Tag Archives: obedience

Feb25

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on February 25, 2015 by lsgrlr

I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

2 Kings 15. “In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah the son of Amaziah, king of Judah, became king. He was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem. And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done, except that the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. Then the Lord struck the king, so that he was a leper until the day of his death; so he dwelt in an isolated house. And Jotham the king’s son was over the royal house, judging the people of the land” (Verses 1-5). You can’t serve God half way. Jeroboam becomes king, he does what is right in the sight of God, except… There can be no exceptions. God is not asking for perfection, He understands our human condition, but as much as depends on us we must choose right. Jeroboam served God, but he didn’t lead his people to do the same. The goal of the king is to lead. The goal of the Christian is to draw others to Christ. We can’t do it halfway. Today let’s serve God with our WHOLE heart.

Jan26

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on January 26, 2015 by lsgrlr

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I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

1 Kings 22. “And Micaiah said, ‘As the Lord lives, whatever the Lord says to me, that I will speak'” (Verse 14). Such a simple sentence and most times so hard to accomplish. we love to hear God talk, love direction, and love to know that He is with and for us. What we don’t love, doing what He says to do. We try to skirt it or find ways around it. Why is that? Because it can be uncomfortable. When Micaiah was called to testify before the king all the king’s prophet had already told him how awesome he was, but Micaiah needed to tell him that he would die… yeah that did not go over well. But what I want you to notice is this Micaiah even knowing what would happen did what God wanted, he spoke… Truth. Truth is painful, but it is also healing. So do what God says, even when it’s painful. He always blesses obedience.

Jan23

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on January 23, 2015 by lsgrlr

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I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

1 Kings 20. “And he hastened to take the bandage away from his eyes; and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets. Then he said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Because you have let slip out of your hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people.’ So the king of Israel went to his house sullen and displeased, and came to Samaria” (Verses 41-43). Obedience. The King wanted to be nice, but God required obedience. If Ahab’s mercy had been an act of God’s will, or because he wanted Ben Hadad to know God, I believe that God’s punishment may have been abated. But Ahab wanted to be recognized and praised, and to gain recognition he disobeyed God’s direct command. Here is what we know and this truth will NEVER change: God requires OBEDIENCE.

Jan11

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on January 11, 2015 by lsgrlr

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I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

1 Kings 9.”But if you or your sons at all turn from following Me, and do not keep My commandments and My statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land which I have given them; and this house which I have consecrated for My name I will cast out of My sight. Israel will be a proverb and a byword among all peoples. And as for this house, which is exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and will hiss, and say, ‘Why has the Lord done thus to this land and to this house?’ Then they will answer, ‘Because they forsook the Lord their God, who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, and worshiped them and served them; therefore the Lord has brought all this calamity on them'” (Verses 6-9). Have you ever signed a contract only to be later blind sided by the small print. You know, the “but” portion of the contract? Here is God’s “but” portion. However, He does not hide it in small print, tricking us into to signing, no He declares it up front boldly and openly giving us no excuses not to follow His good and perfect will. The command FOLLOW, the “But”, if you don’t follow, I will remove My presence. We blame God for so many things, when the truth is from the beginning He has told us the criteria, nothing has been hidden. We have ALWAYS known there was a consequence for sin and disobedience from the time of the garden till now, God has been one hundred percent honest about His will. So put the blame where it belongs, with us… and as my friend Jason would say, “Do better.”

Jan3

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on January 3, 2015 by lsgrlr

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I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

1 Kings 2. “Now the days of David drew near that he should die, and he charged Solomon his son, saying: “I go the way of all the earth; be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man. And keep the charge of the Lord your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn; that the Lord may fulfill His word which He spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons take heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul,’ He said, ‘you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel'” (Verses 1-4). David is dying and he charges Solomon with the goal of obedience. Obedience to God, and His words. Note the blessing: Solomon’s descendants will forever rule, a promise God kept since Christ is a descendant of David and his throne is forever. You know who else He has made a promise too? Us. He promises that if we believe, if we trust and obey, we will be with Him forever. Looking back I see that God has been faithful to keep every promise ever made, so I am gonna trust Him in this one too. I hope you all do the same.

Jan2

DAY 2 (2015)

Posted on January 2, 2015 by lsgrlr

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Fill in the blank…

I am actually kind of in shock that it is already a new year. It feels as though 2015 just crept up on me out of now where. For some parts of 2014 I really struggled and that struggled kept me somewhat anchored in place. Then God (literally) picked me up and moved me. I fought it for a bit, because although I was struggling, I understood the struggle. It was both uncomfortable and comforting (not sure if I am explaining it properly), it was as though I was so use to the struggle that I didn’t know anything else. When I moved it was a shock to my system, because I had to learn a new place, learn a different culture, (believe me Buffalo is a way different culture from Florida), the odd part was this… even though it was a shock, and even though it was different, it felt like coming home. Today in my quiet time, God answered the why. When we do what God wants us to do, it will always feel like home; even if we fall, even if we make mistakes, even if the obedience isn’t immediately rewarded. The goal of obedience is not the reward (of course it is nice). The goal of obedience is to grow in our relationship with God, and as we grow closer to Him the rewards come. Just for the record I am not talking money or fame. No, I am talking about peace, the peace of knowing that no matter what happens God is still on the throne, and He still loves us and has a plan for us. So on this, the second day of a new year know this: if your year didn’t start out the way you wanted or expected, it’s okay God loves you, He is still on the throne, and He has a plan for you that will knock your socks off. Happy Day 2!!!!

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 23:11).

So what am I thankful for today? That God has a plan, that He loves me, and that He is still on the throne.

Dec16

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on December 16, 2014 by lsgrlr

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I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

2 Samuel 14. “Then Joab fell to the ground on his face and bowed himself, and thanked the king. And Joab said, ‘Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, my lord, O king, in that the king has fulfilled the request of his servant.’So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. And the king said, ‘Let him return to his own house, but do not let him see my face.’ So Absalom returned to his own house, but did not see the king’s face” (Verses 22-24). Here is a truth God always forgives (if we repent). Here is another truth, sin always has a side effect. David brought his son home, but he wasn’t allowed to see the king. That seems worse somehow. being so close yet so far. But that was the penalty for Absalom’s actions. There are times that forgiveness is giving, but we still have to face the penalty of our actions. It doesn’t mean God doesn’t love us, nor does it mean we are not forgiving. It simply means we must take responsibility for our actions. Absalom made a bad choice, but his father still loves him. Still wants to know he is safe, but he still makes Absalom live the penalty for his actions. Because it is how he will learn, same for us.

Dec1

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on December 1, 2014 by lsgrlr

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I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

2 Samuel 6. “And when they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God. And David was displeased, because the Lord had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah to this day” (Verses 6-8). I use to get angry every time I read this portion of scripture. After all Uzzah was only trying to help. Then one day it hit, more appropriately God quietly spoke to my heart and reminded me. He doesn’t require my help, our help. He requires our obedience. Even the slightest sin has a consequence. The penalty for what Uzzah did was death, even if his intentions were good, his actions were wrong. God punches sin, always. Our intentions do not factor in. Therefore, choose to obey.

Nov25

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on November 25, 2014 by lsgrlr

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I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

2 Samuel 4. “But David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, ‘As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my life from all adversity, when someone told me, saying, Look, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good news, I arrested him and had him executed in Ziklag—the one who thought I would give him a reward for his news. How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous person in his own house on his bed? Therefore, shall I not now require his blood at your hand and remove you from the earth?’ So David commanded his young men, and they executed them, cut off their hands and feet, and hanged them by the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth and buried it in the tomb of Abner in Hebron” (Verses 9-12). We have a responsibility to do right, even when wrong works in our favor. David is truly “a man after God’s own heart”, he always chose what he knew to be right. Today as we go through the day, we will be giving opportunity to choose right and wrong. Wrong will always seem easier. Right, will always require us to let go of something, but in the end will bring us greater reward.

Nov21

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on November 21, 2014 by lsgrlr

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I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

2 Samuel 1. “Therefore David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. Then David said to the young man who told him, ‘Where are you from?’ And he answered, ‘I am the son of an alien, an Amalekite.’ So David said to him, ‘How was it you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?’ Then David called one of the young men and said, ‘Go near, and execute him!’ And he struck him so that he died. So David said to him, ‘Your blood ison your own head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the Lord’s anointed'” (Verses 11-16). If someone told you that they killed your enemy, wouldn’t you rejoice? Kiss them, make them your BFFFF? I am fairly certain I would. But David’s reaction is just the opposite. Why? Because, David took God’s choice seriously. If God chose Saul, then only God would have the right to kill him. David’s stance here is a lesson, let God battle for you. I don’t think David faulted the man for killing Saul, as much as he faulted him for doing something outside of God’s will. Understand the enemy of our enemy is NOT our friend. Our friends are those who choose to do what God says. Disobedience, even when well intended has a consequence.