Category Archives: Old Testament vows

Lessons From Noah’s Ark!

Standard

“Everything I Need To Know…I Learned From Noah’s Ark!”

(I saw this on e-mail today, author unknown, I added the Scriptures)

Genesis 5:32-10:1

6-12-13 Sunset-Rainbow 007

1.  Don’t miss the boat!  Find favor with the Lord! 

“But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.”

2.  Remember that we’re all in the same boat!  We need to walk faithfully with our Lord! 

Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time,

and he walked faithfully with God.”

3.  Plan ahead!  Pay attention to God!  It wasn’t raining when Noah built the Ark. 

So God said to Noah,

‘I am going to put an end to all people,

for the earth is filled with violence because of them.

I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth…. 

Seven days from now I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights,

and I will wipe from the face of the earth every living creature I have made.’”

4.  Stay fit and healthy! When you’re 60+ years old,  God may ask you to do something really big, too! 

So make yourself an ark of cypress wood...

I am going to bring flood waters on the earth

to destroy all life under the heavens,

every creature that has the breath of life in it. 

Everything on earth will perish.

5.  Don’t listen to critics!  Obey God!  Just get on with the job that He says needs to be done. 

Noah did everything just as God commanded him.”

6.  Build your future on the higher ground of the Lord! 

“But I will establish My covenant with you,

and you will enter the ark—

you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you…” 

The Lord then said to Noah,

“Go into the ark,

you and your whole family,

because I have found you righteous in this generation.”

7.  For safety’s sake, travel in pairs. 

You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures,

male and female,

to keep them alive with you. 

Two of every kind of bird,

of every kind of animal

and of every kind of creature

that moves along the ground

will come to you to be kept alive.”

8.  Speed isn’t always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.

“Pairs of clean and unclean animals,

of birds and of all creatures

that move along the ground,

male and female,

came to Noah and entered the ark,

as God had commanded Noah.”

9.  When you’re stressed, float awhile. 

For forty days

the flood kept coming on the earth,

and as the waters increased

they lifted the ark high above the earth. 

The waters rose and increased greatly on the earth,

and the ark floated on the surface of the water.”

10.  Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.  Build your life according to God’s Plan! 

This is how you are to build it: 

The ark is to be three hundred cubits long,

fifty cubits wide and thirty cubits high. 

Make a roof for it,

leaving below the roof an opening one cubit high all around. 

Put a door in the side of the ark

and make lower, middle and upper decks.”

11.  No matter the storm, when you’re with God, there’s always a rainbow waiting. 

And God said,

‘This is the sign of the covenant

I am making between Me and you

and every living creature with you,

a covenant for all generations to come: 

I have set my rainbow in the clouds,

and it will be the sign of the covenant

between Me and the earth.

Whenever I bring clouds over the earth

and the rainbow appears in the clouds,

I will remember My covenant between Me and you

and all living creatures of every kind. 

Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.

Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds,

I will see it

and remember the everlasting covenant

between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth…'”

6-12-13 Sunset-Rainbow 012

“Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and,

taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds,

he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. 

The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma

and said in His heart:

‘Never again will I curse the ground because of humans,

even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood.

And never again will I destroy all living creatures,

as I have done.

As long as the earth endures…'”

6-12-13 Sunset-Rainbow 020

Amen!

Thank You, Lord!!

When The Golf Course Is Closed To People…The Critters Come Out To Play!!

Standard

Because God is watching over them!!

Psalm 91

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High   

will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

4-27-14 Walk-Palms Nursing Home!! 037

I will say of the Lord,

“He is my refuge and my fortress,   

my God, in whom I trust.”

4-27-14 Walk-Palms Nursing Home!! 011

Surely He will save you   

from the fowler’s snare   

and from the deadly pestilence.

4-27-14 Walk-Palms Nursing Home!! 105

He will cover you with His feathers,   

and under His wings you will find refuge;   

His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

4-27-14 Walk-Palms Nursing Home!! 116

You will not fear the terror of night,   

nor the arrow that flies by day,

 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,   

nor the plague that destroys at midday.

4-27-14 Walk-Palms Nursing Home!! 145

A thousand may fall at your side,   

ten thousand at your right hand, 

but it will not come near you.

4-27-14 Walk-Palms Nursing Home!! 152

You will only observe with your eyes   

and see the punishment of the wicked.

4-27-14 Walk-Palms Nursing Home!! 130

If you say,

“The Lord is my refuge,”  

4-27-14 Walk-Palms Nursing Home!! 031

and you make the Most High your dwelling,

no harm will overtake you,   

no disaster will come near your tent.

4-27-14 Walk-Palms Nursing Home!! 042

For He will command His angels concerning you   

to guard you in all your ways;

they will lift you up in their hands, 

4-27-14 Walk-Palms Nursing Home!! 046  

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread on the lion and the cobra;   

you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

4-27-14 Walk-Palms Nursing Home!! 066

“Because he loves me,”

says the Lord,

“I will rescue him;  

I will protect him,

for he acknowledges My Name.

4-27-14 Walk-Palms Nursing Home!! 094

He will call on Me, and I will answer him;   

I will be with him in trouble,   

I will deliver him and honor him.

4-27-14 Walk-Palms Nursing Home!! 173

With long life I will satisfy him   

and show him My Salvation.”

4-27-14 Walk-Palms Nursing Home!! 165

Amen!

See how well He watches over us, too!!

My Soul Pants For You, My God!!

Standard

3-15-14 Billy & Cheryl 217

Psalm 42

As the deer pants for streams of water,   

so my soul pants for You, my God.

My soul thirsts for God, for the Living God.   

When can I go and meet with God?

My tears have been my food day and night,

while people say to me all day long,   

“Where is your God?”

3-15-14 Billy & Cheryl 216

These things I remember   

as I pour out my soul:

how I used to go to the house of God   

under the protection of the Mighty One

with shouts of joy and praise   

among the festive throng.

Why, my soul, are you downcast? 

3-15-14 Billy & Cheryl 213  

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God,   

for I will yet praise Him,   

my Savior and my God.

My soul is downcast within me;   

therefore I will remember You

from the land of the Jordan,   

the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.

3-15-14 Billy & Cheryl 215

 Deep calls to deep   

in the roar of Your waterfalls;

all Your waves and breakers   

have swept over me.

By day the Lord directs His love,   

at night His song is with me—   

a prayer to the God of my life.

3-15-14 Billy & Cheryl 214

I say to God my Rock,   

“Why have You forgotten me?

Why must I go about mourning,   

oppressed by the enemy?”

My bones suffer mortal agony   

as my foes taunt me,

saying to me all day long,   

“Where is your God?”

3-15-14 Billy & Cheryl 212

Why, my soul, are you downcast?   

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God,  

for I will yet praise Him,   

my Savior and my God.

Amen!

(P.S.  You’d think these photos might have been taken in NJ, but actually they were taken while we were visiting friends in the Keys.  Our friend, Billy Butler, grabbed my camera while we all quietly watched from the car, and took these beautiful photographs!!!)

Lord, Show Me Your Glory! I Can’t Go On Without You!

Standard

8-24-13 golf course 010

 Lord…

Your Splendor…

So Beautiful!

A Flash of Lightning…

Reflected off the Sky! 

Never the same!

Your Glory!

Your Presence!

 Your Face!

Majesty Shines!

Can’t be without You, Lord

Down the mountain…

Back to my life…

No more ordinary things…

Follow You forever!

 All my days…

‘Til I see You again!

Show me Your glory!

Can’t live without You, Lord!!

8-24-13 golf course 073

Exodus 33:12-23

Moses and the Glory of the Lord

Moses said to the Lord,

“You have been telling me,

‘Lead these people,’

but you have not let me know whom You will send with me.

You have said,

‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’

If You are pleased with me,

teach me Your ways

so I may know You

and continue to find favor with You.

Remember that this nation is Your people.”

The Lord replied,

“My Presence will go with you,

and I will give you rest.”

Then Moses said to him,

“If Your Presence does not go with us,

do not send us up from here.

How will anyone know that You are pleased with me

and with Your people unless You go with us?

What else will distinguish me and Your people

from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

And the Lord said to Moses,

“I will do the very thing you have asked,

because I am pleased with you

and I know you by name.”

Then Moses said,

“Now show me Your Glory.”

And the Lord said,

“I will cause all My Goodness

to pass in front of you,

and I will proclaim My Name,

The Lord,

in your presence.

I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy,

and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

But,” He said, “you cannot see My Face,

for no one may see Me and live.”

Then the Lord said,

“There is a place near Me where you may stand on a rock.

When My Glory passes by,

I will put you in a cleft in the rock

and cover you with My Hand until I have passed by.

Then I will remove My Hand

and you will see My Back;

but My Face must not be seen.”

8-24-13 golf course 118

Lord,

We must have Your Presence…

Your Glory in our lives…

You must go with us…

Or we  can’t go!

We can’t live without You!!

Amen!

Why Are You Crying Out To Me??? Move On!

Standard

Oh, I Will Sing To The Lord!

6-11-13 Lido Key 321

Exodus 14:13-18

“Moses answered the people,

Do not be afraid.

Stand firm

and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today.

The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.

The Lord will fight for you;

you need only to be still.”

Then the Lord said to Moses,

Why are you crying out to Me?

Tell the Israelites to move on.

Raise your staff

and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water

so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.

I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians

so that they will go in after them.

And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army,

through his chariots and his horsemen.

The Egyptians will know that I Am the Lord

when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.”

6-11-13 Lido Key 366

Yes, I Will sing to the Lord!!

6-11-13 Lido Key 115

Exodus 15:20-21

“Then Miriam the prophet,

Aaron’s sister,

took a timbrel in her hand,

and all the women followed her,

with timbrels and dancing.

Miriam sang to them:

Sing to the Lord,   

for He is highly exalted.

Both horse and driver   

He has hurled into the sea.’”

Their Anthem:

The Horse and Rider Song 

I Will Sing Unto the Lord For He Has Triumphed Gloriously

The Horse and Rider Thrown into the Sea

The Lord, My God, My Strength, My Song

Has Now Become My Victory

  The Lord is God and I will praise Him

My Father’s God and I will exalt Him!

6-11-13 Lido Key 104

Don’t complain!

Don’t be afraid…

Of whatever you’re facing today…

Stand firm…

Wait for your deliverance…

The Lord will fight for you…

Be still…

Cry out to God…

Be ready to move on…

When He says,

“MOVE ON”

Raise your staff…

(Or whatever resources He gives you…)

Stretch out your hand…

(Over the sea of your circumstances…)

Go through on dry ground…

He will gain the glory!!

And your enemies will know that…

He is God!!

Through their destruction!

Then…

You will sing and dance to the Lord

With all your might!!

Amen!

6-11-13 Lido Key 189

Exodus 15:13

“In Your unfailing love

You will lead   

the people You have redeemed.”

God’s Nightlights!

Standard

Genesis 1:3-4

“And God said, ‘Let there be light,’

and there was light.

God saw that the light was good,

and He separated the light from the darkness.

7-10-13 Walk & Gilchrist 031

John 8:12

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said,

‘I am the light of the world.

Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness,

but will have the light of life.'”

7-10-13 Walk & Gilchrist 050

Psalm 119:105

“Your Word is a lamp for my feet,

a light on my path.”

7-10-13 Walk & Gilchrist 061

2 Corinthians 4:6

“For God, who said,

‘Let light shine out of darkness,

made His light shine in our hearts

to give us the light of the knowledge

of God’s glory displayed

in the face of Christ.”

7-10-13 Walk & Gilchrist 062

Psalm 43:3

“Send me Your light and Your faithful care,  

let them lead me;

let them bring me to Your Holy mountain,   

to the place where You dwell.”

7-10-13 Walk & Gilchrist 067

Psalm 27:1

“The Lord is my light and my salvation—   

whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life—  

of whom shall I be afraid?”

7-10-13 Walk & Gilchrist 075

1 peter 2:9

“But you are a chosen people,

a royal priesthood,

a holy nation,

God’s special possession,

that you may declare the praises of Him

who called you out of darkness

into His wonderful light.”

7-10-13 Walk & Gilchrist 079

Proverbs 4:18-19

“The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,  

shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;  

they do not know what makes them stumble.”

7-10-13 Walk & Gilchrist 081

Ephesians 5:8

“For you were once darkness,

but now you are light in the Lord.

Live as children of light

(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)

and find out what pleases the Lord.”

7-10-13 Walk & Gilchrist 085

Matthew 5:14-19

“You are the light of the world.

A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 

Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.

Instead they put it on its stand,

and it gives light to everyone in the house. 

In the same way,

let your light shine before others,

that they may see your good deeds

and glorify your Father in Heaven.”

Be God’s nightlights…

Even in the dark of night!

“On My Knees…” Is An Attitude!

Standard

Humble Yourself!!!

How to survive???
Get on your knees…
Before the Lord…
It changes you…
Don’t know how…
But there’s power…
When I’m on my knees!!
In a crowd…
By myself anywhere…
When there’s a need…
To talk with God…

He is Emmanuel!

Close your eyes…
No darkness there…
Only light!

Power!
Blue skies or at midnight…

When I’m On My Knees!!

Trouble  again???
Breaks down my best defense…
God, I’m looking for You!!

I need rest…
Fear’s is filling my head…

God, I’m longing for You!!

I will find You in the place I’m in!
Find You when I’m at my end!
Find You when there’s nothing left of me to offer You…
Except my brokenness!!

Lift me up…
I’m thirsty…
I’m weak…
I’m lost and searching…
I’m on my knees!!

Sorrow shakes my faith…
Heartache still remains…

My God, I’ll trust you…
‘Cause you are faithful!!

My hope is gone…
Fear is strong…
Pain is real…
Hard to heal!

Faith is shaken…
Heart is broken…
Joy is stolen…
Lift me up!
Never leave me searching…

When I’m on My knees!!

PRAY!!!

In a wide variety of ways:

Sitting, bowing, kneeling, and standing.

1 Chronicles 17:16

“Then King David went in and sat before the LORD,

and he said:

‘Who am I, LORD God,

and what is my family,

that You have brought me this far?'”

Nehemiah 8:6

“Ezra praised the Lord,

the great God;

and all the people lifted their hands and responded,

‘Amen! Amen!’

Then they bowed down

and worshiped the Lord

with their faces to the ground.'”

Daniel 6:10

“Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published,

he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem.

Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed,

giving thanks to his God,

just as he had done before.”

Mark 11:25

“And when you stand praying,

if you hold anything against anyone,

forgive them,

so that your Father in Heaven

may forgive you your sins.”

Pray with the right heart attitude…

Offer silent prayers wherever you are…

God hears our prayers…

Even though they may go completely unnoticed by those around us!

Amen!

Invest In Your Future!

Standard

6-11-13 Lido Key 108

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’

declares the Lord,

‘plans to prosper you

and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope

and a future.

Then you will call on Me

and come and pray to Me,

and I will listen to you.

You will seek Me

and find Me

when you seek Me

with all your heart.'”

Jeremiah 29:11-13

6-11-13 Lido Key 114

This is my son’s favorite verse!

Mine. too!

Along with…

6-11-13 Lido Key 116

“Call to Me

and I will answer you

and tell you great

and unsearchable things

you do not know.”

Jeremiah 33:3

6-11-13 Lido Key 160

“…and call on Me in the day of trouble;

I will deliver you,

and you will honor Me.”

Psalm 50:15

6-11-13 Lido Key 178

God’s plan is to…

Prosper you…

Not harm you…

Give you Hope…

And a Future…

Call on Him…

Come to Him…

Pray to Him…

He will listen to YOU!!!

Seek Him…

Find Him…

With all your heart!!

Call to Him…

He will answer YOU!!

And tell you great and unsearchable things…

You don’t know!!

Call on Him in your times of trouble…

He will deliver you…

And you will honor Him!!

Amen!

6-11-13 Lido Key 182

You have now invested wisely in your future!!

6-11-13 Lido Key 185

Praise God!!

Taste And See!! The Lord Is Good!!

Standard

“Taste and see that the Lord is good;    

blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.”

Psalm 34:8

Sometimes people taste something awful!!

Eeeeew!

Their first reaction, after almost gagging…

Is to offer it to someone else!!

Why???

So that someone else can agree with them that…

“Yes, It’s really, really disgusting!!”

Normal people say…

 “No way, why should I try it???

You just said it’s gross!!

No one in their right mind…

Is actually going to taste it!!

But, think of your Bible as a recipe book…

Chock full of goodness!!

A recipe book for your life…

With awesome instructions for God’s goodness…

Drool at the menu God has created…

The feast He prepares and sets  before you!!

Know the Bible!  Live it!  Share God’s Word!  Talk about it!

So others will want to get a  taste of it, too!!

My Bible lesson in Kids Church on Sunday was…

God Is Good!!

Psalm 78

It’s a whole chapter on God’s goodness to the Israelites…

(verse 4-7)

We will not hide them from their descendants;
    we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,
    His power, and the wonders He has done...
Then they would put their trust in God
    and would not forget His deeds
    but would keep His commands.”

They were to tell their children, their grandchildren, their great-grandchildren, etc…

About all His mighty works and miracles!!

So they could also trust is their good God!!

They didn’t!

Instead they murmured and whined…

God was NOT pleased!

And they paid the price with His anger!!

Even today…

We taste God’s goodness…

But do we expect people to want to taste it, too…

If we refuse to share it!!

In a way that they will desire…

To taste it for themselves???

My son’s object lesson was…

“Taste and See!”

(Based on a lesson from  http://www.sermons4kids.com, called, The Taste Test)

Props:  cake, cookies, or other sweet treat!

Begin by eating the decadent, delicious treat!

And telling the kids how scrumptious it is!

Go on and on about how it’s the MOST delicious thing you’ve EVER eaten!!

            “Wow!  This is great! 

Do you believe that this tastes wonderful? 

There is only one way to really know for sure how good this dessert is: 

You have to try it. 

I can tell you all about it…

You may even believe me…

But to really understand how good it is…

You have to try it for yourself!

Let’s have a volunteer taste this yummy treat? 

Go ahead, enjoy, eat it up!! 

Is it good???

Is it the best tasting treat you’ve ever had???

I was right, then, huh? 

See, it really is wonderful!!!

            The Bible says to…

“Taste and see that the Lord is good!”

Psalm 34:8  

That doesn’t mean that we’re going to take a great big bite out of God! 

It simply means that we have to know God personally…

Before we can understand just how good He is. 

I can tell you how good God is…

You may even believe me!

But, you’ll never know for sure how good He is until you know Him for yourself!!

            Once you have seen just how good God is…

There’s something else you need to do…

You need to tell others about Him! 

Tell them how good God has been to you…

So that they will want to know Him, too!!

You can’t force them to know God…

But, you can tell them what He’s done for you!

Then give them a chance to choose Him, too!

  God is soooo good!! 

You have to taste and see for yourself!

P.S.  Also check out Kids sermons/object lessons at: http://www.calledtokids.com

“Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good…”

Psalm 135:3 

Now, go and share something…

Everyone will want to taste!!!

God’s Goodness!!

America, Are We Sleeping???

Standard

I want to suggest a book…

A New York Times Best Seller…

The Harbinger:

The Ancient Mystery That Holds the Secret of America’s Future

by

Jonathan Cahn

For more info. go to:  http://www.theharbingerbook.com

“It’s not fiction, it’s real….

A warning…

To sound the alarm…”

The bricks have fallen down,

but we will rebuild with dressed stone;

the fig trees have been felled,

but we will replace them with cedars.

Isaiah 9:10  NIV

America, Wake up!!

Here are some excerpts from the book:

“What would happen…

If a (foolish) gardener tried to remove a weed from his garden by cutting off its leaves?

Or, he cut off its stem?”

Nothing!

“Until he finally deals with the underlying problem…

The root!

The Isaiah 9:10 Effect says:

The attempt of a nation

To defy the course of its judgement,

Apart from repentance,

Will, instead, set in motion

A chain of events to bring about

The very calamity it sought to avert.

You can’t solve a spiritual problem

with a military or political solution.

Apart from a return to God, the root issue

Remains untouched

And will manifest again in a different form…

…Foundations will be laid bare…

Exposing the foundation…”

America, who is our foundation?

Jesus!

Let’s go back…

I want to see our roots again!!

4-13-13 Walk 020

Love…

4-13-13 Walk 025

And repentance to…

4-13-13 Walk 035Almighty God!