Joshua 24:15-28 -
15 "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve:
We usually forget this part. The choice he literally mentions is not between God and something else; it is between the many things that are not God. However, it pretty clear form the whole context that he is really wanting them to serve Jehovah because ALL the alternatives are So equally and horribly bad.
whether the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living;
You can serve the beyond the river non-gods or the local non-gods. They are all of them NOT GOD!!!
BUT.....
but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
HERE I STAND! I can do no other. Based on the evidence.
Considering the options, even if only rhetorically.
With my eyes open and my head clear,
This is my choice!
I will serve Jehovah,
and so will my family,
my staff,
my crew,
my peeps.
16 The people answered and said, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods; 17 for the LORD our God is He who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, F284 and who did these great signs in our sight and preserved us through all the way in which we went and among all the peoples through whose midst we passed. 18 "The LORD drove out from before us all the peoples, even the Amorites who lived in the land. We also will serve the LORD, for He is our God." 19 Then Joshua said to the people, "You will not be able to serve the LORD, for R438 He is a holy God. He is a R439 jealous God; He R440 will not forgive your transgression or your sins. 20 "If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you after He has done good to you." 21 The people said to Joshua, "No, but we will serve the LORD." 22 Joshua said to the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you R441 have chosen for yourselves the LORD, to serve Him." And they said, "We are witnesses." 23 "Now therefore, put away the foreign gods which are in your midst, and incline R442 your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel." 24 The R443 people said to Joshua, "We will serve the LORD our God and we will obey F285 His voice." 25 So R444 Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made for them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem. 26 And Joshua wrote R445 these words in the book of the law of God; and he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak that was by the sanctuary of the LORD. 27 Joshua said to all the people, "Behold, this R446 stone shall be for a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of the LORD which He spoke to F286 us; thus it shall be for a witness against you, so that you do not deny your God." 28 Then Joshua dismissed the people, each to his inheritance.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Time to choose!
24:15-28 - [Verse 15 in Original Hebrew]
15 "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served Joshua 24:15-28 - [Verse 15 in Original Hebrew]
15 "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served were beyond the River, or the R437 gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." 16 The people answered and said, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods; 17 for the LORD our God is He who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, F284 and who did these great signs in our sight and preserved us through all the way in which we went and among all the peoples through whose midst we passed. 18 "The LORD drove out from before us all the peoples, even the Amorites who lived in the land. We also will serve the LORD, for He is our God." 19 Then Joshua said to the people, "You will not be able to serve the LORD, for R438 He is a holy God. He is a R439 jealous God; He R440 will not forgive your transgression or your sins. 20 "If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you after He has done good to you." 21 The people said to Joshua, "No, but we will serve the LORD." 22 Joshua said to the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you R441 have chosen for yourselves the LORD, to serve Him." And they said, "We are witnesses." 23 "Now therefore, put away the foreign gods which are in your midst, and incline R442 your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel." 24 The R443 people said to Joshua, "We will serve the LORD our God and we will obey F285 His voice." 25 So R444 Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made for them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem. 26 And Joshua wrote R445 these words in the book of the law of God; and he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak that was by the sanctuary of the LORD. 27 Joshua said to all the people, "Behold, this R446 stone shall be for a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of the LORD which He spoke to F286 us; thus it shall be for a witness against you, so that you do not deny your God." 28 Then Joshua dismissed the people, each to his inheritance.
15 "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served Joshua 24:15-28 - [Verse 15 in Original Hebrew]
15 "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served were beyond the River, or the R437 gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." 16 The people answered and said, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods; 17 for the LORD our God is He who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, F284 and who did these great signs in our sight and preserved us through all the way in which we went and among all the peoples through whose midst we passed. 18 "The LORD drove out from before us all the peoples, even the Amorites who lived in the land. We also will serve the LORD, for He is our God." 19 Then Joshua said to the people, "You will not be able to serve the LORD, for R438 He is a holy God. He is a R439 jealous God; He R440 will not forgive your transgression or your sins. 20 "If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you after He has done good to you." 21 The people said to Joshua, "No, but we will serve the LORD." 22 Joshua said to the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you R441 have chosen for yourselves the LORD, to serve Him." And they said, "We are witnesses." 23 "Now therefore, put away the foreign gods which are in your midst, and incline R442 your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel." 24 The R443 people said to Joshua, "We will serve the LORD our God and we will obey F285 His voice." 25 So R444 Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made for them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem. 26 And Joshua wrote R445 these words in the book of the law of God; and he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak that was by the sanctuary of the LORD. 27 Joshua said to all the people, "Behold, this R446 stone shall be for a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of the LORD which He spoke to F286 us; thus it shall be for a witness against you, so that you do not deny your God." 28 Then Joshua dismissed the people, each to his inheritance.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Tozer: Solitude
Personal Life: The Need for Solitude
And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. --Matthew 14:23
Modern civilization is so complex as to make the devotional life all but impossible. It wears us out by multiplying distractions and beats us down by destroying our solitude, where otherwise we might drink and renew our strength before going out to face the world again.
"The thoughtful soul to solitude retires," said the poet of other and quieter times; but where is the solitude to which we can retire today? Science, which has provided men with certain material comforts, has robbed them of their souls by surrounding them with a world hostile to their existence. "Commune with your own heart upon your bed and be still" is a wise and healing counsel, but how can it be followed in this day of the newspaper, the telephone, the radio and the television? These modern playthings, like pet tiger cubs, have grown so large and dangerous that they threaten to devour us all. What was intended to be a blessing has become a positive curse. No spot is now safe from the world's intrusion. Of God and Men, 125.
"If Tozer wrestled with this in his day, how much more are we bombarded today! We have all the influences of which he speaks, and much more all-pervasive, plus the internet and a host of other 'playthings' seeking to devour us. Lord, help us somehow to escape today and retire to solitude, even if only for a brief time. Amen."
Today's "Insight for Leaders" is taken by permission from the book, Tozer on Christian Leadership, published by WingSpread Publishers
This Insight for Leaders devotional is also available in a print-friendly format here on the LMI web site.
You can get them emailed to you regularly....
http://www.litmin.org/refer.php?refer=http://www.litmin.org/tozer.php
And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. --Matthew 14:23
Modern civilization is so complex as to make the devotional life all but impossible. It wears us out by multiplying distractions and beats us down by destroying our solitude, where otherwise we might drink and renew our strength before going out to face the world again.
"The thoughtful soul to solitude retires," said the poet of other and quieter times; but where is the solitude to which we can retire today? Science, which has provided men with certain material comforts, has robbed them of their souls by surrounding them with a world hostile to their existence. "Commune with your own heart upon your bed and be still" is a wise and healing counsel, but how can it be followed in this day of the newspaper, the telephone, the radio and the television? These modern playthings, like pet tiger cubs, have grown so large and dangerous that they threaten to devour us all. What was intended to be a blessing has become a positive curse. No spot is now safe from the world's intrusion. Of God and Men, 125.
"If Tozer wrestled with this in his day, how much more are we bombarded today! We have all the influences of which he speaks, and much more all-pervasive, plus the internet and a host of other 'playthings' seeking to devour us. Lord, help us somehow to escape today and retire to solitude, even if only for a brief time. Amen."
Today's "Insight for Leaders" is taken by permission from the book, Tozer on Christian Leadership, published by WingSpread Publishers
This Insight for Leaders devotional is also available in a print-friendly format here on the LMI web site.
You can get them emailed to you regularly....
http://www.litmin.org/refer.php?refer=http://www.litmin.org/tozer.php
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Praying on the armor
Putting on the Armor of God
By Charles Stanley
Good morning, Lord. Thank You for assuring me of victory today if I will but follow Your battle plan. So by faith I claim victory over ~~ (I normally list some things I know I will be faced with that day).
To prepare myself for the battle ahead, by faith I put on the belt of truth. The truth about You, Lord葉hat You are a sovereign God who knows everything about me, both my strengths and my weaknesses. Lord, You know my breaking point and have promised not to allow me to be tempted beyond what I am able to bear. The truth about me, Lord, is that I am a new creature in Christ and have been set free from the power of sin. I am indwelt with the Holy Spirit who will guide me and warn me when danger is near. I am Your child, and nothing can separate me from Your love. The truth is that You have a purpose for me this day耀omeone to encourage, someone to share with, someone to love.
Next, Lord, I want to, by faith, put on the breastplate of righteousness. Through this I guard my heart and my emotions. I will not allow my heart to attach itself to anything that is impure. I will not allow my emotions to rule in my decisions. I will set them on what is right and good and just. I will live today by what is true, not by what I feel.
Lord, this morning I put on the sandals of the gospel of peace. I am available to You, Lord. Send me where You will. Guide me to those who need encouragement or physical help of some kind. Use me to solve conflicts wherever they may arise. Make me a calming presence in every circumstance in which You place me. I will not be hurried or rushed, for my schedule is in Your hands. I will not leave a trail of tension and apprehension. I will leave tracks of peace and stability everywhere I go.
I now take up the shield of faith, Lord. My faith is in You and You alone. Apart from You, I can do nothing. With You, I can do all things. No temptation that comes my way can penetrate Your protecting hand. I will not be afraid, for You are going with me throughout this day. When I am tempted, I will claim my victory out loud ahead of time, for You have promised victory to those who walk in obedience to Your Word. So by faith I claim victory even now because I know there are fiery darts headed my way even as I pray. Lord, You already know what they are and have already provided the way of escape.
Lord, by faith I am putting on the helmet of salvation. You know how Satan bombards my mind day and night with evil thoughts, doubt, and fear. I put on this helmet that will protect my mind. I may feel the impact of his attacks, but nothing can penetrate this helmet. I choose to stop every impure and negative thought at the door of my mind. And with the helmet of salvation those thoughts will get no further. I elect to take every thought captive; I will dwell on nothing but what is good and right and pleasing to You.
Last, I take up the sword of the Spirit, which is Your Word. Thank You for the precious gift of Your Word. It is strong and powerful and able to defeat even the strongest of Satan痴 onslaughts. Your Word says that I am not under obligation to the flesh to obey its lusts. Your Word says that I am free from the power of sin. Your Word says that I am free from the power of sin. Your Word says that He that is in me is greater than he that is in the world. So by faith I take up the strong and powerful sword of the Spirit, which is able to defend me in time of attack, comfort me in time of sorrow, teach me in time of meditation, and prevail against the power of the enemy on behalf of others who need the truth to set them free.
So, Lord, I go now rejoicing that You have chosen me to represent You to this lost and dying world. May others see Jesus in me, and may Satan and his hosts shudder as Your power is made manifest in me. In Jesus
By Charles Stanley
Good morning, Lord. Thank You for assuring me of victory today if I will but follow Your battle plan. So by faith I claim victory over ~~ (I normally list some things I know I will be faced with that day).
To prepare myself for the battle ahead, by faith I put on the belt of truth. The truth about You, Lord葉hat You are a sovereign God who knows everything about me, both my strengths and my weaknesses. Lord, You know my breaking point and have promised not to allow me to be tempted beyond what I am able to bear. The truth about me, Lord, is that I am a new creature in Christ and have been set free from the power of sin. I am indwelt with the Holy Spirit who will guide me and warn me when danger is near. I am Your child, and nothing can separate me from Your love. The truth is that You have a purpose for me this day耀omeone to encourage, someone to share with, someone to love.
Next, Lord, I want to, by faith, put on the breastplate of righteousness. Through this I guard my heart and my emotions. I will not allow my heart to attach itself to anything that is impure. I will not allow my emotions to rule in my decisions. I will set them on what is right and good and just. I will live today by what is true, not by what I feel.
Lord, this morning I put on the sandals of the gospel of peace. I am available to You, Lord. Send me where You will. Guide me to those who need encouragement or physical help of some kind. Use me to solve conflicts wherever they may arise. Make me a calming presence in every circumstance in which You place me. I will not be hurried or rushed, for my schedule is in Your hands. I will not leave a trail of tension and apprehension. I will leave tracks of peace and stability everywhere I go.
I now take up the shield of faith, Lord. My faith is in You and You alone. Apart from You, I can do nothing. With You, I can do all things. No temptation that comes my way can penetrate Your protecting hand. I will not be afraid, for You are going with me throughout this day. When I am tempted, I will claim my victory out loud ahead of time, for You have promised victory to those who walk in obedience to Your Word. So by faith I claim victory even now because I know there are fiery darts headed my way even as I pray. Lord, You already know what they are and have already provided the way of escape.
Lord, by faith I am putting on the helmet of salvation. You know how Satan bombards my mind day and night with evil thoughts, doubt, and fear. I put on this helmet that will protect my mind. I may feel the impact of his attacks, but nothing can penetrate this helmet. I choose to stop every impure and negative thought at the door of my mind. And with the helmet of salvation those thoughts will get no further. I elect to take every thought captive; I will dwell on nothing but what is good and right and pleasing to You.
Last, I take up the sword of the Spirit, which is Your Word. Thank You for the precious gift of Your Word. It is strong and powerful and able to defeat even the strongest of Satan痴 onslaughts. Your Word says that I am not under obligation to the flesh to obey its lusts. Your Word says that I am free from the power of sin. Your Word says that I am free from the power of sin. Your Word says that He that is in me is greater than he that is in the world. So by faith I take up the strong and powerful sword of the Spirit, which is able to defend me in time of attack, comfort me in time of sorrow, teach me in time of meditation, and prevail against the power of the enemy on behalf of others who need the truth to set them free.
So, Lord, I go now rejoicing that You have chosen me to represent You to this lost and dying world. May others see Jesus in me, and may Satan and his hosts shudder as Your power is made manifest in me. In Jesus
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
世の光
イエスは世の光です。
My sin makes me blind to your light.
Please open my eyes to your light.
John
8 12
9 5
12 46
My sin makes me blind to your light.
Please open my eyes to your light.
John
8 12
9 5
12 46
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
John intro 2 Johns
John the Baptist
Jesus’ relative
イエスの親戚
Preached repentance
悔い改めなさいと説教しました。
Prepared for Jesus to come
イエスの準備をしました。
Put in prison and killed by Herod.
ヘロデ王様による死刑された。
Apostle John
Fisherman 漁師
Brother of Jamesヤコブの兄弟
Son of Thunder 雷の息子
Wrote the Gospel of John
ヨハネによる福音書を書きました。
Wrote Three Letters
３つの手紙も書きました。
First John
Second John
Third John
Wrote Revelation, the last book of the Bible
聖書の最後の書物、黙示録を書きました。First John
Jesus’ relative
イエスの親戚
Preached repentance
悔い改めなさいと説教しました。
Prepared for Jesus to come
イエスの準備をしました。
Put in prison and killed by Herod.
ヘロデ王様による死刑された。
Apostle John
Fisherman 漁師
Brother of Jamesヤコブの兄弟
Son of Thunder 雷の息子
Wrote the Gospel of John
ヨハネによる福音書を書きました。
Wrote Three Letters
３つの手紙も書きました。
First John
Second John
Third John
Wrote Revelation, the last book of the Bible
聖書の最後の書物、黙示録を書きました。First John
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
tonight we invite you to joy
a joy that...
the world can not take away.
a joy that is deeper than all the disappointment
you can ever feel.
a cushion for the dwon times
we invite you to peace
The peace that comes from being forgiven,
from breaking the power of sin over our lives.
from knowing we are in harmony with the Creator of everything.
A peace thtat cannot be understood by mere logic..
a peace won for us by Jesus when he gave us
his innocence on the cross.
we invite you to love
love of God and brothers and sisters
A love that God had for you before the world began.
we invite you to rest
rest from your labors
from you striving
rest from your pressur to perform
rest from trying to be good enough to please God
or please those around you.
we invite you to power.
to do right and turn from wrong
we invite you to start on a road that will
lead you to heaven.
We invite you to deeper and stronger fatih
Jesus says that even a faith as small as a mustard seed can grow and make amazing things happen.
We invite you take a step on the road to faith, on the road to following the way of Christ
God--Just as an and will never understand the Internet, finite humans will never understand God. Just as a child with teacup will never empty the ocean, we can never understand more than a tiny fraction of the amazing God who made the universe.
A few basic truths about God:
There is one God.
He always existed, always will. He is not bound or affected by time.
He made everything that exists.
He loves you enough to send his own innocent son to die for guilty humans and pay the price for our sins.
Jesus
Jesus is God, the Son He became a human to teach us how to live. Then he gave his life to give us forgiveness. Jesus lived a sinless human life and we try to follow him. His amazing powerful ressurrection proves his power over sin and death.
Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit of God may be the most difficult to understand of all. The Holy Spirit will work in our hearts to give us understanding. The Spirit works to show us our sin, and to help us pray to God when we do not have the words.
Forgiveness, Salvation, New life,
When we decide to follow Jesus, an amazing change begins to take place in our life. The transition from old life to new life involves a process that can take a short or long time.
Learning about Jesus and the Bible is part of the process and continues from beginning to end. We study alone privately and in groups. We will never know all that we need to know. We will never know it all. As we learn more and gain experience, we can teach the beginners.
Faith develops as we study and learn and pray and live and spend time together. Faith is being sure of things we can not see. At some point, our faith becomes strong enough that we are ready to trust Jesus for our salvation.
Learning and faith take place in our hearts and we can choose to be either very private or very open about it. When our faith becomes strong enough that we are ready to trust Jesus, it is time to tell this to other people. Telling about our faith to other people may sound very scary, but it can be very simple. At first, the simple statement like -- I believe Jesus is God's Son. I believe that he died for my sins. I want to follow Jesus. -- is good. But as our faith and confidence grow, by our life and our words, we tell people we believe in Jesus.
The new birth into the new life. The new birth is a physical event with a deep spiritual meaning. It is a quick dip or burial in water. This can be done in a bathtub, a swimming pool, or a river, lake, or sea.
New Birth, New Life, New Family. When we are saved from our sins, we enter into a new life. We are given a new family, a new community of believers for encouragement and to serve God together. This is called the church. It is a group fo people, not a building. Jesus says even if our physical family does not follow Jesus, we gain a hundred times more brothers and sisters, even parents.
a joy that...
the world can not take away.
a joy that is deeper than all the disappointment
you can ever feel.
a cushion for the dwon times
we invite you to peace
The peace that comes from being forgiven,
from breaking the power of sin over our lives.
from knowing we are in harmony with the Creator of everything.
A peace thtat cannot be understood by mere logic..
a peace won for us by Jesus when he gave us
his innocence on the cross.
we invite you to love
love of God and brothers and sisters
A love that God had for you before the world began.
we invite you to rest
rest from your labors
from you striving
rest from your pressur to perform
rest from trying to be good enough to please God
or please those around you.
we invite you to power.
to do right and turn from wrong
we invite you to start on a road that will
lead you to heaven.
We invite you to deeper and stronger fatih
Jesus says that even a faith as small as a mustard seed can grow and make amazing things happen.
We invite you take a step on the road to faith, on the road to following the way of Christ
God--Just as an and will never understand the Internet, finite humans will never understand God. Just as a child with teacup will never empty the ocean, we can never understand more than a tiny fraction of the amazing God who made the universe.
A few basic truths about God:
There is one God.
He always existed, always will. He is not bound or affected by time.
He made everything that exists.
He loves you enough to send his own innocent son to die for guilty humans and pay the price for our sins.
Jesus
Jesus is God, the Son He became a human to teach us how to live. Then he gave his life to give us forgiveness. Jesus lived a sinless human life and we try to follow him. His amazing powerful ressurrection proves his power over sin and death.
Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit of God may be the most difficult to understand of all. The Holy Spirit will work in our hearts to give us understanding. The Spirit works to show us our sin, and to help us pray to God when we do not have the words.
Forgiveness, Salvation, New life,
When we decide to follow Jesus, an amazing change begins to take place in our life. The transition from old life to new life involves a process that can take a short or long time.
Learning about Jesus and the Bible is part of the process and continues from beginning to end. We study alone privately and in groups. We will never know all that we need to know. We will never know it all. As we learn more and gain experience, we can teach the beginners.
Faith develops as we study and learn and pray and live and spend time together. Faith is being sure of things we can not see. At some point, our faith becomes strong enough that we are ready to trust Jesus for our salvation.
Learning and faith take place in our hearts and we can choose to be either very private or very open about it. When our faith becomes strong enough that we are ready to trust Jesus, it is time to tell this to other people. Telling about our faith to other people may sound very scary, but it can be very simple. At first, the simple statement like -- I believe Jesus is God's Son. I believe that he died for my sins. I want to follow Jesus. -- is good. But as our faith and confidence grow, by our life and our words, we tell people we believe in Jesus.
The new birth into the new life. The new birth is a physical event with a deep spiritual meaning. It is a quick dip or burial in water. This can be done in a bathtub, a swimming pool, or a river, lake, or sea.
New Birth, New Life, New Family. When we are saved from our sins, we enter into a new life. We are given a new family, a new community of believers for encouragement and to serve God together. This is called the church. It is a group fo people, not a building. Jesus says even if our physical family does not follow Jesus, we gain a hundred times more brothers and sisters, even parents.
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