Balaam by Rena Oynes

This morning I was listening to a lecture on BBN Bible Institute on Balaam/Special Bible Characters. As a Sunday School teacher (of young children) I had remembered God’s warning to Balaam and the donkey speaking. In other words I did not remember much. I learned that Balaam was a preacher/a fine one who was a Gentile prophet. Balaam had two major problems that he clung onto and that was a LOVE of MONEY and a HEART of LUST. These were his two LOVES. (The two seem to be with us even today.) The Moab King , Balak, asked him to come preach and forbade him to speak of Israelites or future of the Israelite Nation. He would be given a large sum of MONEY. OMG was Balaam excited. He was determined to adhere to Balak’s demands of what not to preach BUT God would not allow Balaam’s tongue to say anything but what HE wanted to the KING to hear. Balaam felt OMG I’m going to lose the MONEY from Balak because I spoke what he forbade me not too. He thought I can not curse Israel because God forbade it. Balak at this point was madder than hell. Balaam instead of walking away and saying forget the money, I will walk with the Lord, he thought I know how to get the King to corrupt the nation. Balaam didn’t love God or God’s people. He loved the wages of unrighteousness. He did something that was totally against God and showed where his heart was. He suggested to the king if you cannot curse a nation which is blessed by God, then may I suggest they be judged. Sir he said, entangle the men with the women of Moab. Balaam picked up his money. He had sinned willfully after preaching the WORD of God because of his LOVE for the unrighteous. Balaam’s choice led to grave, grave peril – death – eternal life without God – hell.

When we think on this we can ask ourselves are we Balaam’s in the church. Do we speak one thing to others and yet cling to the unrighteousness in our lives LOVE OF MONEY, HEART of Lust, addictions, etc. Is Jesus first in our lives and his way of living first? Is our Father God or is our Father Satan – one or the other. Balaam made his choice long ago. What is our choice today? We still have time.  Your friend, Rena

 

 

What do you think?

Philippians 4:8 NLT “…Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

I’m dwelling in the land of magical truth with creative images developing in my mind’s view. Love, joy, peace these are all mine. My head is so full of kindness, hope and helpfulness that my lips look as rosy as the first pick of a Spring Rose. My words spring forth with gaiety of praise for the One that gives life and has the right to take it away.

Job sang a tune of praise, He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!” 1:21 NLT

“Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Did Job get it right?

List Maker

Prayer list, laundry list, to do list, bucket list, things to do, calls to make, grocery list, things I want to do, things I did! Weekly, monthly, yearly lists! Go lists!

Make my list, talk ad nauseam about list and lose list, rewrite list and post my lists!

Do you have lists? Where are they? Do they work? Do they entertain you? Inspire you! Tell us your list stories!

Giving thanks:

“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”~ Ephesians 5:20.

Ivan Parker challenged me and I challenge you; “this month to make a list of ll the things you are grateful for. Keep it near you and give thanks every day. There’s power in that, friends!”

1)safe travels for my son that arrived home safely, and travels often 2) calls of encouragement daily from my sons, 3) friends that pray and care for myself, family and doggies in more that 11 ways 4) my doggies 5) my husband 6) health 7) faith 8) computer to build my faith and connect to friends 9) homes 10) healthy foods 11) health care……Oh, I have many more and I’m sure you do as well.

Let’s do as Ivan Parker has challenges some of us and make our list and give thanks through the month of September and challenge others to come here, the daily lily, and join in. When others join in the chorus image what the gates of heaven must look like.

“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”~ Ephesians 5:20.

Debi’s New

By Debi Chaves

Today I got a new calendar by Neale Donald Walsch that Sara spotted in a store and thought it was just what I needed. Generously, MG purchased it and gave it to me. It’s titled, “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone”. Does that make you a little nervous? I know it did me because my comfort zone is just that…comfortable. But the calendar title is also encouraging and challenging and I’d like to share the quote for August. “Walk with the dreamers, the believers, the courageous, the cheerful, the planners, the doers, the successful people with their heads in the clouds and their feet on the ground.” Wilfred Peterson.

Walk with me in the new!
debplant1@gmail.com

How does one pray

“How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days.” Matthew 24:19-21 NIV

As I listen to world news today of tensions, threats of war and especially the women and children held in Iraq on a mountain with no food and water, I can’t stop the picture thrashing in my mind of the words spoken by Jesus and recorded in the Book of Matthew. The deepest compassion of Jesus shows in this passage. How my heartfelt cries go out for these woman, men and children that are being told leave your Christian faith or die!

Heavenly Father, give world leaders wisdom, courage and faith to act to help Christians around the world. Give your church grace, mercy and a knee bending desire to pray. Minds to speak and support our brothers and sisters that are being deeply persecuted for their faith. Hands to serve and hearts to love. May we rightly discern your word with understand.

“But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.…”