My Journey Journal

So David blessed the LORD in the sight of all the assembly; and David said, “Blessed are You, O LORD God of Israel our father, forever and ever.
“Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.
“Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone.
“Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name.
“But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from You, and from Your hand we have given You.
“For we are sojourners before You, and tenants, as all our fathers were; our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope.
“O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have provided to build You a house for Your holy name, it is from Your hand, and all is Yours.
“Since I know, O my God, that You try the heart and delight in uprightness, I, in the integrity of my heart, have willingly offered all these things; so now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here, make their offerings willingly to You.
“O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, our fathers, preserve this forever in the intentions of the heart of Your people, and direct their heart to You;
1 Chronicles 29:10-18 NASB  Read more... (1220 words, estimated 4:53 mins reading time)

But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,
so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. –
Galatians 4:4-5 NASB

I don’t know any details of God that He hasn’t shared with everyone but I take the clause here “… in the fullness of the time ….” to apply to history.

Jesus was born when God, the Father, planned; not before, not after; His birth wasn’t hastened or postponed by anything.  Read more... (607 words, 1 image, estimated 2:26 mins reading time)

God’s word, the Bible, is powerful.  Both the Jewish Testament and the New Testament tell us that God’s word is profitable.

Sometimes, however, English translations have subtle differences from the original texts.  Take for example a passage from Paul’s first letter to Timothy.

The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith.
1 Timothy 1:5 NLT

The Bible presents lists like this passage in 1 Timothy.  My question when I read this was which part is “the list?”  I see two possibilities and the difference may change what I focus on as I seek to follow Jesus.  Read more... (703 words, 1 image, estimated 2:49 mins reading time)

14 When the dew evaporated, a flaky substance as fine as frost blanketed the ground. 15  The Israelites were puzzled when they saw it. “What is it?” they asked each other. They had no idea what it was. And Moses told them, “It is the food the LORD has given you to eat. 16 These are the LORD’s instructions: Each household should gather as much as it needs. Pick up two quarts for each person in your tent.” 17  So the people of Israel did as they were told. Some gathered a lot, some only a little. 18 But when they measured it out, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed.
Ex 16:14-18 NLT  Read more... (234 words, estimated 56 secs reading time)

As a person given to pride, too often my focus is on myself.  I’m at the center of the stories I create in my head.  Upon reading the Bible, however, I learned (and continue to learn) that everything is about God.

I’m made to love, worship, glorify and commune with Him (as is everything else that’s created).

   Read more... (644 words, 2 images, estimated 2:35 mins reading time)