Includes...
In Nehemiah 9:38 after the people returned from captivity in Babylon they made a binding agreement, putting it in writing, and affixed their seals to it. Their agreement was to follow all of God's laws, which they could never do, and it didn't turn out well. Then in Nehemiah 10:28-29 it says....
“The rest of the people—priests, Levites, gatekeepers, musicians, temple servants and all who separated themselves from the neighboring peoples for the sake of the Law of God, together with their wives and all their sons and daughters who are able to understand— 29 all these now join their fellow Israelites the nobles, and bind themselves with a curse and an oath to follow the Law of God given through Moses the servant of God and to obey carefully all the commands, regulations and decrees of the Lord our Lord.
On the surface this seems like a good thing that they wanted to follow God's law, but not by binding themselves with...
The other day I was reading in Nehemiah about the people repairing the walls of Jerusalem. One of their goals was to close all of the gaps, because walls are for protection. Walls keep things out that are not supposed to be coming in. One small gap, can lead to ripple effects, which can lead to bigger cycles of things. Which is why it's important to close gaps in our lives. But, this is really hard to do on our own.
While thinking about this Isaiah 60:18 came to mind. It says, "No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise."
In the original Hebrew language the word for salvation is "Yeshuah."
Yeshuah is the name of Jesus in Hebrew and it means... Salvation, deliverance, prosperity, security, and victory.
So the verse could be read like this... You will call your walls Jesus and your gates Praise.
When Jesus is our wall there is no...
A few weeks ago I was doing science homework with one of my daughters and we were discussing producers vs consumers. Producers are green plants that take in sunlight and convert the light into energy that animals feed upon. This led to a discussion about how we are to be like trees planted by living water. In a similar way we are supposed to convert God's light within us into energy and much more. God is light and he lives within us. Here is a very important statement that I am going to repeat a couple of times...
Because God is light and everything is hidden within him. All of the wisdom, knowledge, energy, love, peace, patience, health, finances, we will ever need is hidden in the light but we must know how to access it and convert it into practical things in our lives. For example, there is an unlimited inexhaustible supply of health...
Have you ever done something nice for someone and gotten no response from them?
In 2 Chronicles 32 it says that after God healed King Hezekiah and added 15 years to his life his heart was proud and he did not respond to the kindness God had shown him. But, he did later repent of his pride. Pride can lead to a positioning of entitlement rather than being grateful for the things God and others do for us. Pride can lead to a hard rocky heart that is not responsive.
Romans 2:4 says it is God's kindness that leads us to repentance. It is kindness, grace, and treating people better than they deserve that softens hearts which leads to the willingness to change.
This has two applications for our lives. First, staying positioned in humble gratitude can keep our hearts soft and responsive to the kindness and grace God and others show us. And, when dealing with difficult people remembering that it is kindness, patience, and grace that leads to the...
In 2 Chronicles 20 is the story of King Jehoshaphat and his people being attacked by a great army. The king turns to God and prays asking for his help. Then he ends his prayer by saying... "God, we don't know what to do but our eyes are on you."
After his prayer God speaks to the people and tells them, "Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's. Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel. You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.”
The people then started praising and thanking God, and God set an ambush and destroyed their enemies.
Recently in our communion...
A few nights ago on our Partner's Zoom call I was reminded of Psalm 103, which has some amazing promises. In today's communion meditation it is a time to receive these promises from God.
Here is Psalm 103
Of David.
1 Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel:
8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as...
Here is this week's Yearly Cycle Update.
The fall season is a time when God often begins to move things around with transfers and transitions. The yearly cycle has come to a close and is starting over, which means its time to transition to the next level. Time and space are connected which means that as time moves forward another year we must keep repositioning to be in the correct place where God's grace is flowing.
It is during this season that God often opens doors to the next level. But, here are some things to keep in mind about the next level. When God opens doors it will always take faith and courage to go through, because there will be a higher level of work on the other side. But, not the kind of work we typically think of. The work is allowing God to do his work through you, which means a higher level of learning how to get out of his way by resting in him.
When doors open it is also important to pay attention to peace on the inside. Peace...
Ephesians 2:19-22 says, "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
And Isaiah 28:16 says "Therefore this says the Lord God: 'Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation.'"
This combination of words "Chief Cornerstone," is interesting. In today's world we use words like CEO(Chief Executive Officer) or CFO(Chief Financial Officer). To be a chief means to be a leader. A cornerstone was the first stone laid for a building and was the standard or reference for all the other stones. Therefore, the cornerstone...
Colossians 2:6-7 says, "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."
In this verse we see a progression...
Being full in Christ, means that thankfulness just flows out of us. The more we receive from him, live in him, and get established in him the more thankful we become. As thanksgiving overflows it creates a virtuous cycle that expands our capacity to receive even more from him, grow in him, and be even more thankful.
I am praying for you.
Daniel
According to Ephesians 2:6 we are seated with Jesus in heaven at God’s right hand. We are meant to be one with Christ who is now seated in heaven with God. To abide in him means that we take our heavenly position with Christ.
Your next question might be, how? How do we practically take our seat with him? The short answer is by faith because we can’t physically see it. Start by practicing gratitude. Take time daily to thank God for the opportunity to be seated at his right hand with Jesus, and praise him for his grace and goodness.
The right positioning has to do with having the right perspective. When we are focused on being in our heavenly seat we are in our proper position, which allows us to rest so that grace flows. And when grace is flowing everything is easier. In quantum science there is a principle called quantum superposition that says it’s possible to be in two places at one time. However, you...
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