Ecclesiastes 3:7b - "...A time to be silent and a time to speak."
Revelation 8:1 - "...there was silence in heaven for about half an hour."
(both NASB)
Can we really "imagine" silence, the complete absence of sound? (Wikipedia Dictionary)
----
This morning, while in the gazebo, I thought, "I wonder what that would be like - the complete absence of sound - where absolute stillness rules!" So I "foolishly" thought I'd give it a try right there! "See" what it would be like!
I had no idea "God's creation" was so noisy!!
The droning, low-throaty rattle of a bi-plane as it circled, dipping and rising over its freshly dusted crops, scrutinized every blade and leaf that was dusted. Satisfied, the plane with its droning rattle faded off into the distance as another field was surveyed to receive its share of the bug-reducing spray!
I hear a whole sanctuary of birds nestled together in the throats of two mockingbirds trying to outdo each other with the number of chirps, chips, trills, and calls they've both learned!
The breeze rearranges my hair and creates a gentle but noisy wave as the leaves of nearby trees and bushes rustle and bump into each other, all moving in the same direction.
Then the sounds of the pump, filtering the pool; gentle drops of water lightly splashing back into the fish pond; the hum of tires (louder than its engine) of a passing SUV; arguing crows, happy robins, chipping sparrows, and the buzzing wings of a bee on a mission whose course is right past my head(!) all crowd out silence!
And I began to wonder, "Is THIS why God says to enter into a closet to pray, where it's 'quiet' and 'still' ?? "
---
Matthew 6:6 - "But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."
(KJV) - I'm pretty sure the emphasis in this verse is about the "secret" part, but so-to-speak, wouldn't it be "ok" to just enter into your house? I wonder if it has to do with "getting the noise out and the quiet and stillness in" so that we may know God. (“Be still, and know that I am God” [Psalm 46:10]).
---
So, I realized that I really do not know what it is going to be like in heaven for that solemn and momentous half hour!! And I think we really do not know what that silence is going to be like at all! - - - - - I'm praying that as you read this, you will be on the heaven-side of this silence, rather than on the earth-side!!!
---
jfn - 6/30/2011
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
There Can Be NOTHING Better Than THIS!! - - - ?? - - - REALLY???
On Wednesday morning, I sat in the gazebo, enjoying a wonderful cup of Hazelnut coffee, surveying meticulously every detail of God's awesome creation that my little finite mind could define, and listening intently to all the amazing sounds that God has orchestrated for HIS pleasure. I was absolutely thrilled with the non-rhythmic symphony that the water delicately trickled out as it fell lazily back into the pond, punctuated only with periodic distortions created by the soft whisper of a gentle breeze. Birds sang to each other, and a robin and robinness were caught up in a "domestic dispute," I think, which settled quickly, and harmony returned. I watched breathlessly -literally!- as my hummingbird feeder saw its first guest arrive and settle onto the little bar, driving its long bill deeply into the simulated flower, and begin to drink unhurriedly.
I watched as my fish darted to the surface of the pond, snatched bits of their flaky food, and disappeared with a slight splash, leaving circles of rippling water, overlapping each other as every circle raced for the edges of the pond. Oh, I smiled at the wonderful thought that these things of creation which our Creator permits us to take in fleetingly, were CREATED FOR HIS PLEASURE!!!
"Ahh!" I mused, sipping my coffee, letting it settle on my tongue, and enjoying the wonderful taste before swallowing it, "What could be ANY better than this??!! - There is NOTHING better than..."
"...WITH CHRIST, WHICH IS FAR BETTER;" (Philippians 1:23)
Suddenly I realized, the things that are so good and so pleasant and so right and so just are only little teeny tiny examples of what it is going to be like WITH CHRIST!!!! (Yes, I know, I was redundant with my speech, but I really, really wanted to share that we can only imagine the littlest speck of what it is going to be like WITH our Lord!!) - - - And likewise, the absolute very worst thing that could ever possibly happen on this earth is only the littlest, tiniest speck that we can possibly imagine what it is going to be like for eternity WITHOUT CHRIST!
So, may the God of Creation, be the center of our focus and OUR PLEASURE, since the things that ARE created were created for HIS pleasure!!!!
I watched as my fish darted to the surface of the pond, snatched bits of their flaky food, and disappeared with a slight splash, leaving circles of rippling water, overlapping each other as every circle raced for the edges of the pond. Oh, I smiled at the wonderful thought that these things of creation which our Creator permits us to take in fleetingly, were CREATED FOR HIS PLEASURE!!!
"Ahh!" I mused, sipping my coffee, letting it settle on my tongue, and enjoying the wonderful taste before swallowing it, "What could be ANY better than this??!! - There is NOTHING better than..."
"...WITH CHRIST, WHICH IS FAR BETTER;" (Philippians 1:23)
Suddenly I realized, the things that are so good and so pleasant and so right and so just are only little teeny tiny examples of what it is going to be like WITH CHRIST!!!! (Yes, I know, I was redundant with my speech, but I really, really wanted to share that we can only imagine the littlest speck of what it is going to be like WITH our Lord!!) - - - And likewise, the absolute very worst thing that could ever possibly happen on this earth is only the littlest, tiniest speck that we can possibly imagine what it is going to be like for eternity WITHOUT CHRIST!
So, may the God of Creation, be the center of our focus and OUR PLEASURE, since the things that ARE created were created for HIS pleasure!!!!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
The Four EASIEST / MOST DIFFICULT Things in This Life!!!
This morning I realized something that I've wondered for a long time but never put into words before:
I now know the two easiest and the two most difficult things in this life:
1. I know that it is the EASIEST thing in this life to know how another person should live, use their money, is messing up their life, slipping spiritually, etc.
2. I know that it is the MOST DIFFICULT thing in this life to know how I should live, use my money, am messing up my life, slipping spiritually, etc.
3. I know that it is the EASIEST thing in this life to have all the answers for everybody else.
4. I know that it is the MOST DIFFICULT thing in this life to have ANY answers for myself.
Matthew 5:16 - "Let your light so shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." (NASB) --- I noticed that in almost every translation (if not all of them), it says, "...shine BEFORE men..." - not "...shine ON men..." ---- The light that we shine should glorify our Father who is in heaven, not shine ON another and either exalt them or point out their failures!!
---
jfn - 6/8/2011
I now know the two easiest and the two most difficult things in this life:
1. I know that it is the EASIEST thing in this life to know how another person should live, use their money, is messing up their life, slipping spiritually, etc.
2. I know that it is the MOST DIFFICULT thing in this life to know how I should live, use my money, am messing up my life, slipping spiritually, etc.
3. I know that it is the EASIEST thing in this life to have all the answers for everybody else.
4. I know that it is the MOST DIFFICULT thing in this life to have ANY answers for myself.
Matthew 5:16 - "Let your light so shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." (NASB) --- I noticed that in almost every translation (if not all of them), it says, "...shine BEFORE men..." - not "...shine ON men..." ---- The light that we shine should glorify our Father who is in heaven, not shine ON another and either exalt them or point out their failures!!
---
jfn - 6/8/2011
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
IF ... You COULD Choose ... Heaven?? or Hell??
Today's Our Daily Bread, "Bad Choice" (May 31), jolted me into a serious consideration of what I've heard before about people "choosing" (as if they COULD) to go to Hell. I've heard, "I wanna go to Hell, 'cause all my friends are gonna be there, and we're gonna party!!" Interestingly, the same person declared not a week later, "My life is a living hell on earth!!" - - - I cannot figure out WHY this person would actually choose MORE of that kind of a "life"!!! - - - and I am 99% sure he HAS NOT read "The Book" (The BIBLE), in which there is not one mention of "fun" or "partying" or "friends" or "interesting people" EVER connected with Hell!!
The only descriptions of Hell as found in The Bible do not even remotely suggest that it is a place where pleasure will be found. The Bible talks of, "sorrows" in 2 Samuel, "pains" and "destruction" in the Psalms, "cast into;" "torments;" and "weeping and gnashing of teeth" in the Gospels, "death" and "the lake of fire" in Revelation. Every one of the scriptures dealing with Hell clearly paints a vivid picture of the most undesirable place in which to find oneself!!
On the other hand, the descriptions of Heaven are in stark contrast!!
Deuteronomy speaks of "the precious things of heaven."
2 Kings and Malachi talks of "windows in/of heaven."
Ecclesiastes exults that "God is in heaven."
Isaiah says that God declares, "Heaven is my throne."
Matthew states "great is your reward in heaven."
1 Corinthians gives the greatest reason for wanting to be in heaven: "the second man is the Lord from heaven."
Revelation elicits praise with: "a door was opened in heaven;" "there was silence in heaven;" and "appeared a great wonder in heaven"
You will notice the contrast here:
There is no mention of even a few moments silence in Hell.
There is no mention of "sadness" or "darkness" or "sorrow" connected with heaven.
There is no mention of those crossing over from Hell to Heaven or vice versa.
-----------
It seems to me that the definition of insanity is:
"Knowingly choosing the most foolish, unwise, and irrational options, while expecting, perhaps even demanding them to yield the same results (or better) as the rational and wise options."
jfn - 5-31-2011
The only descriptions of Hell as found in The Bible do not even remotely suggest that it is a place where pleasure will be found. The Bible talks of, "sorrows" in 2 Samuel, "pains" and "destruction" in the Psalms, "cast into;" "torments;" and "weeping and gnashing of teeth" in the Gospels, "death" and "the lake of fire" in Revelation. Every one of the scriptures dealing with Hell clearly paints a vivid picture of the most undesirable place in which to find oneself!!
On the other hand, the descriptions of Heaven are in stark contrast!!
Deuteronomy speaks of "the precious things of heaven."
2 Kings and Malachi talks of "windows in/of heaven."
Ecclesiastes exults that "God is in heaven."
Isaiah says that God declares, "Heaven is my throne."
Matthew states "great is your reward in heaven."
1 Corinthians gives the greatest reason for wanting to be in heaven: "the second man is the Lord from heaven."
Revelation elicits praise with: "a door was opened in heaven;" "there was silence in heaven;" and "appeared a great wonder in heaven"
You will notice the contrast here:
There is no mention of even a few moments silence in Hell.
There is no mention of "sadness" or "darkness" or "sorrow" connected with heaven.
There is no mention of those crossing over from Hell to Heaven or vice versa.
-----------
It seems to me that the definition of insanity is:
"Knowingly choosing the most foolish, unwise, and irrational options, while expecting, perhaps even demanding them to yield the same results (or better) as the rational and wise options."
jfn - 5-31-2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
The Shadow and The Law
This morning I enjoyed a cup of coffee in the gazebo and witnessed with great delight the work of God's hands. I studied the ever-changing shadows He drew as He moved the sun in its divinely-appointed pathway for this day, which HE made. I AM REJOICING, AND AM GLAD IN IT!
But the shadows reminded me of two verses:
John 1:17
"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."
Hebrews 10:1:
"For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things..."
The very best explanation I have ever heard to help me remember the difference between The Law and Grace and Truth was given by bro. Ruben Ruga many, many years ago:
"I may see a shadow coming around a corner and I KNOW it is my mother. I recognize her image. But when my mother COMES around the corner I run to embrace her and immediately forget about the shadow. I do not run to embrace her SHADOW, for that was only a sample of the good which was to come! This is the type of what Hebrews 10:1 refers to."
---
jfn - 5/26/2011
But the shadows reminded me of two verses:
John 1:17
"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."
Hebrews 10:1:
"For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things..."
The very best explanation I have ever heard to help me remember the difference between The Law and Grace and Truth was given by bro. Ruben Ruga many, many years ago:
"I may see a shadow coming around a corner and I KNOW it is my mother. I recognize her image. But when my mother COMES around the corner I run to embrace her and immediately forget about the shadow. I do not run to embrace her SHADOW, for that was only a sample of the good which was to come! This is the type of what Hebrews 10:1 refers to."
---
jfn - 5/26/2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
WHO not WHEN - Knowledge of our Lord's Return
I posted the following on a Facebook page about the Lord's return for us:
"I read all of the posts but cannot make a comment on Fred's status about Family Radio. I only have one comment on all of this: IF MATH was used "to calculate" the Lord's return, the "calculations" have been incorrect -how many times now????- It should be clear to EVERY person that MATH has nothing to do with the Lord's return. The WORD OF GOD has EVERYTHING to do with it, and yet THE WORD OF GOD DECLARES in black and white that NO PERSON knows... So, wasting time with math calculations is foolishness, at best! - And all the books written are foolishness. Because it has nothing to do with the day, year, time of KNOWING, it has to do with the WHO of KNOWING!!! The SON doesn't know, the ANGELS don't know. THE FATHER ONLY knows!!! To try to figure it out only reveals the foolishness in our earthly wisdom!!"
jfn - 5/24/2011
"I read all of the posts but cannot make a comment on Fred's status about Family Radio. I only have one comment on all of this: IF MATH was used "to calculate" the Lord's return, the "calculations" have been incorrect -how many times now????- It should be clear to EVERY person that MATH has nothing to do with the Lord's return. The WORD OF GOD has EVERYTHING to do with it, and yet THE WORD OF GOD DECLARES in black and white that NO PERSON knows... So, wasting time with math calculations is foolishness, at best! - And all the books written are foolishness. Because it has nothing to do with the day, year, time of KNOWING, it has to do with the WHO of KNOWING!!! The SON doesn't know, the ANGELS don't know. THE FATHER ONLY knows!!! To try to figure it out only reveals the foolishness in our earthly wisdom!!"
jfn - 5/24/2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
EXACTLY What ARE We Looking For - In The Word of God???
To pit the New Testament against the Old Testament, one gospel writer against another gospel writer, one truth against another truth is nothing short of an excuse to disobey God. Period.
For the time in history, the place geographically, the people nationally, the individual personally, God caused to be recorded EXACTLY what was needed to bring Him glory and to reveal to us His ways and His works. A true heart before God will rejoice to recognize how "detail-oriented" God is to every individual person. He gives to every person, time, place, people, nation, EXACTLY what is suitable at that moment!
We ARE of all previous peoples the most blessed!!
1. We have the completed Word of God!
2. We are excluded from the ritualistic observances required under Jewish law, through faith in Christ Jesus.
3. The blood of Jesus Christ has set our hearts free from looking into the scriptures for the "Thou Shalt"'s and the "Thou Shalt Not"'s to follow!
4. God has given to the believer in Christ the simplest, easiest, and most personal attachment to Himself. He has given His Holy Spirit to live within our hearts!!
Humbly submitting to what God has placed within our hearts by His Holy Spirit is what He's looking for, not gaining more intellectual knowledge as to why we think we should or shouldn't do something based on what He spoke in another time, to another person, or to His "earthly" people - nor even the early church in its "infancy." Isolating a Scripture, a Truth, a verse to serve as a platform to project our own likes or dislikes is extremely dangerous - if not "deadly" - for the one at whom it is aimed. Remember? We cannot keep "the law"??!! Not one person has the ability to do so!
But I believe this: How God directs our hearts TODAY will never be contrary to the principles He has spoken in His Word. Of that, I am CONVINCED!!
---
Simple submission is the greatest witness to true humility and obedience.
--
jfn - 5/18/2011
For the time in history, the place geographically, the people nationally, the individual personally, God caused to be recorded EXACTLY what was needed to bring Him glory and to reveal to us His ways and His works. A true heart before God will rejoice to recognize how "detail-oriented" God is to every individual person. He gives to every person, time, place, people, nation, EXACTLY what is suitable at that moment!
We ARE of all previous peoples the most blessed!!
1. We have the completed Word of God!
2. We are excluded from the ritualistic observances required under Jewish law, through faith in Christ Jesus.
3. The blood of Jesus Christ has set our hearts free from looking into the scriptures for the "Thou Shalt"'s and the "Thou Shalt Not"'s to follow!
4. God has given to the believer in Christ the simplest, easiest, and most personal attachment to Himself. He has given His Holy Spirit to live within our hearts!!
Humbly submitting to what God has placed within our hearts by His Holy Spirit is what He's looking for, not gaining more intellectual knowledge as to why we think we should or shouldn't do something based on what He spoke in another time, to another person, or to His "earthly" people - nor even the early church in its "infancy." Isolating a Scripture, a Truth, a verse to serve as a platform to project our own likes or dislikes is extremely dangerous - if not "deadly" - for the one at whom it is aimed. Remember? We cannot keep "the law"??!! Not one person has the ability to do so!
But I believe this: How God directs our hearts TODAY will never be contrary to the principles He has spoken in His Word. Of that, I am CONVINCED!!
---
Simple submission is the greatest witness to true humility and obedience.
--
jfn - 5/18/2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
God's Justice!
To believers, God administers justice by a sentence of: ACQUITTAL by reason of Christ's death, blood, resurrection, and ascension; and our acceptance of Christ by faith.
The door to our Solitary Confinement cell of serving hell are thrown open, our chains of bondage and slavery to Satan are snapped, and we are ushered into freedom to live our lives in gratitude to God and for His glory!
Can you think of a better serving of justice than this??
jfn - 5/17/2011
The door to our Solitary Confinement cell of serving hell are thrown open, our chains of bondage and slavery to Satan are snapped, and we are ushered into freedom to live our lives in gratitude to God and for His glory!
Can you think of a better serving of justice than this??
jfn - 5/17/2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
We ARE Getting What We Pray For!!!
We often pray for the health and healing of our bodies. We often pray for things which effect our emotions -- increase our faith, love for another, peace, humility, patience, etc. -- how often do we realize as we make these requests that it is in reality a cry of our souls and spirits to grow before God? For, as we make our requests, God has already answered (Isaiah 65:24 - "It will also come to pass that BEFORE they call, I will answer; and WHILE THEY ARE STILL SPEAKING, I WILL HEAR. -NASB-) with just what is needed so that our souls and our spirits will grow for His glory.
More often than not, it seems as if God send us more of the very thing we are trying to avoid, for, though a worldly expression, the sentiment is backed by The Word of God: "It's got to get worse before it will get better." "...tribulation brings about perseverance;" Romans 5:3 -NASB-
The increase of the very thing for which we request relief is PROOF that God has heard and answered our souls' and spirits' request to grow before Him!
jfn - 5/13/2011
More often than not, it seems as if God send us more of the very thing we are trying to avoid, for, though a worldly expression, the sentiment is backed by The Word of God: "It's got to get worse before it will get better." "...tribulation brings about perseverance;" Romans 5:3 -NASB-
The increase of the very thing for which we request relief is PROOF that God has heard and answered our souls' and spirits' request to grow before Him!
jfn - 5/13/2011
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
His Wings
Psalm 17:8 - "...hide me in the shadow of Your wings."
Psalm 36:7 - "...take refuge in the shadow of Your wings."
Psalm 61:4 - "...let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings."
Psalm 63:7 - "...in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy."
Psalm 91:4 - "...under His wings you may seek refuge."
Matthew 23:37 - "...how often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling."
--- All references NASB ---
Hiding in the shadow -- taking refuge in the shelter -- seeking refuge under -- His wings we may sing for joy that our Protector shields us from that which the enemy hurls at us.
Dear fellow "chicks" [believers] let's not be unwilling to be gathered together and hidden under the shelter, refuge, and protection of His wings!!
jfn - 5/11/2011
Psalm 36:7 - "...take refuge in the shadow of Your wings."
Psalm 61:4 - "...let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings."
Psalm 63:7 - "...in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy."
Psalm 91:4 - "...under His wings you may seek refuge."
Matthew 23:37 - "...how often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling."
--- All references NASB ---
Hiding in the shadow -- taking refuge in the shelter -- seeking refuge under -- His wings we may sing for joy that our Protector shields us from that which the enemy hurls at us.
Dear fellow "chicks" [believers] let's not be unwilling to be gathered together and hidden under the shelter, refuge, and protection of His wings!!
jfn - 5/11/2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
God's Demands on Faith
Faith does not hesitate at what God demands of it. How else would the father of faith (Abraham) have received that commendation by God that he (Abraham) "...is the father of us all,? - Romans 4:16
jfn - 5/10/2011
jfn - 5/10/2011
Monday, May 2, 2011
Deliverance From Evil
We often pray: "...deliver us from evil...", but have we ever prayed: "...deliver evil from us..."?
Perhaps if we prayed more in this way, we should see more victories and deliverances, as we witnessed last night, and perhaps we should witness them way sooner than the evil continuing on for an extended period of time? -- jfn - 5/2/2011
----------
As we accept what God is giving us, whether pleasing or painful, do we look at the face of God and into the eyes of Jesus and experience the love in His heart for us?
When we give our problems over to Jesus, do we look at His nail-pierced hands and remember all that He suffered on our behalf?
How / why is it that we so easily forget His greatest proofs of His love, by the look in His eyes and the effects of His suffering, and begin to accuse Him of forgetting about us and blaming Him for our circumstances?
Do we REALLY believe that He made His Son SUFFER THAT MUCH before, and now He's going to just FORGET ABOUT US? He wouldn't be GOD if He did!!! -- jfn - 5/2/2011
Perhaps if we prayed more in this way, we should see more victories and deliverances, as we witnessed last night, and perhaps we should witness them way sooner than the evil continuing on for an extended period of time? -- jfn - 5/2/2011
----------
As we accept what God is giving us, whether pleasing or painful, do we look at the face of God and into the eyes of Jesus and experience the love in His heart for us?
When we give our problems over to Jesus, do we look at His nail-pierced hands and remember all that He suffered on our behalf?
How / why is it that we so easily forget His greatest proofs of His love, by the look in His eyes and the effects of His suffering, and begin to accuse Him of forgetting about us and blaming Him for our circumstances?
Do we REALLY believe that He made His Son SUFFER THAT MUCH before, and now He's going to just FORGET ABOUT US? He wouldn't be GOD if He did!!! -- jfn - 5/2/2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
The Garden of Our Words
Have we tended to the Garden of Our Words today, watering them with The Word of God, weeding out the ones that cause harm or hurt to one another, fertilizing them with grace and a pinch of salt; and are we harvesting the ripe fruits of words to use for encouragement, comfort, and revival of one another? Does the blossoms of our words send forth a sweet fragrance to those who hear them? But above all, are The Garden of Our Words tended with thanksgiving, praise, honor, and glory to God? --- ". . . how does your garden grow?" - jfn-4/28/2011
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God gives us good: people, events, things, places, etc. down here to enjoy --not to be focused on them-- so that He may say, "Look, see how much you enjoy this? Well, My heaven with Christ is far better than anything you will experience on earth."
Think of it: If God DIDN'T give us good: people, events, things, places, etc. to enjoy, we would have no concept of what "far better" really means.
I believe God intends us to enjoy what He's given to us here, but He wants us to be excited that He has much better in store for us with Him! - jfn-4/28/2011
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God gives us good: people, events, things, places, etc. down here to enjoy --not to be focused on them-- so that He may say, "Look, see how much you enjoy this? Well, My heaven with Christ is far better than anything you will experience on earth."
Think of it: If God DIDN'T give us good: people, events, things, places, etc. to enjoy, we would have no concept of what "far better" really means.
I believe God intends us to enjoy what He's given to us here, but He wants us to be excited that He has much better in store for us with Him! - jfn-4/28/2011
Thursday, April 21, 2011
The Maze of Our Lives
How is it "God's fault" when we sporadically thank Him [even less] seek Him, when we hurriedly bumble and stumble through the maze of our lives, take wrong turns, end up in the same place, and we're not any further ahead --or anywhere, for that matter? This becomes God's fault - HOW? -- jfn 4/21/2011
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