Bible Scripture Reading

"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 30 November 2012, from Cindi, a Daughter of the King of kings and Lord of lords."

Today's Blog Title: "Ephraim's Sins Rebuked By God"
Today's Blog Scripture Reading: Hosea 12:1-14
Today's Key Verse: Hosea 12:9 "Bit I am the LORD your God. Ever since the land of Egypt; I will again make you dwell in tents, As in the days of the appointed feast."

The east wind in verse 1, refers to the sirocco, a hot, dry wind coming from the eastern desert and causing great devastation in the land.  The image here is graphic, for Israel has given herself to feeding on what with will not nourish her (idolatry) and the result is an increase in "lies and desolation."

Verses 3-6, remind the entire nation of the patriarch from whom they have descended.  Jacob always wanted God's best, even though he did not always seek it "God's way."  "Yes he struggled with the Angel and prevailed" is the allusion to Jacob's encounter with the Angel of the Lord at Peniel in Genesis 32:30.  Israel had forgotten Jacob's spiritual wrestling's with God.  Israel, as did Jacob, must come to the end of itself and find its strength in God alone, just as we as Christians have too today.

The Lord had given Israel direction "by the prophets," but the people had rejected the message, and to teach Israel dependence, God would drive them from their homes and send them into exile.  This would be comparable to dwelling "in tents" (verse 9) as the people did during "the appointed Feast of Tabernacles (verse 9) that commemorated the wilderness wandering.  The towns that epitomized Israel's sin,, such as "Gilead" and "Gilgal" would be destroyed and the altars of Gilgal would be turned in "heaps" of stones.

God's love and patience has no end.  But this does not mean that He will permit His Chosen people or even us as Christians today to sin impudently.  The time will come when the "guilt of bloodshed"in verse 12 will bring punishment.  The wonder is, that those who will follow the Lord WILL be RESTORED. 

Click on this Link www.cindi-davis.blogspot.com  for a Bible Verse from Exodus 20.

Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today.  Always remember that when you have a spiritual, emotional, relational, physical, or financial dilemma in your life, and you yell out, "I CAN'T," GOD Whispers to you, "BUT I CAN." 



     

Bible Scripture Reading

"Greetings in the Name of our ord and Savior Jesus Christ for 23 November 2012, from Cindi, a Daughter of the King of kings and Lord of lords."

Today's Blog Title: "God's Continuing Love for Israel"
Today's Blog Scripture Reading: Hosea 11:1-11
Today's Blog Key Verse: Hosea 11:10-11 "They shall walk after the Lord. he will roar like a lion.  When He roars, Then His sons shall come trembling from the west; They shall come trembling like a bird from Egypt, Like a dove from the land of Assyria.  And I will let them dwell in their houses, Says the LORD."

Here in Hosea 11, we have perhaps the strongest of all Old Testament affirmations of God's love for His people. That love is a compassion which persists despite rebellion and unfaithfulness.  it s a commitment which, while is has room for discipline, leaves no room for abandonment. In the end God's love will triumph and even defiant Israel will repent and receive the rich blessing God yearns to pour out.

The Lord regarded Israel as His son and treated the nation with special care, delivering the people from bondage in Egypt. Also in Matthew 2:14-15 we read, "When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother at night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it night be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called my Son." These words quoted by Matthew, was of Jesus.  Israel and Jesus were alike in that both were the objects of the love of the Father and both were called "my son" and both were in Egypt.

In verses 3 and 4, the imagery is of a toddler learning to walk, encouraged by a stooping adult who shows infinite patience and concern.  When we stumble and fall, we need to picture God bending down to life us up, saying, "That's all right. Let's try again.  Walk for Daddy."

We as human beings lose patience, but God is different, for His love is patient and His love cannot be weighed on balance scales, for He is God.  In the coming judgment, God would tear Israel like a lion, in the future, God's "lionlike roar" would summon His people from exile.  In the past, the people of Israel had flown back and forth between nations like a dove, in the future, the people of Israel will speed back to their homeland "like a bird."

What a comfort and challenge for us today that God loves us as our Abba Father.  It is a comfort, for it reminds us that when we fall short, and are tempted to shrink back from God in fear and shame, He keeps on loving us and invites us to return.  It is a challenge, for like Hosea, himself, we are called to love others as God loves us.

Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today. Always remember that when you have a spiritual, emotional, relational, physical, or financial dilemma in your life, and you yelled out, "I CAN'T," GOD Whispers to you, "BUT I CAN."   

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi 



 

Bible Scripture Reading

"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 21 November 2012, from Cindi, a Daughter of the King of kings and Lord of Lords.'

Today's Blog Title: "Israel's Sin and Captivity"
Today's Blog Scripture Reading: Hosea 10:1-15
Today's Blog Key Verse: Hosea 10:12 "Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the LORD, till He comes and rains righteousness on you."

"Israel  empties his vine" in verse 1, refers to God's blessing upon the nation, which contrast with the nation's ingratitude and idolatry.  Hearts "divided" in verse 2 refers to Israel's deceitful and hypocritical ways.

The moral corruption of the society is shown by "promises" "False oaths" and "agreements."  The whole legal structure is required because of a basic dishonesty that infects the land, a fact attested by the lawsuits that "spring up like poisonous weeds." In the same way, God's judgment would replace His blessings.

Israel, was called to a task by God, to work His land and enjoy its produce.  There was the potential of sowing righteousness and reaping unfailing love.  But Israel not only failed to realize her potential, she abused her position as God's servant.  As a result the people now faced judgment.

God calls us a Christians to serve Him.  If we are committed to Him, and if we commit ourselves to the tasks to which He calls us, we will fulfill out potential, and will bear the fruit of His love, as we reach out to others.  Israel's defeat in verse 15, would be so swift that the nation's "king" would be "cut off" before the battle had scarcely begun.

We as Christians need not look in the mirror and admire our spiritual muscles, instead we need  to look to God and admire His.

Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today.  Always remember that when you have a spiritual, emotional, relational, physical, or financial dilemma in your life, and you yell out, "I CAN'T," GOD Whispers to you, "BUT I CAN."

Click on this link at www.cindi-davis.blogspot.com for a Bible Verse from Exodus 20:3.

JESUS REIGNS!!!  May God's Love, Peace, Strength, and Grace be with you all.

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi








 

Bible Scripture Reading

"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 19 November, from Cindi, a Daughter of the King of kings and Lord of lords." 

Today's Blog Title: "Judgment of Israel's Sins"
Today's Blog Scripture Reading: Hosea 9:1-17
Today's Blog Key Verse: Hosea 9:17 "My God will cast them away, because they did not obey Him; and they shall be wanderers among the nations."

It was customary and right for people to rejoice at harvest time.  Israel, however, was commanded not to do so, because she attributed the abundance she experienced on the "corn floor" (a place where the harvest of grain was processed) to the idols that she worshiped, instead of God who had sent it.  The harvest festivals were probably accompanied by shameful fertility acts (Hosea 4:13-14).

The tribe of "Ephraim" in verse 3, stands for the entire Northern Kingdom which it leads.  In the East relatives bake bread and kill animals to feed the mourners who come to the house to lament and share in the family's grief.  The mourners eat with tears in their eyes, weeping and lamenting.  The image here is of the death of Israel's hopes as a nation.  God's people will gather in foreign lands, there to weep and mourn over the glories that are past.

The Old Testament views children as a divine blessing, granted to the faithful.  Here in verses 11-12, God warns that judgment includes a curse that casts the pall of death over the process of procreation, and announced that any who may survive will not life a normal lifespan.  Sin mortgages the future of untold generations.Gilgal in verse 15 is doubly associated with Israel's sins.  Though originally the camp from which the conquest of Canaan was launched during the time of Joshua, it was corrupted by Israel's kings and became  a cult center for counterfeit worship of "Yahweh." 

It also served as a resort area for the wealthy who oppressed the poor in Israel.  As a center noted for its false religion and social oppression "Gilgal" probably served here as a metaphor for the nation.  "Wanderers" in verse 17, may allude to the fate of Cain (Genesis 4:12), who like Israel in verse 9, was guilty of murder.

Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today. Always remember that when you have a spiritual, emotional, relational, physical, or financia' dilemma in your life, and you yell out, "I CAN'T," GOD Whisper to you, BUT I CAN."

JESUS REIGNS!!!  May God's Love, Peace, Strength, and Grace be with you all.

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi





 

Bible Scripture Reading

"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 12 November 2012"

Today's Blog Title: "The Apostasy of Israel"
Today's Scripture Reading: Hosea 8:1-14
Today's Blog Key Verse: Hosea 8:1 "Set the trumpet to your mouth! He shall come like an eagle against the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed My covenant and rebelled against My law."

Just as an "eagle" swiftly swoops down and snatches its prey, so Assyria would invade Israel and take its people into Captivity.  "The House of the LORD" refers to the entire land of Israel.  Though Israel Claimed to acknowledge the Lord's authority, it violated His covenant and rejected the qualities the Lord regarded as "good," such as justice, loyalty and humility.

Hosea, in verse 6, reasoned that anything that could be made with human hands, cannot be possibly qualify as a god.  The "whirlwind" of verse 7, is a tornado, as it is a symbol of destruction and chaos as well as judgment.  Only destruction of all hopes can shatter the wall of arrogance and pride some construct around themselves.  Sin's terrible consequences are intended to break down our defenses against God.  When that happens the superficial in our relationship with God will be shattered.  Man's only hope is that of repentance.  Why wait till the whirlwind strikes to find your way to God?

The image in verse 8, of being swallowed up, vividly depicts the effects of Israel's foreign alliances, which drained them economically.  Israel's free spirited attitude and desire to live unrestrained by God's standards is described in verse 9, "as like a wild donkey."  The "king of princes" in verse 10, is the conquering Assyrian king.

The Lord regarded Israel's religious rituals as sinful because they were not supported by an obedient lifestyle.  In fact the Nation, treated God's "Law" as if if were something "strange" or "alien" to them.  We as children of God need to realize that true security comes from our Creator, Almighty God,  but sometimes we trust in our own efforts.  Trusting in God, and in Him alone, will bring you Peace, Comfort, and Strength.

Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today. Always remember that when you have a spiritual, emotional, relational, physical, or financial  dilemma in your life, and you yell out, "I CAN'T" GOD Whispers to you, "BUT I CAN." 

JESUS REIGNS!!!  May God's Love, Peace, Strength, and Grace be with you all.

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi






  

Bible Scripture Reading

"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 9 November 2012"

Today's Blog Title: "Israel has Rebelled Against God"
Today's Blog Scripture Reading: Hosea 7:1-16
Today's Blog Key Verse: Hosea 7:13 "Woe to them, for they have fled from me!  Destruction to them, because they have transgressed against Me!"

Sometimes we as parents, try to reason with our unresponsive children.  God reasoned with Israel too, by sending them prophets to utter warnings.  But by acting against the prophet's advice, Israel simply revealed the depth of her sin.  Sometimes words won't help us with our children either, and all our warnings seem to make our children's rebellion more obvious.  It usually takes more than words to reach the rebellious.

Hardened sinner typically "do not consider" that God will hold them accountable for their deeds.  While kings should promote justice and be appalled by "wickedness" Israel's leaders approved of the people's sin.

The figure of "an oven heated by the baker" in verse 4, refers to the schemes of the wicked.  Like a baker who kneads his "dough," keeps it warm by "night" as he sleeps, and then with the dough raised, bakes the bread, so it is with the wicked, as they lay their plots, and await the opportune time to carry out their conspiracy against the crown.  Four of Israel's last six kings were assassinated.

The words "gray hair" in verse 9, refers to the fact that Israel did not recognize that its power was declining and its freedom was slipping away, like an aging man who is gradually overtaken by the signs of old age.

Like a bird that flies away when frightened, Israel "fled" from the Lord and His standards, despite His willingness to help His people.  Israel's "peer group" was foreign nations, who arrogantly determined to band together and go their own way, rather than depend on the Lord.  Getting in with the wrong crowd is just as big a mistake today as in the past.  God has a net big enough to throw over the whole flock and will "punish their sins."  Why wait till the whirlwind strikes, to find your way back to God?

"A treacherous bow"  in verse 16 has every appearance of being good, but the arrows that it propels miss the intended target.  God has wonderful things for Israel, but they have continuously mistaken His favor, for favoritism, and have misused His blessings for their own needs. 

Click on this link www.cindi-davis.blogspot.com for a Bible Verse from Deuteronomy 6:4-5. 

Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today.  Always remember that when you have a spiritual, emotional, relational, physical, or financial dilemma in your life and you yell out, "I CAN'T," GOD Whispers to you, "BUT I CAN."

JESUS REIGNS!!!  May God's Love, Peace, Strength, and Grace be with you all.

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi



 

Bible Scripture Reading

"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 7 November 2012"

Today's Blog Title: "A Call to Repentance"
Today's Blog Scripture Reading: Hosea 6:1-11
Today's Blog Key Verse: Hosea 6:1 "Come, and let us return to the LORD; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up."

With the words, "come, and let us return unto the LORD" in verse 1, and "we shall live in his sight" in verse 2, Hosea the prophet vicariously leads his people in a prayer of repentance and a plea for restoration that can ultimately take place only in the day when Israel as a nation will be converted, and God will set up His kingdom over His people and reign for a thousand year.  "He shall come unto us as the rain," means that God will no longer deal with Israel like a "moth" and "rottenness."  Instead He will deal with them like life giving and refreshing rain.

In today's verses, no discipline can have its desired impact until the sinner is ready to repent.  What is involved in repentance?  A change of heart about ourselves that involves admission of guilt, and a change of heart about God, which trusts that God will restore us even though He has punished us till now.  When we as unbelievers can say, "I deserved it," and "I trust God to heal and restore me," then we have come to true repentance.

Many a parent has echoed God's frustration when they like God say, "What can I do with you?" and the answer is, "keep on disciplining and keep on loving."  Like ancient Israel, children have freedom of choice.  We as parents need to be constant so that our children can have an anchor for the inner change they need to make.

"Mercy" in verse 6 means "loyalty" or "devotion."  The "knowledge of God" does not refer to mere head knowledge, but to a genuine recognition of God's authority that produces obedience to His commandments.  The comparison of God's judgment to a harvest in verse 11, indicates that the judgment was inevitable and implies that it would be thorough in its destruction.

Click on this link www.cindi-davis.blogspot.com for a Bible Verse from Mark 10:14-16.

Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today.  Always remember that when you have a spiritual, emotional, relational, physical, or financial dilemma in your life, and you yell out, "I CAN'T," GOD Whispers to you, "BUT I CAN."

JESUS REIGNS!!!  May God's Love, Peace, Strength, and Grace be with you all.

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi



   

Bible Scripture Reading

"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 5 November 2012"

Today's Blog Title: "Impending Judgment on Israel and Judah"
Today's Blog Scripture Reading: Hosea 5:1-15
Today's Blog Key Verse:  Hosea 5:6 " With their flocks and heard they shall seek the LORD, but they shall not find Him; He has withdrawn Himself from them."

The revolvers in verse 2 is probably a reference to the leaders and priests who rebelled against God's authority by rejecting His commandments.  God's people could not hide their "harlotry" for it had "defiled" them.

At times, Ephraim, the leading Northern tribe stands for all of Israel.  Here, however, this tribal area is in view, for it is here that the worship center of Dan is centered, where the true faith in "Yahweh" had been corrupted and all of God's people have been led astray.

Given Hosea's experience with Gomer, the word "unfaithful" must have been one of the most dreadful accusations that the prophet could make against the people of Israel.  The "illegitimate" children are literally "strange."  The sins of the parents have twisted the children as well.  We as Christian parents should never suppose that our sins have no impact on our children, for they DO!!!

The southern tribal of Benjamin, lay tight against the territory of Judah.  Thus Benjamin faced a duel challenge: to resist the corrupting spiritual influence of the North, and to prepare to resist the Assyrians who would soon invade Israel.

In verse 15, God knows He must not restore those He has punished until the suffering has had its intended effect.  Don't be so sorry that you have disciplined your children, that you give them hugs, before they have admitted guilt and come to you for forgiveness.

Click on this link www.cindi-davis.blogspot.com for a Bible Verse from John 17:4-5

Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness.  Love God More Today.  Always remember that when you have a spiritual, emotional, physical, or financial dilemma in your life and you yell out, "I CAN'T," GOD Whispers to you "BUT I CAN."

JESUS REGINS!!!  May God's Love, Peace, Strength, and Grace be with you.

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi



 

Bible Scripture Reading

"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 2 November 2012"

Today's Blog Title: "God's Charge Against Israel"
Today's Blog Scripture Reading: Hosea 4:1-19
Today's Blog Key Verse: Hosea 4:1 "Hear the word of the LORD, you children of Israel, For the LORD brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: "There is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land."

Three things characterize corrupt cultures of any age: (1) they care nothing for faithfulness (2) they are void of loving commitment to others and (3) they possess no true knowledge of God.  With these qualities,  a society deteriorates until "there is only cursing, lying, murder, stealing, adultery, they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.  By these characterizes where is our society today?

The cause of our problems is "lack of knowledge."  But it does not stem from a shortage of information, but rather from rejection of information.  The "they" in verse 8, refers to the priest.  The priest enjoyed benefits, because the people sinned.  They had not helped the people face their sin and deal with it, instead they have gloried and taken pleasure in the sin of the people.  The fact that the priests received a portion of every sin offering, would indicate that the more the Israelites sinned, the more offering they brought, and the better the priests ate!!  Godly priests stand against sin, and mourn when others pursue it.  The grief of a modern pastor, and leaders feel over the sins of their people, is still a test of their hearts.

"My people take counsel from their wooden idols" means that like the heathen of Romans 1:25, they worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator.  Instead of consulting God who made the trees and the wood, they consult the tree and the wooden idols that can be fashioned from them.

"Therefore your daughters commit harlotry, and your brides commit adultery"  refers to the fact that spiritual harlotry gave way to physical harlotry, which was then incorporated into the religious rituals of their idolatrous worship. 

In verse 17, "Ephraim" is one of the largest tribes of Israel and is use here in this verse to represent the entire northern kingdom.  The words "Let them alone" has a tone of frustration and resignation, suggesting that Israel was hopelessly rebellious.  "The wind" of divine judgment would sweep the Israelites away and leave them embarrassed by their idolatry.

Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today.  Always remember that when you have a spiritual, emotional, physical, or financial in your life, and you yell out, "I CAN'T," GOD Whispers to you, "BUT I CAN."

Click on this link www.cindi-davis.blogspot.com for a Bible Verse from Psalm 89:15 

JESUS REIGNS!!!  May God's Love, Peace, Strength, and Grace be with you all.

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi