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4/28/2008 Today's Reading:
Acts 12, Joshua 15-17 and Job 28
Heavenly Father,
I thank You fort this new day. I thank You for this weekend and all that You allowed me to accomplish. I thank You for being my encourager for sending people to speak encouragement and hope to me. Lord, You are awesome and I know that Your Word says - I know the plans I have for You says the Lord, plans to give you hope and a future - and I grab onto that as I head into this new week. Help me Lord, to be an ambassador for You. Help my words and my actions be in alignment with Your will, Your way, and Your Word. Lord, help me to be teachable and to be attentive to do what Your Spirit commands my spirit to do. And Lord, I will give You all the praise and all the glory and all the honor in Jesus' name. Amen.
From Jesus' own mouth, we heard and know - In this world we will have trouble. Are you facing troubles that You think are too big? Nothing is too big for God. Take hope - Don't give up - Seek God. Let's consider Peter and what he went through, and the miracle God performed for him. More Persecution Acts 12 About this time King Herod began to persecute some members of the church. 2He had James, the brother of John, put to death by the sword. 3When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he went ahead and had Peter arrested. (This happened during the time of the Festival of Unleavened Bread.) 4After his arrest Peter was put in jail, where he was handed over to be guarded by four groups of four soldiers each. Herod planned to put him on trial in public after Passover. 5So Peter was kept in jail, but the people of the church were praying earnestly to God for him. Peter Is Set Free from Prison  6The night before Herod was going to bring him out to the people, Peter was sleeping between two guards. He was tied with two chains, and there were guards on duty at the prison gate. 7Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood there, and a light shone in the cell. The angel shook Peter by the shoulder, woke him up, and said, "Hurry! Get up!" At once the chains fell off Peter's hands. 8Then the angel said, "Tighten your belt and put on your sandals." Peter did so, and the angel said, "Put your cloak around you and come with me." 9Peter followed him out of the prison, not knowing, however, if what the angel was doing was real; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10They passed by the first guard station and then the second, and came at last to the iron gate that opens into the city. The gate opened for them by itself, and they went out. They walked down a street, and suddenly the angel left Peter.
When you pray - do you expect the miracle? We're supposed to be as God's word says: whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours - Mark 11:24. How would you respond if you were praying and God performed a miracle to accomplish it? 11Then Peter realized what had happened to him, and said, "Now I know that it is really true! The Lord sent his angel to rescue me from Herod's power and from everything the Jewish people expected to happen."
12Aware of his situation, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. 13Peter knocked at the outside door, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer it. 14She recognized Peter's voice and was so happy that she ran back in without opening the door, and announced that Peter was standing outside. 15"You are crazy!" they told her. But she insisted that it was true. So they answered, "It is his angel."
16Meanwhile Peter kept on knocking. At last they opened the door, and when they saw him, they were amazed. 17He motioned with his hand for them to be quiet, and he explained to them how the Lord had brought him out of prison. "Tell this to James and the rest of the believers," he said; then he left and went somewhere else.
18When morning came, there was a tremendous confusion among the guards--what had happened to Peter? 19Herod gave orders to search for him, but they could not find him. So he had the guards questioned and ordered them put to death.
 After this, Herod left Judea and spent some time in Caesarea. Wisdom is worth more than what money can buy - And God is the source, so reverence the Lord and turn away from doing evil. In Praise of Wisdom Job 28 There are mines where silver is dug;
 There are places where gold is refined.
 2We dig iron out of the ground
And melt copper out of the stones.
3Miners explore the deepest darkness.
They search the depths of the earth
And dig for rocks in the darkness.
4Far from where anyone lives
Or human feet ever travel,
They dig the shafts of mines.
There they work in loneliness,
Clinging to ropes in the pits.
5Food grows out of the earth,
But underneath the same earth
All is torn up and crushed.
6The stones of the earth contain sapphires,
And its dust contains gold.
7No hawk sees the roads to the mines,
And no vulture ever flies over them.
8No lion or other fierce beast
Ever travels those lonely roads.
9Miners dig the hardest rocks,
Dig mountains away at their base.
 10As they tunnel through the rocks,
They discover precious stones.
11They dig to the sources of rivers
And bring to light what is hidden.
12But where can wisdom be found?
Where can we learn to understand?
13Wisdom is not to be found among mortals;
No one knows its true value.
14The depths of the oceans and seas
Say that wisdom is not found there.
15It cannot be bought with silver or gold.
16The finest gold and jewels
Cannot equal its value.
17It is worth more than gold,
Than a gold vase or finest glass.
18The value of wisdom is more
Than coral or crystal or rubies.
19The finest topaz and the purest gold
Cannot compare with the value of wisdom.
20Where, then, is the source of wisdom?
Where can we learn to understand?
21No living creature can see it,
Not even a bird in flight.
22Even death and destruction
Admit they have heard only rumors.
23God alone knows the way,
Knows the place where wisdom is found,
24Because he sees the ends of the earth,
Sees everything under the sky.
25When God gave the wind its power
And determined the size of the sea;
26When God decided where the rain would fall,
And the path that the thunderclouds travel;
27It was then he saw wisdom and tested its worth--
He gave it his approval.
28God said to us humans,
"To be wise, you must have reverence for the Lord.
To understand, you must turn from evil." 4/27/2008 Today's Reading:
Acts 11.19-30, Joshua 13-14 and Job 27 The Church at Antioch Acts 11 19Some of the believers who were scattered by the persecution which took place when Stephen was killed went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, telling the message to Jews only. 20But other believers, who were from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and proclaimed the message to Gentiles also, telling them the Good News about the Lord Jesus. 21The Lord's power was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
22The news about this reached the church in Jerusalem, so they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23When he arrived and saw how God had blessed the people, he was glad and urged them all to be faithful and true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and many people were brought to the Lord.
25Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul. 26When he found him, he took him to Antioch, and for a whole year the two met with the people of the church and taught a large group. It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.
27About that time some prophets went from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28One of them, named Agabus, stood up and by the power of the Spirit predicted that a severe famine was about to come over all the earth. (It came when Claudius was emperor.) 29The disciples decided that they each would send as much as they could to help their fellow believers who lived in Judea. 30They did this, then, and sent the money to the church elders by Barnabas and Saul.
The Land Still to Be Taken Joshua 13 Joshua was now very old. The LORD said to him, "You are very old, but there is still much land to be taken: 2all the territory of Philistia and Geshur, 3as well as all the territory of the Avvim to the south. (The land from the stream Shihor, at the Egyptian border, as far north as the border of Ekron was considered Canaanite; the kings of the Philistines lived at Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron.) 4There is still all the Canaanite country, and Mearah (which belonged to the Sidonians), as far as Aphek, at the Amorite border; 5the land of the Gebalites; all of Lebanon to the east, from Baalgad, which is south of Mount Hermon, to Hamath Pass. 6This includes all the territory of the Sidonians, who live in the hill country between the Lebanon Mountains and Misrephoth Maim. I will drive all these peoples out as the people of Israel advance. You must divide the land among the Israelites, just as I have commanded you to do. 7Now then, divide this land among the other nine tribes and half of the tribe of Manasseh, for them to possess as their own." The Division of the Territory East of the Jordan 8The tribes of Reuben and Gad and the other half of the tribe of Manasseh had already received the land that Moses, the LORD's servant, had given them; it was on the east side of the Jordan River. 9Their territory extended to Aroer (on the edge of the Arnon Valley) and the city in the middle of that valley and included all of the plateau from Medeba to Dibon. 10It went as far as the border of Ammon and included all the cities that had been ruled by the Amorite king Sihon, who had ruled at Heshbon. 11It included Gilead, the regions of Geshur and Maacah, all of Mount Hermon, and all of Bashan as far as Salecah. 12It included the kingdom of Og, the last of the Rephaim, who had ruled at Ashtaroth and Edrei. Moses had defeated these people and driven them out. 13However, the Israelites did not drive out the people of Geshur and Maacah; they still live in Israel.
14Moses had given no land to the tribe of Levi. As the LORD had told Moses, they were to receive as their possession a share of the sacrifices burned on the altar to the LORD God of Israel. The Territory Assigned to Reuben 15Moses had given a part of the land to the families of the tribe of Reuben as their possession. 16Their territory extended to Aroer (on the edge of the Arnon Valley) and the city in the middle of that valley and included all the plateau around Medeba. 17It included Heshbon and all the cities on the plateau: Dibon, Bamoth Baal, Beth Baalmeon, 18Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath, 19Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth Shahar on the hill in the valley, 20Bethpeor, the slopes of Mount Pisgah, and Beth Jeshimoth. 21It included all the cities of the plateau and the whole kingdom of the Amorite king Sihon, who had ruled at Heshbon. Moses defeated him, as well as the rulers of Midian: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba. All of them had ruled the land for King Sihon. 22Among those whom the people of Israel killed was the fortune teller Balaam son of Beor. 23The Jordan was the western border of the tribe of Reuben. These were the cities and towns given to the families of the tribe of Reuben as their possession. The Territory Assigned to Gad 24Moses had also given a part of the land to the families of the tribe of Gad as their possession. 25Their territory included Jazer and all the cities of Gilead, half the land of Ammon as far as Aroer, which is east of Rabbah; 26their land extended from Heshbon to Ramath Mizpeh and Betonim, from Mahanaim to the border of Lodebar. 27In the Jordan Valley it included Beth Haram, Bethnimrah, Sukkoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of King Sihon of Heshbon. Their western border was the Jordan River as far north as Lake Galilee. 28These were the cities and towns given to the families of the tribe of Gad as their possession. The Territory Assigned to East Manasseh 29Moses had given a part of the land to the families of half the tribe of Manasseh as their possession. 30Their territory extended to Mahanaim and included all of Bashan--the whole kingdom of Og, the king of Bashan, as well as all sixty of the villages of Jair in Bashan. 31It included half of Gilead, as well as Ashtaroth and Edrei, the capital cities of Og's kingdom in Bashan. All this was given to half the families descended from Machir son of Manasseh.
32This is how Moses divided the land east of Jericho and the Jordan when he was in the plains of Moab. 33But Moses did not assign any land to the tribe of Levi. He told them that their possession was to be a share of the offerings to the LORD God of Israel. The Division of the Territory West of the Jordan Joshua 14 What follows is an account of how the land of Canaan west of the Jordan was divided among the people of Israel. Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders of the families of the Israelite tribes divided it among the population. 2As the LORD had commanded Moses, the territories of the nine and one-half tribes west of the Jordan were determined by drawing lots. 3-4Moses had already assigned the land east of the Jordan to the other two and one-half tribes. (The descendants of Joseph were divided into two tribes: Manasseh and Ephraim.) However, Moses gave the Levites no portion of the territory. Instead, they received cities to live in, with fields for their cattle and flocks. 5The people of Israel divided the land as the LORD had commanded Moses. Hebron Is Given to Caleb 6One day some people from the tribe of Judah came to Joshua at Gilgal. One of them, Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, said to him, "You know what the LORD said in Kadesh Barnea about you and me to Moses, the man of God. 7I was forty years old when the LORD's servant Moses sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out this land. I brought an honest report back to him. 8The men who went with me, however, made our people afraid. But I faithfully obeyed the LORD my God. 9Because I did, Moses promised me that my children and I would certainly receive as our possession the land which I walked over. 10But now, look. It has been forty-five years since the LORD said that to Moses. That was when Israel was going through the desert, and the LORD, as he promised, has kept me alive ever since. Look at me! I am eighty-five years old 11and am just as strong today as I was when Moses sent me out. I am still strong enough for war or for anything else. 12Now then, give me the hill country that the LORD promised me on that day when my men and I reported. We told you then that the race of giants called the Anakim were there in large walled cities. Maybe the LORD will be with me, and I will drive them out, just as the LORD said."
13Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him the city of Hebron as his possession. 14Hebron still belongs to the descendants of Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, because he faithfully obeyed the LORD, the God of Israel. 15Before this, Hebron was called the city of Arba. (Arba had been the greatest of the Anakim.)
There was now peace in the land.
Job 27Job 1-2I swear by the living Almighty God,  who refuses me justice and makes my life bitter--  3 as long as God gives me breath, 4 my lips will never say anything evil, my tongue will never tell a lie. 5I will never say that you men are right; I will insist on my innocence to my dying day. 6I will never give up my claim to be right; my conscience is clear. 7May all who oppose me and fight against me be punished like the wicked and the unrighteous. 8What hope is there for the godless in the hour when God demands their life? 9When trouble comes, will God hear their cries? 10They should have desired the joy he gives; they should have constantly prayed to him. 11Let me teach you how great is God's power, and explain what Almighty God has planned. 12But no, after all, you have seen for yourselves; so why do you talk such nonsense? [Zophar]13This is how Almighty God punishes wicked, violent people. 14They may have many sons, but all will be killed in war; their children never have enough to eat. 15Those who survive will die from disease, and even their widows will not mourn their death. 16The wicked may have too much silver to count and more clothes than anyone needs; 17but some good person will wear the clothes, and someone honest will get the silver. 18The wicked build houses like a spider's web or like the hut of a slave guarding the fields. 19One last time they will lie down rich, and when they wake up, they will find their wealth gone. 20Terror will strike like a sudden flood; a wind in the night will blow them away;  21 the east wind will sweep them from their homes; 22 it will blow down on them without pity while they try their best to escape. 23The wind howls at them as they run, frightening them with destructive power. 4/26/2008 Today's Reading:
Acts 11.1-18, Joshua 11-12 and Job 26
Peter's Report to the Church at Jerusalem Acts 11 The apostles and the other believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2When Peter went to Jerusalem, those who were in favor of circumcising Gentiles criticized him, saying, 3"You were a guest in the home of uncircumcised Gentiles, and you even ate with them!" 4So Peter gave them a complete account of what had happened from the very beginning:
5"While I was praying in the city of Joppa, I had a vision. I saw something coming down that looked like a large sheet being lowered by its four corners from heaven, and it stopped next to me. 6I looked closely inside and saw domesticated and wild animals, reptiles, and wild birds. 7Then I heard a voice saying to me, 'Get up, Peter; kill and eat!' 8But I said, 'Certainly not, Lord! No ritually unclean or defiled food has ever entered my mouth.' 9The voice spoke again from heaven, 'Do not consider anything unclean that God has declared clean.' 10This happened three times, and finally the whole thing was drawn back up into heaven. 11At that very moment three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea arrived at the house where I was staying. 12The Spirit told me to go with them without hesitation. These six fellow believers from Joppa accompanied me to Caesarea, and we all went into the house of Cornelius. 13He told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, 'Send someone to Joppa for a man whose full name is Simon Peter. 14He will speak words to you by which you and all your family will be saved.' 15And when I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came down on them just as on us at the beginning. 16Then I remembered what the Lord had said: 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' 17It is clear that God gave those Gentiles the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ; who was I, then, to try to stop God!"
18When they heard this, they stopped their criticism and praised God, saying, "Then God has given to the Gentiles also the opportunity to repent and live!"
Joshua Defeats Jabin and His Allies Joshua 11 When the news of Israel's victories reached King Jabin of Hazor, he sent word to King Jobab of Madon, to the kings of Shimron and Achshaph, 2and to the kings in the hill country in the north, in the Jordan Valley south of Lake Galilee, in the foothills, and on the coast near Dor. 3He also sent word to the Canaanites on both sides of the Jordan, to the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, and the Jebusites in the hill country, as well as to the Hivites who lived at the foot of Mount Hermon in the land of Mizpah. 4They came with all their soldiers--an army with as many men as there are grains of sand on the seashore. They also had many horses and chariots. 5All of these kings joined forces and came together and set up camp at Merom Brook to fight against Israel.
6The LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them. By this time tomorrow I will have killed all of them for Israel. You are to cripple their horses and burn their chariots." 7So Joshua and all his men attacked them by surprise at Merom Brook. 8The LORD gave the Israelites victory over them; the Israelites attacked and pursued them as far north as Misrephoth Maim and Sidon, and as far east as the valley of Mizpah. The fight continued until none of the enemy was left alive. 9Joshua did to them what the LORD had commanded: he crippled their horses and burned their chariots.
10Joshua then turned back, captured Hazor and killed its king. (At that time Hazor was the most powerful of all those kingdoms.) 11They put everyone there to death; no one was left alive, and the city was burned.
12Joshua captured all these cities and their kings, putting everyone to death, just as Moses, the LORD's servant, had commanded. 13However, the Israelites did not burn any of the cities built on mounds, except Hazor, which Joshua did burn. 14The people of Israel took all the valuables and livestock from these cities and kept them for themselves. But they put every person to death; no one was left alive. 15The LORD had given his commands to his servant Moses, Moses had given them to Joshua, and Joshua obeyed them. He did everything that the LORD had commanded Moses. The Territory Taken by Joshua 16Joshua captured all the land--the hill country and foothills, both north and south, all the area of Goshen and the dry country south of it, as well as the Jordan Valley. 17-18The territory extended from Mount Halak in the south near Edom, as far as Baalgad in the north, in the valley of Lebanon south of Mount Hermon. Joshua was at war with the kings of this territory for a long time, but he captured them all and put them to death. 19The only city that made peace with the people of Israel was Gibeon, where some of the Hivites lived. All the others were conquered in battle. 20The LORD had made them determined to fight the Israelites, so that they would be condemned to total destruction and all be killed without mercy. This was what the LORD had commanded Moses.
21At this time Joshua went and destroyed the race of giants called the Anakim who lived in the hill country--in Hebron, Debir, Anab, and in all the hill country of Judah and Israel. Joshua completely destroyed them and their cities. 22None of the Anakim were left in the land of Israel; a few, however, were left in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod.
23Joshua captured the whole land, as the LORD had commanded Moses. Joshua gave it to the Israelites as their own and divided it into portions, one for each tribe.
So the people rested from war. The Kings Defeated by Moses Joshua 12 The people of Israel had already conquered and occupied the land east of the Jordan, from the Arnon Valley up the Jordan Valley and as far north as Mount Hermon. They defeated two kings. 2One was Sihon, the Amorite king who ruled at Heshbon. His kingdom included half of Gilead: from Aroer (on the edge of the Arnon Valley) and from the city in the middle of that valley, as far as the Jabbok River, the border of Ammon; 3it included the Jordan Valley from Lake Galilee south to Beth Jeshimoth (east of the Dead Sea) and on toward the foot of Mount Pisgah.
4They also defeated King Og of Bashan, who was one of the last of the Rephaim; he ruled at Ashtaroth and Edrei. 5His kingdom included Mount Hermon, Salecah, and all of Bashan as far as the boundaries of Geshur and Maacah, as well as half of Gilead, as far as the territory of King Sihon of Heshbon.
6These two kings were defeated by Moses and the people of Israel. Moses, the LORD's servant, gave their land to the tribes of Reuben and Gad and to half the tribe of Manasseh, to be their possession. The Kings Defeated by Joshua 7Joshua and the people of Israel defeated all the kings in the territory west of the Jordan, from Baalgad in the valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak in the south near Edom. Joshua divided this land among the tribes and gave it to them as a permanent possession. 8This portion included the hill country, the western foothills, the Jordan Valley and its foothills, the eastern slopes, and the dry country in the south. This land had been the home of the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9The people of Israel defeated the kings of the following cities: Jericho, Ai (near Bethel), 10Jerusalem, Hebron, 11Jarmuth, Lachish, 12Eglon, Gezer, 13Debir, Geder, 14Hormah, Arad, 15Libnah, Adullam, 16Makkedah, Bethel, 17Tappuah, Hepher, 18Aphek, Lasharon, 19Madon, Hazor, 20Shimron Meron, Achshaph, 21Taanach, Megiddo, 22Kedesh, Jokneam (in Carmel), 23Dor (on the coast), Goiim (in Galilee ), 24and Tirzah--thirty-one kings in all.
Job 26
Job
1-2What a big help you are to me--
poor, weak man that I am!
3You give such good advice
and share your knowledge with a fool like me!
4Who do you think will hear all your words?
Who inspired you to speak like this?
[Bildad]
5The spirits of the dead tremble
in the waters under the earth.
6The world of the dead lies open to God;
no covering shields it from his sight.
7God stretched out the northern sky
and hung the earth in empty space.
8It is God who fills the clouds with water
and keeps them from bursting with the weight.
9He hides the full moon behind a cloud.
10He divided light from darkness
by a circle drawn on the face of the sea.
11When he threatens the pillars that hold up the sky,
they shake and tremble with fear.
12It is his strength that conquered the sea;
by his skill he destroyed the monster Rahab.
13It is his breath that made the sky clear,
and his hand that killed the escaping monster.
14But these are only hints of his power,
only the whispers that we have heard.
Who can know how truly great God is? 4/25/2008 Today's Reading:
Acts 10.34-48, Joshua 9-10 and Job 25 Have been baptized in water?
Have you received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?
Don't be too quick to make a deal, but seek wisdom from God so that you won't be deceived. Peter's Speech Acts 10 34Peter began to speak: "I now realize that it is true that God treats everyone on the same basis. 35Those who fear him and do what is right are acceptable to him, no matter what race they belong to. 36You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, proclaiming the Good News of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37You know of the great event that took place throughout the land of Israel, beginning in Galilee after John preached his message of baptism. 38You know about Jesus of Nazareth and how God poured out on him the Holy Spirit and power. He went everywhere, doing good and healing all who were under the power of the Devil, for God was with him. 39We are witnesses of everything that he did in the land of Israel and in Jerusalem. Then they put him to death by nailing him to a cross. 40But God raised him from death three days later and caused him to appear, 41not to everyone, but only to the witnesses that God had already chosen, that is, to us who ate and drank with him after he rose from death. 42And he commanded us to preach the gospel to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God has appointed judge of the living and the dead. 43All the prophets spoke about him, saying that all who believe in him will have their sins forgiven through the power of his name." The Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit 44While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who were listening to his message. 45The Jewish believers who had come from Joppa with Peter were amazed that God had poured out his gift of the Holy Spirit on the Gentiles also. 46For they heard them speaking in strange tongues and praising God's greatness. Peter spoke up: 47"These people have received the Holy Spirit, just as we also did. Can anyone, then, stop them from being baptized with water?" 48So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay with them for a few days.
The Gibeonites Deceive Joshua Joshua 9 The victories of Israel became known to all the kings west of the Jordan--in the hills, in the foothills, and all along the coastal plain of the Mediterranean Sea as far north as Lebanon; these were the kings of the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 2They all came together and joined forces to fight against Joshua and the Israelites.
3But the people of Gibeon, who were Hivites, heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, 4and they decided to deceive him. They went and got some food and loaded their donkeys with worn-out sacks and patched-up wineskins. 5They put on ragged clothes and worn-out sandals that had been mended. The bread they took with them was dry and moldy. 6Then they went to the camp at Gilgal and said to Joshua and the Israelites, "We have come from a distant land. We want you to make a treaty with us."
7But the Israelites said, "Why should we make a treaty with you? Maybe you live nearby."
8They said to Joshua, "We are at your service."
Joshua asked them, "Who are you? Where do you come from?"
9Then they told him this story: "We have come from a very distant land, sir, because we have heard of the LORD your God. We have heard about everything that he did in Egypt 10and what he did to the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan: King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth. 11Our leaders and all the people that live in our land told us to get some food ready for a trip and to go and meet you. We were told to put ourselves at your service and ask you to make a treaty with us. 12Look at our bread. When we left home with it and started out to meet you, it was still warm. But look! Now it is dry and moldy. 13When we filled these wineskins, they were new, but look! They are torn. Our clothes and sandals are worn out from the long trip."
14The Israelites accepted some food from them, but did not consult the LORD about it. 15Joshua made a treaty of friendship with the people of Gibeon and allowed them to live. The leaders of the community of Israel gave their solemn promise to keep the treaty.
16Three days after the treaty had been made, the Israelites learned that these people did indeed live nearby. 17So the people of Israel started out and three days later arrived at the cities where these people lived: Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim. 18But the Israelites could not kill them, because their leaders had made a solemn promise to them in the name of the LORD, Israel's God. All the people complained to the leaders about this, 19but they answered, "We have made our solemn promise to them in the name of the LORD God of Israel. Now we cannot harm them. 20We must let them live because of our promise; if we don't, God will punish us. 21Let them live, but they will have to cut wood and carry water for us." This was what the leaders suggested.
22Joshua ordered the people of Gibeon to be brought to him, and he asked them, "Why did you deceive us and tell us that you were from far away, when you live right here? 23Because you did this, God has condemned you. Your people will always be slaves, cutting wood and carrying water for the sanctuary of my God."
24They answered, "We did it, sir, because we learned that it was really true that the LORD your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and to kill the people living in it as you advanced. We did it because we were terrified of you; we were in fear of our lives. 25Now we are in your power; do with us what you think is right." 26So this is what Joshua did: he protected them and did not allow the people of Israel to kill them. 27But at the same time he made them slaves, to cut wood and carry water for the people of Israel and for the LORD's altar. To this day they have continued to do this work in the place where the LORD has chosen to be worshiped. The Amorites Are Defeated Joshua 10 Adonizedek, the king of Jerusalem, heard that Joshua had captured and totally destroyed Ai and had killed its king, just as he had done to Jericho and its king. He also heard that the people of Gibeon had made peace with the Israelites and were living among them. 2The people of Jerusalem were greatly alarmed at this because Gibeon was as large as any of the cities that had a king; it was larger than Ai, and its men were good fighters. 3So Adonizedek sent the following message to King Hoham of Hebron, King Piram of Jarmuth, King Japhia of Lachish, and to King Debir of Eglon: 4"Come and help me attack Gibeon, because its people have made peace with Joshua and the Israelites." 5These five Amorite kings, the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon, joined forces, surrounded Gibeon, and attacked it.
6The men of Gibeon sent word to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal: "Do not abandon us, sir! Come at once and help us! Save us! All the Amorite kings in the hill country have joined forces and have attacked us!"
7So Joshua and his whole army, including the best troops, started out from Gilgal. 8The LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them. I have already given you the victory. Not one of them will be able to stand against you." 9All night Joshua and his army marched from Gilgal to Gibeon, and they made a surprise attack on the Amorites. 10The LORD made the Amorites panic at the sight of Israel's army. The Israelites slaughtered them at Gibeon and pursued them down the mountain pass at Beth Horon, keeping up the attack as far south as Azekah and Makkedah. 11While the Amorites were running down the pass from the Israelite army, the LORD made large hailstones fall down on them all the way to Azekah. More were killed by the hailstones than by the Israelites.
12On the day that the LORD gave the men of Israel victory over the Amorites, Joshua spoke to the LORD. In the presence of the Israelites he said,
"Sun, stand still over Gibeon;
Moon, stop over Aijalon Valley."
13The sun stood still and the moon did not move until the nation had conquered its enemies. This is written in The Book of Jashar. The sun stood still in the middle of the sky and did not go down for a whole day. 14Never before, and never since, has there been a day like it, when the LORD obeyed a human being. The LORD fought on Israel's side!
15After this, Joshua and his army went back to the camp at Gilgal. Joshua Captures the Five Amorite Kings 16The five Amorite kings, however, had escaped and were hiding in the cave at Makkedah. 17Someone found them, and Joshua was told where they were hiding. 18He said, "Roll some big stones in front of the entrance to the cave. Place some guards there, 19but don't stay there yourselves. Keep on after the enemy and attack them from the rear; don't let them get to their cities! The LORD your God has given you victory over them." 20Joshua and the men of Israel slaughtered them, although some managed to find safety inside their city walls and were not killed. 21Then all of Joshua's men came back safe to him at the camp at Makkedah.
No one in the land dared even to speak against the Israelites.
22Then Joshua said, "Open the entrance to the cave and bring those five kings out to me." 23So the cave was opened, and the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon were brought out 24and taken to Joshua. Joshua then called all the men of Israel to him and ordered the officers who had gone with him to come and put their feet on the necks of the kings. They did so. 25Then Joshua said to his officers, "Don't be afraid or discouraged. Be determined and confident because this is what the LORD is going to do to all your enemies." 26Then Joshua killed the kings and hanged them on five trees, where their bodies stayed until evening. 27At sundown Joshua gave orders, and their bodies were taken down and thrown into the same cave where they had hidden earlier. Large stones were placed at the entrance to the cave, and they are still there. Joshua Captures More Amorite Territory 28Joshua attacked and captured Makkedah and its king that day. He put everyone in the city to death; no one was left alive. He did to the king of Makkedah what he had done to the king of Jericho.
29After this, Joshua and his army went on from Makkedah to Libnah and attacked it. 30The LORD also gave the Israelites victory over this city and its king. They spared no one, but killed every person in it. They did to the king what they had done to the king of Jericho.
31After this, Joshua and his army went on from Libnah to Lachish, surrounded it and attacked it. 32The LORD gave the Israelites victory over Lachish on the second day of the battle. Just as they had done at Libnah, they spared no one, but killed every person in the city. 33King Horam of Gezer came to the aid of Lachish, but Joshua defeated him and his army and left none of them alive.
34Next, Joshua and his army went on from Lachish to Eglon, surrounded it and attacked it. 35They captured it the same day and put everyone there to death, just as they had done at Lachish.
36After this, Joshua and his army went from Eglon up into the hills to Hebron, attacked it 37and captured it. They killed the king and everyone else in the city as well as in the nearby towns. Joshua condemned the city to total destruction, just as he had done to Eglon. No one in it was left alive.
38Then Joshua and his army turned back to Debir and attacked it. 39He captured it, with its king and all the nearby towns. They put everyone there to death. Joshua did to Debir and its king what he had done to Hebron and to Libnah and its king.
40Joshua conquered the whole land. He defeated the kings of the hill country, the eastern slopes, and the western foothills, as well as those of the dry country in the south. He spared no one; everyone was put to death. This was what the LORD God of Israel had commanded. 41Joshua's campaign took him from Kadesh Barnea in the south to Gaza near the coast, including all the area of Goshen, and as far north as Gibeon. 42Joshua conquered all these kings and their territory in one campaign because the LORD, Israel's God, was fighting for Israel. 43After this, Joshua and his army went back to the camp at Gilgal.
Job 25Bildad1-2God is powerful; all must stand in awe of him; he keeps his heavenly kingdom in peace. 3Can anyone count the angels who serve him? Is there any place where God's light does not shine? 4Can anyone be righteous or pure in God's sight? 5In his eyes even the moon is not bright, or the stars pure. 6Then what about a human being, that worm, that insect? What is a human life worth in God's eyes? 4/24/2008 Today's Reading:
Acts 10.1-33, Joshua 7-8 and Job 24 Peter and Cornelius Acts 10 There was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, who was a captain in the Roman army regiment called "The Italian Regiment." 2He was a religious man; he and his whole family worshiped God. He also did much to help the Jewish poor people and was constantly praying to God. 3It was about three o'clock one afternoon when he had a vision, in which he clearly saw an angel of God come in and say to him, "Cornelius!"
4He stared at the angel in fear and said, "What is it, sir?"
The angel answered, "God is pleased with your prayers and works of charity, and is ready to answer you. 5And now send some men to Joppa for a certain man whose full name is Simon Peter. 6He is a guest in the home of a tanner of leather named Simon, who lives by the sea." 7Then the angel went away, and Cornelius called two of his house servants and a soldier, a religious man who was one of his personal attendants. 8He told them what had happened and sent them off to Joppa.
9The next day, as they were on their way and coming near Joppa, Peter went up on the roof of the house about noon in order to pray. 10He became hungry and wanted something to eat; while the food was being prepared, he had a vision. 11He saw heaven opened and something coming down that looked like a large sheet being lowered by its four corners to the earth. 12In it were all kinds of animals, reptiles, and wild birds. 13A voice said to him, "Get up, Peter; kill and eat!"
14But Peter said, "Certainly not, Lord! I have never eaten anything ritually unclean or defiled."
15The voice spoke to him again, "Do not consider anything unclean that God has declared clean." 16This happened three times, and then the thing was taken back up into heaven.
17While Peter was wondering about the meaning of this vision, the men sent by Cornelius had learned where Simon's house was, and they were now standing in front of the gate. 18They called out and asked, "Is there a guest here by the name of Simon Peter?"
19Peter was still trying to understand what the vision meant, when the Spirit said, "Listen! Three men are here looking for you. 20So get ready and go down, and do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them." 21So Peter went down and said to the men, "I am the man you are looking for. Why have you come?"
22"Captain Cornelius sent us," they answered. "He is a good man who worships God and is highly respected by all the Jewish people. An angel of God told him to invite you to his house, so that he could hear what you have to say." 23Peter invited the men in and had them spend the night there.
The next day he got ready and went with them; and some of the believers from Joppa went along with him. 24The following day he arrived in Caesarea, where Cornelius was waiting for him, together with relatives and close friends that he had invited. 25As Peter was about to go in, Cornelius met him, fell at his feet, and bowed down before him. 26But Peter made him rise. "Stand up," he said, "I myself am only a man." 27Peter kept on talking to Cornelius as he went into the house, where he found many people gathered. 28He said to them, "You yourselves know very well that a Jew is not allowed by his religion to visit or associate with Gentiles. But God has shown me that I must not consider any person ritually unclean or defiled. 29And so when you sent for me, I came without any objection. I ask you, then, why did you send for me?"
30Cornelius said, "It was about this time three days ago that I was praying in my house at three o'clock in the afternoon. Suddenly a man dressed in shining clothes stood in front of me 31and said: 'Cornelius! God has heard your prayer and has taken notice of your works of charity. 32Send someone to Joppa for a man whose full name is Simon Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner of leather, who lives by the sea.' 33And so I sent for you at once, and you have been good enough to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God, waiting to hear anything that the Lord has instructed you to say."
Achan's Sin Joshua 7 The LORD's command to Israel not to take from Jericho anything that was to be destroyed was not obeyed. A man named Achan disobeyed that order, and so the LORD was furious with the Israelites. (Achan was the son of Carmi and grandson of Zabdi, and belonged to the clan of Zerah, a part of the tribe of Judah.)
2Joshua sent some men from Jericho to Ai, a city east of Bethel, near Bethaven, with orders to go and explore the land. When they had done so, 3they reported back to Joshua: "There is no need for everyone to attack Ai. Send only about two or three thousand men. Don't send the whole army up there to fight; it is not a large city." 4So about three thousand Israelites made the attack, but they were forced to retreat. 5The men of Ai chased them from the city gate as far as some quarries and killed about thirty-six of them on the way down the hill. Then the Israelites lost their courage and were afraid.
6Joshua and the leaders of Israel tore their clothes in grief, threw themselves to the ground before the LORD's Covenant Box, and lay there till evening, with dust on their heads to show their sorrow. 7And Joshua said, "Sovereign LORD! Why did you bring us across the Jordan at all? To turn us over to the Amorites? To destroy us? Why didn't we just stay on the other side of the Jordan? 8What can I say, O Lord, now that Israel has retreated from the enemy? 9The Canaanites and everyone else in the country will hear about it. They will surround us and kill every one of us! And then what will you do to protect your honor?"
10The LORD said to Joshua, "Get up! Why are you lying on the ground like this? 11Israel has sinned! They have broken the agreement with me that I ordered them to keep. They have taken some of the things condemned to destruction. They stole them, lied about it, and put them with their own things. 12This is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies. They retreat from them because they themselves have now been condemned to destruction! I will not stay with you any longer unless you destroy the things you were ordered not to take! 13Get up! Purify the people and get them ready to come before me. Tell them to be ready tomorrow, because I, the LORD God of Israel, have this to say: 'Israel, you have in your possession some things that I ordered you to destroy! You cannot stand against your enemies until you get rid of these things!' 14So tell them that in the morning they will be brought forward, tribe by tribe. The tribe that I pick out will then come forward, clan by clan. The clan that I pick out will come forward, family by family. The family that I pick out will come forward, one by one. 15The one who is then picked out and found with the condemned goods will be burned, along with his family and everything he owns, for he has brought terrible shame on Israel and has broken my covenant."
16Early the next morning Joshua brought Israel forward, tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was picked out. 17He brought the tribe of Judah forward, clan by clan, and the clan of Zerah was picked out. Then he brought the clan of Zerah forward, family by family, and the family of Zabdi was picked out. 18He then brought Zabdi's family forward, one by one, and Achan, the son of Carmi and grandson of Zabdi, was picked out. 19Joshua said to him, "My son, tell the truth here before the LORD, the God of Israel, and confess. Tell me now what you have done. Don't try to hide it from me."
20"It's true," Achan answered. "I have sinned against the LORD, Israel's God, and this is what I did. 21Among the things we seized I saw a beautiful Babylonian cloak, about five pounds of silver, and a bar of gold weighing over one pound. I wanted them so much that I took them. You will find them buried inside my tent, with the silver at the bottom."
22So Joshua sent some men, who ran to the tent and found that the condemned things really were buried there, with the silver at the bottom. 23They brought them out of the tent, took them to Joshua and all the Israelites, and laid them down in the presence of the LORD. 24Joshua, along with all the people of Israel, seized Achan, the silver, the cloak, the bar of gold, together with Achan's sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys, and sheep, his tent, and everything else he owned; and they took them to Trouble Valley. 25And Joshua said, "Why have you brought such trouble on us? The LORD will now bring trouble on you!" All the people then stoned Achan to death; they also stoned and burned his family and possessions. 26They put a huge pile of stones over him, which is there to this day. That is why that place is still called Trouble Valley.
Then the LORD was no longer furious. The Capture and Destruction of Ai Joshua 8 The LORD said to Joshua, "Take all the soldiers with you and go on up to Ai. Don't be afraid or discouraged. I will give you victory over the king of Ai; his people, city, and land will be yours. 2You are to do to Ai and its king what you did to Jericho and its king, but this time you may keep its goods and livestock for yourselves. Prepare to attack the city by surprise from the rear."
3So Joshua got ready to go to Ai with all his soldiers. He picked out thirty thousand of his best troops and sent them out at night 4with these orders: "Hide on the other side of the city, but not too far away from it; be ready to attack. 5My men and I will approach the city. When the men of Ai come out against us, we will turn and run, just as we did the first time. 6They will pursue us until we have led them away from the city. They will think that we are running from them, as we did before. 7Then you will come out of hiding and capture the city. The LORD your God will give it to you. 8After you have taken the city, set it on fire, just as the LORD has commanded. These are your orders." 9So Joshua sent them out, and they went to their hiding place and waited there, west of Ai, between Ai and Bethel. Joshua spent the night in camp.
10Early in the morning Joshua got up and called the soldiers together. Then he and the leaders of Israel led them to Ai. 11The soldiers with him went toward the main entrance to the city and set up camp on the north side, with a valley between themselves and Ai. 12He took about five thousand men and put them in hiding west of the city, between Ai and Bethel. 13The soldiers were arranged for battle with the main camp north of the city and the rest of the men to the west. Joshua spent the night in the valley. 14When the king of Ai saw Joshua's men, he acted quickly. He and all his men went out toward the Jordan Valley to fight the Israelites at the same place as before, not knowing that he was about to be attacked from the rear. 15Joshua and his men pretended that they were retreating, and ran away toward the barren country. 16All the men in the city had been called together to go after them, and as they pursued Joshua, they kept getting farther away from the city. 17Every man in Ai went after the Israelites, and the city was left wide open, with no one to defend it.
18Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Point your spear at Ai; I am giving it to you." Joshua did as he was told, 19and as soon as he lifted his hand, the men who had been hiding got up quickly, ran into the city and captured it. They immediately set the city on fire. 20When the men of Ai looked back, they saw the smoke rising to the sky. There was no way for them to escape, because the Israelites who had run toward the barren country now turned around to attack them. 21When Joshua and his men saw that the others had taken the city and that it was on fire, they turned around and began killing the men of Ai. 22The Israelites in the city now came down to join the battle. So the men of Ai found themselves completely surrounded by Israelites, and they were all killed. No one got away, and no one lived through it 23except the king of Ai. He was captured and taken to Joshua.
24The Israelites killed every one of the enemy in the barren country where they had chased them. Then they went back to Ai and killed everyone there. 25-26Joshua kept his spear pointed at Ai and did not put it down until every person there had been killed. The whole population of Ai was killed that day--twelve thousand men and women. 27The Israelites kept for themselves the livestock and goods captured in the city, as the LORD had told Joshua. 28Joshua burned Ai and left it in ruins. It is still like that today. 29He hanged the king of Ai from a tree and left his body there until evening. At sundown Joshua gave orders for the body to be removed, and it was thrown down at the entrance to the city gate. They covered it with a huge pile of stones, which is still there today. The Law Is Read at Mount Ebal 30Then Joshua built on Mount Ebal an altar to the LORD, the God of Israel. 31He made it according to the instructions that Moses, the LORD's servant, had given the Israelites, as it says in the Law of Moses: "an altar made of stones which have not been cut with iron tools." On it they offered burnt sacrifices to the LORD, and they also presented their fellowship offerings. 32There, with the Israelites looking on, Joshua made on the stones a copy of the Law which Moses had written. 33The Israelites, with their leaders, officers, and judges, as well as the foreigners among them, stood on two sides of the LORD's Covenant Box, facing the levitical priests who carried it. Half of the people stood with their backs to Mount Gerizim and the other half with their backs to Mount Ebal. The LORD's servant Moses had commanded them to do this when the time came for them to receive the blessing. 34Joshua then read aloud the whole Law, including the blessings and the curses, just as they are written in the book of the Law. 35Every one of the commandments of Moses was read by Joshua to the whole gathering, which included women and children, as well as the foreigners living among them.
Job 24 Why doesn't God set a time for judging,
a day of justice for those who serve him?
2People move property lines to get more land;
they steal sheep and put them with their own flocks.
3They take donkeys that belong to orphans,
and keep a widow's ox till she pays her debts.
4They prevent the poor from getting their rights
and force the needy to run and hide.
5So the poor, like wild donkeys,
search for food in the dry wilderness;
nowhere else can they find food for their children.
6They have to harvest fields they don't own,
and gather grapes in vineyards of the wicked.
7At night they sleep with nothing to cover them,
nothing to keep them from the cold.
8They are drenched by the rain that falls on the mountains,
and they huddle beside the rocks for shelter.
9Evil people make slaves of fatherless infants
and take the children of the poor in payment for debts.
10But the poor must go out with no clothes to protect them;
they must go hungry while harvesting wheat.
11They press olives for oil, and grapes for wine,
but they themselves are thirsty.
12In the cities the wounded and dying cry out,
but God ignores their prayers.
13There are those who reject the light;
they don't understand it or go where it leads.
14At dawn the murderer gets up
and goes out to kill the poor,
and at night he steals.
15The adulterer waits for twilight to come;
he covers his face so that no one can see him.
16At night thieves break into houses,
but by day they hide and avoid the light.
17They fear the light of day,
but darkness holds no terror for them.
[Zophar]
18The wicked are swept away by floods,
and the land they own is under God's curse;
they no longer go to work in their vineyards.
19As snow vanishes in heat and drought,
so sinners vanish from the land of the living.
20Not even their mothers remember them now;
they are eaten by worms and destroyed like fallen trees.
21That happens because they mistreated widows
and showed no kindness to childless women.
22God, in his strength, destroys the mighty;
God acts--and the wicked die.
23God may let them live secure,
but keeps an eye on them all the time.
24For a while the wicked prosper,
but then they wither like weeds,
like stalks of grain that have been cut down.
25Can anyone deny that this is so?
Can anyone prove that my words are not true? 4/22/2008 Today's Reading:
Acts 9.1-25, Joshua 3.1-5.1 and Job 22 The Conversion of Saul
(Acts 22.6-16; 26.12-18) Acts 9 In the meantime Saul kept up his violent threats of murder against the followers of the Lord. He went to the High Priest 2and asked for letters of introduction to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he should find there any followers of the Way of the Lord, he would be able to arrest them, both men and women, and bring them back to Jerusalem.
3As Saul was coming near the city of Damascus, suddenly a light from the sky flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul! Why do you persecute me?"
5"Who are you, Lord?" he asked.
"I am Jesus, whom you persecute," the voice said. 6"But get up and go into the city, where you will be told what you must do."
7The men who were traveling with Saul had stopped, not saying a word; they heard the voice but could not see anyone. 8Saul got up from the ground and opened his eyes, but could not see a thing. So they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. 9For three days he was not able to see, and during that time he did not eat or drink anything.
10There was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. He had a vision, in which the Lord said to him, "Ananias!"
"Here I am, Lord," he answered.
11The Lord said to him, "Get ready and go to Straight Street, and at the house of Judas ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying, 12and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come in and place his hands on him so that he might see again."
13Ananias answered, "Lord, many people have told me about this man and about all the terrible things he has done to your people in Jerusalem. 14And he has come to Damascus with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who worship you."
15The Lord said to him, "Go, because I have chosen him to serve me, to make my name known to Gentiles and kings and to the people of Israel. 16And I myself will show him all that he must suffer for my sake."
17So Ananias went, entered the house where Saul was, and placed his hands on him. "Brother Saul," he said, "the Lord has sent me--Jesus himself, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here. He sent me so that you might see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18At once something like fish scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he was able to see again. He stood up and was baptized; 19and after he had eaten, his strength came back. Saul Preaches in Damascus Saul stayed for a few days with the believers in Damascus. 20He went straight to the synagogues and began to preach that Jesus was the Son of God.
21All who heard him were amazed and asked, "Isn't he the one who in Jerusalem was killing those who worship that man Jesus? And didn't he come here for the very purpose of arresting those people and taking them back to the chief priests?"
22But Saul's preaching became even more powerful, and his proofs that Jesus was the Messiah were so convincing that the Jews who lived in Damascus could not answer him.
23After many days had gone by, the Jews met together and made plans to kill Saul, 24but he was told of their plan. Day and night they watched the city gates in order to kill him. 25But one night Saul's followers took him and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.
The People of Israel Cross the Jordan Joshua 3 The next morning Joshua and all the people of Israel got up early, left the camp at Acacia, and went to the Jordan, where they camped while waiting to cross it. 2Three days later the leaders went through the camp 3and told the people, "When you see the priests carrying the Covenant Box of the LORD your God, break camp and follow them. 4You have never been here before, so they will show you the way to go. But do not get near the Covenant Box; stay about half a mile behind it."
5Joshua told the people, "Purify yourselves, because tomorrow the LORD will perform miracles among you." 6Then he told the priests to take the Covenant Box and go with it ahead of the people. They did as he said.
7The LORD said to Joshua, "What I do today will make all the people of Israel begin to honor you as a great man, and they will realize that I am with you as I was with Moses. 8Tell the priests carrying the Covenant Box that when they reach the river, they must wade in and stand near the bank."
9Then Joshua said to the people, "Come here and listen to what the LORD your God has to say. 10As you advance, he will surely drive out the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites. You will know that the living God is among you 11when the Covenant Box of the Lord of all the earth crosses the Jordan ahead of you. 12Now choose twelve men, one from each of the tribes of Israel. 13When the priests who carry the Covenant Box of the LORD of all the earth put their feet in the water, the Jordan will stop flowing, and the water coming downstream will pile up in one place."
14-15It was harvest time, and the river was in flood.
When the people left the camp to cross the Jordan, the priests went ahead of them, carrying the Covenant Box. As soon as the priests stepped into the river, 16the water stopped flowing and piled up, far upstream at Adam, the city beside Zarethan. The flow downstream to the Dead Sea was completely cut off, and the people were able to cross over near Jericho. 17While the people walked across on dry ground, the priests carrying the LORD's Covenant Box stood on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan until all the people had crossed over. Memorial Stones Are Set Up Joshua 4 When the whole nation had crossed the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua, 2"Choose twelve men, one from each tribe, 3and command them to take twelve stones out of the middle of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests were standing. Tell them to carry these stones with them and to put them down where you camp tonight."
4Then Joshua called the twelve men he had chosen, 5and he told them, "Go into the Jordan ahead of the Covenant Box of the LORD your God. Each one of you take a stone on your shoulder, one for each of the tribes of Israel. 6These stones will remind the people of what the LORD has done. In the future, when your children ask what these stones mean to you, 7you will tell them that the water of the Jordan stopped flowing when the LORD's Covenant Box crossed the river. These stones will always remind the people of Israel of what happened here."
8The men followed Joshua's orders. As the LORD had commanded Joshua, they took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, one for each of the tribes of Israel, carried them to the camping place, and put them down there. 9Joshua also set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan, where the priests carrying the Covenant Box had stood. (Those stones are still there.) 10The priests stood in the middle of the Jordan until everything had been done that the LORD ordered Joshua to tell the people to do. This is what Moses had commanded.
The people hurried across the river. 11When they were all on the other side, the priests with the LORD's Covenant Box went on ahead of the people. 12The men of the tribes of Reuben and Gad and of half the tribe of Manasseh, ready for battle, crossed ahead of the rest of the people, as Moses had told them to do. 13In the presence of the LORD about forty thousand men ready for war crossed over to the plain near Jericho. 14What the LORD did that day made the people of Israel consider Joshua a great man. They honored him all his life, just as they had honored Moses.
15Then the LORD told Joshua 16to command the priests carrying the Covenant Box to come up out of the Jordan. 17Joshua did so, 18and when the priests reached the riverbank, the river began flowing once more and flooded its banks again.
19The people crossed the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month and camped at Gilgal, east of Jericho. 20There Joshua set up the twelve stones taken from the Jordan. 21And he said to the people of Israel, "In the future, when your children ask you what these stones mean, 22you will tell them about the time when Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground. 23Tell them that the LORD your God dried up the water of the Jordan for you until you had crossed, just as he dried up the Red Sea for us. 24Because of this everyone on earth will know how great the LORD's power is, and you will honor the LORD your God forever."
Joshua 5 All the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the Mediterranean Sea heard that the LORD had dried up the Jordan until the people of Israel had crossed it. They became afraid and lost their courage because of the Israelites.
The Third Dialogue
(22.1--27.23) Job 22
Eliphaz
1-2Is there anyone, even the wisest,
who could ever be of use to God?
3Does your doing right benefit God,
or does your being good help him at all?
4It is not because you stand in awe of God
that he reprimands you and brings you to trial.
5No, it's because you have sinned so much;
it's because of all the evil you do.
6To make a brother repay you the money he owed,
you took away his clothes and left him nothing to wear.
7You refused water to those who were tired,
and refused to feed those who were hungry.
8You used your power and your position
to take over the whole land.
9You not only refused to help widows,
but you also robbed and mistreated orphans.
10So now there are pitfalls all around you,
and suddenly you are full of fear.
11It has grown so dark that you cannot see,
and a flood overwhelms you.
12Doesn't God live in the highest heavens
and look down on the stars, even though they are high?
13And yet you ask, "What does God know?
He is hidden by clouds--how can he judge us?"
14You think the thick clouds keep him from seeing,
as he walks on the dome of the sky.
15Are you determined to walk in the paths
that evil people have always followed?
16Even before their time had come,
they were washed away by a flood.
17These are the ones who rejected God
and believed that he could do nothing to them.
18And yet it was God who made them prosperous--
I can't understand the thoughts of the wicked.
19Good people are glad and the innocent laugh
when they see the wicked punished.
20All that the wicked own is destroyed,
and fire burns up anything that is left.
21Now, Job, make peace with God
and stop treating him like an enemy;
if you do, then he will bless you.
22Accept the teaching he gives;
keep his words in your heart.
23Yes, you must humbly return to God
and put an end to all the evil
that is done in your house.
24Throw away your gold;
dump your finest gold in the dry stream bed.
25Let Almighty God be your gold,
and let him be silver, piled high for you.
26Then you will always trust in God
and find that he is the source of your joy.
27When you pray, he will answer you,
and you will keep the vows you made.
28You will succeed in all you do,
and light will shine on your path.
29God brings down the proud
and saves the humble.
30He will rescue you if you are innocent,
if what you do is right. 4/21/2008 Heavenly Father,
I thank You for this new day and for the plans and purposes You have before me. Lord, I pray that You will help me to make sure that I have the ground work in place to be able to become and grow into the man of God You have planned for me. Help me Lord to not take shortcuts and to stick close to You. Lord, there is nobody that I want to please more than You. Many people have asked me what I want to be do next and I tend to feel I haven't decided what I want to be when I grow up, however, I have come to the conclusion that when I grow up I want You to say of me "Well done my good and faithful servant". To be a good and faithful servant of the Lord is what I want to be when I grow up. Help me Lord in these endeavors I pray. Lord, with the hustle and bustle of life, that is when I need You most. Help me I pray to grab on to You and to be listening even harder so that I do what You desire and don't over-commit, but that my word is my word. Help my character to be a strong foundation for my life. Help me to consider what needs to be fixed and what needs to be built up. Lord, give me eyes to see and ears to hear Your voice and You direction through Your Word, Your leaders, and Your people, in Jesus' name I pray. And Lord, I will give You the praise and the glory and the honor, in Jesus' name. Amen. Pray for China & the Olympics that God would open doors and opportunities that will help build China into a country with new found freedoms that can help to change the world. Pray that there will be news coming out of China that shows that God is working there and that the leaders and the people will be ready to receive a message of hope, in Jesus' name. Amen.
Today's Reading: Acts 8.26-40, Joshua 1-2 and Job 21 Philip and the Ethiopian Official Acts 826An angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Get ready and go south to the road that goes from Jerusalem to Gaza." (This road is not used nowadays.) 27-28So Philip got ready and went. Now an Ethiopian eunuch, who was an important official in charge of the treasury of the queen of Ethiopia, was on his way home. He had been to Jerusalem to worship God and was going back home in his carriage. As he rode along, he was reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah. 29The Holy Spirit said to Philip, "Go over to that carriage and stay close to it." 30Philip ran over and heard him reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah. He asked him, "Do you understand what you are reading?"
31The official replied, "How can I understand unless someone explains it to me?" And he invited Philip to climb up and sit in the carriage with him. 32The passage of scripture which he was reading was this:
"He was like a sheep that is taken to be slaughtered,
like a lamb that makes no sound when its wool is cut off.
He did not say a word.
33He was humiliated, and justice was denied him.
No one will be able to tell about his descendants,
because his life on earth has come to an end."
34The official asked Philip, "Tell me, of whom is the prophet saying this? Of himself or of someone else?" 35Then Philip began to speak; starting from this passage of scripture, he told him the Good News about Jesus. 36As they traveled down the road, they came to a place where there was some water, and the official said, "Here is some water. What is to keep me from being baptized?"
38The official ordered the carriage to stop, and both Philip and the official went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. 39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away. The official did not see him again, but continued on his way, full of joy. 40Philip found himself in Azotus; he went on to Caesarea, and on the way he preached the Good News in every town.
God Commands Joshua to Conquer Canaan Joshua 1 After the death of the LORD's servant Moses, the LORD spoke to Moses' helper, Joshua son of Nun. 2He said, "My servant Moses is dead. Get ready now, you and all the people of Israel, and cross the Jordan River into the land that I am giving them. 3As I told Moses, I have given you and all my people the entire land that you will be marching over. 4Your borders will reach from the desert in the south to the Lebanon Mountains in the north; from the great Euphrates River in the east, through the Hittite country, to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5Joshua, no one will be able to defeat you as long as you live. I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will always be with you; I will never abandon you. 6Be determined and confident, for you will be the leader of these people as they occupy this land which I promised their ancestors. 7Just be determined, be confident; and make sure that you obey the whole Law that my servant Moses gave you. Do not neglect any part of it and you will succeed wherever you go. 8Be sure that the book of the Law is always read in your worship. Study it day and night, and make sure that you obey everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9Remember that I have commanded you to be determined and confident! Do not be afraid or discouraged, for I, the LORD your God, am with you wherever you go." Joshua Gives Orders to the People 10Then Joshua ordered the leaders to 11go through the camp and say to the people, "Get some food ready, because in three days you are going to cross the Jordan River to occupy the land that the LORD your God is giving you."
12Joshua said to the tribes of Reuben and Gad and to half the tribe of Manasseh, 13"Remember how the LORD's servant Moses told you that the LORD your God would give you this land on the east side of the Jordan as your home. 14Your wives, your children, and your livestock will stay here, but your soldiers, armed for battle, will cross over ahead of the other Israelites in order to help them 15until they have occupied the land west of the Jordan that the LORD your God has given them. When he has given safety to all the tribes of Israel, then you may come back and settle here in your own land east of the Jordan, which Moses, the LORD's servant, gave to you."
16They answered Joshua, "We will do everything you have told us and will go anywhere you send us. 17We will obey you, just as we always obeyed Moses, and may the LORD your God be with you as he was with Moses! 18Whoever questions your authority or disobeys any of your orders will be put to death. Be determined and confident!" Joshua Sends Spies into Jericho Joshua 2 Then Joshua sent two spies from the camp at Acacia with orders to go and secretly explore the land of Canaan, especially the city of Jericho. When they came to the city, they went to spend the night in the house of a prostitute named Rahab. 2The king of Jericho heard that some Israelites had come that night to spy out the country, 3so he sent word to Rahab: "The men in your house have come to spy out the whole country! Bring them out!"
4-6"Some men did come to my house," she answered, "but I don't know where they were from. They left at sundown before the city gate was closed. I didn't find out where they were going, but if you start after them quickly, you can catch them." (Now Rahab had taken the two spies up on the roof and hidden them under some stalks of flax that she had put there.) 7The king's men left the city, and then the gate was shut. They went looking for the Israelite spies as far as the place where the road crosses the Jordan.
8Before the spies settled down for the night, Rahab went up on the roof 9and said to them, "I know that the LORD has given you this land. Everyone in the country is terrified of you. 10We have heard how the LORD dried up the Red Sea in front of you when you were leaving Egypt. We have also heard how you killed Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan. 11We were afraid as soon as we heard about it; we have all lost our courage because of you. The LORD your God is God in heaven above and here on earth. 12Now swear by him that you will treat my family as kindly as I have treated you, and give me some sign that I can trust you. 13Promise me that you will save my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all their families! Don't let us be killed!"
14The men said to her, "May God take our lives if we don't do as we say! If you do not tell anyone what we have been doing, we promise you that when the LORD gives us this land, we will treat you well."
15Rahab lived in a house built into the city wall, so she let the men down from the window by a rope. 16"Go into the hill country," she said, "or the king's men will find you. Hide there for three days until they come back. After that, you can go on your way."
17The men said to her, "We will keep the promise that you have made us give. 18This is what you must do. When we invade your land, tie this red cord to the window you let us down from. Get your father and mother, your brothers, and all your father's family together in your house. 19If anyone goes out of the house, his death will be his own fault, and we will not be responsible; but if anyone in the house with you is harmed, then we will be responsible. 20However, if you tell anyone what we have been doing, then we will not have to keep our promise which you have made us give you." 21She agreed and sent them away. When they had gone, she tied the red cord to the window.
22The spies went into the hills and hid. The king's men looked for them all over the countryside for three days, but they did not find them, so they returned to Jericho. 23Then the two spies came down from the hills, crossed the river, and went back to Joshua. They told him everything that had happened, 24and then said, "We are sure that the LORD has given us the whole country. All the people there are terrified of us."
Job 21
Job
1-2Listen to what I am saying;
that is all the comfort I ask from you.
3Give me a chance to speak and then,
when I am through, sneer if you like.
4My quarrel is not with mortals;
I have good reason to be impatient.
5Look at me. Isn't that enough
to make you stare in shocked silence?
6When I think of what has happened to me,
I am stunned, and I tremble and shake.
7Why does God let evil people live,
let them grow old and prosper?
8They have children and grandchildren,
and live to watch them all grow up.
9God does not bring disaster on their homes;
they never have to live in terror.
10Yes, all their cattle breed
and give birth without trouble.
11Their children run and play like lambs
12 and dance to the music of harps and flutes.
13They live out their lives in peace
and quietly die without suffering.
14The wicked tell God to leave them alone;
they don't want to know his will for their lives.
15They think there is no need to serve God
nor any advantage in praying to him.
16They claim they succeed by their own strength,
but their way of thinking I can't accept.
17Was a wicked person's light ever put out?
Did one of them ever meet with disaster?
Did God ever punish the wicked in anger
18 and blow them away like straw in the wind,
or like dust carried away in a storm?
19You claim God punishes a child for the sins of his father.
No! Let God punish the sinners themselves;
let him show that he does it because of their sins.
20Let sinners bear their own punishment;
let them feel the wrath of Almighty God.
21When our lives are over,
do we really care whether our children are happy?
22Can anyone teach God,
who judges even those in high places?
23-24Some people stay healthy till the day they die;
they die happy and at ease,
their bodies well-nourished.
25Others have no happiness at all;
they live and die with bitter hearts.
26But all alike die and are buried;
they all are covered with worms.
27I know what spiteful thoughts you have.
28You ask, "Where are the homes of great people now,
those who practiced evil?"
29Haven't you talked with people who travel?
Don't you know the reports they bring back?
30On the day God is angry and punishes,
it is the wicked who are always spared.
31There is no one to accuse the wicked
or pay them back for all they have done.
32When they are carried to the graveyard,
to their well-guarded tombs,
33 thousands join the funeral procession,
and even the earth lies gently on their bodies.
34And you! You try to comfort me with nonsense!
Every answer you give is a lie! 4/18/2008 Today's Reading:
Acts 7.1-22, Deuteronomy 29-30 and Job 18 Stephen's Speech Acts 7 The High Priest asked Stephen, "Is this true?"
2Stephen answered, "Brothers and fathers, listen to me! Before our ancestor Abraham had gone to live in Haran, the God of glory appeared to him in Mesopotamia 3and said to him, 'Leave your family and country and go to the land that I will show you.' 4And so he left his country and went to live in Haran. After Abraham's father died, God made him move to this land where you now live. 5God did not then give Abraham any part of it as his own, not even a square foot of ground, but God promised to give it to him, and that it would belong to him and to his descendants. At the time God made this promise, Abraham had no children. 6This is what God said to him: 'Your descendants will live in a foreign country, where they will be slaves and will be badly treated for four hundred years. 7But I will pass judgment on the people that they will serve, and afterward your descendants will come out of that country and will worship me in this place.' 8Then God gave to Abraham the ceremony of circumcision as a sign of the covenant. So Abraham circumcised Isaac a week after he was born; Isaac circumcised his son Jacob, and Jacob circumcised his twelve sons, the famous ancestors of our race.
9"Jacob's sons became jealous of their brother Joseph and sold him to be a slave in Egypt. But God was with him 10and brought him safely through all his troubles. When Joseph appeared before the king of Egypt, God gave him a pleasing manner and wisdom, and the king made Joseph governor over the country and the royal household. 11Then there was a famine all over Egypt and Canaan, which caused much suffering. Our ancestors could not find any food, 12and when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent his sons, our ancestors, on their first visit there. 13On the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and the king of Egypt came to know about Joseph's family. 14So Joseph sent a message to his father Jacob, telling him and the whole family, seventy-five people in all, to come to Egypt. 15Then Jacob went to Egypt, where he and his sons died. 16Their bodies were taken to Shechem, where they were buried in the grave which Abraham had bought from the clan of Hamor for a sum of money.
17"When the time drew near for God to keep the promise he had made to Abraham, the number of our people in Egypt had grown much larger. 18At last a king who did not know about Joseph began to rule in Egypt. 19He tricked our ancestors and was cruel to them, forcing them to put their babies out of their homes, so that they would die. 20It was at this time that Moses was born, a very beautiful child. He was cared for at home for three months, 21and when he was put out of his home, the king's daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son. 22He was taught all the wisdom of the Egyptians and became a great man in words and deeds. Conditions for Restoration and Blessing Deuteronomy 30 "I have now given you a choice between a blessing and a curse. When all these things have happened to you, and you are living among the nations where the LORD your God has scattered you, you will remember the choice I gave you. 2If you and your descendants will turn back to the LORD and with all your heart obey his commands that I am giving you today, 3then the LORD your God will have mercy on you. He will bring you back from the nations where he has scattered you, and he will make you prosperous again. 4Even if you are scattered to the farthest corners of the earth, the LORD your God will gather you together and bring you back, 5so that you may again take possession of the land where your ancestors once lived. And he will make you more prosperous and more numerous than your ancestors ever were. 6The LORD your God will give you and your descendants obedient hearts, so that you will love him with all your heart, and you will continue to live in that land. 7He will turn all these curses against your enemies, who hated you and oppressed you, 8and you will again obey him and keep all his commands that I am giving you today. 9The LORD will make you prosperous in all that you do; you will have many children and a lot of livestock, and your fields will produce abundant crops. He will be as glad to make you prosperous as he was to make your ancestors prosperous, 10but you will have to obey him and keep all his laws that are written in this book of his teachings. You will have to turn to him with all your heart.
11"The command that I am giving you today is not too difficult or beyond your reach. 12It is not up in the sky. You do not have to ask, 'Who will go up and bring it down for us, so that we can hear it and obey it?' 13Nor is it on the other side of the ocean. You do not have to ask, 'Who will go across the ocean and bring it to us, so that we may hear it and obey it?' 14No, it is here with you. You know it and can quote it, so now obey it.
15"Today I am giving you a choice between good and evil, between life and death. 16If you obey the commands of the LORD your God, which I give you today, if you love him, obey him, and keep all his laws, then you will prosper and become a nation of many people. The LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are about to occupy. 17But if you disobey and refuse to listen, and are led away to worship other gods, 18you will be destroyed--I warn you here and now. You will not live long in that land across the Jordan that you are about to occupy. 19I am now giving you the choice between life and death, between God's blessing and God's curse, and I call heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Choose life. 20Love the LORD your God, obey him and be faithful to him, and then you and your descendants will live long in the land that he promised to give your ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." 4/15/2008 Heavenly Father,
I thank You for this new day and for the incredible blessings of family, church, and friends. I thank You for the new day that You bring before me. I thank You for the strength and courage to step forward each day, for if I don't move forward, I am falling back. Lord, I know You are for me, and as such I know that nothing the devil can bring against me can prosper. I thank You for Your Word, which speaks hope and encouragement to me. I thank You for time that You provide so that I can be with You as I start my day. Give me ears to hear, eyes to see, and words to speak that will transform the world around me bringing You praise and glory and honor, in Jesus' name I pray. Speak to me today through Your Word, Your people, and Your Spirit, that each step I take is guided by You, that each word I speak brings truth, hope, direction, or correction for Your purpose, and Lord that I will hear and be obedient to the words of Your Spirit throughout each day. Lord, I give You the praise and the glory and the honor in Jesus' name. Amen.
Today's Reading: Acts 5.1-16, Deuteronomy 23-24 and Job 15 Ananias and Sapphira Acts 5 But there was a man named Ananias, who with his wife Sapphira sold some property that belonged to them. 2But with his wife's agreement he kept part of the money for himself and turned the rest over to the apostles. 3Peter said to him, "Ananias, why did you let Satan take control of you and make you lie to the Holy Spirit by keeping part of the money you received for the property? 4Before you sold the property, it belonged to you; and after you sold it, the money was yours. Why, then, did you decide to do such a thing? You have not lied to people--you have lied to God!" 5As soon as Ananias heard this, he fell down dead; and all who heard about it were terrified. 6The young men came in, wrapped up his body, carried him out, and buried him.
7About three hours later his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in. 8Peter asked her, "Tell me, was this the full amount you and your husband received for your property?"
"Yes," she answered, "the full amount."
9So Peter said to her, "Why did you and your husband decide to put the Lord's Spirit to the test? The men who buried your husband are at the door right now, and they will carry you out too!" 10At once she fell down at his feet and died. The young men came in and saw that she was dead, so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11The whole church and all the others who heard of this were terrified. Miracles and Wonders 12Many miracles and wonders were being performed among the people by the apostles. All the believers met together in Solomon's Porch. 13Nobody outside the group dared join them, even though the people spoke highly of them. 14But more and more people were added to the group--a crowd of men and women who believed in the Lord. 15As a result of what the apostles were doing, sick people were carried out into the streets and placed on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16And crowds of people came in from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing those who were sick or who had evil spirits in them; and they were all healed. Various Laws Deuteronomy 23 15"If slaves run away from their owners and come to you for protection, do not send them back. 16They may live in any of your towns that they choose, and you are not to treat them harshly.
17"No Israelite, man or woman, is to become a temple prostitute. 18Also, no money earned in this way may be brought into the house of the LORD your God in fulfillment of a vow. The LORD hates temple prostitutes.
19"When you lend money or food or anything else to Israelites, do not charge them interest. 20You may charge interest on what you lend to foreigners, but not on what you lend to Israelites. Obey this rule, and the LORD your God will bless everything you do in the land that you are going to occupy.
21"When you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not put off doing what you promised; the LORD will hold you to your vow, and it is a sin not to keep it. 22It is no sin not to make a vow to the LORD, 23but if you make one voluntarily, be sure that you keep it.
24"When you walk along a path in someone else's vineyard, you may eat all the grapes you want, but you must not carry any away in a container. 25When you walk along a path in someone else's grain field, you may eat all the grain you can pull off with your hands, but you must not cut any grain with a sickle.
Excerpt from TodayGodIsFirst.com by Os Hillman Before you begin your next project, ask yourself these four questions. What is the foundation this project is based on? What experiences has God demonstrated in my life that indicate His involvement? What is my motive for entering this activity? Do I have the skill, quality, and ability to accomplish the task? Answering these questions will tell you whether God will bless your activity. 4/14/2008 Heavenly Father,
I thank You for this new day and for the opportunities and challenges that will come today. I thank You that no matter the temptation, You provide a way out. I thank You that no matter the attack, You will protect and encourage me. I thank You for the sermon this past weekend and for Your Word that is a fresh breath into my life each day. Lord, if I get knocked down, continue to encourage me to get back up. If I am tempted to stay away and not show up, encourage and remind me that I am not a quitter and will not forfeit - help me to show up. If I am tempted to give up, remind me Lord of the truths and show me the way out of these lies. Lord, You are AWESOME and I couldn't do it (life) without You. Be glorified and praised, honored and worshiped in all I say and do today, in Jesus' name I pray. Amen. Today's Reading:
Acts 4.23-37, Deuteronomy 21-22 and Job 14 Are you needing hope and courage? - There is one name that can help Jesus. Do you live in the USA? There is a man who is going to travel across the country to bring hope and courage to many people he will encounter - pray for Bob - Hope and Courage Across America -- A Journey To Make A Difference The Believers Pray for Boldness Acts 4 23As soon as Peter and John were set free, they returned to their group and told them what the chief priests and the elders had said. 24When the believers heard it, they all joined together in prayer to God: "Master and Creator of heaven, earth, and sea, and all that is in them! 25By means of the Holy Spirit you spoke through our ancestor David, your servant, when he said,
'Why were the Gentiles furious;
why did people make their useless plots?
26The kings of the earth prepared themselves,
and the rulers met together
against the Lord and his Messiah.'
27For indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together in this city with the Gentiles and the people of Israel against Jesus, your holy Servant, whom you made Messiah. 28They gathered to do everything that you by your power and will had already decided would happen. 29And now, Lord, take notice of the threats they have made, and allow us, your servants, to speak your message with all boldness. 30Reach out your hand to heal, and grant that wonders and miracles may be performed through the name of your holy Servant Jesus."
31When they finished praying, the place where they were meeting was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to proclaim God's message with boldness. Do you have a Barnabas spirit? Did you know that Barnabas means "One who Encourages"? The Believers Share Their Possessions 32The group of believers was one in mind and heart. None of them said that any of their belongings were their own, but they all shared with one another everything they had. 33With great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God poured rich blessings on them all. 34There was no one in the group who was in need. Those who owned fields or houses would sell them, bring the money received from the sale, 35and turn it over to the apostles; and the money was distributed according to the needs of the people.
36And so it was that Joseph, a Levite born in Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means "One who Encourages"), 37sold a field he owned, brought the money, and turned it over to the apostles. 4/13/2008
Three commitments we have to have if we are going to win in Life, Love and Family.
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1. Commitment to SHOW UP!
Deut 30:19-20
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2. Commitment to NOT GIVE UP!
Don’t give up on living out your faith.
Gal 6:9
Don’t give up on asking. Keep Praying!
Luke 18:1-8
Don’t give up on the church.
Heb 10:24-25
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3. Commitment to GET BACK UP!
Get back up after you knocked down by sin.
Luke 15:3-24
Get back up after you get knocked down by other you love.
Acts 14:19-20
Get back up after you get knocked down by life.
Mark 2:1-12 4/11/2008 Heavenly Father,
I thank You for this new day. I thank You for the incredible blessing of family, church, friends, and provision. Lord, I turn to You today and ask that in every meeting and in every encounter, that You will be there - please send Your Holy Spirit as a special guest in every meeting I have, every conversation I have, every situation I am involved with so that Lord, You are glorified in every part of every day. Lord, help me to be still and listen to hear the direction and wisdom that comes through the Holy Spirit. Lord, help me be obedient to the direction and tone given me by the Holy Spirit. I see in Your Word that Peter who can be quiet, steps out in faith and speaks filled with the Holy Spirit, great truths and love to those he encounters. Help me to be more like You and to shine for You today, so that I may give You even more praise and honor, glory and honor, in Jesus' name. Amen.
Today's Reading: Acts 2.14-47, Deuteronomy 15-16 and Job 11 Peter's Message Acts 2 14Then Peter stood up with the other eleven apostles and in a loud voice began to speak to the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, listen to me and let me tell you what this means. 15These people are not drunk, as you suppose; it is only nine o'clock in the morning. 16Instead, this is what the prophet Joel spoke about:
17'This is what I will do in the last days, God says:
I will pour out my Spirit on everyone.
Your sons and daughters will proclaim my message;
your young men will see visions,
and your old men will have dreams.
18Yes, even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will proclaim my message.
19I will perform miracles in the sky above
and wonders on the earth below.
There will be blood, fire, and thick smoke;
20 the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will turn red as blood,
before the great and glorious Day of the Lord comes.
21And then, whoever calls out to the Lord for help will be saved.'
22"Listen to these words, fellow Israelites! Jesus of Nazareth was a man whose divine authority was clearly proven to you by all the miracles and wonders which God performed through him. You yourselves know this, for it happened here among you. 23In accordance with his own plan God had already decided that Jesus would be handed over to you; and you killed him by letting sinful men crucify him. 24But God raised him from death, setting him free from its power, because it was impossible that death should hold him prisoner. 25For David said about him,
'I saw the Lord before me at all times;
he is near me, and I will not be troubled.
26And so I am filled with gladness,
and my words are full of joy.
And I, mortal though I am,
will rest assured in hope,
27because you will not abandon me in the world of the dead;
you will not allow your faithful servant to rot in the grave.
28You have shown me the paths that lead to life,
and your presence will fill me with joy.'
29"My friends, I must speak to you plainly about our famous ancestor King David. He died and was buried, and his grave is here with us to this very day. 30He was a prophet, and he knew what God had promised him: God had made a vow that he would make one of David's descendants a king, just as David was. 31David saw what God was going to do in the future, and so he spoke about the resurrection of the Messiah when he said,
'He was not abandoned in the world of the dead;
his body did not rot in the grave.'
32God has raised this very Jesus from death, and we are all witnesses to this fact. 33He has been raised to the right side of God, his Father, and has received from him the Holy Spirit, as he had promised. What you now see and hear is his gift that he has poured out on us. 34For it was not David who went up into heaven; rather he said,
'The Lord said to my Lord:
Sit here at my right side
35until I put your enemies as a footstool under your feet.'
36"All the people of Israel, then, are to know for sure that this Jesus, whom you crucified, is the one that God has made Lord and Messiah!"
37When the people heard this, they were deeply troubled and said to Peter and the other apostles, "What shall we do, brothers?"
38Peter said to them, "Each one of you must turn away from your sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven; and you will receive God's gift, the Holy Spirit. 39For God's promise was made to you and your children, and to all who are far away--all whom the Lord our God calls to himself."
40Peter made his appeal to them and with many other words he urged them, saying, "Save yourselves from the punishment coming on this wicked people!" 41Many of them believed his message and were baptized, and about three thousand people were added to the group that day. 42They spent their time in learning from the apostles, taking part in the fellowship, and sharing in the fellowship meals and the prayers. Life among the Believers 43Many miracles and wonders were being done through the apostles, and everyone was filled with awe. 44All the believers continued together in close fellowship and shared their belongings with one another. 45They would sell their property and possessions, and distribute the money among all, according to what each one needed. 46Day after day they met as a group in the Temple, and they had their meals together in their homes, eating with glad and humble hearts, 47praising God, and enjoying the good will of all the people. And every day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved. 4/9/2008 Today's Reading: Acts 1, Deuteronomy 11-12 and Job 9 Heavenly Father,
I thank You for the opportunity and the experiences I have had since I returned to You and changed my priorities. I thank You for the fast track that You put my wife and I through once we plugged into our church/Your church. Being able to receive and respond to the message to be baptized in Water out of honor and obedience to Your Word and following after Jesus' example. Lord, to then be a part of a spiritual emphasis week where guest speakers came and preached and called us to the alter to praise and submit our lives before God. One of those speakers spoke of the baptism of the Holy Spirit and I thank You that both my wife and I had the blessing of being baptized with the Holy Spirit. Lord, I thank You so much for Your Word and for allowing me to learn and grow into leadership within Your body. Help me I pray to be a servant leader. Help me to be an example for others. Help me to be a mirror that reflects Your love and Your life into all those I come into contact with. We love You and praise You, worship and honor You, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Are you a witness of who Jesus is?
In your town or city?
In your county/district/region?
To the world? ...when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be filled with power, and you will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth... Acts 1:8
Don't be fooled by people saying they are Jesus, for He will return the same way He left. After saying this, he was taken up to heaven as they watched him, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
They still had their eyes fixed on the sky as he went away, when two men dressed in white suddenly stood beside them and said, "Galileans, why are you standing there looking up at the sky? This Jesus, who was taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way that you saw him go to heaven. Acts 1:9-11
Did you know we have a mediator?
Did you know there is an intercessor between us and God?
JESUS Job 9
1-2Yes, I've heard all that before.
But how can a human being win a case against God?
3How can anyone argue with him?
He can ask a thousand questions
that no one could ever answer.
4God is so wise and powerful;
no one can stand up against him.
5Without warning he moves mountains
and in anger he destroys them.
6God sends earthquakes and shakes the ground;
he rocks the pillars that support the earth.
7He can keep the sun from rising,
and the stars from shining at night.
8No one helped God spread out the heavens
or trample the sea monster's back.
9God hung the stars in the sky--the Dipper,
Orion, the Pleiades, and the stars of the south.
10We cannot understand the great things he does,
and to his miracles there is no end.
11God passes by, but I cannot see him.
12He takes what he wants, and no one can stop him;
no one dares ask him, "What are you doing?"
13God's anger is constant. He crushed his enemies
who helped Rahab, the sea monster, oppose him.
14So how can I find words to answer God?
15Though I am innocent, all I can do
is beg for mercy from God my judge.
16Yet even then, if he lets me speak,
I can't believe he would listen to me.
17He sends storms to batter and bruise me
without any reason at all.
18He won't let me catch my breath;
he has filled my life with bitterness.
19Should I try force? Try force on God?
Should I take him to court? Could anyone make him go?
20I am innocent and faithful, but my words sound guilty,
and everything I say seems to condemn me.
21-22I am innocent, but I no longer care.
I am sick of living. Nothing matters;
innocent or guilty, God will destroy us.
23When an innocent person suddenly dies,
God laughs.
24God gave the world to the wicked.
He made all the judges blind.
And if God didn't do it, who did?
25My days race by, not one of them good.
26My life passes like the swiftest boat,
as fast as an eagle swooping down on a rabbit.
27-28If I smile and try to forget my pain,
all my suffering comes back to haunt me;
I know that God does hold me guilty.
29Since I am held guilty, why should I bother?
30 No soap can wash away my sins.
31God throws me into a pit with filth,
and even my clothes are ashamed of me.
32If God were human, I could answer him;
we could go to court to decide our quarrel.
33But there is no one to step between us--
no one to judge both God and me.
34Stop punishing me, God!
Keep your terrors away!
35I am not afraid. I am going to talk
because I know my own heart. 4/8/2008 Today's Reading: Matthew 28, Deuteronomy 9-10 and Job 8 Things to pray about: - Family - Friends - China - Aaron - Work - Strength, Courage God will go ahead of you, but you still need to step out and step forward. 4/5/2008 by Os Hillman Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die. - Genesis 42:2b
F. B. Meyer in his book, The Life of Joseph, describes a time in the life of the 12 sons of Jacob in which they were driven from their lives of self-satisfaction to an unlikely place to save their lives. Many years earlier they had thrown their youngest brother into a pit, then sold him into slavery. Thirteen years later he became the second most powerful person in Egypt. Now the world was experiencing a famine, and Joseph controlled all the stored grain of Egypt.
As long as the hills were green and the pastures clothed with flocks, as long as the valleys were covered over with corn and rang with the songs of reapers, Reuben, Simeon, and the rest of them would have been unconcerned and content. But when the mighty famine came, the hearts of these men were opened to conviction. Their carnal security was shattered. They were being prepared for certain spiritual experiences they would never have dreamed. And they were being prepared for the meeting with Joseph. This is how God deals with us; He breaks up our nest, He loosens our roots, He sends a mighty famine that cuts away the whole staff of bread. Then, at such times, weary, worn, and sad, we are prepared to confess our sins and receive the words of Christ when He says, "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Mt. 11:28).
A missionary once said, "There is a place where we will all be obedient." Joseph was a type of Christ in the Old Testament. The famine was an event designed to bring the brothers to repentance and a saving knowledge, physically and spiritually. It created the circumstances that led to freedom for these men, for they had been in bondage to a wicked crime against their brother for many years. It was the forgiveness from Joseph that led to that freedom.
Is your life passing through a time of famine? Are your supplies limited? Is God leading you into directions that you would not normally seek? Perhaps this is God's hand creating circumstances for His purposes. Now is the time to look attentively as He directs you to unlikely sources.  Share TGIF With A Friend | Past Issues of TGIF
TGIF
Volume 2
 All New TGIF Devotionals by Os Hillman
Os Hillman has the unique ability to capture a deep spiritual truth in a succinct "daily devotional" format that is amazingly relevant to the 'real-world' of business and the workplace. Volume 2 contains all new 365 daily messages at your fingertips in an attractive hardcover version ready to encourage you daily at work. New messages on topics such as work as ministry, handling disappointments, time management, integrity, finances, decision-making, hearing God, and much more.
Click to Order or Learn More ©2004 - 2008 Marketplace Leaders - All Rights Reserved Today's Reading:
Matthew 26.47-75, Deuteronomy 3-4 and Job 5 Don't be afraid of them, for the LORD your God will fight for you.' Job 5 Call out, Job. See if anyone answers.
Is there any angel to whom you can turn?
2To worry yourself to death with resentment
would be a foolish, senseless thing to do.
3I have seen fools who looked secure,
but I called down a sudden curse on their homes.
4Their children can never find safety;
no one stands up to defend them in court.
5Hungry people will eat the fool's crops--
even the grain growing among thorns--
and thirsty people will envy his wealth.
6Evil does not grow in the soil,
nor does trouble grow out of the ground.
7No indeed! We bring trouble on ourselves,
as surely as sparks fly up from a fire.
8If I were you, I would turn to God
and present my case to him.
9We cannot understand the great things he does,
and to his miracles there is no end.
10He sends rain on the land
and he waters the fields.
11Yes, it is God who raises the humble
and gives joy to all who mourn.
12-13He upsets the plans of cunning people,
and traps the wise in their own schemes,
so that nothing they do succeeds;
14 even at noon they grope in darkness.
15But God saves the poor from death;
he saves the needy from oppression.
16He gives hope to the poor and silences the wicked.
17Happy is the person whom God corrects!
Do not resent it when he rebukes you.
18God bandages the wounds he makes;
his hand hurts you, and his hand heals.
19Time after time he will save you from harm;
20 when famine comes, he will keep you alive,
and in war protect you from death.
21God will rescue you from slander;
he will save you when destruction comes.
22You will laugh at violence and hunger
and not be afraid of wild animals.
23The fields you plow will be free of rocks;
wild animals will never attack you.
24Then you will live at peace in your tent;
when you look at your sheep, you will find them safe.
25You will have as many children
as there are blades of grass in a pasture.
26Like wheat that ripens till harvest time,
you will live to a ripe old age.
27Job, we have learned this by long study.
It is true, so now accept it. 4/3/2008 Heavenly Father,
I thank You for this day and for the new ideas and opportunities that You have prepared for me today in advance. I lift up the poor today and ask Lord that You help them to turn to You and Lord for Your body near and far to come around and lift them up to help them to get out the situation of poverty. Lord, I pray that You will teach us all responsibility - so that when we speak and when we act we do it in response to a call You have put on our lives and also that we take responsibility for doing and completing what You have asked us to do. Help us Lord to stop and listen. Help us to hear the still quiet voice and then to be obedient to what You say. We love You and honor You and praise You and glorify You in Jesus' name. Amen. Today's Reading:Matthew 26.1-25, Numbers 35-36 and Job 3 4/2/2008 No struggle will come your way
apart from his purpose, presence, and permission. - Max Lucado Heavenly Father,
I pray that You will give me eyes to see and ears to hear when Your Spirit directs my path. I pray Lord, that when I see people, I won't just walk by but will listen to hear what You desire for me to do or to say. Lord, You are the hope of this world. Lord, without You there is no joy. Help me to know and speak Your hope and Your peace to those I encounter. Help me to not be focused on me, but on others. Help me to keep my eyes on being a servant with a servants heart to please You. Help me Lord to do what You ask of me and what I am supposed to do without being asked. For Lord when You return, I so desire to hear from You, "Well done my good and faithful servant." Lord I thank You for Your Word to guide me, encourage me, and help me to reflect. May this day be a day that praises, worships, honors, and glorifies You, in Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Today's Reading:
Matthew 25.31-46, Numbers 32-34 and Job 2 The Final Judgment Matthew 2531"When the Son of Man comes as King and all the angels with him, he will sit on his royal throne, 32and the people of all the nations will be gathered before him. Then he will divide them into two groups, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the righteous people at his right and the others at his left. 34Then the King will say to the people on his right, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father! Come and possess the kingdom which has been prepared for you ever since the creation of the world. 35I was hungry and you fed me, thirsty and you gave me a drink; I was a stranger and you received me in your homes, 36naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me, in prison and you visited me.' 37The righteous will then answer him, 'When, Lord, did we ever see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? 38When did we ever see you a stranger and welcome you in our homes, or naked and clothe you? 39When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?' 40The King will reply, 'I tell you, whenever you did this for one of the least important of these followers of mine, you did it for me!'
41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Away from me, you that are under God's curse! Away to the eternal fire which has been prepared for the Devil and his angels! 42I was hungry but you would not feed me, thirsty but you would not give me a drink; 43I was a stranger but you would not welcome me in your homes, naked but you would not clothe me; I was sick and in prison but you would not take care of me.' 44Then they will answer him, 'When, Lord, did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and we would not help you?' 45The King will reply, 'I tell you, whenever you refused to help one of these least important ones, you refused to help me.' 46These, then, will be sent off to eternal punishment, but the righteous will go to eternal life."
Why Does God Allow Hurt? Posted in Books, Christian, Max Lucado by Ryan on August 27th, 2007 Have you ever sat by and listened to a friend pout our their heart about the hurt they’ve endured and listen to them question why God would allow this? I’ve been blessed to have hurt in my life but minimal hurt - the kind you can easily chalk up to God building your character and strengthening your faith. Other Christians have had their faith rocked by hurt and Max Lucado does a great job of explaining where God is during this time in his book “Come Thirsty.” Check out the excerpt below:
Some find the thought impossible to accept. One dear woman did. After I shared these ideas in a public setting she asked to speak with me. Husband at her side, she related the story of her horrible childhood. First abused, then abandoned by her father. Unimaginable and undeserved hurt scar her early memories. Through tear-filled eyes she asked, “do you mean to tell me God was watching the whole time?” The question vibrated in the room. I shifted in my chair and answered, “yes, he was. I don’t know why he allowed your hurt, but I do know this. He loves you and hurts with you.” She didn’t’ like the answer. But dare we say anything else? Dare we suggest that God dozed off? Abandoned his post? That heaven sees but can’t act? That our father is kind but not strong, or strong but doesn’t care? I wish she could have spoken to Joseph. His brothers abused him, selling him into slavery. Was God watching? Yes. And our sovereign God used their rebellious hearts to save a nation from famine and the family of the Messiah from extinction. As Joseph told them, “God turned into good what you meant for evil” (Gen 50:20). I wish she could have spoken to Lazarus. He grew deathly ill. When Jesus heard the news, he did nothing. Jesus waited until Lazarus was four-days dead in the grave. Why? “For the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it” (John 11:4). Best of all would have been a conversation with Jesus himself. He begged God for a different itinerary: a crossless death. From Gethsemane’s garden Christ pleaded for a plan B. Redemption with no nails. “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. YesI want your will, not mine.’ Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him” (Luke 22:42-43). Did God hear the prayer of his Son? Enough to send an angel. Did God spare his son from death? No. The glory of God outranked the comfort of Christ. So Christ suffered, and God’s grace was displayed and deployed. Are you called to endure a Gethsemane season? Have you “been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for his sake” (Phil 1:29 NSV)? If so, then come thirsty and drink deeply from his lordship. He authors all itineraries. He knows what is best. No struggle will come your way apart from his purpose, presence, and permission. What encouragement this brings! You are never the victim of nature of the prey of fate. Chance is eliminated. You are more than a weather vane whipped about by the winds of fortune. Would God truly abandon you to the whims of drug-crazed thieves, greedy corporate raiders or evil leaders? Perish the thought!
Satan Tests Job Again Job 2 When the day came for the heavenly beings to appear before the LORD again, Satan was there among them. 2The LORD asked him, "Where have you been?"
Satan answered, "I have been walking here and there, roaming around the earth."
3"Did you notice my servant Job?" the LORD asked. "There is no one on earth as faithful and good as he is. He worships me and is careful not to do anything evil. You persuaded me to let you attack him for no reason at all, but Job is still as faithful as ever."
4Satan replied, "A person will give up everything in order to stay alive. 5But now suppose you hurt his body--he will curse you to your face!"
6So the LORD said to Satan, "All right, he is in your power, but you are not to kill him."
7Then Satan left the LORD's presence and made sores break out all over Job's body. 8Job went and sat by the garbage dump and took a piece of broken pottery to scrape his sores. 9His wife said to him, "You are still as faithful as ever, aren't you? Why don't you curse God and die?"
10Job answered, "You are talking nonsense! When God sends us something good, we welcome it. How can we complain when he sends us trouble?" Even in all this suffering Job said nothing against God. Job's Friends Come 11Three of Job's friends were Eliphaz, from the city of Teman, Bildad, from the land of Shuah, and Zophar, from the land of Naamah. When they heard how much Job had been suffering, they decided to go and comfort him. 12While they were still a long way off they saw Job, but did not recognize him. When they did, they began to weep and wail, tearing their clothes in grief and throwing dust into the air and on their heads. 13Then they sat there on the ground with him for seven days and nights without saying a word, because they saw how much he was suffering. 4/1/2008 Today's Reading:
Matthew 25.1-30, Numbers 30-31 and Job 1 The Parable of the Ten Young Women Matthew 25 "At that time the Kingdom of heaven will be like this. Once there were ten young women who took their oil lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish, and the other five were wise. 3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any extra oil with them, 4while the wise ones took containers full of oil for their lamps. 5The bridegroom was late in coming, so they began to nod and fall asleep.
6"It was already midnight when the cry rang out, 'Here is the bridegroom! Come and meet him!' 7The ten young women woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8Then the foolish ones said to the wise ones, 'Let us have some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.' 9'No, indeed,' the wise ones answered, 'there is not enough for you and for us. Go to the store and buy some for yourselves.' 10So the foolish ones went off to buy some oil; and while they were gone, the bridegroom arrived. The five who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was closed.
11"Later the others arrived. 'Sir, sir! Let us in!' they cried out. 12'Certainly not! I don't know you,' the bridegroom answered."
13And Jesus concluded, "Watch out, then, because you do not know the day or the hour. The Parable of the Three Servants
(Luke 19.11-27) 14"At that time the Kingdom of heaven will be like this. Once there was a man who was about to leave home on a trip; he called his servants and put them in charge of his property. 15He gave to each one according to his ability: to one he gave five thousand gold coins, to another he gave two thousand, and to another he gave one thousand. Then he left on his trip. 16The servant who had received five thousand coins went at once and invested his money and earned another five thousand. 17In the same way the servant who had received two thousand coins earned another two thousand. 18But the servant who had received one thousand coins went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master's money.
19"After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. 20The servant who had received five thousand coins came in and handed over the other five thousand. 'You gave me five thousand coins, sir,' he said. 'Look! Here are another five thousand that I have earned.' 21'Well done, you good and faithful servant!' said his master. 'You have been faithful in managing small amounts, so I will put you in charge of large amounts. Come on in and share my happiness!' 22Then the servant who had been given two thousand coins came in and said, 'You gave me two thousand coins, sir. Look! Here are another two thousand that I have earned.' 23'Well done, you good and faithful servant!' said his master. 'You have been faithful in managing small amounts, so I will put you in charge of large amounts. Come on in and share my happiness!' 24Then the servant who had received one thousand coins came in and said, 'Sir, I know you are a hard man; you reap harvests where you did not plant, and you gather crops where you did not scatter seed. 25I was afraid, so I went off and hid your money in the ground. Look! Here is what belongs to you.' 26'You bad and lazy servant!' his master said. 'You knew, did you, that I reap harvests where I did not plant, and gather crops where I did not scatter seed? 27Well, then, you should have deposited my money in the bank, and I would have received it all back with interest when I returned. 28Now, take the money away from him and give it to the one who has ten thousand coins. 29For to every person who has something, even more will be given, and he will have more than enough; but the person who has nothing, even the little that he has will be taken away from him. 30As for this useless servant--throw him outside in the darkness; there he will cry and gnash his teeth Heavenly Father,
I have been asked about the Trinity and I pray that You will help me to find and to try and help others in grasping that there is only one God and that in that one God there are 3 persons (Father, Son, Spirit). Help me to find resources that people can visit and try to grab a greater and deeper understanding. The truth is that no matter how much we read, we need to trust in one God through faith. I thank You and praise You worship You and honor You, in Jesus' name. Amen.
Quotes: Today we hear "How is it possible," for Jehovah to be three and one both at the same time? It is illogical, unreasonable, and God is not the author of confusion!" It is a fact of chemistry that plain water, when placed in a vacuum under gas pressure of 230 millimeters and at a temperature of 0 degrees Centigrade, Will solidify it into ice at the bottom of the container, the liquid will remain in the center and at the top it vaporizes! At a given moment the same water is both solid, liquid and gas, yet all three are manifestations of the same base substance H2O - hydrogen/ two parts; oxygen/ one part. Can’t the Creator of this substance be Father, Son and Holy Spirit - three Persons and one Nature as Spirit without violating the law of logic or reason ? -- http://www.letusreason.org/Trin7.htm -- http://www.clarifyingchristianity.com/trinity.shtml Christians believe there are 3 persons, all having the same substance. These 3 persons are infinitely coexistent, coeternal, and coequal. They each have their own "natures". For evidence of this we look to the holy Bible and scripture. -- http://bibleprobe.com/trinity.com The doctrine of the Trinity has traditionally been formulated with the language "three persons, one essence." It's vague because the Bible is vague on this point. The formulation is meant to convey the following ideas: - There is only one God.
- The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God.
- The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all distinct persons from one another (as different people are distinct, not as someone with a split personality).
-- http://reformedanswers.org/answer.asp/file/99926.qna/category/th/page/questions/site/ Christian theology recognizes three separate aspects, or faces, of God: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. "Trinity" is the word used to refer to these three aspects of God collectively. Strictly speaking, it is a theological term and not found in the Bible; however, the concept of the Trinity is found in the Bible. The clearest example can be seen at Jesus' baptism (Matt. 4:16), where we see God the Son standing in the river Jordan, the Holy Spirit descending in the form of a dove, and God the Father speaking from Heaven. -- http://www.raptureready.com/faq/faq350.html The doctrine of the Trinity states that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit coexist in the unity of one God. "Trinity" is never mentioned in the Bible. It is the Christian Church's way of reconciling the Old Testament teaching that there is only one God (Deuteronomy 6:4) with New Testament teachings about the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Trinity [is] the term by which is expressed the unity of three Persons in the one God. The Christian doctrine is: (1) That there is only one God, one divine nature and being. (2) This one divine Being is tripersonal, involving the distinctions of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (3) These three are joint partakers of the same nature and majesty of God.
From New Unger's Bible Dictionary, Moody Press, 1988. -- http://www.twopaths.com/faq_trinity.htm
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