Issues and opinions

Over the past however many years I have had a stream of people telling me what issues that they think I have and how they think I should deal with them!

A short time ago, I decided that I would seek God on what issues I have, what needs dealing with and in what order! And so far that has worked!

However, it still hasnt stopped people telling me what they think I am and how I should change!

Recently I set myself to doing only what God tells me to do! (Easier said than done.) Part of doing only what God wants, is humbling myself and seeking His face! I'm not as good at this as I would like to be! However, I seem to be making small amounts of progress!

And still people have their opinions of me! Good for them! Everyone is entitled to their opinions! (I just wish some would keep them to themselves!)

My point is, that no matter what we, I or you do, people are still going to give their opinions (whether true, accurate or whatever) of how they perceive us! What we have to do is come to God and listen to what He says about us! Because that is more important that what any other human will say!

God will highlight to us what areas of us need fixing and how to fix it! And He may choose to use other humans to do this, we still need to be seeking Him for guidance! Our walk with God, and our relationship with God is our responsibility! While God meets us where we are at, He doesn't want us to stay there! If we are unwilling to move and change and be healed, then we will eventually grow barren.

There have been times in my life where I've felt like I've gone barren! The only way to get past that is to willingly (and sometimes forcefully) seek God! It is a choice to seek God!

I've seen the results of people who used to pray and seek God, who, for whatever reason, have stopped seeking God! It's not pretty! Its sad!

If we continue to seek God, He will do amazing things in our lives! He will change us and transform us! The bible says from glory to glory!

What we need to do is decide - will I be like ... who tells me I am this, that and the other and no good, or will I be like Jesus who tells me I am adopted as part of the family, I am loved and I am accepted! Remembering that Jesus wants to change us as much as the next person! But unlike the next person, Jesus has our heart in mind! He created us, He knows what is best for us! And no other created being is going to know that!

So next time someone tells you that you have issues "a, b and c", seek what God has to say! He may just tell you to put those ones on the shelf and deal with "x, y and z"!

It comes down to a choice! Do I want to be like _____ (who is in fact a created being, just like me!) Or do I want to be like Jesus (who created me, knows my heart and has my best in mind)?



May Gods blessings shower down upon you.

Study: Numbers 14, Hebrews 6 Part 3

Hebrews 6:4-8 (Message)
4 Once people have seen the light, gotten a taste of heaven and been part of the work of the Holy Spirit, 5 once they've personally experienced the sheer goodness of God's Word and the powers breaking in on us--

Ok, here's my understanding, after reading this through I don't know how many times now! (I'm still not sure I've got it, but hey!)

The people spoken of in v4-5 are those who for whatever reason, turned and walked away from God! Not that I understand why one would do that after so much effort in their relationship with God, but that is besides the point!

6 if then they turn their backs on it, washing their hands of the whole thing, well, they can't start over as if nothing happened. That's impossible. Why, they've re-crucified Jesus! They've repudiated him in public!

Is it saying that it is impossible to start over as if nothing happened, or is it saying that it is simply impossible to start over?

7 Parched ground that soaks up the rain and then produces an abundance of carrots and corn for its gardener gets God's "Well done!" 8 But if it produces weeds and thistles, it's more likely to get cussed out. Fields like that are burned, not harvested.

Is the parched ground peoples hearts?

I think I'll be going back over this one again! :) I'm praying that God continues to give me wisdom and understanding!

May Gods blessings shower down upon you.

Study Numbers & Hebrews prayer

Lord, I'm just not getting it! I feel so out of my depth with these two chapters. I feel like I have bitten off more than I can chew! I need wisdom and understanding!
I want to grow in knowledge of you, Lord. I think I'm stuck. I honestly don't know what you are saying here! And its more than obvious that I lack any form of spiritual maturity.
Lord, I want your help to grow. I need your understanding. And I want your blessing, so I can bless others!
Help me God.
Amen

May Gods blessings shower down upon you.

Study: Numbers 14, Hebrews 6 part 2

Hebrews 6 (NLT)
1 So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don't need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. 2 You don't need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding. 4 For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened-- those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come-- 6 and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame. 7 When the ground soaks up the falling rain and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has God's blessing. 8 But if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless. The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it. 9 Dear friends, even though we are talking this way, we really don't believe it applies to you. We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation. 10 For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. 11 Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. 12 Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God's promises because of their faith and endurance. 13 For example, there was God's promise to Abraham. Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name, saying: 14 "I will certainly bless you, and I will multiply your descendants beyond number." 15 Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised. 16 Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding. 17 God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. 18 So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. 19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary. 20 Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Ok, firstly, I feel somewhat out of my depth here! I certainly don't think I have anything of insight here to offer!

Verses 4-6 are full on! And it kinda reminds me of what God said to the Isrealites, when they had given a bad report to the people about the land. These verses have gotten me stuck! I think of myself here... I was a "Christian" (very loose definition here). I had very limited understanding, and eventually turned and walked away from God! (To become a witch of all things.) There was for a while a debate to decide if back then, I was even saved at all! I guess in a way, that question still comes up! "For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened--" To be honest, I doubt I was enlightened! And as I have no real concrete understanding of this, even now - I'm still not sure if I am enlightened!

I think some prayer, and discussion with others over this is needed!

Please, put your thoughts, ideas and enlightenments into the comments!

May Gods blessings shower down upon you.

Study: Numbers 14, Hebrews 6 part 1

Numbers 14 (NLT)
1 Then the whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night. 2 Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. "If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!" they complained. 3 "Why is the LORD taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn't it be better for us to return to Egypt?" 4 Then they plotted among themselves, "Let's choose a new leader and go back to Egypt!" 5 Then Moses and Aaron fell face down on the ground before the whole community of Israel. 6 Two of the men who had explored the land, Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, tore their clothing. 7 They said to all the people of Israel, "The land we traveled through and explored is a wonderful land! 8 And if the LORD is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey. 9 Do not rebel against the LORD, and don't be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the LORD is with us! Don't be afraid of them!" 10 But the whole community began to talk about stoning Joshua and Caleb. Then the glorious presence of the LORD appeared to all the Israelites at the Tabernacle. 11 And the LORD said to Moses, "How long will these people treat me with contempt? Will they never believe me, even after all the miraculous signs I have done among them? 12 I will disown them and destroy them with a plague. Then I will make you into a nation greater and mightier than they are!" 13 But Moses objected. "What will the Egyptians think when they hear about it?" he asked the LORD. "They know full well the power you displayed in rescuing your people from Egypt. 14 Now if you destroy them, the Egyptians will send a report to the inhabitants of this land, who have already heard that you live among your people. They know, LORD, that you have appeared to your people face to face and that your pillar of cloud hovers over them. They know that you go before them in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. 15 Now if you slaughter all these people with a single blow, the nations that have heard of your fame will say, 16 'The LORD was not able to bring them into the land he swore to give them, so he killed them in the wilderness.' 17 "Please, Lord, prove that your power is as great as you have claimed. For you said, 18 'The LORD is slow to anger and filled with unfailing love, forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion. But he does not excuse the guilty. He lays the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected-- even children in the third and fourth generations.' 19 In keeping with your magnificent, unfailing love, please pardon the sins of this people, just as you have forgiven them ever since they left Egypt." 20 Then the LORD said, "I will pardon them as you have requested. 21 But as surely as I live, and as surely as the earth is filled with the LORD's glory, 22 not one of these people will ever enter that land. They have all seen my glorious presence and the miraculous signs I performed both in Egypt and in the wilderness, but again and again they have tested me by refusing to listen to my voice. 23 They will never even see the land I swore to give their ancestors. None of those who have treated me with contempt will ever see it. 24 But my servant Caleb has a different attitude than the others have. He has remained loyal to me, so I will bring him into the land he explored. His descendants will possess their full share of that land. 25 Now turn around, and don't go on toward the land where the Amalekites and Canaanites live. Tomorrow you must set out for the wilderness in the direction of the Red Sea. " 26 Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 27 "How long must I put up with this wicked community and its complaints about me? Yes, I have heard the complaints the Israelites are making against me. 28 Now tell them this: 'As surely as I live, declares the LORD, I will do to you the very things I heard you say. 29 You will all drop dead in this wilderness! Because you complained against me, every one of you who is twenty years old or older and was included in the registration will die. 30 You will not enter and occupy the land I swore to give you. The only exceptions will be Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. 31 " 'You said your children would be carried off as plunder. Well, I will bring them safely into the land, and they will enjoy what you have despised. 32 But as for you, you will drop dead in this wilderness. 33 And your children will be like shepherds, wandering in the wilderness for forty years. In this way, they will pay for your faithlessness, until the last of you lies dead in the wilderness. 34 " 'Because your men explored the land for forty days, you must wander in the wilderness for forty years-- a year for each day, suffering the consequences of your sins. Then you will discover what it is like to have me for an enemy.' 35 I, the LORD, have spoken! I will certainly do these things to every member of the community who has conspired against me. They will be destroyed here in this wilderness, and here they will die!" 36 The ten men Moses had sent to explore the land-- the ones who incited rebellion against the LORD with their bad report-- 37 were struck dead with a plague before the LORD. 38 Of the twelve who had explored the land, only Joshua and Caleb remained alive. 39 When Moses reported the LORD's words to all the Israelites, the people were filled with grief. 40 Then they got up early the next morning and went to the top of the range of hills. "Let's go," they said. "We realize that we have sinned, but now we are ready to enter the land the LORD has promised us." 41 But Moses said, "Why are you now disobeying the LORD's orders to return to the wilderness? It won't work. 42 Do not go up into the land now. You will only be crushed by your enemies because the LORD is not with you. 43 When you face the Amalekites and Canaanites in battle, you will be slaughtered. The LORD will abandon you because you have abandoned the LORD." 44 But the people defiantly pushed ahead toward the hill country, even though neither Moses nor the Ark of the LORD's Covenant left the camp. 45 Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in those hills came down and attacked them and chased them back as far as Hormah.

After a basic reading of this, the thing that sticks out to me is, firstly, the people grumbled, whined, complained... And God punished them for it! Then, they were ready to defy God again and go where they were told they weren't going!

How many of us have done that in our lives? I know I have (or at least, I'm sure I have). There have been things that God has said, and I've grumbled and complained, and outright refused to do what  I was told!

"Please, Lord, prove that your power is as great as you have claimed." I'm not sure why this stuck out at me.

Please, put your thoughts, ideas and enlightenments into the comments!

May Gods blessings shower down upon you.