Tag Archives: Christian blogger

Choosing a President: Psalm 72

December 8, 2015 Patti Greene

Choices are everywhere for everything under the sun. You go to the store and you decide what bread you want: whole wheat, grain, barley, oven-baked, or rye. You decide between vacationing in the mountains, a remote island, or a busy city. You pore over hair styling magazines to see if you want a pixie, a shag, a French twist, or even hair extensions. Some decisions are easy and some are not quite as easy – like choosing the next President of the United States.

Let’s assume you are wondering how to choose a candidate worthy to be our next president. The first U.S. Presidential debate is over. You had the choice to watch it or not. You have the choice to whom you liked and whom you didn’t. Soon, you will have the choice to vote or not to vote. You may be the silent type who keeps your voting history to yourself or you might be one who purposely visits the nearest candidate headquarters to pick up yard signs, bumper stickers, and buttons to advertise your choice.
Many extremely important and volatile issues will face our next leader. Many issues that faced other countries have now infiltrated into the United States of America. Global issues that previously did not affect us now have an impact on us.
Psalm 72 suggests that a leader should be one who:

Judges the people with righteousness;
Judges the poor with justice;
Defends the cause of the poor;
Gives deliverance to the children of the needy;
Crushes the oppressors;
Delivers the needy when he calls;
Pities the weak and needy; and
Saves the life of the needy (redeems their lives)

Some commentaries say Psalm 72 was written by Solomon himself. However, most commentaries believe it was written by an older King David as a prayer for his son Solomon and for his future leadership as King. Regardless, this chapter is a prayer for Solomon and his reign and Kingdom, it is also a prophetic look toward Jesus’ reign in future times.

But, what else did both Solomon and Jesus do consistently and purposely? They prayed. Unfortunately, towards the end of King Solomon’s reign, he fell into idolatry and disobedience. But for the majority of his life, he prayed for the welfare of those God allowed him the privilege of leading.

While we should pray for our government leaders, I am convinced that we should also pray that our government leaders be Bible-reading, praying people themselves. Something we might want to consider as we evaluate all the candidates and who the next leaders of our country will be.

Abraham prayed. And through his prayers, he received guidance and direction. King Hezekiah prayed and through his prayers idolatry was destroyed. He also prayed for his health and God restored 15 more years to his life. That is a powerful testimony for prayer.

Prayer can change the course of history, of cities, and nations. According to E.M. Bounds in The Complete Works of E.M. Bounds on Prayer, Bounds states, “Prayer and the divine providence are closely related . . . Prayer brings God’s providence into action. Prayer puts God to work in overseeing and directing earth’s affairs for the good of men.” And because of this I am praying for a “Praying President.”

Let’s lift up all the candidates in prayer and seek God’s wisdom and guidance as to a new leader. Let’s pray for our leaders and future leaders as they will shape and govern the affairs of this world. But, more than that, let’s pray for a President, who fits the mold of Psalm 72 and who is dedicated to prayer and praying for God’s wisdom as he leads our nation and faces issues, such as, education, foreign policy, immigration, energy, healthcare, homeland security, social security, and more.

Let’s seek a future leader that:

Has proven himself/herself;
Has shown evidence of God’s preparation for the office of Presidency; and
Will pray consistently and fervently to the Mighty God.

As for me, I am praying for a PRAYING PRESIDENT! How about you?

Bible Verses:

And the Lord said to him, “I have heard your prayer and your plea, which you have made before me. I have consecrated this house that you have built, by putting my name there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time.1 Kings 9:3 [ESV]

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.Philippians 4:6-7 [ESV]

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.James 1:5 [ESV]

Prayer:

Our Heavenly Father, as we seek to pray for Your person to fill the office of President of the United States, give us wisdom and discernment. Let us listen to candidates with Your ears. Let us see with Your eyes. Allow us understand the issues that will affect ourselves and Your will upon the earth. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Have a blessed day.

Patti

Bounds, E.M., The Complete Works of E.M. Bounds on Prayer. Grand Rapids: Baker Books. 1990, (p. 213, 216).

Bible Gateway Blogger Grid (BG²) is an international network of independent bloggers who meaningfully blog—and who are serious—about matters relating to the Bible. Follow the members on Twitter using the BG² List.

www.PattiGreene.com

Bible Study, Christian Living, Prayer

The Speck and The Log: Matthew 7:1-5

December 8, 2015 Patti Greene 1 Comment

Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is a log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:1-5

As I pondered these verses, so many questions came to my mind.

Why is it we can see the faults of others, but we can’t see our own faults?
Who is supposed to tell me what my logs are – my kids, my husband, my parents, You God?
And how is that done? Is there an appropriate way to show me my faults?
Is there an appropriate way to show others their faults?
How should I prepare myself to hear bad news about myself?
Why do I feel the need to judge others for their faults?
Where does humility come into play here?
What if I perceive another person is in danger? Is it alright to tell them what their speck is?
What if they have a “log” in their eye? Why doesn’t the Bible talk about getting a log out of other people’s lives – only specks?
How do I get the log out of my own eye?
Am I a hypocrite?
Have I ever really prayed for God to show me my log?
Do I really want to hear what He might say?
Why does Jesus say speck and log versus specks and logs?

As you can see, these 5 verses brought a lot more questions to my mind than there are verses. And if I thought beyond the few minutes it took to come up with these questions, I could probably double the amount of questions that came quickly to the top of my head.

Pondering these verses, there are three subjects to consider: Judging others, our brother’s speck, and our own log. It is not addressing our speck or our brother’s log. While I am not a theologian, I suspect that speck and log are used in the singular vernacular because the Lord may want us to only concentrate on one speck or one log at a time. But, a theologian scholar would be best able to answer that question as my cursory research into Bible commentaries and ‘Google’ gave no answers. As for this article, the word speck and log will be used uniformly throughout. In addition, Strong’s Concordance defines a brother as a member of the same religious community, especially a fellow-Christian.

JUDGING OTHERS

Preceding the verses about specks and logs are 2 verses about judging.

Jesus states, “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.”Matthew7:1-2

But, on the other hand, in Galatians 6:1-2 Jesus declares, “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

These verses sound rather paradoxical, don’t they? On the one hand, we are told not to judge others, but then we are told, we should keep others accountable. What Jesus is saying is before we judge (condemn or confront) others, we must first repent and become clean ourselves.

But how are we to do it?

After our repentance;
After our cleansing , and
With a spirit of gentleness.

For example, it would be very hypocritical if we tell someone not to have an affair, but we are in the midst of having one. First repent of our sin, cleanse ourselves, and then and only then might we have the opportunity to restore someone else, but only in the spirit of gentleness.

WHY WE JUDGE OTHERS
Many reasons abound as to why we enjoy judging others and take secret delight in seeing the speck (fault) in our brothers. We can blame it on human nature: the fact we like to revel in gossip, pride, or anger to name a few.

Often, when we judge others, it is a form of justifying ourselves and our own actions. A fine example of this type of justification is seen in Luke 18 between the Pharisee and the tax collector.

He [Jesus] also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ Luke 18:9-13

SPECK AND LOG

“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is a log in your own eye?” Matthew 7:3-4

Different versions of the Bible call a speck a “mote” or a “speck of sawdust” while a log may be called a “beam” or a “plank.” No matter what synonymous term is used, a speck is defined along the terms of a minor fault (comparing it to something that might fly into your eye) and a log is compared to a beam which could support an entire building.

If you are like me, you might see “specks” in your children, spouse, so-called friends, bosses, co-workers, and even people you don’t know like public speakers or preachers. I even hate to admit it, but there is a newscaster who really bothers me because she tilts her head back and forth in both directions.

It is amazing what we do with our perceived faults/specks of others. Sometimes we do nothing; sometimes we hastily burst out their faults to them or to others; sometimes we hold our thoughts in and let the annoyance grow and grow; and sometimes we pray about it. And, through our meditation and Bible reading we ask the Lord what, when, if, and how God wants us to deal with another without being an unrighteous judge!!! Many times, we are just seeing a reflection of us in others and God is using that annoyance/fault/sin to show us our log.

A SPECK HURTS

Think about how you feel when you get something in your eye. Eye doctors know that even small objects in someone’s eyes can cause scratches or abrasions on a cornea. While usually just rinsing your eye can alleviate the symptoms and discomfort occasionally these small objects can cause an infection and/or possibly cause one to lose their eyesight.

Our son once experienced extreme pain in his eye. He tried driving to work, but had to turn around and come home within a mile. He couldn’t see, the pain was excruciating, and he couldn’t even keep his eye open. This eye problem became an emergency situation calling for immediate treatment. Pain, attentive parenting, excellent doctors, and medicine remedied our son’s situation in time. His eyesight was restored. Because our son was sleeping in his contacts and thus, not following the suggested “rules” for contact wearers, he put himself in harm’s way.

An Eye Photo Credit: Copyright GreeneFamily — An Eye
Photo Credit: Copyright GreeneFamily

When we do not follow God’s Biblical “rules” set forth in the Bible, we can easily and quickly get ourselves in a position where a speck needs immediate attention. And possibly, the one who has already taken the log out of their own eye is the one to come to their rescue. If we told our son that he was responsible for his eye situation and that he put himself in this dire situation, but didn’t offer any solutions to help him, his life could have changed dramatically. This is sometimes why God will call others to confront people about their speck expeditiously – because it could be an emergency situation and God does not want our condition to worsen.

OUR LOG

Let’s now talk about our own log. Remember, our log is like a big beam – something we have a hard time seeing ourselves. Confronting our log is painful.

Many times we don’t even think about what log we have in our own eyes. I read once that when you want to really know what log you have in your own eye, you should ask someone close to you – someone who would be totally honest with you.

So, I tried that as I was writing this article. I asked my husband if he would tell me what log I have in my life. His immediate response was, “Just one?” Not exactly what I was expecting, but as he pondered how to answer me, he couldn’t quite pinpoint what to tell me on Day 1. But, when I asked him again the next day, he gave me an answer after he prayed about it. Honestly, I was shocked at his answer. I never thought of myself in the word he described. However, I asked him with a full desire to know. Now, I have a new area to research and pray about. Hopefully, this revelation will help me to become more and more the person God wants me to be.

We usually don’t think about the log in our own eye. While I have read Matthew 7 multiple times, I am not even sure I have really thought my log until I started writing this article. Some might not want to confront your log because it might because it might cause us to change, disrupt our lives, confront our sin, and/or recognize our own pride.

PREPARE YOUR HEART FIRST THROUGH PRAYER

Praying will prepare our heart in case the Lord wants to use us to help with someone else’s speck. When we pray, we receive God’s love and grace. We will be taught to “judge righteously” in love and humility. What happens when we prepare our hearts first? Praying will help us to:

Identify our log/sin [God will show us if we have an honest heart to know.]
Humble ourselves [We do not want to confront with proud heart.]
Confess the log/sin He shows us. [We want to help others with a clean heart.]
Gain wisdom. [We will be able to discern if the Lord wants to use us to offer to a solution to their problems. It may be we are only called to pray.]
Judge righteously. [Only help when we can see our brother’s speck through Jesus’ eyes.]

We are not perfect; but our willingness to be clean vessels for God does not go unnoticed by Him. We might be called to speak out to others about their speck, but only after the log is out of our own eyes. It is not love to criticize others and call attention to their faults without being sure our log has been laid at the feet of Jesus.

Matthew7:5 sums it up adeptly when it says, “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”
Bible Verses:

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works. Hebrews 10:24ESV

Let all that you do be done in love. 1 Corinthians 16:14 ESV

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16 ESV

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father. Please give me wisdom as to when to open and close my mouth. Let me cleanse myself so I will only talk to help and edify my brothers and sisters in Christ. Let me not judge others un-righteously, but in righteousness. Allow me the opportunity to minister in love and gentleness. Show me my sins so that I can be cleansed. Let me minister to others in love and gentleness through your Holy Spirit. Take the log out of my eye, so I can be your servant to others. Amen.

Blessings Always,
Patti

www.PattiGreene.com

Bible Study, Christian Living

Wonderfully Made with Unique Experiences

December 8, 2015 Patti Greene

What in the world? Are we really wonderfully made?

My Houstonian husband and I were recently sitting on an airplane flying from Amsterdam, The Netherlands to Sibenik, Croatia to attend a twenty-fifth wedding anniversary of a friend of ours whom we met in Lagos, Nigeria 18 months ago. While I am not a jet setter by any means, I am learning how to maneuver around some awfully big airports!

Over the last three years, the Lord has graciously provided multiple ‘unanticipated experiences’ for me – Experiences I never would have dreamed possible 3 years ago. I came face to face with a cheetah. I have traveled to the top of a mountain in a cable car. I have lived in Nigeria. I have even had the opportunity to tour through Makoko – a slum on stilts located in Lagos, Nigeria – in which only members of the Nigerian Field Society area allowed to enter.

Looking back over time, my adult life changed from a stay-at-home mom to a high school librarian to a “world traveler.” At least that’s how I felt sitting in seat 6B on that German Wings airplane which was about to land in a former-socialist country which was formerly part of the now-divided Yugoslavia.

I tell you this because we are all unique in and of ourselves and in our experiences.

We have different:

Abilities
Accomplishments
Adversities
Anxieties
Appearances
Assignments
Attention Spans

And these are only unique distinctions from the letter A. We also come from different nationalities, speak different languages, possess different genetics, adhere to different political beliefs, encounter different upbringings, and have been subjected to different spiritual experiences.

When pondering the enormity of our uniqueness, I recalled King David’s words in Psalm 139:13-16. “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” Here we can see that we are all different because we are ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’ by our Heavenly Father.” We are who God designed us to be US!

While each person lives in a world with some similarities, like sharing the sun, moon, stars, and oceans, we graciously have been given different experiences so we can do the works intended by our heavenly Father for us to do. Someone once asked me, “Why do you think you were led to live in Nigeria for two years?” My response was, “I think that God wanted to teach me some things, and being in Nigeria was the only way He could do it.” This response was rather shocking as they were expecting me to say, “money, a change of pace, or ‘I have no idea.’”

God allows people to go through different experiences with the express purpose of growing them into who He wants them to be and to prepare them for possible unseen ministries opportunities. However, it is up to us whether we take advantage of these opportunities or not. We can be prepared and open to accepting the experiences God places in our lives, by living a life pre-prayed up and filled with Scripture to guide us unto His opportunities for us.

Along with our God-given opportunities, Proverbs 27:1 says, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” Special care must be taken as we speak about our tomorrows, because God is the one who sees the big picture of our lives, and He is the one who can change plans mid-stream in job assignments, health situations, or family needs.

We should live our lives looking and praying to understand that God knows what He is doing in any situation and/or experience we encounter. Look at various Biblical characters. Paul, Rahab, and even Jesus came from totally different backgrounds and experiences, but they were all used to fulfill God’s purposes.

Sometimes following the Lord’s leading is to test our obedience. Abraham went up the mountain to sacrifice his son Isaac only to be shown that God was testing his obedience and then He provided a sacrificial ram.

Once I really psyched myself up and put myself in my parent’s shoes – one at a time. In my mind and on paper, I imagined and analyzed their life. I looked at the background they were raised in, their heritage, their sibling order, their parent’s occupations, where they grew up, where they went to school, what size cities/towns they lived in, and more. It was an amazing adventure for me to understand their experiences and see how even God used their experiences to affect my experiences.

If you are up for an interesting activity, get two sheets of paper and label one page “Mom” and one page “Dad” and start writing. My experiment looked something like this, but much more extensive. Once you have done this, we are in a much better position to understand why we and others act like they do and why we might experience situations where others do not.

Mom

Youngest of seven children;
Immigrant parents from Italy;
Catholic;
Raised in small town in Vermont;
Scared of birds;
Moved to New York City as young adult, etc.
Loves to cook, etc.

Dad

Raised as an only child;
His Dad – Jewish;
His Mom- Presbyterian;
Grew up near New York City;
Was in the Army;
Loves to read, etc.
Ivy League education, etc.

If you take this challenge, I’d love for you to share your insights atpattilondagreene@gmail.com or in the comments section on this blog.

Throughout life, we encounter both good and unfortunate experiences. It is hard sometimes, but we need to be grateful for both experiences.Psalm 16: 11 says, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Our experiences make up the path of our lives. While rejoicing when things are good is usually effortless, it is very easy to become bitter through our unfortunate experiences. Life brings us joyous occasions and not-so-joyous occasions. Psalm 118:24 exhorts us to look at each day as being the day that the LORD has made. “This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” While we don’t rejoice in our sadness, we can rejoice because God knows what He is doing. We rejoice because he will be our sustainer through both our good and bad experiences. We should try to evaluate each experience through the eyes of God.

To put it in a nutshell, let’s decide daily to see our experiences through the eyes of Jesus. Let us remember that our experiences will not be like the experiences of others – they are unique to us – because we are unique. Let us remember that through ALL of our experiences, God has our best interests at heart. Jeremiah 29:11says, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

And, if you find yourself pinching yourself because you find yourself on some random plane flying to a country you have never been to, ask God to show you the purpose of the experience! There is one even if you don’t see it now.

God Bless You and “Carpe Diem!”

Patti

Bible Verses:

So, then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians6:10

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. John16:33

Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. 1Peter 4:19

Prayer:

Jesus, let me see the opportunities that you have placed in my life as experiences sent from Heaven. Let me see them as opportunities to partake in what you are providing for me. Lord, as I look at the experiences of others, please don’t allow jealousy to seep into my heart. Let me not covet their experiences, but be looking with open arms to accept and enjoy the experiences you have put into MY life. Let me see life through your eyes and your eyes only. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

www.PattiGreene.com

Life Issues, Medical

Stress

December 8, 2015 Patti Greene

The Office on Women’s Health defines stress as “what you feel when you react to pressure from others or from yourself . . . Stress comes in many forms and everyone feels stress.”

We all experience stress, pressure, despair, dread, and discomfort at one time or another in our lives. It can hit you on the most relaxed beach; it can hit you while overlooking a beautiful green pasture; it can hit you at the funeral of a loved one: and it can even hit you in the comfort of your own secure home.

No matter how or why it hits, it can last for days, weeks, months, and/or years. Your blood pressure might rise, your heart might flutter, or you may overeat or starve yourself. The pangs of stress might even cause an uncontrollable panic. But, despite what you experience or how you react to the stresses in your life, remember that God knows exactly what you are going through. He knows and understands the circumstances surrounding your present-day state of anxiety. He really does.

It may be difficult, almost impossible, to sense His presence. But Scripture promises us that God is omnipresent meaning He is always with us. He is also omnipotent meaning His power can lift us out of the violent stressors we are presently enduring. If we can remember those two principles we can rest assured that soon we will be out of our pit.

Resting in Him isn’t easy at this point. It may be a season you must go through to learn some mighty truths from Him or a situation you must plow through so you can be used in service to others. In John 10:14-15, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.” If Jesus loves us enough to lay down his life for us, He loves us enough to see us through whatever situation we find ourselves in until a point of rest.

Today, just imagine God wrapping His loving arms around you, comforting you. Ask Him to allow you to see your present trial through His eyes. Exhale your stress and inhale God’s love, peace, and presence right now.

And, if your stress becomes unbearable, please visit a physician and discuss your situation with him or her. God can and many times does work through the medical profession.

God Bless You,

Patti

Bible Verses:

As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands. Your laws are always right; help me to understand them so I may live. Psalm 119:143-145 ESV

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 ESV

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27 ESV

Prayer:

Lord, please let me always be aware of your special presence. Help me know and feel that that you are there guiding me and giving me directions in all situations. Grant me the faith needed to know that you are always right there beside me. As stress is overwhelming me today, allow me to give all my current hardships to you – knowing that you always see the big picture and know what is best for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

“Feeling Stressed.” Girls Health. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Mar. 2015.

www.PattiGreene.com

Christian Living, Prayer

Sabbath Rest

December 8, 2015 Patti Greene

Sabbath Rest has become a popular term in the Christian circle vernacular. Using my own words, a “Sabbath Rest” means living a daily life of peace, trust, and security in our Heavenly Father. We can achieve a “Sabbath Rest” by following these actions in our lives:

Preparing;
Dedicating;
Spending;
Bearing;
Trusting;
Expecting; and
Turning.

How to prepare for your Sabbath rest

We must plan for our Sabbath Rest. In Mark 3:9, Jesus was teaching and the crowds were pushing in on him. “And He told His disciples to have a little boat in [constant] readiness for Him because of the crowd, lest they press hard upon Him and crush Him.”

*Linked verses are in NIV translation for more clarity!

We see Jesus planning ahead. He knew that there might be some tough and anxious moments ahead, so he pre-prepared for a boat to be available as a retreat. Many times in the New Testament, Jesus retreats to a boat for rest.

The same goes for us, we should plan ahead to have a quiet time alone with God. God knows if we have children, jobs, and spouses to care for. This week, let’s try to do what Jesus did by planning ahead for time away from people and for time alone with God.

How to dedicate yourself to the Lord

We should ask ourselves if we have a saving relationship with Christ through the forgiveness of our sins. If so, are we daily dedicating our life to the Lord?

In Mark 4:8, we see seeds planted in different types of soil and a description of the soils. As believers, we should be people planned in the good, rich soil.

Jesus said, “And other seed [of the same kind] fell into good (well-adapted) soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing, and yielded up to thirty times as much, and sixty times as much, and even a hundred times as much as had been sown.” [Mark 4:8]

As believers, we are like the good seed. Through our dedication to the Lord, we should be growing up and increasing like the seed. Our Christian growth should be in a constantly growth and germination mode.

We do that by being sure we are truly dedicated to the Lord. Settling our salvation is the most beneficial and joyous way one can truly know God. We accomplish this through confession of our sins and acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Only then can we have the strength and support to live in a daily relationship with the Lord through the power of His Holy Spirit.

“For on this day atonement shall be made for you, to cleanse you; from all your sins you shall be clean before the Lord. It is a Sabbath of [solemn] rest to you, and you shall afflict yourself (by fasting with penitence and humiliation) it is a statue forever.” [Leviticus 16:29-31]

How to spend time with the Lord through Bible study and prayer

We need to take the time to consider and understand the Lord through His Word and Prayer.

In Jesus’ words, “He said, He who has ears to hear, let him be hearing [and let him consider, and comprehend.] . . . And He said to them, To you has been entrusted the mystery of the kingdom of God [that is, the secret counsels of God which are hidden from the ungodly]; but for those outside [of our circle] everything becomes a parable . . .” [Mark 4:9-11]

Jesus is saying that once we have truly entrusted our life to God, and are reading our Bible and praying, we will begin to see mysteries and things of God through the Holy Spirit. We will begin to understand the Bible and we will learn how to listen to God. *If you do not own a Bible, I suggest purchasing an easy-to-read version. Many Christian bookstore employees are willing to help you find one that will meet your needs or reading ability.

Without being able to connect with the Lord, our business is seen through our eyes only, but now we can begin to see things through God’s eyes.

How to bear fruit

As we spend time with Him through Bible study and prayer, we will notice we are beginning to develop the fruits of the spirit.

“And those sown on the good (well-adapted) soil are the ones who hear the Word and receive and accept and welcome it and bear fruit.” [Mark 4:20]

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22 NIV '84 — But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Galatians 5:22 NIV ’84

“But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge].” [Galatians 5:22-23]

How to trust Jesus for protection and security

Let’s go back and look at the seed and how by planting our lives in the good soil of Jesus Christ we are protected and kept secure in Him.

In Mark 4:32, Jesus says, “It is like a grain of mustard-seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all seeds upon the earth; Yet after it is sown, it grows up and becomes the greatest of all garden herbs and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air are able to make nests and dwell in its shade.” From a small start (like a seed), we can become strong in the Lord. God’s branches will protect us as we grow in Him and His Word.

As we grow, we will most likely notice people come to us for Godly advice or others asking us to participate in Christian service with them. This is because God is ready to empower us for His service. Everyone has different gifts and callings. Sometimes it takes trying a few different “projects” to see what our gifts are. I once volunteered to help in a pre-school choir class. Almost immediately, I realized that was not a position for me. But, I was thankful for the opportunity to try it out. It moved me along to the next step to see what God had for me. In my case, most of my service has been along the lines of writing and using words in some capacity. I laugh sometimes when I think of that because I failed my first college writing assignment I wrote as a freshman. God does have a sense of humor!!!

Expect Storms

“And a furious storm of wind [of hurricane proportions] arose, and the waves kept beating into the boat, so that it was already becoming filled.” [Mark 4:37]

In this situation, the disciples were scared; they called to Jesus for help. But look what the end result was – they looked to Jesus (as we should) and Jesus was right there taking care of their business.

How to turn continually and consistently to Jesus

One time Jesus was in a boat with his disciples and a storm erupted. The disciples were scared, but they turned to Jesus Christ to help them – as we should also.

Where was Jesus when the storm prevailed? “He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on the pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest though not that we perish?” [Mark 4:38]

These steps are not necessarily to be followed in a chronological order but in a cyclical order. As you see the cycle chart below, you may jump from one step to another one. Notice how the arrows change representing the different paths God may use to get us from one step to another. As long as we are rotating within the cycle – even jumping across to a step (not shown in the diagram) – Jesus is right in the midst of our own personal journey with His hands reaching out to us guiding and loving us. Only then will we experience a true Sabbath Rest.

Cycles to a Sabbath Rest Image Credit: Copyright Greene Family — Cycles to a Sabbath Rest
Image Credit: Copyright Greene Family

I love Psalm 37:25 when King David says, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

That is because God is doing His thing and He knows what He is doing. Remember, God sees the big picture of our life, and we don’t.The sooner we understand this foundational truth, the sooner we will experience His peace, His trust, and His security in our lives.

God Bless You and may you find HIS REST this week.

Patti

Bible Verses: See above.

Prayer:

My Heavenly Father, You have walked where I have walked. You know what struggles I have. You know what decisions I have to make. You know what paths You want me to take. Lord, I want to dwell daily in Your presence. Allow me to use this cycle to guide me to be all I can be for You. I want to be in a “Sabbath Rest” every day. With Your help, I know I can. I love you, Lord.

In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

www.PattiGreene.com

Christian Living, Life Issues

A Little Nagging Feeling

December 8, 2015 Patti Greene

It’s so easy to pray when a crisis is looming or when we have a huge problem, but what if you just have a little nagging feeling that something’s not right? You might be questioning a church doctrine, feeling a little uncomfortable about where your child is going Friday night, or just wondering if a friend might be talking about you behind your back.

These “small” areas of concern can pop up at any time or at any place. They can occur at a party, in a job interview, in church, or in a business meeting. While these unsettling feelings may or may not be as major as a marriage falling apart or a serious accident, they are important to God. And, they are worthy of our prayers. Many people assume that they shouldn’t bother God with small “insignificant” concerns, and they reserve their prayers only when there is something big that requires His wisdom, skills and resolutions. That is unfortunate.

If you are like me, the first thing I do when I encounter a little unsettling emotion is I try to rationalize the feeling away. I wonder if it is just me feeling that way due to my personality or insecurities. Others may try to ignore those feelings. But, some may really want to know why they are encountering that “on-and-off-again” gnawing feeling over an inconsequential person, event, or emotion.

Back in our early marriage, we were on our way one Saturday morning to purchase a new home. We prayed about it, had our appointment all set up with the new home salesman, and all we had to do was to sign on the dotted line. While we felt “pretty sure” buying this house was a good thing to do, we decided to pray specifically that morning about it. We prayed that the Lord would stop us from purchasing this house if it was not in His will. Of course, in my mind, I could not fathom any way our decision would be changed. Our appointment was in 15 minutes. We lived 1.5 miles away from the sales office. We only lived a few streets over from the babysitter where we were going to leave our 2-year old daughter. What could go wrong?

As I was driving home from dropping our daughter off at the babysitter’s house, a car slammed right into the side of my car rattling me to no end. It was my fault. I failed to notice that the cross street had a two-way stop – not a four-way stop. Immediately, I knew that we could not go through with the purchase of this home. My husband and I could not ignore the fact that we just prayed for the Lord to stop the purchase. This car accident seemed a big enough reason to call the salesman and tell him we changed our mind.

This isn’t the best example to use because purchasing a home is a big decision. And, while most situations are not as cut and dry as this one, all of our decisions or areas of concern should cause us to reach out to God. Let’s ask Jesus to call upon our Heavenly Father on our behalf. We need our Lord and Savior with us to know HIS mind in all matters – big and small.

There are incidents when we know something is wrong because our moral upbringing, values, or Biblical understanding has been engrained in us. If that is the case, we should ask the Lord to give us the courage and speed to run from that situation. We need His strength, His help, His protection, and His Word to convict us so much that the only relief is to get out of whatever ungodly pursuit we are involved in. It could be an unhealthy relationship, a “feeling” it might be time to change jobs, or a time to seek out a specialty doctor.

Other times, we just can’t pinpoint why something isn’t right. In these situations, we need to have a heart-to-heart with God. Maybe it is because we are too judgmental, selfish, or stubborn and the Lord needs to work in our hearts to weed out some of our character or personality flaws. Maybe an uncomfortable feeling is to show us we need to change something within ourselves and our own spirit.

If we honestly, seek out the reasons why we are feeling this way, we will be opening up our hearts to receive what God has to say to us. We may need to talk to a mature believer to help us. God may want to work on our pride or some other character trait, or he may just we wanting to move us to the next level in our walk with Him.

As a side note, some character/personality traits God may want us to work on are us being less:

Argumentative
Arrogant
Bossy
Critical
Gloomy
Hot-tempered
Jealous
Materialistic
Scared
Self-centered
Shy
Stubborn (the one my husband says is the main one I need to work on!!!)
Timid
Withdrawn
JUST TO NAME A FEW!

The bottom line is that when we feel something isn’t right, it is easy to keep things as they are and just keep pushing those feelings aside so we don’t have to face them. However, no matter how hard we try to push the nagging feeling away, they are still there and can pop up at any time. The best approach when you feel something isn’t right is to:

1. Ask God why you are feeling a certain way, and ask Him to show you why you are experiencing that “something isn’t right feeling.” Occasionally an immediate decision needs to be made, for example, if you find yourself in a dangerous situation, leave immediately. Maybe you need to break up with that boyfriend you are having sex with. Maybe you need to leave that job that is asking you to be unethical. Maybe you will need to find a new church if the preaching isn’t Biblical.

2. Read the Word of God and earnestly ask the Lord to fill you with His Holy Spirit so you will be able to see the situation through Jesus’ eyes.

Trust Jesus! Crosses from Hobby Lobby. Photograph taken by Patti Greene — Trust Jesus!
Crosses from Hobby Lobby. Photograph taken by Patti Greene

3. Find a quiet place where you are all alone to unload both your little nagging concerns and your colossal concerns. Be accessible to God through passionate praying by being reflective and intense in praying. It takes courage to get into a prayer-closet. It is in our prayer closet that we will hear the secrets of our Heavenly Father through our praise, worship, confession, and time spent seeking Him. Oh, what a blessed spirit we will have when we receive a fresh revelation from God. Listening to God with our innermost being and with all our heart places us at His disposal. And, with time, our prayers will change so we will not seek what we want or need. We will be seeking what He wants and needs from us. It is such a joy when we learn to wait on His voice, labor with Him in prayer, and leave our quiet time with the confidence that He has spoken and everything is under His control

Blessings Always,

Patti Greene

Bible Quotation and Verses:

“The Word of God, the Bible, is our sole and final authority in all matters of faith and practice. Instead of being some heavenly ‘answer book’ to support our selfish desires, it is God’s standard for our lives in helping understand His Person and Program.”

James D. Devine, Author Find God’s Will for You. Page 111.

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.1 Timothy 2:5-6

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.1 Peter 5:6-7

Prayer:
My Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your son Jesus who can go to You on my behalf and plead for me. Lord, thank you for caring about everything that concerns me – my big and little thoughts, cares, and impressions. Give me the wisdom to know I can come to you for everything. There is no concern that is too small for you to care about. Give me the time, energy, and desire to give everything I own and everything I am to you. Use me to help others and to be a vessel for you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

www.PattiGreene.com

Bible Study, Doctrine, People in the Bible, Politics and Current Events

False Prophets

December 6, 2015 Patti Greene

Warning

In The Billy Graham Christian Worker’s Handbook, Graham states, “All the way through the Bible we are warned against false prophets and false teachers. And even Jesus warned us of false prophets when He said, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits.” ¹ [Matthew 7:15] We are warned of false prophets in many Bible books, such as Deuteronomy, 1 Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Micah, Matthew, Acts, and 2 Peter – just to name a few.

Who are false prophets?

But who are the false prophets we read about in the Bible? Authors Jean Fischer and Tracy Sumner have put together one of the easiest definition and explanation of a false prophet I have seen. They describe a false prophet as, “A liar. A false prophet says that a message is from God when it’s not. If a person says God gave him/her a message, and that message leads you away from God or what His Word says, that person is a false prophet. The Bible says that many false prophets are in the world. We need to watch out for them.” ²

Characteristics of false prophets

Most false prophets have many characteristics that set them apart from others. While not every false prophet may possess all of the following, many do. Most false prophets in today’s age are:

Very convincing. They have an uncanny ability to convince others that they have been given the sole truth from God.

Very personable. They are usually very well-liked and are adept in social skills and social situations.

Smart. They have to be quite smart in order to debate, win arguments, and convince others. Look back at Biblical times. Many of the false teachers then were highly educated religious leaders of their day.

Very possessive of their followers.

Very motivated. Their motivations may stem from various needs, such as their desire to be popular or esteemed in the eyes of others, their desire to approval, or even their desire for money.

Very adept in manipulating Scripture for their purposes.

Teachers of false doctrines.

What do false prophets do?

False prophets lead people astray. Ultimately, they will lead an unbeliever from hearing God’s truth about eternal life and believers will be led away from the holy and blessed life the Lord wants for them. False prophets may perform signs and wonders; bring heresies into the church; and deceive others. The apostle Paul warned people not to be deceived by the false teachings of his day in Thessalonians. He proved his seriousness about making the church a pure place for believers when he removed two false teachers, Hymenaeus and Alexander, from the church and handed them over to Satan so they would learn not to blaspheme. [1Timothy1:19-20]

Satan is a deceiver. He has many disguises. Many are deceived by the doctrines and teachings of the day. So, we must present ourselves as diligent servants for the Lord and test the spirits.

Questions asked

Questions have been asked by people from all walks of life and through many generations, such as:

Who are the false teachers of today?

Why do false teachers exist?

Why do people believe false prophets expound God’s truth?

Who are we to judge others and label them as false prophets?

Doesn’t the Bible tell us not to judge others?

These are all excellent questions, so let’s see how we can tell who false prophet is by looking at what the Scriptures say.

Verses about false prophets

But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die. Deuteronomy 18:20

How long shall there be lies in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart. Jeremiah 23:26

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel, who are prophesying, and say to those who prophesy from their own hearts: ‘Hear the word of the Lord!’ Ezekiel 13:1

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. Matthew 7:15

And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. Matthew 24:11

And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Matthew 24:22-24

And from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. Acts 20:30-31

For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. Romans 16:18

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 2 Timothy 4:3-4

The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10

False prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. 2 Peter 2:1-3

Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1

For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Jude 1:4

And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Revelation 20:10

Why is it imperative we recognize false prophets?

We must recognize them because there are many voices vying for our attention. We must learn to discern the right voices from the wrong ones. We can do that by allowing every word we hear be filtered through God’s Word. If what one says or writes does not align with Scriptures, it is not of God. No one is perfect, but by looking into the character of a person, we can get a peek into their integrity, i.e. do they lie? do they commit adultery? When we recognize false prophets, we will know what to avoid and we can guide others to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Where will you find false prophets?

You will find false prophets everywhere – in the church, in seminaries, in institutions of higher learning, on the radio, on TV, in cities, in towns, in cities, in poor countries, or in rich countries. You may find them predicting the end of times or healing people. All over the world, they are deceiving people and leading them away from the pure Word of God. They want men and women to worship them instead of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Photograph Location: Brussels, Belgium

My opinion

I will not attempt to list false prophets in this blog. Not because I can’t whip out a few names I believe are false teachers, but because the Bible has so many references pertaining to how one can discern those who teach false doctrines that I desire you to delve into the Word of God yourself and distinguish those who lead others in Truth and those who don’t.

In my opinion, if a solid, mature believer expresses doubts about a person’s sincerity or believers one may be a false teacher, it may be wise to evaluate the person in question, pray about it, and seek God’s understanding of the matter. We must be wise in our thinking. Proverbs 16:16 says, “How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver.” We must test the spirits ourselves. Even in Acts 17:10-11, we find the Bereans testing the apostle Paul to be sure they were following the teachings of a Godly man who was sensitive to God’s Holy Spirit. Never feel bad about questioning a spiritual leader, seminary professor, or Bible study teachers. Just as false prophets had penetrated the churches in Jesus’ time, they have also penetrated the walls of our churches and institutions today.

My desire for you, my friends, is that you will never be misled into believing in false prophets or false teachings. Satan will disguise himself as an angel of light. Just because someone is called Reverend, Pastor, or Brother, does not mean the solid truth of Jesus Christ is within them. It is essential for us to seek out the mind of God on all matters.

Jeremiah, a prophet of God

Jeremiah was called to bring a very convicting message to the people of his day. He was to tell the people to repent or doom will come upon the nation and city of Jerusalem. All the while, false prophets were exhorting the people with messages of deliverance and peace which sounded a lot better than what Jeremiah was declaring. [Jeremiah 14:11-16, Jeremiah 23:9-40, Jeremiah 28:1-17] But, the false prophets were wrong and Jeremiah’s teaching was right.

Let us follow the right spirit. Let’s acquaint ourselves with God’s Word so thoroughly that nothing will lead us astray. False prophets do exist today and they will continue to exist until the end of time.

God bless you.

Patti Greene

Bible Verses:

See Above.

Prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for your Holy Scripture. Thank you for never leaving me alone to figure out questions, doubts, or concerns. As I seek to be discerning about the things of God, let me pray and hear your teachings to guide and protect me from situations that are not OF YOU. Let me recognize false prophets and false teachings and give me the courage to avoid them by only immersing myself in You and Your Word. And thank you for the pastors, leaders, and parents who are teaching the truth of God to others. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

¹ Graham, Billy. The Billy Graham Christian Worker’s Handbook. Ed. Charles G. Ward. Charlotte, NC: World Wide Publications, 2001.

² Fishcher, Jean and Tracy M. Sumner. Big Bible Guide: Kids’ Bible Dictionary & Handbook. Uhrichsville, OH: Barbour Publishing, 2013.

www.PattiGreene.com

Christian Living

Disobedience: A Sure Way to Suffer

December 6, 2015 Patti Greene

On October 31st, 2015, a Russian plane (Flight 9268) crashed in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula killing all 224 people aboard. In this case, the tragic consequences were not of their own doing. But, this current news item reminded me of a time when the people of Judah chose consequences rather than repenting of their sin. The people’s continual disobedience led to the destruction of Jerusalem and their eventual exile into Egypt where God punished them with war, hunger, and disease. By not listening to God, only a very few survivors came back to live in Judah. (Jeremiah 44:11-14). But, I am getting ahead of myself. Let’s start.

God is fair. He loves everyone and does not want any harm or affliction to come upon them (2 Peter 3:9). However, God wants his creation to love him in return (1 John 5:3). Many nations have disregarded God’s love and His desire to bless them. And when nations or people reject the Lord and His commandments, suffering comes upon them (Deuteronomy 28:15-68). Before Jeremiah, the Northern Kingdom which consisted of 10 tribes was destroyed by the Assyrians. Thus Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, was a prophet to the Southern Kingdom of Judah which consisted of the two remaining tribes. Jeremiah was present when Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed in 586 BC. Jeremiah states over and over again that without people repenting and turning to God, consequences will befall them.

During the time of Jeremiah’s unpopular message, the people and leaders were actively participating in many sinful behaviors such as idol worship, sacrificing their own children to the gods, stealing, adultery, and more. The people had two choices they could have pursued – To be obedient to God and receive his blessings or continue in their sin and await judgment. They were totally steeped in sin and they decided to remain in it. Jeremiah comes upon this scene, and for almost 50 years, he pursues his calling to warn the people that if they did not turn to God and worship Him that God would judge them. And, for all those years, he saw very limited, almost non-existent, change in their lives.

Jeremiah was treated horribly during his ministry.

The people did not listen to him. (Jeremiah 7:25)

They wanted to kill him. (Jeremiah 11:19, 21-23)

He was beaten. (Jeremiah 20:2)

He was put into the king’s prison. (Jeremiah 32:1-5)

He was put into a muddy cistern and left to starve to death. (Jeremiah 38:6-10)

However, being encouraged by the Lord throughout the book of Jeremiah, Jeremiah continued his call to preach the message with sadness and tears; thus, his name “the weeping prophet.”

God had sent many prophets to the people of Judah calling for their repentance and he had given them grace over and over. But, God had finally had enough.

He even asks Jeremiah to stop praying for the people. When I first read this many years ago in the Bible, I was shocked to hear that God actually told someone to stop praying for people. But, it is in the Bible.

“As for you, do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with me, for I will not hear you.” (Jeremiah 7:16)

“Therefore do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer on their behalf, for I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their trouble.” (Jeremiah 11: 14)

“The LORD said to me: ‘Do not pray for the welfare of this people. Though they fast, I will not hear their cry, and though they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence.’” (Jeremiah 14:11-12)

Sounds like God had enough of their sinful behavior, doesn’t it? In this case, it seems that prayer was delaying the judgment and God was ready to act. It is interesting to note that God did not tell Jeremiah to stop preaching the message of repentance. God was ready to judge!

At this interval, God is ready to judge sin. This happens in our lives too. God gives us chance after chance to repent. But, at some point, he says, “Enough is enough.” And, that is a scary place to be.

God decided to use the Babylonians to punish their sin and assign consequences to their behavior. The Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and Solomon’s temple in 586 BC. At this point, the people of Judah, who are living in the midst of the destruction, ask Jeremiah to ask the Lord if they should leave and go to Egypt or stay in Jerusalem. The people promised they would obey God whether God says to go or stay. Jeremiah did not respond right away. He prayed for 10 days. Finally, he told the people what he heard from God.

Jeremiah 42: 7-18 states:

“At the end of ten days the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah. Then he summoned Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces who were with him, and all the people from the least to the greatest, and said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your plea for mercy before him: If you will remain in this land, then I will build you up and not pull you down; I will plant you, and not pluck you up; for I relent of the disaster that I did to you. Do not fear the king of Babylon, of whom you are afraid. Do not fear him, declares the Lord, for I am with you, to save you and to deliver you from his hand. I will grant you mercy, that he may have mercy on you and let you remain in your own land. But if you say, ‘We will not remain in this land,’ disobeying the voice of the Lord your God and saying, ‘No, we will go to the land of Egypt, where we shall not see war or hear the sound of the trumpet or be hungry for bread, and we will dwell there,’ then hear the word of the Lord, O remnant of Judah. Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: If you set your faces to enter Egypt and go to live there, then the sword that you fear shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine of which you are afraid shall follow close after you to Egypt, and there you shall die. All the men who set their faces to go to Egypt to live there shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence. They shall have no remnant or survivor from the disaster that I will bring upon them.”

And, after all this, it is amazing what the people said. The insolent men said to Jeremiah, ”You are telling a lie. The LORD our God did not send you to say, ‘Do not go to Egypt to live there.’” (Jeremiah 43:2) This reminds me of the time my youngest son kept asking me if Santa Claus was real. I kept saying, “Do you really want to know.” He said, “Yes!” This continual bantering went back and forth until I finally decided to tell him Santa Claus wasn’t real. His immediate response was, “I don’t believe you!” Sometimes people just believe what they want to believe and there is nothing you can do about it. The people of Judah chose not to obey the voice of God and they went to Egypt. Jeremiah was also forced to go to Egypt even though it was against God’s desire. The consequence for the people’s disobedience was again judgment from God as promised in the form of destruction of their homeland and their chosen exile to Egypt. But, let’s remember that God’s real desire for his people was to be obedient so he could shower them with blessings — not suffering and trials.

How is this story relevant for us today? This story talks about the nation of Judah. However, if we continue in our disobedience after many warnings and exhortations, we can end up in a very dangerous situation suffering the terrible consequences of sin. In the midst of sin, we are losing his blessings and our relationship with him. God may wait many years for our repentance while we live lives of deceit, immorality, drunkenness, corruption, dishonesty, and lies. Let’s not let that happen. Allow God to rule your life NOW. Return to the Lord today and/or accept His love and acceptance by confessing your sins, and asking Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior.

While the passengers on Flight 9268 were unaware of their ultimate and unfortunate demise, we are given the opportunity to change our lives and choose to live in God’s blessings. Let’s act today.

“Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:14-15)

Blessings,

Patti Greene

Bible Verses:

For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. Romans 5:19

But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you. Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the field. Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. Cursed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. Cursed shall you be when you come in, and cursed shall you be when you go out. The LORD will send you curses, confusion, and frustration in all that you undertake, until you are destroyed and perish quickly on account of the evil of your deeds, because you have forsaken me. Deuteronomy 28:15-20

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, let me recognize the times you are drawing me back to you. Let me understand that you want my total obedience — not just my appearances in church or my good works. Let me hear deeper truths from you. Allow your presence to permeate my life. Lord, lead this nation to walk in your presence. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

www.PattiGreene.com

Test Your Knowledge

Test Your Knowledge: Old Testament Bible Trivia Quiz

December 6, 2015 Patti Greene 1 Comment

I don’t think I look like a nerd, but I think I am. Back in college, I thought about becoming a librarian, but I was totally turned off when I thought I might have to wear my hair in a bun, wear straight gray wool skirts, wear pumps, and grace my face with thick old glasses. But, after I “grew” up, I did become a librarian! I have always liked little Bible trivia facts, research, and making worksheets, so it was no surprise to me that when in the summer of 2014 I decided to read the Bible through and write down questions I had as I perused the Bible.

Doing what I love to do, I made up a little Old Testament quiz from my summer reading just for you. Give it a try. And remember, I would have received a 10% or less if I would have taken this quiz before my “summer reading initiative.” But, isn’t that what summer reading programs are for — to learn something? Answers and explanations follow the quiz.

Questions

Who is referred to as “knock out gorgeous” in the Book of Samuel? a. Mephibosheth, b. Uzzah, c. Absolom; d. David;
What disease did King Asa most likely have in his old age? a. diabetes; b. Achilles tendon rupture; c. peripheral artery disease; d. lymphedema;
Who is the son of DoDo? a. Abishai; b. Benaiah; c. Shammah; d. Eleazar;
What was the sign that Hezekiah would live longer? a. the siege of Jerusalem; b. a sundial; c. Sennacherib’s fall; d. a vision from God;
What does precept by precept mean? a. studying the Bible book by book; b. ranking biblical words by alphabetic order; c. studying the Bible line by line; d. dismantling the meaning of words;
What were cisterns used for in the Old Testament? a. storing gold and silver; b. hiding those with leprosy; c. storing wine; d. hiding fugitives and prisoners;
Why did Job call himself a “friend of ostriches?” a. ostriches have inspired cultures for years; b. ostriches like desolate places; c. ostriches can go without drinking for days; d. ostriches have very large eyes;
Why did the Canaanites and the Perizzites cut off Adonibezek’s thumbs and his big toes? a. because he had done the same to 60 civilians; b. to show their kingdoms had been divided; c. because he had done the same to 70 kings; d. because a painful journey was upon them;
What is a parapet? a. an extension of a wall at the edge of a roof; b. a parrot residing in the Middle East region; c. a sandal popular in Old Testament times; d. a lampstand used in making the tabernacle.
God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding a. like the knowledge of good and evil; b. like the Lion of Judah; c. like the stars in heaven; d. like the sand on the seashore.

Answers

More for the Inquiring Minds . . .

The Bible infers Absolom was knock-out gorgeous.

Bible Verse: Now in all Israel there was no one so much to be praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. 2 Samuel 14:25

Many scholars today say King Asa most likely had diabetes in his old age. Some even say it could be the first record of diabetic gangrene.

Bible Verse: But in his old age he was diseased in his feet. 1 Kings 15:23

DoDo’s son was Eleazar.

Bible Verse: And next to him amoung the three mighty men was Eleazar the son of Dodo, son of Ahohi. 2 Samuel 23:9

Through a sundial, Hezekiah was given a sign he would live longer.

Bible Verse: Behold, I will make the shadow cast by the declining sun on the dial of Ahaz turn back ten steps by which it had declined. Isaiah 38:8

Precept upon precept means studying the Word of God line by line.

Bible Verse: To whom will he teach knowledge, and to whom will he explain the message? Those who are weaned from the milk, those taken from the breast? For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little. Isaiah 28:9-10

During Biblical times cisterns were used to store water They were also used as hiding places for fugitives and burial places. The prophet Jeremiah was held as a prisoner in Malchaiah’s muddy cistern, where he was eventually pulled out with ropes.

Bible Verse: So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king’s son, which was in the court of the guard, letting Jeremiah down by ropes. Jeremiah 38:6

Clark’s Commentary says, “both the jackal and the female ostrich are remarkable for their mournful cry, and for their attachment to desolate places.”

Bible Verse: I am a brother of jackals and a companion of ostriches. Job 30:29

The Canaanites and the Perizzites cut off Adonibezek’s thumbs and his big toes because he had done the same to seventy kings, whom he made to gather their food under his table. This is your Bible states, “The cutting off of the thumbs makes work with the hands impossible. The cutting off of the big toes makes walking difficult. The act reduced the king to a state of dependency on others.”

www.thisisyourbible.com

Bible Verse: Adoni-bezek fled, but they pursued him and caught him and cut off his thumbs and his big toes. 7 And Adoni-bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and their big toes cut off used to pick up scraps under my table. As I have done, so God has repaid me.” And they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there. Judges 1:6-7

A parapet is a barrier which is an extension of the wall at the edge of a roof, balcony, or other structure.

Bible Verse: Moses was telling them, “When you build a new house, you shall make a parapet for your roof, that you may not bring the guilt of blood upon your house, if anyone should fall from it.” Deuteronomy 22:8

The answer is the sand on the seashore. Matthew Poole’s Commentary says, “Even as the sand that is on the sea-shore; which cannot be numbered or measured; and which, though it be so vast and comprehensive, yet consists of the smallest parts: and so it may note that Solomon’s wisdom was both vast, reaching to all things; and most accurate, searching and discerning every small thing.”

Bible Verse: And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore. 1 Kings 4:29

And, to continue the story from the beginning of this blog, one day when working in my high school library, I looked down and there I was — wearing a straight gray wool skirt, pumps, and black glasses. The only thing missing was the bun which I sometimes wear now as a “retired” librarian.

So maybe, I really am a full-fledged nerd after all! If so, I love it. It’s exactly how God made me! Be yourself. Be the person God intends you to be!

Be blessed,

Patti Greene

Bible Verses: See Above.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for making me in your image. I may be differently from everyone else, but it is a blessing to know I am exactly how you want me to be. Let me use my talents and gifts for your glory. Take away my fears as I pursue Your calling upon my life. I love You Lord Jesus. Amen.

www.PattiGreene.com

Life Issues, Medical

Woman to Woman: Pelvic Floor Disorders

December 6, 2015 Patti Greene

A good friend invited me to a Pelvic Floor Disorder seminar recently. And, being the good friend that I am, I accepted. It wasn’t hard to accept the invitation at all. I have always been interested in medical information and in sharing what I learn. As a child, I remember sneaking into my parent’s bedroom to look at the black and white pics in the old medical book my parents owned. I was fascinated with the rare and unusual diseases pictured in the book. Now, as an adult, I read medical books before I go to sleep – okay, not every night! I subscribe to some of the most prominent journals available, such as the Mayo Clinic Health Letter, the John Hopkins Medical Letter Health after 50, the Harvard Health Letter, and Neurology Today. And, if any physician is reading this, I even own my own copy of Lange’s Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2013!!!

My Bookshelves!

In-between all my “medical reading”, I have been trying to look at every situation I encounter as an opportunity from God. Hence, I went to the Pelvic Floor Disorder seminar all psyched up to learn some Godly truths from a urogynecologist, a bowel doctor, and pelvic floor physical therapist. So please indulge me as I combine my love for the medical field and my love for Jesus Christ in this unusual blog.

Some problems, both medical and spiritual, resolve themselves. However, when they don’t, we are left with the quandary of how to best resolve them. Do we ignore symptoms? Do we put off getting help? Or, do we go to the best source possible to remedy our difficulties? When comparing medical problems with spiritual problems, there are ways to get on the right track.

With medical problems:

Admit you have a problem;
Go to a physician who specializes in your problem;
Be totally open and honest when talking to your physician;
Find out the treatment options available to you; and
Make the changes necessary to remedy your illness or disease.

With spiritual problems:

Admit you have a problem;
Go to Jesus Christ who understands your concerns;
Be totally open and honest when talking to the Lord;
Read your Bible, pray, and ask the Lord for wisdom in treating your problem; and
Make the changes necessary to get your life back on track.

Sometimes we become so stressed with our problems, we end up approaching them in negative ways. We may experience:

An inability to control our actions;
An inability to handle extreme pressure and stress;
An inability to give all to God;
An inability to slow down; or
Difficulty in making a needed decision.

NEGATIVE WAYS WE DEAL WITH OUR PROBLEMS

HOW TO DEAL WITH THEM PROPERLY

Inability to control ourselves and we do what we don’t want to do.

[Incontinence]¹ – See definition below.

Many people feel a loss of self-sufficiency and weariness when they encounter a problem that is difficult to handle on their own, such as incontinence.

We try to handle the symptoms on our own, but sometimes they don’t improve and we end up creating a worse situation for ourselves. As with incontinence, a competent physician can help us to know the truth about what is going on medically.

Likewise, when we feel we can’t control problems, like unemployment, excessive drinking or gossiping, we need to go the source – Jesus Christ – and He will help us. Trusting Jesus Christ in every detail of our life is essential. God may use many sources to help us with the issues we can’t handle, such as counselors, mentors, pastors, or family members. Spending time in his presence seeking, praying, reading His Word and listening to Him is the key.

For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate . . . So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. Romans 7:15

Inability to handle extreme pressure and stress.

[Prolapse]² – See definition below.

Pressure hurts. Ask anyone who is dealing with any kind of medical prolapse, such as a cystocele, urethrocele, uterine prolapse, vaginal vault prolapse, prolapse vaginal vault, rectocele, or an enterocele.

Pretending our problems are not creating stress and pressure is unwise and unhealthy. As women, we sometimes don’t want others to know how much stress we are experiencing even though we might be on the verge of a nervous breakdown. If you have ever had a broken heart, you know the feeling. Your heart physically hurts. You don’t know what to do. You just want to forget about everything, crawl in a ball, and try to get through one day at a time.

If we find ourselves in this mode, either physically or emotionally, it is imperative we talk to someone. Medically, we talk to a doctor. While friends, family, and even counselors help, we need to talk to God about what is really going on. Often, when we are experiencing the most stress and pressure, we stop spending time in prayer and Bible study. At these times, taking control and surrendering ourselves to the Lord, we experience a new type of freedom and release from pressure.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6

Inability to give all to God; thus we suffer excruciating pain and hurt.

[Urinary Retention]³ – See definition below.

Medically, the inability to urinate can really hurt — so much so that we may not be able to concentrate on anything else. When I was a teenager, I encountered this awful “inability to empty disorder.” I was in so much pain. At 10:00 a.m. my mother was able to get a doctor’s appointment for me, but when she told me it wasn’t until 3:00 that afternoon, I thought I was going to die. Then, I thought I would doubly-die when I went to the doctor and he–let me stress HE–gave me a prescription for some pills “that should help before I went to bed.” Couldn’t he see and feel my unfathomable agony, my excruciating pain, and my dire anguish? At the moment of my deepest need, I could not see any hope. But, hope did come. The pills allowed relief, but way too slowly for my liking. But, today when I read Proverbs 13:12, I am reminded of my suffering that day. I now understand that when hope is deferred, the tree of life is around the corner. But, we must patiently wait for it.

God is our tree of life. He is never apathetic to what we are going through. Yes, we may be in misery and despair in our affliction. We may be experiencing a major issue and we need a rapid-fire fix. Elijah, the Old Testament prophet, once told the Lord he was fatigued and that he wanted to just quit and die. Like Elijah, when we encounter situations like this, the only thing that will help us is to empty ourselves to God. God wants us to talk to him, even plead with Him, when we are totally overwhelmed and experiencing turmoil.

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

Inability to slow down from our going, going, going lifestyle.

[Overactive Bladder]⁴ – See definition below.

Someone with an overactive bladder is continually seeking out where the nearest restroom is. Making restroom facilities a refuge can make us mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually tired. Most friends, family, and acquaintances have no idea what someone encountering this problem deals with and especially the humiliation of not being able to make it to a bathroom destination.

How well I know! As a child, having this disorder along with having shy bladder or bashful bladder, I can totally relate to the feeling. It is so tiring, stressful, and embarrassing.

On a spiritual sense, a going, going, going person gets so involved doing “things,” there is barely time to think. Hopping from one meeting to the next; one good deed to the next; answering one phone call after another; dropping kids from one place to the next, these individuals are wiped out from overworking. In the work field, they are called workaholics. At home, they might be called perfectionists. Either way, when we go, go, go, the quality of our life is affected – usually negatively. If you find yourself too busy to pray and read the Bible, you are way busier than God wants you to be.

Medically, while this disorder may not need an immediate solution, spiritually it does! Those who do not spend time with God and God’s Word, lose the deep, quiet relationship Jesus wants with them. To keep a solid relationship with our Lord, we must take time out to refresh ourselves with Him.

Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Psalm 46:10

Difficulty in making a needed decision.

[Fistula]⁵ – See definition below.

Most fistulas require surgery to correct them. Yes, we need a physician to help with this problem. Spiritually, many people are dealing with major or life and death conditions and a decision needs to be made pronto, i.e. suicidal thoughts; drug overdose; alcoholic blackouts.

You may be dealing right now with something ONLY the power of God can help you with. Never believe that God leaves you powerless to deal with your problems on your own. God will give you the strength, but you must turn to the one and only Jesus Christ who is willing and waiting to help you.

If you haven’t made a full commitment to follow Him, I encourage you to do that today. By confessing your faults and sins, and asking Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, you will not walk this journey we call life alone, but you will have someone to help you with whatever you are facing right now. Take an honest look at your life and decide for Christ. Only you can make that decision – not your parents, your spouse, or your friends. Surrendering your life to his will is the best decision you can ever make.

As with any medical disorder or issue, we may visit a primary care doctor only to be referred to a specialist. However, regarding our spiritual life, there is no PRIMARY CARE GOD, there is only the powerful God of the Trinity. As with all our problems, let’s turn to the Lord first for help and make Him our first course of action. He knows the big picture of our life. He knows what is going on in our lives. And, He knows what we must go through to achieve His plans for our lives.

Blessings Always,

Patti

Bible Verses:

If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John 8:31-32

Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy, when I cry to you for help, when I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary. Psalm 28:2

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. John 14:26

Prayer:

Jesus, I know that sometimes I don’t handle my problems and difficulties in the way that pleases you. I just want to leave my problems with you and depend on you to guide me into your perfect ways. Give me wisdom and lead me by your Holy Spirit to those who can help me to see my life from your perspective. I love you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

¹ Incontinence is the inability of the body to control the evacuation functions or urination or defecation. www.merriam-webster.com.

² Prolapse is the falling down or slipping of a body part from its usual position or relations. www.merriam-webster.com.

³ Urinary retention is the inability to empty the bladder completely. www.medicinenet.com.

⁴ Overactive bladder is a condition that is characterized by a sudden, involuntary contraction of the muscle in the wall of the urinary bladder resulting in a sudden unstoppable need to urinate. www.medicinenet.com.

⁵ A fistula is an abnormal connection between an organ, vessel, or intestine and another structure. www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus.

Greene Pastures by Patti Londa Greene

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