fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383 
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Post by fearnot on Nov 18, 2022 12:00:38 GMT -5
Still trying to catch up
November 12
Ezekiel 15:1-16:63
Israel is frequently symbolized as a vine...
unfortunately it was not useful and nor served its purpose
( however, this could be said of any country or people
who are rebellious, disobedient, not saved, ungodly etc.
right up to this very day)
6 “Therefore thus says the Lord God:
‘Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest,
which I have given to the fire for fuel,
so I will give up the inhabitants of Jerusalem;
8....because they have persisted in unfaithfulness,’ says the Lord God
Ezekiel 15:6,8
These verses remind me of what has happened in a somewhat similar manner
to babies, and children today:
20 “Moreover you took your sons and your daughters,
whom you bore to Me,
and these you sacrificed to them to be devoured.
Were your acts of harlotry a small matter,
21 that you have slain My children
and offered them up to them by causing them to pass through the fire?
Ezekiel 15:20,21
the NT reading was:
Hebrews 8:1-13
But God still finds a way to offer forgiveness and unmerited favor (grace).
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless,
there would have been no occasion sought for a second.
8 For finding fault with them, He says,
“Behold, days are coming, says the Lord,
When I will effect a new covenant....
“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
After those days, says the Lord:
I will put My laws into their minds,
And I will write them on their hearts.
And I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.
Hebrews 8:7,8,10
and most comforting (through what Jesus did)
“For I will be merciful to their iniquities,
And I will remember their sins no more.”
Hebrews 8:12
I would move on to the next day's study,
but my hand is soooooo cold
it is painful.
So done for today
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Nov 23, 2022 11:27:47 GMT -5
so I did post another study....but had two windows open
and instead of the post showing up here
it went to messages sigh
So I am going to try and post it here
( I once again have 2 Fresh Hope windows open)
so......
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nov 17, 2022
I am going to try and get at least one day's study done ( even if it's only short and sweet...well maybe not exactly 'sweet'...
but even when God punishes
He is always 'just'
and it has a good and godly purpose
So all the way back to Nov. 11
Old Testament reading was:
Ezekiel 13:1-14-23
It's amazing how false prophets
then ( and even today)
cancel the truth
( about sin, coming judgment etc.
and cancel it as fear mongering hate speech etc.)
The false prophets of Ezekiel's day
were kind of like the prosperity preachers of today
and they lured the people into a false peace.
Or as Ezekiel's words from God
is a
6 They see falsehood and lying divination who are saying,
‘The Lord declares,’
when the Lord has not sent them;
yet they hope for the fulfillment of their word.
7 Did you not see
a false vision and speak a lying divination
when you said, ‘The Lord declares,’
but it is not I who have spoken?”’”
Ezekiel 13:6,7
and....
it seems they may have been mixing the occult,
with their lies
as the women did this:
18......“Woe to the women who sew magic bands on all wrists...
20 Therefore, thus says the Lord God,
“Behold, I am against your magic bands
by which you hunt lives there as birds
and I will tear them from your arms;
and I will let them go,
even those lives whom you hunt as birds.
Ezekiel 13:18,20
We may think when we read about 'idols' of those days,
that people today do not have wood or stone idols...
( and yet what about Buddha statues, etc.)
and we actually do call many singers, actors etc.
our 'idols'.
God says this about their idols:
3 “Son of man,
these men have set up their idols in their hearts
and have put right before their faces the stumbling block of their iniquity.
Should I be consulted by them at all?
Ezekiel 14:3
God said to them to
repent and turn away from their idols
However, the people would not,
and so God said this:
14 even though these three men,
Noah, Daniel and Job were in its midst,
by their own righteousness they could only deliver themselves,”
declares the Lord God.
Ezekiel 14:14
Those three were strong prayer warriors,
but their intercessory prayer could not deliver the people of those days...
how much less our day?
And the NT reading was:
Hebrews 7
About the somewhat mysterious person
Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God.
The reason this was strange is because you were either a royal king
or a priest.....but not both.
Furthermore, there was this about Melchizedek:
3 Without father, without mother,
without genealogy,
having neither beginning of days
nor end of life,
but made like the Son of God,
he remains a priest perpetually.
Hebrews 7:3
I think this could only be Jesus.
and only Jesus can be THE intercessor.
And there is the doctrine of why the Law,
made nothing perfect...
but actually cursed people.
The Levitical system kept people away from God.
Done for today....
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Post by Cindy on Nov 23, 2022 11:38:07 GMT -5
So true!
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Nov 23, 2022 12:16:48 GMT -5
Going all the way back to November 12th
Old Testament reading was:
Ezekiel 15:1-16:63
Israel is often symbolized as a 'vine'
but unfortunately
( this is not 'just' a problem that 'only Israel' has)
Israel ( the vine) had become useless,
because it did not produce any 'fruit'.
6 Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah:
As the vine-tree among the trees of the forest,
which I have given to the fire for fuel,
so will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
8....because they have acted unfaithfully,’” declares the Lord God.
It is odd, we have not 'evolved' one bit,
if anything, we have descended even lower and deeper
into pride, sin and depravity
and
we are a world, focused on 'beauty'
( all types of 'beauty...physical, material etc.)
Back then, so did Israel:
15 “But you trusted in your beauty
and played the harlot because of your fame, ...
Ezekiel 16:15
And who else was proud of his 'beauty'?
Satan!
“Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty;
You corrupted your wisdom by reason of your splendor...
Ezekiel 28:17
And many people in Israel did not care for,
or protect their children...
which reminds me totally of our world today!
And sadly our country ( USA) for sure,
when one of THE most important
issues or demanded 'rights' is,
abortion
( killing of babies in the womb):
20 “Moreover, you took your sons and daughters whom you had borne to Me
and sacrificed them to idols to be devoured...
21 You slaughtered My children
and offered them up to idols
by causing them to pass through the fire
Ezekiel 16:20,21
And 'pride' is another big demand
in our culture
and it was then also
56 As the name of your sister Sodom was not heard from your lips
in your day of pride,
57 before your wickedness was uncovered, ...
Ezekiel 16:56,57
You might think God would just wash His hands of us
but no
60 “Nevertheless, I will remember My covenant with you
in the days of your youth,
and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you.
63......when I have forgiven you for all that you have done,”
the Lord God declares.
Ezekiel 16:60,63
God's grace is not anything we deserve or merit,
even our very best intentions
( which are more often, seldom and far between),
cannot merit His grace and forgiveness).
The psalm 123:1-4
.....So our eyes look to the Lord our God,
Until He is gracious to us.
psalm 123:2
New Testament:
Hebrews 8:1-13
“Behold, days are coming, says the]Lord,
When I will effect a new covenant
With the house of Israel and with the house of Judah;
“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
After those days, says the Lord:
I will put My laws into their minds,
And I will write them on their hearts.
And I will be their God,
And they shall be My people
Hebrews 8:8,10
The law could never be kept 100%
we are sinners....
and the law's purpose was to make that perfectly clear to Israel (and us)...
That is why God made the new covenant.
Done for today
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Post by Cindy on Nov 25, 2022 13:09:26 GMT -5
Another good one! I agree with what you said about this verse:
““ ‘And you took your sons and daughters whom you bore to me and sacrificed them as food to the idols. Was your prostitution not enough? You slaughtered my children and sacrificed them to the idols.” (Ezekiel 16:20–21) I've heard some people ask what idol mother mothers are sacrificing their babies to. The answer is the idol of "self" They think the world revolves around them and they want the world to revolve around them. You can see it even in children especially after they've hit puberty. They're often self conscious, thinking everyone is looking at them and seeing every flaw they think their body has. When the truth is that none of their peers are looking at them because they're all thinking the same thing. Again, it's all about self. I can't wait till we're with the Lord so I'll never focus on myself again!
I'd like to add something to what you said about these scriptures:
“But God found fault with the people and said: “The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord. This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” (Hebrews 8:8–10) This is a quote from Jeremiah 31:31–34, where God is speaking to his people Israel. It's actually an announcement of the good news that Jesus will bring to the remnant of Israel that's left at the end of the Tribulation. For that is when the Jews will realize that Jesus really is their Messiah and will put their faith in Him. At that instant, Jesus will renew their minds, and will pour His love into their hearts, causing them to know and love Him as their Lord and Savior. They will be brought back to Israel and enter the Millennial Kingdom with Kind David as a co ruler of the earth. People all over the earth will go to Jerusalem to learn about Jesus from the Jews. People everywhere will want to know them and be with them. While they were hated on earth over all these years since Adam, from then on they will be loved and sought after by everyone!
You don't have to go back and make up the days you didn't post hon. Unless you really want to anyway. Otherwise, just post what you read the day you're posting. 
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Nov 29, 2022 11:49:19 GMT -5
I may skip some then...
unless I really feel one or two ( of the days ) I missed posting on...
especially impacted me at 'that' reading,
Of course all scripture has a powerful influence...
but,
at least for me....
certain verses have a 'greater' degree of effect (sometimes)....
when I read it,
but at other times,
they have more or less effect,
(at a different time of reading)
the same verses.
confusing I know....sigh
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Nov 29, 2022 16:51:45 GMT -5
Some 'snippets':
Nov. 13th
Ezekiel 17:1-18:32
"........ The one who sins is the one who will die"
Ezekiel 18:4
God holds each individual accountable for their sins.
Hebrews 9 1-28
A'new' covenant because
the old covenant, did not provide direct access to God,
but instead, kept them away.
and starting at Hebrews 9:7 there is a lot of information about 'blood'.
Jesus not only shed His blood
(Some people actually think blood alone is what saved us,
in fact, I read on one site,
where they were calling John MacArthur a false teacher,
because he did not believe and have faith in the 'blood'of Jesus, alone)
but Jesus he had to die
( its not just the fluid) ,
but His dying in our place to pay for our sins.
Nov. 14th
Hebrews 10:1-18
More on the old covenant and the new:
16 “This is the covenant I will make with them
after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds.”
17 Then he adds:
“Their sins and lawless acts
I will remember no more.”
18 And where these have been forgiven,
sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.
The fact they had to constantly repeat the sacrifices
was in itself, a reminder of the deficiency ...
it was not designed to remove sins...
it was pointing to the Messiah ( Jesus)
who would be,
a once and for all sacrifice.
Nov 15
Ezekiel 21:1-22-31
27 A ruin, a ruin, a ruin,
I will make it.
This also will be no more until
He comes whose right it is, and I will give it to Him
Ezekiel 21:27
3 times God says a 'ruin'!
This shows the severity of the chaos....
I can't help but think of our world now!!
Nov 16
Psalm 127:1-5
1 Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;...
Psalm 127:1
And, in a way,
as we are waiting for He to come
( Jesus's 2nd coming
or rather our rapture..
but then He will come back to earth after the 7 year tribulation).
I need to remember this:
when I am disappointed ,with the way any election goes.
Even IF ,
the folks I 'think' ...would be better...( if they win or do not win)
If God is not in it...no matter who wins,
they will end up disappointing me
even 'my' team ( house etc.)
Wow!
People are so so so far from agreeing with this verse!
Behold, children are a gift of the Lord,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Psalm 127:3
Hebrews 11:1-16
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for,
the conviction of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1
Unbelievers scoff at Christians,
believing in a 'fairy tale God',
because we, and they,
cannot physically 'see' Him...
and yet...
they have faith in all sorts of things the cannot really 'see'.
For example, when they flip a switch...
they cannot really 'see' the electricity,
and yet,
the have faith the light will come on.
And, they believe the universe was created out of the 'Big Bang'
which they have never seen....
and yet,
they deride us,
because we believe God created everything.
3 By faith we understand that
the worlds were prepared by the word of God,
so that what is seen
was not made out of things which are visible.
Hebrews 11:3
This is interesting verse,
for those who want to claim there is no such thing as
the rapture in the Bible,
I wonder how would they explain this?:
. 5 By faith Enoch was taken up
so that he would not see death;
and he was not found because
God took him up
Hebrews 11:5
without faith it is impossible to please Him,
for he who comes to God must believe that He is .....
Hebrews 11:6
Nov.17
Hebrews 11:17-40
More about the heroes of faith!
One in particular, was Moses,
who refused all the fame, pleasures, and riches of Egypt,
choosing instead to be with God and His people!
Nov 18
Ezekiel 27:1-28:26
Surely this sounds like its about Satan to me:
12 "You had the seal of perfection,
Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty...
13 “You were in Eden, the garden of God;
...............On the day that you were created
They were prepared.
14 “You were the anointed cherub
15 “You were blameless in your ways
From the day you were created
Until unrighteousness was found in you.
Ezekiel 28:12-15
And for so so many woman, who long to be beautiful
this is a warning,
(I think, we can apply that self-centeredness priority)
for us not make this our first,2nd, 3rd
or even 10th priority in life:
“Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty;..
Ezekiel 28:17
Done for today
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Post by Cindy on Dec 1, 2022 10:49:56 GMT -5
You're doing such a good job at this and I really appreciate you sharing what the Lord has taught you from His Word.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Dec 1, 2022 13:12:13 GMT -5
I so appreciate your encouragement...thank you. :)
We got a wee flurry or two of snow...but not enough to write home about :(
Not even 1/32 of an inch...and kind of slushy
but still...
Devon and I loved it...
Leonard....not so much LOL
( I guess the school thought it could be more so
no school
now the sun is out and headed to fourty-ish
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Dec 1, 2022 16:42:59 GMT -5
Nov 19
Ezekiel 29:1-30:26
God will cause Israel's power to return
It seems to me, this has happened many times to Israel
( it seems like more than any other country.
In history many countries may rise to be the dominate world power for a time,
and then they collapse, never to rise again.
Whereas God has had Israel conquered and collapse, only to rise again and again.
( my computer got unplug and the battery was completely emptied
and then another part was not connected so I have had to wait for hours!)
Hebrews 13:1-25
God honors marriage,
something that the secular world hates,
and is doing it's best to tear down.
One of a zillion favorite verses:
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Hebrews 13::8
Now I am super tired
So sorry I did not get very far today.
Done for today
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Post by Cindy on Dec 2, 2022 11:14:04 GMT -5
 That's ok hon. Don't worry about it. We can hardly believe it's even winter as it's been so warm here. In fact, it's been so warm that weeds have grown back in my garden! I always make sure I've gotten rid of all the weeds by the end of fall, so come spring it's not already overrun with them. But I was shocked the other day when I glanced at the garden and saw all kinds of weeds! It's only gotten down to freezing a couple of times so far. Normally the high is in the thirties in November, but not this time. I just looked at the forecast and it looks like we won't get to the thirties till the middle of December this year. Doesn't look good for snow before Christmas.
It's amazing that we humans don't understand what God says or how the world is against Him. If the world says something is good, then you can bet that Jesus says it's evil. If the word is against something, you can bet that God is for it. That's how our sin natures are, and it's how Satan is. Only those of us who are saved can understand this; the rest simply can't see it. So whenever the church starts agreeing about anything with the world, it's a HUGE red flag to me. It doesn't matter whether it's a political party, or candidate, or the best way to witness about Jesus, if the world likes it, God doesn't!
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Dec 7, 2022 10:31:07 GMT -5
As always....Thank you Cindy :)
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Dec 7, 2022 12:01:22 GMT -5
I may still try to go back and look at some past days I missed posting ( quite a few actually)
but I think I will do today's study for now;
Dec. 7th
Hosea 5:1-6:11
The tendency to follow after false gods and sin profusely
is not just a characteristic of Israel,
but all people, at all times.
And so God is not pleased, and is angry.
He chastises them, gives consequences,
withdraws etc.
I will go away and return to My place
Until they [h]acknowledge their guilt and seek My face;
In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.
Hosea 5:15
And God tells them this ( something we need to know,
especially those who love the 'beauty of 'rituals, pageantry, etc.)
For I delight in loyalty
rather than sacrifice,
And in the knowledge of God
rather than burnt offerings
Hosea 6:6
New Testament
1 John 5:1-21
About overcomers...
They believe Jesus is God, and God the son,
they have eternal life and a relationship with Jesus.
19 We know that we are of God,
and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
1 John 5:19
and a warning:
Little children,
guard yourselves from idols.
1 John 5:21
Done for today
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Post by Cindy on Dec 9, 2022 11:55:45 GMT -5
 Overcomers believe in Him so much that they have given up their lives in order to live for Him instead of living for themselves. They do that out of love for Him because He loved them so much He gave up His life for them!
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Dec 10, 2022 12:29:10 GMT -5
Dec.9th
Hosea 9:1-10:15
God says in verse 7
The days of punishment have come,
The days of retribution have come;
Hosea 9:7
This made me think, the days of punishment are coming yet again
for our country and really the whole world.
And God says in verse 9
( which also reminds me of this day and age)
They have gone deep in depravity...
Hosea 9:9
And in fact, in Ch. 10:8
This seems like a picture of what will happen in the tribulation,
similar to the last days in Rev. 6:15, 16:
...Then they will say to the mountains,
“Cover us!” And to the hills, “Fall on us!”
Hosea 10:8
15 Then the kings of the earth and the great men
and the commanders and the rich and the strong
and every slave and free man
hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains;
16 and they said
to the mountains and to the rocks,
“Fall on us and hide us
from the presence of Him who sits on the throne,
and from the wrath of the Lamb;
Revelation 6:15,16
Psalm 139:13-16
This is one of my go-to memorized verses when doubt tries to assail me.
I know beyond a doubt,
that we are so complex, that it is impossible
to have come about by chance.
And yet, David, knew this thousands of years ago.
...I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
Psalm 139:14
New Testament
3 John 1-15
Always good to remind myself of this:
Beloved, do not imitate what is evil,
but what is good.
The one who does good is of God;
the one who does evil has not seen God.
3 John 1:11
Done
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Dec 10, 2022 12:29:45 GMT -5
Dec.9th
Hosea 9:1-10:15
God says in verse 7
The days of punishment have come,
The days of retribution have come;
Hosea 9:7
This made me think, the days of punishment are coming yet again
for our country and really the whole world.
And God says in verse 9
( which also reminds me of this day and age)
They have gone deep in depravity...
Hosea 9:9
And in fact, in Ch. 10:8
This seems like a picture of what will happen in the tribulation,
similar to the last days in Rev. 6:15, 16:
...Then they will say to the mountains,
“Cover us!” And to the hills, “Fall on us!”
Hosea 10:8
15 Then the kings of the earth and the great men
and the commanders and the rich and the strong
and every slave and free man
hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains;
16 and they said
to the mountains and to the rocks,
“Fall on us and hide us
from the presence of Him who sits on the throne,
and from the wrath of the Lamb;
Revelation 6:15,16
Psalm 139:13-16
This is one of my go-to memorized verses when doubt tries to assail me.
I know beyond a doubt,
that we are so complex, that it is impossible
to have come about by chance.
And yet, David, knew this thousands of years ago.
...I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
Psalm 139:14
New Testament
3 John 1-15
Always good to remind myself of this:
Beloved, do not imitate what is evil,
but what is good.
The one who does good is of God;
the one who does evil has not seen God.
3 John 1:11
Done
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Dec 10, 2022 12:49:52 GMT -5
Dec 10th
Old Testament
Hosea 11:1-12:14
Such a testimony of God's love!
1 When Israel was a youth I loved him,...
4 I led them with cords of a man, with bonds of love,..
8 How can I give you up, O Ephraim?
How can I surrender you, O Israel?...
All My compassions are kindled.
9 I will not execute My fierce anger;...
Hosea 11:1,4,8,9
Psalm 139:17-24
More of God's love
17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand.
When I awake, I am still with You.
and this:
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
24 And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way.
Psalms 139:23,24
New Testament
Jude
I am not sure I really do this, but it is certainly more necessary today, than ever before!
3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation,
I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you
contend earnestly for the faith
which was once for all handed down to the saints
The Bible does not need to be edited by additions of deletions,
it is complete, nothing else is needed.
A few other verses that stood out to me:
6 And angels who did not keep their own domain,
but abandoned their proper abode,
He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day,
7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah
and the cities around them,
since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality
and went after strange flesh,
are exhibited as an example in undergoing
the punishment of eternal fire.
and
18...“In the last time there will be mockers,
following after their own ungodly lusts.”
Done for today
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Post by Cindy on Dec 12, 2022 10:39:49 GMT -5
Yep! It reminds me too that judgment always falls on the family of God first.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Dec 13, 2022 15:19:00 GMT -5
Dec. 12th
Joel 1:1-3:21
Israel is in a grave situation, having been found guilty by God and is under judgment...
makes me thing of the USA ( but also, of the world today)
and so the sentence of the judgment begins:
What the gnawing locust has left, the swarming locust has eaten;
And what the swarming locust has left, the creeping locust has eaten;
And what the creeping locust has left, the stripping locust has eaten.
5 Awake, drunkards, and weep;
Joel 1:4
And it goes on which reminds me of the food shortages now and coming in today's world:
The field is ruined,
The land mourns;
For the grain is ruined,
The new wine dries up,
Fresh oil fails.
Joel 1:10
and
Has not food been cut off before our eyes,...
Joel 1:10
The seeds shrivel under their clods;
The storehouses are desolate,
The barns are torn down,
For the grain is dried up.
Joel 1:16
What does this tell the people?
Alas for the day!
For the day of the Lord is near,
And it will come as destruction from the Almighty.
Joel 1:15
and
"......he day of the Lord is indeed great and very awesome,
And who can endure it?
Joel 2:11
However....
There is still hope....maybe not for the countries as they are now, nor for every individual
But...
And rend your heart and not your garments.”
Now return to the Lord your God,
For He is gracious and compassionate,
Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness
And relenting of evil.
Joel 2:13
And
God will pour out material blessings,
but more importantly spiritual blessing.
New Testament reading and study:
Revelation 2:1-29
( part of the revelation to the 7 churches in Asia
( in what is now modern day Turkey)
To Ephesus:
They had left their first love ( Jesus)
yet had doctrinal and moral purity, zeal for the truth,
service oriented, but that did not substitute for
love of their savior Jesus.
the church of Smyrna:
They had beautiful material wealth,
but were intensely loyal to Rome
( we need to be careful of not worshiping a leader or a country,
not even our country..and as we can see, all is not well, in our country).
It even says of Smyrna that there is a synagogue of Satan.
The message to Pergamum is even worse in that
it say,
Satan dwells there.
I sometimes feel like that can be said these days of the USA:
13 ‘I know where you dwell,
where Satan’s throne is;
and you hold fast My name, and did not deny
My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one,
who was killed among you,
where Satan dwells.
Revelation 2:13
MacArthur gives an interesting note about that
( well more than one, but this caught my attention):
"Asklepios, the god of healing was there, his snake-like form is still the medical symbol today".
The church of Thyatira
24 But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira,
who do not hold this teaching,
who have not known the deep things of Satan,...
Revelation 2:24
Done for today
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Post by Cindy on Dec 14, 2022 11:00:24 GMT -5
Good one! I wish more people understood that we're not to worship a leader or country and that this world is NOT our home! I wish they also realized that a new president, representative, or congressman is not going to change things. I get so tired or seeing people who are or who say they are Christians, acting like the person they think should be president is God's gift to the world and everyone should love him. The only thing that can change things is if more people get saved, not another election.
 Ok, I'll get off my soap box now 
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Dec 20, 2022 11:13:11 GMT -5
Dec. 20th
Old Testament reading
Micah 4:1-5:15
Micah had been prophesying about the impending judgment
but now he switches to the Jesus reign in the millennial kingdom.
It's center will be Mt. Zion
1 And it will come about in the last days
That the mountain of the house of the Lord
Micah 4:1
Many nations will come and say,
“Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord
And to the house of the God of Jacob,
That He may teach us about His ways
And that we may walk in His paths.”...
Micah 4:2
As opposed to how the world has always prepared instruments of war,
Instead:
...Then they will hammer their swords into plowshares
And their spears into pruning hooks;
Nation will not lift up sword against nation,...
Micah 4:3
And then this about the Lord Jesus:
“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Too little to be among the clans of Judah,
From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.
His goings forth are from long ago,
From the days of eternity.”
Micah 4:2
Psalm 145:1-9
8 The Lord is gracious and merciful;
Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness.
Psalms 145:8
New Testament
Revelation 10:1-11
God is the Creator,
the universe did not come into being,
by a big bang ........everything from nothing
nor evolution,
of life from dead materials, spontaneously coming to life.
6 and swore by Him who lives forever and ever,
who created heaven and the things in it,
and the earth and the things in it,
and the sea and the things in it,
that there will be delay no longer,
Revelation 10:6
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Post by Cindy on Dec 21, 2022 12:11:11 GMT -5
Do you like reading the Bible like that? I wouldn't mind reading it that way, but no way could I do a study on just those specific verses every day. (Unless of course they all just happened to go together and be about the same subject.) It just jumps around way too much for me as far as studying goes. If I recall correctly though, you're doing this based on MacArthur's Daily Bible and that's not intended for study. It's intended to help people read through the Bible in a year. So that makes sense.
I don't know...sometimes I think we put way to much emphasis on reading the Bible through every year. I used to read it every year, but finally stopped because I wanted to spend a lot more time in each book and each chapter. There's nothing wrong with reading it through every year; like I said, I did that for many years. I don't think people can learn as much about God as they could if they simply read it the way they'd read any other book. But then there's other ways of reading the bible too, like reading it by topic. I've done a lot of that as well. But still, I think the best way is to start at the beginning and read to the end. Or for those who are well acquainted with the Bible, like we are, to simply choose a book in it to read, and again, start at the beginning and read all the way to the end of that book. Sorry, I'm just rambling...thinking to myself....
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Dec 21, 2022 12:14:33 GMT -5
Dec. 21
Old Testament
Micah 6:1-7:20
Spiritual blindness had led Israelites to offer all sorts of things to God,
but not the thing God wanted which was a spiritual commitment of the heart.
He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:8
Some of the verses could have been written about today:
2 The godly person has perished from the land,
And there is no upright person among men....
6 For son treats father contemptuously,
Daughter rises up against her mother,
Daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;...
Micah 7:2,6
But then, some verses that I so needed to hear!
7 But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord;
I will wait for the God of my salvation.
My God will hear me.
8.......though I fall I will rise;
Though I dwell in darkness,
the Lord is a light for me.
Micah 7:7,8
and these touched me the most!
I read them over several times:
18....Who is a God like You,
who pardons iniquity
And passes over the rebellious act
of the remnant of His possession?
He does not retain His anger forever,
Because He delights in unchanging love.
19 He will again have compassion on us;
He will tread our iniquities under foot.
Yes, You will cast all their sins
Into the depths of the sea.
Micah 7:18,19
New Testament
Revelation 11:1-19
This had the interesting part about The Two Witnesses
Pastor John MacArthur had a lot to say about them, but as I am getting tired
I will just mention a few brief things:
They will preach a message of judgment and salvation.
Sackcloth was for mourning and they are mourning because of the wretched wickedness of the world.
And while it is impossible to be dogmatic who they are, MacArthur points out a few things like:
The witnesses and Moses both strike the earth with plagues.
Like Elijah, they have power to keep it from raining
The length of the drought by the 2 witnesses will be the same amount of time as Elijah.
Moses and Elijah were both at the transfiguration
and so on.
Done for today
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Dec 21, 2022 12:20:47 GMT -5
You are right, it is to get thru the Bible in a year.
I also did that for a couple of years way back when.
I do not think I will continue, but I only have a few more days to go, so I will complete it...this time...plus, he has some new notes in this Bible so.....
It is sort of like the goodread's challenge
I did it one year, and then again this year.
I will not do it again for sure.
So in January, I will not be doing my Bible study this way (reading thru the Bible in a year)...
but just focusing on one book at a time.
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Post by Cindy on Dec 22, 2022 13:16:29 GMT -5
You've done a great job on these Barbara!
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Dec 23, 2022 12:12:33 GMT -5
Thank you Cindy! :)
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Dec 29, 2022 20:05:21 GMT -5
So Jan 1st I will start a Bible study on Isaiah
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Dec 29, 2022 20:35:14 GMT -5
Old Testament Zechariah 10:1-12:24
Zechariah begins encouraging the people to ask God for blessings:
physical ones like rain,but the blessings extend to spiritual ones as well,
But then Satan realm with his demons and human pawns
like the diviners are spouting lies, false dreams etc.
We have not 'evolved'! Today we have the exact same situations
of good and evil side by side.
however verse 4 speaks of a cornerstone that will arise from the house of Judah.
The cornerstone is a symbol or title for the messiah ( Jesus), so there is ultimate good news .
God says in verse 10:6 He will bring them back, because He has compassion on them ( and us).
But speaking of Israel, in particular because as verse 9 tells us, He scattered them among the nations
( and we see this truth thru history). It goes on to list some of the countries they were scattered to.
However verse 12 tells us, God will make them strong in the Lord (
in the future millennium)
Ch.11 Gives the sad rejection of Jesus the Messiah when He first came....even down to the 30 pieces of silver given to Judas to betray him.
But in ch 12: the Lord will give salvation. The God who created the universe and life, can also save us...
but ultimately He will also save many of the apostate Jews when they look upon Him whom they pierced.
They will repent and God still loves them and will have mercy on them...as He did to us (believers).
I know this is very very short.
I did study more today,
but it's getting late and I am getting very tired.
I pray I can do better tomorrow.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383
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Post by fearnot on Dec 30, 2022 15:26:24 GMT -5
Zechariah 13:1-14:21
13:1 starts with the words: "In that day........"
That is I believe pointing to the future, often the far future...
otherwise, it would read, Today, or tomorrow, or next week, next month or next year etc.
It speaks of a fountain that will be opened for sin and impurity....
but also the removal of false prophets and their false prophesies...
and if they continue they will die, because they have spoken falsely in the name of the Lord.
Then in verse 7 of ch. 13, the good shepherd will be killed, which will be Christ....
and yet, it is for a good reason ( as we believers know).
And so, in ch. 14 the time switches to the millennium,
when Jesus will come and stand on the mount of Olives, as the ultimate Warrior-King.
The tribulation battle and all the terrors for the unbelievers ( including a plague that rots their very flesh while they are standing). That will make Covid look small in comparison.
Revelation 20: 1-15
The devil is bound during the final millennium the 1000 years rein of Jesus...
but then Satan will be released for a little while....
he will gather a human army for the last battle ever,
and the devil will not win.
Then comes the final judgment of the unbelievers.
Done for today
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Post by Cindy on Dec 31, 2022 9:13:21 GMT -5
I enjoyed the last two you've done! Thanks!
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That's ok hon. Don't worry about it. We can hardly believe it's even winter as it's been so warm here. In fact, it's been so warm that weeds have grown back in my garden! I always make sure I've gotten rid of all the weeds by the end of fall, so come spring it's not already overrun with them. But I was shocked the other day when I glanced at the garden and saw all kinds of weeds! It's only gotten down to freezing a couple of times so far. Normally the high is in the thirties in November, but not this time. I just looked at the forecast and it looks like we won't get to the thirties till the middle of December this year. Doesn't look good for snow before Christmas. 
Overcomers believe in Him so much that they have given up their lives in order to live for Him instead of living for themselves. They do that out of love for Him because He loved them so much He gave up His life for them! 
Ok, I'll get off my soap box now 
