I am a country girl at heart. I was raised on a farm, but when I was ten, my family moved in town. I've been spoiled by modern convienences. I love the air conditioner, bed and, of course, my internet! But I long for the country. I love the mountains, the valleys, the meadows and swamps. I love the wildlife (well, I could do without snakes...and roaches...and the mosquitos that buzz in your ears and the gnats that try to fly up your nose, LOL!).
Right now I am at a teacher's workshop at a nature park in Alabama. It is beautiful here. The weather has been great. I love it when our instructor takes us out on hikes and just shows us all the flora and fauna we can find. Tonight we found a catterpillar (the name escapes me now), gorgeous magnolia blossoms, a hummingbird (we were near her nest because we upset her so), some rosemary and dill, just to name a few. My favorites were the one I saw on my own, the Snowberry Clearwing Moth (a hummingbird moth - very cool looking) and a large Blue Heron (it flew out from under a bridge I was standing on).
Sometime if you have a chance, and if you are not squeamish about such things, you should check out this website: www.whatsthatbug.com. He is a bug expert and has wonderful pictures that people have e-mailed him asking what the bug is. This is another great website for specifically Alabama wildlife: http://www.discoveringalabama.org/discovery/.
I am just continually amazed at the variety of wildlife that our God made! It is truely a beautiful world and one we should enjoy. Also, I have resisted getting on the environmental bandwagon. I think it can be carried too far to extremes where we care more for the spotted owl than we do for the humans! But, I have always put my trash where it belonged, and have done my best to leave places as I find them or better than I find them. I am also beginning to transplant unwanted pests in my home to their preferred home outside (accept roaches - yuck!).
I know that I have quoted these verses on my blog before, but it is a section I continually come back to and think on as I meander through this beautiful world God made. Psalm 19:1-7:
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
From: Alabama, United States
About me: I am a Christian wife, and mother of two great homeschooled children. We would like to adopt and I love to write.
- Psalm 119:11
- Philippians 1:3
- Philippians 4:13
- Matthew 5:44-45
- Micah 6:8
posted by Dawn at 6:58 PM
Thursday, June 12, 2008
The LORD scourges every son
This is another devotional I've written for OBC.
And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him, For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives." (Heb. 12:5-6)
To borrow a phrase from God’s Word, Sisters, we should count it all joy when God disciplines us. There are three very good reasons for this. Let’s take a look at each reason:
1. If God chastises us, then we are His children! The Lord wouldn’t rebuke one that was not his own (Hebrews 12:8). Isn’t that a great feeling?
We have no need to worry that the discipline will be unfair. We have a wonderful Father! He is all-knowing, all-powerful, all-mighty and full of wisdom. Matthew 10: 29-30 says that He knows when each little sparrow falls and has even numbered the very hairs on our head. And just read Job chapter 38 to know a multitude of other things that God knows and many that we still do not, even with all our scientific advancements. If God chooses to discipline us, it is with full knowledge of pros and cons and ins and outs of any situation. There is no one wiser than God! (Isaiah 55:8)
In England and throughout Europe, there are many beautiful cathedrals. It is said that many of the architects and builders are unknown. Many of them worked their lifetime on the massive structures and never saw them completed. God knows what He wants us to be and He will mold us that way if we allow it. He is the potter and we are the clay (Isaiah 64:8).
God also knows what we can handle. He knows what we can bear (I Corinthians 10:13). We should trust God to give us only those things we can endure.
2. "...for our profit, that we may be partakers in his holiness." (Hebrews 12:10) If God chastises us, then it is to benefit us. I Peter 1:7 tells us that our faith must be tempered by fire. When gold is tempered by fire, it is made pure. Therefore, when we endure trials, temptations and chastisements, we should rejoice because God is making our faith pure.
3. God LOVES us! If we are being chastised by the Lord, we can rejoice and feel loved. Hebrews 12:6 says, "...For whom the LORD loves He chastens..."
Those of us that are mothers understand this more than those that are simply daughters. When a child is receiving discipline, all that matters to the child is the pain. Later there will come benefits of a lesson learned. As a mother, I know that the pain is a teacher. I know what I want the final product to be and I have a great responsibility to mold my children to that. I do it out of love. This gives me a better perspective to understand how God deals with His children. He chastises out of love as well. In Revelation 3:19 God tells us that as many as He loves, he chastens.
As children of God, we should humble ourselves to accept His loving discipline. We should rejoice because He is purifying us. Discipline given in a loving, wise manner should produce good fruits, if we will allow ourselves to learn from it (Hebrews 12:11). The rest of the verse in Revelation 3:19 says, "to be zealous therefore, and repent." Let us not be unruly children, but accept the discipline from our heavenly Father with a humble and contrite heart to be profitable in His kingdom (James 4:10).
And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him, For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives." (Heb. 12:5-6)
To borrow a phrase from God’s Word, Sisters, we should count it all joy when God disciplines us. There are three very good reasons for this. Let’s take a look at each reason:
1. If God chastises us, then we are His children! The Lord wouldn’t rebuke one that was not his own (Hebrews 12:8). Isn’t that a great feeling?
We have no need to worry that the discipline will be unfair. We have a wonderful Father! He is all-knowing, all-powerful, all-mighty and full of wisdom. Matthew 10: 29-30 says that He knows when each little sparrow falls and has even numbered the very hairs on our head. And just read Job chapter 38 to know a multitude of other things that God knows and many that we still do not, even with all our scientific advancements. If God chooses to discipline us, it is with full knowledge of pros and cons and ins and outs of any situation. There is no one wiser than God! (Isaiah 55:8)
In England and throughout Europe, there are many beautiful cathedrals. It is said that many of the architects and builders are unknown. Many of them worked their lifetime on the massive structures and never saw them completed. God knows what He wants us to be and He will mold us that way if we allow it. He is the potter and we are the clay (Isaiah 64:8).
God also knows what we can handle. He knows what we can bear (I Corinthians 10:13). We should trust God to give us only those things we can endure.
2. "...for our profit, that we may be partakers in his holiness." (Hebrews 12:10) If God chastises us, then it is to benefit us. I Peter 1:7 tells us that our faith must be tempered by fire. When gold is tempered by fire, it is made pure. Therefore, when we endure trials, temptations and chastisements, we should rejoice because God is making our faith pure.
3. God LOVES us! If we are being chastised by the Lord, we can rejoice and feel loved. Hebrews 12:6 says, "...For whom the LORD loves He chastens..."
Those of us that are mothers understand this more than those that are simply daughters. When a child is receiving discipline, all that matters to the child is the pain. Later there will come benefits of a lesson learned. As a mother, I know that the pain is a teacher. I know what I want the final product to be and I have a great responsibility to mold my children to that. I do it out of love. This gives me a better perspective to understand how God deals with His children. He chastises out of love as well. In Revelation 3:19 God tells us that as many as He loves, he chastens.
As children of God, we should humble ourselves to accept His loving discipline. We should rejoice because He is purifying us. Discipline given in a loving, wise manner should produce good fruits, if we will allow ourselves to learn from it (Hebrews 12:11). The rest of the verse in Revelation 3:19 says, "to be zealous therefore, and repent." Let us not be unruly children, but accept the discipline from our heavenly Father with a humble and contrite heart to be profitable in His kingdom (James 4:10).
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Our Special Deliverer
This devotional is what prompted me to study all the verses in the Bible about "the angel of the LORD." It really is a facinating study.
This was written for the On-line Bible Study Devotionals. If you would like to know more about these devotionals, or have them mailed to your e-mail address, then click here: http://www.stgcoc.com/. If you write devotionals and are interested in writing for the OBC mailings, please contact them. They are always in need of writers. Now, here is the article:
"The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them." Psalm 34:7
A thorough study of the scriptures upon each mention of "the angel of the LORD" finds a very intriguing puzzle. Just who the identity of this angel is remains a mystery. I find it quite possible that this doesn’t refer to just one individual, but that there may have been more than one "angel of the LORD." There are at least two references when a person or group of people bowed down to this "angel" and the worship was accepted. (Numbers 22:31; 1 Chronicles 21:16) This seems to indicate that the "angel" may in fact have been some sort of physical manifestation of God. An angel would not have accepted obeisance. (Revelation 22:8-9)
Regardless of the identity of the angel in this Psalm, ultimately our protection comes from God. To the saints, the Lord is many things. "The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower." (Psalms 18:2) Ephesians chapter 6 says that our whole armor as Christians comes from God (vs. 11-18). Did you realize that Ephesians 6 leaves out armor on the back? Roman soldiers did not protect their back because running from a battle was considered cowardice.
It is awesome to think that the creator of the universe has our back. This protection is better than the Secret Service! We have better security than the President of the United States!
This is not to say that a Christian never has trouble. Unfortunately we live in a world which includes sickness, sorrow and pain. James teaches us: "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations (NKJV - "trials"); Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience." (1:2-3) It is not if we have temptations, but when. No one escapes the trials of this world until we reach our eternal abode.
And yet, as children of God, we have a lifeline. Hebrews four and verse sixteen tells us that we can "come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and to find grace to help in time of need." I John 5:14 also teaches us that we can have confidence in anything we ask of God, that He will hear us.
How comforting it is to know that he is watching out for us. He is only a prayer away! There will also come a time when we will shed no more tears, feel no more pain, or say goodbye to another loved one. (Revelation 21:4) What a glorious day that will be when the Lord will no more have to defend the saints!
This was written for the On-line Bible Study Devotionals. If you would like to know more about these devotionals, or have them mailed to your e-mail address, then click here: http://www.stgcoc.com/. If you write devotionals and are interested in writing for the OBC mailings, please contact them. They are always in need of writers. Now, here is the article:
"The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them." Psalm 34:7
A thorough study of the scriptures upon each mention of "the angel of the LORD" finds a very intriguing puzzle. Just who the identity of this angel is remains a mystery. I find it quite possible that this doesn’t refer to just one individual, but that there may have been more than one "angel of the LORD." There are at least two references when a person or group of people bowed down to this "angel" and the worship was accepted. (Numbers 22:31; 1 Chronicles 21:16) This seems to indicate that the "angel" may in fact have been some sort of physical manifestation of God. An angel would not have accepted obeisance. (Revelation 22:8-9)
Regardless of the identity of the angel in this Psalm, ultimately our protection comes from God. To the saints, the Lord is many things. "The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower." (Psalms 18:2) Ephesians chapter 6 says that our whole armor as Christians comes from God (vs. 11-18). Did you realize that Ephesians 6 leaves out armor on the back? Roman soldiers did not protect their back because running from a battle was considered cowardice.
It is awesome to think that the creator of the universe has our back. This protection is better than the Secret Service! We have better security than the President of the United States!
This is not to say that a Christian never has trouble. Unfortunately we live in a world which includes sickness, sorrow and pain. James teaches us: "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations (NKJV - "trials"); Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience." (1:2-3) It is not if we have temptations, but when. No one escapes the trials of this world until we reach our eternal abode.
And yet, as children of God, we have a lifeline. Hebrews four and verse sixteen tells us that we can "come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and to find grace to help in time of need." I John 5:14 also teaches us that we can have confidence in anything we ask of God, that He will hear us.
How comforting it is to know that he is watching out for us. He is only a prayer away! There will also come a time when we will shed no more tears, feel no more pain, or say goodbye to another loved one. (Revelation 21:4) What a glorious day that will be when the Lord will no more have to defend the saints!