Jesus - our Valentine

~ Jesus - God’s Valentine to You ~
         Until we meet in glory, these things I vow to you ...


I will  love you with an everlasting love
(Jer 31:3)

I will  never leave you or forsake you
(Heb 13:5)

I will  be pleased with your faith
(Heb 11:6)

I will  remain faithful, even if you are not 
(2 Tim 2:13)

I will  allow absolutely nothing to separate you from my love
(Rom 8:38)

I will  always be your refuge and shield in times of trouble 
(Ps 18:2)

I will  be your hiding place 
(Ps 32:7)

I will give you the desire of your heart as you delight in Me 
(Ps 37:4)

I will  be the strength of your heart forever 
(Ps 73:26)

I will  make your path straight as you acknowledge Me 
(Pr 3:6)

I will  give you rest for your soul  
(Matt 11:29)

I will  never condemn you 
(Rom 8:1)

I will  reveal myself to you 
(John 14:21)

I will  rejoice over you with gladness 
(Zep 3:17)


Anxiously waiting for you,
~ Jesus ~

Psalm 139 Woman - Psalm 139 Wife

~ Psalm 139 Woman ~

O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.

You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.

For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.

You have hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain it.

Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?

If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.

If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.

If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,”
Even the night shall be light about me;

Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,
But the night shines as the day;
The darkness and the light are both alike to You.

For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.

My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!

If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
When I awake, I am still with You.

Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God!
Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men.

For they speak against You wickedly;
Your enemies take Your name in vain.

Do I not hate them, O Lord, who hate You?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?

I hate them with perfect hatred;
I count them my enemies.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;

And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.

~ Psalm 139 Wife ~



1. Always choose love. Above all things. I Corinthians 13

2. Give him all your heart. Not only a part of it.

3. Laugh together. For the rest of your lives.

4. Forgive. “A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers.” ` Ruth Bell Graham

5. And forget. Once it’s been forgiven, put it behind you and never pick it back up again.

6. Cling to each other in the hard times. Don’t let trials pull you apart, but bring you closer together instead.

7. Don’t let fear hold you back. Take risks and step out together.

8. Kiss him on the lips. Every day. For a long time.

9. Don’t try to change him. He’s a good man just as he is. He might have room to grow – but then again, so do you. Leave that work to the Holy Spirit.

10. Pray for him. Make it your daily ministry to lift him up before your Heavenly Father. He needs a praying wife.

11. Hold hands. When you’re walking together, when you’re driving together, and sometimes simply grab his hand for no reason.

12. Confide in him. Share with him your thoughts, your dreams, your fears, and your hopes. Never keep anything from each other.

13. Don’t be surprised when faced with a trial. It’s not something to tip-toe around, but something to walk through. So walk through it together.

14. Be quick to admit when wrong. Don’t waste a minute holding on to your pride.

15. Look for little ways to delight him. Be mindful of those small preferences of his.

16. Greet him with a loving smile. Who wouldn’t love coming home to that every night?

17. Allow him to make mistakes. Don’t hold it against him. “Everyone makes mistakes” applies to husbands too.

18. Protect your marriage. Set up safeguards together to keep things and people from harming what you’ve got.

19. Never leave off with the romance. It might not be the foundation of your love, but it sure makes for good glue.

20. Be sweet to him. He’ll always be glad for a little of that.

21. Care about your appearance. Not out of vanity, but in making an effort to put forth your best.

22. Speak well of him to others. Never put him down or make a slight.

23. Be trustworthy. “The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her” (Prov.31:11).

24. Give grace. He’ll need you to extend him grace from time to time. Don’t we all need that?

25. Seek to be servant-hearted. Take pleasure in serving him. “By love serve one another” (Gal. 5:13).

26. Be filled with joy. “It is His joy that remains in us that makes our joy full” ~ A.B. Simpson

27. Be a wise woman. “She opens her mouth with wisdom” (Prov. 31:26a).

28. And speak kindness. “…and on her tongue is the law of kindness” (Prov. 31:26b).

29. Let the little things go. Don’t hang on to small annoyances.

30. Work through the big things. Take the time to talk those through.

31. Don’t go to bed angry. Ephesians 4:26

32. Be honest. It’s important to speak the truth – in love – to him. Always.

33. Throw a little surprise in there. Every-once-in-a-while. Just for fun.

34. Enjoy the man he is. Don’t compare him to anyone else.

35. Be strong for him. “Strength and honor are her clothing” (Prov. 31:25)

36. Let him know when you’re feeling weak. Sometimes he might need to be reminded that, even still, you’re the weaker vessel.

37. Put you hope in the Lord. Psalm 71:5

38. Be willing to listen. Be quick to hear. James 1:9

39. Make his love your priority. Even above your children.

40. Give yourself room to grow. Love is not perfect – it’s just loving.

41. Remember he’s not your girlfriend. He won’t always understand or relate, so don’t have unreasonable expectations.

42. But be sure he’s your best-friend. Invest in your friendship.

43. Fall asleep in his arms. Whenever possible.

44. Show him respect. Especially in front of your children.

45. Let him care for you. It’s his job.

46. Set aside date nights. Whether at home or going out.

47. Admire him. Make sure you’re his biggest fan.

48. Stand by him. Your loyalty is invaluable.

49. Enjoy the passion. Keep the fire burning. Like, the … Song of Solomon!

50. Decide in the beginning that you’re going to stick together until the very end. ‘Til death do you part.”

51. Do him good. All the days of your life. Proverbs 31:12

52. Keep in mind that marriage can be hard work. But it’s so worth the effort.

53. Speak only those things that edify.  That it “may give grace to the hearer.” Ephesians 5:29

54. Sometimes the best thing you to do is not say anything at all.

55. Show appreciation for the many things he does.  For both the big and the small things.

56. Look to him as the leader of your home.

57. Make his dreams … your dreams.  Treasure them like your own.

58. Look into each other’s eyes.  Adoringly and each day.

59. Be extravagant in your love. Go big.

60. Work together. In the garage, the kitchen, the garden, or the barn. It’s always more fun with two.

61. Allow for hormonal fluctuations.  But don’t make it an excuse for sin.

62. Speak his love language – what says love to him.  And speak it fluently!

63. Don’t make accusations. Ask questions, but don’t begin with blame.

64. Start each day with a smile and a kiss. What better way to begin?

65. Share interests together.  As many as possible.

66. Welcome him into your world. Don’t keep him at a distance.

67. Laugh at his jokes. Yes, even if you’ve heard them before.

68. Remember the one you fell in love with.  Don’t let him get lost in the dailyness of life.

69. Abide in Christ. And then keep abiding. John 15

70. Cast all your care upon Him. Because He cares for you. I Peter 5:7

71. Fix his favorite foods. You know what they say about the way to a man’s heart…

72. Communicate confidence in who he is and what he’s about. So powerful in a man’s life.

73. Keep tenderness in your love. Don’t let hardness or sharpness creep in to make it brittle.

74. Let him know what you need from him. It might not be as obvious as you think it is.

75. Differentiate what you need…from what you want.

76. Pray through problems. Don’t work it out on your own.  Romans 8:26

77. Convince him that he’s the man of your dreams.  And he’ll become that man.

78. Give thanks.  Always. For all things. Ephesians 5:20

79. Go to the Word when things seem dark.  God’s Word will be a lamp to your feet and a light to your path. Psalm 119:105

80. Intertwine your lives wherever possible. Run errands, go for walks, curl up on the couch. Just seek to be together.

81. Make the most of little moments. Don’t wait for sweeping moments – those are mostly found in the movies.

82. Gratefully accept his gifts. Don’t mention the price or how he got it “wrong”. Just be thankful.

83. Always remain lovers.  Do the kinds of things that lovers do.

84. Judge him not. That you be not judged. Matthew 7:1

85. Celebrate your anniversary.  Do something special together and recognize the grand occasion that it is.

86. Don’t hang out with friends who put him – or their own husbands – down. So destructive.

87. Back him up in his decision-making. He’ll value your support.

88. Give up your need to be right. It’s not as bad as it sounds.

89. Cheerfully help him out.  You’re his “help-meet”, aren’t you?

90. The Lord can heal your hurts. Your husband cannot. So don’t resent him for something he can’t do.  Psalm 147:3

91. Write little love notes.  Tuck them in his lunch. Or write on the bathroom mirror. Send a text message, if you must.

92. Embrace your differences. If you were both the same? How boring would that be.

93. Express enthusiasm for his plans and ideas.

94. Timing can make all the difference in the world. Discuss difficult things when you’re both rested – and fed.

95. Make his priorities your own.  Bump them up to the top of your list.

96. Lovingly bear with him.  He’ll have his faults (as will you).  Ephesians 4:2

97. Fear the Lord. And you shall be praised. Proverbs 31: 30

98. Reach out and touch.  A tender touch can do so much good  - for you both.

99. Marriage is like a long, slow walk together. More a marathon than a sprint. So just keep walking. Together.

100. Always choose love – again and again.

The greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

~  Even More  ~

* Never go to sleep until you are both heart connected – Don’t allow yourself to go to sleep angry or upset… That’s when days turn into weeks, weeks into months, and before you know it, months into years of built up anger and disappointment that creates a divide. 

* Make eye contact often – something about looking into each other’s eyes builds friendship, connection, intimacy, vulnerability, and romance.

* Notice what he does for you and the home, and thank him often.

* Find out his love language/s, and speak them diligently.

* Embrace his family as your own.

* Remember that he is not responsible for making you happy or fulfilling you. That can only come from God.

Breaking Yokes - Part VI.

Breaking Yokes - Part VI.


Continuing on with our Study on breaking the yokes of negative thinking that we have been bound up in for years. It is so past time to let these things stop eating away at us. Amen?!


31. I feel guilty

Today, we're fasting from the thought that says: "I feel guilty."

Ever thought that or felt that way? Honestly; I use to be so eat up in guilt that I didn't need anyone else to beat me up- I did a good enough job on my own. But I don't beat myself up anymore and I don't allow anyone else to either. And neither should you!

Or how about its cousin thoughts: "You don't do enough. You're not good enough. You don't say the right things. You don't take care of yourself. You don't measure up. You don't do as much for others as you should. You aren't a very good Christian. You aren't a good enough mother, wife, husband, sister, brother, son, daughter etc. etc." Blast if the list isn't endless when it comes to us feeling like we aren't absolutely Perfect people- something we can NEVER BE but that doesn't stop us from feeling like a complete and total failure because we aren't.  Ohhh the guilt. Yes, Guilt.

All this line of thinking produces is guilt, which leads to self-hatred, anger toward others, bad decisions, harsh words, procrastination and fear.

So often, we feel guilt because we THINK we don't do enough for God and for others. We're not good and holy enough.

This thinking has enslaved people for centuries.

Nothing seems to rob us of our true purpose more than thoughts and feelings of guilt.

God doesn't motivate by guilt. That's manipulation. God motivates by love. Romans 2:4 says "It's the love and kindness of God that leads us to change."

Often people put a guilt trip on us, to get us to do something or to give in to them. God isn't like that, and He wants you free.

Let's fast from guilt:

1. Jesus declares you: NOT GUILTY. This doesn't mean that you've never done wrong. This means, that He washes your wrong with His blood.

2. See what God sees. Accept Colossians 1:22 which says through His blood "He presents you holy and faultless and unblameable in the Father's eyes."

3. Meditate on Job 10:7 which says "According to your knowledge, I AM INDEED NOT GUILTY..."

4. When you blow it, don't deny it. Admit it; confess it. 1 John 1:9 says "If you confess your sin, He is faithful and just to forgive you and to CLEANSE YOU FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS."

5. It's already done! Believe that it is already done! Hebrews 1:3 says "He cleansed us from our sin."

6. Stop thinking that you have to FEEL GUILTY to be forgiven. Sometimes we think we owe it to people to feel guilty and feel bad for everything. Stop thinking that. You don't owe anyone. Don't think guilt somehow pays for something. The blood of Jesus paid it all. It's an insult to His blood, when we feel like we owe God guilt or we owe it to others to wallow in guilt.

7. Stop beating yourself up about what you haven't done. How? Live in the "now". Living in the now, stops your mind from bombarding you about the past and future. Enjoy that moment in the now. When you're praying, the devil says "you should be cleaning." When you're cleaning, the devil says, "you should be reading your Bible." Shut that garbage up. Live in the now. Hebrews 11:1 says "NOW FAITH IS the substance of things hoped for." And 2 Corinthians 6:2 says "NOW IS THE TIME OF SALVATION."

8. Rest in the fact that you don't have to be perfect. God is not holding you to a perfect standard. Jesus is your perfection. JUST REST!

THINK IT & SAY IT:

Jesus has declared me: NOT GUILTY. Even when I feel I don't do enough, or that I'm not good enough, God says FAITH IN HIM IS ENOUGH.

I don't have to feel guilt to be forgiven and I am not going to feel guilty when I blow it. I will receive God's forgiveness, since He already cleansed from my sin. I will admit it, receive His mercy and move on.

I stop TODAY, beating myself up about all that I haven't done, or have done. I choose to live in the now. I will enjoy the moment that I'm in and praise God in the midst of it.

I rest in the fact that He is my perfection. I don't have to be perfect. He already is, and I put my faith in Him.



32.  I'm Not Worthy. I Don't Deserve To Be Blessed
 (After All I've Done Wrong).


The battles of life are won or lost between our ears. It's in our heads. 

Satan understands that the root to everything in our lives is what we think about. That's why he fights so much to fill your mind with wrong thinking. But we have declared war on wrong thinking!

Today, we're fasting from the thought that says:

"I'm not worthy. I don't deserve to be blessed (after all I've done wrong)."

I can't be the only who has had this thought. The below steps take us deeper in our freedom from guilt.

1. Stop focusing on your "wrongs," and focus on His "rights."
We've all done enough wrong in life, to send us straight to hell. But God doesn't judge us based on our right or wrong. He judges us based on what Jesus did right. We just need to believe it.

2. He doesn't bless us because we deserve it.
He blesses us because He promised He would. This will free you when you know that God is a God of promise. Genesis 17:1 says, "I will bless you and multiply you and make you exceedingly fruitful."

3. Blessing flows when you believe you are forgiven.
Romans 4:7 says, "Blessed are they whose sins are forgiven." This is amazing! Putting your faith in God's forgiveness is the gateway to blessing in your life. That's why Jesus said to the paralytic man, whose friends lowered him through the roof, "Son, your sins are forgiven." THEN He said, "Take up your pallet and walk." You see, the blessing of healing was the RESULT of BELIEVING HIS SINS WERE FORGIVEN. (Mark 2)

4. Jesus IS WORTHY of God's blessing, and you are IN HIM.
Galatians 3:29 says, "If we belong to Christ, we are Abraham's seed and heirs according to promise." Galations 3:9 says, "Those who are of faith are blessed..."

5. Stop condemning yourself.
STOP BEATING YOURSELF UP WHEN YOU MAKE A MISTAKE. Romans 14:22 says, "Blessed (happy) is the man who does not condemn himself."

6. He took the curse so you could take the blessing!
He deserves to see you blessed, because of what He went through to take your curse! "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us... on the cross...that the blessing of Abraham might come on us through Jesus Christ." (Galatians 3:13)

THINK IT & SAY IT:

I take my eyes off all that I have done wrong, and put my eyes on all that He has done right for me.

He blesses me because He promised that He would, therefore I expect to be blessed coming in and blessed coming out.

I choose to believe I am forgiven, and therefore BLESSING FLOWS. I belong to Christ, therefore I am blessed with Abraham. Genesis 24:1 says, Abraham was blessed IN ALL THINGS - therefore that's what I expect.




33. It's Not Going To Happen For Me.

Today we are fasting from the thought that says: "It's not going to happen for me." Ever heard that or thought that? 

Or thoughts like: "I'm not going to get the job. I'm not going to find the right guy or girl. My situation is not going to turn around."

Let's begin thinking that it is going to happen for us. Ready?

1. Expect something good to happen to you today.
The Lord has done great things for us! (Psalm 118:24 & Psalm 126:3)

2. Know that God has a good plan for you today!
Jeremiah 29:11 says, "I know the plans I have for you, plans for good, to give you a future and a hope." (Notice those 2 words: "I know." This means that God is certain about it. It's definitely going to happen. Take it to the bank! It's coming!)

3. Expect doors to open.
Psalm 5:12 says, "Favor surrounds the righteous like a shield." Favor means: God opens doors that no one can close. Expect doors to open today.

4. Believe in God's fairness.
Life's not always fair, but God is! Romans 12:19-21 says He will right every wrong. Remember, it happened for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; therefore, it will happen for you. The Bible says, "God is no respecter of persons." (Acts 10:34, Romans 2:11) That doesn't mean He doesn't respect you. It means that He won't show partiality - blessing one person and not another. But you have to believe it and expect it. What He did for Abraham, He has promised He would do for you. Galatians 3:29 says, "For if you belong to Christ, you are Abraham's seed, and heirs of the promise!"

5. Think "solution thoughts".
No matter what the problem is, no matter what hasn't seemed to happen for you yet, expect a solution. Expect an answer. James 1:6 says, "If any man lacks wisdom, ask of God...who gives to ALL men generously." Notice, He gives to all men, not some. You're one of those who He does give it to. You're not just in line. You're in the front of the line!

6. Think about some good that has happened in your life.
This shows the past faithfulness of God. Since He never changes - expect His faithfulness AGAIN today! (Psalm 23:6)

THINK IT & SAY IT:

Something good is going to happen for me today. Things are going to work out. God has a good plan for my life today. He is certain that it is good, therefore I'm certain as well.

I expect favor today. Favor surrounds me like a shield. Doors are going to open for me that no one can close.

God is going to right every wrong, and show the same help to me as He did for Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He gives me wisdom and holds nothing back. I am in the front of the line.

I remember the good that God has already done, and therefore I expect Him to do it again. Good and right things are going to happen in my life today - goodness and mercy shall FOLLOW ME ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE!



34. Things Aren't Getting Better. They're Getting Worse!

Today we're fasting from the thought that says, "Things aren't getting better. They're getting worse!"

Gang, thinking this way is NOT AN OPTION.

This thinking keeps us bound to the past, or moving backwards. The media espouses negativity. The spirit of darkness is behind all these thoughts. The devil promotes doom and gloom, to get people depressed, on drugs, fearful and timid, distracted from the worship of God and the work of the gospel.

The world is full of bad news - the economy is getting worse, society is getting worse, etc.

But we reject this thought TODAY!

1. The path of the righteous ... gets brighter and brighter until the full day.(Proverbs 4:18)

2. "Evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived." (2 Timothy 3:13) But the opposite is true about you! Goodness follows you, therefore, you go from good to better!

3. Don't think "glass half full or glass half empty." Think: My cup runs over! (Psalm 23:4)

4. Your life is going to end up better than it started!
Eccl. 7:8 says, "Better is the end of a thing than the beginning."
Haggai 2:9 says, "The latter days of this house shall be greater than the former."

5. Believe that God has saved the best for last.
John 2:10 says, "...But you have saved the best for last!"

6. God only has the best in mind for you.
In Luke 15:22 the father said, "bring the best robe, and put it on my son..."

Follow the pattern of how God does things-

He takes us from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant; from the blood of animals to the blood of Jesus; from law to grace; from sin to righteousness; from sickness to health; from adversity to prosperity; from defeat to victory; from unclean to clean; from empty to filled.

Everything in God's kingdom gets better and better.

The kingdom of God is in you (Luke 17:21) therefore, expect things to get better and better in every area of your life.

THINK IT & SAY IT:

No matter what is happening in this world, things are getting better and better for me! God has made me righteous through His blood; therefore, my path is getting brighter and brighter every day.

My inner man is being renewed, day by day. Evil people may go from bad to worse, but the goodness of God follows me, so I go from good to better, every day.

I can celebrate in the presence of my enemies, because my cup runs over, and never runs out! God has saved the best for last in my life, and my latter days will be better than my former days, in Jesus' Name.



35.  I Just Can't Stop Blowing It. I Always Seem To Mess It Up.

As we celebrate another awesome day in Christ Jesus, I want us to particularly fast from thoughts that take for granted what Jesus did for us. We need to appreciate the power of His blood, and the power of His sacrifice.

Today we're fasting from the thought that says, "I just can't stop blowing it. I always seem to mess it up."

Jesus did more than just forgive us from our sins when He died on the cross and rose again. He gave us power over sin! No more should we see ourselves victims of a defeated, beaten life. We are the head and not the tail; above only and not beneath!

1. Rejoice in the grace of God.
Romans 6:14 says, "For sin shall not have dominion over you. For you are not under the law, but under grace." Titus 2:11-12 says the grace of God enables us to say "NO" to ungodliness.

2. Stop beating yourself up.
Romans 14:22 says, "Happy is he who does not condemn himself..." Remember, God doesn't beat you up, He builds you up. 1 Corinthians 8:1 says, "Love builds up!"

3. Remember the woman caught in adultery.
In John 8:1-11 Jesus said to her, "I don't condemn you. Now go and sin no more." Notice, first there was acceptance and forgiveness. Then there was POWER over sin. The power over sin was the RESULT of recognizing her freedom from it. Sometimes we feel we have to repent of everything before we can be forgiven. Jesus forgives first, and that gives us the power to be free.

4. Believe in the power of the blood.
Paul said not to drink the communion cup in an unworthy manner. We need to renew our mind about what makes us worthy. It's not our holiness that makes us worthy to drink the cup. It's the "cup"; it's the blood of Jesus that has the WORTHINESS to cleanse us and empower us to overcome anything. (1 Corinthians 11)

5. Think about the 3 gifts God gives in 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God has not given you the spirit of fear, but POWER, LOVE AND DISCIPLINE." You have the power of discipline and self-control. Stop thinking you are out of control and realize you have been given the power of self-control.

THINK IT & SAY IT:

I am not a slave to sin. I have dominion over it. It doesn't have dominion over me because I am not under the law, I'm under grace.

I expect the free gift of God's grace to enable me to say NO to ungodliness. I am free because I am forgiven. God is love and love builds me up today!

I put my faith in the blood of Jesus to forgive me if I have fallen; but also to empower me to be free from the things that I'm struggling with.

I have the power of self-control. I am no longer out of control. I have been given power, love and a sound mind. I am free from fear and free from sin.

Best Friends

~ Jonathan and David  ~

1 Samuel 18:1-4 NIV

1 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.

2 From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father's house.

3 And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.

4 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.


1 Samuel 20:16,17 NIV

16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, "May the LORD call David's enemies to account."

17 And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself.


1 Samuel 20:42

42 Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the LORD, saying, 'The LORD is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.'


2 Samuel 1:17-27 NIV

17 David took up this lament concerning Saul and his son Jonathan,

18 and ordered that the men of Judah be taught this lament of the bow (it is written in the Book of Jashar):

19 "Your glory, O Israel, lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen!

20 "Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines be glad, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised rejoice.

21 "O mountains of Gilboa, may you have neither dew nor rain, nor fields that yield offerings of grain . For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul—no longer rubbed with oil.

22 From the blood of the slain, from the flesh of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, the sword of Saul did not return unsatisfied.

23 "Saul and Jonathan— in life they were loved and gracious, and in death they were not parted. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

24 "O daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and finery, who adorned your garments with ornaments of gold.

25 "How the mighty have fallen in battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights.

26 I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother; you were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women.

27 "How the mighty have fallen! The weapons of war have perished!"

Tears continued to flow from his eyes, the drops dully descending over the tired lines of his face onto the papyrus paper that lay before him. David dipped the quill into the ink, then watched as the dark liquid trickled off its tip.

Jonathan was dead.

His best friend was gone.

Pain shot through David's chest as if part of him had been ripped away. He was utterly overwhelmed as he sat writing a tribute to the great man whom he had loved as a brother. How could he describe the pain he felt over the loss of his best friend? What words existed to honor Jonathan adequately?

How the mighty have fallen in battle!

Jonathan lies slain on your heights.

That was Jonathan–defending the nation of Israel to the end.

Yet David knew Jonathan's heart was not in the battle, but in protecting the people he cherished.

David remembered the day Jonathan gave him his sword. Jonathan recounted the battle at Gibeah when there had been no swords in the hands of the Israelites–only himself and Saul carried one. With all of his loving kindness, Jonathan placed his sword in David's hand, vowing to love David as himself. At that moment David knew that Jonathan would do anything to protect him– even give away his weapon. Even die for him.

I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother; you were very dear to me.

Jonathan was a better brother to him than his own blood. David knew nothing so sure or so strong as the love Jonathan had lavishly bestowed upon him.

Even when Saul wanted to destroy David, or David was unsure of his calling, Jonathan never wavered. Jonathan unyieldingly respected and believed in him.

David would never forget when Jonathan placed the coarse, battle-worn fabric of his robe on David's shoulders. As Jonathan covered David with the cloak, he told him that the kingly garb rightly belonged to the anointed of God. Jonathan trusted the Lord, and Israel loved him because he treated others with kindness and honor. When he adorned David with his mantle, he symbolically covered David with the love of the nation and his own blessing.

Jonathan encouraged David to embrace the calling Samuel had bestowed and covered him with the strength he needed to do so.

David knew he could not have come so far without the support of his cherished friend. It gave David the courage to go on, knowing that Jonathan's confidence in him would never cease.

"Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women." Nothing so comforted David like Jonathan's presence. No walled fortress could compare to the security he felt from Jonathan's covenant and prayers.

What would David do now that the one who knew him so well was gone? Jonathan had been able to tell by the look on his face or the tone of his voice what issues consumed him. How he longed to see Jonathan once more, to hear his stories and laughter.

Yet even in his death, Jonathan was still knit to David. The memory of his faithfulness would be David's lifelong companion and guardian. Jonathan clothed David with his camaraderie, and David was able to act in confidence and strength because he was robed with Jonathan's regard. David was able to endure all his trials because he was covered with Jonathan's protection and confidence.


Did you know ...

Jonathan means, "God has given."

The rare and beautiful friends in our lives are those that God has given. Jonathan had a mighty in spirit because he was a true, steadfast friend.

You are called to great friendships like that of Jonathan and David. Jonathan laid his protection, cloak, and confidence upon the boy who was knit to his heart.

You may also make an astounding difference in someone's life by treating him or her with the affection, kindness, and respect of a true friend.

Of course, it takes courage to love people that deeply.

As people around you face trials and difficulties, you have the unique privilege of spurring them on to become all God has called them to be.

You will have the blessed opportunity of covering someone with your camaraderie and being their Jonathan.

Will your friendship be their comfort as they face the unknown?

Will you remove your mantle and clothe others with your companionship?

Will you be a friend that God has given?

I hope you will. Everyone needs that kind of best friend!

God The Father

God The Father
How much do you really know?

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5

Most people have certain concepts of God. Many are not Biblical. Too often people start with themselves - their own feelings, observations, attitudes, experiences - and from there build a personal view of God. The result is a distortion, a caricature.

God does answer prayer. He does work in our lives. He does make himself real to us in our daily experiences. But we must avoid the common mistake of forming our concept of God out of the raw material of our own experiences.

If  we are to know the character and attributes of God, we must begin Not with ourselves and our experiences but with God's own revelation of himself. God has revealed himself in His creation. He revealed himself personally in Jesus Christ. And His self-revelation to us is completely and specifically defined in Scripture. God is exactly what He has revealed himself in the Bible to be.

God desires to be active in our lives. He wants to be what He really is -God of the Bible - in our daily personal experience. If we believe, He will do what He said He will do. We can have what He said we can have. But for this to happen, we must base our faith on who God is rather than on what happens.

Real faith is not the result of answers to prayer. Answers to prayer are the result of real faith.

True, a miracle shows the power and character of God and should lead people to believe. But the believing should not be focused just on the miracle but on God himself whose attributes are demonstrated in the miracle.

The anchor-point of true faith is always the unchanging Word and character of the eternal God. In other words, the bedrock of unshakable faith is not what God does, but who He is. Once this is settled, we can be certain that in everything He does and allows to be done, God is always acting according to His perfect character.

And His perfect moral character is summed up in 1 John 4:16: "God is love."

So even when we cannot understand what God is doing or allowing to be done, our faith remains firmly anchored to the unchanging love of the unchanging God. We must never suppose, just because Jesus said, "If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it" (John 14:14), that we can force God to our terms. If God always fulfilled His promises according to our liking, we would be spoiled. We would use the power of Jesus' name to make everything go our way. There would be no testing, no discipline, no growth. But God is sovereign. He reserves the right to fulfill His promises wisely; that is, in a way that is in perfect harmony with His design for His highest glory and our greatest good.

God is our Heavenly Father. He loves us and wants to draw us into a close relationship with himself. He disciplines us so that we may be "partakers of his holiness" (Hebrews 12:10). His purpose is to conform us to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29) and this has priority over every temporal consideration. He knows what it will take to accomplish this in our lives, and the prize is well worth the price.

God is loving, holy, just, merciful, gracious, wise, faithful, and patient. So He has revealed himself, and so He wants us to know Him.

The Bible urges us to thank God for all His blessings. We should never become tired of testifying to what Christ has done for us. What's more, He desires to give us far more than we have yet received. Still, our deepest love and devotion to our Lord must flow not from the refreshing springs of what He does, but from the fathomless depths of who He is.


Locking in with God


God does as God is. If we know who God is, we will know what He does. God is love, and that infinite love is directing His power to accomplish the greatest good.

Jesus, the Son of God, has an intimate relationship with His Father. He knew who the Father was, what He said, and what He was doing. He spoke only what He heard from the Father and did only what He saw the Father do.
 
He said, "The Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does" (John 5:19, NIV).

Early in Jesus' ministry He read to those assembled in the synagogue at Nazareth: "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

Then He announced, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing" (Luke 4:18,19,21).

Because He knew what the Father was doing, Jesus knew what He was anointed to do. And He did it. Jesus synchronized His words and actions with the Father's. He showed His disciples - and us - what God is doing. They saw it and declared it to the people: "Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him" (Acts 2:22).

Jesus not only demonstrated to His disciples what God was doing; He also informed them they were to follow His example.

This would happen because He was going to the Father and would send the Holy Spirit. "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father" (John 14:12). Jesus sent His disciples out for hands on experience with these instructions: "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons" (Matthew 10:8).

After the Day of Pentecost, the disciples followed the Lord's example: "The disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it"
(Mark 16:20).

The Book of Acts is the spectacular record of what happens when Spirit-filled believers lock into the heart and mind of God, synchronize their actions with His, and work in concert with Him in the power of His Holy Spirit.

Stephen and Philip were Spirit-anointed believers.

"Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people" (Acts 6:8).

"When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said" (Acts 8:6).

Paul and his team in Lystra saw a lame man leap and walk at Paul's command.  (See Acts 14:8-10.) Demons fled at the sight of Paul's handkerchiefs and aprons. (See Acts 19:11,12.)

Because God is who He is, He is still doing what He does. God "is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us" (Ephesians 3:20). This partnership of power should send us to our knees in humble, earnest prayer.

If  we are to work together with God, we must live close to Him. He is already moving by His Spirit, and He is looking for those who will move with Him.

Creation to Eternity - Part III.

God - The Book Part III.
Creation To Eternity

The Exodus

Isaac, Abraham's son, married and became the father of twins, Jacob and Esau. Later, God gave Jacob the new name of "Israel," and he was chosen to carry on the promised line.

Jacob had twelve sons. One of them, Joseph, was sold into slavery by his own brothers, but through God's divine care, he eventually became ruler alongside the king of Egypt, the great Pharaoh.

Joseph, being a godly man, forgave his brothers and invited all his relatives to move to Egypt, saving them from a terrible famine. So the seventy descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, known as "The Children of Israel," moved to Egypt, the country which would one day enslave them, just as God had foretold Abraham.

Now these descendants of Abraham bore many children, and the land of Egypt was filled with them; But a new pharaoh, who did not remember Joseph, began to worry.

He told the Egyptians, "Behold, the Children of Israel --these Hebrews-- now outnumber us. We must deal wisely with them. If we let them continue to multiply and we become involved in a war, they might join our enemies and fight against us."

So the Egyptians turned the Hebrews into slaves. The brutal slave masters made the lives of the Children of Israel bitter with impossibly-hard work. But the more they were mistreated, the more they grew in number.

Then Pharaoh summoned the Hebrew nurses, and told them, "When you act as midwives for the Hebrew women, let their daughters live, but all newborn sons, you must kill."


The Exodus (Part 2)
   
One Hebrew mother hid her newborn son, but after three months could no longer conceal him. So she laid her baby in a basket covered with tar, and placed it in the reeds by the river's bank.

When Pharaoh's daughter came down to bathe at the river, she saw the basket among the reeds and she looked inside.
  
When she saw the baby and he cried, she felt compassion toward him and said, "This is one of the Hebrews' children."

She took the baby and raised him as her son, calling him Moses, which means, "Drawn Out of the Water."

So Moses became destined to inherit the Egyptian kingdom with all of its treasures. After Moses was grown, he went out among his Hebrew relatives who were all in bondage.

As he observed their hardships, he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave. When Moses thought no one was looking, he killed the Egyptian, and hid his body in the sand.

But Pharaoh heard about the Egyptian's death and went after Moses to kill him, so Moses fled and lived in the land of Midian.

After forty years, that Pharaoh died. The Children of Israel groaned under their slavery, and their cry rose up unto God. So God set about to honor His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.


The Exodus (Part 3)

Moses had become a shepherd, and, as he led his flock in the desert, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the middle of a bush: Amazingly, the bush burned, but was not consumed.

An Angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in a flame of fire from the a bush, but the bush was not burned. So Moses said, "I must go over there to see this great sight and find out why that bush is not burnt."

As he approached, God called to him out of the bush, saying, "Moses, Moses."

Moses answered, "Here I am."

Then God said, "Come no closer. Take off your shoes, for you are standing on holy ground. I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob."

Moses hid his face; because he was afraid to look at God. And the Lord said, "I have surely seen the affliction of My people in Egypt, and have heard their cry. I know their sorrows.

I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them into a good land flowing with milk and honey.

Now Moses, I will send you to Pharaoh, that you may lead My people, the Children of Israel, out of Egypt."

And Moses said unto God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring Your people out of Egypt? When I say to the Children of Israel, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you'; and they say back to me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say to them?"

Then God said to Moses, "I AM THAT I AM. You shall say to the children of Israel, I AM has sent me to you."

And Moses said unto the Lord, "O my Lord, I am not eloquent. I am not a good speaker; my words get tangled up."

But the Lord answered, "Who has made man's mouth? Haven't I, the Lord? Now go. Aaron, your brother, is a good speaker. Talk through him. I will be with your mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what you shall say and do.

When you return to Egypt, you will do miracles in front of Pharaoh. But I will harden his heart, so that he shall not let the people go. You must tell Pharaoh, 'The Lord said, Israel is My son, even My firstborn: Let My son go, so he may serve Me: and if you refuse to let him go, I will kill your son, even your firstborn."


The Exodus (Part 4)

Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, "The Lord God of Israel says, Let my people go." But Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he refused.
 
But Pharaoh demanded, "Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I don't know the Lord, neither will I let Israel go."

So Moses returned to the Lord, asking, "Lord, why did you send me? I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, but You have not delivered Your people."

God answered, "I am the Lord: And I appeared unto Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, only by the name God Almighty."

Then, the Lord explained to Moses that in Egypt He would soon reveal Himself as Jehovah, the Savior, and there also He would prove to the Egyptians that all people must worship the one true God, not His
creations. Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Go before Pharaoh. Take your staff, and stretch out your hand on the waters of Egypt."

Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded, and struck the river; and all the water in the river turned to blood. The fish died, and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink any of the water throughout
all the land of Egypt.


The Exodus (Part 5)

The Lord spoke again to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh, and say to him, The Lord says, 'Let my people go, so they may serve Me. And if you refuse to let them go, indeed, I will strike your whole territory with frogs."

But Pharaoh refused. So frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. The frogs went into the people's houses, and into their bedrooms, on their beds, into their ovens and their mixing bowls.

Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said, "Go, beg the Lord to take away the frogs, and I will let the people go."

But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief from the plague, he hardened his heart, just as the Lord had said. So God continued to bring plagues upon the land of Egypt. Each time Pharaoh pleaded for the plague to stop, and it would. And then each time he would break his promise to let the Children of Israel go.

So throughout the land of Egypt, God turned the dust of the earth into lice that crawled on man, and on animals. Then the magicians of Egypt said to Pharaoh, "This is the work of God."

Next, God sent swarms of flies upon Pharaoh and upon his servants. He sent a horrible plague that killed all the cattle of Egypt; but none of the cattle of the Children of Israel died.

Then Moses stood before Pharaoh and sprinkled ashes up toward heaven, which caused boils to break out on all the Egyptians and their animals. Next God warned everyone that he would bring a torrential hail storm on Egypt. All who believed the word of the Lord, made their servants and cattle hide inside their houses: But those who disregarded the word of the Lord left their servants and their cattle in the field.

Then hail, mingled with fire, came down, ruining every planted field, breaking every tree and killing the servants and animals which were not inside. Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel lived, there was no hail.

The Lord then brought locusts over all the land of Egypt. They covered everything, so that the land was darkened; and they ate every plant which the hail hadn't destroyed. Nothing green remained throughout the land of Egypt.

Then the Lord brought darkness—a darkness so thick it could be felt covered all the land of Egypt for three days. People could not see each other and they did not go outside of their houses; but all the Children of
Israel had light in their homes.

Pharaoh still wouldn't let all the people go and even threatened Moses by saying, "Get away from me. The day you see my face again, you will die."

Moses answered, "You have spoken correctly, I will never see your face again."


The Exodus (Part 6)

Then the Lord said to Moses, "I am going to bring just one more plague on Pharaoh and upon Egypt; afterwards he will actually send all of My people out of Egypt."

"This plague will bring death to all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on a throne, to the firstborn of the maidservant behind the mill. And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as has never happened before and shall never be again."

"Moses, speak to all the congregation of Israel. Tell them I said, Select a lamb, one for each household: Your lamb must a year old male with no imperfections. After four days, the whole assembly of Israel shall kill it in the evening."

"And you must take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the lamb's blood, and strike the top of the door frame and the two side posts with the blood; and none of you shall go out the door of your houses until the morning. And you must eat the lamb that night, roasted with fire; but do not break any of its bones. You must eat it with unleavened bread because it is the Lord's Passover."
   
"For I will pass through the land of Egypt, and will kill all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast. I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt: I am the Lord. And the blood shall be a mark of safety on the houses where you are, so when I see the blood, I will not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to smite you. He will pass-over you. And every year after this, you must celebrate the dinner of unleavened bread as a memorial, calling it the Lord's Passover."

So the Children of Israel did as the Lord had commanded them through Moses and Aaron.


The Exodus (Part 7)

Because of Egypt's sin, the Lord killed all the first born in the land of Egypt, all except his chosen people, the Children of Israel.
 
Then at midnight it happened. The Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn of the captive in the dungeon; even all the firstborn of
cattle.

And Pharaoh and his servants and all the Egyptians woke up in the night; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a single house where there was not one dead.

But those inside the houses whose door posts were marked with the blood of the lamb were saved.

Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, "Wake everyone up. You and the Children of Israel must get away from my people. Go, serve the Lord just as you wanted."

And the Egyptians urged the Hebrews to hurry, trying to send them out of the land as quickly as possible, crying out, "If you don't leave, we are all going to be dead!" The Egyptians even gave their jewels and gold to the departing Hebrews.

And the Children of Israel--numbering now in the millions --left, taking with them flocks and herds.

Just as God had told Abraham, Abraham's descendants had been slaves, and they came out of bondage in the fourth generation with great wealth. So this huge nation, which God called His "firstborn" left the land of Egypt and camped on the edge of the wilderness.
  
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "Soon Pharaoh will think the Children of Israel have been ensnared by the desert." And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will follow after you; but I will be honored, so that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord."

Then, just as God had said, Pharaoh and his servants again turned against the Hebrews, saying, "Why did we let the slaves of Israel go?"

And Pharaoh took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the other chariots of Egypt, and his horsemen and his army and pursued the Hebrews, overtaking them as they encamped with their backs to the Red Sea.


The Exodus (Part 8)

When the Hebrews looked up and saw the Egyptians, they were terrified, and they cried out to the Lord.

Then Moses said to the people, "Do not fear! Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will show to you today: for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you shall see again no more. The Lord will
fight for you."

The Lord said to Moses, "Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it: and the Children of Israel shall walk on dry ground through the middle of the sea."   

And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused a strong east wind to drive the sea back, and the waters were divided. And Israel went into the middle of the sea on dry ground—the waters forming a wall beside them on both sides.

Then all of Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen pursued the Hebrews, following after them across the dry ground. But the Lord confused the Egyptian army, and He caused the wheels on their chariots to fall off so that the horses couldn't pull them.

The Egyptians panicked. "Let's run from Israel because the Lord fights for them."

Then the Lord said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea." And when Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, the sea returned to its place. The Egyptians tried to escape from the water, but the Lord
defeated them in the middle of the sea.

The water covered Pharaoh's army, his chariots and his horses. All of them were destroyed. But the children of Israel had walked across on dry land right through the middle of the sea. When Israel saw this great miracle which the Lord did against the Egyptians, the people were awed, and they respected God and believed in the Lord and his servant Moses.


The Ten Commandments:

But soon after their rescue from Egypt, the Israelites complained to Moses, saying, "You brought us out into the wilderness to die. We have no water and we have no food."

Showing great mercy, the Lord responded to their doubt by bringing them water. And He also said, "Watch, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and you shall go out every morning and gather it." He did, and they called it "manna."

Soon this nation camped around a mountain in the desert of Sinai. Suddenly, there was thunder and lightning on the mountain, and out of a thick cloud, the sound of a trumpet blew so loud that all the people trembled. Then the Lord, cloaked in fire, descended on the mountain, and the whole mountain shuddered.

The Lord called Moses up to the top of the mountain and gave him the Ten Commandments.
 
And the Lord called Moses up to the top of the mountain and spoke these words to him: "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery." And as the Lord spoke, He wrote these ten commandments on tables of stone.

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.

2. You shall not make idols or bow down to them, nor serve them.

3. You shall not use the name of the Lord your God disrespectfully.

4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

5. Honor your father and your mother.

6. You shall not murder.

7. You shall not commit adultery.

8. You shall not steal.

9. You shall not lie about your neighbor.

10. You shall not lust for your neighbor's house, or his wife, or any thing that is your neighbor's.


The Lord gave His perfect standard of holiness through these laws, but then He also showed Moses what people must do when they broke those laws.

The Lord said, "You must build an altar and dedicate it to Me. You shall make sacrifices on it and I will bless you. The blood will be a covering for your sin and I will forgive you."


NOTES:

Biblical Altar:

Biblical altars were generally structures of earth (Ex. 20:24) " 'Make an altar of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you.

or of

stones that had not been hewn
(Ex. 20:25) If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool on it.

Sacrifices were offered on them.

Altars were generally erected in conspicuous places (usually) under the direction of God:

Gen. 22:9;
When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood

(Also See: Ezek. 6:3; 2 Kings 23:12; 16:4; 23:8; Acts 14:13).

The word altar is used in Heb. 13:10 for the sacrifice offered upon it--the sacrifice Christ offered. "We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat".

Paul found among the many altars erected in Athens one bearing the inscription, "To the unknown God" (Acts 17:23), or rather "to an [some] unknown God."  "For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you"
 
The reason for this inscription cannot now be accurately determined. However, it offered the apostle the opportunity to proclaim the gospel to the "men of Athens."

The First Altar Specifically Mentioned in the Bible is the one erected by Noah (Gen. 8:20), "Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it"

* I have often wondered though if during the time of Adam an alter was used for God's sacrifice as the first blood sacrifices was mentioned in Genesis with Adam and Eve (God's shedding of animal blood to make
coverings for them) and then again their son Able's offerings (Gen. 3-4).
 
* Any Thoughts On That??



Altars were erected by Abraham (Gen. 12:7; 13:4; 22:9),
by Isaac (Gen. 26:25),
by Jacob (33:20; 35:1,3),
and by Moses (Ex. 17:15, "Jehovah-nissi").

In the tabernacle, and afterwards in the temple, two altars were erected.

(1) THE ALTAR OF BURNT OFFERING (Ex. 30:28), called also the "brazen altar" (Ex. 39:39) and "the table of the Lord" (Mal. 1:7).

This altar, as erected in the tabernacle, is described in Ex. 27:1-8. It was a hollow square, 5 cubits in length and in breadth, and 3 cubits in height. It was made of shittim wood, and was overlaid with plates of brass. Its corners were ornamented with "horns" (Ex. 29:12; Lev. 4:18).

ALTAR UTENSILS - In Ex. 27:3 the various utensils used at the altar are listed. "Make all its utensils of bronze-its pots to remove the ashes, and its shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks and firepans". They were also made of brass. (1 Sam. 2:13,14; Lev. 16:12; Num. 16:6,7.)

TEMPLE ALTAR - In Solomon's temple the altar was larger (2 Chr. 4:1. Compare 1 Kings 8:22, 64; 9:25), and was made completely of brass, covering a structure of stone or earth.

This altar was renewed by Asa (2 Chr. 15:8). It was removed by Ahaz (2 Kings 16:14), and "cleansed" by Hezekiah, in the latter part of whose reign it was rebuilt. It was finally broken up and carried away by the Babylonians (Jer. 52:17).

After the return from captivity it was re-erected (Ezra 3:3,6) on the same place where it had formerly stood. When Antiochus Epiphanes pillaged Jerusalem the altar of burnt offering was taken away.

Again the altar was erected by Herod, and remained in its place till the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans (70 A.D.).

FIRE - The fire on the altar was not permitted to go out (Lev. 6:9).

ALTAR'S LOCATION TODAY? - In the Mosque of Omar, immediately underneath the great dome, which occupies the site of the old temple, there is a rough projection of the natural rock, of about 60 feet in its extreme length, and 50 in its greatest breadth, and in its highest part about 4 feet above the general pavement. This rock seems to have been left intact when Solomon's temple was built. * Some * believe this is the site of the altar of burnt offering. Underneath this rock is a cave, which may could have been the granary of Araunah's threshing-floor (1 Chr. 21:22).


(2) THE ALTAR OF INCENSE (Ex. 30:1-10), called also "the golden altar" (39:38; Num. 4:11), stood in the holy place "before the vail that is by the ark of the testimony."

INCENSE - On this altar sweet spices were continually burned with fire taken from the brass altar. The morning and the evening services were begun by the high priest offering incense on this altar. The burning of the incense was a type of prayer (Ps. 141:2; Rev. 5:8; 8:3,4).

SIZE AND CONSTRUCTION - This altar was a small movable table, made of acacia wood overlaid with gold (Ex. 37:25,26). It was 1 cubit in length and breadth, and 2 cubits in height.

In Solomon's temple the altar was similar in size, but was made of cedarwood (1 Kings 6:20; 7:48) overlaid with gold. In Ezek. 41:22 it is called "the altar of wood." (Compare Ex. 30:1-6.)

In the temple built after the Exile the altar was restored. Antiochus Epiphanes took it away, but it was later restored by Judas Maccabaeus (1 Macc. 1:23; 4:49). Among the trophies carried away by Titus on the
destruction of Jerusalem the altar of incense is not found, nor is any mention made of it in Heb. 9.

It was at this altar Zacharias ministered when an angel appeared to him (Luke 1:11). It is the only altar which appears in the heavenly temple (Isa. 6:6; Rev. 8:3,4).

Creation to Eternity - Part II.

God - The Book Part II.
Creation To Eternity



The Broken Family of Cain and Abel

When Adam's wife Eve conceived, she bore a son. Eve said, "I have received a man from the Lord." So she named him Cain.

Then she bore another child, a boy called Abel. He chose to be a shepherd, while Cain became a farmer. At a time appointed by God, Cain brought his harvest from the field as an offering unto the Lord, but Abel brought a lamb. The Lord showed respect toward Abel and his offering, but He did not honor Cain and his offering.

Cain was furious, so the Lord asked, "Cain, why are you so frustrated and angry?" God then reminded Cain that the death of an animal was required for sacrifice. Just as fig leaves did not cover Adam and Eve's sin, a gift of bloodless plants and vegetables could never cover sin either.

God said that refusal to bring an animal for sacrifice displayed Cain's rebellion, because he was not worshiping as God had instructed. The Bible says that Abel's sacrifice showed faith in God's words, but Cain's sacrifice did not. Throughout the Scriptures, God reveals that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin.

But Cain still refused to obey God and bring an animal sacrifice. Instead, he blamed the problem on Abel, his brother, and when they were in the field, Cain attacked Abel and killed him.

Then the Lord asked Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?"

Cain answered, "I don't know: Am I my brother's keeper?"

God said, "What have you done? I hear the voice of your brother's blood crying to me from the ground. Now you will be cursed on the earth soaked with your brother's blood which was drawn by your own hand."

God cursed Cain for killing his brother, and Cain went out from the presence of the Lord.

Then Cain went out from the presence of the Lord. His rebellion against God caused the first murder and the first broken family. But Adam and Eve had many other sons and daughters.


Noah and the Great Flood


As the years passed, people began to fill the earth. But when God saw that man's wickedness covered the earth, and that every imagination of his heart was only evil continually — it grieved the Lord.

And the Lord said, "I will destroy mankind, which I created, from the face of the earth." But the Lord looked on Noah with favor. Noah, a righteous man, perfect in his generations, walked with God.

So God said to Noah, "The end of all mankind is coming. Because people have filled the earth with violence, I will destroy them along with the earth.

Make yourself an ark of wood. Build rooms in it and cover it with tar, inside and out. Build the boat four hundred and fifty feet long, seventy-five feet wide, and forty-five feet high, but make only one door.

You, your wife, your three sons and their wives must go into the ark. Bring also a male and female of every animal into the ark, to keep them alive with you.

Two of every sort will come to you, but you must take by sevens all the animals which I have declared holy."


Noah and the Great Flood (Part 2)


While building the ark, Noah preached to the wicked people, saying; "Those who refuse to honor God shall be destroyed." Sadly, everyone mocked Noah and laughed at God's warning.

But Noah and his family believed God, so at the appointed time they entered the ark, and the Lord shut them in.

During the Flood, the waters covered everything on the earth, including the hills, and even the mountains. All living creatures on earth died, except for everything in the ark.

Then God caused it to rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights. From underground, water spouted up like fountains and the waters increased on the earth. The waters kept rising, until the ark floated.

Finally, the water covered everything on the earth, including the hills and even the mountains.
 
Birds, cattle, walking and crawling animals, and every person on earth -all were destroyed, drowned in the flood.

The waters covered the earth for one hundred and fifty days. But God took care of Noah and every living thing in the ark. Then God made a wind to pass over the earth causing the water level to begin to go down. The waters continued to recede from the earth.

Noah and his family made an alter and offered a sacrifice to the Lord. When the ark came to rest upon the mountains of Ararat, and the plants began once again to grow, God spoke to Noah, saying, "Go out of the ark, you and every living thing with you." And they went out.

Then Noah erected an altar and offered a sacrifice to the Lord.

Afterward, God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, "Be fruitful, have many children, go out and refill the earth. Also, besides the plants I gave you for food, animals are now delivered into your hands to eat. But anyone who kills another human being must forfeit his own life, because man is made in the image of God."

Then God said, "Behold, I am establishing My promise with you, and with your descendants after you. Never again will all people and animals die from a flood.

I am putting My rainbow in the clouds as a token of My promise.

Whenever I bring rain clouds over the earth, you will see the rainbow and I too will see it, and honor My covenant."


NOTES


The Bible indicates that the Ark was designed to prevent the extinction of man and all air-breathing, LAND animals. God did not send other creatures to the Ark because representatives of all types of water creatures could survive on their own to reproduce after the Flood. There are over 1 million species of animals in the world. God only provided the Ark for the protection of humans and land-dwelling, air-breathing creatures. A huge number of animals would not need to be taken aboard the Ark because they are water dwellers.

The vast majority of these are capable of surviving in water and would not need to be brought aboard the ark. Noah need make no provision for the 21,000 species of fish or the 1,700 tunicates (marine chordates like sea squirts) found throughout the seas of the world, or the 600 echinoderms including star fish and sea urchins, or the 107,000 mollusks such as mussels, clams and oysters, or the 10,000 coelenterates like corals and sea anemones, jelly fish and hydroids or the 5,000 species of sponges, or the 30,000 protozoans, the microscopic single-celled creatures.

In addition, some of the mammals are aquatic. For example, the whales, seals and porpoises. The amphibians need not all have been included, nor all the reptiles, such as sea turtles, and alligators. Moreover, a large number of the arthropods numbering 838,000 species, such as lobsters, shrimp, crabs and water fleas and barnacles are marine creatures. And the insect species among arthropoda are usually very small. Also, many of the 35,000 species of worms as well as many of the insects could have survived outside the Ark.


The Tower of Babel


Many generations after Noah, when the whole earth still spoke the same language, people traveled to a plain in the Middle East and settled there.

Then they said to one another, "Let's build a city and a tower, and let's make a name for ourselves, so we won't be scattered around the whole earth."

The people made a tower designed for worshiping the sun, moon and stars. Mankind had chosen to worship God's creations instead of the Lord Himself.

This decision was a direct refusal to obey God's command to go out and fill the earth. Also, the tower was designed for worshiping the sun, moon and stars. Mankind had chosen to worship God's creations instead of the Lord Himself. The Lord looked upon the city and tower which these people were building.

And He said, "Behold, the people are organizing as one group and since they all speak the same language, nothing they imagine to do will be held back from them. Let us go down and confuse their language, so that they cannot understand each other's speech." And the Lord mixed up their language, causing them to stop building the city.

Therefore the name of that city became "Babel", which means confusion; because there the Lord multiplied language on the earth, causing people to scatter abroad.


The Birth of a Nation


Now about four hundred years after the Great Flood, God appeared to a man named Abram, who lived in the Middle East, in a city called Ur.

God said to him, "Leave your country and your relatives, and travel to a land that I will show you. There I will make a great nation from you, and I will bless you, and make your name great; I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you: and through you shall all families of the earth be blessed."

So Abram departed, as the Lord had instructed, and entered into the land of Canaan.

And again the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, "I give this land to your descendants; Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able. In the same way, your descendants shall be countless."

Even though Abram and his wife, Sarai, had no children, Abram believed God; and God counted Abram's faith as righteousness.

Then Abram said, "Lord God, how can I know that I will inherit this land?"

And God answered Abram, "It will happen like this. Your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and they will be mistreated for four hundred years. A nation will use them as slaves, but I will judge that nation, and afterward your descendants will come out with great wealth, and by the fourth generation they shall return to this land."



The Birth of a Nation (Part 2)


But Sarai, Abram's wife, still bore him no children, and she was getting old. So Sarai said to Abram, "I beg you to go have children by my Egyptian maid, Hagar, and I will just consider her children to be mine.

Abram agreed with Sarai's plan. Though he loved the Lord, Abram failed to believe that God would give him a child through his wife. So Hagar bore Abram a son named Ishmael.

Thirteen years later, when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared yet again to him, and said, "I am the Almighty God; walk before Me. I am giving you the new name of Abraham, which means, 'Father of Multitudes' and Sarai shall be called Sarah meaning 'Princess.' Now I will bless Sarah and give you a son also from her, and she shall be a mother of nations."

Then Abraham pleaded with God, "O that Ishmael might live before You."

God answered, "As for Ishmael, I have heard you: Behold, I have also blessed him, and will greatly multiply his descendants; and I will make him a great nation." God fulfilled his promise to the descendants of Abraham and Ishmael through the Arab nation.

God then said, "But with Sarah's son, and with his descendants after him, I will establish my covenant which is everlasting."

After that, Sarah gave birth to Abraham's son whom they named Isaac. Now when Isaac was grown, the Lord asked Abraham to demonstrate his faith.



The Birth of a Nation  (Part 3)


God said, "Abraham": and he answered, "Yes, I am here." And God said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon the
mountain which I will instruct you to use."

Then Abraham got up early in the morning and took Isaac his son, as God had told him.Then, on the third day, Abraham looked and, in the distance, he saw the appointed place.

So Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and gave it to Isaac to carry. And he took a torch in his hand, and a knife; and they both went up the hill together.

Then Isaac asked Abraham, "Father? We have the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?"

Abraham said, "My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering."

So they both continued up together until they came to the place where God had instructed Abraham to go. There Abraham built an altar and laid the wood in order.

Then he tied up Isaac and laid him on the altar upon the wood.

And Abraham stretched out his hand with the knife, preparing to kill his son.



The Birth of a Nation  (Part 4)


Then the angel of the Lord called out of heaven, saying, "Abraham, Abraham."

And he answered, "Here I am." And the Lord said, "Do not lay your hand on Isaac for now I know that you revere Me, since you did not withhold your only son."

And Abraham lifted up his head and looked, and there, behind him, was a ram caught in a bush by his horns. So Abraham took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering instead of his son.

The Bible says that Abraham knew that God would fulfill His promises about Isaac, even if God had to raise Isaac from the dead.

Then because of Abraham's faith, God said," I will bless you. I will multiply your descendants as the stars of all heaven; And through your offspring, all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; because you obeyed my voice."

Then Abraham rejoiced as he understood that the Savior, promised long before in the Garden, would come from his descendants.

God's test of Abraham also illustrated how, one day, God, the heavenly Father, would offer His only beloved son as a sacrifice for the whole world.