Saturday, May 9, 2009

Sat 090509 pm Twelve characteristics of a beautiful woman

Twelve characteristics of a beautiful woman from 1 Peter 3.1-6.
1. soul winner ( 1 )
2. doer ( 1 )
3. pure ( 2 )
4. respectful ( 2 )
What it's not ( 3 ) hair, jewelry, clothing
5. gentle (meek) ( 4 )
6. quiet ( 4 )
7. holy ( 5 )
8. faith (hope) ( 5 )
9. submissive ( 5 )
10. obeyed ( 6 )
11. good ( 6 )
12. courage ( 6 )

Friday, May 8, 2009

Fri 090508 am Neh 2-6

Nehemiah 2

2.4 So I prayed to the God of heaven. Praying on the fly.
2.8 for the good hand of my God was on me. A good acknoledgement that it was from God when he found favor. I wonder if it is good in the sense that God is good, or in the sense that it was God's good (favorable) not bad (unfavorable) hand.
2.20
The God of heaven will make us prosper... Soveriegnty
we His servants will arise and build... Man's responsibility
but you will have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem. Biblical separation from the world
Now that will preach.

Nehemiah 3

Elishaib the high priest
men of Jericho
Zaccur
Hassenaah
Meremoth
Meshullam
Zadok
Tekoites (but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord. Bums!!!)
Joiada
Melatiah, Jadon, men of Gibeon and Mizpah
Uzziel
Hanahiah
Rephaiah
Hattush
Malchijah and Hasshub
Shallum (he and his daughters You go girls!!!)
Hehemiah
Levites
Rehum
Hashabiah
Bavvai
Ezer
Baruch
Mmeremoth
priests, the men of the surrounding area
Azariah
Binnui
Palal
Pedaiah
Tekoites
Priests, each opposite his own house
Zadok
Shemaiah
Hanaiah
Meshullam
Malchijah
the goldsmiths and the merchants

Now that is just a lot of people working on the wall.

Nehemiah 4

4.1 Sanballat... Sticks and stones, etc.
4.6 for the people had a mind to work...
4.15 God had fristrated their plan
4.16-23 Working and watching (guarding)

Nehemiah 5

5.4 We have borrowed money for the kings's tax...
5.6 I was very angry when I heard their outcry...
5.9 Ought you not to walk in the fear of the Lord?
5.15 But I did not do so, because of the fear of the Lord.

Nehemiah 6

6.9 For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.
6.16 they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.

Thurs 090508 pm Ez 10 - Neh 1

Ezra 10
10.1 Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping... another confession on national sins
10.12-13 Nor is this a task for one day or for two. These verses should be memorized and taken to heart by every church administrator and pastor. Don't rush things. Evaluate how complicated things are and how long it might take.


Nehemiah 1
1.5 God who keeps covenant and steadfast love...
1.6 I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing sins of the people the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my Father's house have sinned. I am okay with confessing everybody's sins, but not as thrilled to own them as my own. It is a sign of perspective and insight to see how we have gotten caught up in the sins our church, culture, family, etc.
1.11 O Lord let your ear be attentive... Asking God to listen and answer. Hmmm, what a concept.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Thurs 090507 pm 1Pt 3-5 & Eph 5

1 Peter 3
3.1
obey the Word
conduct
3.2
respectful and pure conduct
3.4
the hidden person of the heart
gentle and quiet spirit
3.5
holy women ... hoped in God
submitting to their own husbands
3.6
do good
do not fear anything
3.7
an understanding way
showing honor
heirs with you
prayers
3.10 Psalm 34.12-16
3.17 if that should be God's will... So suffering for good can be God's will. That is a challenging statement to get your mind around.
3.22 has gone


1 Peter 4
4.1 arm yourselves with the same way of thinking... Now that is the challenge.
4.8 above all, keep loving... So love is more important than self-control and being sober-minded ...hmmmm.
4.10 whoever speaks ... whoever serves ... in order that in everything... It all fits together and comes together.


1Peter 5
5.5 -6 Humble yourselves... I am thinking about these verses in light of the times in Chronicles when some of the kings did or did not humble themselves before God or one of His prophets.
5.7 He cares...


Ephesians 5
5.1 imitators of God is a big concept to think about.
5.10 try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. This is part of Tulsa Bible Church's motto. "Pleasing God and making disciples..." This is kinda like WWJD and brings to like that there is some thought that needs to be given to the subject.
5.14 an intriguing quote
5.22-33 I have the habit of highlighting references to Christ and other individuals, etc. in my Bible reading. As I marked this passage, it struck me just how many times Christ (13 x's in 11 verses) and the Church (9 x's) is mentioned in these verses.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Thurs 090507 am Ez 10 - Neh 1 & 1 Pt 2

Ezra 10
10.3 again the expression those who tremble at the commandment of our God What would it involve and be like to be known as a people who tremble at the commandment of our God?
10.13 nor is this a task for one day or for two. If more church leaders understood this concept, a lot of unnecessary problems in churches could be avoided.


Nehemiah 1
1.5 who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who...
1.8 remember Asking God to do what He has promised is a good approach.


1 Peter 2
2.8 disobey the Word, as they were destined to do... Interesting thought
2.11 sojourners... An important concept for believers.
2.14 ...by doing good, you should put to silence... This reminds me of the advice my son's soccer coach told the team. When the other team plays dirt, get them back by scoring points. We prove our critics wrong with our actions, not our arguements.
2.21 for to this you have been called... This must be a typo or something with a narrow first century cultural application, right?

Wed 090509 am Ezra 9

Ezra 9

9.4 Then all who trembled at the words of the God of Israel... This prompts me to think about whether I take God's word that seriously. The word trembled tells me that God really means business when he says something.
9.6-15 An example of a prayer of repentance.
9.6 He starts in second person.
9.8 Refers to God in third person.
9.10 Back to second person.
9.12 never seek their prosperity that you may be strong... An interesting thought ... that the world's prosperity weakens the saint.
9.13 have punished us less than we deserved... This is an idea that needs to take root in our thinking.
I what is with the third person in the middle of the prayer is all about. Did he stop praying for a couple verses or is third person appropriate for pray at times. I have always thought of pray as talking to God and not about God.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Tues 090505 pm Ezra 5-8

Ezra 5
5.1 Haggai and Zechariah You tell'm!
5. 5 A pen pal chapter. :o)


Ezra 6
6.2 That must have been some record system.
6.9 God of heaven This name seems to appear predominantly in Ezra, Nehemiah, and Daniel.
6.21 from the uncleaness of the peoples of the land... I am thinking about what the uncleanesses are of the people in my land.


Ezra 7
7.10 set his heart great verse.
7.11 a man learned... While I am not an especially brainy guy, it seems from this verse that being really smart and educated is a great asset for the Lord's work.
7.27 ...Who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king... This is a great prayer for others.


Ezra 8
8.1-14 reminds me of the saying, "We count people because people count."
8.22 I was ashamed to ask... The practical side of faith and believing what you said God could / would do.

Mon 090504 pm Ezra 4

Ezra 4
4.2 It is interesting how exclusive they were of other people who claimed to worship God. In all deference to those who point out the need for unity, etc., there seems to be a place for saying, "You have nothing to do with us..." sometimes.
4.4 made them afraid
4.5 counselors Like Balam? or what?
14 we eat the salt of the palace Erdwin Yamauchi has some interesting comments on this passage in Expositor's Commentary. This phrase is ripe with food for thought and preaching fodder.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Sun 090503 pm 2 Chr - Ezra 3

It has been quite a week and I have gotten behind on my journaling. Now I am enjoying an evening of reading and journaling.


2 Chronicles 35
35.7 30,000 from the flock, 3,000 bulls -- It must have been some passover feast.
35.21 I find Neco's reference to "God" (since he thot of himself as a god) to be very intriging.
35.25 Jeremiah also … They made these a rule in Israel. Josiah’s death was a tragic as his life was remarkable.


2 Chronicles 36
36.5, 9, 11 Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and & Zedekiah had the dual distinctions of doing what was evil in the sight of the Lord and being invaded by Nebuchadnezzar.
36.15-16 These verses are both sad and typical of people. I hope they never describe me.
36.22 that the Word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled… God is faithful.


Ezra 1
1.3 Again it is curious to me that the pagan Cyrus made reference to The Lord, the God of heaven. It would be interesting to research what he might have meant by that.
1.5 whose spirit God had stirred… God, please stir my spirit.
1.8 Sheshbazzar haven’t heard many stories about him :o) Seems to be the Babylonians name for Zerubbabel, which raises the question of why the two names. Similar to Daniel.


Ezra 2
2.51 Sisera!? Who would name their kid Sisera after he attacked Israel and was killed with a tent stake by a woman while sleeping.
2.59 That's the group that I would be in.


Ezra 3
3.2 altar of the God of Israel... Sacrifice and worship to God are first, so the altar was first.
3.11 for His steadfast love endures forever toward Israel. That must have been a very sweet truth to those who had finally returned from the captivity.