Fri 091030 pm Heb 12 Isa 57

"[There is a]difference between saying prayers, which is an activity, and pryaing, which is a sould attitude~Prayer means keeping company with God who is already present."  Philip Yancey in Prayer: Does it Make any Difference?


Hebrews 12
I really like these first vereses of Hebrews 12, especially in the context of the last part of chapter eleven's description of ""those of whom the world was not worthy."
12.9 the Father of spirits...  This is a fasinating title for God.  I don't remember reading it anywhere else.
12.10  that we may share His holiness...  The goal of God's dicipline, our good and closeness to Him.
12.14  strive for peace with everyone and holiness...  Thinking about the relationship between peace and for the holiness.  Striving hints that sometimes it may not be possible, at least in the short term.

Isaiah 57
57.4 stick your tongues out... Just a funny expression to see in the Bible.  So sticking your tongue out is Biblical ... if you are mocking someone.  Usually not considered very nice.
57.11  and do not fear me?  in a Romans 2.4b kind of way.
57.15  Great verse about God's greatness and how we get close to Him.
57.18  I have seen his ways, but I will heal him...  That the program that I got saved under.  Woot woot for the God who knows us in all our disapointed details and will still do His good work in us.

Thurs 091029 pm Heb 10-11

Hebrew 10
10.23  our confession of hope...  The hope part is the key to holding fast.  Hope gives us the staying power.  
10.30  The Lord will judge His people... Even saints should live with the awareneness that God is watching, weighing, and rewarding all we do, say, or think.

Hebrews 11
By faith
11.4  Abel
11.5 Enoch
11.7 Noah
11.8 Abraham
11.9 he
11.11 Sarah
11.17 Abraham
11.20 Isaac
11.21 Jacob
11.22 Joseph
11.23 Moses
11.24 he
11.28 he
11.29 the people
11.30 the walls fell
11.31 Rahab
11.32 And what more shall I say...
Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephtheh*, David, Samuel, the prophets
11.35 refusing to accept release...  the unwavering holding fast of their confession.
* and Jephtheh was a mess.

Wed 091028 pm Isa 51-56

Isaiah 51

51.6 the earth will wear out like a garment... This is a very thought expanding comment. I alway thought of the earth as being immutable. The recent enviromental movement has raised the question of how long the earth will be inhabitable. I think awareness of the temporary nature of our planet should help us look toward the eternal treasures and values of heaven.

51.7 Listen to me, you who know righteousness...fear not the reproach of man...

51.13 have forgotten the Lord, your Maker... This is the essence of godlessness and it is fatal in a person's life if we leave our thoughts adrift.

Isaiah 52

This is really a very beautiful chapter. I especially like the last half with verse 7 which is quoted in Romans 10.15 and verse 11 which can flow from the interpretation of the Jews leaving Babylon/Persia and coming back to the promised land to live by the law God had given them to the general application of believers leaving their life before Christ or time of sin in the life a a believer to return to the practice of a sanctified life.

Isaiah 53

53.1 Who has believed... a pressing question

53.5 that brought us peace... This can get lost in the legal emphasis of justification.

53.12 makes intercession for the transgressors... That is reassuring to know. He prays for the group I belong t0--transgressors.

Isaiah 54

54.10 my covenant of peace... says the Lord who has compassion on you... Compassion and peace are good partners.

Isaiah 55

55.2 Why do you spend your money on that which is not bread? Boy! do we ever spend money on things that don't satisfy. God give me the wisdom to focus on things that matter.

55.8-9 These verses desribe a neglected "attribute" of God.

Isaiah 56
56.7 a house of prayer for all peoples...  I like this expression.  The focus on God's intention to call people from across the world and the focus on prayer / worship.  It in a loose way forshadows the scenes in heaven from the book of Revelation.