OFFERINGS: No Blood and Guts PLEASE!!
Boy I have been toying this idea around for about a week or so now ans slowly I have developed something that I think I can really sink my teeth into….Metaphorically speaking…Otherwise it would be GROSS!
I have just started reading the book of Isaiah In my daily devotions. I have always struggled with the books of Isaiah and Jeremiah. They are depressing BUT on the day i started I got a nugget of truth that just impacted me so very deeply!
So lets get started….
Let’s ;look at Isaiah Chapter 1 verses 11 through 17
Isa 1:11 “What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the LORD; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats.
Isa 1:12 “When you come to appear before me, who has required of you this trampling of my courts?
Isa 1:13 Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations– I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.
Isa 1:14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them.
Isa 1:15 When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood.
Isa 1:16 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil,
Isa 1:17 learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause. (ESV)
So basically God is telling the Isrealites that because your heart is not right your offerings mean nothing to Me.
If you remember back to the Pentateuch (the first 5 books of the Old Testament) God gives the Hebrew people a list of sacrifices that they had to make. Some were peace offerings, Some were offerings of thanksgiving Some some were sin offerings. When the New Testament begins and Jesus comes on the scene Jesus is Perfect He is all God and all Man. He is the only perfect person to walk the face of the Earth and He became the Last sacrifice needed to Atone (or Cover) our sins.. So after Jesus died did our sacrifices end? YES AND NO!
“But you just said …..”
I know I know Just hear me our….
We don’t need to have the Blood and Guts…But we ourselves need to give sacrificially….Of our time, our money, Our possessions…in short of ourselves. Noit just the things we want to give BUT everything..
SO how do I know this you may ask…Well Do you really think I’m going to leave you hanging after all of this…NO WAY…I have a verse from 1 Corinthians 10:31
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (ESV)
Note the WHATEVER YOU DO…..DO ALL to the Glory of God….Not just some or part BUT ALL!!! So you see everything we do should be a LIVING sacrifice to God.
What a great reminder right? Well If you have a hard time remembering verses as I do….Heres a Help..coutesy of Steven Curtis Chapman and his song “DO EVERYTHING”
ENJOY AND HAVE A BLESSED DAY!
Happy Homemaker Monday September 5, 2011- LABOR DAY!!!!
The weather in my neck of the woods:
Cool and Breezy, some rainy and all in all a very nice day after all the hum idity
Things that make me happy:
Getting things accomplished…It’s is so nice to have a checked off to do list at the end of the day!
Book I’m reading:
All the women of the Bible
understanding people
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
What’s on my TV today:
Nothing
On the menu for dinner
Not really sure yet…BUT I do know we are going our for ice cream afterward!
On my To Do List:
Well since it is very rainy I think it is an inside sort of day…..so Laundry, our bedroom and general cleaning up
New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:
Potato Salad with Bacon
In the craft basket:
Lots of things..EVEN CHRISTMAS PRESENTS!!!
Looking forward to this week:
Youth group overnight on Friday
Tips and Tricks:
Reliance on God is the ONLY way to make it through hectic schedules without completeky loosing your mind
My favorite blog post this week:
NONE super crazy week…this will get better once the kids get back to school on Wednesday!
No words needed (favorite photo or picture, yours or others you want to share):
Lesson learned the past few days:
GPS’ are a must when traveling through an area that has been ravaged my a natural disaster….Even if you did grow up there your entire life.
On my mind:
Some VERY sick friends. and some other very sad things I cannot share:(
Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
I Corinthians 10:31
So whatever you eat, whatever you drink, or whatever you do, Do ALL to the Glory of God.
(Emphasis added) ESV
Happy Homemaker Monday- 8/21/2011
The weather in my neck of the woods:
Cool and Breezy, some rainy and all in all a very nice day after all the hum idity
Things that make me happy:
Times with friends.
Book I’m reading:
All the women of the Bible
understanding people
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
What’s on my TV today:
Food Network Star’s Finale…..We dont have TV so I have been watching on HULU.com for free
On the menu for dinner:
Steak marinated in Cornell Sauce–if you want to check it out you can make it by yourself HERE
On my To Do List:
Cleaning out the camper…Visiting with a good friend, and some weejing in my hay field (AKA GARDEN!!)
New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:
Homemade ravioli
In the craft basket:
granny squares…Grad Presents…I know I know
Looking forward to this week:
Quiet and getting things back in order bvefore school starts in Two weeks
Tips and Tricks:
We have found that with our strong willed oldest has done really does great when we use moving activities as his consequences, so we have added extra chores as as consequences outside of the normal everyday.
My favorite blog post this week:
o Blog reading for me…I have been out of town SO blog reading this week!
No words needed (favorite photo or picture, yours or others you want to share):
Lesson learned the past few days:
Convenient Care is NOT always Convenient
On my mind:Some VERY sick friends
Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
1 Thessalonians 5:18
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
ESV
Prayer:What are you stealing from God?
I heard a pastor while vacationing a few weeks ago speaking on ASA one of the king of Israel. Asa for the most part was a great king until he started turning away from God He was bitter and he refused to ask God for help when he was ailing in his final days…So that is where these points are going to come from….
You are telling God….
- He’s not powerful enough
- He’s not smart enough
- You are rejecting God as your Lord
- you are declaring your independence from God
- you are rejecting the fellowship with God
What you are TRYING to steal from Him…
- omnipotence
- Omniscience
- his Kingship
- yourself
- your fellowship
The first three you may try to steal them away, but it is impossible . You are communicating that you don’t care about God and the last two you ARE stealing from God. You are denying God the very things He created you for and that is a personal relationship with Him. These things impacted me SOOOO greatly and I have been such a different person.
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