Pleasing God -2

A Study In the Word
By Aalie

Pleasing God -2

In our first study concerning "Pleasing God" we talked about walking humbly before God..by having a broken and contrite heart..as He is pleased with that kind of sacrifice before Him. In Micah it goes along similar lines..let's read the verses:

⁶ With what shall I come before the LORD, And bow myself before the High God?
Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, With calves a year old?

⁷ Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, Ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
⁸ He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?

Where it says "Come before the LORD"..it means "to make an approach in true worship". In Psalms 15 the question is raised to the Lord on who may abide in His tabernacle..or who may dwell in His holy hill..and the answer to the question is given..only those whose walk is upright..and those whose work is righteous..those who speak the truth in their hearts..one who does not backbite with his tongue, nor one who does evil to his neighbor, nor one who takes up a reproach against his friend. A righteous or holy person hates what God hates.

"burnt offerings,.... calves a year old"...These were among the prescribed sacrifices of true biblical worship (see Lev.1:3: 9:3).

The words of verse 7 go far beyond any demand of the Law, and even go against the law in the suggestion that God not be satisfied except by an offering of ones own child. Of course Micah in that verse used deliberate exaggeration to emphasize the necessity of a right attitude in the true worship of God.

"be pleased"..The idea of bringing pleasure to God through sacrifice is found elsewhere in the Bible. God is pleased with those who do as He commands (see Gen. 4:1-8). God was pleased with Abel's sacrifice but not with Cain's sacrifice. For one thing Abel's sacrifice was a blood sacrifice..where Cain's wasn't. It is not so much of their offerings as it was of their attitude..as we find later on in the Bible that grain offerings were also acceptable. Again when we come before God we must offer ourselves humbly and contrition-ally before Him.

In verse 8..it speaks of the underlying attitudes that must accompany all true worship.

what does the LORD require of you.. The thing here is that God seeks certain characteristics of true worship from His people..and that is to do justly...love mercy... walk humbly : These phrases summarise biblical piety in true worship. The majority of the people of Israel had violated each of these standards repeatedly. The rulers did not know justice (see Micah3:1), they had no interest in mercy (Micah3:2,3), and they demonstrated no humility (see Micah 3:11)

with your God... It is the Lord who ultimately gives a person strength, courage, and ability to exercise the virtues of godly living.

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, forgive us when we come before you with an attitude that is not pleasing to you, break us, mold us, and make us in the person you want us to be
for your glory and praise. In Jesus Name, Amen

"A Study in the Word" is a short study devotional written by me..Aalie..please forward if you believe these studies may help or bless someone..please leave credits and links intact.
Scripture is from the NKJV some of the comments are from the Nelson Complete Study System..or otherwise noted.
You may read these devotional studies and other inspirational messages at http://aalie.multiply.com/ or at http://oursolidrock.blogspot.com/

A Study in the Word ~ Pleasing God1

A Study In the Word
By Aalie - 1/28/10

Pleasing God 1

Psalm 51:16,17 in the NKJV says, 16."For you do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; you do not delight in burnt offering."
17."The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart--These, O God, You will not despise."

This is a Psalm of David and the key term in verse 16 is the verb desire, which means "to find pleasure in" God's pleasure is not in the sacrificed animal, but in the restored person. God did demand sacrifices, even from David; but His pleasure is in the person who comes obediently to Him (see also Gen.4:1-7; John 4:21-14; Rom. 12:1,2). Actions not accompanied by a contrite heart are not acceptable to God.

God sees the whole picture..He sees the heart of a person..unlike us. We only see what is on the outside of a person, a person's look, a person's speech, a person's education, a person's dress...how much money or this world's goods they may have. These are the things that influence many of us..not so with God..what influences God is humbleness of spirit before Him. He knows when a person is really sorry for their sins. We might be able to fool the people around us..but we cannot fool God.

Today's Prayer:

Father God, work in my heart and life that I may walk pleasing You by having a humble spirit..broken and contrite before you..living a holy and righteous life..for you are not pleased with any other sacrifices. In Jesus Name, Amen


"A Study in the Word" is a short study devotional written by me..Aalie..please forward if you believe these studies may help or bless someone..please leave credits and links intact.
Scripture is from the NKJV some comments may be from Nelson Complete Study System..or otherwise noted.
You may read these devotional studies at http://aalie.multiply.com/ or at http://oursolidrock.blogspot.com/

"Get Up Son!"

"Get Up Son!"

On a sunny morning, William's mother came into her son's room and said, "William, it's Sunday. Time to get up! Time to get up and go to church! Get up!"

From under the covers came mumbles, "I don't want to go!"

"What do you mean?" she said. "That's silly! Now get up and get dressed and go to church!"

"No!" he shot back. "I'll give you two reasons. I don't like them and they don't like me!"

"Nonsense," she told him. "I'll give YOU two reasons to go. First, you are 42 years old, and second, you are the PASTOR!"

Brutal Honesty

Brutal Honesty

After 20 years two college rivals bumped into each other. "Do you remember how I used to be so fat and flabby?' asked the first. "Well, I've been on an exercise program for a few years, and now I run marathons."

"That's great!" replied the other man.

"And," the first man continued, "Do you remember how I used to be shy and a poor student? Well, I took a course in public speaking, and now I make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year on the lecture circuit"

"That's great!" came the reply.

"Oh, and how about you?" the first man asked. "Have you changed at all?"

"Well, yes I have", replied the second man. "Remember how brutally honest I used to be, and how when someone said something uninteresting, I would reply, "I couldn't care less?" Well now I just say, "That's great!"

The Red Thread

The Red Thread

A missionary was traveling in the Far East when he came across a booth in a market place. It was a tapestry maker's booth. As he walked by he saw a strange sight. A man was standing in the booth shouting at his loom on the other side of the booth. As he shouted threads appeared in the tapestry almost by magic. The missionary asked his guide for an explanation.

"The man you see," said the guide, "Is a master weaver. He is speaking to his apprentice behind the loom telling him what color thread to use and where to put it. Only the weaver knows the entire design, so it is vital that the apprentice do exactly as the master commands."

"Does the apprentice ever make a mistake?" asked the missionary.

"Of course. But the weaver is a very kind man in this case and he will rarely have the boy take out the thread. Instead, being a great artist, he simply works the mistake into the design."

How much that is like God. We cannot see the pattern of the tapestry God is weaving. We are on the other side of the loom looking at knotted threads placed seemingly without purpose. Occasionally we can catch a glimpse of the design, but then as soon as we think we have it pegged the master calls for a thread which changes every thing. So, we have to trust the master weaver that he knows what he is doing.

And like the apprentice, we, too make our mistakes. We put in a red thread instead of a violet one. We knot it in the wrong place or place it crookedly. And God in his mercy doesn't upbraid us but takes our own mistakes and make them part of the design.

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I Choose

I Choose

It's quiet. It's early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming. In a few moments the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met. For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day's demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I'm free to choose. And so I choose...

I CHOOSE LOVE... No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.

I CHOOSE JOY... I will invite my God to be the God of circumstances. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical... the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I CHOOSE PEACE... I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.

I CHOOSE PATIENCE... I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clenching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I CHOOSE KINDNESS... I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I CHOOSE GOODNESS... I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse.

I CHOOSE FAITHFULNESS... Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my love. And my children will never fear that their father will not come home.

I CHOOSE GENTLENESS... Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.

I CHOOSE SELF-CONTROL... I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will not, rule the eternal. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control - Galatians 5:22,23

To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek His grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest with the peace that passes all understanding.

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Where's the Line to See Jesus? ~ Becky Kelley

Friends,

I wanted to share with you a Christmas song, "Where is the line to see Jesus". A high school friend of Lauren's records songs with his cousins for family and friends at Christmas and gives them as gifts. This year one of the children in the family asked, while standing in line to see Santa, why there wasn't a line to see Jesus. The dad was inspired by his grandson to write this song and record with his daughter. The cousins recorded and produced this video. The singer is Becky Haupt Kelly from Lindbergh HS 98'. I believe the clip is filmed in Crestwood Mall.

I hope you enjoy the song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPViKJRHyZo

"Mending What's Broken"

"Mending What's Broken"

"He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." Psalm 147:3

God specializes in repairing that which is broken. He knows just how to mend it- He knows just how to put it back together. And He desires to put that which is broken back together again.

This fact about God was revealed through the cross. Mankind's relationship with God was broken through Adam's disobedience. God sent His Son Jesus into the world to repair our broken relationship with Him. Through the cross He also fixed our broken lives. He "put us back together again". He made us whole and complete.

When God puts it back together, He does it so perfectly that there is no scar, no seam line and no crack left as evidence that it was ever broken to begin with. That's because He has a way of making it completely brand new- just as if it had never been broken.

What's broken in your life this morning? Is it your relationship with the Lord? Is it a relationship with someone else? Is it your heart that is broken over a situation? Is your life shattered? Whatever it is, the cross is a place of mending. It's a place of repair. It's a place where whatever is broken can be put back together again and made whole. Turn to the cross- turn to its mending, healing, restoring power this morning. Turn to the wonderful Savior who was willing to go to the cross so that whatever in your life is broken could be put back together again.

Have a great day. The cross mended our broken relationship with God.. and everything else that is broken.

For further reading:

Isaiah 59:2

2 Corinthians 5:17,19

Colossians 1:20

Isaiah 42:3; Matthew 12:20

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

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Sing With the Understanding

Sing With the Understanding

by Alan Smith

I heard once about a woman who spent some months serving as a missionary in South Africa. On her final visit to a remote township she attended a medical clinic. As the Zulu women there began to sing together, she found herself deeply moved by their hauntingly beautiful harmonies. She wanted to always remember this moment and try to share it with friends when she arrived home. With tears flowing down her cheeks, she turned to her friend and asked, "Can you please tell me the translation of the words to this song?"

Her friend looked at her and solemnly replied... "If you boil the water, you won't get dysentery."

How many times have we been guilty of the same thing in our worship to God? Not of singing that particular song, but of singing without being aware of the meaning of the words we were singing.

It seems to me that singing songs of praise is like driving a car. If you drive, you've learned that if you follow the same route day after day, it is possible for you to make the trip without even thinking about what you're doing. We've all had the scary feeling of arriving at a location realizing that we "zoned out" en route and made the trip while our mind was on "autopilot."

Many of us have had the same experience in our worship. We sing all the songs (like we've done countless times before) but our mind is on "autopilot" and after we've finished, we don't have a clue what we just sang about.

Paul said, "I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding." (1 Corinthians 14:15)

For those of us who are easily distracted, it requires a bit more effort, but may we resolve to strive to pay attention to the words that we are singing. May the songs of praise we sing truly come from a heart that exalts God!

this article by Alan Smith, Senior Pastor of the Helen Street Church of Christ in Fayetteville, North Carolina. You can visit his site at http://www.TFTD-online.com

Teach Me Lord To Wait

firstIMPRESSIONS
Pastor Timothy Satryan

Jairus was a well-known, powerful, wealthy individual who was the head of the local synagogue. When his 12-year-old daughter, his only child, was in great need, he sought out Jesus to heal her.

We don't know whether Jairus was a believer in Jesus. As the head of the synagogue, he would have been a religious man. He probably had heard about Jesus. Maybe he had already put his faith in Him. But Jairus believed that Jesus could save his daughter's life. So he went and found the Lord and begged Him to heal his daughter. He placed his complete trust in Jesus.

But as they were on the way to his house the news came that his daughter had died. The reason they did not get to his daughter more quickly was because a woman in need of healing came along and touched Jesus, and He stopped and demanded to know who it was that touched Him.

Yet Jairus did not complain. Rather, he committed himself to Jesus, believing that God knew what He was doing. His faith was dramatic, especially because at this particular time in Jesus' ministry, He had not raised anyone from the dead. Granted, He had healed people. But there had been no resurrections.

Jairus had to wait. We have to wait!

A lot of us grow impatient with God. In our impatience, we can foolishly take things into our own hands and make them far worse. Know this - God's delays are not necessarily His denials. We need to wait on the Lord. God's timing is just as important as His will. He doesn't ask for us to understand. He just asks us to trust.

Here is your copy of firstIMPRESSIONS, Volume 10.03. Live for God, on purpose, trusting Him and waiting for His perfect time.

---

On My Father's Side ~ by The Barn Again Gang

The Apostle Paul's "New Year's Resolution"

The Apostle Paul's
"New Year's Resolution"

The best "New Year's Resolution" comes directly from the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:2. Like Paul, let us this year "resolve to know nothing but Christ and him crucified."

Paul's message is radically simple: Salvation is in Christ alone. What does this mean?

It's not Christ plus your good behavior.

It's not Christ plus the years you taught a Bible study.

It's not Christ plus your tithe.

It's not Christ plus the church you attend.

It's not Christ plus the number of verses you memorize.

It's not Christ plus your title in the church.

It's not Christ plus wisdom from the latest Christian seminar.

It's not Christ plus a desert fast (or even a dessert fast!).

It's not Christ plus a good driving record.

It's not Christ plus well-behaved children.

It's not Christ plus the right job.

It's not Christ plus the right spouse.

It's not Christ plus the latest technology.

It's simply Christ. Christ plus nothing.

That's a message that is as right throughout the coming year as it will be in 2999. May your new resolution for the year be nothing but Christ and him crucified.

The Loan

The Loan
=========

You borrowed money from someone who loaned you money because
they knew you personally. You didn't put up collateral.

The money was loaned to you on your word.

You haven't paid it back.

You don't have the money to pay it back, at least you don't
right now. You could have paid some in the past but you had
other priorities.

I received a call from a young lady whom I had loaned money to
finish a class in school. She paid me half of the money in
small monthly installments as she could. When she was running
late on a payment, she would call and explain.

I remember when I purchased some rental townhome units over 15
years ago. The developer of the units told me not to rent to
three types of people. 1. Friends 2. Artists 3. Preachers.

I was somewhat offended that he would lump men and women of God
into the non-rent paying category. This was long before I became
a preacher. Now I fully understand why he included preachers in
the non-rent paying bunch. Not all of course fit this category
but a surprisingly high percentage of gospel talking folk won't
honor their financial commitments and will literally disappear
with your money, never to be heard from again. Or at least, to
be heard from only when they need more.

Some of you owe money to people who loaned you money in good
faith. You are a good person, but due to reasons, you haven't
paid them back and perhaps because of a little guilt you haven't
mentioned it.

When the lady called yesterday and left this message on my
office voicemail, I thought, "It sure would be nice if most of
the church people were like this."

They can be. You can be.

If you owe someone money and you've not contacted them about it

contact them.

It's not just a matter of money. It's a matter of integrity and
you represent more than just you. Even if you don't have their
money, contact them and let them know that you haven't abandoned
the debt and your word.

Contact them today.

~A MountainWings Original~

Should Divorce Be Illegal?

Comments Pro and Con are accepted! We all know that God hates divorce...

but sometimes and in certain instances isn't it better than to stay married?

Especially where abuse is concerned?

The Gospel Message

Days of Heaven on Earth

Inspirational Readings by A.B. Simpson

Days of Heaven on Earth

Monday, January 04, 2010

Scripture

Blessed is the man-Psalm 1:1

Three things are notable about this blessed man:

1. His company. He walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2. His reading and thinking. His delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

3. His fruitfulness. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

The river is the Holy Spirit; the planting, the deep abiding life in which, not occasionally but habitually, we absorb Him. The fruit is not once in a while, but continual and appropriate to each changing season.

His life is also prosperous and his spirit fresh, like the unfading leaf. Such a life must be happy. Indeed, happiness is a matter of spiritual conditions. Put a sunbeam in a cellar and it must be bright. Put a nightingale in the darkest midnight, and it must sing.

Simpson Devotionals


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