tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72358563929625127552024-03-14T02:18:29.139-04:00Rhoadzie's Daily BlogRhoadziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10890822644016770238noreply@blogger.comBlogger1870125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235856392962512755.post-54225346454816477862024-03-13T07:38:00.001-04:002024-03-13T07:42:45.140-04:00If you’re happy and you know it…. <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxePIafS2xGXdSnJ85pl2rzaxtDcIPMbAl7jugiJJMpqx9PIbeFmlOPESgr2YqkE_R1Y_rmyDC6DBDFafokZ9X0qWzU-y_SGWOf2Bf1z0tUbFc_yV51h-NQgBrYvOppaAhCfRkt_Ze5QPRX2u9-xISdNkLpSQZaspP0boDIJsJhof6CUku2bz3cvz6w/s1290/IMG_0552.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1052" data-original-width="1290" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxePIafS2xGXdSnJ85pl2rzaxtDcIPMbAl7jugiJJMpqx9PIbeFmlOPESgr2YqkE_R1Y_rmyDC6DBDFafokZ9X0qWzU-y_SGWOf2Bf1z0tUbFc_yV51h-NQgBrYvOppaAhCfRkt_Ze5QPRX2u9-xISdNkLpSQZaspP0boDIJsJhof6CUku2bz3cvz6w/s320/IMG_0552.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">“He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.”</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Acts of the Apostles 3:8 NLT</span></b><br /><a href="http://bible.com/116/act.3.8.nlt"><b><span style="font-size: large;">http://bible.com/116/act.3.8.nlt</span></b></a><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>I am not a great person. I get grumpy, I can be moody. I can be mean and I can be a terrible servant of the Lord. Any Christian that tells you or portrays this air of perfectness, they are not living in a real world. They may be great and wonderful people, but they are far from perfect.<br /><br />I love watching a video on YouTube which is a TED talk from Shawn Achor about the Happiness Advantage. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GXy__kBVq1M" width="320" youtube-src-id="GXy__kBVq1M"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>He talks about how being happy is completely within our control. Outside influences only affect our level of happiness in a very minuscule way. He mentions in his story about Harvard students. What could they NOT be happy about? It always makes me think of Christians. Exactly why, as followers of Christ, are we not the happiest people on earth. What is it that we could possibly be not happy about? We should all be like this man healed by Peter. We should all jump, leap, and praise God for what he has done in our lives. How could we be such grumpy, unhappy, depressed people when we know the ending. We know we will win. We know our eternity is guaranteed and our place in heaven is secured! Praise God for his love.<br /><br />If you don’t know that kind of joy, you need to drop on your knees and devote your life to him. Then experience the joy and happiness of life!</div>Rhoadziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10890822644016770238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235856392962512755.post-40307586489688375972022-11-28T19:48:00.005-05:002024-03-13T07:42:43.686-04:00 Help us finish "The Meeting Place"<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOK-IIIs5C7iNJb23APE_cZZ2qNOtxmzqUgtZJFh3JHkC7yKJrjlUrNpmD9rJLTAuWJ_VFzlCjvXK3rmWCjTJSGMo8dYVQpjlCTktWebKCo9MWeFT4TrS1wXtQL0I3mdO4tOQTPusY-GPlmkXxX3cZ3hVJx7-hp3bWMWFdMmv6ELUQpLh2f4oHk8M/s3772/IMG_8359.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2768" data-original-width="3772" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOK-IIIs5C7iNJb23APE_cZZ2qNOtxmzqUgtZJFh3JHkC7yKJrjlUrNpmD9rJLTAuWJ_VFzlCjvXK3rmWCjTJSGMo8dYVQpjlCTktWebKCo9MWeFT4TrS1wXtQL0I3mdO4tOQTPusY-GPlmkXxX3cZ3hVJx7-hp3bWMWFdMmv6ELUQpLh2f4oHk8M/w640-h470/IMG_8359.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"> We need your help ---</span></b><p></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">"The Meeting Place" is almost complete.</span></b> </span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">We have been so blessed to have 80% of our monthly budget donated, AND we have had many donations to help us remodel and furnish our ministry area. Our friends and family have donated:</span></b></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span> C</span>ouch/loveseat<br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span> R</span>efrigerator<br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Stove<br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span> C</span>eiling fans<br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span> Color Printer</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span> </span>F</span>looring<br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>65" television</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span> Bibles</span><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>over $2500 in building supplies to redo the ceiling</span></b></div><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">We are near the finish of this project. We need to </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>paint the room, </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>paint and install the trim work, </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>and our biggest project is to </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">BUILD THESE HIGH TABLES and PURCHASE THESE STOOLS. (Pictured above)</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">The High Tables will be built with supplies from Lowes. The table pictured above is a sample of the table (although it will be stained). </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">We are building 6 tables at $250 and purchasing 24 stools at $50 each. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Donations can be made directly to MVI, preferenced to Steve and Stephanie Rhoades. MVI manages all fund distributions. Giving is VERY SAFE. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Make a donation to MVI preferenced to Steve and Stephanie Rhoades or "the Meeting place" using the link below:</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://mvi.org/meetingplace">mvi.org/meetingplace</a></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Click on Give missionary support to make a donation!</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">MVI is a great reliable organization and we value their leadership and support of Missionaries around the world including right here in Bluffton, Indiana. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Our ministry has had a very successful FIRST year starting TWO Discovery Bible Groups and building relationships across Northeast Indiana. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">PLEASE SUPPORT MVI's ministry at the Meeting Place!!!!!!!</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">If you want to purchase some of the supplies directly from Lowes, please call or text me at 260-553-0735 or contact me through Facebook messenger. W</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">e will accept Lowes Gift Cards as well!</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">If you want to mail the donations you can send them directly to MVI</span></b></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Nunito, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">1017 Maitland Center Commons Blvd</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Nunito, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">Maitland, FL 32751-7205</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Nunito, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">or send them to </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Nunito, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: #f4cccc;">The Meeting Place</b></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Nunito, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">115 East Market Street</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Nunito, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">Bluffton, IN 46714 </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Nunito, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">(we will forward the donations to MVI)</span></p>Rhoadziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10890822644016770238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235856392962512755.post-32660132335976180782022-10-19T09:35:00.000-04:002024-03-13T07:42:42.870-04:00Forgotten Books of the Bible - Hosea 11 - Family<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZ1jUAIyGA4ydL0qwUChHarkZ31xf5qeRZHxBwR-8wFdQSDj4j572Kil2WIXWRQLe-GKR7VYtRhNPkU7sV5n1ZxT1c6sndGXT1fsHts1VH6M9W5coun-_-xlVcb81WEmlOruffo7RklcRD1j7pO5aqjDusdF2IavP5iV9ojpK65eMKIPcMOWW2K4/s4032/IMG_8013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZ1jUAIyGA4ydL0qwUChHarkZ31xf5qeRZHxBwR-8wFdQSDj4j572Kil2WIXWRQLe-GKR7VYtRhNPkU7sV5n1ZxT1c6sndGXT1fsHts1VH6M9W5coun-_-xlVcb81WEmlOruffo7RklcRD1j7pO5aqjDusdF2IavP5iV9ojpK65eMKIPcMOWW2K4/w640-h480/IMG_8013.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCYmifeFvhY2SNhrZMYZPDjsLp2S-OHVdlelJfRLkh_4Vhoq2uMm9mpf7A2dSNldLTNB_RqMVReOCzFZhAWAR3g8G0R39nTx3qHcSAlQg9kPzBDRqG3vWMq6NEGZgcN5Ld-8Hi26u3xIQcMH9bKrtfrFsvmnEyt5mQwT00B_mmMf1xi5bbqnAV71A/s3024/FullSizeRender.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="2844" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCYmifeFvhY2SNhrZMYZPDjsLp2S-OHVdlelJfRLkh_4Vhoq2uMm9mpf7A2dSNldLTNB_RqMVReOCzFZhAWAR3g8G0R39nTx3qHcSAlQg9kPzBDRqG3vWMq6NEGZgcN5Ld-8Hi26u3xIQcMH9bKrtfrFsvmnEyt5mQwT00B_mmMf1xi5bbqnAV71A/w602-h640/FullSizeRender.jpeg" width="602" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhKLUut6gbYPzes3xOErYnOPitZHXZsQUUaLukFMS8CYW_K5BIArMSGFSI2Z9ohvG8-H_3QkyuaC9HiCQKe7BK-qkO1Oaoug8FdVP3Mek_3PaSZY6L6JWRtbbdx3UWYVc470-WEozeMFfOxuKJOwTVjtlllNZvAlmnnH0zPyj9oQDRmwcwi3Wpfq8/s3837/FullSizeRender%20(1).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3837" data-original-width="3022" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhKLUut6gbYPzes3xOErYnOPitZHXZsQUUaLukFMS8CYW_K5BIArMSGFSI2Z9ohvG8-H_3QkyuaC9HiCQKe7BK-qkO1Oaoug8FdVP3Mek_3PaSZY6L6JWRtbbdx3UWYVc470-WEozeMFfOxuKJOwTVjtlllNZvAlmnnH0zPyj9oQDRmwcwi3Wpfq8/w504-h640/FullSizeRender%20(1).jpeg" width="504" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">' When Israel was a child, I loved him, and </span></i></b></div><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">out of Egypt I called my son. The more they </span></i></b></div><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">were called, the more they went away; they </span></i></b></div></span><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">kept sacrificing to the Baals and burning </span></i></b></div></span><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">offerings to idols. Yet it was I who taught </span></i></b></div></span><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Ephraim to walk; I took them up by their </span></i></b></div></span><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">arms, but they did not know that I healed </span></i></b></div></span><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">them. I led them with cords of kindness, </span></i></b></div></span><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">with the bands of love, and I became to t</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">hem </span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"> as one who eases the yoke on their </span></i></b></div></span><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them. </span></i></b></div></span><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Hosea 11:1-4 </i></b><b><i>https://my.bible.com/bible/59/HOS.11.1-4</i></b></div></span></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"> The passage today made me think of family. As you can see from the pictures above, my family is huge and the pictures are missing my youngest daughter, three of my grandkids, a future grandkid and great-grandchild expected to arrive in February!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I think the older I get the more I reminisce about the past. I love my family, and just like our Father in Heaven, I want the best for them. It pains me when I see them suffer and I rejoice when they rejoice. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">My ultimate desire for them is to grow in their knowledge of God, their Heavenly Father, his Son Jesus Christ, and to be filled with the Holy Spirit as they navigate life. I cannot count the number of days my primary prayer is about their relationship with the Lord.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I have such limited things I can do to impact my kids' life now that they are adults. My prayers will have to do. I trust the Lord so I know prayers are enough. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Dear Heavenly Father, </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I love my family so much. You know my greatest desire is for them to know you, love you, and trust you. I know the answers to their problems and the daily trials they face rest with you. Please Lord, reveal yourself to them, open their eyes and soften their hearts so that they will draw closer to you each day. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Amen!</span></p>Rhoadziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10890822644016770238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235856392962512755.post-62954315345213050692022-10-19T08:56:00.008-04:002024-03-13T07:42:46.453-04:00Forgotten Books of the Bible - Hosea - 13<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6NzdIMd_tQB3UXtWXmr69NNT_WEfUT-MnvNyQwuJjgKXuzJUCe2ljyH--I7pVyHZ9Vng-KhLAeBv-kRLgKSMIbLh8vK-jF4VUbFXr7g4jyfoPWPvxUzWsxHdpIrMUMehgdueFNlx04q_KglKQS6w9wRU-W1PEupbcHlWpjmxdvMzBJmK2KPJzryM/s4032/IMG_7244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: #f4cccc; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6NzdIMd_tQB3UXtWXmr69NNT_WEfUT-MnvNyQwuJjgKXuzJUCe2ljyH--I7pVyHZ9Vng-KhLAeBv-kRLgKSMIbLh8vK-jF4VUbFXr7g4jyfoPWPvxUzWsxHdpIrMUMehgdueFNlx04q_KglKQS6w9wRU-W1PEupbcHlWpjmxdvMzBJmK2KPJzryM/w640-h480/IMG_7244.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">'When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling; </span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">he was exalted in Israel, but he incurred guilt</span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">through Baal and died. And now they sin more </span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">and more, and make for themselves metal images, </span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">idols skillfully made of their silver, all of them </span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">the work of craftsmen. It is said of them, </span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">“Those who offer human sacrifice kiss calves!” </span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Therefore they shall be like the morning mist or </span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">like the dew that goes early away, like the chaff </span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">that swirls from the threshing floor or like </span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">smoke </span></i></b></span><b style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">from a window. '</span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i>Hosea 13:1-3 https://my.bible.com/bible/59/HOS.13.1-3</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Rhoadziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10890822644016770238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235856392962512755.post-61302755590206571072022-10-17T08:20:00.002-04:002024-03-13T07:42:46.271-04:00Forgotten Books of the Bible - Hosea - 12<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitI1oh7w-kQin-Ook7DBqFoO51X0n3u7kPIjMbA9dNBiNMI04uTG8rxExM5LZmIIYM9C21KuM8Q1_f-JtxwRo5S_cCojhxFkoZI2NXY06rEApvwA1GhjBGvGscnKsuRiZYkDHmfzpnW8OP84IbdmMy02iCKTQqw1mIPCDu4_IVSe8weR82qUsHeDY/s686/Screen%20Shot%202022-10-17%20at%208.15.34%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="686" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitI1oh7w-kQin-Ook7DBqFoO51X0n3u7kPIjMbA9dNBiNMI04uTG8rxExM5LZmIIYM9C21KuM8Q1_f-JtxwRo5S_cCojhxFkoZI2NXY06rEApvwA1GhjBGvGscnKsuRiZYkDHmfzpnW8OP84IbdmMy02iCKTQqw1mIPCDu4_IVSe8weR82qUsHeDY/w640-h418/Screen%20Shot%202022-10-17%20at%208.15.34%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">'“So you, by the help of your God, return, </span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">hold fast to love and justice, and wait </span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">continually for your God.” '
</span>Hosea 12:6 https://my.bible.com/bible/59/HOS.12.6</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am constantly amazed at how simple God has made it to follow him. What does that tell you? <br /><br />HE WANTS YOU!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">God has not made a complex formula to spend eternity with him. The formula is SIMPLE. "hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Rhoadziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10890822644016770238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235856392962512755.post-29845860285210244012022-10-15T08:49:00.003-04:002024-03-13T07:42:42.236-04:00Forgotten Books of the Bible - Hosea 10 - Politics<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBYPlR2ikFPjtFxKsjVKL_CwtnxMKmwepx7J-Z7GXEGOi0ToyGM9ItipzbEnqm3yYMyJX7XP4ZDPvqzW5JQzFO2Hk44nmRgOAqxqDXE3MUDt9Fz2Oq850CPA_751kMVcqqDKD0MuDO5Y5d4h3ucl2W-CHTtncRdLDyCT85DE0gWGN3EtcZ6P7ngJY/s356/Screen%20Shot%202022-10-15%20at%208.19.46%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="356" height="620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBYPlR2ikFPjtFxKsjVKL_CwtnxMKmwepx7J-Z7GXEGOi0ToyGM9ItipzbEnqm3yYMyJX7XP4ZDPvqzW5JQzFO2Hk44nmRgOAqxqDXE3MUDt9Fz2Oq850CPA_751kMVcqqDKD0MuDO5Y5d4h3ucl2W-CHTtncRdLDyCT85DE0gWGN3EtcZ6P7ngJY/w640-h620/Screen%20Shot%202022-10-15%20at%208.19.46%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">'Then they will say, “We have no king because </span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">we didn’t fear the Lord . But even if we had a </span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">king, what could he do for us anyway?” </span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">They spout empty words and make covenants </span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">they don’t intend to keep. So injustice springs </span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">up among them like poisonous weeds in a </span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">farmer’s field. '
</span>Hosea 10:3-4 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/HOS.10.3-4</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wow! Right in the middle of a little known book of the Bible, we get a passage of scripture about American Politics. We don't have a King, but we could ask the same question about our rulers.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">What can they do for us anyway?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I don't care if your democrat, republican, or independent, politicians and our government is overrated. We have given them this ultimate power over us. We rely on them for everything. When the economy is bad, we want them to fix it. When there is war we want them to intervene. When there is injustice we expect them to make things fair. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">In reality, many of our economic woes, wars, and injustices are created by the people we hire to fix them. Until they can find a way to legislate sin out of this world, their power is empty.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am going to sound naive and simple-minded, but the answer to all the problems in this world is not politics and like Israel found out four thousand years ago, it is not in a ruler or rulers. Our problems, the sin in this world, is created when we separate ourselves from God, or we try to BE GOD. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">That is exactly what Hosea was saying. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our trust should not be in the things of this world, our trust is in the Lord. If we bow to him, if we cry out to him, if we worship him and love him, the problems of this life will melt away. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I know what you're saying. Yes, there will always be troubles. When I say our problems will melt away, I am not saying troubles will not exist. What I am saying is with God on our side, the troubles we face will be here for a short while but we will overcome those trials. When we trust in the Lord our problems will quickly fade away.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Dependence on God is the key to hope and overcoming the trials of this life. He is greater than anything you could face. Trust in him and not the people, rulers, or solutions of this world.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dear Heavenly Father, Please forgive us for placing our hope in politicians and the governments of this world. There is nothing they can do for us without complete reliance upon you. Thank you Lord, for giving us real hope, real grace, real mercy, and real love, even when we look in other places for those comforts. We must trust you in all things and follow your will. If we seek to do your will, you will make straight our paths. Amen!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Rhoadziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10890822644016770238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235856392962512755.post-75966331306346963282022-09-29T09:37:00.005-04:002024-03-13T07:42:48.154-04:00Forgotten Books of the Bible - Hosea - 9 - Love your Pastor!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTlUi3H2BjpZSE7zBELtP5Ki68yeE7VZCA20S8PbE2Xx8nJW_5RF3RwGmu4iaCscnVSEwoZP0f0Ye23vcy5KS3U8k_VOnnsFHItZhoyigycqfpjThH8vRD-sM9Tpidln4tWZrkYpwaON2hCCEnSJEacFGCUV8L69eqvdUczFu6UXaRQZDGrnfTEg/s2267/IMG_7435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2213" data-original-width="2267" height="624" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTlUi3H2BjpZSE7zBELtP5Ki68yeE7VZCA20S8PbE2Xx8nJW_5RF3RwGmu4iaCscnVSEwoZP0f0Ye23vcy5KS3U8k_VOnnsFHItZhoyigycqfpjThH8vRD-sM9Tpidln4tWZrkYpwaON2hCCEnSJEacFGCUV8L69eqvdUczFu6UXaRQZDGrnfTEg/w640-h624/IMG_7435.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is one of the priests at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. While we were waiting to visit the place of Jesus' birth it was great to watch the priests interact with the crowd. They took seriously their jobs, but I could also tell they had the joy of Jesus. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">As I was reading Hosea 9 today, the verses about the prophets made me think about the pastors I have had in my life. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">'The time of Israel’s punishment has come; </span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">the day of payment is here. Soon Israel will </span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">know this all too well. Because of your great </span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">sin and hostility, you say, “The prophets are </span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">crazy and the inspired men are fools!” The </span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">prophet is a watchman over Israel for my </span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">God, yet traps are laid for him wherever he </span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">goes. He faces hostility even in the house </span></i></b></span><b style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">of </span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">God. '
</span>Hosea 9:7-8. https://my.bible.com/bible/116/HOS.9.7-8</i></b></span></div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have had so many wonderful pastors in my life. Certainly, my dad and my grandfather is at the top of that list. But, there have been many others. One thing I have learned over the past two years at Indiana Wesleyan Seminary, pastors face so many difficult challenges. These challenges have been magnified by COVID. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Please pray for these men and women. They are watchmen over their community of believers. The enemy has laid traps to trip them up. They have faced hostility from outside the church. The saddest challenge comes when that hostility comes from within the church. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Please pray for your leaders. Paul had a great statement for these wonderful servants:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>'Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who <br /></i></b></span></span><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They <br /></i></b></span></span><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>work hard among you and give you spiritual <br /></i></b></span></span><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>guidance. Show them great respect and <br /></i></b></span></span><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>wholehearted love because of their work. <br /></i></b></span></span><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">And live peacefully with each other. '</span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i>1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/1TH.5.12-13</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And as I was writing this blog, I received my official Ministerial License in the mail. I am licensed while I pursue official ordination. Please Lord, guide me and direct my path in your service!</span></div><p></p>Rhoadziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10890822644016770238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235856392962512755.post-69979973567355854112022-09-28T11:50:00.000-04:002024-03-13T07:42:47.602-04:00Forgotten Books of the Bible - Hosea - 8<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPYTgH-f9hlli2zul8iB3ei_mWMnwd3QjHSOU5taqdUfCeHowpizceUl-cSz685iHXwLMVQrKjLm6SHYB4GtNkxkMTIAoHodRdrpHx9gmOSj5E3AeQ0XCfo_i09dxXiFDRkQy_R1c9QKxposfb6idDUKdsUvkiH_GPAh3n5DBkkP6Ko1Uji_0mP_c/s3024/IMG_7497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2460" data-original-width="3024" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPYTgH-f9hlli2zul8iB3ei_mWMnwd3QjHSOU5taqdUfCeHowpizceUl-cSz685iHXwLMVQrKjLm6SHYB4GtNkxkMTIAoHodRdrpHx9gmOSj5E3AeQ0XCfo_i09dxXiFDRkQy_R1c9QKxposfb6idDUKdsUvkiH_GPAh3n5DBkkP6Ko1Uji_0mP_c/w640-h520/IMG_7497.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">"Israel has built many altars to take away sin, but these very altars became places for sinning! Even though I gave them all my laws, they act as if those laws don't apply to them. The People love to offer sacrifices to me, feasting on the meat, but I do not accept their sacrifices. I will hold my people accountable for their sins, and I will punish them. Hosea 8:11-13</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;">These are some pretty harsh words. Could the Lord say the same to us? As we build bigger and bigger churches how critical are we about our actions? Is this a message for the church today? </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Lord has placed on my heart reaching out to those that feel rejected by the church, who feel like outcasts, who feel judged and unwelcome. I see these people at "Biker" events, in drug rehab centers, jails, prisons, homeless shelters, bars, and in economically depressed areas of our cities. I also know that many of the perceptions are inaccurate, but at the same time, they are real. Our churches FEEL like places for perfect people and imperfect people are intimidated by that. Our churches are filled with people that share many of the same issues with these rejected people, but on Sunday morning, very few hint at their brokenness. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I love the church. It is a big part of my life and has been since my appearance on this earth. But, the church needs to do better. The church not only needs to reach out asking people to come, but we also need to GO OUT and meet people where they are. Walking through the doors of a church can be very intimidating for someone that has lived an entire life away from God. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The meeting place, the ministry that God has led me to, wants to bridge that gap between church and the lost.</span><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"> PLEASE, if you are one of those people who have never had GOD in your life, let me help you discover who God is.</span></i></b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>I WANT TO HELP YOU!</i></b> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>I am willing to hold face-to-face or online discovery bible studies with YOU.</i></b></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I will meet you anywhere, anytime, to help you figure out who God is. Please contact me if you want to explore who God is, outside the church setting, on your own turf. </span></p><p><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Contact me</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"> (rhoadzie@gmail.com)</span></i></b><span style="font-size: large;"> if you want to set up a time to meet. If we meet once and you don't want to continue, I am perfectly ok with that. There is no pressure to join a church. I just want to help you figure out who the God of the Bible really is. </span></p>Rhoadziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10890822644016770238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235856392962512755.post-542901782579764712022-09-27T09:07:00.000-04:002024-03-13T07:42:39.417-04:00Forgotten Books of the Bible - Hosea - 7<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7QA1PJwJ6Nwbqp1HiQRlqlsWK0-XAlxytaOV7Cz_Cfk-uQTwVuyAyLTKIbpnwetuTE11bxoT5jsFRzeuK5FmCIv1aD62XJ3Jqq71i6NollvdhPiHDYho0Xw8viTQ9Dtrf2dDqiVpLfN6FcXZkN_F5k1wbeRv_fedI-qcibbOcLBDXYP6P7ksgHI/s4032/IMG_7007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7QA1PJwJ6Nwbqp1HiQRlqlsWK0-XAlxytaOV7Cz_Cfk-uQTwVuyAyLTKIbpnwetuTE11bxoT5jsFRzeuK5FmCIv1aD62XJ3Jqq71i6NollvdhPiHDYho0Xw8viTQ9Dtrf2dDqiVpLfN6FcXZkN_F5k1wbeRv_fedI-qcibbOcLBDXYP6P7ksgHI/w480-h640/IMG_7007.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">"Its people don't realize that I am watching them. Their sinful deeds are all around them, and I see them all."</span></i></b><i><b> Hosea 7:2</b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">For those that don't believe in God, this verse means nothing. For those that profess to be followers of Christ, this is a big issue!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Just like Israel in the Old Testament, we do not realize God is watching and if we do know it, we don't act like it. This past week, the focus of my Master's work at IWU has been accountability. It is such a good idea to have an accountability partner. Yet, God is our ultimate accountability partner. He sees everything. Everything we do, everything we say, and all our thoughts we have are laid bare in front of Jesus. We cannot hide.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">How do you think God would react to your life yesterday. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">For my course work, I had to look at a day in my life and reflect on a series of questions (<i>Spiritual Mentoring</i>, Keith R. Anderson & Randy D. Reese). I modified them to fit my life. But, I would highly recommend taking time each day to think about your day through God's eyes. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">These might be questions to ponder just before you lay your head down at night:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">In what ways did God reveal himself today?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">What questions do I have for God about things that happened?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Was I living "In God's will" or "Out of God's will" today?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Would God respond with joy or sadness as he looked at my day?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">What sins do I need to repent?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Would God speak words of consolation, encouragement, or challenge because of my day?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Whom did I encounter today, did my actions reflect Jesus' love?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Where was I anxious and afraid today?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">What words did I speak to God today, and how often did I speak to him?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">What do I need to change tomorrow?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">We are followers of Christ every day and every hour of our lives. Are we acting like we are his? I am sure there are other questions that could be asked. The most important part of our day might be in reflecting on what we did in relation to our faith. God was watching. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Need prayer? </span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">I am available for personal Bible Studies, online or in-person. NO CHARGE and at your convenience.</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Contact me: rhoadzie @gmail.com</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Rhoadziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10890822644016770238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235856392962512755.post-80535651894724971382022-09-26T08:58:00.000-04:002024-03-13T07:42:48.395-04:00Forgotten Books of the Bible - Hosea - 6 - REPENT!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz73YoYZlHApEdNpE45ek058-Jji1oWLInIEcRbZAahZZttXwlRWTUXYSkAkoH4MEs2lLc5thRVjXqFOAuf4AWucXvs71zpP0rpRXcsPE0LA2NLtwSnT3hmMxHhKkIE403tRV2OF-cMiDjAAnIc6n5Tol4eGaP5iEboE3kQeT3gSwIqHkbHheYLjE/s4032/IMG_7292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz73YoYZlHApEdNpE45ek058-Jji1oWLInIEcRbZAahZZttXwlRWTUXYSkAkoH4MEs2lLc5thRVjXqFOAuf4AWucXvs71zpP0rpRXcsPE0LA2NLtwSnT3hmMxHhKkIE403tRV2OF-cMiDjAAnIc6n5Tol4eGaP5iEboE3kQeT3gSwIqHkbHheYLjE/w640-h480/IMG_7292.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This photo was taken on our journey to Jericho, looking across the Jordan Valley to ancient region of Gilead. The city of Gilead is mentioned in Hosea. It was a sinful place, much like our world today. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">'“Come, let us return to the Lord . He has torn </span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">us to pieces; now he will heal us. He has </span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">injured us; now he will bandage our wounds. '
</span>Hosea 6:1 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/HOS.6.1</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The single thread that ties the ancient scriptures of the Old Testament and Jesus' New Testament is REPENTANCE. John the Baptist and Jesus both echoed the need to repent and turn to God</span>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: left; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>'About this time Jesus was informed that </i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: left; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee </i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: left; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>as they were offering sacrifices at the Temple. </i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: left; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>“Do you think those Galileans were worse </i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: left; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>sinners than all the other people from Galilee?” </i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: left; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Jesus asked. “Is that why they suffered? Not </i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: left; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent </i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: left; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>of your sins and turn to God. And what about </i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: left; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>the eighteen people who died when the tower </i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: left; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>in Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst </i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: left; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>sinners in Jerusalem? No, and I tell you again </i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: left; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>that unless you repent, you will perish, too.” '</i></b></span></span></div><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><b><i>Luke 13:1-5 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/LUK.13.1-5</i></b></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;">Hosea 6 is clear that God wants us to return to him. He wants to restore us from the damages of our sin. He wants us to come to know him. He wants our love and not our sacrifices. He doesn't want our burnt offerings. He wants to restore us and bless us. </span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;">'Oh, that we might know the Lord ! Let us </span></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;">press on to know him. He will respond to </span></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;">us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the </span></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;">coming of rains in early spring.” “O Israel </span></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;">and Judah, what should I do with you?” </span></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;">asks the Lord . “For your love vanishes like </span></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;">the morning mist and disappears like dew in </span></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;">the sunlight. I want you to show love, not </span></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;">offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more </span></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;">than I want burnt offerings. I sent my prophets </span></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;">to cut you to pieces— to slaughter you with </span></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;">my words, with judgments as inescapable as </span></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;">light. But like Adam, you broke my covenant </span></i></b></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: xx-large;"><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;">and betrayed my trust. '</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;">Hosea 6:3-7 </span></i></b><b style="font-style: italic;"><i><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;">https://my.bible.com/bible/116/HOS.6.3-7</span></i></b></div></b><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I know we don't give sacrifices to God in the twenty-first century and I don't know of too many churches offering burnt offerings. But, God's plea is the same today as it was in the Old Testament and the New Testament. We are called to repent, and admit our sins against God. We are called to turn back to God. He will heal us and restore us to a right relationship with him. There are no special requirements of us. We don't have to sacrifice anything. All he wants is a commitment and dedication to loving him. THAT'S ALL. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Don't let anyone convince you that your sins are too great. Don't let anyone tell you it's too late. GOD wants to save you from sure death and all it takes is to: </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>ADMIT YOUR SINS AND ASK JESUS TO BE YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR. THAT"S ALL! </b></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Will you do that today!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">If you want to make Jesus the Lord of your life and turn from the sins of the past, contact me. I would love to pray for you and help you on this new path. I commit to helping you and not leaving you to figure this all out on your own. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Contact me --- rhoadzie@gmail.com</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Rhoadziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10890822644016770238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235856392962512755.post-25066242806388119492022-09-23T08:32:00.002-04:002024-03-13T07:42:41.630-04:00Forgotten Books of the Bible - Hosea 5 - NOTHING!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2jIt84-H6-kekE0PQcr0cmOWMDg5858WQNldOdjCTpa0tvQTOOE95V2nzloDBMhQUor1ZpVgK54AmlDuoExXtAeaxKlA3joDBX25nXAdEKPxAfsPzTZ_TXM4M8swIbpiC7zC4hwndJGrO-iMDB5O_NZJQoYqwV0P9I0Z5cqyNfvXAAVhYjh3Muk/s4032/IMG_7634.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2jIt84-H6-kekE0PQcr0cmOWMDg5858WQNldOdjCTpa0tvQTOOE95V2nzloDBMhQUor1ZpVgK54AmlDuoExXtAeaxKlA3joDBX25nXAdEKPxAfsPzTZ_TXM4M8swIbpiC7zC4hwndJGrO-iMDB5O_NZJQoYqwV0P9I0Z5cqyNfvXAAVhYjh3Muk/w640-h480/IMG_7634.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">"Your deeds won't let you return to your God." </span>Hosea 5:4</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">There is nothing you can do to separate yourself from the Love of God. That message was clear by the apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans. (Rom. 8:31-39) But, so many people act like there is an exception to this rule, "but I have done......" </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">God is waiting for your to finally realize NOTHING can separate you from the love of God. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">As I read Hosea, I hear the heart of this prophet as he is overwhelmed with his nation's rejection of God. The suffering is real. I truly believe most of people get to the point, when things get bad enough, they realize their need for God. It is at this critical point where the followers of Jesus need to be ready to share the message of Romans 8. Because when someone hits rock bottom they have two choices. They can give up or they can turn to God. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Listen to what God told Hosea at the end of Chapter 5:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>"Then I will return to my place until they admit their guilt and turn to me. For as soon as trouble comes, they will earnestly search for me."(Hos. 5:15)</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">We are called to love people like Jesus. Our mission is no different than John the Baptist or Jesus. When people get to the point they cannot take another step forward, we need to share that all they need to do is admit their guilt and turn to God. And when Satan tells them their sins are too great, we need to be there and assure them <b>NOTHING CAN SEPARATE THEM FROM THE LOVE OF GOD!</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, TURN TO GOD. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do you need someone to come alongside you and help you turn to God? Please contact me, I will help. GOD LOVES YOU and SO DO I! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>rhoadzie@gmail.com</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Rhoadziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10890822644016770238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235856392962512755.post-46576093491298297532022-09-22T11:30:00.000-04:002024-03-13T07:42:44.322-04:00Forgotten Books of the Bible - Hosea - 4<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qKyjNFUvzeczoXjlsRyWVprK8t9tkWN7n8Hv7vI5Eo-tpz3FokUyRrSsy5z4kpFFzGQAxmSRd8cp_HSuRi9EO-jGtHbpMDZ-desr-Tln4bngScZnkkbQz478SegNuhhCQdFDGsnXyftZBkjOxiyUtmzwjVbd268OJ4A94Cy5Ai43ehCE1IgozkA/s4032/IMG_7243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qKyjNFUvzeczoXjlsRyWVprK8t9tkWN7n8Hv7vI5Eo-tpz3FokUyRrSsy5z4kpFFzGQAxmSRd8cp_HSuRi9EO-jGtHbpMDZ-desr-Tln4bngScZnkkbQz478SegNuhhCQdFDGsnXyftZBkjOxiyUtmzwjVbd268OJ4A94Cy5Ai43ehCE1IgozkA/w640-h480/IMG_7243.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the sight of Israel's pagan temple to Baal. After the split, Israel's priests in the Northern Kingdom accepted the worship of gods other than THE GOD. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This nation was destroyed, never to be heard from again. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>'“Don’t point your finger at someone else </i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>and try to pass the blame! My complaint, you</i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i> priests, is with you. So you will stumble in </i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>broad daylight, and your false prophets will </i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>fall with you in the night. And I will destroy </i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Israel, your mother. '
</span>Hosea 4:4-5. https://my.bible.com/bible/116/HOS.4.4-5</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">When Jesus arrived, the community of PRIESTS grew in amazing ways. Peter claimed:</span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">'But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You </span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">are royal priests, a holy nation, </span></b></span><b style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: large;">God’s very own possession. </span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; font-size: large;">As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><b style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: large;">he </span></b><b style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: large;">called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. '</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><b>1 Peter 2:9 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/1PE.2.9</b></span></div><div><br /></div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">We can not blame the failings of our society on the lost, they don't know any better. We could blame our religious leaders. Hosea did! AND I DO think they need to shoulder some of the blame for the state of our Godless society. But, I believe in the UNIVERSAL PRIESTHOOD. Peter claimed we are ALL royal priests. We can point fingers at ALL BELIEVERS.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">We are called to "Love others as Jesus loved us!" (John 15:12)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">When we do take a stand for Jesus do we copy the methods of the world or do we show the Love of Jesus? When we protest the evils of this world, and there are many, do we share the Love of Jesus? When we condemn someone else's sin, are we showing the Love of Jesus? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Are we living a life that is appealing to those outside our faith? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Is God pointing his finger at us? Does God have a complaint against ME? YOU? Are we stumbling in broad daylight for the world to see? </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Heavenly Father, forgive me for not being your light in the midst of darkness. Forgive me for not loving you with all my heart, soul, and mind. Forgive me for not showing your love to the world. Forgive me for not honoring my position as your royal priest. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Help me change lord. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Amen!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Do you need prayer? God has called ME to make disciples. Can I help you draw closer to Jesus? rhoadzie@gmail.com </i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p>Rhoadziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10890822644016770238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235856392962512755.post-23808534378291410352022-09-21T09:14:00.000-04:002024-03-13T07:42:41.448-04:00Forgotten Books of the Bible - Hosea 3 - God STILL Loves You!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEYES6PjdttXbuxAe3OzAgXGk_kxlH9oxEbjudSKsKoJrMCwCryCeNj8u813VBSjQHGOEbxqx3a63NfjwS2Ur6hUq8h5ygTbCIioCi7aFnAowHSbjdsrA-RTQWkTVBgeIxaHAUZ20sCgu6aZX2bsrvmcBMCMd60X1jpf5RhHb83EAJbRqfhzrcsqA/s873/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-21%20at%208.38.56%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="873" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEYES6PjdttXbuxAe3OzAgXGk_kxlH9oxEbjudSKsKoJrMCwCryCeNj8u813VBSjQHGOEbxqx3a63NfjwS2Ur6hUq8h5ygTbCIioCi7aFnAowHSbjdsrA-RTQWkTVBgeIxaHAUZ20sCgu6aZX2bsrvmcBMCMd60X1jpf5RhHb83EAJbRqfhzrcsqA/w640-h332/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-21%20at%208.38.56%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>In June of 2013, Stephanie and I were on our way back from a motorcycle trip to California. We ran into this storm in Cheyenne Wyoming. We were able to stop at a gas station. But, it was so crowded we were not able to park the bike underneath the awning of the gas station. The picture below shows you after the storm the ground was covered by hail. It looks just like snow!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm16ogQAjcXwv4bCFXi1BLrZAeKxiHqY3UUjxdUJ4WLPxZTTwMaJVyq-gQO_W90Vrz9SmY7NdvfFEdI3o2exxbDIZZka_Oput7QPIQ57FpIZyMK3_DOYWsKth1zYSsW2fuT7iEYHxcZVoOPOhzzqlKFO2FrgrXUU2SbiBzbPB3PU5kUD8TL0C6bGI/s3264/IMG_4888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm16ogQAjcXwv4bCFXi1BLrZAeKxiHqY3UUjxdUJ4WLPxZTTwMaJVyq-gQO_W90Vrz9SmY7NdvfFEdI3o2exxbDIZZka_Oput7QPIQ57FpIZyMK3_DOYWsKth1zYSsW2fuT7iEYHxcZVoOPOhzzqlKFO2FrgrXUU2SbiBzbPB3PU5kUD8TL0C6bGI/w640-h480/IMG_4888.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJN-nbDOV4UKIokMRDYeTzmjUPJzGZhHuvMR77kLgBgfpexXXRDs433wTOvNDDpToFdZ7KgcYd_X0fNy48rJWrmR1MSpcGLToOgGvpRZRmRCjCjavvaWwRh4X-A5dA2A4fo4wcd2jwgKuTZIFkX1t5A6Fq06yCSn6q2_Rhze25ma6gI6PoVkdfdb4/s3264/IMG_0926-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJN-nbDOV4UKIokMRDYeTzmjUPJzGZhHuvMR77kLgBgfpexXXRDs433wTOvNDDpToFdZ7KgcYd_X0fNy48rJWrmR1MSpcGLToOgGvpRZRmRCjCjavvaWwRh4X-A5dA2A4fo4wcd2jwgKuTZIFkX1t5A6Fq06yCSn6q2_Rhze25ma6gI6PoVkdfdb4/w480-h640/IMG_0926-2.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: large;">We survived the storm with no real damage. Our helmets, which we dared not rescue, had some chips on the plastic. The motorcycle and our little timeout camper had no damage. God was watching us!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Hosea had every right under the law to divorce Gomer. Even after he married her, even after he showed great love caring for her, she continued her life as a prostitute. I cannot imagine his pain. Even though it is not recorded in this book, I can imagine his depression and his cries to the Lord for help. Here was God's response:</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">'Then the Lord said to me, “Go and love your</span></i></b></div><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"> wife again, even though she commits adultery </span></i></b></div><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">with another lover. This will illustrate that the </span></i></b></div></span><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Lord still loves Israel, even though the people </span></i></b></div></span><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">have turned to other gods and love to </span></i></b></div></span><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">worship them. ” '</span></i></b></div></span></span></div><p><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">Hosea 3:1 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/HOS.3.1</span></i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Hosea continued his love for Gomer even through the storms of their life together. He could have given up. After God told him to love his wife again, he went and bought Gomer for a great price. We don't know all the background of the story, but we know God did not want Hosea to give up on Gomer. His entire life is meant to be a message to us. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>EVEN THROUGH THE STORMS OF LIFE </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>GOD WILL NEVER GIVE UP ON US. </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>GOD STILL LOVES YOU!</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">God loves you so much that he paid the high price to buy you back WITH HIS ONLY SON'S LIFE ON THE CROSS.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There is nothing WE can do in my life, believe me I have done a lot, that God will not forgive. He paid the price for YOU and is deeply in love with YOU. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">If you need prayer. If you want to know how to accept Jesus and begin living a life for him, contact me. I would love to share with you, meet with you, and disciple you! Even if you live a great distance from me, we can meet together! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Contact me at rhoadzie@gmail.com. </i></b></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Rhoadziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10890822644016770238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235856392962512755.post-55418391195568534242022-09-19T08:40:00.000-04:002024-03-13T07:42:45.231-04:00Forgotten Books of the Bible - Hosea 2 - Do we care?<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitHHt4f0hxA_ZEWdRttG-FygtKpr-C4PD-qc7ZpGbEDzPt0M4r2B_nJgzNSaeIL4j1n0qZ2XjhRtwj1rIlf4XY-Zf3eSxP-0V_9Ou-SRIPhuHaxR_VTTsIQYXlPY7n4i2od3IY-tmyHOVPbFqcZ0V57eZpKvCceHeX3Ndx9NxTlz8t0thChLkSgv0/s4032/IMG_7608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitHHt4f0hxA_ZEWdRttG-FygtKpr-C4PD-qc7ZpGbEDzPt0M4r2B_nJgzNSaeIL4j1n0qZ2XjhRtwj1rIlf4XY-Zf3eSxP-0V_9Ou-SRIPhuHaxR_VTTsIQYXlPY7n4i2od3IY-tmyHOVPbFqcZ0V57eZpKvCceHeX3Ndx9NxTlz8t0thChLkSgv0/w640-h480/IMG_7608.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>'She doesn’t realize it was I who gave her </i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>everything she has— the grain, the new wine,</i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i> the olive oil; I even gave her silver and gold. </i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>But she gave all my gifts to Baal. '</i></b></span></span></div><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; text-align: start;"><b><i><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;">Hosea 2:8 </span></i></b></span><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; white-space: pre;">https://my.bible.com/bible/116/HOS.2.8</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;">When I think of the Garden of Gethsemane, I think of nothing but sadness. Jesus prayed to his Father and he begged his closest followers to join him. Instead, they fell asleep. They didn't care enough to even join Jesus in prayer. </span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">As I read through Hosea I also get a feeling of great sadness, God's sadness. Israel had rejected God. The nation was torn in two by ignoring God and his perfect plan. They took for granted everything God had done for them. Their celebration of Passover, the Sabbath, and numerous other festivals were hollow events.. They didn't care about God. They didn't miss GOD. God blessed them because of their relationship. But, all they wanted was blessings!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Do we really care about our relationship with God? Do we care about disappointing him? Do we care just because we want his blessings? Do we spend more time in prayer went we WANT SOMETHING from God? The people of Israel took all the blessings and gave those gifts to Baal, a worthless idol. When God blesses us, do we rejoice in our relationship or do we take those blessings for our own glory?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Even though we live our lives like we don't care about God, he still pursues us. He wants to WIN our hearts. Look what God says after being so soundly rejected:</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><b><i>'“But then I will win her back once again. I </i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><b><i>will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly </i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><b><i>to her there. I will return her vineyards to her </i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><b><i>and transform the Valley of Trouble into a </i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><b><i>gateway of hope. She will give herself to me </i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><b><i>there, as she did long ago when she was </i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><b><i>young, when I freed her from her captivity </i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: xx-large; white-space: pre;"><i>in Egypt. '</i></b></div><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Hosea 2:14-15. </i></b><b><i>https://my.bible.com/bible/116/HOS.2.14-15</i></b></div></span></div><p><br /></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Dear Father in Heaven, </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Forgive me for not caring about my relationship with you. Forgive me for selfishly wanting only your blessings. I truly do love you Lord. I am yours and you are my God. May I draw closer to you everyday, experience your loving embrace and the joy of fellowship with you. All I need is you! Amen!</span></b></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Rhoadziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10890822644016770238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235856392962512755.post-69686883811113598652022-09-18T09:28:00.000-04:002024-03-13T07:42:47.419-04:00Forgotten Books of the Bible - Hosea - 1<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_DspvDoq5e1LJFToCe6XQr6JeMdUa5gtxNEKFDp-lnwId7BrWw1Nr1vGIpKeVMadfh9-caG04BtJJXq_jOlXFAdEoJYPum3S0a3JFYSwi7lMCSXjzFoldxYtbVBZqs8LN7PuOM1UjR-2rrBLjo3lgWuRFqFJp_USxITPYDwjuwQhi5VXFpg5ckwY/s2499/IMG_8005%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2345" data-original-width="2499" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_DspvDoq5e1LJFToCe6XQr6JeMdUa5gtxNEKFDp-lnwId7BrWw1Nr1vGIpKeVMadfh9-caG04BtJJXq_jOlXFAdEoJYPum3S0a3JFYSwi7lMCSXjzFoldxYtbVBZqs8LN7PuOM1UjR-2rrBLjo3lgWuRFqFJp_USxITPYDwjuwQhi5VXFpg5ckwY/w640-h600/IMG_8005%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>' “Yet the time will come when Israel’s people</i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i> will be like the sands of the seashore—too </i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>many to count! Then, at the place where they </i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>were told, ‘You are not my people,’ it will be said, </i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>‘You are children of the living God.’ Then the </i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>people of Judah and Israel will unite together. </i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>They will choose one leader for themselves, </i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>and they will return from exile together. What </i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>a day that will be—the day of Jezreel —when </i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">God will again plant his people in his land.'
</span>Hosea 1:10-11 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/HOS.1.10-11</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;">This book is full of so many painful events. Hosea is told by God he will marry a prostitute and that she will be unfaithful to him Together, they have a son. There are another two children born and indications they are through the unfaithfulness of Gomer, Hosea's wife. These two children are given names meaning "Not Loved" and "Not my people." Such sadness fills me to think of these children and the situation. It brings anger saying, </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Lord, HOW CAN YOU LET THIS HAPPEN?</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Is this story any different than hundreds, maybe thousands of children in our communities? Is this any different than the stories of children born into homes where they are not loved, where they are rejected by either parent? Is this any different than the stories behind the children placed in foster homes, abused, sold into sex trafficking?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our world is filled with such pain and injustice. Yes, we can cry out to God, but can we blame him? I say the answer is clearly NO! Our sinfulness, our poor choices, our desire to remove God from our lives is the story behind the pain. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Story of Hosea is in the Bible to show us the pain our sin has caused. Our desire to do things on our own, our desire to live for the moment, and our disregard for the lives of others, bring great pain to this world. But, more importantly, it brings pain to God. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">BUT, PRAISE GOD HE NEVER GIVES UP ON US!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">God accepts our poor choices and desire to live without him with tears of deep sadness. Yet, he will NOT turn his back on us forever. Israel would eventually come to their knees asking for forgiveness. Then they would leave God again and again and again. These verses in the Hosea teach us about the mind of God. Even in the midst of all the pain of this world, he has not given up on us. He is for us and waiting for us to return to him, pure and ready to worship him and be with him. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Please Lord help us in the midst of this evil, help us to seek you, your laws and your love. We need you so much! Amen!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you Lord!</span></p>Rhoadziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10890822644016770238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235856392962512755.post-88110603349067566462022-09-17T09:18:00.001-04:002024-03-13T07:42:49.368-04:00Forgotten Books of the Bible - Ezra - 10 - Hope<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMwfXCr8fMD5r5cEubQaYzS6gZTlKH6QF4lnJk46CrTClJL0vUkoTITanwMVmI55I7dDkAj-H9lmCtyPASVULFQDTcEM1N4QZLRFDczzX5h2Wodn6pDBOKQkP4AF74NGVdjy2h7o2DBMQs5lcZPB87WIcCmWCWf8Y7nHn7ALfswpDfHsu-cghhmNo/s4032/IMG_6792.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMwfXCr8fMD5r5cEubQaYzS6gZTlKH6QF4lnJk46CrTClJL0vUkoTITanwMVmI55I7dDkAj-H9lmCtyPASVULFQDTcEM1N4QZLRFDczzX5h2Wodn6pDBOKQkP4AF74NGVdjy2h7o2DBMQs5lcZPB87WIcCmWCWf8Y7nHn7ALfswpDfHsu-cghhmNo/w640-h480/IMG_6792.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">'Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, a descendant </span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span face="ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">of Elam, said to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful </span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span face="ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">to our God, for we have married these pagan </span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span face="ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">women of the land. </span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><i><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; font-size: x-large;">But in spite of this there is hope for Israel. '</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span face="ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i>
Ezra 10:2. https://my.bible.com/bible/116/EZR.10.2</i></b></span></div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There are always consequences of sin, people are hurt, suffering is the result. For years, almost back to when Israel crossed the Jordan River to occupy the promised land, Israel had defied this key law of God. Even King Solomon violated this law. They intermarried with Pagans. In today's politically correct world, this shouldn't be such a big deal. The families in Israel were close. Father and Mother were highly revered. One of the first laws, commanded by God, through Moses, was to honor your Father and Mother. These two people are lifegivers. Honoring them is like honoring God. He is our Father and we honor him by loving him, listening to him, obeying him, and living life with him. We honor our parents in a similar way. If a man marries someone outside the faith, all of life is changed. We have to choose which to follow. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is a big deal.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">In a marriage between a follower of Christ and a non-follower, the children are put in an impossible situation. They must choose between mother and father. Sin offers us the same choice. Sin makes us choose between God and man. We all know the right choice!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">But, in verse two, Ezra pointed out THERE IS HOPE. Our sins cannot permanently separate us from God unless we want them to. God loves us so much that he sent his Son to die for us, that we might have HOPE through him. There is no sin to great. God is there waiting for us to seek his forgiveness. Yes, there will be consequences. The result of sin does not change with our confession and desire for forgiveness. But, if we seek God, and turn from our wicked ways, he promises us hope and a brighter tomorrow. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thank You, Lord for hope even when I mess things up by disobeying you!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Rhoadziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10890822644016770238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235856392962512755.post-47199513389029045992022-09-16T10:12:00.000-04:002024-03-13T07:42:44.413-04:00Forgotten Books of the Bible - Ezra 9 - The Vicious Cycle<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ5IMygDggVSjZww2ZMWY9NaYK-yOylLvQZAXukkxYeTzfOxtTGRVzkqar1eBOF-wJqM9shnyi6l0hbikxzLf1UjnorCpdlOr6JpJLdfhZkYFayBEud8cTH-jkCPqhSr5vPSvt70j_ycx0YvPYE2C9l-INTpIXu6JFCQqo2q4KVp1YOKEpWYkvG7M/s4032/IMG_7462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ5IMygDggVSjZww2ZMWY9NaYK-yOylLvQZAXukkxYeTzfOxtTGRVzkqar1eBOF-wJqM9shnyi6l0hbikxzLf1UjnorCpdlOr6JpJLdfhZkYFayBEud8cTH-jkCPqhSr5vPSvt70j_ycx0YvPYE2C9l-INTpIXu6JFCQqo2q4KVp1YOKEpWYkvG7M/w640-h480/IMG_7462.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: xx-large; white-space: pre;"><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;">'I prayed, “O my God, I am utterly ashamed; </i></b></div><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: xx-large;"><i>I blush to lift up my face to you. For our sins </i></b></div></span><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: xx-large;"><i>are piled higher than our heads, and our guilt </i></b></div></span><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: xx-large;"><i>has reached to the heavens. From the days of </i></b></div></span><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: xx-large;"><i>our ancestors until now, we have been steeped </i></b></div></span><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: xx-large;"><i>in sin. That is why we and our kings and our </i></b></div></span><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: xx-large;"><i>priests have been at the mercy of the pagan </i></b></div></span><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: xx-large;"><i>kings of the land. We have been killed, captured, </i></b></div></span><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: xx-large;"><i>robbed, and disgraced, just as we are today. </i></b></div></span><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Ezra 9:6-7. </i></b><b><i>https://my.bible.com/bible/116/EZR.9.6-7</i></b></div></span><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">It is not easy to identify Christians in our communities. They look, act, and talk like all the rest of the people in our country. Ezra found out his people continued to accept and actively participate in the pagan culture surrounding them. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><b><i><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre;">'When I heard this, I tore my cloak and my shirt, pulled hair from my head and beard, and </span></i></b></div><div><b><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre;">sat </span><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre;">down utterly shocked. '</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;">Ezra 9:3 </span><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;">https://my.bible.com/bible/116/EZR.9.3</span></span></i></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: large;">The vicious cycle of sin continued. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; font-size: large;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;">He then prayed!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: large;">How ashamed am I of my actions? Do I blush when God sees how I live a life of sin? Our sins are </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: large;">are higher than the heavens. The only way out is through Jesus and exactly what he did for us on</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: large;">the cross. The good news? Jesus has no limit in his forgiveness. He doesn't ever say, this is your</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: large;">last chance. His grace and his mercy are forever. All we have to do is come to him. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: large;">Heavenly Father, forgive me for how I repeatedly sin, living a life that looks exactly like the world.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please give me strength to stay focused on you, to fight accepting sin as being normal. Help me to</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: large;">fight the urge to conform instead of being transformed. I cannot do it on my own. Lord we need you </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: large;">every moment of every day. Help us the break the vicious cycle! Amen!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Rhoadziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10890822644016770238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235856392962512755.post-87042448511665634862022-09-15T08:53:00.000-04:002024-03-13T07:42:49.277-04:00Forgotten Books of the Bible - Ezra 8 - Vaccination vs No Vaccination<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOE142xrPRFpgQtg1UIoJ3IJyCjh6l3TbstwDHOqEpKCreC03hizbY7PR-WVeUy-uoakEbl2_vkxEybYxz6XW4PkZQ7MgSScnWO7u2noh5iKfZKDScUvmqrbnehALVxaEz1y55e3UNHdlVANl1Ybu6hV7cIr1SbBKgsNvWsq-WYjRewBydraFqc9E/s4032/IMG_5563.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOE142xrPRFpgQtg1UIoJ3IJyCjh6l3TbstwDHOqEpKCreC03hizbY7PR-WVeUy-uoakEbl2_vkxEybYxz6XW4PkZQ7MgSScnWO7u2noh5iKfZKDScUvmqrbnehALVxaEz1y55e3UNHdlVANl1Ybu6hV7cIr1SbBKgsNvWsq-WYjRewBydraFqc9E/w480-h640/IMG_5563.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #121212; font-size: xx-large; white-space: pre;"><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;">'And there by the Ahava Canal, I gave orders </i></b></div><span face="ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #121212; white-space: pre;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: xx-large;"><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;">for all of us to fast and humble ourselves before </i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: xx-large;"><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;">our </i></b><b style="font-size: xx-large;"><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;">God. We prayed that he would give us a safe </i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: xx-large;"><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;">journey </i></b><b style="font-size: xx-large;"><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;">and protect us, our children, and our goods </i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: xx-large;"><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;">as we traveled. </i></b><b style="font-size: xx-large;"><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;">For I was ashamed to ask the king </i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: xx-large;"><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;">for soldiers and horsemen </i></b><b style="font-size: xx-large;"><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;">to accompany us and </i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: xx-large;"><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;">protect us from enemies along the way. </i></b><b style="font-size: xx-large;"><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;">After all, </i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: xx-large;"><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;">we had told the king, “Our God’s hand of protection</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: xx-large;"><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;"> </i></b><b style="font-size: xx-large;"><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;">is on all who worship him, but his fierce anger </i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: xx-large;"><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;">rages against </i></b><b style="font-size: xx-large;"><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;">those who abandon him.” So we </i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: xx-large;"><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;">fasted and earnestly prayed </i></b><b><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">that our God would </span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">take care of us, and he heard our prayer. '</span></i></b></div></span><span face="ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #121212; white-space: pre;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;">Ezra 8:21-23 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/EZR.8.21-23</i></b></div></span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It is fun to think about how often God has protected us in our lifetime and we have no idea! Stephanie and I spend a lot of time praying and definitely pray for God to protect us when we travel. I love this short message in Ezra. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The fleshly part of Ezra wanted to guarantee his protection by asking the King for soldiers and horsemen. Yet, he knew to make the request would appear to be a lack of faith. So, he prayed and he had his people fast and humble themselves before the Lord instead. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Do you REALLY believe God will protect you? How do you demonstrate to the world that you REALLY trust in the Lord? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It is so important to show the world you completely trust in the Lord. We live in a world that is a dangerous place. There is so much out there to harm us. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">God will protect us. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I still have a hard time deciding if God wants me to take extra precautions or if he wants me to depend on him. This has been very real over the past two years with COVID. My debate was whether to take a vaccine or not. Am I being diligent to protect myself or do I leave it up to the Lord? I have debated this in my heart quite often. But, my decision to get vaccinated was simple. I was not going to be able to serve the Lord like I wanted, traveling to Greece on a short-term mission trip and exploring Israel, if I was not vaccinated. So, my thought was YES the Lord could protect me from COVID, but he could also protect me from the VACCINE. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Ezra had great motives. He wanted to make sure Persia and the King knew that God would protect them as they traveled. It might have been smart to ask the King for help, but the example he set by relying upon the Lord was more important. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We should all be more concerned about the way our faith is portrayed to others. Instead of making decisions like vaccination or no vaccination for political reasons, make the decisions based on your faith! I know some people made their decisions for the right reason. Others, I am not sure about! But there are other decisions. Do you carry a handgun for protection or not? Do you install security systems at home or not? I am sure there are others. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Take all your decisions to the Lord, ask his guidance, and consider what those decisions will say to those that DON'T know the Lord. </span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Rhoadziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10890822644016770238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235856392962512755.post-41330045002953270382022-09-14T09:24:00.002-04:002024-03-13T07:42:43.776-04:00Forgotten Books of the Bible - Ezra 7 - Bad Memory!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigg2RQ6y75SInsVxdXtTgzeQ1iaObg8tNipPypHfqX-gJTh2bY2706eks7OU9BSeBAliUXSTTfhukvpwsBIH65i_D_E6tq4x6Rv_NqOy6IyClgVqvx98qQSo4-8Y1tiT2ppgFE3Zk_hk1SWKLEfkm3k2EoE-Uh9gL-ZwdR0MJ8pC2uhNWSQySrPl0/s4032/IMG_3193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigg2RQ6y75SInsVxdXtTgzeQ1iaObg8tNipPypHfqX-gJTh2bY2706eks7OU9BSeBAliUXSTTfhukvpwsBIH65i_D_E6tq4x6Rv_NqOy6IyClgVqvx98qQSo4-8Y1tiT2ppgFE3Zk_hk1SWKLEfkm3k2EoE-Uh9gL-ZwdR0MJ8pC2uhNWSQySrPl0/w480-h640/IMG_3193.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>'For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the </i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>law of the LORD , and to do it , and to teach </i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">in Israel statutes and judgments. '
</span>Ezra 7:10. https://my.bible.com/bible/1/EZR.7.10</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My mentor gave me this verse to memorize. It is amazing that, unbeknownst to him, I was studying Ezra. I love how God works in small ways to let us know we are doing his will. I kind of gave him a hard time about memorizing scripture. I asked him a question about where it says in the Bible we are to memorize scripture. I think I kind of stunned him by my question. Now don't get all your defenses up! I absolutely see value in memorizing God's word. I envy people that have verses they pull out of thin air at just the right moment. AND I know my resistance is because I don't want to put the effort to memorize scripture. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, I googled, "Does it say we should memorize scripture in the Bible?"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Although there are multiple reasons given to memorize scripture, backed up by scripture, each reference given talks more about the application and the command to make scripture a part of our life. Here is a link to one of the resources;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://openthebible.org/article/ten-biblical-reasons-to-memorize-scripture/#:~:text=2.,integral%20part%20of%20our%20lives.">Ten Reasons to Memorize Scripture</a><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">More importantly, is the need for us to engrain scripture in our hearts. Does scripture impact how you live, what you say, and how you relate to other people? I am not against memorization of scripture. I just believe all MY efforts should be toward "preparing my heart to seek, and then to do it." I need to seek the Lord and all that he has for me today, or even in this specific moment! As I seek him and his law, I also need to be able to share all that I find teaching others.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, in my opinion, (I could be wrong), we need to focus all our energy on embedding scripture into our hearts and then transfering that to our daily lives. With some people that may mean memorizing scripture. Some it will mean meditating on scripture, some will write about scripture, some will teach others. If we spend time in God's word, truly seeking his laws, understanding his statutes, and judgments, it will affect our life, even if we do not memorize those scriptures.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">What are your thoughts? </span></div><br /> <p></p>Rhoadziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10890822644016770238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235856392962512755.post-48430551643020758212022-09-13T09:22:00.000-04:002024-03-13T07:42:44.595-04:00Forgotten Books of the Bible - Ezra 6 - Pain turned to Joy!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpTecuNk1PBxEQ03Tagix8hNQ26rvISzzHc4FZ3yoPfe1JsoCVM0lHcDOqU5W8wZE5DkHHA3i_XuNYcqWdEOV5nnDn8aJ9Lc4pJEI92J7KGwVPZNawPA-0IdXqB4wlorY5Cp94hXk1RKn_qLulSksVRqLAcuFtNTadZeUoiabP9Uz7hgybNJahyXk/s4032/IMG_3193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpTecuNk1PBxEQ03Tagix8hNQ26rvISzzHc4FZ3yoPfe1JsoCVM0lHcDOqU5W8wZE5DkHHA3i_XuNYcqWdEOV5nnDn8aJ9Lc4pJEI92J7KGwVPZNawPA-0IdXqB4wlorY5Cp94hXk1RKn_qLulSksVRqLAcuFtNTadZeUoiabP9Uz7hgybNJahyXk/w480-h640/IMG_3193.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>'Then they celebrated the Festival of Unleavened </i></b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Bread for seven days. There was great joy throughout </i></b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>the land because the Lord had caused the king of Assyria </i></b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>to be favorable to them, so that he helped them to rebuild </i></b></span></span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: xx-large; white-space: pre;"><i>the Temple of God, the God of Israel.'</i></b></div><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><div style="background-color: #f4cccc; text-align: center;"><b><i>Ezra 6:22. </i></b><b><i>https://my.bible.com/bible/116/EZR.6.22</i></b></div></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I cannot imagine the joy felt by the nation of Israel when the 2nd Temple was completed. When they were allowed to return home from 70 years of exile, they wanted life to get back to normal. NORMAL included the temple. But, they had few resources and there was so much opposition. FINALLY, King Darius gave them much-needed support to finish the project. What started out as a battle just to maintain their freedom turned out to be a huge blessing. The enemy wanted to stop the Temple construction. Instead, the king instructed this opposition to help! They had to provide money, materials, and all that the returned exiles needed. What an amazing UNEXPECTED GIFT from the Lord. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>How many times has God turned your life from pain and heartache to great joy beyond all you could ever imagine?</i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">For me, this occurred in 2017. I left school that year, defeated, depressed, and attacked. I saw no hope. I saw no joy in our future. Yet, all of that pain led to the great joy I have today. God wanted more for me than I could ever imagine. The Lord used the sins of Israel to lead them to great joy when this second Temple was completed. God took my pain that May of 2017 and turned it into joy. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Yes, I still have moments of pain and suffering. I still have times of depression and defeat. But, I know that the Lord will take those things and turn them into great joy. I anxiously anticipate that great joy. Thank you Lord in advance for all that you are about to do in our lives!</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Rhoadziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10890822644016770238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235856392962512755.post-91647847284905903032022-09-12T08:59:00.000-04:002024-03-13T07:42:50.192-04:00Forgotten Books of the Bible - Ezra 5<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-sonu802vF4PEfr0DkNmDQJc1WkzuVZ4YPpKBEFCQQ2Ed12trPVtvClAGO--fOONaDweUza7qHdDZPhYqUKcwvdFUNzSVnvI58pQg7Z-YJMciNi9YpnXkH3kvb-UJo_cmqfXXdUINcf_Zm86iy-f-kdep5TsxEuae-fLatjn6nVkevOaP27IaAsk/s4032/IMG_7590.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-sonu802vF4PEfr0DkNmDQJc1WkzuVZ4YPpKBEFCQQ2Ed12trPVtvClAGO--fOONaDweUza7qHdDZPhYqUKcwvdFUNzSVnvI58pQg7Z-YJMciNi9YpnXkH3kvb-UJo_cmqfXXdUINcf_Zm86iy-f-kdep5TsxEuae-fLatjn6nVkevOaP27IaAsk/w640-h480/IMG_7590.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>'“This was their answer: ‘We are the servants</i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i> of the God of heaven and earth, and we are </i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>rebuilding the Temple that was built here </i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">many years ago by a great king of Israel. '
</span>Ezra 5:11 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/EZR.5.11</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">How much opposition do you face in your everyday spiritual life?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I would guess, if you are a normal American Christian, you have faced little direct resistance to your faith. Can you imagine our churches destroyed, being uprooted from our homes to be taken away to a foreign country? That is exactly what happened to Israel. They admit in Ezra 5:12, "But, because our ancestors angered the God of heaven, he abandoned them to King Nebuchadnezzar." It was their fault. After 70+ years of exile, they finally saw where the blame belonged. Sure, the Babylonians were a part of their pain and anguish, but the real responsibility for the exile belonged to Israel and their rejection of God.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">We have always considered ourselves to be a Christian nation. I am not sure about that right now. We face some serious challenges to that claim. Yes, it is easy to blame the faithless for our problems, but are we like Israel? Have we angered God by our lukewarm faith? Have we abandoned God while expecting him to remain faithful?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Maybe we are not facing much resistance in our lives because we are not being bold about our faith.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">After their return from exile, the nation of Israel made a stand. They began rebuilding the temple in spite of the opposition they were facing. They stood up for their faith. When was the last time YOU openly, publicly, stood up for your faith? Yes, you might face some serious consequences. I doubt you will be exiled to a far country, but you might be ostracized by your community, or shunned by your family. Would you be willing to take a stand even if it meant sure vocal or physical resistance? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please Lord give us an attitude of boldness in faith. Help us to be confident in spreading the gospel message even when we face opposition. We love you. We claim we belong to you. Help us to show that by everything we do. Amen!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Rhoadziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10890822644016770238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235856392962512755.post-10437660182324080662022-09-10T08:37:00.000-04:002024-03-13T07:42:40.271-04:00Forgotten Books of the Bible - Ezra 4<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8n2I6qw49mCAMERa8bpmDuYNhY7EMkuKGo7Aa4FEYWWt5NFje9BwDGjAKP0GbWLmlvnqNH_lQmI95aasUIvmG-gzlHASMTGbTdVhs-DWO43dO48iGWMU94lWMcZMB914Q4oh0AeJtd71FQNIOfVQaHEwPDN7XvHOkEvHUQPltUdP7JMPi4o41X4Q/s3264/IMG_1423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8n2I6qw49mCAMERa8bpmDuYNhY7EMkuKGo7Aa4FEYWWt5NFje9BwDGjAKP0GbWLmlvnqNH_lQmI95aasUIvmG-gzlHASMTGbTdVhs-DWO43dO48iGWMU94lWMcZMB914Q4oh0AeJtd71FQNIOfVQaHEwPDN7XvHOkEvHUQPltUdP7JMPi4o41X4Q/w640-h480/IMG_1423.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;">We are going to face opposition. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Israel was filled with joy as King Cyrus gave them permission to rebuild the temple. It was a huge task. In chapter 4 of Ezra the enemy took great joy in disrupting this project. They even tried to trick Israel into letting them help. In reality, all they wanted to do was sabotage the work. When that didn't work, the enemies of Israel tried to bribe people to work against this project. The enemies never gave up. When the King fell into the hand of Artaxerxes, they sent a letter to him to keep the project from moving forward. IT WORKED!</span></p><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; white-space: pre;"><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;">'So the work on the Temple of God in Jerusalem had stopped, </i></b></div><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: x-large;"><i>and it remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign </i></b></div></span><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: x-large;"><i>of King Darius of Persia.'</i></b></div></span></span></div><p><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><b><i></i></b></span></p><p><b style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><i></i></b></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: pre; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><b><i><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; font-size: medium;">Ezra 4:24. https://my.bible.com/bible/116/EZR.4.24</span></i></b></i></b></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We are going to face opposition in this life. The enemy will have his victories. We will feel like God has abandoned us. We will be frustrated at the delays and the barriers placed in our path. But, Remember, God is in control. He alone determines the seasons, they setting of the Sun and the placement of the stars. Do not give up! Pursue the Lord with all your heart, even when life is difficult and at a "standstill."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The enemy wants nothing more than to separate you from God. Do not let him get a foothold with doubt and worry. GOD WINS, always, always, always. The Battle is not yours it is the Lord's!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br />When David was fighting the great Philistine, Goliath, these verses were spoken with confidence:</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; white-space: pre;"><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;">'David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword,</i></b></div><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: x-large;"><i> spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord </i></b></div></span><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: x-large;"><i>of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom </i></b></div></span><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: x-large;"><i>you have defied. Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will </i></b></div></span><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: x-large;"><i>kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead </i></b></div></span><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: x-large;"><i>bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the </i></b></div></span><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: x-large;"><i>whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! And </i></b></div></span><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: x-large;"><i>everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues </i></b></div></span><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: x-large;"><i>his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord ’s </i></b></div></span><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: x-large;"><i>battle, and he will give you to us!” '</i></b></div></span><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: x-large;"><i>1 Samuel 17:45-47</i></b></div></span><span style="color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>https://my.bible.com/bible/116/1SA.17.45-47</i></b></div></span></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The battle is not yours. The Battle belongs to the Lord!!!!!!!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><b><i></i></b></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><p></p>Rhoadziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10890822644016770238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235856392962512755.post-33659238271833993612022-09-09T07:51:00.002-04:002024-03-13T07:42:43.051-04:00Forgotten Books of the Bible - Ezra 3<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP3OQ3p7t4JQ90AEEa6LdA2qmTZNwZ4uJlts-m-G9KY9yOuRJptyDM8bjwlnAD1RkDcs-FcpHyWVUK-5IbKi4DWH3xkCMpT5yskoyw7w3BtDefnnqkBVqgF2_1Fg7e2eJ021i-FZr9qWz1DlfvsOgNjOhj_E00Th5YuCUGIbxQNdEtQdSp95Ip2ro/s666/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-07%20at%208.51.13%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="666" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP3OQ3p7t4JQ90AEEa6LdA2qmTZNwZ4uJlts-m-G9KY9yOuRJptyDM8bjwlnAD1RkDcs-FcpHyWVUK-5IbKi4DWH3xkCMpT5yskoyw7w3BtDefnnqkBVqgF2_1Fg7e2eJ021i-FZr9qWz1DlfvsOgNjOhj_E00Th5YuCUGIbxQNdEtQdSp95Ip2ro/w640-h372/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-07%20at%208.51.13%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #121212; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;">'With praise and thanks, they sang this song </i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #121212; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;">to the Lord : “He is so good! His faithful love </i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #121212; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;">for Israel endures forever!” Then all the people </i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #121212; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;">gave a great shout, praising the Lord because </i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #121212; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;">the foundation of the Lord’s Temple had been </i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #121212; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;">laid. But many of the older priests, Levites, and </i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #121212; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;">other leaders who had seen the first Temple wept </i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #121212; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;">aloud when they saw the new Temple’s foundation. </i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #121212; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;">The others, however, were shouting for joy. The </i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #121212; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;">joyful shouting and weeping mingled together in </i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #121212; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">a loud noise that could be heard far in the distance.'
</span>Ezra 3:11-13 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/EZR.3.11-13</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">There are times in my day, I long for the past. I long for the days of childhood with no cares except where I was going to ride my bike. I long for the days playing with my good friend Dougie Seal or little league baseball or backpacking in our youth group. There are other times I sit back and praise God for the joy of being a grandparent, being retired, spending time serving the Lord, and the joy of riding my motorcycle. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">IN the middle of my thoughts of joy, I also look back and remember times of darkness, loss, and worry. As I think about today, I also feel anxiety about family issues, financial issues, ministry, and the state of our world. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">My life is a mixture of joyful shouting and weeping. The book of Ezra couldn't have stated it any clearer. Our lives are filled with the mingling of joy and sorrow. Yet, from the beginning of time, God has been with us. He walks with us, and he hears us. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The glass is both half full and half empty. There is not just one way to look at life. Both ways are correct. I pray that each person has joy in their life that they can shout about. I pray that they feel comfortable weeping before the Lord. He wants to hear it all, and I praise him that he does listen to us with pure love. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Scripture should have an impact on your life. How does this scripture change you? Who can you share it with? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">One thought: Help others know times of darkness and sadness can draw us closer to the Lord. Many people don't recognize the Lord when things are going well, they only come to him when they cry for help. Today when someone celebrates the joy in their life, make sure they know GOD should be at the center of BOTH JOY AND SORROW. He celebrates with us AND cries with us. Thank you Lord!</span></div><br /><p></p>Rhoadziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10890822644016770238noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235856392962512755.post-48113667460982172902022-09-07T08:38:00.000-04:002024-03-13T07:42:44.504-04:00Forgotten Books of The Bible - Ezra 2<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAcaElRUO7iwfYy24m9vYNiPP--gGlJ2rl17nHGBDARD8KrI_0wX-6ySi2kgLUz_a2jr_rLfMXk8XIkWUBSLcu2TUav_1qHBjZJqlcc1qVT-fGWzU5mOuwd10zbnOqE9sMvSfBXp0Jrcc36knc6UzAiIGEtltWE9aSGvMT-TpRqNs9J3OhpeYcD_0/s445/CMA_Logo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="445" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAcaElRUO7iwfYy24m9vYNiPP--gGlJ2rl17nHGBDARD8KrI_0wX-6ySi2kgLUz_a2jr_rLfMXk8XIkWUBSLcu2TUav_1qHBjZJqlcc1qVT-fGWzU5mOuwd10zbnOqE9sMvSfBXp0Jrcc36knc6UzAiIGEtltWE9aSGvMT-TpRqNs9J3OhpeYcD_0/w400-h394/CMA_Logo.gif" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have been wearing this patch on my back for the past 13 years. I always get a sense of pride when I wear this logo. It identifies me, not just with CMA, but it also identifies me as a follower of Jesus Christ. Wearing this symbol has changed me. When I wear it, I am more aware of my actions and how they represent my faith. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">One of the complaints of non-Christians is that Christians are so hypocritical. They act one way on Sunday and completely different the other six days. Christians are quick to say we are not perfect. Sometimes I think we use that as an excuse. I see many of my Christian friends on social media feed the theory of hypocrisy in our faith. We should be different!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">As I was reading Ezra 2 today, I was struck by verses 59 and 62:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">'They searched for their names in the genealogical </span></b></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">records, but they were not found, so they were </span></b></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">disqualified from serving as priests. Another group </span></b></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">returned at this time from the towns of Tel-melah, </span></b></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Tel-harsha, Kerub, Addan, and Immer. However, </span></b></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">they could not prove that they or their families </span></b></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">were descendants of Israel. '
</span>Ezra 2:59,62. https://my.bible.com/bible/116/EZR.2.59,62</b></i></span></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Could you prove you were a Christian? Do you live your life in a way where people know you belong to Jesus? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Even when I am not wearing my CMA colors, I want to make sure my words, my actions, and my thoughts, speak loudly about my faith. We are going to mess up, but we must not take that lightly. We need to make sure our lives are set apart. We must be different than the rest of the world. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">IF people can not see any difference, if there is no joy and peace in our lives, and if there is nothing that points people to Jesus, are we living the life God wants us to live? Would we be disqualified from serving as a priest? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Can you prove your life belongs to Jesus?</span></b></p><p><br /></p>Rhoadziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10890822644016770238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235856392962512755.post-15272225572650981422022-09-06T08:15:00.000-04:002024-03-13T07:42:40.632-04:00Forgotten Books of the Bible - Ezra - part 1<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvnjYQNapFcd-qxZ4mN-TJyKeNbViI96l4wDd4Lts-J7p57rIeNA3emLOiuLLGecrhxIMcPl2uIdX2NOLhIASNpziGk-eje_fsG7qFwT4NqS8gVtr8xcVZaWMFLS_2neTnrBxwRYUVFedDP6n-YEgHOxyndXnR63Fq9q0PGLArdJIVUKdGqS6O0g/s4032/IMG_7138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvnjYQNapFcd-qxZ4mN-TJyKeNbViI96l4wDd4Lts-J7p57rIeNA3emLOiuLLGecrhxIMcPl2uIdX2NOLhIASNpziGk-eje_fsG7qFwT4NqS8gVtr8xcVZaWMFLS_2neTnrBxwRYUVFedDP6n-YEgHOxyndXnR63Fq9q0PGLArdJIVUKdGqS6O0g/w640-h480/IMG_7138.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">'And we know that God causes everything to </span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">work together for the good of those who love </span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">God and are called according to his purpose </span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><i style="font-size: xx-large; font-weight: bold;">for them. '
</i>Romans 8:28 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/ROM.8.28</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: ArialMT, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Liberation Sans", FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I do not know about your Bible Study, but for me, I have many books of the Bible I just ignore. Sure, I have read them. Usually, I read them in passing while I am trying to read the Bible in a year. But, I never really spend much time in them. If I believe God has placed this wonderful book together for the purpose of teaching me his truth, teaching me right and wrong, and preparing me for good work (2 Tim. 3:16-17), then I think he means us to read and study ALL OF IT! So for as long as it takes, I am going to study the books from God's word that I have considered obscure! Don't judge me! Some of you are going to say you can't believe I have ignored this book or that book. I am looking forward to hearing the voice of God!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">EZRA - 1</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">After seventy years in captivity, Israel finally gets permission to return to Jerusalem, to the promised land. King Cyrus of Persia helps them in the process to return home.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Two times in the first chapter of Ezra it says "He {God} stirred the heart of Cyrus" and later "Then God stirred the hearts of the priests and Levites and the leaders of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin...." </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I love how God works inside us. So many times I think I have a great idea, when in reality it is God <i style="font-weight: bold;">stirring my heart. </i>I love taking credit for what God is doing in my heart! LOL! God is also stirring the hearts of other people in our lives. Some of them, like King Cyrus, aren't even believers. Isn't that a wonderful thought? God is using those who are far from him to fulfill his plans for us. That wonderful, reassuring thought, should keep us from the hate we sometimes feel for those who oppose us. I am sure the people of Israel did not hold King Cyrus or any of the Persian leaders, in high regard. Yes, later they would look back and be thankful for this freedom. But, up to that point, it had been a long 70 years of captivity. There was no joy in being away from home, away from Jerusalem, forced to live in a pagan culture, to be outsiders that were oppressed and mistreated. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Is God stirring something in your heart? Can you see God working in your unbelieving boss or your unbelieving friends? Can God work through our unbelieving national leaders? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I pray God will stir something in your heart and that we will all recognize his stirring and also see his hand in the lives of our non-Christian friends to fulfill his purposes. He is able to do all things and we need to trust he is working for our good!</span></div><br /><p></p>Rhoadziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10890822644016770238noreply@blogger.com0