rest

gentle breezes rustling past
gulls meandering overhead
waves chasing eachother along...

roaming
circling
seeking...

rest

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Find rest, O my soul, in God alone...

my hope

my rock

my fortress

my salvation

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone.

(Psalm 62:5-6)

humility

"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others..

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!

Therefore God exlated him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father."

Philippians 2:1-11

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It is so easy to read this and see where others are really failing in living this out. Right now two people I know very well and care deeply about, are going through a business partnership split. This is due, at least from my perpective, to these verses not being lived out. And the results are painful, and will probably leave scars through families and our church for a long time. And I think, if only they....

But then I realize.... by my accusing, I stand accused of the very same thing. Right now I am the one reading these verses..... they are God's words speaking to my heart, and I know that I certainly need them as well.

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LORD, I confess that I do much out of selfish ambition and vain conceit, and that I rarely look to the interests of others as being more important than my own. Help me to look to the attitude and example and obedience of Christ Jesus. This isn't easy for me LORD.... please help me in this.

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In John 3:30, John the Baptist says of Jesus... "He must become greater; I must become less." The same must become true in each of our lives when we meet Jesus... He must become greater; we must become less.

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LORD, help me to make you greater in my life.

and myself..... less.

alliances

"Later, Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel, who was guilty of wickedness. He agreed with him to construct a fleet of trading ships. After these were built at Ezion Geber, Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, 'Because you have made an alliance with Ahaziah, the LORD will destroy what you have made.' The ships were wrecked and were not able to set sail to trade."

2 Chronicles 20:35-37

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"But a man of God came to him and said, 'O king, these troops from Israel must not march with you, for the LORD is not with Israel - not with any of the people of Ephraim. Even if you go and fight courageously in battle, God will overthrow you before the enemy, for God has the power to help or to overthrow.'

Amaziah asked the man of God, 'But what about the hundred talents I paid for these Israelite troops?'

The man of God replied, 'The LORD can give you much more than that.'"

2 Chronicles 25:7-9

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"Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial (satan)? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: 'Iwill live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.' Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the LORD. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty. Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God."

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1

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It was just interesting noting how the reqirements of the Corinthian passage are exemplified in the Chronicles passages. The challenge for us is how to live this out as Christians in a predominantly non-Christian culture. It is tempting to say that it was probably easier for the Israelites who were supposed to be an entire people set apart. Yet by the time Corinthians was written that was certainly no longer the case. And so the challenge remains.....

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LORD, please give us the wisdom, the discernment, the strength, and the grace needed to live these things out today.

seeking God's face

My heart says of you, "Seek his face!"

Your face, LORD, I will seek.

Psalm 27:8

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This is a verse that I've been thinking on for quite some time. But, how exactly, does one seek God's face? It seems to me that there are several things involved in seeking God's face....... scripture reading, prayer, obedience, worship, etc. Primarily though, I think we seek God's face when we seek Jesus. A few misc. verses on the topic:

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"Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart."

Psalm 119:2

(note how seeking is connected with obedience)

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"Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob."

Psalm 24:3-6

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"Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced..."

Psalm 104:1-5

(connected with worship/praise)

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"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

2 Chronicles 7:14

(interesting in this one, while seeking is connected with obedience and praying,

yet it is a distinct and separate action)

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"If you seek him, he will be found by you."

2 Chronicles 15:2

(a recurring promise)

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"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

Jeremiah 29:13

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"And without faith it is impossible to please God, becasue anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

Hebrews 11:6

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Lord, teach me to seek your face.

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And the promise of ultimate fulfillment...

"They will see his face"

Revelation 22:4

thorns

"Cursed is the ground because of you...

it will produce thorns and thistles for you."

Genesis 3:17,18

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"The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns

and put it on his head."

John 19:2

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A friend passed along the connection between these verses, and it just really struck me.... how Jesus wearing the crown of thorns is such a vivid portrayal of how he took upon himself our curse...... my curse.

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"Surely he took up our infirmities

and carried our sorrows,

yet we considered him stricken by God,

smitten by him, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions,

he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,

and by his wounds we are healed.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray,

each of us has turned to his own way;

and the Lord has laid on him

the iniquity of us all."

Isaiah 53:4-6