Tag: The Bible

God Doesn’t Fit in Our Box !

Published on by Sandie DLeave a comment

The Bible – There are some things that make no sense to me. Now, granted it may be a me thing for the most part and I’m making more out of it then I need to should be.

I often get into conversations about why is it that I can believe there is a God. Some people think that is foolish in believing there is a God that created the world. I guess they would prefer to think they come from monkeys and baboons. I will let them think that if they want to believe that, but to me that is just foolishness on so many levels.

ImageThen others that may believe there is a God wants to fit Him into their little box. And that makes no sense to me how God can fit into a box.

It seems to me that there are an awful lot of people who want to have God conform to their way of thinking and can justify just about anything. I got thinking about this when I was reading about how two pastors got married and is now divorcing. There are many things going on in and around us that makes me scratch my head and wonder what the heck the problem is. And I guess it is as simple as people conforming to this world and not God’s Will. Maybe not that simple, but it’s the only thing I can think of.

Even though there are those who don’t believe in God, so they don’t worry about keeping God in a little box and trying to get Him to do what they want Him to do or to justify their own actions and deeds. Since I am a believer in God and that Christ died for my sins, I just think it is sad that people can’t or won’t know what it is like to be loved unconditionally and to know without a doubt where they would spend eternity. They just believe this life is it and nothing more. So sad!

ImageIn Romans 12:2 (NIV) it says “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Not conforming to the world isn’t the easiest things to do since we are borne and raised in the world. There are pressures from those in the world for us to conform to the ways of the world. I find this difficult to understand when it is Christians and are teaching those in their congregations that everything is OK in the name of Love and unity. I think that is a bunch of hogwash and should not be going on in any church that claims it is a church following Biblical principals.

I know for myself, I am a control freak big time and I have a hard time giving God my 100%. But then when I don’t, things backfire big time. And there are times I just want to hold my finger up and say “just a minute, I have this”, when I don’t have it at all. In Matthew 10:39 it says, “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

When I get my thoughts going and want to do something, I have to keep myself in check and make sure what my motivation really is. This would be when I have to ask the Holy Spirit and to listen. The Holy Spirit isn’t going to lead us astray. Our hearts and minds can do that on it’s on and I have found for myself at-least, that I can’t trust my heart and mind when it comes to certain things. Plus I know that the Holy Spirit won’t try to stroke my ego so I can have all the warm fuzzy feelings you want to have. More times than not, it tells me what I don’t want to hear or admit to.

I also can’t help but wonder what the motivation is when church leaders, pastors, elders, deacons or whoever says or does things so they don’t have to stir the pot. Who are they trying to impress? I don’t think God would be impressed over showy stuff and giving into the ways of the world because they want to increase numbers at church or the bankroll.

ImageI’m not exactly sure of what my main point is here with this post. But I do know that God is the only one in control. It isn’t the pastors or church leaders. They are going to be held accountable too and I cringe when I think of how it will be for those who led His sheep astray because they didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. Shoot, they can hurt my feelings if I am doing something I need to change or that is getting in the way of my relationship with Christ. There are some pastors or TV evangelists that reminds me of a peacock. They seem very pretty and they are pleasing to look at. Eventually the noises come out of their mouths and they are loud and annoying. They demand your attention or they get even louder and they strut their stuff for all to see.

I’m happy to see that our pastor and past pastors weren’t that way. Well there was one, but he was not the smartest cookie in the jar to say the least. Pastor Ray isn’t about keeping up appearances or having to be the “look at me” kind of peacock. Which I’m very happy over that, because I’m not looking for another church since they are like family to me.

God knows what He is doing and more than likely isn’t impressed when we try to manipulate or want him to do things our way. God is the only God and when we are told in the Ten Commandments that we aren’t to worship any other god before Him, I think I will not do that. He is a loving God, but one that doesn’t like to be told to do things because we want Him to.

ImageI do want to leave this final thought. In the beginning I said how the Bible confuses me at times. Well a lot of times. I also know that even if I don’t understand everything in it, God does. Some things aren’t things I need to believe. I just have to have faith and know that it is what it is. I’m pretty sure that when I am dead to this world and with God, those things won’t matter anyhow. I will be in His presence, so there is no need to know about dinosaurs, time and all that other stuff.

 

The Begats of the Bible

Published on by Sandie DLeave a comment

ImageWhy is it so difficult to read the Bible? I want to read it and every now and then I get it in my head I need to start from the beginning. Well, the thought is good but the beginning is what gets me lost. Usually when I open the Bible to read, I will do just that. I open it and where it falls is where I start reading. If something grabs my attention, then I will dig deeper until I get it. When it comes to understanding the Bible, the way I do it is not the best way to study and read it.

We should take time and apply it to our lives. Reading and studying the Bible isn’t just for us, but it’s also for those around us. I know this and I get it. But there are parts of the Bible I would prefer to jump over because I don’t get it.The Begats and the book of Job is my least favorite places in the Bible.

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Now, I have to admit I have a hard time reading the Bible all the way through it. I start off doing well until I get to the begats and the whole genealogy thing. The begats can be found in Genesis.  I try to justify skipping over those parts because they actually bore me and I lose track of why I need to know these things. It must go back to learning history in school. Some was OK, but other parts I just got lost in it. Do you think it is OK to just skip the begats and then go to the next book in the Bible? Am I missing something important in the begats?

The Meaning of Begats:

be·gats

  • [bih-gats] Show IPA
  • plural noun Informal.
  • genealogical lists, especially those in the Old Testament

Most of us that love the Bible love to read portions of the Bible that give accounts of winning over evil, miracles, love and forgiveness and such. What I don’t enjoy reading are where a certain person begat a son or daughter, who in turn begat a son, thus beginning a long list of begats.

I do have those topics that I love to study and understand. Most of those are from the book of Daniel, Ecclesiastes and the books on Prophecy. I do need to spend more time in the Word. I have plans starting in January on hosting a story night that a guy at my church that is also a pastor will come and teach. He is going to start at the beginning. I’m pretty excited to do this and I wonder how much I will get out of this form of study.

There are different styles of literature in the Bible. It has history, poetry, law, songs, prophecy, letters and law. Each has to be interpreted differently. Of which, interpretation is not one of my gifts. I want to interpret it the way that works best for me. I guess that’s why I’m not a pastor or church leader. I do think that personal letters may pertain to us more today. It may not be applied to us in the same way it did to those in the past, but they are equally important. Maybe understanding that there is a difference in the types of literature it will help us become less confused. Or at least help me become less confused. That is not always an easy task.

When I think of the Bible, I think about how it is about life.  The Bible tells us everything we need to know about living a life full of love and grace. It is the story of God and all of God’s people that lived throughout history. Each one of us is part of the story.  It is full of God’s love for humankind and it is about us. So! I will do my very best to read the entire Bible, and not just all the parts I like. My friend Lisa bought me an new Inductive Bible and I will be using that for my new kick off in starting once again to read the entire Bible from the beginning.

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In Closing I want to say that I had to look up info on the begats and such and came across this statement from a website that had information on why they are important to us and why we need to study the, “Remember, all of God’s Word is “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness” — and that includes the “boring begats”! (2 Timothy 3:16).” Click Here to read more…

The Bible Mini Series- Awesome

Published on by Sandie D1 Comment

ImageI just finished watching the last part of The Bible mini series. I haven’t watched the other parts, but have them DVR’d. Sorry if this post has my thoughts going in a number of directions, but it was as I was watching the show. This post was written as I was watching the show The Bible. Now I have to go out and buy the mini series so I can watch it all instead of having the commercials. I think it would be money well spent… Time for a marathon of the Bible… 

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ImageAs I’m watching this, it speaks to my heart about how much Jesus loves us and that He died for our sins. When He was up on the cross, it showed me how much He has done, he died and rose from the dead. He did this because of me. I always knew why He died, but seeing Him up there and the pain, blood and tears has a way of making it real.

I can’t even imagine what everyone was thinking as they stood there and watched Jesus die on the cross. And to think about the moment He died, the heavens became dark and the earth shook. The horror and guilt that must have plagued some of them had to have been overwhelming to say the very least. After all, the just killed Jesus Christ, the Son of God. And to go to His tomb and see only the garments.

I never knew and why I never knew that Jesus walked the earth for 40 days. For some reason, I was thinking that on the third day, he rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. I knew he was seen by his apostles and others, but I didn’t know that His spirit was here for 40 days.

ImageA young man named Saul ordered Steven to be stoned and because he considered what Steven was saying to be blasphemy. Saul later became known as Paul the Apostle. When Saul’s (Paul) orders ended Steven’s life and right before he died he seen the heavens open and there was Jesus standing at the right hand of God must have been amazing. I wonder what those that stoned him thought about killing one of Gods servants  What must have gone through the minds of the soldiers when they realized that Jesus is really the Messiah? What did Judas think about betraying Christ? I would not want to be any of those that took part in these deeds. But yet, it was because of me that Jesus had to die.

Some people have said that there were things that weren’t depicted correctly. My thought on this is that there is no way for our human minds to understand and comprehend how monumental His death was. There is no way for us to understand through words and descriptions what Heaven will be like, nor hell. We can read about it, but until we are there, we can’t now.

I love how Jesus would show up to talk to the apostles. I wonder if Jesus came to me, if I would be a doubting Thomas or would I be like Peter and the other apostles who had such a strong faith that He is Who He is.

And when Paul was blinded because of the persecution of God’s people. Jesus chose Paul to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. When Ananias baptized Paul in the name of Christ and the look of peace and acceptance that came over him was awesome.

I remember how I felt when I was baptized and it was like nothing else I have ever felt. I knew for years that I wanted and needed to be baptized. I would loved to have been there during the time when Peter was baptizing all of the believers of Jesus.

ImageAs I’m watching this, I would love to see an old fashion way of going down to the river and being baptized or rededicate my life to Christ. My life belongs to Him anyhow. But there is something that I find peaceful and reassuring when I know that God is pleased and that we can be free. Just the thought of going to the river and my sins washed away and reaffirm my dedication to Christ alone.

ImageI love the part when Jesus comes to Peter and tells Him that He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. Revelations 21;4- And God will wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things have passed away. May the grace of the Lord be with all God’s people.

What a awesome moment that will be when we will be with Christ. I’m so grateful that I can have assurance in this and that Christ has forgiven me for my sins, even though I have a hard time accepting that forgiveness. I pray for His kingdom to come and His will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.