Ezekiel Revisited.....

Many of you know that I studied the book of Ezekiel awhile back. I have been wanting to summarize my study over a few days on my blog, that it may spur a few of you on to study God's word. I began my study on November 3, 2008.

What I learned (I didn't start writing my summary chapter by chapter, but later thought it best to help you see where my thoughts came from):

• God's Majesty - His throne is like Sapphire; brilliant like a rainbow.
• When He calls us he expects obedience.
• He knows what he is calling us to and the outcome - he just wants our obedience (2:7)
• "Do not be Afraid"
• Sometimes God calls us to really hard things
• Devour God's word - it is as sweet as honey (3:3) & Psalms
• God doesn't mind our arguing and protesting - he knows even before we speak (4:14 & 15)
• God punishes rebellion because he is jealous for His name.
• God is patient and slow to anger, but his anger must be appeased. He cannot allow sin to continue unabated.
• He is constantly reminding his people of who He is.
• God's presence cannot be present if sin and rebellion continue - he will removed himself.
• Be sure it is God who is speaking to me.
• Every word I hear from someone who says "God told me" - shift through God's word
• I need to be careful that when I say something is of God that it truly is - I do not want to be a false prophet.
• God is eternally patient with his creation, BUT there will be judgement we can count on that.
• Even though we break covenant after covenant - God has kept and will keep every one.
• My sin is my sin. I cannot blame anyone else.
• If we harbor rebellion, God will not hear us. (Ez. 20)
• God is Sovereign - even over those who do not acknowledge Him.
• God desires that all know him - he says throughout this book "then they will know that I am the Lord." The whole earth (people) think they are in control but , "they will know". (Ez. 25)
• God even uses the ungodly for his purposes, example Nebuchadnezzar. (Ez 26)
• Oh how the mighty fall - Tyre a picture of the United States? (Ez 27)
• God remembers his covenants and takes care of his Children. "Then they will know". (Ez 28)
• God makes men rise and fall, their error is thinking they did it.

Page one of notes done. I have 3 more pages front and back! I would love to see if you see the same things in these passages. Go get a shovel and start digging!!!!

Word-Filled Wednesday

Join others over at the Extravagant Grace for more of God's blessings in pictures!

A lesson learned over coffee

We are currently camping at Jellystone Park in Silver Lake Michigan. As I do every morning we are camping I rise earlier then everyone else, turn on the coffee, and sit down to spend some time with my heavenly Father. This morning I had a few things on my mind. Not the least of which are my son's lack of friends to do things with (which just has me in such inner turmoil, even though I can show him that), and my daughter just walked in her sleep for the first time that we know of last night. She actually left the trailer! I heard the door close and it woke me up. I checked out the window and at first didn't see anything, then I was her heading back toward the door. I called to her and she came over, but when she woke this morning she didn't remember a thing! It freaked Steve and I out pretty good! We are wondering if this is just a fluke or it this could be the beginning of something.

So this is where my mind was when I sat down. I prayed and gave my children back to God, knowing that he has a plan for their life and that I need to rely on him and not worry. I began reading on Psalms 10, then read Psalms 125, which is the next Psalm of Ascent I will be doing in my "Stepping Up" Bible study, then I read a little in Ecclesiastes 4, and then on to Ecclesiastes 5. That is where the Lord wanted me to be today. I don't really think that it's because of my circumstances and thoughts this morning, but maybe. Either way it spoke to me on so many levels I just needed to share it with you all.

Ecclesiastes 5
Stand in Awe of God

1 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.
2 Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.
3 As a dream comes when there are many cares, so the speech of a fool when there are many words.
4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. 5 It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. 6 Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, "My vow was a mistake." Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? 7 Much dreaming and many words are meaningless.

Therefore stand in awe of God.

I think this scripture is very plan. I can see so much instruction and things we should heed:

• Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. (Be prepared to worship)



• Go near to listen (Do not look at it, that it's all about you. Go to hear from God whether it's something you want to hear or not. It's not about you and want you can get from coming to God's house, but what you get because of obedience.



• Do not be quick with your mouth(It says it below in the verse - let your words be few)



• Do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God (this makes me think of how God never breaks a "vow" or a covenant, but how often I in haste, make a promise to him that I have no plans on keeping.) Better to not have made it at all in God's eyes.

THEREFORE STAND IN AWE OF GOD!

Isn't that an awesome way to end this portion!

I hope this blessed you as it blessed me, and reminded me of where my heart should be!

Simple Bible Study

When I started blogging I used to visit a blog called Rahab's Thread. They no longer blog, but their mission was to help others study the word of God. They gave a very simple Bible study help that I would like to pass along to you. When you study a passage (I usually study chapter by chapter), ask yourself these 3 questions:

1. What is this passage about?
2. What do I learn from this passage?
3. What will I apply from this passage to my life?

You could also write down based on the who, what, where, why, when also.

I believe this is loosely based on the Precepts type of study, but it is just a more simple way of getting into the Word.

I hope this helps you some how in your journey.

I would like to dedicate this song to Linda @ Mocha with Linda!

Since I know that this is a favorite restaurant of Linda's and that she loves her sweet tea, I would like to dedicate this song to her!

A Wonderful New Tool Bar

I was over at Marsha's Musings yesterday and she recommended this toolbar. It is a way of connecting with other Christian women, but also it is a wonderful bible study tool. Go over and check it out.

The New Me......

So what do you think?! I love it!! I don't know how many of you know it, but back in May Lisa had a 500th post party, and I won a free Bloggy makeover! I was also on a bloggy break, so I didn't make any fast decisions about what this blog makeover would look like. I felt my blog needed to take a new direction. I wanted it to be less about me and more about God; bringing glory to Him actually. So I prayed, and had others pray for God to show me what he wanted me to do with this blog thing that I had so innocently gotten involved in. A little history may be needed here.

Back in October of 2007 I timidly stepped into the blogging world after reading Mari's, Cheri's, Jen's and The Livesay's blogs. I thought why not - it could be fun! Here is my 2nd post explaining the name of my blog and what I saw it being about at that time. I have so enjoyed this experience! Meeting all of you and growing in the Lord through posts that you all have written. You have become part of my journey in the Lord, and I am thankful for the experience.

Fast forward to 2009. I am currently at 437 posts, marching toward 500! It's funny looking back on that 2nd post, I see that I desired even then to dig into the Word of God. That desire has grown, and I have learned much! But I have so much to learn, and I desire to come alongside anyone who desires the same thing! The verse in Proverbs 27:17 "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another", is a verse that I desire to emulate. As I am sharpened by one's post, I hope to sharpen someone else.

My key verse has changed too! This is one thing I was praying for, that God would give me a verse that states the purpose of this blog, that is how I came up with 1 Peter 2:5 "you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." This is what we are becoming! This is who we are in Christ! The whole passage from verses 1-12 are so good! Christ is The Living Stone, and we are becoming living stones! It is a journey of discipleship, but what does that mean?! I looked up the definition of Disciple and Discipleship and this is what I came up with:

Disciple - (from Biblegateway) - a scholar, sometimes applied to the followers of John the Baptist (Matt. 9:14), and of the Pharisees (22:16), but principally to the followers of Christ. A disciple of Christ is one who (1) believes his doctrine, (2) rests on his sacrifice, (3) imbibes his spirit, and (4) imitates his example (Matt. 10:24; Luke 14:26, 27, 33; John 6:69).

Every definition of Discipleship brings me back to Disciple, so discipleship is just continuing to do the above.

That is what I am hoping to unwrap as we continue to journey together, and I am hoping to help you in your individual journey with encouragement and tools that will help you to feel more confident in your study of God's word.

I am hoping to have a side bar with different helps I have found, and alot of other things that God shows me that may be beneficial to you in your walk with Him!

Oh I love my new signature!!!! Sola Dei Gloria - For God's glory alone!!!! That is what this blog will be about! Oh I love that!!!!