Consider Your Wayz!

5 October 2006

My Soul Thirsts for God!

post in: devotional, meditation — abixby @ 5:45 am

As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So pants my soul for You, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
Psalm 42:1, 2a

Behold, I long for Your precepts;
Revive me in Your righteousness.
Psalm 119:40

It is with great excitement and an insatiable desire that I read these words that the Lord has given to encourage, strengthen, rebuke, and exhort us regarding our relationship to Him and to His Word! God has given us these wonderful words which are as streams in the desert refreshing the thirsting soul.

This evening I had opportunity to hear my eldest brother expound on this passage briefly; what a blessing to know that the Word of God has instruction for us regarding all of life’s practices.

Psalm 119:1-16, 33-40

1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way,
         Who walk in the law of the LORD!
2 Blessed are those who keep His testimonies,
         Who seek Him with the whole heart!
3 They also do no iniquity;
         They walk in His ways.
4 You have commanded us
         To keep Your precepts diligently.
5 Oh, that my ways were directed
         To keep Your statutes!
6 Then I would not be ashamed,
         When I look into all Your commandments.
7 I will praise You with uprightness of heart,
         When I learn Your righteous judgments.
8 I will keep Your statutes;
         Oh, do not forsake me utterly!

9 How can a young man cleanse his way?
         By taking heed according to Your word.
10 With my whole heart I have sought You;
         Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
11 Your word I have hidden in my heart,
         That I might not sin against You.
12 Blessed are You, O LORD!
         Teach me Your statutes.
13 With my lips I have declared
         All the judgments of Your mouth.
14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,
         As much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on Your precepts,
         And contemplate Your ways.
16 I will delight myself in Your statutes;
         I will not forget Your word.

33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes,
         And I shall keep it to the end.
34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law;
         Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
35 Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,
         For I delight in it.
36 Incline my heart to Your testimonies,
         And not to covetousness.
37 Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things,
         And revive me in Your way.
38 Establish Your word to Your servant,
         Who is devoted to fearing You.
39 Turn away my reproach which I dread,
         For Your judgments are good.
40 Behold, I long for Your precepts;
         Revive me in Your righteousness.

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30 September 2006

Who Will Deliver Me?

post in: devotional, meditation — abixby @ 7:55 am

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21

There is so much that can be said about this passage; yet it speaks very much for itself. It has a way of showing us who we are, and what Christ has become for us for the purpose, that we might become the righteousness of God.

Romans 7:24-8:11

24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

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21 September 2006

A Plea for Wisdom

post in: devotional, meditation — abixby @ 1:42 pm

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given him.”– James 1:5

           A couple years ago, the Lord impressed on my mind as I was reading through Proverbs, that wisdom comes not through osmosis but rather through seeking, searching, crying out for, and following hard after; as for precious, hidden treasure. This pursuit of wisdom begins with a proper fear of God. We must be willing to hear instruction which takes humility and patience. I have found that we as believers are eager to express our desire for wisdom and understanding, but are rarely willing to set aside any hindrances to attaining it, and are rarely willing to spend the time necessary to cultivate a proper, reverent fear of God; which is imperative to begin the pursuit of wisdom.

            I pray that God would spare anyone from wisdom who is not willing to use it for the honor and glory of He who is the giver of it.

Please notice the following:
·         Bold= our responsibility
·         Regular= the result
·         Italics= God’s righteous provision

Proverbs 2 :1-12

1 My son, if you receive my words,
      And treasure my commands within you,
       2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom,
      And apply your heart to understanding;
       3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment,
      And lift up your voice for understanding,
       4 If you seek her as silver,
      And search for her as for hidden treasures;
       5 Then you will understand the fear of the LORD,
      And find the knowledge of God.
       6 For the LORD gives wisdom;
      From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;
       7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
      He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;
       8 He guards the paths of justice,
      And preserves the way of His saints.
       9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice,
      Equity and every good path.
       10 When wisdom enters your heart,
      And knowledge is pleasant to your soul,
       11 Discretion will preserve you;
      Understanding will keep you,
       12 To deliver you from the way of evil,
      From the man who speaks perverse things…Read entire chapter: Proverbs 2
ConsiderYourWayz

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17 September 2006

The Beginning of Knowledge

post in: devotional, meditation — abixby @ 4:17 am

   In the next week I would like to share some passages that have transformed my thinking in the past couple of years; but I would like to preface with these comments and verses.

Proverbs 1:1-7

The Beginning of Knowledge

1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
       2 To know wisdom and instruction,
      To perceive the words of understanding,
       3 To receive the instruction of wisdom,
      Justice, judgment, and equity;
       4 To give prudence to the simple,
      To the young man knowledge and discretion—
       5 A wise man will hear and increase learning,
      And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,
       6 To understand a proverb and an enigma,
      The words of the wise and their riddles.
       7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
      But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

    Wow, that’s a lot to take in!

    We have an entire book dedicated to our guidance in these areas of life. God does not desire His children to live in ignorance. There is hope for the simple, the fool, the sluggard, the proud, the fearless, the fearful, the rich, the poor, the seeking, the searching, the weary, the strong, the adulterer, and the wicked who are willing to follow the advice given not only in Proverbs but also the remainder of the Scriptures, that are given for our learning.

·         Instruction- the communication of intellectual facts.

·         Knowledge- the comprehension of intellectual facts.

·         Understanding- comprehending the functions of intellectual facts.

·         Wisdom- the combination of Instruction, Knowledge, and Understanding with the fear of God as our guide.

    Wisdom is not for the praise of men but for the glory of God; that we in humility might reflect Christ through the wisdom that has been bestowed upon us through the hearing of and obedience to God’s Holy Word.

ConsiderYourWayz

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11 September 2006

How Lovely is Your Tabernacle!

post in: devotional, meditation — abixby @ 4:43 am

I was glad when they said to me,
         “Let us go into the house of the LORD.”
Psalm 122:1

    This Lord’s day I was tremendously encouraged by the preaching of the Word of God and the fellowship of believers. I have been soaking in all that I can before I head to Afghanistan. 6 weeks of civilian life remaining! It will be 2008 before I have opportunity to enjoy the preaching of God’s Word and the fellowship of believers in this kind of setting with regularity again. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised! These verses have been on my mind as I have been reflecting on this day.

Psalm 84
1 How lovely is Your tabernacle,
         O LORD of hosts!
2 My soul longs, yes, even faints
         For the courts of the LORD;
         My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

3 Even the sparrow has found a home,
         And the swallow a nest for herself,
         Where she may lay her young—
         Even Your altars, O LORD of hosts,
         My King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in Your house;
         They will still be praising You.  Selah

5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
         Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
         They make it a spring;
         The rain also covers it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength;
         Each one appears before God in Zion.

8 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer;
         Give ear, O God of Jacob!  Selah
9 O God, behold our shield,
         And look upon the face of Your anointed.

10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand.
         I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
         Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
         The LORD will give grace and glory;
         No good thing will He withhold
         From those who walk uprightly.

12 O LORD of hosts,
         Blessed is the man who trusts in You!

1 Stukje Chaos

13 August 2006

TRUST IN THE LORD!

post in: devotional, meditation — abixby @ 9:24 pm

Please notice the following:
·         Bold= conditions for blessing
·         Italics= rewards for obedience
·         Regular= consequences of our life choices

Psalm 37:3-11

3 Trust in the LORD, and do good;
         Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself also in the LORD,
         And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the LORD,
         Trust also in Him,
         And He shall bring it to pass.
6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,
         And your justice as the noonday.

7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him;
         Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
         Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;
         Do not fret—it only causes harm.

9 For evildoers shall be cut off;
         But those who wait on the LORD,
         They shall inherit the earth.
10 For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more;
         Indeed, you will look carefully for his place,
         But it shall be no more.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth,
         And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
Entire chapter Psalm 37

Do you

TRUST, DELIGHT, and REST in the LORD?

COMMIT YOUR WAY to the LORD?

WAIT PATIENTLY for HIM?

FEED on HIS FAITHFULNESS?

CEASE FROM ANGER, FORSAKE WRATH, and NOT FRET?

These are conditions that we must meet!

   LORD help me to trust you in all things, in good times and in hard times, and to forsake my own wisdom. I know that my obedience to you is a demonstration of my love for you and will result in your blessing on my life; I long to be in close fellowship with you, and to live my life for your glory. Amen

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31 July 2006

Have You Not Known?

post in: meditation — abixby @ 5:20 am

Isaiah 40:28-31

28Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
   the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
   his understanding is unsearchable.
29He gives power to the faint,
   and to him who has no might he increases strength.
30Even youths shall faint and be weary,
   and young men shall fall exhausted;
31but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;
   they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
   they shall walk and not faint.

Read entire chapter Isaiah 40

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21 July 2006

One Who Desires Life

post in: meditation — abixby @ 4:51 am

1 Peter 3:10-12

10For,
         ”THE ONE WHO DESIRES LIFE, TO LOVE AND SEE GOOD DAYS,
         MUST KEEP HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING

         DECEIT.
    11HE MUST TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD;
         HE MUST SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT.
    12FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE TOWARD THE RIGHTEOUS,
         AND HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYER,
         BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL.”

Am I refraining from speaking evil and deceit?

How have I turned away from evil?

What good am I doing?

How have I sought peace and pursued it?

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1 July 2006

Bless The LORD, O My Soul!

post in: meditation — abixby @ 5:49 am

Psalm 103: 1-5

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Read Entire chapter

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5 October 2006

My Soul Thirsts for God!

30 September 2006

Who Will Deliver Me?

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21

There is so much that can be said about this passage; yet it speaks very much for itself. It has a way of showing us who we are, and what Christ has become for us for the purpose, that we might become the righteousness of God.

Romans 7:24-8:11

24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

21 September 2006

A Plea for Wisdom

17 September 2006

The Beginning of Knowledge

Proverbs 1:1-7

The Beginning of Knowledge

11 September 2006

How Lovely is Your Tabernacle!

13 August 2006

TRUST IN THE LORD!

31 July 2006

Have You Not Known?

21 July 2006

One Who Desires Life

1 Peter 3:10-12

1 July 2006

Bless The LORD, O My Soul!

Psalm 103: 1-5

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5 October 2006

30 September 2006

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21

There is so much that can be said about this passage; yet it speaks very much for itself. It has a way of showing us who we are, and what Christ has become for us for the purpose, that we might become the righteousness of God.

24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

21 September 2006

17 September 2006

Proverbs 1:1-7

The Beginning of Knowledge

11 September 2006

13 August 2006

31 July 2006

21 July 2006

1 Peter 3:10-12

1 July 2006

Psalm 103: 1-5

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24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.