emmaus

It's more than I can comprehend. I'm awed by his wonder. I just want to live for him the best I can, know him better and love him more.

In order to have relief we have to first bring our burdens to the Lord. Once we've humbled ourselves to the Lord and poured our hearts out, then in faith we can praise his name and have hope. This is the perfect way to come to the Lord in prayer. There is no need in praying if we don't believe he will hear our prayers and help. We know that he desires our praises and thanks. I heard someone say this week, "Think about what your thinking about." If we don't praise him then we're letting the devil fill our heads with doubts.

He could ask for mercy because he admitted his guilt, repented and ask God for forgiveness. That's what made David so good, he failed like any other human, but he was sorry for what he had done and ask for forgiveness. He accepted responsibility for his actions and didn't try to place the blame on someone else. It's the same for us today.

The daughters were without hope and desparate.They had not been taught about the one true God so they had no faith or values. Lot turns to wine to forget. There had probably been enough time go by that he had thought about where he had gone wrong. He had been given many opportunities and this is where his choices had led him. He could have worshiped God as Abraham did but chose not to. It's the same today. If I choose worldly things over my faith in God there will be consequences.

Maybe it was curiosity that made her look back. She was watching her former life go up in flames. Most of all it was disobedience in her heart, the angel had told them not to look back. Yes, I was like this in my early Christian life and I suffered for it. The lesson in Luke is that you come to Jesus just as you are, no turning back.

They hesitated because it was easier to stay with what they knew than to leave it all behind. Most of us don't like change, but to follow God we have to be willing to let go and look to the future. Yes, I've done it too. I 've learned that it is Satan telling me it's okay, don't worry about it. Matthew 24:4 Jesus answered: Watch out that no one deceives you.

As Christians, if we are looking for something to condemn, homosexuality is right up there with the rest of the sins. God came into my heart while I was still sick in my particular brand of sin. I didn't cleanse myself, God cleansed me. Those that are in this bondage, when they reach the bottom God will be there waiting for them. I think that, as with any other sinner, I must be kind and compassionate as a Christian should. But also, Psalms 1:1 says, "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers." To me that means I shouldn't have a close personal relationship with anyone who lives in this manner. It's the duty of the men and women in the pulpit to preach the word of God. It would be a sin if they didn't. So no, the church shouldn't be silent about the subject. The bible says that homosexuality is a sin and it should be preached from the pulpit.

This is Psalm 98 as I feel it in my heart. It is my meager attempt to praise our God who can never be praised enough. Praise be to God Almighty! Let me sing my love for you! Worthy are you, my Lord, of all praise! He does not forget his promises! He forgives and saves his flock! The oppressors see your mighty power! The earth cries out, "Praise be to God!" Instruments that you gave the vision to make fill the air with praise! God of all creation I worship you with a heart full of joy and love! Praise be to the King! May you be worshiped and obeyed with humbled hearts, For you will come to judge in righteousness and fairness! Hallelujah!

This Psalm is about praising God for saving the Jewish people, just as he saved us through salvation, and his faithfulness and righteousness. It is a joyful praise because the people had been set free from their bondage. God had shown his love and mercy to his people. The oppressors would be judged and those who loved and obeyed him would be blessed. I think our praise in church and at home is pleasing to God. But when I think about it I always feel that I could or should have done more. God is so good. We could never praise him enough for all that he has done for us.

We should worship God because we belong to him. He is the alpha and omega. We should humble ourselves and thank him. God wants our love. He doesn't want us to harden our hearts and turn away from him. This is a warning of what happened before and he doesn't want it to happen again. He wants us to truly love him, not just an outward show but a deep personal love, to remain faithful and trust him even when life seems overwhelming.

This shows us that we are to praise God. Everyone is to praise him everywhere. We praise him with singing, instruments, and dance. I am uplifted after reading this Psalm. The first thing the Israelites did after passing through the red sea on dry ground was sing to the Lord. Miriam and the other women took tambourines and sang and danced to the Lord.

Abraham does this as an act of intercession for Lot and his family. Yes, God wants us to pray for others, not to give up but pray in faith believing it is as we ask. It pleases God when we are concerned for the lost and for the needs of others. We are not to only pray for ourselves but for those for don't know the Lord. God doesn't want anyone to perish but to repent.

It starts with Jesus. Jesus has to be first in your heart and life. You have to make a decision about who you are going to serve. As it says in Joshua, "as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord". It's difficult when your faith gets weak. When you start listening to the devil's lies instead of God's still small voice. It isn't difficult to live for the Lord. It was difficult living without him. I'm blessed with my family and church family. I enjoy studying the bible, going to church, and helping others. I just want to live my life in a way that will bring others to the Lord.

In any relationship you have to talk things out. In a marriage the husband makes the final decision because he is the head of the house just as Jesus is the head of the church. The husband is to love his wife as himself and in return the wife is to respect the husband. If two people love the Lord and ask for his guidance, treat the other the way they want to be treated things will work out. I have found that if you prepare your kids, let them know what your expecting of them they will obey most of the time. If there are problems, that's when I go get their Dad or Grandfather. The key is to live for and love the Lord as best you can and you will be respected.

We can't believe everything we hear but when someone tells us about a miracle that they've personally seen we ought to have enough faith in God to believe. If we're always skeptical where's the faith. The only indication I see in the bible is that God is still in control and he can step in and do whatever he sees fit. "And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." That is the first step in having faith and we have to stay with it.

Here is a simple version version of Psalms 133. It is good to live in peace. See the blessings poured out. We are refreshed. Here is God's love and grace always.

It is refreshing and blessings for everyone when there is unity. As you said, "difficulties tend to divide people." Pride, beliefs, and church doctrines divide people. We have to respect other peoples beliefs and be fair minded. Each one of us has to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. God wants us to be unified but we all think differently. Reconciliation and unity were important in Jesus' teaching so that with one accord we may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:6

This would be good to read together and discuss. Talk about living a pure life, doing good things for others, telling the truth, not being greedy. Explain that if we do these things we will be close to God. I've always told my granddaughter that she was beautiful, but more important than that, she's beautiful on the inside because she loves Jesus. This would teach morals, values, and a sense of honor.

We need to be reminded when we are down cast so we will remember our hope. Sometimes it does seem like the wicked prosper and God's people struggle. But Matthew 23:32 says, "Wicked people have a measure of iniquity to fill up. Then God takes vengeance on them." I like verse 3, it's interesting to watch as a tree grows over the years, to see it through the seasons. The verse says we are like a tree. With God's grace we yield fruit, do not wither, and prosper.

The Israilites were under the law and were obeying. Circumcision was an outward sign of their covenant with God. Where now we worship God in spirit. We were dead in our sins, but when we are baptized our sins are washed away. Our sins are buried and our hearts are clean and new through faith in Jesus.

To have your heart circumcised means to have the old sinful self removed and to dedicate ourselves to God. Paul says that for Christians this happens when we are baptized. Everyone needs to be set free from the power of sin in their life. We can keep our faith active by studying and maturing in the fruits of the spirit. Yes, I've failed. I'll fail again but I won't wallow in it. I'll get up and ask God to forgive me and try not to make that mistake again. The men at our church sing, I would not be denied. That's the way I think of it.

Circumcision represents the covenant between God and Abraham and all he is responsible for. The act of circumcision is Abraham's agreement to the covenant. This reminds me of the of the cutting of the covenant we studied earlier. God promises Abraham that his seed would be as the stars and he would inherit the land. Abraham ask God for confirmation of the promise. Circumcision was Abraham's confirmation to the this new covenant. To do this the very same day shows Abraham's total and complete agreement to the covenant.

God isn't asking for moral perfection but to live an ethically righteous life before him. Someone explained the difference between ethics and morals as what climate is to weather. Ethics involve everyone, morals more personal. God is asking that Abraham lead an upright and sincere life. He expects the same from us.

This is the 1st bible study on Psalms for me. I hadn't given the book of Psalms alot of thought. This has been interesting, more so than I thought it would. I like Psalms 63. I read it in several translations and thought about it. This is the faith I want to have in the Lord, to thirst and hunger for the Lord, to want his love more than life, for soul and spirit to be satified, to meditate on the blessings God has given, to be safe in his presence and rejoice, to know it's God that is giving you the strength to go on. God forbid but when trouble or heartache come into my life as it did David's here, that I can stand strong.

When I realized that God knew me and loved me I trusted him. That is the basis of my faith. I trust in his love, his promises, and in his judgement too. I have a healthy fear of him because he is the one that will have the final say. But it's the trust, knowing that he never changes that's most important to me.