My blog

Category: Verses

  • Locust Destruction!

    For a nation has come up against My land,
    Strong, and without number;
    His teeth are the teeth of a lion,
    And he has the fangs of a fierce lion.  Joel 1:6 NKJV

     

    Let’s look at the context for the book of Joel and today’s verse.  Joel was one of the twelve minor prophets in the Bible.  The Bible doesn’t tell us anything more about him other than his father’s name, Pethuel.  Sometimes the Bible gives the reader enormous detail about certain things and other times, it does not.  If the Bible repeats something many times, it’s important and the reader should note it.

    The first five verses of chapter one of Joel was describing a time in the southern kingdom of Juda where there were locusts devastating the land. He wasn’t announcing the coming judgment of the land but was describing their present state with locusts swarming, then crawling, then consuming.  It was so destructive and massive Joel tells the people to tell their children and their children’s children.

    Today’s verse is also about how this pestilence came across the nation and devoured everything in its path.

    This wasn’t the only instance in Israel’s history where there were swarms of locusts.  In the book of Exodus, we see swarms of locusts when Pharoah would not let the people of Israel leave Egypt.  In 1915 a devastating plague of locusts covered what is modern-day Israel and Syria. The first swarms came in March, in clouds so thick they blocked out the sun. The female locusts immediately began to lay eggs, 100 at a time. Witnesses say that in one square yard, there were 65,000 to 75,000 eggs. In a few weeks, they hatched, and the young locusts resembled large ants. They couldn’t fly yet and got along by hopping. They marched along 400 to 600 feet a day, devouring every speck of vegetation along the way. After two more stages of molting, they became adults who could fly—and the devastation continued.  And we will see, this same devastation in the time of tribulation in the book of Revelation which mirrors the time of Exodus.

    The middle east is not the only place where locust devastation has occurred.  The U.S. had its own devastation back in the 1870s.  Here is a link to a great article on U.S. devastation:  1870s Great Plains Locust Devastation.  Just this year, we see this same devastation in Sardinia and in Africa.

     

    Have you ever seen the devastation from locusts?  If so, can you share your impressions? 

  • Never Again!

    “Yet the number of the children of Israel
    Shall be as the sand of the sea,
    Which cannot be measured or numbered.
    And it shall come to pass
    In the place where it was said to them,
    ‘You are not My people,’
    There it shall be said to them,
    ‘You are sons of the living God.’  Hosea 1:10

    In Genesis, God promises Abraham that He would make Abraham the father of nations.  This verse shows that God kept His promise to Abraham and the children of Israel.  Generations had passed from the time of Abraham to when the book of Hosea was written.  God is the same, yesterday, today and forever.  We can trust in His promises.  Hold His promises in our hearts.

    Over the centuries, God’s people, the children of Israel have been scattered to the four corners of the world and have been victims of genocide.  They have been persecuted and annihilated.

    The most recent example of the genocide inflicted upon the children of Israel was the Holocaust in Germany during World War II.  We visited the death camp, Dachau, when we lived in Germany.  That camp was the model for all other concentration camps.  The Germans were told these camps were to rehabilitate.  They were not told the Jews would be used for various and inhumane medical experiments or that they would die horrible deaths in gas chambers. When Dachau was finally liberated in April in 1945, there were thirty thousand Jews in a camp designed for only six thousand.  I stood in the massive compound where Jews stood for hours on end and cried.  This cruelty has been inflicted upon the Jews throughout the centuries.

    But God has always kept a remnant of His people. And He will continue to protect His people regardless of the political climate.  His word tells us they are His people.  He will bless those who bless Israel and He will curse those who curse Israel.  We need only look at the influx of the children of Israel to the land of Israel over the last thirty years.  God is bringing His people back to the land He gave Abraham. They have come full circle.  His word is true.

    Have you ever visited Dachau? Or some other concentration camp? Share your experience with us. 

  • Exploiting talents

    young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans. Dan 1:4 NKJV

    Let’s look at the context of the book of Daniel and the verses preceding the verse for today. The book of Daniel is a fascinating book and full of prophetic visions. In verses, 1 through 3, the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, conquers Jerusalem and takes the people into captivity.

    The people were taken to Babylon in three waves. Royal families and nobles along with the skilled and educated individuals were taken into captivity in that first wave in 605 BC. Daniel, a gifted prince, was in that first wave. A second wave was brought to Babylon in 597 BC and the third wave in 586 BC. Although most Jews were taken into captivity, the very poorest of the Jews remained in Jerusalem. And those held in captivity were exiled for seventy years.

    Today’s verse defines how the Babylonians sought to exploit the talents of those they brought into captivity and make sure they were indoctrinated into the Babylonian lifestyle.

    Daniel didn’t fit in. He and his three friends: Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were different. But they stuck together and stood apart even though others from their nation sought to fit into the Babylonian lifestyle.

    That’s true for us today. Especially in younger people. They seek to “fit in”. Every person is unique and beautiful having different personalities and gifts and shouldn’t have to worry about peer pressure. Encourage young people to develop their talents. Even if those talents lie in off-the-beaten-path areas. Explore your difference and celebrate it! Seek those who have the same gifts and are like-minded. That’s a way to fit in and still be true to one’s character and self.

    What do you do “fit in” and still be true to yourself?  

     

     

     

  • Your life’s purpose.

    “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
    Before you were born I sanctified you;
    I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” Jer 1:5 NKJV

    While God is speaking about Jeremiah, this tells us God knows each one of us before we were formed in the womb.   A comforting thought.  He also tells Jeremiah, He has ordained him to be a priest.  Jeremiah existed in the mind of and plan of God before he ever existed in his mother’s womb.

    Since the beginning of time, God knew every person before they were even created in the womb.  And He has ordained each of our lives.  What is it we are naturally drawn to?  Chances are we gravitate towards the ordained profession God planned for us before we were ever created.

    Forty years ago, I wrote a novel.  I sent it in for publication.  In those days, manuscripts were typed on a manual typewriter, publishers accepted novels directly from the writer, and those aspiring authors received physical rejection letters.  Not today.  While some publishers accept a manuscript from a writer, most of the time, a writer needs an agent to navigate the perils in publishing, and often aspiring authors get rejection letters.  Most of the time, the publisher and/or agent doesn’t respond unless you have a personal relationship with them. And it takes an enormous amount of effort to find the right agent.

    Fast forward to today and I felt the pull to write again.  It’s much stronger now that I’m working toward retirement.  But it’s there. In the back of my mind. I often wonder if I had not gotten discouraged and given up where I would be now. Doesn’t matter, though.  Only today matters.

    If you’re young, hold on to your dreams…and if you are older, keep dreaming.  Life is too short not to follow the path in your heart.

    And remember, God designed you for a specific purpose.  Find your purpose and follow it.

    Have you found your purpose in life? Would you share what it is?

  • Everything old is new again!

    Is there anything of which it may be said,
    “See, this is new”?
    It has already been in ancient times before us. ECC 1:10 NKJV

    The song Everything’s Old is New Again is the modern-day equivalent of today’s verse.  But that’s not all…We see it in fashion, architecture, furniture, even appliances, and other songs.  I’m sure many of you reading this post, can think of other things where everything old is new again.

    Let’s look at some things we mentioned.

    Fashion.  From fringe to leather to velvet and classic styles like Coco Chanel’s easy pieces.  Anything and everything goes in today’s fashion houses.  But certain styles return…from the 30s & 40s, the peep-toe shoes, to the 60s mod styles and bell bottoms.  While there is a twist in some of these styles, it only proves everything old is new again like the verse says.

    Architecture.  I come from a family of contractors so my experience has been with residential construction.  I’ve always loved the craftsman style homes of the 20s and 30s and they are back today with the same “look” but with modern materials and modern conveniences that builders didn’t have back in the day.  I find it interesting the Early New Englanders built what they called “salt box” style homes in the early years of our country.  In the 1970s, this style was resurrected once again, with modern materials and conveniences, not to mention the sizes of these homes are much bigger than the ones back in the day.

    Furniture from the 1960s is now considered mid-century modern and is all the rage.  Who would have thought that a weird chair sitting in my grandmother’s living room now is a classic style that millennials find fascinating?

    This one is interesting.  On Facebook, I’ve seen modern takes on old-time stoves.  When pictures are displayed, you’d be amazed at how many people would love to have that modern “antique” appliance in their kitchen.

    And songs.  Back in the 1980s, my daughters took dance lessons and listened to a lot of music. I remember them coming home one evening and my eldest saying, “Mom, you should hear the new song that just came out.”  I told her it was a remake.  She didn’t believe me and argued with me that it was brand new.  So the first time I heard it on the radio with them in the car, I sang along with the new artist.  The beat was a little different, but the lyrics were the same. My daughters couldn’t get over that it was an old song. I think it was their first exposure to “everything old is new again”.

    We can look to the Bible for verses that tell us that nothing is new under the sun.  Many relationships and situations we find in the Bible are present in today’s society.  One simply has to look for them in the pages of that timeless book.

    If you live long enough, you see history repeat itself in these areas and many more, too.  What examples can you think of where everything old is new again!

     

  • Be Wise!

    A wise man will hear and increase learning,
    And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel.  Proverbs 1:5 NKJV

    Wisdom. We all want it but seldom do we ask for it or seek God for that special wisdom.  My husband and I pray together daily and we decided many years ago to pray for wisdom.  Why?  Because when you have wisdom, you seldom make terrible mistakes whether it’s in your relationships, your finances or your work.  We have asked for and were granted wisdom in these areas many times over the years.  Do we still make mistakes?  Occasionally.  And usually when we haven’t sought proper counsel…whether from God or from those more knowledgeable in the areas we need counsel.

    Being wise isn’t a facet of the elderly.  Although, the elders in our lives have lived more and seen more so they do have more wisdom than we do.  But no, even the young can have wisdom.  How?  By seeking wise counsel.  Being selective to who we approach for wise counsel is another aspect of wisdom. You wouldn’t go to a banker for legal advice nor would you go to a computer technician for banking advice.  Lining up your counsel for the right advice is crucial.  You might ask a banker who they might recommend for legal counsel or you might consult friends or you might check reviews for attorneys.  Ultimately, though, the decision is yours and yours alone.  We ask those people for advice but we ask the Lord to give us direction and discernment when deciding.  All these things point toward wisdom.

    Another place to look for wisdom is in the book of Proverbs.  It’s amazing how many proverbs are mainstream and most folks don’t know a particular saying comes from the Bible and many of them from Proverbs.  I like to think of Proverbs as a guide to life.  You can’t go wrong with what you learn from Proverbs.

    What is your favorite verse from Proverbs?

  • Prayer Works!

    “Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.  Job 1:10 NKJV

    For anyone who has read or knows the book of Job.  It is a difficult book to read.  It took my husband years to read through the entire book! He’d get so far in the book and then he’d stop reading because of Job’s terrible trouble.

    There is an idiom in the English language:  “to have the patience of Job”. It’s a reference to Job’s unending and absolute, unshakeable faith in God despite the trials Job goes through.  His afflictions are many: physically, his family, and his possessions.  More than a single person can even comprehend much less endure. And yet, his love of God never waivers.

    Let’s look at the context of today’s verse.  In verse one through five the Bible gives us Job’s background.   Job was from Uz and he was blameless, feared God and shunned evil.  He has seven sons and three daughters. The Bible tells us of his many possessions and how his sons would feast on an appointed day and invite their sisters.  Job sacrificed for his sons in verse five if they had sinned.

    In verses six through nine, there’s a conversation between God and Satan where God tells Satan to consider His servant Job who is blameless and there is none like him in all the earth.  This leads us to today’s verse.

    In verse ten, today’s verse, Satan tells God that He has protected Job by putting a hedge around him.  Job’s life had no terrible trouble…no health issues, no financial worries, and no family issues.  Satan is goading God to see if Job is who God thinks he is.  (We know Job is who God says he is because God can see the heart of man.) God, through Job, will prove Satan’s error. 

    How can this verse help us live in today’s world?  There is one thing I know for sure and that is: prayer works. I have prayed for protection for my children, grandchildren, extended family, and friends in all areas of their lives.  Do I believe God has put a hedge of protection around my family and friends? Absolutely. I have no doubt whatsoever.

    Case in point.  Years ago, my daughter studied in Luxembourg for a fall semester with sixty other college students.  A small class. Long before she left, I began to pray for her.  The day she left, I laid hands on her and prayed. For her safety while traveling throughout Europe. 

    She called periodically, and she had said she had been traveling to various large cities in Europe.  Even to cities the students were advised not to travel to because of the terrorist activity. She had told me she was planning on a ski trip to the French Alps.  I thought nothing of it at the time since I knew she knew how to ski.

    But I came home from work one evening to a voice message on my phone from someone at the school in Luxemburg.  The message was that my daughter was fine but that I’d probably had already heard there had been a skiing accident in the French Alps. I immediately called my daughter’s host family but with the time difference and language barrier, the host family kept hanging up on me. 

    I walked the floors most of the night waiting until I could call and not have the host family hang up. I must have dozed off because the phone began to ring and it was my daughter.  Her host mother thought one of my daughter’s friends kept calling in the middle of the night.  My daughter realized her friends would never call in the middle of the night and that it was me who had called.

    She told me she had gone to Prague because it was one city she loved in Europe.  At this point, I was reluctant to tell her what had happened.  I gently asked her about her friends that went on a ski trip.  She said other students wanted her to go but she didn’t feel comfortable about the trip.  (I believe the Holy Spirit told her not to go.) When I explained what had happened, she immediately wanted to go to the school because she had no idea what had happened since she had been out of town.

    Coincidence?  I think not.  God’s love for His children who pray and love Him far outweighs the terrible things that can happen.  In today’s world, we need all the help we can get. And while the enemy can cause trouble throughout the world, we have the power to overcome that trouble through prayer to God, our savior.  For strength and power to overcome…just as Job did.

    How has God answered your prayers?

  • A Queen’s Beauty

    To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on. Est 1: 11 NKJV

    The book of Ester is my favorite Old Testament book of the Bible.  I’ve read it many times and am always amazed at Ester’s strength and courage.  How God worked out the circumstances to preserve His people is mind-boggling.  Every little detail.  His love, commitment, and grace to His people always astound me even though I shouldn’t be astounded…I always am.

    Now the context for the verse I highlighted today.  The first ten verses of the chapter starts with King Ahasuerus who reigned over 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia.  In the third year of his reign, he had a feast for all his princes and servants, nobles and princes of the provinces.  In those days, feasts lasted for three months. The king showed off his kingdom and his wealth.  After that, he gave another feast for all the other people great and small in the palace.  His queen, Queen Vashti, gave a feast for the royal women of the palace. On the seventh day, the King ordered his seven chamberlains to bring Queen Vashti to him.

    In ancient times, women were only chattels to their husbands and particularly a queen would bow to her husband’s wishes, the king. It was the way it was.  It’s historical.

    Something important my husband said to me when we got married was: “I’m only middle management.  I have to answer to God if I treat you poorly.”  This has been something that I cling to when things get rough…and it has been rough on occasion but we both knew we had a third person in our marriage to help us through the tough times.  Jesus.

    We could not have survived the many upheavals we’ve had if Jesus were not a part of our marriage.  It’s interesting to me.  My husband once said, “I don’t know how other couples make their marriage work without Jesus in it.”  I believe he’s right.

    What are your thoughts on making Jesus the center of your marriage?

     

     

  • Kings & Kingdoms

    Who is there among you of all his people?  His God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD, God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. Ezra 1:3 NKJV

    Verses 2019 07 08Let’s look at the context of this verse. After Israel had three waves of their people exiled to Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Persia held the Jews in captivity for seventy years. In the first two verses of Ezra chapter one, God gave the King of Persia, Cyrus, who followed Nebuchadnezzar, a sense of urgency to put out a proclamation in writing to go to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple.

    Cyrus was an ancient, cruel and pagan king. It’s interesting to me that this mighty king would proclaim the Jewish God, THE God and then give the Jews the green light to return to Jerusalem and build the temple to their God. This king ultimately allowed the exiled people to return to their homeland. 

    Based on Daniel, Ezra and many other major and minor prophets of the Bible, I believe God puts men and kingdoms in place to bring about His plan. Ezra chapter one verses one and two, tells us this. I believe it has been this way since the beginning of time.

     

  • Wisdom

    11 Then God said to Solomon: “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life—but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king— 12 wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like. 2 Chron 1: 11-12 NKJV

    Let’s talk about the context of these two verses.  From verse 1 to verse 6 of 2 Chronicles chapter 1 God blessed Solomon, and he took the people to the high place (where the people could meet with God) and made special sacrifices to Him.   In verse 7, God appears to Solomon and tells him to ask whatever he will.  In verses 8 through 10, Solomon asks for wisdom and knowledge to lead God’s people.

    Solomon asked God not for wealth, health or abundance of any sort but he asked for wisdom.  How wise it was of him to ask God for a trait that he could use to push the nation of Israel to heights no one had ever seen before.  God was exceedingly pleased with the request and not only gave Solomon great wisdom, the likes of which this earth hadn’t seen before him or since but great wealth and favor among the nations.

    Solomon was by no means a perfect man.  There’s only one perfect man, Jesus.  But he wrote practical advice for the ages in the Book of Proverbs.  Even today we quote from that Book.

    My husband and I pray daily, both individually and corporately.  One of our prayers is that God gives us wisdom and favor in all things and with all people like work issues, family, finances, health.  All of it.   And He has been faithful to provide the wisdom and favor we need for the day.

    One day last year my husband called me on the phone from work and said he was having a tough time dealing with a case he had (he’s a network engineer and many times those cases have a complexity that sometimes can be way over not only his head but also his colleagues.)  We had prayed that morning, but this was a special prayer for the specifics of the case.  We took about five minutes to ask the Lord to intervene and give my husband the “eyes” to see the problem to fix it or have His ministering angels intervene and fix it for him.  The wind up was when he got off the phone and went back to work on it, he figured it out, fixed it and the client was happy.  We have scores of stories like that.  Where God answered the prayer for wisdom.  God gives us our needs, not our greeds.  We were specific in the wisdom he needed for the moment and God answered that prayer.

    He truly is a mighty and awesome God.