Tag: faith

July 24~ Things in the Bible not really in the Bible…and a few surprises

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Bible, blessingsLeave a comment

Oops of the Day

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Eye for Eye” in the Bible gives everyone permission to do to our enemy what he did to us

Leviticus 24:11,20,23; Exodus 21:23-24; Deuteronomy 19:18-21

Fact Of the Day

No!  Only judges could decide whether to use this law.  In Leviticus 24:11,20 ,23, it says God told Moses, who was the only judge at that time, to make the decision.  In Exodus 21:23-24, it says it must be the decision of a judge.   And in Deuteronomy  19:18-21 it says it must be the decision of a judge.  In other words, it is not a decision to be made by just anyone; it must be the decision of a judge

*Of course, Jesus changed all that in Matthew 5:30 and said, “If your enemy slaps you, offer your other cheek to him.”  In other words, no more retaliation; instead, forgiveness and loving your enemies (Matthew 5:44).

 

July 23~ Things in the Bible not really in the Bible…and a few surprises

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Bible, blessingsLeave a comment

Oops of the Day

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The Law of Moses had only the famous Ten Commandments

The entire book of Leviticus, 3rd book of the Bible

Fact Of the Day

No!  Try wading through the book of Leviticus written for the tribe of Levi from which came their priests who made sure the Law of Moses was kept.  Leviticus has 27 long chapters of intricate instructions.  It included three kinds of laws:  Moral, Ceremonial, Judicial (civil).  There are people today to want to dip back into the Law of Moses to do things they would love to have an excuse to do.  Incense in worship is part of the Law of Moses.  Candles in worship is part of the Law of Moses.  A separate priesthood is part of the Law of Moses.  Etc.  But, the Bible also says that if you keep part of the Law of Moses, you are obligated to keep all of it.  And that includes stoning for adultery, stoning for working on Saturday, and stabbing animals to death for sacrifices to God. Wow!  

 

July 22~ Things in the Bible not really in the Bible…and a few surprises

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Bible, blessingsLeave a comment

Surprise of the Day

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The Egyptians Enslaved the Jews

But before that,  Jewish Joseph enslaved the Egyptians

Exodus 1:6-11 and Genesis 46:34

Fact Of the Day

When the Egyptians enslaved the Jews, it was PAYBACK TIME.  When Jewish Joseph controlled Egypt’s food during a 7-year famine. the Egyptians ran out of money.  So they gave all their land to Joseph who passed it on to Pharaoh.  But the famine kept going.  The Egyptians did not have anything left of value, so sold themselves into slavery to Joseph who passed them on to Pharaoh.  So a couple of hundred year later after Joseph died, the Egyptians “turned the tables” on the Jews and enslaved the Jews.

 

July 21~ Things in the Bible not really in the Bible…and a few surprises

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Bible, blessingsLeave a comment

Surprises of the Day

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Abraham’s age when…

Isaac’s age when…

Jacob’s age when…

Genesis 25:26 & 21:5  –  Genesis 35:28 & 47:7

Facts Of the Day

Abraham’s grandsons, Jacob & Esau, were 15 years old when Abraham died.  (Abraham was 100 when Isaaac was born.  Isaac was 60 when Jacob & Esau were born.  Abraham died at age 175.)

Jacob took his family to live in Egypt ten years after his father, Isaac, died.  (Isaac was 60 years old when Jacob was born.  Isaac died at age 180 when Jacob was 120.  Jacob was 130 when he took his family to live in Egypt.)

 

 

July 20~ Things in the Bible not really in the Bible…and a few surprises

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Bible, blessingsLeave a comment

Oops of the Day

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Noah and his family were in the ark 40 days and 40 nights.

Genesis 7:6, 11, 24 and Genesis 8:13

Fact Of the Day

No. It rained 40 days and 40 nights.  But the springs under the ocean kept coming up and the water kept going up for 5 months.  Then they had to wait for the water to go back down.  Noah entered the ark when he was 600 years old, and stepped off the ark when he was 601 years old.  Noah and his family were in the ark a full year.

 

July 19~ Things in the Bible not really in the Bible…and a few surprises

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Bible, blessingsLeave a comment

Surprise of the Day

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When Abraham prepared to kill his son as a burned sacrifice to God, he believed God would bring his son back to life immediately afterward. 

Genesis 22; Hebrews 11:17-19

Fact Of the Day

What faith!  He really believed he could kill his son and the son would come back to life!  Abraham told his servants to wait for them while they finished  going up to Mount Moriah, adding, “WE will return”.  In the Hebrews it says the same thing: Abraham knew, if he killed his son, God would bring him back to life.  He KNEW it!

 

Wednesday 5/23 ~ Is it a good idea to be mad at God?

On By In attitude, discouragement, Inspirational, problemsLeave a comment

The scripture for today, May 23(5/23, is Exodus 5:23 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

0-Bk3-HeartsAfire-COVER-Kindle.thumbnail-new“Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your [God’s] name, he has brought trouble upon this people, and you have not rescued your people at all.”

This is Moses talking to God, and Moses is very angry. Is it a good idea to be mad at God? Deuteronomy 34:10 says there was never a prophet like Moses “whom the Lord knew face to face.”

Getting angry [not violent, that’s different] sometimes is part of a healthy relationship, as long as we are willing to stick around long enough to understand the other person’s point of view. Moses did not desert God. He spoke his mind, then waited to see how God would reply.

It wasn’t that God didn’t want to rescue his people from slavery in Egypt. God was not quite ready yet. And he probably did not rescue his people in the manner Moses had in mind. But eventually ~ after a little patience on Moses’ part ~ it happened: God rescued his people.

Are you angry at God over something? Tell him so. Then stick around and wait for him to express his point of view. It will happen someday. Maybe it won’t be your point of view. Probably it will be better.

~~BUYLINK for eBOOK or discount PAPER:  http://bit.ly/Hearts-Afire

 

 

Monday 3/26 ~ And then the Creator of the Universe wants to bring you home with him

On By In family, Heaven, love, worshipLeave a comment

The scripture for today, March 26 (3/26), is Galatians 3:26f as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

00-1st Century Worship KINDLE-COVER-Thumbnail“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ because all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”

The Muslim religion teaches that God is too far above humans to have such a relationship ~ you know, the parent-child kind, a family relationship. They are taught God created humans to have someone to worship him and be his slaves. Oh, how much they are missing.  And the rest of the world too.

Our Bible says God created humans to have someone to love. He wants to be more than a distant God; he wants to be our heavenly Father. So, when we come out of the waters of baptism, it is like coming out of a watery womb; Romans 6:4-5 says we are then born into a new spiritual life.

Everyone in the Christian world knows that baptism is in the Bible. Today’s scripture explains “…because you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” and therefore we have become sons with Christ ~ adopted sons. (See also Ephesians 1:5).

No need to be spiritually blind and poor and naked (Revelation 3:17).  You can gain spiritual insight, be rich in grace, and be clothed with Christ.

No need to be spiritually orphaned ~ you can become a child of God. He holds out holy arms to you. He wants to embrace you and hold you close as you finish this life on earth. And then, wonder of wonders, the Creator of the universe wants to bring you home with him.

Sunday 3/25 ~ Keep that hope alive

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The scripture for today, March 25 (3/25), is Lamentations 3:25 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

0-Michel-COVER-Kindle-Thumbnail.jpg“The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.”

That’s all?  Just hope?  I don’t have to have a deep, deep faith for God to be good to me? All I have to do is hope he exists? Hope he loves everyone? Hope me loves me?

Were you raised by atheists or have you attended a university where professors criticize theists (believers in God)? Have you been told deity is just the essence of the universe with no personality? Are you confused by it all?  You can still hope there is only the One God who does exist, has personality, knows your name and loves you.

Have you had a major tragedy in your life and can’t understand how a good God could allow that bad thing to happen (heaven on earth)? Do you live among people who believe all the gods in the world are the One God, so don’t pay special attention to any of them?

Amidst such confusion, is it hard for you to sort it all out and have faith in the One God of the Bible? What is faith anyway? It is the evidence of what you hope for.  If you cannot go so far as to say you have a deep faith in the One God, you can still hope! Keep that hope alive. Let the Lord be good to you.

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Buylink to ebook and discount paper:  http://bit.ly/Michel-WiseMan

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#atheism, #hope, #NewAge, #Pantheism, #faith

 

Friday 2/16 ~ Flaming hope with a flickering candle

On By In faith, persecution, powerLeave a comment

The scripture for today, February 16 (2/16), is 2nd Thessalonians 2:16 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

00-PAUL COVER-Thumbnail-“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.”

Who were these people the apostle Paul was writing? They were suffering.  Physically they were suffering.  Some in their group had even been killed for their faith. Mentally they were suffering.  Would they be next? Would it be worth everything they were going through?

Spiritually they were struggling. The apostle Paul, who wrote this, had been through such struggles many times himself. He wanted to make sure their faith did not waver.

How? By praying that their persecution would stop? At no time in the Bible do we have an account of Christians pray that the persecution stop. What did they pray for? Boldness.

They could be bold if they knew Jesus Christ loved them personally. They could be bold if they knew God the Father loved them personally. They could be bold with eternal encouragement, strength.

“Just keep doing what you’ve been doing,” he basically told them.  “With the strength God gives you, keep doing good deeds and spreading the Word.”  Persecuted? Yes. Frightened? Yes. Cowering? Never.

How about your life?

God’s encouragement never ceases. It is always there. There when you feel alone, when you feel forsaken, when you are frightened, when you feel helpless, when you feel hopeless.

God gives good hope. Sometimes things in your life may be going so badly you have trouble having faith in God. But you can still hope. The candle of your faith may be flickering, but your hope can still be a flaming hope, a large hope, a good hope.