Posts Tagged With: Jesus

Open the Heavens Lord!

Posted on April 9, 2015 by Mrs Knochel

image

Psalms 139:1-145:21
5 Open the heavens, Lord, and come down.
    Touch the mountains so they billow smoke.
6 Hurl your lightning bolts and scatter your enemies!
    Shoot your arrows and confuse them!
7 Reach down from heaven and rescue me;
    rescue me from deep waters,
    from the power of my enemies.
8 Their mouths are full of lies;
    they swear to tell the truth, but they lie instead. Psalm 144:5-8

After yesterday morning’s storm I was very excited to find this verse today! Honest to goodness, when I was out there it FELT like the heavens had opened!
Friends, if you’re not in the habit of daily Bible reading may I strongly suggest it? It’s one of the healthiest choices you can make for yourself. Really. Your soul was created with a hunger, a desire to devour the Word of God. And when you don’t feed that hunger it often gets misinterpreted as a hunger for something else; food, material wealth, human love and companionship. But in reality what you’re really longing for isn’t the sugar or the nicer car or that hot guy or that lady with the friendly eyes. It’s Jesus and His love letters to you through time.
Last night I kept searching for something, I kept thinking I was hungry for more dinner but I wasn’t, there was no way I could eat another bite! My stomach was as full as I could fill it… so why did I feel like I wanted more to eat? All night I felt like this until I hopped into the car at a quarter to ten to go to Dollar General before they closed. At that point I kept thinking of food I could buy at the store for a mid night snack, I  turned the corner and thought, but I’m still stuffed so why buy something to eat that I don’t need? So I asked God,
“Lord, why do I feel so hungry when I’m not?”
“You’re hungry for something that you can’t eat with your mouth and put into your stomach. What you’re hungry for you eat with your eyes and your ears and put it into the depths of your soul. You, My dear, are hungry for Me.”
My friends, again, I encourage you to click on the link above and make the time today to feed your soul with the Words of God. You won’t regret it I promise.

Categories: 365 Life, Psalms, Season 3, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

What did Jesus Die For? YOU!

Posted on April 3, 2015 by Mrs Knochel

image

Psalms 106:1-109:31
I am a joke to people everywhere;
    when they see me, they shake their heads in scorn.
Help me, O Lord my God!
    Save me because of your unfailing love. Psalms 109:25-26

Have you ever felt like that? Have you ever felt like people see you as a joke? It hurts doesn’t it; like a knife in your gut, a sword in your soul, it tears and wounds. And yet when we look at Simeon’s prophecy to Mary and Joseph about Jesus in Luke 2:34-35 we find that this is simply standard fare for someone who raises Jesus up: “Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
A sword will pierce your own soul too. Have you been there? Can you relate at all to what I’m putting out here? Having faith usually results in pain… but it doesn’t ever end there my friend!
In John 18 we find Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane preparing to face the horrors of the day ahead of Him. As the Roman soldiers are marching into the Garden we come to John 18:3-4, “So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” Jesus KNEW what was going to happen to Him. Now, my friends, let this sink in for a second. How often is it that we are apprehensive or react negatively because we are facing the unknown? Yet the unknown is unknown to God! He is an all knowing being. He knew what He was going up against and yet He chose to face it anyway, why?
While the pain was excruciating – both physical and spiritual, Jesus still had hope. He KNEW that this pain wouldn’t last forever. He KNEW that when it was finished, it would be FINISHED. That no longer would the pain of rejection be able to reach Him because, He would be received into His Father’s arms once more. He KNEW that the shouts of “Crucify Him!” would fade away into the wail of a woman’s cry “HE’S ALIVE!!!! MY GOD, MY GOD, HE IS ALIVE!!!”
Jesus was able to withstand the piercing of three nails and a sword because He knew it would be worth it… that YOU are worth it. You were worth it then and you’re worth it now. Jesus loves YOU so much that He’d rather die than spend eternity without you.
If you haven’t ever surrendered to His love for you before, or if it’s been a while, take the time right now to allow the love of Jesus to come and surround you like a comforter. Allow Him to cover you in a love that sacrifices everything just for YOU.

image

I don’t know what pain you’ve experienced, but HE does. He knows and He wants to soothe that pain with His love for you right now. Let the pain go. Let Jesus take the pain from you. No matter what pain or shame you are enduring right now, you still have a hope that is set before you – eternity with someone who loves you enough to die for you in order to forgive all your sins that have separated you from Him. And when you accept that forgiveness, when you accept His gift of redemption you accept so much more than you could ever hope or imagine. You get Jesus, ALL of Jesus – the most wonderful person to ever walk the face of this earth, and under it and over it!

Categories: 365 Life, Psalms, Season 3, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Abundance, Destruction, Resurrection

Posted on November 14, 2014 by Mrs Knochel

OK, so through this week of blissful preparation for this post I’ve come to realize that this new weekly format is to be more of a Bible Study format than a devotional format. This was news that I was VERY excited about!!! 😀 so I hope you like the new format too, because I’m LOVING IT! Also, I will be posting last week’s sermon notes as the Bible study for next week, mostly because I just could NOT pass this lesson by without telling you about it!!! 😀 I pray that it encourages you, wherever you are in the pattern today. 😉 There is ALWAYS hope in Christ! Be blessed this week my friends! I cherish you! -Tamar

Last week’s readings:

Day #: 

Week #: 

Bible Reading: 

Date: 

162 

24 

Job 39:1-42:17

Nov 9

163 

Joel 1:1-3:21

Nov 10 

164 

John 1:1-3:36

Nov 11 

165 

John 4:1-6:21

Nov 12 

166 

John 6:22-8:30

Nov 13 

167 

John 8:31-11:37

Nov 14 

168 

Sabbath

Nov 15 

 

“For I know the plans I have for you”, says the LORD, “they are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for Me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you.” Says the LORD. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.” Jeremiah 29:11-14

This week’s readings were… sigh… encouraging! We started in Job where we meet a man who has been as faithful and obedient to the LORD as anyone can be. He was wealthy beyond the normal means, and comfortable in every way possible. And then disaster struck his entire household. In one day he had servant after servant presenting themselves to him in order to report that they had been the lone survivor of the attack that had just occurred on his family.

Have you ever felt like that? Have you ever felt like Disaster was chasing your house and leaving you the sole survivor in order that you would retell the tale to someone else? And maybe, perhaps, that’s why you survived. To tell the tale of your SURVIVAL.

What have you been through? What have you survived that needs retelling? What’s your story my friend?

Job’s story started out in abundance and surplus but quickly turned to disaster and the loss of everything including his own health. BUT that wasn’t the end of his story, it was only the middle! My Dearest One, no matter where you are in your story, you’re not to the end yet! If you were, well, then you wouldn’t be reading this then would you?

Take a few seconds right now and review the end of Job’s story in: Job 42:10-17.

Words like, “the LORD restored his fortunes, in fact He gave him twice as much as before” and “So the LORD blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning”, are kinda hard to argue with. While Job HAD endured a very difficult season in his life, it hadn’t ruined him. In fact, quite the opposite had occurred. It had shaped him. I’m guessing that while God did physically bless him with double portions of all his physical assets, I doubt that that is why Job went to the grave a happy man. I’m guessing that he was happy because he had achieved a newfound appreciation for all the things that he might have been taking for granted before the destruction came.

The story of Job establishes for us a pattern that the rest of our reading’s this week end up following as well. Which I see as no small coincidence! Job begins his story with obedience and abundance. Then he moves to complete destruction. And finishes with a renewal that is better and more abundant than before the story began.

This theme is taken up next in the prophecy of Joel, with but a small variation. While Job was amazingly dedicated to God in his obedience, the people in Joel’s story were not. Their story is one of disobedience and abundance that moves to a destruction of discipline. While Job’s troubles moved from a place of proving his obedience to God, the troubles of the people in the book of Joel were from a place of proving their disobedience to God in order to move them back into a place of obedience once more.

When destruction hits, it doesn’t matter if you’re obeying God or disobeying God, it will still hit. And when it hits it will show YOU your standing with God. Right now you are either looking to God, or away from Him. If you’re looking to Him, then this shaking will prove that. If you’re looking away from Him, then this shaking will prove that and cause you to look to Him again. That’s how this works. And the really amazing part is, that when the shaking is finished there is still a common thread – blessing!!!

Look at these verses in Joel for your confirmation of blessings after the destruction:

Joel 2:3 – How does the LORD describe the land that lies ahead?

Joel 2:25 – What are those first two words that God says in this promise? WHO is responsible for carrying out the results of this promise? You or God?

Joel 3:1 – In this verse, does the LORD say “if”? How would that little two letter word change the meaning of this verse? Isn’t it great that “if” isn’t the word He uses? What word does He use instead?

And here’s one from Isaiah just for good measure, don’t leave it out!

Isaiah 40:27

God is NOT ignoring you!!! He sees your troubles. He see’s what you’ve been going through – ALL of it! He knows your pain and frustration. He knows and He CARES about it. Read Joel 3:21 to see what He has to say about it. Or perhaps John 3:16-18 might be a more familiar way to explain.

You see, the theme that started in our readings of Job and continued into Joel concludes in John!!! While there is destruction, it’s not the end! The end of Joel presents us with a prophecy, a promise, of THE coming pardon, the fulfillment of the FULL pardoning of all our sins past, present and future. John 1:1-5 helps us to understand how Jesus – the fulfillment of the promise – is our answer to the destruction around us.

1 In the beginning the Word already existed.
    The Word was with God,
    and the Word was God.
2 He existed in the beginning with God.
3 God created everything through him,
    and nothing was created except through him.
4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,
    and his life brought light to everyone.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
    and the darkness can never extinguish it.

Who is “the Word”? Jesus! And what does this verse say about Jesus that is the key to our renewal from destruction? His life brought LIGHT to EVERYONE.

Why is that a big deal? BECAUSE! The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can NEVER extinguish it!!!

Boy, if that’s not good news today then I don’t know what is! That darkness that’s trying to destroy you from the inside out can NEVER destroy the light that shines from a heart that believes!

Read John 10:10, what is Satan’s purpose? And what is Jesus’?

To wrap up a week of stories of renewal after destruction God put this great bow on the package that I simply can not leave out! Take a moment to re-read John 11 here.

Take a special look at the wording of verse 4, “This sickness will not END in death.” Yes, Lazarus died and lay in a cold DEAD grave for FOUR days and that STILL wasn’t the END! So don’t you dare tell me that you’re at the end of your story and that there’s no hope left for your dream to find its way to fruition! Look at verse 4 and 14, what was the purpose of Lazarus’ sickness?

Could your “sickness” have the same purpose?

Have you been lying cold and dead for four days in a rock hard tomb waiting for the Savior of the World to come and roll away your stone and say, “Lazarus, come out!” Is it time for your resurrection? How about today you appeal to, as Paul calls Him in Ephesians 3:20, the One who can do exceedingly abundantly above all that you could ask or imagine. Let’s follow Martha and Mary’s eloquent lead and send HIM a message, “LORD, the one You love is sick.”

There may have been some destruction in your life as of late, but take heart my friend! For you time of resurrection is just around the corner!!!

 

Next Week’s Readings:

Day #:

Week #:

Bible Reading:

Date:

169

25

John 11:38-14:14

Nov 16

170

John 14:15-18:18

Nov 17

171

John 18:19-21:25

Nov 18

172

1 John 1:1-5:21

Nov 19

173

2 John & 3 John & Jonah

Nov 20

174

Joshua 1:1-4:24

Nov 21

175

Sabbath

Nov 22
Categories: 365 Life, Job, Joel, Jonah, Season 3, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | Tags: , , , , | 1 Comment

New Beginnings

Posted on July 25, 2013 by Mrs Knochel

Word of the DayExodus 5:1-9:12

“But Pharaoh said, ‘Who is the LORD that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD and moreover, I will not let Israel go.'” Exodus 5:2

The Israelites were on the cusp of something new, something wonderful and miraculous. They were about to witness things the LORD had never shown anyone before them. He was about to deliver them out of slavery in such a mighty and miraculous way that the enemies of the Israelites would fear them for GENERATIONS afterwards. Not because they feared the Israelites, but because they feared their GOD. God was about to do something for these people that the entire world is still talking about today!

In the story of the fall of Jericho, Rahab shares with the two spies how terrified everyone is of them,

“I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Seas before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the LORD your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.” Joshua 2:9-11

Even 40 years after these Israelites left Egypt everyone is trembling in their boots because the Israelites have their sights set on Jericho. And most of the people inside the “impenetrable” wall know that the God who is able to part the Red Sea and then the Jordan just so that His people don’t have to get their feet a little wet, well, an impenetrable wall probably isn’t too difficult for Him to penetrate.

But in today’s reading, none of that has happened yet. Today, we find the Israelites still dwelling in Egyptian slavery waiting to be rescued just like the LORD told them they would be. Yesterday found Moses at the burning bush getting his marching orders from I AM. Today we see him entering into the presence of Pharaoh who is believed to be a god by his own people. (That’s funny, in the matter of just a couple of weeks Moses has been in the presence of THE God and a “god”. Sorry, I just found that humorous enough to point out.) Anyway, an interesting and yet not altogether surprising thing happens when Moses tells Pharaoh to let his people go. Pharaoh gets mad and tells him “No.” Shocking right?

If you were Pharaoh and some slave representative comes to you in the name of some God you’ve never heard before (because remember, up to Moses at the burning bush the Israelites didn’t even have a name for their God), and tells you that this “god” is commanding you to let all your slave labor go, do you really think you would do it? Of course not! You’d laugh in their face; which is exactly what Pharaoh did and more. He made the Israelites’ brick-making work harder by taking away their straw.

Here they were, Moses, their deliverer has come to save them and ends up making their work harder for them. “Thanks a lot Moe. Way to save us.”

My point is this. Many of us are on the cusp of something truly miraculous; a spectacular deliverance that the world has never seen before. But with that comes change. Change is uncomfortable. Like birthing a child, the pain will be temporary and worth it, but it will definitely be present.

The Israelites had to go out and find stubble for their bricks, their water turned to blood too, the frogs were in their beds, and the gnats were everywhere the Israelites were. These Israelites experienced the plagues right along with the Egyptians. Perhaps, the LORD did this for the purpose of testing and strengthening their faith in Him. It’s hard to say and God doesn’t really explain Himself on this one. But considering the week I’ve had this week, that’s what I think it was for.

I think He tells us what His plans are and then circumstances arise that fly in direct opposition to what He just told us. Will we believe what God has told us? Or will we believe what our circumstances are telling us? Will we stand firm in our faith that God is good? Or will we cave under the pressure of our circumstances?

A little while back I was “feeling the pressure” and was frustrated by what was going on around me. As I prayed. I don’t even remember what it was that I was praying, I only remember what God showed me. In a vision he showed me holding a little white mouse in my hand. I wasn’t holding it with my hand open palm up, but rather with my hand closed around it. The little head and ears were poking out the top of my hand near my thumb and its sweet little tail was sticking out the bottom by my pinkie. And ever so slightly my hand tightened around the mouse until it squeaked, letting me know that the pressure was too great, at which point I released the mouse.

It is out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. God was showing me in this illustration how He works our circumstances for our good. He uses our circumstances to increase the pressure surrounding us until we squeak. And we can then HEAR what is filling our own hearts. Remember, tests aren’t for God to know what’s in us, He already knows. But we don’t; therefore the tests are for US to discover what’s in our hearts. When we squeak, I mean, speak out in our circumstantial pain, we are able to hear our hearts speak out the true root of what is troubling us.

In the plagues of Egypt God was encountering each of the Egyptian gods. It was like He was walking along the shelf of Egyptian idols flicking each of them over as He went down the line.

He does the same thing in our lives! Hallelujah! Although we fall into idol (or idle) worship, God isn’t willing to allow us to stay in that place! He will knock that idol down taking away whatever it was that we were trusting in instead of Him.

Writing that I’m realizing that this last month has been a month where God knocked down my god of “predictability”. For the first month of summer I had a schedule (written out even) that I stuck to like glue. But then June turned into July and everything seemed to change. It was really only a couple of things that changed, but without that piece of paper telling me what to do at what time I felt lost and confused and frustrated. Then God dropped a bomb on me that things would be changing around here. Drastically. And I WASN’T happy about it. This last month has been me fighting with God about things changing. I didn’t want them to change, I wanted to keep doing what I had been doing, the way I had been doing it. Period. I didn’t want MORE work to do. My life had become predictable and I liked that. I knew what to expect and I knew what was expected of me. I was comfortable.

Then I was told to get a job, I haven’t had one in years. Next I was told to take on the Women’s Ministry Directorship, never done that before, I have no human training in theology, no certificates of completion to prove my qualification for the position, yet other women in the church that I will be leading do. This leaves me feeling terribly naked and vulnerable. Yet God says, “Trust Me”. (Yesterday’s post)

God just said to me, “How do you think Joseph felt when Pharaoh told him to lead the country? He’d never done THAT before either. But he managed with quite well with My help don’t you think?” “Yes, Lord.” (giggle)

This last month I have felt like that little mouse in the hand of the Master being squeezed until I squeaked. Not out of abuse or sheer meanness, but out of PURE LOVE. I was scared, which caused all kinds of reactions in me, but I didn’t know what it was I was scared of and why. Without the pressure I never would have squeaked out what was in my heart which allowed me to hear what I was feeling and made it possible for me to DEAL WITH IT. I can’t give something to God if I don’t know I have it. If I have a fear of failure, but never step out in faith giving me opportunity to fail then I would never be able to give my failures to God. (Huh, I just found out I have a fear of failure. Lord, it’s YOURS! Please take it!)

My friends, we DO stand on the cusp of something big and exciting today. I know I’m not the only one. Let’s step out in faith, having handed our fear of failure to the LORD our GOD. Sure, we may not get everything right the first time, but that’s OK. Just as long as we get back up and try again. After all, if you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.

Categories: 365 Life, Exodus, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Celebrate!

Posted on July 22, 2013 by Mrs Knochel

 

image

Esther 1:1-4:17
“And for the people present in Susa the citadel, both great and small, a feast lasting seven days in the court of the garden of the king’s palace.” Esther 1:5

Today is a day of celebrating! Yesterday was Derby Day.

image

My husband Sean has loved and run in demolition derbies since I’ve been with him (around 15 years).

image

But yesterday marked a new beginning. The beginning of a dream being realized. While it’s my job to disciple the followers of this blog, it’s my husband’s job to go out there in his 7×70 car and draw attention himself in order to draw attention to God. (Which he does a FABULOUS job of doing.) This draws people to our table where we have free Bibles with stickers on them letting the recipients know about the blog. What better way to simultaneously disciple hundreds of people all over the world?
I am so happy to share with you that SEVENTEEN Bibles were given out last night. That’s a new record for us! Seventeen souls welcomed the Word of God into their lives!
But then on top of that, at the end of the derby the promoter came up to Sean with a trophy and a check for being the “Intimidator”. Which means that he was the most intimidating driver of the whole derby! It’s a huge honor. While every class has a first place winner only one person gets this prize.
So to say the least we were on cloud nine night! SEVENTEEN Bibles AND the Intimidator!
But then we came home and put the kids to bed and just before we hit the hay ourselves Sean checked Facebook. There was a picture on there that was so priceless I could hardly believe my eyes. (I’m working on making that picture available to you but I’m not sure I’ll be able to.) It was 4 children sitting on the ground having a Bible study with their new Bibles! The grins on their faces are from ear to ear. Well except for the little boy in the group who looks like he may have gotten dragged into it. 😉

In this last year of handing out Bibles I’ve noticed something. Is the children that very the most excited about the Bibles. While some adults may like the fact that we’re doing it, the children are the ones that desire the Bibles themselves. They ALL want one, even if they already have one at home.
This is what I was pondering this morning when God gave me a verse:
“Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” (Mark 10:15)
These children see a Bible and instinctively know what it’s about. They know and they desire it. No, they may not fully understand all the words in that Bible, but they don’t care either. They know that book is about Jesus and that’s all they care about. I think there is much wisdom in these children. And I pray God bless them greatly for their willingness to trust.
May we all be more like them!

“Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” (Luke 15:7)

On a side note we are OUT OF BIBLES! We are planning on going to another derby this coming Saturday in Lafayette Indiana. So any donations you could contribute &/or prayers you could send our way we would GREATLY appreciate! Also, if you’re in the area we would really like for you to stop by and say hi! 😀

Categories: 365 Life, Esther, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

NEW BOOK RELEASE!!!!!

Posted on July 8, 2013 by Mrs Knochel

The first book of the new 365 Life devotional series is now available in print and will be up in the Kindle store within the next 24 hours! 365 Life Season 2 Book 1 Front CoverGo check it out and tell your friends!

Categories: 365 Life, Jesus Loves YOU, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

Eyes that SEE

Posted on July 7, 2013 by Mrs Knochel


Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22

“Your eyes have seen all that the LORD your God has done” Deuteronomy 3:21

“Your eyes have seen”, it’s such a powerful statement. It’s such a powerful concept, eyes that see. We take them for granted all too often, and yet some have eyes that are shut so tightly that even the brightest light has trouble penetrating.

There is so much that I long to say to you, things that I pray God opens your eyes to, today and every day. “Blessed are the eyes that see what [I] see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what [I] see, and did not see it and hear what [I] hear and did not hear it.” (Luke 10:23)

Do you know what I see?

I see the Word of God laid out before me filling my lap every morning. Do you know what I see in that Word?

I see God’s love for me. I see His deliverance from evil for me. I see His unshakable faith in me even when I have proven myself so untrustworthy. I see His willingness to put His good name on the line by attaching it with mine. I see His people coming to church to punch their time card and say they’ve been there only to rush back out the door in order to go do something else. I see His CHILDREN begging for bread at the doorsteps of idols because they’ve never been taught that they are God’s righteous children through Christ. I see the LORD’S Beloved Bride opening herself up to be ravaged time and time again by “lovers” who don’t care a bit for her; all because she doesn’t realize that she’s been bought with an un-payable price that has redeemed her beyond any human ability to pay. His Bride is YOU.

Right now you may be reading this nodding your head in agreement and thinking of someone else, but it’s YOU. I don’t want to see others walking through their lives without opening the gift that God has placed in their laps. There is POWER in the Word of God, a power beyond your wildest imagination. Sure, that sounds good, and you may believe it, but have you experienced it? I have. And I can tell you that even the little nibble I’ve experienced is nothing compared to the power and glory of Jesus that waits just beyond those simple books covers.

As Christians we were created to rule this world, just read the creation story. “Dominion over all the earth” it’s kind of a big deal. Yet how much ruling do you feel like you’re doing right now? God has given you the keys to an eternal kingdom. A place where His power and majesty lives and breathes and bestows upon you the strength and courage to keep moving forward through the sludge of life that we deal with day in and day out. Those keys lay in the palm of your hand in the middle of an open Bible. You need only take them out and USE THEM.

What good is having a car if you never drive it? What’s the point of buying that gorgeous new dress if you never wear it? Why spend time making that gourmet meal if you never eat it? What’s the point of having a Bible if you never read it? What’s the point of having eyes if you never use them or ears that don’t listen to the still soft voice of Jesus whispering through the turning pages of a Bible? If your spouse wrote you a love letter would you never read it? Or would you get it out time and time again to pour over their words of adoration for you?

Jesus loves you. YOU. But unless you’re reading your Bible on your own, it’s next to impossible to feel the full force of His love toward you. If I called you my friend, but never answered your phone calls am I really being your friend? Ring, ring, your Bible is calling…

“Son of man, look with your eyes, and hear with your ears and set your heart upon all that I shall show you, for you were brought here in order that I might show it to you. Declare all that you see to the house of Israel.” (Ezekiel 40:4) God is SHOWING you His love for you each and every day, are you opening your eyes to see it? God has brought you to this place in your life where you HAVE SEEN the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living, are you declaring to the world what you have seen or are you keeping it hidden under a basket?

You have tasted and seen that the Lord is good, are you telling people about His goodness so that they may taste it too? How will they know if someone doesn’t tell them? How do you know that that someone isn’t you? What if God has placed you in this circumstance of life, for such a time as this, so that you can reach that one person who’s planted right next to you in the garden of life?

“Lord, I pray for eyes to see You and ears to hear Your voice loud and clear. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”

Categories: 365 Life, Deuteronomy, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Egypt in the Bible

Posted on July 6, 2013 by Mrs Knochel


Daniel 10:1-12:13

Last night I noticed a new app on my phone that I hadn’t put there myself – always interesting. But when you have two kids who play on your phone, it’s not unheard of. I tap on the icon and find out it’s a new social media app, fun! I’m a budding social media “expert” so let’s check this out. I start flipping through this new app, Flipboard, and it’s fun. The way you flick to get to the next story is gratifying. And it has news on there along with many many other features like a “trending” page. I noticed that #Egypt was going down in the trends and thought, “Egypt? What’s going on in Egypt?”

[photo courtesy of businessinsider.com]

(Give me a break, I don’t watch the news, like ever. I have my reasons.) So I click on the hash tag and find out about the coup going on over there.

[photo courtesy of www.cbc.ca]

The first thing I think about is the fact that it’s EGYPT. There are few places more Biblical than Egypt, except you know, like Jerusalem and Israel!

[photo courtesy of FoxNews]

[photo courtesy of MediaSalon]

Egypt was the original “bad guy” of the Bible. It was the place where the Hebrews were enslaved for 400 years before the mass exodus and is the symbolic “bad guy” throughout the rest of the Bible because of this very enslavement.

[Photo courtesy of TheBlaze]

So when I see news of this coup going on in Egypt my radar immediately is triggered, but not so much so that I couldn’t sleep last night. However, I am now wide awake at 5am on a Saturday morning. So I pull back the covers and grab my trusty Bible to go hang out with Jesus for a while before everyone else wakes up. As I’m perusing through my pages of Daniel searching for a Word for today I find it. But not the kind of Word I normally get, where it’s personal and sweet. No. This time God gave me a word that has thrown me knee deep into news feed and Google searches. (I’ll include some links at the end so that you can beef up more on what’s happening if you haven’t heard much yet.)

Honestly, what are the odds that I would read a news story about Egypt last night and then less than 5 hours later in my Bible!?! But not just any comment on Egypt, well, I’m going to let you read and make your own decisions. But I find this “God-incidence” veeeery interesting and I plan on keeping a closer eye on Egypt and Libya for a while.

(Daniel 11:40-12:13) 40 At the time of the end, the king of the south shall attack him, but the king of the north shall rush upon him like a whirlwind, with chariots and horsemen, and with many ships. And he shall come into countries and shall overflow and pass through. 41 He shall come into the glorious land. And tens of thousands shall fall, but these shall be delivered out of his hand: Edom and Moab and the main part of the Ammonites. 42 He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 43 He shall become ruler of the treasures of gold and of silver, and all the precious things of Egypt, and the Libyans and the Cushites shall follow in his train. 44 But news from the east and the north shall alarm him, and he shall go out with great fury to destroy and devote many to destruction. 45 And he shall pitch his palatial tents between the sea and the glorious holy mountain. Yet he shall come to his end, with none to help him.

The Time of the End

12 “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. 4 But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others stood, one on this bank of the stream and one on that bank of the stream. 6 And someone said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, “How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?” 7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished. 8 I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, “O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?” 9 He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand. 11 And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. 12 Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days. 13 But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.”

News links for stories on Egypt and Lybia:

Fear, panic grip Libyan capital as unknown fighters wage battle in Tripoli

By Jomana Karadsheh, CNN

updated 6:49 AM EDT, Thu June 27, 2013

With Egypt unrest growing, U.S. Marines placed on ready as precaution

By Barbara Starr, CNN Pentagon Correspondent

updated 6:03 PM EDT, Fri June 28, 2013

Showdown? Egypt’s Morsy defies military ‘ultimatum’

From Hamdi Alkhshali. Reza Sayah and Chelsea J. Carter, CNN

updated 11:39 PM EDT, Tue July 2, 2013

26 dead, more than 850 wounded as post-coup violence hits Egypt

By Ben Wedeman. Reza Sayah and Chelsea J. Carter, CNN

updated 10:30 PM EDT, Fri July 5, 2013

Categories: 365 Life, Daniel, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

YOU are Someone Worth Dying For

Posted on July 4, 2013 by Mrs Knochel

070213_1513_OnlyYOU1.jpg Daniel 7:1-9:27
I can’t think of a better way to end this week than with Mike’s Chair’s song, Someone Worth Dying For. Listen to the words and let them sink deep into your soul. They are Truth and Life. YOU are Someone Worth Dying For! At least Jesus seems to think so anyway!

Categories: 2 Chronicles, 365 Life, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | Tags: , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Who do You Trust?

Posted on June 30, 2013 by Mrs Knochel

image

2 Chronicles 32:1-34:33
Hezekiah’s reign was an interesting one.  He worked with all his might to restore the leadership of God into their family. And yet as we start today’s reading what do we find? “After these things and the acts of faithfulness, Sennecherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah.” (2 Chronicles 32:1)
What did Hezekiah’s faithfulness bring him? An attack.
Have you been there? Are you familiar with this at all? Or am I alone here when I say I know how this guy feels! I get so weary of doing something good and then being attacked for it. I mean, yeah, I know why I’m being attacked, I’ve just leapt over into the Enemy’s territory and taken it from under him. It’s only natural that he fights to try and gain it back. Unfortunately for him, he doesn’t ever think about who he’s dealing with. First of all, he’s dealing with me, one of the most bull-headed people you could ever meet. I don’t give up, ever. But on top of that, and much more importantly, he’s not even really fighting me. He’s fighting the Spirit behind me – Jehovah.
Jesus fights my battles, not just with me but for me! Because the battle was never mine in the first place. It’s always been His. From the beginning of time this very battle between good and evil has been waged, with Satan taunting us, “on what are you trusting, that you endure the seige?”
So I ask you, on what are you trusting today?  There is something that you are looking to to bring you peace, comfort, joy, fulfillment and security, what is it? Are you trusting in an “arm of flesh” or God – whose name includes salvation? Be honest with yourself when you answer that question because if you’re not honest it could hurt you.
What are you trusting? Where is your hope finding its resting point? Does it lie in the LORD and His infinite love and grace, mercy and favor? Or does it lie with money, a person, a medicine, or a hospital? Yes, those things may appear to be your only hope but they’re not. Our ONLY hope is unmerited favor from God. And guess what! He’s serving it up daily through the Word of God just for YOU! What a mighty God we serve!
Ask and He delivers!

image

Categories: 2 Chronicles, 365 Life, Writing Through the Bible in a Year | Tags: , , , , , | 1 Comment

Blog at WordPress.com.

%d bloggers like this: