Peace surpassing
All my understanding
Love never fading
So very comforting
To know that my Savior, He...
Yes He
Is always right beside me
Through life's greatest trials
And plagues of worry sweep through
He will always remain
He will always be true
His love so astounding
So utterly amazing
And I so undeserving
I can never thank Him enough
For His awesome sacrifice
and wonderful grace, mercy and love
The least I can do is give Him my all
Every second of my life
To thank Him for what He did to pay the price
For all the sins I had done wrong
and continue to do for so very long
And that when I would surrender all my life to Him
I would forever and ever be a daughter to Christ
And I would be His for Eternity
And knowing that is so wonderful to me
That it gives me such a joyful peace
So I need not fear when death draws near
For God knows the time, place, manner, and day.
I need not worry because I am saved.
If I have truly given my life to God
And if He alone drew me to repentance and faith.
All I then can say is
Lord Thank For Choosing Me On That Special Day!
by Michelle Miano
The beginnings of this poem were written as I was listening to a sermon given by Mike Livingston at my church on October 3rd. The passage of Scripture he discussed was Philippians 1:18-26. Through listening to his sermon and reading this passage I made the poem you just read.
Philippians 1:18-26 (New American Standard Bible)
18What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,
19for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
20according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
To Live Is Christ
21For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
22But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose.
23But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better;
24yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.
25Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith,
26so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.
The sermon was very encouraging to me. If you want to listen to it the link is here.
I hope it encourages you as much as it did to me. Love you my dear brothers and sisters in Christ!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Proverbs 10
These are my notes from Proverbs 10.
A wise son makes a father glad. One who fears the Lord is wise. A foolish son is a grief to his mother (v.1).
Ill gotten gains do not profit-foolish person. Righteousness delivers from death-wise son (v.2).
The Lord will not allow the righteous to hunger to the wise son. He will reject the craving of the wicked for the foolish son. (v.3)
Poor is he who works with negligent hands- foolish son. Hand of the diligent makes rich- wise son (v.4).
He who gathers in the summer is the wise son. He who sleeps in harvest is the son who acts shamefully and is the foolish son (v.5)
Blessings are on the righteous. The mouth of the wicked conceals violence. Violent plans and language come from the mouth of the wicked(v.6).
The memory of the righteous will/is blessed. The name of the wicked will rot (v.7).
The wise will receive commands but a babbling fool will be ruined (v.8).
When you walk in integrity, you will walk securely. He who perverts his way will be found out (v.9).
He who winks his eye causes trouble (v.10).
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life. I'm guessing this fountain of life is having something to do with with something spiritual/spiritual aspect in our walk with Christ (v.11).
Hatred stirs up strife. This is so very true. Love covers all transgressions. Hallelujah! (v.12).
Lips of the discerning, wisdom is found. Rod for the back of those who lack understanding (v.13).
Wise men store up knowledge. The mouth of the foolish-- ruin is at hand (v.14).
The rich man's wealth is his fortress. The ruin of the poor is their poverty (v.15).
My study Bible says "Wealth can sometimes protect from trouble while poverty is a liability that exposes one to misfortune." The wages of the righteousness is life. The income of the wicked is punishment. This reminds me of "For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life." (v.16).
He who heeds instructions is on the path of life. He who ignores reproof goes astray (v.17).
He who conceals hatred has lying lips and he who spreads slander is a fool (v.18).
When there is many words transgression is unavoidable. He who restrains his lips is wise (v.19).
The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver. Heart of the wicked is worth little (v.20).
Lips of the righteous feed many. Pastors are like this. Fools die for lack of understanding (v.21).
It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich. He adds no sorrow to it (v.22).
My study Bible says real prosperity is a divine blessing accompanied by neither anxiety or trouble. Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool. Wisdom is like sport to a man of understanding. Sport you have to practice it. You can't expect to be the best at it when you first start doing it. Sport could also mean fun which could be describing the fool. They don't care how it might be hurtful. They are having fun and finding enjoyment in it so they won't stop doing it. (v.23).
What the wicked fears will come upon him. The desires of the righteous will be granted (v.24).
When the storm/whirlwind passes the wicked will be no more. But the righteous will remain for they have an everlasting foundation which is Jesus Christ. Reminds me of "Firm Foundation" song (v.25).
The lazy person is like sour vinegar and smoke to the eyes- irritating to the one who sends them.(v.26).
The fear of the Lord prolongs life but the wicked life will be shortened (v.27).
Hope of the righteous=gladness. Expectation of the wicked perishes (v.28).
Way of the Lord is a stronghold to the upright but ruin to workers of iniquity (v.29).
Righteous will never be shaken. Wicked will not dwell in the land (v.30).
Wisdom flows from the mouth of the righteous. Perverted tongue will be cut out (v.31). The lips of the righteous bring forth what is acceptable but the mouth of the wicked bring forth what is perverted. (v.32).
That is what I learned from reading Proverbs 10.
A wise son makes a father glad. One who fears the Lord is wise. A foolish son is a grief to his mother (v.1).
Ill gotten gains do not profit-foolish person. Righteousness delivers from death-wise son (v.2).
The Lord will not allow the righteous to hunger to the wise son. He will reject the craving of the wicked for the foolish son. (v.3)
Poor is he who works with negligent hands- foolish son. Hand of the diligent makes rich- wise son (v.4).
He who gathers in the summer is the wise son. He who sleeps in harvest is the son who acts shamefully and is the foolish son (v.5)
Blessings are on the righteous. The mouth of the wicked conceals violence. Violent plans and language come from the mouth of the wicked(v.6).
The memory of the righteous will/is blessed. The name of the wicked will rot (v.7).
The wise will receive commands but a babbling fool will be ruined (v.8).
When you walk in integrity, you will walk securely. He who perverts his way will be found out (v.9).
He who winks his eye causes trouble (v.10).
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life. I'm guessing this fountain of life is having something to do with with something spiritual/spiritual aspect in our walk with Christ (v.11).
Hatred stirs up strife. This is so very true. Love covers all transgressions. Hallelujah! (v.12).
Lips of the discerning, wisdom is found. Rod for the back of those who lack understanding (v.13).
Wise men store up knowledge. The mouth of the foolish-- ruin is at hand (v.14).
The rich man's wealth is his fortress. The ruin of the poor is their poverty (v.15).
My study Bible says "Wealth can sometimes protect from trouble while poverty is a liability that exposes one to misfortune." The wages of the righteousness is life. The income of the wicked is punishment. This reminds me of "For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life." (v.16).
He who heeds instructions is on the path of life. He who ignores reproof goes astray (v.17).
He who conceals hatred has lying lips and he who spreads slander is a fool (v.18).
When there is many words transgression is unavoidable. He who restrains his lips is wise (v.19).
The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver. Heart of the wicked is worth little (v.20).
Lips of the righteous feed many. Pastors are like this. Fools die for lack of understanding (v.21).
It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich. He adds no sorrow to it (v.22).
My study Bible says real prosperity is a divine blessing accompanied by neither anxiety or trouble. Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool. Wisdom is like sport to a man of understanding. Sport you have to practice it. You can't expect to be the best at it when you first start doing it. Sport could also mean fun which could be describing the fool. They don't care how it might be hurtful. They are having fun and finding enjoyment in it so they won't stop doing it. (v.23).
What the wicked fears will come upon him. The desires of the righteous will be granted (v.24).
When the storm/whirlwind passes the wicked will be no more. But the righteous will remain for they have an everlasting foundation which is Jesus Christ. Reminds me of "Firm Foundation" song (v.25).
The lazy person is like sour vinegar and smoke to the eyes- irritating to the one who sends them.(v.26).
The fear of the Lord prolongs life but the wicked life will be shortened (v.27).
Hope of the righteous=gladness. Expectation of the wicked perishes (v.28).
Way of the Lord is a stronghold to the upright but ruin to workers of iniquity (v.29).
Righteous will never be shaken. Wicked will not dwell in the land (v.30).
Wisdom flows from the mouth of the righteous. Perverted tongue will be cut out (v.31). The lips of the righteous bring forth what is acceptable but the mouth of the wicked bring forth what is perverted. (v.32).
That is what I learned from reading Proverbs 10.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Proverbs 9
Here are my notes from reading Proverbs 9.
Wisdom is building a house and preparing (v.1-3).
She calls to those who are naive and lack understanding to come to her house (v.4-5).
Forsake folly and live and proceed in the way of understanding (v.6).
He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself and he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself. Don't reprove a scoffer or he will hate you. A scoffer and/or a wicked person will not receive criticism. They will be angry and turn against the person who is trying to help them. Reprove a wise person on the other hand and that person will love you (v.7-8).
Give instruction to a wise person and they will become wiser. Teach a righteous person and he will listen and increase his learning. He will understand that he needs to learn more and that they do not know everything. They should listen and understand and know that there is always going to be someone smarter, wiser, more mature than them, and therefore have more experience in that are that is being taught to them. Therefore they should also show their teachers respect (v.9).
The theme of the Book of Proverbs is reiterated here. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding" (v.10).
By me your days will be multiplied and years of life will be added to you. This only happens if you are the wise person (v.11).
If you are wise, you are wise for yourself and if you scoff you alone will bear it. You can either choose to be wise and reap the benefits of doing so or you can scoff and incur the penalty (v.12).
Women of folly is described as:
Boisterous (v.13)
Naive (v.13)
Knows nothing (v.13)
She calls to those who are making their paths straight- those who are going straight on their ways, not staying off the path, those who are living in an upright manner, righteous person, wise and pleasing to God. (v.13)
Calling all those who are naive and lacking understanding to turn aside for a moment to her place. (v.16)
Stolen water is sweet and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. This reminds me of the saying "What somebody doesn't knows can't hurt them." Even though when it is found out as seen in the previous chapter there is nothing they can do about it, they cannot give it back. (v.17)
The naive will not know or realize that the dead are there and that the woman of folly's guests are in the depths of Sheol are there. He won't find out until it is too later and he has already been a participant in the act/crime. (v.18)
This act/crime can be anything, not just adultery.
This is what I got from reading Proverbs 9.
Wisdom is building a house and preparing (v.1-3).
She calls to those who are naive and lack understanding to come to her house (v.4-5).
Forsake folly and live and proceed in the way of understanding (v.6).
He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself and he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself. Don't reprove a scoffer or he will hate you. A scoffer and/or a wicked person will not receive criticism. They will be angry and turn against the person who is trying to help them. Reprove a wise person on the other hand and that person will love you (v.7-8).
Give instruction to a wise person and they will become wiser. Teach a righteous person and he will listen and increase his learning. He will understand that he needs to learn more and that they do not know everything. They should listen and understand and know that there is always going to be someone smarter, wiser, more mature than them, and therefore have more experience in that are that is being taught to them. Therefore they should also show their teachers respect (v.9).
The theme of the Book of Proverbs is reiterated here. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding" (v.10).
By me your days will be multiplied and years of life will be added to you. This only happens if you are the wise person (v.11).
If you are wise, you are wise for yourself and if you scoff you alone will bear it. You can either choose to be wise and reap the benefits of doing so or you can scoff and incur the penalty (v.12).
Women of folly is described as:
Boisterous (v.13)
Naive (v.13)
Knows nothing (v.13)
She calls to those who are making their paths straight- those who are going straight on their ways, not staying off the path, those who are living in an upright manner, righteous person, wise and pleasing to God. (v.13)
Calling all those who are naive and lacking understanding to turn aside for a moment to her place. (v.16)
Stolen water is sweet and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. This reminds me of the saying "What somebody doesn't knows can't hurt them." Even though when it is found out as seen in the previous chapter there is nothing they can do about it, they cannot give it back. (v.17)
The naive will not know or realize that the dead are there and that the woman of folly's guests are in the depths of Sheol are there. He won't find out until it is too later and he has already been a participant in the act/crime. (v.18)
This act/crime can be anything, not just adultery.
This is what I got from reading Proverbs 9.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Peace and Hope
Peace and Hope
To be able to cope
When life throws you those curves
And you don't know where to turn.
O Lord, which way?
Should I choose to go
Or should I stay?
When you don't know what He's doing
Just remember that He's all knowing.
Live by faith and not by sight
Do not fret for you need not be dismayed.
For the Lord is with you
On this journey called life.
Yes every second of every day
He'll be with you forever and always
So trust Him and He will you give you the peace and hope
So that you will be able to cope.
by Michelle Miano
To be able to cope
When life throws you those curves
And you don't know where to turn.
O Lord, which way?
Should I choose to go
Or should I stay?
When you don't know what He's doing
Just remember that He's all knowing.
Live by faith and not by sight
Do not fret for you need not be dismayed.
For the Lord is with you
On this journey called life.
Yes every second of every day
He'll be with you forever and always
So trust Him and He will you give you the peace and hope
So that you will be able to cope.
by Michelle Miano
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Ten Shekels and a Shirt- Paris Reidhead
In my last post I mentioned I had been on a Facebook fast. During that week I listened to a variety of different sermons. One of the sermons I listened to was Ten Shekels and a Shirt by Paris Reidhead. This was an amazing sermon. I had never heard it before. If you haven't listened to it I would recommend that you do.
Here are my notes from his sermon...
Judges 17-18:6 (New American Standard Bible)
Judges 17- Micah's Idolatry
1Now there was a man of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Micah.
2He said to his mother, "The eleven hundred pieces of silver which were taken from you, about which you uttered a curse in my hearing, behold, the silver is with me; I took it." And his mother said, "Blessed be my son by the LORD."
3He then returned the eleven hundred pieces of silver to his mother, and his mother said, "I wholly dedicate the silver from my hand to the LORD for my son to make a graven image and a molten image; now therefore, I will return them to you."
4So when he returned the silver to his mother, his mother took two hundred pieces of silver and gave them to the silversmith who made them into a graven image and a molten image, and they were in the house of Micah.
5And the man Micah had a shrine and he made an ephod and household idols and consecrated one of his sons, that he might become his priest.
6In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes.
7Now there was a young man from Bethlehem in Judah, of the family of Judah, who was a Levite; and he was staying there.
8Then the man departed from the city, from Bethlehem in Judah, to stay wherever he might find a place; and as he made his journey, he came to the hill country of Ephraim to the house of Micah.
9Micah said to him, "Where do you come from?" And he said to him, "I am a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah, and I am going to stay wherever I may find a place."
10Micah then said to him, "Dwell with me and be a father and a priest to me, and I will give you ten pieces of silver a year, a suit of clothes, and your maintenance." So the Levite went in.
11The Levite agreed to live with the man, and the young man became to him like one of his sons.
12So Micah consecrated the Levite, and the young man became his priest and lived in the house of Micah.
13Then Micah said, "Now I know that the LORD will prosper me, seeing I have a Levite as priest."
Judges 18
Danites Seek Territory
1In those days there was no king of Israel; and in those days the tribe of the Danites was seeking an inheritance for themselves to live in, for until that day an inheritance had not been allotted to them as a possession among the tribes of Israel.
2So the sons of Dan sent from their family five men out of their whole number, valiant men from Zorah and Eshtaol, to spy out the land and to search it; and they said to them, "Go, search the land " And they came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there.
3When they were near the house of Micah, they recognized the voice of the young man, the Levite; and they turned aside there and said to him, "Who brought you here? And what are you doing in this place? And what do you have here?"
4He said to them, "Thus and so has Micah done to me, and he has hired me and I have become his priest."
5They said to him, "Inquire of God, please, that we may know whether our way on which we are going will be prosperous."
6The priest said to them, "Go in peace; your way in which you are going has the LORD'S approval."
Judges 18:14-21 (New American Standard Bible)
Danites Take Micah's Idols
14Then the five men who went to spy out the country of Laish said to their kinsmen, "Do you know that there are in these houses an ephod and household idols and a graven image and a molten image? Now therefore, consider what you should do."
15They turned aside there and came to the house of the young man, the Levite, to the house of Micah, and asked him of his welfare.
16The six hundred men armed with their weapons of war, who were of the sons of Dan, stood by the entrance of the gate.
17Now the five men who went to spy out the land went up and entered there, and took the graven image and the ephod and household idols and the molten image, while the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men armed with weapons of war.
18When these went into Micah's house and took the graven image, the ephod and household idols and the molten image, the priest said to them, "What are you doing?"
19They said to him, "Be silent, put your hand over your mouth and come with us, and be to us a father and a priest. Is it better for you to be a priest to the house of one man, or to be priest to a tribe and a family in Israel?"
20The priest's heart was glad, and he took the ephod and household idols and the graven image and went among the people.
21Then they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the livestock and the valuables in front of them.
Every man back then did what was right in his own eyes.
Pragmatism- If it succeeds, it's good. If it's worth it, it's true.
What is the standard of success? Is God an end or is He a means?
Humanism- The end of all being is the happiness of man. "The reason of existence is man's happiness. No absolute standard." -John Dewey.
Liberalism- Put sugar in coffee to sweeten the journey for a short period of time. Happiness is a by-product not a prime product.
What is the philosophy of evangelism and Christianity?
Missionaries are sometimes motivated by humanism. He realized that the people he was trying to reach out to knew about God and didn't want to go to heaven. It wasn't that they had never heard. We don't want people to suffer--that's humanism. They loved their sin and that's why they deserve to go to Hell. God tells us that "He did not send us to go out there for their (the people who were lost) sake but for Christ's (my) sake."
The end of all being is the glory of God.
Why did we repent? Weep over yours sins not because of the danger of Hell but because you realize the enormity of your sins. Bad men deserve to receive the wrath of a Good God.
Did I repent just to go to Heaven? God deserves the obedience! Repent for the Glory of God! You are defrauding the God of the glory He could get out of your life.
Are we crucified with Christ?
I am crucified with Christ! Lord fill my life with your presence! Everything will be done by you and for you! God is not going to be a means to anyone's end! You can do nothing for yourself! It's not what you are going to get out of God! It's what God is going to get out of you!
May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering! That my friends is our entire life! Not bits and pieces but every aspect of our life!
Here are my notes from his sermon...
Judges 17-18:6 (New American Standard Bible)
Judges 17- Micah's Idolatry
1Now there was a man of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Micah.
2He said to his mother, "The eleven hundred pieces of silver which were taken from you, about which you uttered a curse in my hearing, behold, the silver is with me; I took it." And his mother said, "Blessed be my son by the LORD."
3He then returned the eleven hundred pieces of silver to his mother, and his mother said, "I wholly dedicate the silver from my hand to the LORD for my son to make a graven image and a molten image; now therefore, I will return them to you."
4So when he returned the silver to his mother, his mother took two hundred pieces of silver and gave them to the silversmith who made them into a graven image and a molten image, and they were in the house of Micah.
5And the man Micah had a shrine and he made an ephod and household idols and consecrated one of his sons, that he might become his priest.
6In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes.
7Now there was a young man from Bethlehem in Judah, of the family of Judah, who was a Levite; and he was staying there.
8Then the man departed from the city, from Bethlehem in Judah, to stay wherever he might find a place; and as he made his journey, he came to the hill country of Ephraim to the house of Micah.
9Micah said to him, "Where do you come from?" And he said to him, "I am a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah, and I am going to stay wherever I may find a place."
10Micah then said to him, "Dwell with me and be a father and a priest to me, and I will give you ten pieces of silver a year, a suit of clothes, and your maintenance." So the Levite went in.
11The Levite agreed to live with the man, and the young man became to him like one of his sons.
12So Micah consecrated the Levite, and the young man became his priest and lived in the house of Micah.
13Then Micah said, "Now I know that the LORD will prosper me, seeing I have a Levite as priest."
Judges 18
Danites Seek Territory
1In those days there was no king of Israel; and in those days the tribe of the Danites was seeking an inheritance for themselves to live in, for until that day an inheritance had not been allotted to them as a possession among the tribes of Israel.
2So the sons of Dan sent from their family five men out of their whole number, valiant men from Zorah and Eshtaol, to spy out the land and to search it; and they said to them, "Go, search the land " And they came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there.
3When they were near the house of Micah, they recognized the voice of the young man, the Levite; and they turned aside there and said to him, "Who brought you here? And what are you doing in this place? And what do you have here?"
4He said to them, "Thus and so has Micah done to me, and he has hired me and I have become his priest."
5They said to him, "Inquire of God, please, that we may know whether our way on which we are going will be prosperous."
6The priest said to them, "Go in peace; your way in which you are going has the LORD'S approval."
Judges 18:14-21 (New American Standard Bible)
Danites Take Micah's Idols
14Then the five men who went to spy out the country of Laish said to their kinsmen, "Do you know that there are in these houses an ephod and household idols and a graven image and a molten image? Now therefore, consider what you should do."
15They turned aside there and came to the house of the young man, the Levite, to the house of Micah, and asked him of his welfare.
16The six hundred men armed with their weapons of war, who were of the sons of Dan, stood by the entrance of the gate.
17Now the five men who went to spy out the land went up and entered there, and took the graven image and the ephod and household idols and the molten image, while the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men armed with weapons of war.
18When these went into Micah's house and took the graven image, the ephod and household idols and the molten image, the priest said to them, "What are you doing?"
19They said to him, "Be silent, put your hand over your mouth and come with us, and be to us a father and a priest. Is it better for you to be a priest to the house of one man, or to be priest to a tribe and a family in Israel?"
20The priest's heart was glad, and he took the ephod and household idols and the graven image and went among the people.
21Then they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the livestock and the valuables in front of them.
Every man back then did what was right in his own eyes.
Pragmatism- If it succeeds, it's good. If it's worth it, it's true.
What is the standard of success? Is God an end or is He a means?
Humanism- The end of all being is the happiness of man. "The reason of existence is man's happiness. No absolute standard." -John Dewey.
Liberalism- Put sugar in coffee to sweeten the journey for a short period of time. Happiness is a by-product not a prime product.
What is the philosophy of evangelism and Christianity?
Missionaries are sometimes motivated by humanism. He realized that the people he was trying to reach out to knew about God and didn't want to go to heaven. It wasn't that they had never heard. We don't want people to suffer--that's humanism. They loved their sin and that's why they deserve to go to Hell. God tells us that "He did not send us to go out there for their (the people who were lost) sake but for Christ's (my) sake."
The end of all being is the glory of God.
Why did we repent? Weep over yours sins not because of the danger of Hell but because you realize the enormity of your sins. Bad men deserve to receive the wrath of a Good God.
Did I repent just to go to Heaven? God deserves the obedience! Repent for the Glory of God! You are defrauding the God of the glory He could get out of your life.
Are we crucified with Christ?
I am crucified with Christ! Lord fill my life with your presence! Everything will be done by you and for you! God is not going to be a means to anyone's end! You can do nothing for yourself! It's not what you are going to get out of God! It's what God is going to get out of you!
May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering! That my friends is our entire life! Not bits and pieces but every aspect of our life!
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