Archive for the ‘Inspiration’ Category

Spiritual Training 19 July 2012

Posted: July 19, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Judges, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
Jephithah

Judges 10:6-9 Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD.  They served the Baal and the Ashtoreths, and the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites and the gods of the Philistines.  And because the Israelites forsook the LORD and on longer served him, he became angry with them.  He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites, who that year shatter and crushed them.  For eighteen years they oppressed all the Israelites on the east side of the Jordan in Gilead, the land of the Amorites.  The Ammonites also crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin and the house of Ephraim; and Israel was in great distress.  Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD, “We have sinned against you, forsaking our God and serving the Baals.” 

Once again the Israelites suffered for many years before they gave up their sinful ways and called out to God for help.  Notice that when the Israelites were at the end of their rope they did not look to their pagan gods for help, but to the only One was really able to help.

Lets bring it home: In your last resort? So much unnecessary suffering takes place because we don’t call on God until we’ve used up all other resources.  Rather than waiting until the situation becomes desperate, turn to God first.  He has the necessary resources to meet every kind of problem.

Spiritual Training 18 July 2012

Posted: July 18, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Judges, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
Tola and Puah

Judges 10:1-5 After the time of Abimelech and man of Issachar, Tola son of Puah, the son of Dodo, rose to save Israel.  He lived in Shamir, in the hill country of Ephraim.  He led Israel twenty-three years; then he died and was buried in Shamir. 
     He was followed by Jair of Gilead, who led Israel twenty-two years.  He had thirty sons, who rode thirty donkeys.  They controlled thirty towns in Gilead, which to this day are called Havoth Jair.  When Jair died, he was buried in Kamon. 

In five verses we read about two men who judged Israel for a total of 45 years, yet all we know about them besides the length of their rules is that one had 30 sons who rode around on 30 donkeys.

Lets Bring it Home: What are we doing for God that is worth nothing?  When your life is over, will people remember more than just what was in your bank account or the number of years you lived.

Proverbs 18:24 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: July 18, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
Friends and Acquaintances

Proverbs 18.24 – A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Loneliness is everywhere-many people feel cut off and alienated from others.  Being in a crowd just makes people more aware of their isolation.  We all need friends who will stick close, listen, care and offer help when it is needed-in good times and bad.  It is better to have one such friend than dozens of superficial acquaintances.  Instead of wishing you could find a true friend, seek to become one.  There are people who need your friendship.  Ask God to reveal them to you, and then take on the challenge of being a true friend.

 

Proverbs 17:03 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: July 16, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 17:03 -The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD test the heart. 

It takes intense heat to purify gold and silver.  Similarly, it often takes the heat of trials for the Christian to be purified.   Through trials, God shows us what is in us and clears out any thing that gets in the way of complete trust in him.  Peter says, “These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” So when tough times come your way, realize that God wants to use them to refine your faith and purify your heart.

Spiritual Training 17 July 2012

Posted: July 16, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Judges, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
Abimelech

People who desire power always outnumber those who are able to use power wisely once they have it.  Perhaps this is because power has a way of taking over controlling the person using it.  This is especially true in cases of inherited but unmerited power.  Abimelech’s life shows us what happens when hunger for power corrupts judgment.

Abimelech’s position in Gideon’s family as the son of a concubine must have created great tension between him and Gideon’s many other sons.  One against 70: such odds can either crush a person or make him ruthless; it is obvious which direction Abimelech chose.  Gideon’s position as warrior and judge had placed Abimelech in an environment of power Gideon’s death provided an opportunity for this son to seize power.  Once the process began, the disastrous results were inevitable.  A person’s thirst for power is not satisfied when he gets power-it only becomes more intense.  Abimelech’s life was consumed by the thirst.   Eventually, he could not tolerate any threat to his power.

But this time, ownership had change: Abimelech no longer had power-power had him.  One lesson we can learn form his life is that our goals control our actions.  The amount of control is related to the importance of the goal.  Abimelech’s most important goal was to have power.  His lust for power led him to wipe out not only his brothers, but also whole cities that refused to submit to him.  Nothing but death could stop his bloodthirsty drive to conquer.  How ironic that he was fatally injured by a woman with a farm implement! The contrast between Abimelech and the great people of the Bible is great.  He wanted to control the nation; they were willing to be controlled by God.

Proverbs 16:05 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: July 16, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
Proverbs 16:5 – The LORD detest all the proud of heart.  Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished. 

Pride is the inner voice that whispers, “My way is best” It is resisting God’s leadership and believing that your are able to live without his help.  Whenever you find yourself wanting to do it your way and looking down on other people, you are being pulled by pride.  Only when you eliminate pride can God help you become all he meant you to be.

Spiritual Training 16 July 2012

Posted: July 16, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Judges, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
The Death of Abimelech

Judges 9:56-57 Thus God repaid the wickedness that Abimelech had done to his father by murdering his seventy brothers.  God also made the men of Shechem pay for all their wickedness.  The curse of Jotham son of Jerub-Baal came on them.

Gideon, Abimelech’s father, succeeded in military battles, but sometimes failed in his personal struggles.  Gideon was not condemned for taking a concubine (8:31), but the family problems that resulted from this relationship are clearly stated.  In the end, Abimelech killed 69 of his 70 half brothers, tore apart a nation, and then was killed himself.

Lets Bring it home: From Gideon’s life we learn that no matter how much good we do for God’s kingdom, sin in our lives will still produce powerful, damaging consequences.

Proverbs 13:10 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: July 13, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
Proverbs 13:10 Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice. 

“I was wrong” or “I need advice” are difficult phrases to utter because they require humility.  Pride is an ingredient in every quarrel.  It stirs up conflict and divides people.  Humility, by contrast, heals.  Guard against pride.  If you find yourself constantly arguing, examine your life for pride.  Be open to the advice of others, ask for help when you need it, and be willing to admit your mistakes.

Spiritual Training 13 July 2012

Posted: July 13, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
The Death of Abimelech

 Judges 9:50-55 Next Abimelech went to Thebez and besieged it and captured it.  Inside the city, however, was a strong tower, to which all the men and women-all the people of the city-fled.  They locked themselves in and climbed up on the tower roof.  Abimelech went to the tower and stormed it.  But as he approached the entrance to the tower to set it on fire, a woman dropped a millstone on his head and cracked his skull.  Hurriedly he called to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and kill me, so that they can’t say, ‘A women killed him’ “So his servant ran him through, and he died.  When the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they went home.

In times of battle, women were sometimes asked to join the men at the city wall to drop heavy objects on the soldiers below.  A millstone would have been an ideal object for this purpose.  It was a round stone about 18 inches in diameter with a hole in the center.  Millstones were used to grind grain into flour.  The grain was placed between to millstones.  The top millstone was turned, crushing the grain. Abimelech’s death was especially humiliating: he was killed by a woman, not by fighting; and he was killed by a farm implement instead of a weapon.  Abimelech therefore asked his armor-bearer to stab him with his sword before he died from the flow of the millstone.

Proverbs 12:16 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: July 12, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command
Proverbs 12:16 A fool show his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult. 

When someone annoys or insults you, it is natural to retaliate.  But this solves nothing and only encourages trouble.  Instead, answer slowly and quietly.  Your positive response will achieve positive results.  Remember Proverbs 15:01: A gentle answer turns away wrath.

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