Bible Men: Jonah - Part 2, Swallowed by the whale, Lesson Learned, and Repentance

Jonah - Part 2

Chapter 2 - Swallowed by the whale, his lesson learned, and his repentance

In the previous study of Jonah, (go here)  we learned how Jonah attempted to flee from the presence of the LORD after he was told to go and warn the people of Nineveh that the LORD knew of their wickedness.  We learned how he went aboard a ship sailing to Tarshish, and how the LORD brought a great wind and caused the mariners to throw Jonah overboard so that the sea would be calmed.  And most of all, we learned how Jonah gave witness to the mariners of "the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land."  And of how the LORD brought this about, not only to let Jonah know that He was in control, but also so that these mariners might  believe on Him...

Now Jonah is in the water, and the great miracle happens. Jonah 1:17 "Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah.  And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights."  So much here.  This great fish, which the Lord Jesus calls a whale, was prepared by the LORD, to be in the right place, at the right time, and the right species so that Jonah would be not chewed up, but swallowed alive and able to exist inside its belly.  This is not a myth, or a fable,  the three days and three nights were for a specific purpose, not only for Jonah's sake, but so the Lord Jesus would bear witness to this with regards to his own burial and resurrection.  Matthew 12:40 "For as Jonas was three day and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."

The Creation: Elk Calf, to Everything There is a Season

Following on my last post regarding changing directions to have articles on the Holy Bible and the creation, it seems fitting to post this photo of an elk calf in a shaft of sunlight, taken at Jasper National Park at Whistlers Campground.. a beautiful example of God's creation.

Ecclesiastes 3:1, 11, 14 "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven..He hath made everything beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end...I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

 

Changing Direction

As of today, this blog is changing direction. It's description was formerly "sunlight and shadows while following Jesus" but it is now  "sharing  the Holy Bible and God's beautiful creation."

Since I began this blog one month ago, I have struggled with what its focus should be:  my daily life following the Lord Jesus? or bible articles? or photographs of the creation? It has been a combination of all three, and after one month it seems to me that my life in this world is but a vapor, and sharing God's Word should be my priority.

James 4: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow.  For what is your life?  It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."

As well, because I believe that people spend too much time being concerned about the things of this world, they spend very little time looking around them, or looking up at God's beautiful creation.  For that reason, I will continue to post my photographs of the creation around me because it has always been good for my soul.

I hope that this changed direction will be a blessing, and because I have no clue regarding search engines, I trust the Lord will bring those for whom this blog is intended.

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not on thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 

Bible Women: Mary: Chosen by God to Give Birth to the Saviour

Mary: Chosen by God to Give Birth to the Saviour

Luke 1, Matthew 1:18-25

We will follow Mary's story in the gospel of Luke, with references back to Matthew, Isaiah and Genesis.  Luke 1:26-27 "in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.. V19 Gabriel had told Zacharias who was to be the father of John the Baptist, that Gabriel has a special position "And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee....." 

Why was it so important that Mary was a virgin? Genesis 3:15 "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."  Her seed, not the seed of fallen man, but the seed of the woman. The Saviour's birth would be very special, of supernatural means. Isaiah 7:14 "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." Mary was a virgin, and Matthew 1:18 confirms it. "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: when as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost."

It is impossible to imagine what that moment was like when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary.  In the simplicity with which the Bible often depicts its most awesome moments, we are told in V28 just that "the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee; blessed are thou among women." V29 when Mary saw Gabriel "she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be as Gabriel had told her three things, that she is highly favoured by the Lord, that the Lord is with her, and that she is blessed.  Think about this, if God would send an angel to us, what would he tell us that the Lord thinks of us?   Of all the women in Israel, God chose this humble maiden to be the mother of the Saviour of the World, truly, she must have been a very godly young woman.

Jonah - Part 1- Chosen by God to go to Nineveh, and His Attempt to Flee

Jonah - Part 1

chosen by God to go to Nineveh, and his attempt to flee

Jonah 1:1-16

Jonah is one of my favorite Bible men, probably because I have a flight response like Jonah, and can relate to him.

Jonah was a prophet,  inspired and instructed to announce future events.  But Jonah was a reluctant prophet, or at least in this instance he was.  He was the son of Amittai, from Gathhepher (2 Kings 14:25) which was in Galilee.  Jonah was chosen by God to go to Nineveh to cry against it, and tell them that in 40 days, the city would be overthrown (3:4) This was a great city that was filled with wickedness.  Jonah was not willing to go to a heathen city, he did not understand why the LORD would want to show mercy to a gentile city  1 Chronicles 16:34 “O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.” Psalm 86:15 “But thou , O LORD, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.”  Psalm 103:8 “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.”

 Jonah 1:2  the Lord tells Jonah to “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it for their wickedness is come up before me." Jonah does not want to go to Nineveh, and he desires to run from the presence of the LORD, an impossible task. "Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?" (Psalm 139:7) And so V3 "Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD".

But V4 "the LORD sent o ut a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken." This might wind was much like Euroclydon  in  Acts 27:14 “But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.”, or the great wind on the sea of Galilee when the Lord Jesus was sleeping in the boat. Matthew 8:24 “and, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep”.  Jonah is sleeping too, not aware that the great storm was near to destroying the boat.  But we know that the LORD holds everything in His hands, and He had a plan for Jonah.

Daily Living: Wasp Wars

The yearly wasp wars have begun..   this is good or bad depending on how  you look at it.  This year we put a trap up in Spring and caught a queen but also this year, paper wasps arrived on the scene, a species I have not seen in our yard before.  A couple of years ago I photographed a huge paper wasp nest at the Cowichan River, and later that summer they had to put yellow tape up and close down the swimming hole that so many people enjoyed, because of the wasps that had invaded the swimming hole area from that nest.  Here is a photo of it:

 

This was the first time I had seen a paper wasp nest.  Previously the ones that we were able to destroy where we live were little ones that looked like clay with lots of holes that belonged to yellow jacket wasps.  These nests were found tucked in the corners of our deck.  When I saw this nest I was thankful that paper wasps were not in our area, but this year that changed.  Earlier in Spring these paper wasps went about their business and didn't cause any problems.  But a couple of weeks ago their presence became dangerous.  At the entrance to the park where we live there is a lawn area with a little creek that rushes with water when it rains.  The lawn is regularly mowed and last time they posted flags with the notation "wasps" and when walking our dog I could see many of them hovering around the creek.  One night my husband went down with wasp spray and sprayed the area.  I haven't seen them there since then.  

True or False Christians

True or False Christians

Matthew 7:13-27 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves,.Ye shall know them by their fruits.  Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast  out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? and then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.  And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.  And it came to pass when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Those that say they are Christians when they are not, those who think they are Christians when they are not..  the false professing Christian is a very common condition.  Most of the Puritan works deal with this subject.  This subject and how to identify the false professing Christian is a common theme in scripture.  This is not a popular theme.  Very few people even like to define what a Christian is anymore, now it is vague and broad.  Now they say that Jesus died for our mistakes.  He did not die for our mistakes, he died for our sin.  Now it is "lets not define it too closely"..  If preachers are becoming like that no wonder there are so many false professing Christians.  "easy believism converts"  You recognize them in these areas:  they are hostile to a holy life, they are governed by self will. They are proud of their sin, they glory in their shame, they are consumed with a worldly mind-set. Philippians 3:17-20 "Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an example.  (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)  For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

The true Christian is truly converted.  Conversion is entering into new life through a narrow gate.  The true Christian life proceeds onto a narrow path where you watch your step every where you go.  False conversion is shown by Christ to be characterized by a wide gate, "my conversion is so easy" (they say)  you don't have to leave much behind, its effortless, it proceeds onto a wide path where you don't have to watch how you walk and you can live as you please.  The life of a hypocrite.  The false Christian is characterized by a conversion where sin was not left behind and an unholy life where care is not taken to follow God's will.  No repentance from sin and an unholy life of disobedience to the bible.

Beauty in Everything: Love Is In The Air

Just because I need a smile today, I am posting this photograph taken when the Mallard Ducks at the local pond were pairing up for the coming nesting season.  I don't know if Mallard ducks mate for life or not, but these two were definitely in love.  But then, I do tend to humanize the wild things.

 

Daily Living: The Wonderful Gift of Rain

Job 5:8-10 "I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause: which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number: Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields."

Psalm 147:7-8 "Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God: Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains."

Isaiah 55:10 "For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater
1 Kings 18: 41,44-45 "And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.  And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand.  And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.  And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain....."

I used to take rain for granted.  Living on Canada's West Coast there was always abundance of rain.  We didn't pay much attention to it, seldom used an umbrella.  It was just part of life and was never extreme.  We used to joke that people who carried umbrellas must surely be tourists, for no local would ever carry an umbrella. There were no hurricanes, tornadoes or large hail..  I loved walking in the rain, and listening to it on roofs of cars.  When I was a child my bedroom was below ground and my mother would turn on the sprinkler at bedtime so the sound of it would mimic rain and I would fall asleep.

Bible Women: Jephthah's Daughter

This bible story of Jephthah's daughter is a tragic story, but it has a valuable lesson concerning the foolishness of vows.

Jephthah's Daughter

Judges Chapter 11:1-40

It is important to remember, in the events that follow, that in the time of the judges, "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25)  This book is filled with the consequences of people who did not look to the LORD in all their decisions.  Thankfully, now we have these words to live by: Proverbs 3:5-6  "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and  he shall direct thy paths."

In Judges Chapter 11, we have the tragic story of Jephthah and his beloved daughter, whose name we are not told.

Judges 11 opens with the first mention of Jephthah.  V1 "Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah". So we know that Jephthah was born with a strike against him, he was not the son of his father's  wife, and indeed in V2-3 we learn that in the passage of time, "Gilead's wife bare him sons; and his wife's sons grew up, and they thrust out Jephthah and said unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in our father's house; for thou art the son of a strange woman.  Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in the land of Tob..."  But then V4-6 "And it came to pass in the process of time, that the children of Ammon made war against Israel and it was so that.....the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob. And they said unto Jephthah, Come, and be our captain that we may fight with the children of Ammon." And remembering that these are the same ones who drove him out and now come to ask his help with the enemy, Jephthah asks for glory for himself, even knowing that a victory would come from the LORD. V9 "If ye bring me home again to fight against the children of Ammon, and the LORD deliver them before me, shall I be your head?"   So Jephthah is given a place of honor and respect, V10-11 "And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, the LORD be witness between us, if we do not so according to thy words.  Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and captain over them: and Jephthah uttered all his words before the LORD in Mizpeh"

And so V15-23 Jephthah sends word to the king of the Ammonites, relating the events leading up to the possession of the land by Israel: Israel coming out of the land of Egypt, walking through the wilderness and the crossing of the Red Sea, all the peoples the LORD had delivered into Israel's hand, and saying V23 "So now the LORD God of Israel hath dispossess the Amorites from before his people Israel, and shouldest thou possess it? 

But in Verse 24 Jephthah makes a rather strange remark "Wilt not thou possess that which Chemosh thy god giveth thee to possess?  So whomsoever the LORD our God shall drive out from before us, them will we possess."   Jephthah seems to be saying that they believe that their god is powerful enough to give them what they now possess. It seems as if he is contrasting him with  the LORD, a very foolish thing to do.  He would have done well to remember the words of Deuteronomy 6:16 “Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God…..”

Beauty in Everything: Trumpeter Swans at Somenos Marsh

I love to see the Winter rains because if they are hard enough, the local marsh called Somenos Marsh will hold enough water so that the Trumpeter Swans that arrive in Winter will be frequent visitors.  This photo was taken a couple of years ago when there was enough water.  I love the color of the grasses contrasted with the white of the Swans and their similar poses reflected in the water..

 

Christ's Resurrection

The following piece on the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ is of notes taken from a sermon preached by Rev. Paul Dowling of Whiteabbey Congregational.  Here is the link to the sermon at Sermon Audio:

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=41807143440

Luke 24:44-49 "And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.  Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,  and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  And ye are witnesses of these things.  And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high."

Christ rose from the dead and faithful Mary Magdelene saw him first, and that evening two downhearted disciples met him on the road to Emmaus..  they did not recognize him until he broke the bread.  Later on the Lord appeared to 10 apostles in the upper room, and then to Thomas and then to other people.  Make no mistake, the resurrection of Jesus Christ bodily from the tomb is central and foundational to the Christian faith.  Over the centuries Christ's resurrection has been questioned, doubted and denied.  Mocker's and sceptics views are easy to refute, they are untenable, they do not explain the facts.   No unbeliever has ever come up with a logical explanation of the facts.  The resurrection is a fact.  

That Jesus would be raised from the dead was foretold:.

1.  King David wrote Psalm 16:10  "For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption."  David was not talking about himself but he was prophetically talking about Jesus Christ, the holy one, whose body would see no corruption.

2.  Acts 13:33-37 "God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.  And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David. Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.  For David after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep (died) and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.

3. Christ himself,  Matthew 20:19  "And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again." Mark 9:9, "And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead."  Mark 14:28 "But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee."

A Spider and Its Web

A Spider and its web

Matthew 13:8 "But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold."

One morning, where we used to live, it was the morning routine to take our dog out to our back yard.  On this day I noticed a large spider's web on the side of the apple tree.  I then noticed that the web carried on to a fir tree some six feet away. I wondered how that spider (which I did not see) spun that web from tree to tree. Then on my way back from walking the dog there was another web at the side of an arbor.  It was also large and this web was strung from arbor to arbor, a distance of at least 10 feet. I thought that must be some spider to spin a web a distance like that, and how on earth do they string the holding threads of their web over a distance up in the air? The web itself was beautiful, and perfect with its circles upon circles. I was in awe at the ability our Lord graciously gave this spider to create such a masterpiece.

And then the builder appeared on the scene. And it was the tiniest little spider, no more than 1/4 inch long, but it went about its work, crawling along the length of the span between the arbors. I was absolutely amazed at the size of it, yet its ability to build this web.

God's Perfect Timing: An Osprey Fishing

Ecclesiastes  3:1 "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven..."
Ecclesiastes  3:11 "He hath made every thing beautiful in his time....."

Yesterday was a wonderful day of God's perfect timing and blessing and being able to witness His creation in action.  We went to a place called Mill Bay, a short drive of 15 minutes.  This beautiful place is missed by probably 90% of the traffic driving north on the Island Highway who don't bother to take what is marked a scenic drive in their rush to get wherever they are going.  There is quiet road that leads down to the Bay, places to park at the Bay side of the road and a high bluff on the west side of the road. Saltspring Island and the Saanich Peninsula are in the distance.   Often we go there in the winter when there are many species of ducks over-wintering, and as I like to photograph birds, its a good place to go.

Bible Women: Hannah - An Answered Prayer

1 Samuel 1:1 - 2:21

Hannah's story presents a beautiful example of love, submission, prayer, praise and worship.  She was a most godly woman.

We meet Hannah in 1 Samuel 1:2.  She is one of two wives of Elkanah. V2 tells us that Hannah had no children, but that Peninnah, the other wife, had children.  Hannah's husband went up each year to worship and sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh where Eli the priest was there with his two sons Hophni and Phinehas. (V3) and his family went with him.  V4-5 tell us that while Penninah  and her children were given portions, "unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb."  This is a testing time for Hannah, but the Lord knew her heart.  V6-7 tell us of the cruelty of Peninnah "her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb." Peninnah is called Hannah's adversary, and there is no mention of her ever doing a kind thing.  Perhaps she was jealous because she knew that Elkanah loved Hannah the most.

V7 tells us that these provocations went on year by year, and "therefore she (Hannah) wept, and did not eat."  Elkanah does not understand why Hannah is so upset, V8 "then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?

In V9 they have gone to Shiloh again, and "... Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD." and now, V10-11 Hannah being in "bitterness of soul, she prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. And she vowed a vow, and said "O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head." With this prayer we learn that Hannah believes in her heart that the LORD could open her womb and give her a child, and not only that but a boy. She shows great faith by being willing to submit to the LORD's will and promises to give the baby back to the LORD.

Favorite Gospel Songs: Yes I Know

Yes I Know is a beautiful and very moving song by the Gaithers about the cleansing power of the precious blood of Christ.

Submit to God, Resist the Devil

Submit to God, Resist the Devil

James 4:4-7 “….know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?  Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.  Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, the spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace.  Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.  Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

Submit yourselves therefore to God and resist the devil and he will flee from you.  The context is that of the natural human nature that leads to wars and fightings that comes from lusts within your own body.  Worldly mindedness, natural spirit in the natural man desires to envy, lust and pride but God giveth grace to the humble.  What are the three symptoms?  Lust, envy, pride.  Satanic, straight from the devil.  What are the two symptoms that are not natural to us by birth?  grace and humility.  Godly, like God.  You are either like Satan or like God.

For a child of God that has God's spirit and shows grace and humility, be warned:  we have the remnants of our old nature still alive in us, and that is why we are told to keep killing it each day. Keep mortifying the flesh.  It is still our natural temptation to lust, envy and pride.  These things, thank the Lord, do not rule anymore as they did before we were saved, they are against our natural inclination but these things are still real temptations or why else have we this exhortation to submit yourselves, therefore, to God and resist the devil and he will flee from you.  In other words, the Christian life is a continual spiritual battle against this former nature.  The great temptation within us is to lust, envy and pride and the great tempter, the devil, will attack us in these very areas to fulfill our natural spirit's tendency.  We as believers must not submit to that.. we are given two battle orders from God.  Two things that a believer must do in spiritual battle.

1.  Submit to God

2.  Resist the Devil

Beau Beau Brat Face Part 2

Its been one week since I posted about our Shih Tzu Beau, better known as Beau Beau Brat Face. Here is the original post.

There have been some changes since last posting.  My husband is now walking Beau in the morning, thus saving my frustrations if he doesn't do what he should be doing early in the morning.  So far it is going well but it will be interesting to see if my husband still wants to walk him when it is raining or when winter comes.

I am still standing not far from him when he eats because he is so used to that and still barks when he wants to eat or drink, but I am not concerned about what time he eats or whether he finishes it all. That is a big change for me.  I think that Beau is very good at knowing when I am upset and if I am then he will not eat, everything has to be normal.  

Beauty in Everything: Fledgling House Sparrows

Following on my last post regarding God's grace to a little Sparrow, the photo below is of little boy House Sparrows that have recently left the nest. They were adorable. This was taken as they were in a lilac bush above the waterfall of our little pond getting up enough nerve to drop down for a drink or a bath.  There are a lot of nesting boxes around here and the parents bring their young to our yard for the water and the food.  I put the food on the ground under a dwarf spruce tree to try and keep the crows from being able to catch them.  At this age, they don't seem to have any fear of people, or anything for that matter, and its possible to get quite close to them.

 

Camera:  Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200  25-600mm

God's Grace to a Little Sparrow

God's Grace to a Little Bird

Matthew 10:29-31 "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows."

This incident happened to me quite a few years ago but it remains in my memory as an example of God's grace to a little bird.

We live on the coast where winter is usually quite mild but this particular year we had quite a bit of snow.. House Sparrows stay around all year, and if you are feeding them they are regular visitors to your bird feeder.  On this particular winter it was especially cold and the birds were struggling to get enough feed to keep warm.

At the time I was volunteering at a place called the "Rainforest Reptile Refuge" where it was at least 90 degrees inside to keep the "critters" warm.  Unfortunately reptiles are quite delicate creatures, and sometimes one would become ill.  After the lady in charge of the refuge had done everything she could, if they were not recovering she would put them in the freezer where (she thought) the cold would put them to sleep and then they would quietly pass away.

Duncan Grass Fire

Yesterday was a "shadow" day, one that was not so great.  First we went to a town north of us to buy an advertised treadmill only to find out that it had been sold and the fellow had not removed the ad from the website it appeared on.  This was the second time a potential treadmill purchase has not worked out for me so I am going to take it that I am not supposed to have a treadmill..

On the way home, approaching the town where we live, I could suddenly smell smoke and then you could see it in the air.  We turned and drove down the highway where the smoke was coming from and there were people stopped and looking, trying to find out what it was.  A little closer to the fire area, we were forced to turn off as the fire department had blocked the road.  This was about 3:30pm..  we drove down another road and found that it was blocked also. From the second angle we could see that it was a lot of smoke covering a good-sized area.  I was worried about some cows in a field a little south of the fire which appeared to be from the location of a golf course.  That evening on the 5:00pm news they showed a rather large area of flames and said that it had jumped the road and was heading for a local mountain.  It was very windy and that's why the fire was spreading so fast.

Favorite Gospel Songs: I'd Rather Have Jesus

I love this beautiful old gospel song, especially this rendition by the Gaithers.   I'd Rather Have Jesus..  enjoy.

 

Bible Women: Bathsheba

Bible Women:  Bathsheba

2 Samuel 11:1-5 "And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah.  But David tarried still at Jerusalem.  And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.  And David sent and enquired after the woman.  And one said Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?  And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.  And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child."

Bathsheba, mother of Solomon, named in the genealogy of our Lord Jesus Christ as "her that had been the wife of Uriah" (Matthew 1:6) inferring adultery.  Bathsheba has been portrayed as a temptress, but what is the truth of what really happened?

Bathsheba is introduced at a time when King David should have been to battle, but he sent Joab instead. (V1)  On an evening when he could not sleep, for V2 tells us "David arose from off his bed", he went to the roof of the king's house, "and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon." A temptation of the flesh, but one in the foreknowledge of God, who works all things together for  good. Here is the beginning of events that will bring sorrow to David for many years to come. Matthew 5:28 "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart".

Beauty in Everything: Mute Swan

Below is one of my favorite Mute Swan photographs.  I have been trying to find what the proper term is for having the wings carried like this, but have been unable to do so.  In any event, I think that the swan and its reflection is very lovely and a wonderful example of the beauty of God's creation.  In the original photograph there is another swan behind this one, I think that this might be the male showing off for the female.

The Lamb of God - The Lord Jesus Christ

The Lamb of God - The Lord Jesus Christ

This is a further meditation on the Lamb of God, but this time that perfect sacrifice enters the world as a baby, born of Mary, born a King,  the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 2:5-11 "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Why was the Lord Jesus our perfect sacrifice?  Why was He the perfect Lamb of God?  John the Baptist said upon seeing the approaching Jesus, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."  (John 1:29)

In the Holy Bible, old testament, every year one would take a sacrificial lamb, without spot and without blemish, to the priest.  The lamb would be slain, his blood was shed, and the person for whom the blood was shed was thus looking forward to the Saviour to come. Hebrews 9:12,15. “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us….and for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, that they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance..

When the Lord Jesus shed His precious blood and gave up His life on the cross, He was offered up Once for All.  Hebrews 10:9-10 "Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God.  He taketh away the first that he may establish the second.  By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

Luke 15: The Father With Two Sons

This study of the Father with two sons is for anyone who is estranged from a beloved child.

The Father With Two Sons

Luke 15:11-32

Many Christians are familiar with the story in Luke 15 of the father with two sons, whose younger son desired his inheritance, and left home to go to a far country where he squandered all his money on worldly things (riotous living V13).  When famine came he was in great want but he came to the end of himself, recognized his sin, repented and returned home.

Let us consider the father. (V11 "A certain man had two sons:"  Certainly he must have been a man of much wealth and substance, for he had servants and riches...yet he possessed that most precious quality, unconditional love for his children. When the youngest son demanded his inheritance V12 "Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me"  the father did not argue or deny but willingly divided his living and gave to both sons.  Perhaps the father knew that this might lead to disaster, but he used great wisdom.  There comes a time when we must let our children go, and trust the Lord to care for them, perhaps chasten them, and bring them back to us again, not necessarily to live with us, but to be in harmony as a family.  The father trusted the Lord to bring his son home again.  Scripture bears no record that the father went after his son at all, but let him go.

Favorite Hymns: There is a Fountain

To me this is the most moving of all the great old hymns of the faith,  There is a Fountain by William Cowper.

David and Goliath - The Battle is the LORD's

David and Goliath - the battle is the LORD's

1 Samuel 17: 1-11 "Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh...and Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together and pitched by the valley of Elah...and the Philistines stood on a mountain on one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them.  And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.......and he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul?  choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.  If he be able to fight with me and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants and serve us.  And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day: give me a man that we may fight together.  When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid."

What is the meaning and focus for this passage?   God. The bible is the Word of God, its God's revelation of himself to his people.  When you focus on God and what Goliath is here doing:  reproaching, defying, mocking, deriding,  we see the primary teaching of the passage.  Goliath dishoners Israel's God.  The passage teaches that direct challenges to God through pagans challenging God's people, is an insult to God and do not go unanswered.  The modern church needs to learn this.  The mockers of the world laugh when the modern church offers forgiveness to unrepentant blaspheming people who do not want forgiveness.  We need to preach judgment and sin.  You keep mocking God and God will wipe you out.

1. Situation

2. David's reaction

3. The men and their equipment

4. The battle

5. The application

Without Spot: Forgiveness and Cleansing

Forgiveness and Cleansing

What is the difference between forgiveness and cleansing?  We know that initially our sins are forgiven on that wonderful day when we have heard the gospel, when we believed the truth that we are sinners, separated from God and bound for a lost eternity.  But we have repented, and believed the gospel, that the Lord Jesus Christ shed his precious blood, and taken upon himself the penalty for sin. That he became the perfect sacrifice for us..  We trust in Him as our Saviour, and by this trusting, we are saved by faith, "not by works that any man should boast." 

But what after this?  Romans 6 and 7 tell us that we are no longer slaves to sin, in bondage to sin, and because of the Spirit within, we have the power to overcome sin.  Yet, because we are still in this body, Paul says in Romans 7 "For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which would not, that I do...  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.  So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin"..   not that we willfully sin as we did before we were saved, but because we are not yet in our resurrection bodies, and perfected we still do sin.

So then cleansing comes in..  though we are forgiven and heaven bound,  we still need cleansing..  not for salvation, but for close fellowship with the Lord.  David is our example..  and Psalm 51 was written after his sin with Bathsheba. 

Favorite Hymns: My Saviour's Love

It would be a very sad thing to lose these great old hymns of the faith.. Here is another favorite, My Saviour's Love.

The Lamb of God - Old Testament

The Lamb of God - Old Testament

Genesis 22: 8 "And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering:....

Exodus 12: And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood,, I will pass over you..."


I used to like to watch a show called Lonely Planet.  The guide went to different countries around the world where the culture is much different than it is in North America.  Quite often there were lambs sacrificed, and one thing I noticed is that they never make a sound..they went to their death without struggle.  Often it moved the guide to tears to see this innocent animal killed.  This post is about the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ as he was foreshadowed in the Old Testament.

There are many references to lambs in our bible.  The first one is in Gen.3:21 "Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them." Adam and his wife had tried to cover themselves with fig leaves after their disobedience to the command of God not to eat the fruit of the tree of life, but this covering was by their own works.  God covered them with the skins of animals, requiring the shedding of blood.   Nothing could cover the sins of Adam and Eve but that which God gave them, just as our sins are covered by the precious blood of Christ, Romans 4:6-8 "Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, saying blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.  Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin."  1 Peter 1:18-19 "Foreasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things.........but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." Hebrews 8:12 "Neither by the blood of goats and calves but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us."

Beau Beau Brat Face

Judges 2:19 "................they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way."

This is a story of the stubbornest dog I have ever owned. Is he really a dog?  sometimes I wonder.  It all started in December of 2011 after the untimely death of my beautiful cat Pokey, who died in her sleep earlier in December.   After several weeks had passed, I began to search for a puppy to fill the empty void and found what seemed to be the perfect puppy at a Shih Tzu breeder in a town north of us.  When we went to pick him up, at first sight I knew in my heart he wasn't the dog for me but I had talked the breeder to lowering the price and she was expected me to take him so I felt as though I had no choice.  So home he came:

Right away people told us he looked like an ET or a gremlin.  As he grew they said he looks like "Chewy".  Husband said he was the ugliest dog in the history of the world.  He was dark chocolate brown with a pink nose and pink lips, but that was soon to change.  His color lightened to what is called "liver" and his nose and lips darkened.  He has stayed small, now about 10 lbs.