a) (30 July ’14 from original 22July study) The waking thought ‘service’ and took till almost 10am to
be at the Art Studio before finding—still.
“Service”
Serve””Serving”
for it is NOT about ‘us’ or ‘me’ it’s about ‘serving’ God’s call on
our hearts by ‘serving’ Him…
We all, in our different capacity, gifts, talents… have perhaps the same ‘call’ one could technically ‘call’ it. In this continuing reflection and look back, at today, towards tomorrow and the steps to take to press on… (for good)
Last 130th Part I & II entry focused
more on how the light dispels the dark every time—and that God will always show
us a way to His Way. By testing the
spirit by simply asking—is this stepping towards or pointing towards God’s
light, or not—and stepping towards darkness???
Perhaps this next ponder, should come before the last one… does
this/whatever ‘this’ is SERVE Gods call on my heart, and serve
Him for Gods honor and glory?
This is the
question on my heart as go back and read the Bible bookmarks (1Thes 1&2; Book of Jonah; Psalms 139,
140, 141; Matt 4:18 through CH7 {yes, a lot, more of a study, than just one
mornings quiet time}) and Journals 129’s last entry.
Starting at the last here, referencing the Book of Daniel, CH6 ‘Den of Lions.
 |
| Briton Riviere- Daniel in the Lions Den (faith stand- noting his back to the lions) |
Daniel served
both God and his nation’s king by simply keeping faith, and reflecting
that. Taking note of how he stood; he
worked hard with his own hands, he minded his own business and when choices
came, he chose continuing to keep the faith in God and pray. He therefore led—from his knees. Also, he didn’t stand on any podium declaring
‘I am more righteous that you’ He just kept trusting God, and standing fast in
his faith walk, no matter where it took him.
By faith he knew God’s will—will be the outcome. In the end the lions only devoured the liars;
deceivers and their heirs, the ones who not only didn’t trust in God,but
tried to use deceit and trickery to silence God’s good.
Harsh? yes. Note, the lions are
not bad, they simply doing all that comes naturally for them to do. God is not bad either, when the liars end up
feeding the lions.
Question:
are you a lion?
Or a Daniel?
Meaning— what feeds you…
Are you being fed by liars?
Or fed by truth?
Which of
these serves Gods call on your heart and serves God?
To discern,
this holds us to our need to test the spirits when making ‘decrees’ as a king
that cared for Daniel did not do. He
trusted in the wrong thing. Even though
there were many of them and only one Daniel.
In the end, that same king decreed to keep ones faith in “Daniels God that saves’ as the way to
go.
Yes, Daniel served
both God and his nation by keeping faith and reflecting that.
Next bookmark/study led to Psalms 139,140,141; same battle,
different story, same order.
Psalm 140: A prayer of deliverance from
the plots and slander of unscrupulous enemies.
Psalm 141: A prayer of deliverance
from the wicked and their evil ways.
David here,
had taken refuge from his enemies literally out to destroy im by hiding in a
cave. David like Daniel followed his
same faith walk. Preceding Psalm 140,
141 is
Psalm 139: a prayer for God to
examine his heart and see its true devotion.
Nowhere
(accept Job) does one find expressed such profound awareness of how awesome it
is to ask God to examine not only ones life but also his soul.—God, who knows
every thought, every word and deed, from whom there is no hiding, who is even
privy to oes formation in the dark concealment of the womb. Praying Psalm 139 as our sincere prayer to
God is our way to serve Gods call on our hearts; also our way to proceed the
constant enemy pursuits Davids enemy
here and Daniels really no different… and the same enemies remain today—
In Daniels
specifically—Jealous men who sought more control lied in order to trick the
king into writing a decree they knew Daniel didn’t know of; and if did would
never follow.
A decree
written in trickery, and Daniels faith and devotion to God—got him thrown into
a den of lions; David in a cave, hiding.
What did
Daniel do? Prayed! What did David do? Prayed! David, known as a man after God’s
own heart, Psalm 139 gives insight to the God breathed how our hearts are to be
also…
139:23-24 Search me O’ God, and know my
heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there are any offensive ways in me, and lead me in the way
everlasting. <><<><<><
This is a
heart after Gods own heart, a spirit seeking His TRUE Spirit.
God, the Omnipotent—how
great aer God’s ways—beyond searching out—yet, intimately breathing into our
every breath, and our very own hearts beat…
Apart from
God, no good can prevail—in faith we may pray and trust and know with a
thankful heart absolutely in love with God as He loves us that Gods GOOD
purposes always prevail.
This is also
how we serve God’s call on our heart… by always seeking His way for our way—even
when, or perhaps especially when, afraid, perplexed, overwhelmed… wanting to
hide.
CH 6 of Jeremiah- Jerusalem under siege; 6:16
This
is what the Lord says; “Stand at the crossroads and look, ask for the ancient
paths and where the good way is, and walk in it.”
Isaiah 30:21 Whether you turn to the right
or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the
way, walk in it”
1 Cor 15:58 Therefore my dear brothers,
stand firm, let nothing move you. Always
give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor
in the Lord is not in vain.
<><<><<>
THIS truth
remains our LIVING word today and forever and ever. Plus, our standing in faith is how an
unbelieving world sees how faith not only saves you, but it is a way to save a
nation… all
To serve
Gods call on my/our heart and to serve
Him may be simply starting with ones own heart, self, and asking
how am
I being fed?
By liars?
Or by truth?
Again, seeing ‘study ’here as how to test
the next steps is much like Psalms 139… as the prayer;
Then lift to God the petitions…
Then make the faith choice… prayerfully seeking God’s will in each step…
Godspeed
Work hard with our own hands, mind our own business,
and as far as it depends on us, live at peace with all people…
paraphrase of 1 Thess 4:11 and to make it
your ambition to live a quiet life; You should mind your own business and work
with your hands… & Rom12:18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you,
live at peace with everyone.
b) (31July’14)
Jonah c)( 1August’14) 1 Thess
1&2; Matt 4:18-ch7 Red letters…
Study sharing to be continued….
