Psalm 119 and Proverbs

I have been busy studying God's Word....I have to say it brings me soooo much joy!  I just finished a Precept study on Psalm 119.  You can find the awesome info here.  Also, I am now doing a survey study on Proverbs from Precept (link here as well).  The awesome thing about Psalm 119 was the LAST VERSE brought it all together.  Psalm 119:176 says "I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Your servant, for I do not forget Your commandments."  For a little background, Psalm 119:174 says: "I long for Your salvation, O LORD, and Your law is my delight."  For all the psalmist's devotion and love for God, he still needed a Savior and He sent His Son, Jesus to seek and save the lost.  In case you want to study truth for yourself, I will hide the revelation of these two verses under the tab/page labeled Psalm 119.  It all points to Jesus and the Holy Spirit showed me how--really, this is THE COOLEST!!

My Tears In Your Bottle

דִּמְעָה

TEARS...TEARS.  In times of suffering, the psalmist David asked God to keep a remembrance of all his sufferings in a bottle...

"You have taken account of my wanderings; Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book?"  (Psalm 56:8)

Tear‐bottles were small urns of glass or pottery, made to contain the tears of mourners at funerals, and placed in the sepulchres at Rome and in Palestine. In some ancient tombs they are found in great numbers. Ps. 56:8 refers to this custom. (taken from Smith's Bible Dictionary)

In John 11:35 we have one short verse "Jesus wept".  We have a Savior who knows our pains and our trials.  Put your faith in Him today to take care of all your hurts.  See more of God's character here through my inductive bible study of the psalms.

The Shepherd and His Flock

In my Zechariah Precept Study, especially in the last chapters--I'm learning much about shepherds and flocks.  We already know that Jesus is our Shepherd and we are His flock.  There is a very close bond between a shepherd and his flock.  In John 10 it says the sheep know the Shepherd's voice.  The shepherd is also very protective of his flock.  In Zechariah 11 God tells the prophet to pasture the flock because they are doomed to slaughter. 

God also speaks of a worthless shepherd: this is reminiscent of an anti-christ.  This worthless shepherd will not care for the perishing, will not seek the scattered, will not heal the broken, and will devour the flesh of the fat sheep and tear off their hoofs (see Zechariah 11).

In the last days God will whistle for His people to gather them together for He has redeemed them (see Zechariah 10:8).  This verb for the word whistle is used with the signification of  a "pipe", alluding to the signal a shepherd gives with a reed or bamboo pipe to gather his flock.  What a loving Shepherd we have!  For more, go to the Zechariah Precept Study page.  There's also more to my list of God's Character here.

Living Stones

photo credit goes to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Living_stone

As I was studying scripture over the last few weeks I came across some verses that I can't get out of my mind.  They speak of "living stones" and The Living Stone (Jesus Christ).  Born again believers and followers of Jesus Christ are to also be living stones and our foundation is to be The Living Stone.  I've put the verses in their entirety here on the Sitting At His Feet page. 

As "living stones":

--we will not be disturbed because we believe;

--we are being tested;

--we are firmly placed;

--we are choice and precious in the sight of God.

So, speaking of a solid foundation--my precept study of Zechariah is getting more and more exciting every week!  My insights come from what will happen in the last days as the nation of Israel and the Jews will be "front and center"!  Find out more here (don't miss it!) on the Zechariah Precept Study page.  You will have to scroll to the bottom for the most recent entry.  Also I've been keeping up my list of God's Character here from my study of Psalms.

"KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS"

Revelation 19:16 says And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS".  The Greek noun for KINGS in this verse basileus is a sovereign term meaning Christ will reign for ever and ever and is now a "King" Priest after the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 5:6).  We have a righteous, sovereign God who will make His begotten Son, Jesus a King forever and ever!  This is exciting!!   Zechariah 6:12-13 refers to Jesus as "Branch".  I've elaborated a little bit on the Zechariah Precept Study page.  Also, I'm still adding to my God's Character list here.

He Has Called Me "Friend"

Wow! Really??! The Lord has called me His F R I E N D??!!  I learned in my Precept class that the word for "friend" in John 15:15 is a covenant term.  The Greek noun or adjective is philos meaning loved, dear.  To view the complete scripture of John 15:15 click on the Sitting At His Feet page.  Also, my list is growing on the Character of God through my study of Psalms.  Under the Zechariah Precept Study page, I added Week Three's insights about the first three visions Zechariah received from God.  This is getting more exciting every week!

His Voice

This week I have a lot to write about!  I was reading in Psalms this week and have been updating my list of God's Character here.  What the Holy Spirit impressed upon me this week was God' voice.  His voice is upon the waters and it thunders (Ps. 29:3), His voice is powerful, majestic, and breaks cedars (Ps. 29:5), His voice hews out flames of fire, shakes the wilderness, makes the deer to calve and strips the forests bare (Ps. 29:7-9).  Then in Psalm 29:11 God's people are given a promise: The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace.  On the Sitting At His Feet page, I have recorded a verse that I love and that gives comfort and hope.  My Zechariah Precept Study page has been updated with my artistic (NOT!) and very childish drawings of Zechariah's first three visions :)

Rejoicing My Heart

This week I began my very first Precept Upon Precept study on Zechariah.  I knew I would be in for some great revelations, but I can't express the joy I have received from the Lord in discovering truth for myself.  I was told this is a seminary-level class and it does take much time and devotion to God's Word.  Psalm 19:8 says "The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes".  Truth be told, I had to consult four different bibles and a bible commentary to make sure I was on the right track, but the Lord was faithful in showing me through the Holy Spirit the Word for myself.  I have created a page on this blog titled ZECHARIAH PRECEPT STUDY where I am summarizing what the Lord is showing me through this study.  Also, I am still keeping up with my GOD'S CHARACTER list here through my continued study of the Word.  Here is the link for Precept Ministries where I purchase materials to learn God's Word by studying inductively.

His Right Hand

Father's Day brings to mind all the memories I have of my childhood about my Dad and my grandfather.  For whatever reason, I remember their hands....the hard work they did, the comfort they brought in the hugs I felt, watching the way a pencil was held in their hand while helping me with math or teaching me to write words in Italian.  In fact, I remember writing a poem about my father's hands and I think I gave it to him as a Father's Day present when I was a child.  Now, I watch how my husband uses his hands to work, to love, and to instruct our children today.  My Father in heaven has shown me ways He uses His hands, too.  Particularly I've noticed many verses about His right hand all through the ages of time.  I've listed some of these (there are too many to list) here on the Sitting At His Feet page.  There are several reasons God chose to use the words "right hand" in the scriptures.  Sometimes He uses it to show how He effects His will among men, of His working in their behalf, and/or showing His favor.  I've also been updating my "God's Character" list here. 

God is BIG!

I know the title for this post sounds child-like, but that's all I could think of when I was reading Scripture this morning.  Isaiah 66:1 says Thus says the LORD, "Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool.  Where then is a house you could build for Me?  And where is a place that I may rest?  For My hand made all these things, thus all these things came into being, " declares the LORD."  Wow! Heaven is His throne and the earth His footstool--God is BIG!  The last sentense of Nahum 1:3 says "...In whirlwind and storm is His way, and clouds are the dust beneath His feet." Wow! The clouds are the dust beneath His feet--God is BIG!  I've updated my "God's Character" list here.  Also, I've included some insights from my reading of Psalm 11 and Genesis 1 this morning here on the "Sitting At His Feet" page.  I pray these postings will bring you joy today.

My List Is E X P A N D I N G!

I've started studying Psalms every morning.  While studying inductively, I've been marking every word pertaining to GOD.  By doing this, I'm learning so much and have updated my list for you here--under the GOD'S CHARACTER page tab.  To learn more about inductive bible study, go to this page--Precept Ministries.  I'm completely hooked on this method of bible study!  Another book I plan on studying this way is Proverbs.  You can learn much about love vs. lust, wickedness vs. righteousness, wisdom, etc. etc.  I will keep this blog updated on lists I make from Proverbs when I begin.

A Lesson In Faith

Ten years ago my husband and I got married.  Prior to that I was married and had two children in that marriage.  It was an abusive and unfaithful marriage.  During the process of my divorce 12 years ago, this man you see pictured introduced me to Jesus.  We married two years later.  Finally this week he was able to adopt my two children.  There is a verse of scripture that reminds me of what God has done for us: "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." (Romans 8:15).  The last 10 years have been a roller coaster and a true test of faith where the adoption of my children by my husband is concerned--we went through long bouts of doubt, quietness from the Lord and also periods of peace and stillness knowing He is God and will "....work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28).  To make a long story (a 12-year long story) short, the Lord has grown my faith so much over that last 12 years!  It took 12 years for me to see the "light at the end of the tunnel" but God is not through with me yet--this I know!  God won't stop growing me until I am made more like His Son, Jesus Christ.  Click here to read two scriptures about faith that I have held on to over the last year in particular.  It's when I'm quiet, not disctracted by things of this world, and when I am Sitting at His Feet that I can best hear His voice an not harden my heart (Hebrews 3:7-8).

God's Character---A Running List....

I have created a new page on my blog titled "God's Character".  I've recently begun making a list about God inside my bible and decided to share it on my blog.  From time to time, I will update my list on this page.  It's a humbling thing to know God and His ways.  I invite you to click here and join me on this journey.

The Character of God

In my inductive bible studies yesterday, I began to make a list of the characteristics of God which I've discovered by reading the book of Jonah.  I've learned quite a bit from this book (by the way...the entire book of Jonah is also found in the Muslim koran).  I love Jonah 3:6-10 and if you enlarge the photo above, you can read it for yourself.  Verse 10 says "When God saw their deeds that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them.  And He did not do it."  There's so much more to be said about the book of Jonah and I will probably share my findings/discoveries in more posts to come, but for now click here to see my running list so far of the character of God on the Sitting At His Feet page of this blog.  It is fascinating (to say the least) to discover things about the One who created me!