This is a link to "Bible Gateway" it is a great tool for me and wanted to share it with all of you. You can look up bible verse in all different bibles, The Message, NIV etc. Hope you enjoy it.http://www.biblegateway.com/
Chapter 12:
Boy right off the bat it makes me think...
5 I would hate to be asked that question...
17 I always love when a prophet is fulfilled it is amazing to me. I go back and read it in the old testament just to make sure. Isaiah 42:1-4
28 is talking about driving out demons and how Jesus does it. This gives me food for thought with my prayer life and how I will pray for things. Not that I can heal but how I will pray for God to heal!!
36 is harsh although I agree!! We truly have to watch our words and be so careful what we think and say.
40 Jesus is explaining about Jonah being in the belly of a huge fish for 3 days and 3 nights then He says the Son of Man will be 3 days and 3 nights in the heart of the earth. He is propheting about Himself and I think they missed it.
50 brings new meaning to "Church Family" to me!! (Which I might add I am so thankful for North Hills and love all like family!!
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I think what hit me hard this evening is what vs 7 said. It quoted Hosea 6:6 which states.... "For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings."
ReplyDeleteThere are times when I feel like the "sacrifices" and "burnt offerings" I offer are with all of the best motives and attitudes....yet there are also times when it is just the motions. I'll admit that sometimes I care too much what people think: I want to be seen doing all the "right things". But - God doesn't care about the right things if they are not done with the right heart. He doesn't want my sacrifices - he doesn't want my burnt offerings. He doesn't want the motions if my heart is not there. He wants my actions to be backed up by a true and deep mercy....He wants my "burnt offerings" to stem from the fact that I truly acknowledge that HE IS GOD.
Does this make sense?
P.S. I guess I think of my sacrifices and burnt offerings right now as my giving at church - my time, my effort, my money. Am I doing it because I'm supposed to? Because that's the "right thing"? Or is it what this study is all about.....MORE than just the motions?
Lauren I know for me sometimes all I have is the motions. That is when I am thankful that I have the foundation that I have in Christ. Sometimes in our lives all we can do is the the motions and that is okay for awhile. When you are going through the motions that means you are still going.. It is like having a pity party it is okay to go and visit but you can't live there!! I think giving of ourselves to our church is what is supposed to be done. Sometimes it is not easy especially with only one service so we don't get to attend corporate worship. I look at it this way very simular to when we are born we need someone to bottle feed us, then we need someone to spoon feed us, then we get to the point where we can feed our self and we do this for a long time then we feed others. We as Christians need to learn to feed ourselves for a long time then feed others. To me that is serving. Serving sometimes is hard and the enemy gets us and makes us feel out of it, left out, or that we don't belong. Those are all lies and we need to know they are lies. We are working for the Kingdom of God and let me tell you there is no better job. It is not always with love and joy sometimes it is going thru the motions. Let me tell you what I see is a beautiful, women of Christ caring for her family and church. Stand firm in knowing that Lauren is a child of God in whom He is well pleased. (and I think you are a rock star!)
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