Armor of God

1:41:14 AM EDT

when I got back to journaling at the beginning of this year, I told the Lord I wouldn't let it consume me and it did (sorry Lord); I said I would blog for Him and I did, but I also blogged for me (sorry Lord); I wanted to give him all the glory and honor but I took a lot of it myself (sorry Lord)

I'm closing down my other journal and not starting a new one over at Blogger, but this one I'm moving over to a blog I started last year, called Jesus My Lord

I'll be moving entries over from this one to that; a lot over there has poems (I like to call them psalms) that I wrote in a year of despair I had last year. It was a tough year, but it was a good year in that I really had great devotions and a closer relationship with you, Lord. I want to get back to that Lord and I'm sorry I deviated from that. This time it really is for you.

I have more I wanted to share in this journal that the Lord had given me. I'm taking His Word over there just in case someone is getting something out of these or finds it over there. For your glory, Lord, and only for your glory; love you Lord. I give this blog to you, Lord, for your glory and your honor.

http://jesusfriendofsinners.blogspot.com/

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11:15:13 AM EDT

Leviticus 15:31 "You must keep the Israelites separate from things that make them unclean so they will not die in their uncleanness for defiling my dwelling place".

There are lots of rules in Leviticus given by the Lord to the Israelites. Rules on what to eat and what not to eat, on how to sacrifice and when to sacrifice and what to bring to sacrifice, on what to do if a house has mildew, on what to do if someone has a skin disease, etc, etc, etc.

You look at the rules given and you know they were given to keep the Israelites as healthy as they could be - and also separate - apart from other cultures who probably allowed some of these things or put up with some of these things (like no rules on what to eat, no rules on how to treat mildew in a house, or what to do about an infectious skin disease, etc).

The Lord's intention was not a bunch of rules and not an elitist separation "we are better than you" attitude, but a distinction between his people and others who worshipped false gods so his people would not stoop down to that level; would realize they were special because of the Lord - separated to do his own work - healthy not to spread germs or sickness.

I get it Lord. A distinction to draw the Israelites (and us) closer to you. Thank you Lord. The rules might not make sense and the number of them might not make sense, but you know what is best and you know what we need to be as healthy as we can. We will trust in your wisdom Lord, even though we might not understand why some of those rules were given. You are awesome, Lord!

 

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9:28:59 AM EDT

The Bible is made up of 66 books written by different authors all inspired by the Holy Spirit, so every word in there the Lord basically wrote through man. Everything in there he has a purpose for putting it there. I didn't quite know how this was that the Bible got written, were the authors in a trance, how were they able to write what the Lord wanted, how did he give them the words? I later found out myself because sometimes when I'm writing something after I've read a particular passage in the Bible, my hands literally fly across the paper or across the keyboard and I know what I'm doing, I'm getting thoughts I would have never thought of myself and the writing flows really easily. That's the Holy Spirit; I like to think that's how the Bible was written. And in no way am I comparing my humble writings to the Bible, I think that it is just a similar process.

We start the Bible in Genesis with the creation of the world and the first man and woman, and the first sin. The rest of Genesis is basically a history lesson and is interesting reading. The story picks up in Exodus, again an interesting read as the Lord deals with the hard heart of Pharoah. Then we get to Leviticus, a book of rules, and people get bogged down. And oftentimes, if they have started reading the Bible from beginning to end, they stop reading it after they attempt Leviticus. (I always recommend for those starting out reading the Bible to start in the New Testament and to start with the Gospel of John - pastors have told me that too over the years).

I've read the Bible straight through at least 2 times and have started my third trip through recently. When I got to Leviticus, I wanted to skip it but knew it was part of the Bible so resolved to "get through" it. I did ask the Lord to show me things from it like I try to do daily when I start reading the Bible. He did open the book up to me, and it is an amazing book.

It is a book of laws and it can be dry as you read about the details of preparing the different sacrifices, etc., but if you stop and think why the Lord wanted them to do certain things, it makes perfect sense about Leviticus. And so we begin my few thoughts about Leviticus shared over the next week or so.

Leviticus 11:45 "I am the Lord who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God, therefore be holy because I am holy".

You look at all the regulations made by the Lord and you wonder why so many, why so detailed. I believe it was to keep the Israelites safe and healthy without spread of disease or illness and also to be holy - set apart.

The Lord is holy - set apart - He is not common -

I need to be set apart; not live LIKE the world, but LIVE in the world. I need to not cuss, not steal, not lie. I need to treat my neighbor kindly, I need to look after the poor, the weak, the homeless. I need to tell others about Jesus.

The Lord brought me out of the bondage of sin (out of Egypt). I need to live like that - a free man/woman - set apart - holy -living in the world but apart from the actions of the world that can continually sin.

Lord, as I study and share Leviticus, help me to get your message across, as you shared these passages with me, help others to see the wonder and wisdom of that wonderful book. In Jesus'  name I pray, amen.

 

 

 

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12:27:15 AM EDT


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12:48:12 AM EDT

Luke 1:37 For nothing is impossible with God.

There is nothing you cannot do, Lord, if it is your will - you can move a mountain, you can change a man's heart, you can bring sight to the blind, you can save people by your son, you are my God!

I will trust in you. There is nothing you cannot do; you can save my son at your proper timing/proper way/proper will - I need to allow you to do your work.

and Mary answered: I am the Lord's servant; may it be to me as you have said".

This is how I want to live my life, Lord; to do willingly what you ask me to do. Help me to remember nothing is impossible with you and help me to do your will in my life; in Jesus I pray, amen.

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1:08:06 AM EDT

Acts 3:4 Peter looked at him as did John. Then Peter said "look at us". So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

(this is the man that was lame, begging at the temple when Peter and John were going into it to pray; and later Peter healed this man through the power of Jesus)

I'm imaging this scene - crippled man in the temple, calling out for aid, people quickly walking by him; not looking at him truly, but dropping money in his cup or whatever, or just passing him by. He's not looking at people either, maybe he's ashamed he has to beg or has been doing it for so long people's faces all look the same. But then Peter stops and really looks at him. He's seen him before, didn't give him the time of day, maybe threw in money if he had some, but something caught his attention that day and he allowed the Lord to work in him to heal the man (the Lord healed him; not Peter).

What if Peter had quickly gone into the temple and not paid attention to what the Lord wanted him to do? What if he had not stopped and taken the time to talk with this man?

I need to live my life not so hurriedly that I miss encounters with whom the Lord wants me to administer to or serve. Help me Lord to be sensitive to how you want me to work in the lifes of others; in Jesus I pray, amen.

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12:24:04 AM EDT

Genesis 3:12 The man said "the woman you put here with me, she gave me some fruit from the tree and I ate it".

The first "blame game" - not taking responsibility for his own action; Adam chose to eat it; no one forced him to eat it; no one tied him down and shoved it into his mouth. He freely ate it, yet did not take responsibility for his actions without first accusing Eve.

Genesis 3:13 Then the Lord God said to the woman "what is this you have done?" The woman said "the serpent deceived me and I ate".

The second "blame game". Again, Eve was accountable for her actions, she chose to listen to the enemy, she chose to eat the fruit, again no one was forcing her to do so.

In my life, I need to be accountable for my actions with no excuses, no blaming anyone else - I choose to do what I do - that is the free will given to me by the Lord. It is not anyone else's fault when I sin; it is my own choice, my own action, my own responsibility.

Lord, help me to take full responsibility for all my actions without playing the blame game, in Jesus I pray amen.

 

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1:43:08 AM EDT
 Philippians 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility, consider others better than yourself.



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12:55:18 AM EDT

Hebrews 13:15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips, that confess His name.

continually - all the time - not just when life is going good or at church on Sundays, but ALL THE TIME

offer - lift up, give (to present for acceptance)

a

sacrifice (to offer something to God for worship or payment of sin)

worship - to express praise and devotion

I can't offer anything for atonement of sin because that was already done with Jesus' death on the cross.

BUT

I can offer up praise - worship to the Lord:

in words expressed to him telling him of his greatness

in words of thanksgiving

in actions on how I live my life

in trusting Him through everything and in every way

to be totally devoted/committed to Him

praise - to worship, to commend, to give honor to, to lift Jesus' name up, to glorify Him, to honor His name, to sing of and to say His greatness

that is the fruit of my lips - that is something pleasing to the Lord - that glorifies Him, the best I can say, the sweet I can say, to praise the Lord in all things

that confess His name - that acknowledges He is God, that knows He is my Savior, that knows without Him I have no hope

help me Lord to always praise your name, no matter way; to all the time lift up to you devotion and honor in my words, actions and deed - the best I have to offer, the best for Him who gave it all to me, no matter the circumstances, no matter how bad it looks to be, but always in all ways to give Him the honor; in Jesus' name I pray, amen.

 

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11:19:41 AM EDT

Matthew 15:27 But Jesus immediately said to them, "take courage, it is I.  Don't be afraid".

immediately Jesus responded - literally probably before the words were out of their mouth

take courage - don't be afraid, be brave, be secure in the love I have for you and my promises - my word - my actions say you can trust in me

It is I - I am who I sayI am - I am the Alpha and the Omega, I am the Son of God, I am the creator of the world. I am the One who knit you together in your mother's womb, I am the one who keeps my promises, I am the one who knows everything about you, I am to be trusted, believed. I am the one who will never leave you nor forsake you. I am the Lord

Don't be afraid - don't worry, I have your back, your front, you sides. I go into battles before you. I watch your back when you walk through the shadow of death. I know your every thought before you think it. I see the big picture. I don't let you hang. I lift you up and sustain you.

Trust in me

Don't be afraid

I am who I say I am - what my word says

the key issue - the key word is trust and belief in you Jesus, you ARE who you say you are

help me to trust in you! I love you Lord!

 

 

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