put it on just to take it off again. Put it on to stand, to go into battle; and, when the battle is over, be standing still!
In Ephesians, it mentions the 'breastplate of righteousness.' In Exodus it talks about the 'breastplate of judgment.' The breastplate was for the priest, and not meant for going into an actual battle, but to, like in Ephesians, battle the evil that is in this world.
It's so easy to get mad at people for the things they do. Like when guys whistle at me or say things. I get so angry. But those people are blind; they do not know the truth. So instead of getting mad at them I should pray for them, and pray against the evil that keeps them blind. Verse 13 says, "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." The armor must be put on in order to withstand evil. Don't put it on just to take it off again. Put it on to stand, to go into battle; and, when the battle is over, be standing still!
In Ephesians, it mentions the 'breastplate of righteousness.' In Exodus it talks about the 'breastplate of judgment.' The breastplate was for the priest, and not meant for going into an actual battle, but to, like in Ephesians, battle the evil that is in this world.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Music: Poetry Without Words
Music is a wordless poetry. In all the years there have never been two songs that had to share the same melody. Although there is a limited amount of notes there is no limit of the combination of such.
Music is enjoyed by every culture, every people. When we are glad, do we not whistle? (For those of us who can whistle, i.e. not me!) In times of sadness we seek a music to suit our mood. When we are grateful to God we sing praises.
Music has been used to tell stories for centuries. If you have ever seen The Secret Life of Walter Mitty you will know what I'm talking about. If you haven't seen it click on this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-M1F8hVfjM Through music every emotion can be expressed: joy, anger, sadness, nostalgia, remorse, anticipation, etc.
Music does not need words to explain the meaning of the song, though they are a welcome narration. For music in itself is poetry without words.
Music is enjoyed by every culture, every people. When we are glad, do we not whistle? (For those of us who can whistle, i.e. not me!) In times of sadness we seek a music to suit our mood. When we are grateful to God we sing praises.
Music has been used to tell stories for centuries. If you have ever seen The Secret Life of Walter Mitty you will know what I'm talking about. If you haven't seen it click on this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-M1F8hVfjM Through music every emotion can be expressed: joy, anger, sadness, nostalgia, remorse, anticipation, etc.
Music does not need words to explain the meaning of the song, though they are a welcome narration. For music in itself is poetry without words.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Manna in the Wilderness
I just wanted to share something from my devos this morning with you all. Take a look at Exodus 16.
From the very crossing of the Red Sea the children of Israel had put God to the test, had doubted Him time and time again. In Exodus 16:35 we are told that "the children of Israel ate manna forty years, until they came to an inhabited land; they ate manna until they came to the border of the land of Canaan."
When they had reached Canaan the first time (Numbers 13) and 12 spies were sent out to scout the land, the whole lot of them, except for Joshua and Caleb, were so scared of the men there that they wanted to pick a new leader and head back to Egypt! Back to brutal slavery! This was the last straw for God. "because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice." (Numbers 14:22) So they were sentenced to wander in the wilderness for forty years, one year for every day they had spied out the land. (Num 14:33, 34)
Now during these forty years the congregation still kept putting God to the test, constantly complaining. Look back at Exodus 16:35. God provided the manna for them the whole time that they wandered. Now, if it had been me, I would have said, "You didn't believe me after everything that I have done for you and shown you. You have complained more than two brothers in the backseat during a 300 mile car trip. And you keep wanting to go back to the very people whom you prayed for deliverence from for 400 years! So, now you're going to just wander around, and since you don't like my cooking, you can get your own food." Thankfully, God is nothing like me! He still loved them so much, even after everything. He is incapable of breaking His promises.
This is so encouraging to me. Now matter how many times I fail miserably and complain, He still loves me! Knowing that makes me want to do better, to avoid those failings.
I hope this encourages you, and I'd love to hear your input! Blessings!
From the very crossing of the Red Sea the children of Israel had put God to the test, had doubted Him time and time again. In Exodus 16:35 we are told that "the children of Israel ate manna forty years, until they came to an inhabited land; they ate manna until they came to the border of the land of Canaan."
When they had reached Canaan the first time (Numbers 13) and 12 spies were sent out to scout the land, the whole lot of them, except for Joshua and Caleb, were so scared of the men there that they wanted to pick a new leader and head back to Egypt! Back to brutal slavery! This was the last straw for God. "because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice." (Numbers 14:22) So they were sentenced to wander in the wilderness for forty years, one year for every day they had spied out the land. (Num 14:33, 34)
Now during these forty years the congregation still kept putting God to the test, constantly complaining. Look back at Exodus 16:35. God provided the manna for them the whole time that they wandered. Now, if it had been me, I would have said, "You didn't believe me after everything that I have done for you and shown you. You have complained more than two brothers in the backseat during a 300 mile car trip. And you keep wanting to go back to the very people whom you prayed for deliverence from for 400 years! So, now you're going to just wander around, and since you don't like my cooking, you can get your own food." Thankfully, God is nothing like me! He still loved them so much, even after everything. He is incapable of breaking His promises.
This is so encouraging to me. Now matter how many times I fail miserably and complain, He still loves me! Knowing that makes me want to do better, to avoid those failings.
I hope this encourages you, and I'd love to hear your input! Blessings!
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