3 But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for the Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.
Jonah made a pretty big mistake...he ran away from God and His command to go tell the people of Ninevah for sinning and all their evildoings.
4-5 Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship.
God..seeing how Jonah ran away from him, got angry and made the seas all roar and become scary and stuff. Cause & effect.
15 Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm.
This part was kind of interesting. Jonah knowingly ran away from God because he didn't want to do what God told him to do, but then upon seeing how his disobedience put all those people in danger, Jonah willingly went overboard to make the sea calm.
Jonah knew that he disobeyed God, and he admitted to it by letting the crew throw him overboard. although just a small part of the story and the lesson to be learned, Jonah didn't try to justify his actions and fight with the men. Kind of admirable, i think. If he didn't do that, then God wouldn't have provided the big fish to swallow him and keep him 'safe' in his belly.
=]
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Jeremiah 16
"But now I will send for many fishermen," declares the Lord, "and they will catch them. After that i will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them down on every mountain and hill and from the crevices of the rocks. My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from me, nor is their sin concealed from my eyes. I will repay them double for their wickedness and their sin, because they have defiled my land with the lifeless forms of their vile images and have filled my inheritance with their detestable idols." - v16-18.
God says He'll use fishermen to fish out the ones who can be saved out of the sea of sin, and hunters to hunt down the evil people. The people ask God why He's doing that to them when they didn't do anything. but God tells them He's punishing them because not only their ancestors disobeyed God, but even they are doing worse things. I think the danger here is that the people didn't even know how bad they were falling from God. the thing to learn here is to stay on the Word and hear what God is saying to us because without that guidance, we can become just like these people and end up in huge trouble.
God says He'll use fishermen to fish out the ones who can be saved out of the sea of sin, and hunters to hunt down the evil people. The people ask God why He's doing that to them when they didn't do anything. but God tells them He's punishing them because not only their ancestors disobeyed God, but even they are doing worse things. I think the danger here is that the people didn't even know how bad they were falling from God. the thing to learn here is to stay on the Word and hear what God is saying to us because without that guidance, we can become just like these people and end up in huge trouble.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Jeremiah 15
Then the Lord said to me: "Even if Moses and Samuel were to stand before me, my heart would not go out to this people. Send them away from my presence! Let them go! And if they ask you, 'Where shall we go?' tell them, 'This is what the Lord says: Those destined for death, to death' those for the sword, to the sword; those for starvation, to starvation; those for captivity, to captivity.'
In the previous passage, God tells Jeremiah not to even pray for the people of Judah, but he does anyway. and this is God's response to his prayer. to anger God so much as to Him not even wanting to answer your prayer is so scary. the rest of this passage God says how He's going to punish those people.
In the previous passage, God tells Jeremiah not to even pray for the people of Judah, but he does anyway. and this is God's response to his prayer. to anger God so much as to Him not even wanting to answer your prayer is so scary. the rest of this passage God says how He's going to punish those people.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Jeremiah 14
Have you rejected Judah completely? Do you despise Zion? Why have you afflicted us so that we cannot be healed? We hoped for peace bu no good has come, for a time of healing but there is only terror. We acknowledge our wickedness, Lord, and the guilt of our ancestors; we have indeed sinned against you. For the sake of your name do not despise us; do not dishonor your glorious throne. Remember your convenant with us and do not break it. Do any of the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Do the skies themselves send down showers? No, it is you, Lord our God. Therefore our hope is in you, for you are the one who does all this. - v. 19-22
These several verses are Jeremiah's prayer for Judah to God. Jeremiah prays for the people of Judah even though God tells him earlier to not even bother because no more prayer can help them. Jeremiah's relationship with God and the people of Judah is kind of interesting. He acts as a bridge between God and those people, who can see through the eyes of God but also prays for them because he considers them still his 'brothers' who don't know better.
These several verses are Jeremiah's prayer for Judah to God. Jeremiah prays for the people of Judah even though God tells him earlier to not even bother because no more prayer can help them. Jeremiah's relationship with God and the people of Judah is kind of interesting. He acts as a bridge between God and those people, who can see through the eyes of God but also prays for them because he considers them still his 'brothers' who don't know better.
Friday, November 26, 2010
in light of Thanksgiving
“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,” - Hebrews 12:28
i have much to be thankful for. not many people are blessed with the things that God's blessed me with. it was during the drive home where i got to reflect on the past couple days, and words seriously can't express. when they say your relationship with your parents reflects (or should) the relationship between you and god, i never really knew how to connect how the latter would feel. but seeing my dad and mom giving so much and practically everything to be with us and to make us feel comfortable sorta helped.
but because i'm blessed with all these things, my disappointment is just as great. when something's off, it really hits hard because i've been spoiled. i think it's important to realize, for me at least, is that everything that i've been given is not mine and never has been. it's only been given to me from the grace of God even though i've done nothing to deserve it. this verse perfectly sums up my past week and probably the past 21 (almost 22) years of my happy little life. teehee
happy thanksgiving!
i have much to be thankful for. not many people are blessed with the things that God's blessed me with. it was during the drive home where i got to reflect on the past couple days, and words seriously can't express. when they say your relationship with your parents reflects (or should) the relationship between you and god, i never really knew how to connect how the latter would feel. but seeing my dad and mom giving so much and practically everything to be with us and to make us feel comfortable sorta helped.
but because i'm blessed with all these things, my disappointment is just as great. when something's off, it really hits hard because i've been spoiled. i think it's important to realize, for me at least, is that everything that i've been given is not mine and never has been. it's only been given to me from the grace of God even though i've done nothing to deserve it. this verse perfectly sums up my past week and probably the past 21 (almost 22) years of my happy little life. teehee
happy thanksgiving!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Jeremiah 13
If you do not listen, I will weep in secret because of your pride; my eyes will weep bitterly, overflowing with tears, because the LORD’s flock will be taken captive. - v. 17
this passage is still a continuation of God's frustrations at the people of Israel and Judah. God tells Jeremiah to tell them that they're part of God's belt..wounded tight within it and they're tied down to God's wrath. and when Jeremiah tells them what God's told him, he tells them with love and sorrow, because he's sad for them for falling away and still not turning back to God.
this passage is still a continuation of God's frustrations at the people of Israel and Judah. God tells Jeremiah to tell them that they're part of God's belt..wounded tight within it and they're tied down to God's wrath. and when Jeremiah tells them what God's told him, he tells them with love and sorrow, because he's sad for them for falling away and still not turning back to God.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Jeremiah 12
v1. You are always righteous, Lord, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?
- the famous Problem of Evil. philosophers have been trying to answer why bad things happen to good people, and good things happen to bad people. how can evil exist in the world if there's such thing as a God.
v4. How long will the land lie parched and the grass in every field be withered? Because those who live in it are wicked, the animals and birds have perished. Moreover, the people are saying, "He will not see what happens to us."
- basically the people are seeing all this evil and God not magically making life better, they've given up hope and faith in God.
v5. "If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?
- "Without suffering, there is no compassion." is a quote from one of my favorite movies- A Walk to Remember. i think it can apply here too. how will your character build up without suffering? there is no such thing as an easy thing in life. just ask anyone who lives.
v14-17. in these last couple verses, God's directions are clear-cut. if you disobey God's commands, He'll punish you and take away all that's good in your life, but since He's a God of grace, He'll still bring you back. but that's because He wants you to LEARN from your mistakes. He's a God of second chances and compassion. but you keep screwing up, and He'll lose patience with you too.
- the famous Problem of Evil. philosophers have been trying to answer why bad things happen to good people, and good things happen to bad people. how can evil exist in the world if there's such thing as a God.
v4. How long will the land lie parched and the grass in every field be withered? Because those who live in it are wicked, the animals and birds have perished. Moreover, the people are saying, "He will not see what happens to us."
- basically the people are seeing all this evil and God not magically making life better, they've given up hope and faith in God.
v5. "If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?
- "Without suffering, there is no compassion." is a quote from one of my favorite movies- A Walk to Remember. i think it can apply here too. how will your character build up without suffering? there is no such thing as an easy thing in life. just ask anyone who lives.
v14-17. in these last couple verses, God's directions are clear-cut. if you disobey God's commands, He'll punish you and take away all that's good in your life, but since He's a God of grace, He'll still bring you back. but that's because He wants you to LEARN from your mistakes. He's a God of second chances and compassion. but you keep screwing up, and He'll lose patience with you too.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Jeremiah 11
v8. But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubbornness of their evil hearts. So I brought on them all the curses of the covenant I had commanded them to follow but that they did not keep.
These people broke the covenant that they made with God, so God naturally cursed them. and part of the curse was to let them over to their sins.
v11. Therefore this is what the Lord says: 'I will bring on them a disaster they cannot escape. Although they cry out to me, I will not listen to them.'
It's scary to believe that God was this angry with His own people one time. they were that stubborn so God had no choice but to be this tough with them.
v14. Do not pray for this people nor offer any plea or petition for them, because I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their distress.
God specifically tells Jeremiah to tell the Israelites to not even bother praying because God's just not gonna listen.
These people broke the covenant that they made with God, so God naturally cursed them. and part of the curse was to let them over to their sins.
v11. Therefore this is what the Lord says: 'I will bring on them a disaster they cannot escape. Although they cry out to me, I will not listen to them.'
It's scary to believe that God was this angry with His own people one time. they were that stubborn so God had no choice but to be this tough with them.
v14. Do not pray for this people nor offer any plea or petition for them, because I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their distress.
God specifically tells Jeremiah to tell the Israelites to not even bother praying because God's just not gonna listen.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Jeremiah's Prayer
"I know, O Lord, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps. Correct me, Lord, but only with justice- not in your anger, lest you reduce me to nothing. Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge you, on the peoples who do not call on your name. For they have devoured Jacob; they have devoured him completely and destroyed his homeland."
Jeremiah 10:23-25
I really love this prayer because Jeremiah's not praying out of or for vengeance but for God's justice. Only the Lord can direct a man's steps, whether or not that man is too stubborn to listen to God. He's praying for Israel, even though they've fallen so hard and so deep, God would judge them in His righteous nature and not anger. For me this is really hard to do because when i see someone who's fallen so much and doesn't want to come back to church or God, me, in my self-righteous nature starts thinking that they don't deserve God's divine justice but wrath and pure anger. but who am i to judge? you can never know what God has in store for them until things start changing, or even maybe until we get into heaven. Jeremiah includes in his prayer that Israel doesn't know what they're doing, and the more sick you are the more healing and gentleness you need.
Jeremiah 10:23-25
I really love this prayer because Jeremiah's not praying out of or for vengeance but for God's justice. Only the Lord can direct a man's steps, whether or not that man is too stubborn to listen to God. He's praying for Israel, even though they've fallen so hard and so deep, God would judge them in His righteous nature and not anger. For me this is really hard to do because when i see someone who's fallen so much and doesn't want to come back to church or God, me, in my self-righteous nature starts thinking that they don't deserve God's divine justice but wrath and pure anger. but who am i to judge? you can never know what God has in store for them until things start changing, or even maybe until we get into heaven. Jeremiah includes in his prayer that Israel doesn't know what they're doing, and the more sick you are the more healing and gentleness you need.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Jeremiah 9
v23-24. This is what the Lord says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the Lord.
we have no right to boast about anything that we have or can do. like how i said yesterday, Boethius was miserable because he thought he lost his good fortune. but his justification technically didn't work because nothing was his in the first place, everything was given to him by God. in the same way, God gets angry and displeased when we become prideful of our blessings because God can take them away in a second. who are we to think that we obtained all those things by our own power? it's only by God's grace that we are given these things. and when we boast in how great God is, then He becomes pleased.
v25. "The days are coming" declares the Lord, "when I will punish all who are circumcised only in the flesh [...] for all these nations are really uncircumcised, and even the whole house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart."
what these people were doing was acting all holy and righteous (circumcised only in the flesh), but God knew how dirty they were. like white-washed tombs...they were rotten and evil and sinful all on the inside. for them to act holy like that externally while they're stained with sin is like straight up lying to God.
we have no right to boast about anything that we have or can do. like how i said yesterday, Boethius was miserable because he thought he lost his good fortune. but his justification technically didn't work because nothing was his in the first place, everything was given to him by God. in the same way, God gets angry and displeased when we become prideful of our blessings because God can take them away in a second. who are we to think that we obtained all those things by our own power? it's only by God's grace that we are given these things. and when we boast in how great God is, then He becomes pleased.
v25. "The days are coming" declares the Lord, "when I will punish all who are circumcised only in the flesh [...] for all these nations are really uncircumcised, and even the whole house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart."
what these people were doing was acting all holy and righteous (circumcised only in the flesh), but God knew how dirty they were. like white-washed tombs...they were rotten and evil and sinful all on the inside. for them to act holy like that externally while they're stained with sin is like straight up lying to God.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Jeremiah 8
v13. "I will take away their harvest, declares the Lord. There will be no grapes on the vine. There will be no figs on the tree, and their leaves will wither. What I have given them will be taken from them."
A medieval philosopher named Boethius was once one of the most prominent figures in the western world. He held this position called the consul, and it was considered the 2nd most powerful under the king. But one day, he lost all that and was practically exiled and thrown into a mangy old prison for preaching his Christian theology/philosophy, and while he was in prison he wrote "Consolations of Philosophy", which he basically complains how bitter his life turned out to be. He says that his fortune turned to misfortune, and that it's not fair that he got screwed over even though there was nothing he did wrong. But how lady Philosophy consoles him is by saying how he never had anything to begin with. Everything that he had, was given to him and was never fully 100% all completely his.
In this passage, i think God's saying the same thing as lady Philosophy. God led you out of Egypt and slavery, He led them into this promise land, He gave them everything...and when God takes it away because they were falling into sin and never repented, they groaned saying that it was unfair. But God's not being unfair; THEY were. Doesn't make sense to go stab someone in the back after giving you everything you've ever asked for. God is a God of grace and mercy, so much more than we can ever imagine. And to piss him off like this, the people of Judah really must have messed up. God got so angry that he took everything away from them. He had their worst enemies plan and go attack them, pillage their houses and farmland, and even broke apart families. When 'misfortune' happens, we shouldn't grumble about how unfair life is; instead, we should really check how sinful we are and maybe this is what we deserve instead of all the blessings from God.
A medieval philosopher named Boethius was once one of the most prominent figures in the western world. He held this position called the consul, and it was considered the 2nd most powerful under the king. But one day, he lost all that and was practically exiled and thrown into a mangy old prison for preaching his Christian theology/philosophy, and while he was in prison he wrote "Consolations of Philosophy", which he basically complains how bitter his life turned out to be. He says that his fortune turned to misfortune, and that it's not fair that he got screwed over even though there was nothing he did wrong. But how lady Philosophy consoles him is by saying how he never had anything to begin with. Everything that he had, was given to him and was never fully 100% all completely his.
In this passage, i think God's saying the same thing as lady Philosophy. God led you out of Egypt and slavery, He led them into this promise land, He gave them everything...and when God takes it away because they were falling into sin and never repented, they groaned saying that it was unfair. But God's not being unfair; THEY were. Doesn't make sense to go stab someone in the back after giving you everything you've ever asked for. God is a God of grace and mercy, so much more than we can ever imagine. And to piss him off like this, the people of Judah really must have messed up. God got so angry that he took everything away from them. He had their worst enemies plan and go attack them, pillage their houses and farmland, and even broke apart families. When 'misfortune' happens, we shouldn't grumble about how unfair life is; instead, we should really check how sinful we are and maybe this is what we deserve instead of all the blessings from God.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Jeremiah 7
v9-11. "Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, 'We are safe'-safe to do all these detestable things? Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching!" declares the Lord.
God sounds really angry and frustrated at the people of Judah here. Joe talked about this briefly in his message on Sunday, how we take God's grace and the blood of Jesus for granted. Because we know that we are saved through the blood of the Lamb, we sin whenever we want to, like these Israelites. It's true that we are safe from all evil and we can take refuge from sin, but that also doesn't mean for us to go out and sin whenever we want to. I think people back then, and even now, misunderstand and justify their evil wrongdoings with God's grace. It's a terrible thing to do, and everytime we do that, we're nailing Jesus on the cross again.
v24. But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward."
Here, God is saying how He brought those people out of Egypt. He told those people not how to give sacrificial offerings as thanks to the Lord, but also to follow and obey God's commands. But these stubborn people didn't. God says that He watched them go backward and not forward.
In my personal walk with Christ, I can't even count how many times i might've done that to God. And everytime, I know I've been washed clean but that doesn't justify my actions, attitudes, words. I need to be really conscious of how I live because most of the times i give in to the stubbornness of my selfish desires and I forget to listen to God.
God sounds really angry and frustrated at the people of Judah here. Joe talked about this briefly in his message on Sunday, how we take God's grace and the blood of Jesus for granted. Because we know that we are saved through the blood of the Lamb, we sin whenever we want to, like these Israelites. It's true that we are safe from all evil and we can take refuge from sin, but that also doesn't mean for us to go out and sin whenever we want to. I think people back then, and even now, misunderstand and justify their evil wrongdoings with God's grace. It's a terrible thing to do, and everytime we do that, we're nailing Jesus on the cross again.
v24. But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward."
Here, God is saying how He brought those people out of Egypt. He told those people not how to give sacrificial offerings as thanks to the Lord, but also to follow and obey God's commands. But these stubborn people didn't. God says that He watched them go backward and not forward.
In my personal walk with Christ, I can't even count how many times i might've done that to God. And everytime, I know I've been washed clean but that doesn't justify my actions, attitudes, words. I need to be really conscious of how I live because most of the times i give in to the stubbornness of my selfish desires and I forget to listen to God.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Jeremiah 6
v11. But I am full of the wrath of the Lord, and I cannot hold it in. "Pour it out on the children in the street and on the young men gathered together; both husband and wife will be caught in it, and the old, those weighed down with years."
- God's wrath and judgment will come first on the young and then the old. God was so angry with them, that He not only punished the offenders, but their children and their children.
v30. They are called rejected silver, because the Lord has rejected them.
- Those people are worthless, they can't be made into anything good. Rejected silver or any other metals are useless, and nothing good can be made from them. Likewise, because those people's hearts were so hardened and stubborn to obey God, He rejected them. We need to follow God's words and obey him as we live our lives. Because we don't want Him to reject us like how He did to them. We want God to use us constantly for furthering His kingdom.
- God's wrath and judgment will come first on the young and then the old. God was so angry with them, that He not only punished the offenders, but their children and their children.
v30. They are called rejected silver, because the Lord has rejected them.
- Those people are worthless, they can't be made into anything good. Rejected silver or any other metals are useless, and nothing good can be made from them. Likewise, because those people's hearts were so hardened and stubborn to obey God, He rejected them. We need to follow God's words and obey him as we live our lives. Because we don't want Him to reject us like how He did to them. We want God to use us constantly for furthering His kingdom.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Jeremiah 5
v1. If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city.
- Israel was being this bad, it was like a wager to see if there actually would be one righteous person in the city. Even the title of this section of the book is called "Not One Is Upright"..
v10. Go through her vineyards and ravage them, but do not destroy them completely. Strip off her branches, for these people do not belong to the LORD.
- God doesn't completely destroy them. He cuts off whatever that does not produce fruit. We should do the same. Cut off any infected, rotten, bad parts because God doesn't create bad. He only created good because He is love.
v23. But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts; they have turned aside and gone away.
- Having a stubborn heart is dangerous, because it makes it easy to ignore guilt and feelings of shame. And those, to some extent, helps us really see how sinful we are and how much we are in need of God's love and grace to come back. It's so amazing how bad we are but how much God still wants to love us.
v25. Your wrongdoings have kept these away; your sins have deprived you of good.
- Sins deprives us of good...that's because we can't be good AND bad at the same time.
- Israel was being this bad, it was like a wager to see if there actually would be one righteous person in the city. Even the title of this section of the book is called "Not One Is Upright"..
v10. Go through her vineyards and ravage them, but do not destroy them completely. Strip off her branches, for these people do not belong to the LORD.
- God doesn't completely destroy them. He cuts off whatever that does not produce fruit. We should do the same. Cut off any infected, rotten, bad parts because God doesn't create bad. He only created good because He is love.
v23. But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts; they have turned aside and gone away.
- Having a stubborn heart is dangerous, because it makes it easy to ignore guilt and feelings of shame. And those, to some extent, helps us really see how sinful we are and how much we are in need of God's love and grace to come back. It's so amazing how bad we are but how much God still wants to love us.
v25. Your wrongdoings have kept these away; your sins have deprived you of good.
- Sins deprives us of good...that's because we can't be good AND bad at the same time.
Friday, November 12, 2010
scapegoats...
12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
Hebrews 9
This passage is talking about how Jesus' blood for us is more and permanent and everlasting than the blood of any sacrificial animal. In the olden days, people killed animals and burnt them as sacrificial offerings for our sins to God. But after God sent Jesus to die on the cross, there was no more need for that anymore. We were released from the bondages of having to continuously spill blood to atone for our sins, because Jesus had paid the ultimate price. this got me thinking, how fortunate and lucky we are. Could you imagine having to catch a lamb, slit its throat, and offering that up to God on Sundays? Christ offered himself unblemished to God to cleanse our consciences that would lead to death..... that is some powerful doing. It was the ultimate sacrifice that freed us, the blood and death of the purest and most innocent of all lambs.
Hebrews 9
This passage is talking about how Jesus' blood for us is more and permanent and everlasting than the blood of any sacrificial animal. In the olden days, people killed animals and burnt them as sacrificial offerings for our sins to God. But after God sent Jesus to die on the cross, there was no more need for that anymore. We were released from the bondages of having to continuously spill blood to atone for our sins, because Jesus had paid the ultimate price. this got me thinking, how fortunate and lucky we are. Could you imagine having to catch a lamb, slit its throat, and offering that up to God on Sundays? Christ offered himself unblemished to God to cleanse our consciences that would lead to death..... that is some powerful doing. It was the ultimate sacrifice that freed us, the blood and death of the purest and most innocent of all lambs.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Jeremiah 4
4v1. 'If you, Israel, will return, then return to me,' declares the Lord.
- Our God is more than willing to accept whoever wants to him. They just need to throw away their idols, and repent humbly before the Lord.
4v10. Then I said, 'Alas, Sovereign Lord! How completely you have deceived this people and Jerusalem by saying, you will have peace, when the sword is at our throats!'
- So they're in turn accusing God when they're the ones who turned away and God gave them grace? God loves his people, but that doesn't mean he's not going to pass judgments, especially on those who fell away.
4v19. Oh, my anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain. Oh, the agony of my heart! My heart pounds within me, I cannot keep silent. For I have heard the sound of the trumpet; I have heard the battle cry.
- The trumpet sounds are resonating in their hearts and they can't fight it. They know what's coming, God's wrath is about to be unleashed. It was painful for them? Imagine how God must have felt, unleashing all this wrath and anger upon those people.
4v30. What are you doing, you devastated one? Why dress yourself in scarlet and put on jewels of gold? Why highlight your eyes with makeup? You adorn yourself in vain. Your lovers despise you; they want to kill you.
- Jerusalem is being addressed as an adulterous wife. She fell away by betraying her husband to be with another. Jerusalem abandoned God and had an affair with the world and evil. God still loves Jerusalem, and that is why He is releasing his unrelenting wrath-so that she'll come back and repent.
Lesson to learn: REPENT.
- Our God is more than willing to accept whoever wants to him. They just need to throw away their idols, and repent humbly before the Lord.
4v10. Then I said, 'Alas, Sovereign Lord! How completely you have deceived this people and Jerusalem by saying, you will have peace, when the sword is at our throats!'
- So they're in turn accusing God when they're the ones who turned away and God gave them grace? God loves his people, but that doesn't mean he's not going to pass judgments, especially on those who fell away.
4v19. Oh, my anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain. Oh, the agony of my heart! My heart pounds within me, I cannot keep silent. For I have heard the sound of the trumpet; I have heard the battle cry.
- The trumpet sounds are resonating in their hearts and they can't fight it. They know what's coming, God's wrath is about to be unleashed. It was painful for them? Imagine how God must have felt, unleashing all this wrath and anger upon those people.
4v30. What are you doing, you devastated one? Why dress yourself in scarlet and put on jewels of gold? Why highlight your eyes with makeup? You adorn yourself in vain. Your lovers despise you; they want to kill you.
- Jerusalem is being addressed as an adulterous wife. She fell away by betraying her husband to be with another. Jerusalem abandoned God and had an affair with the world and evil. God still loves Jerusalem, and that is why He is releasing his unrelenting wrath-so that she'll come back and repent.
Lesson to learn: REPENT.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Jeremiah 3
3v3. Therefore the showers have been withheld, and no spring rains have fallen. Yet you have brazen look of a prostitute; you refuse to blush with shame.
- We're still on how bad Israel is being to God..God withheld the showers..God has reversed his gracious response to those people. That's a scary thought...being so bad and displeasing God so much that it makes God NOT rain down.
3v12. 'Return, faithless Israel,' declares the Lord, 'I will frown on you no longer, for I am merciful,' declares the Lord, 'I will not be angry forever. Only acknowledge your guilt - you have rebelled against the Lord your God, you have scattered your favors to foreign gods under every spreading tree, and have not obeyed me,' declares the Lord.
- Even amidst all that lawlessness and evil, God still loves Israel. He still tells them to repent and come back to Him, because they are His children whom He loves.
3v20. How gladly would I treat you like sons and give you a desirable land, the most beautiful inheritance of any nation. I thought you would call me Father and not turn away from following me. But like a woman unfaithful to her husband, so you have been unfaithful to me, O house of Israel, declares the Lord.
- God's our Father who gives us gold instead of rocks. As Rachel wrote in her blog the other day, a woman who's in a marital relationship commits to her husband and only her husband. It's lawless to cheat on him (and him on her). But this is what Israel did to God..they cheated on God. but unlike a ruthless husband, God still loved Israel and was willing to forgive and love them because He is God. God is jealous and merciful.
- We're still on how bad Israel is being to God..God withheld the showers..God has reversed his gracious response to those people. That's a scary thought...being so bad and displeasing God so much that it makes God NOT rain down.
3v12. 'Return, faithless Israel,' declares the Lord, 'I will frown on you no longer, for I am merciful,' declares the Lord, 'I will not be angry forever. Only acknowledge your guilt - you have rebelled against the Lord your God, you have scattered your favors to foreign gods under every spreading tree, and have not obeyed me,' declares the Lord.
- Even amidst all that lawlessness and evil, God still loves Israel. He still tells them to repent and come back to Him, because they are His children whom He loves.
3v20. How gladly would I treat you like sons and give you a desirable land, the most beautiful inheritance of any nation. I thought you would call me Father and not turn away from following me. But like a woman unfaithful to her husband, so you have been unfaithful to me, O house of Israel, declares the Lord.
- God's our Father who gives us gold instead of rocks. As Rachel wrote in her blog the other day, a woman who's in a marital relationship commits to her husband and only her husband. It's lawless to cheat on him (and him on her). But this is what Israel did to God..they cheated on God. but unlike a ruthless husband, God still loved Israel and was willing to forgive and love them because He is God. God is jealous and merciful.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Jeremiah 1 & 2
1v5. Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.
- God knew us by name and who we were to become long before we were made. So what are we to defy Him and not obey? To be stubborn and live the way we want instead of how He wants is selfish and stupid.
1v8. "Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord.
- It's not the strong and mighty He chooses to do His work; it's the weak and humble. a Paradoxical God.
2v5. What fault did your fathers find in me, that they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.
- This part's at the beginning of what God tells Jeremiah to say to Israel..and frankly, God sounds sad. He's sad at the people whom He rescued for abandoning Him. Israel took advantage of God..asking him for deliverance and everything else, and then worshiping idols instead of Him.
2v13. "My people have committed two sins: they have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
- According to the study bible, a broken cistern is a plaster to hold water...there's parallelism between idols and cisterns...both will eventually break and always fail their worshipers. God, provides an abundant and unfailing life.
2v27. They say to wood, 'You are my father,' and to stone, 'You gave me birth.' They have turned their backs to me and have not their faces; yet when they are in trouble, they say, 'Come and save us!'
-That even just sounds ridiculous. They're guilty of only calling out to God when they're in trouble or in desperate need. I think many times we're guilty of that too..we only USE God when we need Him. Our prayers become shopping lists instead of conversations.....
- God knew us by name and who we were to become long before we were made. So what are we to defy Him and not obey? To be stubborn and live the way we want instead of how He wants is selfish and stupid.
1v8. "Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord.
- It's not the strong and mighty He chooses to do His work; it's the weak and humble. a Paradoxical God.
2v5. What fault did your fathers find in me, that they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.
- This part's at the beginning of what God tells Jeremiah to say to Israel..and frankly, God sounds sad. He's sad at the people whom He rescued for abandoning Him. Israel took advantage of God..asking him for deliverance and everything else, and then worshiping idols instead of Him.
2v13. "My people have committed two sins: they have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
- According to the study bible, a broken cistern is a plaster to hold water...there's parallelism between idols and cisterns...both will eventually break and always fail their worshipers. God, provides an abundant and unfailing life.
2v27. They say to wood, 'You are my father,' and to stone, 'You gave me birth.' They have turned their backs to me and have not their faces; yet when they are in trouble, they say, 'Come and save us!'
-That even just sounds ridiculous. They're guilty of only calling out to God when they're in trouble or in desperate need. I think many times we're guilty of that too..we only USE God when we need Him. Our prayers become shopping lists instead of conversations.....
Monday, November 8, 2010
God is capital-A Awesome. whaddup
Joshua 23:14-16
God is always faithful and keeps to His word. Pastor Jeynes said that He works at His own time. In this scripture, Joshua is basically preaching/warning/saying goodbye to the leaders of Israel because he knew his time was almost up. He tells Israel to stay faithful to God and not to turn their heads towards sin. He reminds them that God rescued them from Egypt and led to them to freedom, and our God deserves all praise and glory. He also says, just as God was gentle and merciful, He is also a jealous and angry God who does not tolerate sin. So basically, he tells them to watch it. His last words are about how God will fulfill all His promises, even if it does not happen in your lifetime. As we heard from Rev. Bill Jeynes (i think everyone liked him..he was a huge hittt), even though we may not be around to see God answering our prayers, He still fulfills them. Because God is capital A AWESOME. whadddddup.
God is gooood.
God is always faithful and keeps to His word. Pastor Jeynes said that He works at His own time. In this scripture, Joshua is basically preaching/warning/saying goodbye to the leaders of Israel because he knew his time was almost up. He tells Israel to stay faithful to God and not to turn their heads towards sin. He reminds them that God rescued them from Egypt and led to them to freedom, and our God deserves all praise and glory. He also says, just as God was gentle and merciful, He is also a jealous and angry God who does not tolerate sin. So basically, he tells them to watch it. His last words are about how God will fulfill all His promises, even if it does not happen in your lifetime. As we heard from Rev. Bill Jeynes (i think everyone liked him..he was a huge hittt), even though we may not be around to see God answering our prayers, He still fulfills them. Because God is capital A AWESOME. whadddddup.
God is gooood.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
First Snow!
doesn't look QUITE like this..but..nonetheless. despite the coldness, snow makes me happy! that and God. and peppermint mochas from starbucks. :D
{photo via whitekitchenfood}and also my friend Alice's gingerbread cookies.
God is GOOD.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
in the zzzooonnneee.
I don't know why, or if it's just me, but whenever i'm writing a looong huge big paper or studying for a really important exam, i go through like those hills of good-study moments, and then some not-so-good-study moments.
so last night, as i was writing my paper, i was on a role! yeeeuh. i woke up from my hour nap and started working on that paper again @ 3am, and i was pounding on this keyboard- thoughts were pouring out of my head and down into my fingertips. this went on for like...a good 30 minutes? (typing that long constantly for 30 minutes is pretty long...) i was writing writing writing, and my page limit was coming closer....and then, i was like "Okay, time for a study break." i'm sad to say, that this happened more often than i could count. =(
where am i going with this?
sometimes i'm in the zone with my spiritual life. i'm diligently reading, QTing, praying, and i feel pretty good. but that should be a red flag right away, right? we don't do this to please ourselves or to make it something to be proud of...well, when this happens, i just wanna take a "spiritual break". i already know i'm 'on the right track', so i should be able to take a break for a little bit, right? WRONG. wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong. you don't take a break from God. this relationship is a full-committal, 1000% deal. and if you break it, then you break it. of course God's a lot more compassionate and merciful than i am. but nothing in scripture exists that allows us a little freebie, or some Me-time. God should always be in every single aspect of my life, even during 'breaks'.
why is it that whenever we get closer to advancing, or taking the next step up, we decide to stop? i mean even if it is just temporary. just because i'm doing "well spiritually" (i don't really like that phrase but ohwell) doesn't mean i deserve a break. because the better and more mature we become, then it's that much more dangerous and becomes more prone to falling away. which, is something i don't want.
k..long day.....paper, lab, quiz, exam....nap time.
see ya~ =)
so last night, as i was writing my paper, i was on a role! yeeeuh. i woke up from my hour nap and started working on that paper again @ 3am, and i was pounding on this keyboard- thoughts were pouring out of my head and down into my fingertips. this went on for like...a good 30 minutes? (typing that long constantly for 30 minutes is pretty long...) i was writing writing writing, and my page limit was coming closer....and then, i was like "Okay, time for a study break." i'm sad to say, that this happened more often than i could count. =(
where am i going with this?
sometimes i'm in the zone with my spiritual life. i'm diligently reading, QTing, praying, and i feel pretty good. but that should be a red flag right away, right? we don't do this to please ourselves or to make it something to be proud of...well, when this happens, i just wanna take a "spiritual break". i already know i'm 'on the right track', so i should be able to take a break for a little bit, right? WRONG. wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong. you don't take a break from God. this relationship is a full-committal, 1000% deal. and if you break it, then you break it. of course God's a lot more compassionate and merciful than i am. but nothing in scripture exists that allows us a little freebie, or some Me-time. God should always be in every single aspect of my life, even during 'breaks'.
why is it that whenever we get closer to advancing, or taking the next step up, we decide to stop? i mean even if it is just temporary. just because i'm doing "well spiritually" (i don't really like that phrase but ohwell) doesn't mean i deserve a break. because the better and more mature we become, then it's that much more dangerous and becomes more prone to falling away. which, is something i don't want.
k..long day.....paper, lab, quiz, exam....nap time.
see ya~ =)
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
too tired
i feel so drained.............
physically, mentally, ACADEMICALLY,...and of course spiritually.
i am so tired that my jaws are even aching from chewing my sandwich...but i gotta eat so i can keep my strength up and finish what i need to get done. same way with QTs..i don't wanna do it sometimes, but it's not a question of wanting or not wanting to do it. God didn't just feel like having His Son die on the cross for us that day...He did it because He had to for us. Although it's not exactly worthy of comparison, same way with QTs. you're tired? weaksauce. God works 24/7.
i wanna take a look @ Ezekiel 3 for today. God is so upset with Israel..they are so stubborn and hard-headed, they won't listen to God. so He orders Ezekiel to go prophesize to them...the great thing about this part is that God don't just order His servant, but He also enables him and gives him what he needs. "I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people." -v9. He makes Ezekiel just as stubborn as the Israelites so that he'll be strong enough.
So they he goes and Ezekiel says that he "went in bitterness and in the anger of [his] spirit"-v14. There's something amazing going on here. So God didn't only equip him with the tools, but He also enabled Ezekiel to see through his eyes. through the eyes of God. it's such a powerful thing! Ezekiel was able to see through God's eyes, and he witnessed the depth of God's wrath and anger at those people. "I sat among them for seven days-deeply distressed." v15. I truly believe that if we pray and obey God and please Him just as Ezekiel did, we would be so close to His presence that we'd start seeing through God's eyes.
physically, mentally, ACADEMICALLY,...and of course spiritually.
i am so tired that my jaws are even aching from chewing my sandwich...but i gotta eat so i can keep my strength up and finish what i need to get done. same way with QTs..i don't wanna do it sometimes, but it's not a question of wanting or not wanting to do it. God didn't just feel like having His Son die on the cross for us that day...He did it because He had to for us. Although it's not exactly worthy of comparison, same way with QTs. you're tired? weaksauce. God works 24/7.
i wanna take a look @ Ezekiel 3 for today. God is so upset with Israel..they are so stubborn and hard-headed, they won't listen to God. so He orders Ezekiel to go prophesize to them...the great thing about this part is that God don't just order His servant, but He also enables him and gives him what he needs. "I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people." -v9. He makes Ezekiel just as stubborn as the Israelites so that he'll be strong enough.
So they he goes and Ezekiel says that he "went in bitterness and in the anger of [his] spirit"-v14. There's something amazing going on here. So God didn't only equip him with the tools, but He also enabled Ezekiel to see through his eyes. through the eyes of God. it's such a powerful thing! Ezekiel was able to see through God's eyes, and he witnessed the depth of God's wrath and anger at those people. "I sat among them for seven days-deeply distressed." v15. I truly believe that if we pray and obey God and please Him just as Ezekiel did, we would be so close to His presence that we'd start seeing through God's eyes.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
no such thing as learned helplessness
There is this phenomenon called 'learned helplessness' in psychology, and it's when an animal is exposed to aversive situations but nothing it does can affect it. So eventually, it'll learn that its behavior can't control the occurrence of an aversive event. So picture 2 dogs that an experimenter puts in a box. Both receive shocks, but one can press a lever to get out and avoid it, while the other just can't. Which one do you think learns this phenomenon?
Lots of times, especially with humans, learned helplessness has been linked to depression. Some even say that it's at the root of depressions...but thank God that Christianity isn't like that!
As we live this life, things are bound to happen that are completely out of our control. People with an external locus of control are more likely to accept it..they attribute whatever happens as out of their control. Trying to live like Jesus sort of helps us to avoid experiencing learned helplessness...Once we learn that whatever we do can't change or affect anything, that's when we turn to God. They don't tell you in textbooks that learned helplessness can be avoided by turning to God..this is all based on faith.
Like i wrote about Solomon a couple days ago, he didn't fall into this trap that so many do and give up hope on life. Instead, he put his trust in God and acknowledged that he, as a human, is nothing and God everything. Be it a spiritual desert, academic hole, unemployment... don't think you're like the 2nd dog and you can't get out...we're all bound for some shocks here and there. But instead of trying to push a lever that won't even open the door, why not open our eyes towards heaven and asking God?
Lots of times, especially with humans, learned helplessness has been linked to depression. Some even say that it's at the root of depressions...but thank God that Christianity isn't like that!
As we live this life, things are bound to happen that are completely out of our control. People with an external locus of control are more likely to accept it..they attribute whatever happens as out of their control. Trying to live like Jesus sort of helps us to avoid experiencing learned helplessness...Once we learn that whatever we do can't change or affect anything, that's when we turn to God. They don't tell you in textbooks that learned helplessness can be avoided by turning to God..this is all based on faith.
Like i wrote about Solomon a couple days ago, he didn't fall into this trap that so many do and give up hope on life. Instead, he put his trust in God and acknowledged that he, as a human, is nothing and God everything. Be it a spiritual desert, academic hole, unemployment... don't think you're like the 2nd dog and you can't get out...we're all bound for some shocks here and there. But instead of trying to push a lever that won't even open the door, why not open our eyes towards heaven and asking God?
Monday, November 1, 2010
why's it so hard
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Matthew 11:28-30
I hope when Jesus spoke this, he also includes burden and weariness from myself. I've kind of let it get to me how i let some people use me shamelessly but never say anything. Even though it's unfair to me, i can't let the anger keep me down. It's pulling me down like an anchor, and i've become slave to it. Jesus says to learn from his humble and gentle heart..could i really do that? If i pray, i wonder if all that will go away. i love serving other people and being there for them, don't get me wrong. But when is too much too much? If Jesus was here, what would he say to me? i don't know. i've kinda let it all go..i'm just gonna take this verse as a lesson for now.
Matthew 11:28-30
I hope when Jesus spoke this, he also includes burden and weariness from myself. I've kind of let it get to me how i let some people use me shamelessly but never say anything. Even though it's unfair to me, i can't let the anger keep me down. It's pulling me down like an anchor, and i've become slave to it. Jesus says to learn from his humble and gentle heart..could i really do that? If i pray, i wonder if all that will go away. i love serving other people and being there for them, don't get me wrong. But when is too much too much? If Jesus was here, what would he say to me? i don't know. i've kinda let it all go..i'm just gonna take this verse as a lesson for now.
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