This could get lengthy...I'll try to keep it short. Try, being the operative word.
Its been awhile since I have given you my bible study thoughts (for those of you who were used to recieving them daily at one time) but I feel inspired to share again.
My main bible study is called "Face to Face - Praying the Scriptures for Intimate Worship" it is a three month study so basically I rinse lather and repeat four times during the year. I have had this book for years, but really started studying it a few years ago. Todays "adoration" portion just jumped off the page to me...actually the entire study today. So much so I had to get the Lexicon out. And you know what that means!! Here it goes....
Psalm 105:4
I will seek you Lord [The Existing One}, and Your Strength [fortress, mighty, power, material or physical..personal, social or political]I will seek [seek to find, seek to secure, to desire, to ask, to require of....not aimless, but expecting to be found] Your face [presence...before AND behind, toward, in front of, forward AND formerly, from before time] continually [continually, perpetually, root meaning "to stretch"]
So while I am studying this, I have some worship music on and this is what comes on...Atmosphere by Andy Chrisman ( I don't have all the words...)
You are my sun, you are my life, My hopes, My dreamsEverything is rightYou calm the stormsYou guide my lifeAnd no matter where I choose to goYou are thereYou are nearYou're my Atmosphere! (before me, behind me)
Then I read Psalm 15. (I'll go over the first 2 and the last verse)
1 LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?
2 He whose walk is blameless or some versions say, walks with integrity [complete, whole, entire...to be finished, to be whole, to have an end] and who does what is righteous, [to be in the right, to have just cause, to be justified] lets us break that down. JUST IF I"D never sinned who speaks the truth from his heart
Wow, is this a heavy burden, Walk is blameless? and righteous? Until I looked at that on the Lexicon, I was feeling very incapable of this tall order. Thankfully I am not complete, whole, finished....I'm a work in progress. Nor am I Righteous, but the true meaning of Righteous is justification....I am JUST IF I"D by the Cross....JUST IF I"D NEVER SINNED!! Romans 5:8-10, Romans 8:29-31 Acknowledged, Acquitted, FREED!
5b He who does these things will never be shaken.[will never be made to totter, shake or slip...will not be overthrown, dislodged, dropped]
Shellys Paraphrase:
This is awesome, if we believe in Christs justification, wholeness, completeness IT IS FINISHED (to set out for a definate point or goal). Gods purpose is wholeness. It is His Point His Goal. To approach the throne of Grace with CONFIDENCE!!! To DWELL in the santuary, presence of God, before and behind...to Stretch Continually for EXPECTANCY, answer...wisdom...blessing. But you have to get your mind in line with what God says about you! How can you expect if you don't believe in JUST IF I"D?
One more thing on this: Yesterday...or the day before, I read this and it really hit home. I Sam. 14:6,106 Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, "Come, let's go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few."Jonathan knew the Lord could save, no matter who or how many were fighting the battle. His only question was whether God would choose to do it through them that day. His faith in God's strength and determination stood solidly. God could (and would) do anything! We tend to believe "oh yes...God can...but don't really believe he WILL for US" This is where you need to get your mind in line with God. What does God say about YOU?
In the times I doubt and search for answer, I have to remember Mark 9:24 "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
Ok I could go on and on about this ..but I will move onto the next thing I read in the Affirmation portion of the study.
Psalm 119:73 73)Your hands made me and fashioned me [an original creation]; give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.
Jeremiah 1:5
5"Before I formed [an original creation] you in the womb I knew [to know by experience] you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations."
Jeremiah 12:3a
3But You know [to know by experience] me, O LORD; You see me; And You examine my heart's attitude toward You.
There are 5-6-7 lessons or more in these alone, and while I would like to go on and on about it..I must go onto the next part of the study....which is Thanksgiving
2 Corinthians 5:21
21He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Ephesians 1:4-6
4just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him In love 5He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
Back to the beginning....the burden of being Righteouness and Blameless. But God Chose us to be Blameless...WHOLE, COMPLETE, The greek here means, without blemish, faultless, unblameable.
We might become [to come into existance, begin to be, to be made, finished] THE righteousness [approved of, acceptable to God, justified...wait there is that word again].
Shelly's Paraphrase:
Who may dwell in the presence? The before and behind? Those who were chosen, by the existing one, that we would be without fault and become, finished and justified before God and not be shaken, made to totter, slip or fall.
I went onto read in Ephesians....you'd think I had never read it before....lol....but when I turned the page, they were stuck together, so I went from Chapter 1 to Chapter 3, so it read like this. starting at the bottom of the page which is verse 12.
.....in order that we, who were the first hope (I love the way it says this....the First Hope) in Christ, might be for the (chapter 3:9) ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12In him and through faith in him we may approach God (the throne of Grace!) with freedom and confidence. 13I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
A Prayer for the Ephesians
14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (COMPLETE!)
I hope this blesses you today. I promised to take Corby to the park this morning before it gets too hot. So I better get to it!! Cuz I could again go on and on over Ephesians Chapter 1 and 3.
Love you all, Have a Great and Blessed Day!!!!!!!!
~~Shelly
Watch out now....Who Am I...is on the radio! If you made it this far....its worth reading these lyrics!
Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth Would care to know my name Would care to feel my hurt Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star Would choose to light the way For my ever wandering heart Not because of who I am But because of what You've done Not because of what I've done But because of who You're Chorus: I am a flower quickly fading Here today and gone tomorrow A wave tossed in the ocean A vapor in the wind Still You hear me when I'm calling Lord, You catch me when I'm falling And You've told me who I am I am Yours, I am Yours Who Am I, that the eyes that see my sin Would look on me with love and watch me rise again Who Am I, that the voice that calmed the sea Would call out through the rain And calm the storm in me I am Yours Whom shall I fear Whom shall I fear 'Cause I am Yours I am Yours
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