11 - 1 Date study

Today we will see what chapter 11 verse 1 in the Bible says in honor of November 1!

Genesis 11:1
At one time all the people of the world spoke the same language and used the same words.

Exodus 11:1
Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will strike Pharaoh and the land of Egypt with one more blow. After that, Pharaoh will let you leave this country. In fact, he will be so eager to get rid of you that he will force you all to leave.

Leviticus 11:1
Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron ...

Numbers 11:1
Soon the people began to complain about their hardship, and the Lord heard everything they said. Then the Lord’s anger blazed against them, and he sent a fire to rage among them, and he destroyed some of the people in the outskirts of the camp.

Deuteronomy 11:1
“You must love the Lord your God and obey all his requirements, decrees, regulations, and commands.

Joshua 11:1
When King Jabin of Hazor heard what had happened, he sent messages to the following kings: King Jobab of Madon; the king of Shimron; the king of Acshaph;

Judges 11:11
So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him their ruler and commander of the army. At Mizpah, in the presence of the Lord, Jephthah repeated what he had said to the elders.

1 Samuel 11:1
About a month later,[a] King Nahash of Ammon led his army against the Israelite town of Jabesh-gilead. But all the citizens of Jabesh asked for peace. “Make a treaty with us, and we will be your servants,” they pleaded.

2 Samuel 11:1
In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

Other 10/30 s in the Bible

Deuteronomy 10:30
But Hobab replied, “No, I will not go. I must return to my own land and family.”

Joshua 10:30
There, too, the Lord gave them the town and its king. He killed everyone in it, leaving no survivors. Then Joshua killed the king of Libnah as he had killed the king of Jericho.

2 Kings 10:30
Nonetheless the Lord said to Jehu, “You have done well in following my instructions to destroy the family of Ahab. Therefore, your descendants will be kings of Israel down to the fourth generation.”

Ezra 10:30
From the family of Pahath-moab: Adna, Kelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.

Nehemiah 10:30
“We promise not to let our daughters marry the pagan people of the land, and not to let our sons marry their daughters.

Proverbs 10:30
The godly will never be disturbed, but the wicked will be removed from the land.

Isaiah 10:30
Scream in terror,
you people of Gallim!
Shout out a warning to Laishah.
Oh, poor Anathoth!

Matthew 10:30
And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. [Nothing is too hard for God to keep track of, and He loves His children. This means that God is counting daily, he knows how many hairs are on your head currently, how many were in the past, and how many there will be in the future (because math can tell you that number, and God is the King and Lord of Math). God is amazing.]

Mark 10:30
"...that person will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life."

Luke 10:30
Jesus repliedwith a story: “A Jewish man was traveling on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.

John 10:30
"The Father and I are one.”

Acts 10:30
Cornelius replied, “Four days ago I was praying in my house about this same time, three o’clock in the afternoon. Suddenly, a man in dazzling clothes was standing in front of me.

1 Corinthians 10:30
If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why should I be condemned for eating it?

Hebrews 10:30
For we know the one who said,

“I will take revenge.
I will pay them back.”[h]

He also said,

“The Lord will judge his own people.” (References to the Old Testament.)

Every single one of these verses spoke to me. They made me wonder...and think! God is good.

There a lot of references to land and property. Is God trying to say something...take back the Land the Lord has given you, so you may have eternal life? It's yours in which to spread the Gospel in your sphere of influence.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

When God speaks, you listen

http://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Sephar.html#.Tq1cjTuyMZM

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis%2010:30&version=ASV - Genesis 10:30 - in honor of the fact that in America, the day is October30, 2011.

Genesis 10:30

American Standard Version (ASV)

30 And their dwelling was from Mesha, as thou goest toward Sephar, the mountain of the east.

I've heard people say not to randomly open the Bible and expect God to speak, a person needs to have a plan. Well, I know that isn't true. While everyone should read the Bible everyday, making it fun or a puzzle enhances it.

Well, I did just that. Since today was 10/30, I am looking up references in the Bible that have a tenth chapter and a thirtieth verse. I began in Genesis 10:30. That's the above verse.

Here Mesha and Sephar defined:

Sephar

The name Sephar comes from the verb Sephar (sapar) meaning count, or any general mathematical activity. Some derivatives: Sephar (seper), meaning writing, book, sipra (sipra), meaning book, Sephar (soper), scribe, Sephar (separ), census, sipra (seporah), number, mispar (sapar), number.

The derivative Sephar (separ), census, is identical to the name Sephar and occurs only in 2 Chronicles 2:17. There Solomon numbers the foreigners who help built the Temple, following the census satan had made David take (1 Chronicles 21:1). After this census, and after the penalty, the location of the Temple was designated and foreigners were set to hew out the stones for the Temple (1 Chronicles 22:2).

The name Sephar means Counting or Calculating. NOBS Study Bible Name List and Jones' Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names both read Numbering.

(http://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Sephar.html#.Tq1cjTuyMZM)

Mesha:

Mesha I (Mesha - indeed pronounced as Mesha).

This version of the name Mesha is ascribed twice in the Bible. It's the name of a port city on the Red Sea, and mentioned first as a border of the territory of the sons of Joktan (Genesis 10:30). Mesha is also the name of a Benjaminite, a son of Shaharaim and Hodesh (1 Chronicles 8:9).

This version of the name Mesha comes from the verb mush (mush) meaning depart, remove. The verb occurs 20 times in the OT, denoting how God will not depart from Israel (Exodus 13:22), or the removal of sin from Israel (Zech 3:9). The form mush (mush) also means to feel, as in touch and recognize (Genesis 27:21; Psalm 115:7; Judges 16:26). Note the similarities with the names Mash and Moses.

For a meaning of this name Mesha, both NOBS Study Bible Name List and Jones' Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names both read Retreat.

(http://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Mesha.html#.Tq1d4TuyMZM)

Here's the verse re-written:

"The territory they occupied extended from Mesha [retreat [from sin], remove sin, God will not be removed] all the way to Sephar [counting, calculating, writing, book, scribe [education]] in the eastern mountains."

WOW! That is a punch in the stomach (in a good way). That's where I'm trying to be, retreating from sin and knowing that God will never leave me. "If God is for me, who can be against me?"


Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

Book Club Idea

I think that I would like to host a book club! This has been on my mind for awhile. I love to read, and I know that other people like to read. During college, some of us are really busy and don't have much time to read. It slips to the wayside, especially if we don't have an accountability partner (same goes for reading the Bible). During other parts of our lives, like marriage and with children, we also find we don't have time to read. I think that if the group chose a book of the month, with a time we meet, then we would all at least part of a novel every month. It could also be bi-monthly. This could also be an online activity, and we could meet via Skype, Facebook, email, or a website (like blogspot or weebly or google sites). We could use the website as a discussion page if face-to-face meetings are simply impossible.

What are your ideas? What do you think of the Book Club idea? Comment here or on my Facebook profile.

Here's a Book Club start up guide: http://www.book-club-queen.com/book-club-guide.html.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,
Rachel

The Bible on Clothes

The Bible talks about everything, including clothes!

http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/index.php?search=clothing&version1=MSG&searchtype=all&limit=none&wholewordsonly=no&startnumber=26 - The Message Bible and clothes

http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/index.php?search=clothing&searchtype=all&version1=9&spanbegin=1&spanend=73 - The KJV Bible and clothes

http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/index.php?search=clothing&searchtype=all&version1=9&spanbegin=1&spanend=73 - The ASV Bible and clothes

http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/index.php?search=clothing&searchtype=all&version1=46&spanbegin=1&spanend=73&startnumber=26&startnumber=1 - The CEV Bible and clothes

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

James 2 ramblings

James 2

Favoritism Forbidden

1 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”[a] you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,”[b] also said, “You shall not murder.”[c] If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

This is what I came across in my devotional time with the Lord today. How sad and true that this still occurs in a "Christian" society. Well, that is why God inspired Paul to write it down and record it for the generations, because we fall into this a lot.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

Normal!

My blog is back to normal!

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

Weird

Wow. That's all I can say.

Ruth 3

New Living Translation (NLT)

Ruth 3
Ruth at the Threshing Floor
1 One day Naomi said to Ruth, “My daughter, it’s time that I found a permanent home for you, so that you will be provided for. 2 Boaz is a close relative of ours, and he’s been very kind by letting you gather grain with his young women. Tonight he will be winnowing barley at the threshing floor. 3 Now do as I tell you—take a bath and put on perfume and dress in your nicest clothes. Then go to the threshing floor, but don’t let Boaz see you until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 Be sure to notice where he lies down; then go and uncover his feet and lie down there. He will tell you what to do.”

5 “I will do everything you say,” Ruth replied. 6 So she went down to the threshing floor that night and followed the instructions of her mother-in-law.

7 After Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he lay down at the far end of the pile of grain and went to sleep. Then Ruth came quietly, uncovered his feet, and lay down. 8 Around midnight Boaz suddenly woke up and turned over. He was surprised to find a woman lying at his feet! 9 “Who are you?” he asked.

“I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. “Spread the corner of your covering over me, for you are my family redeemer.”

10 “The Lord bless you, my daughter!” Boaz exclaimed. “You are showing even more family loyalty now than you did before, for you have not gone after a younger man, whether rich or poor. 11 Now don’t worry about a thing, my daughter. I will do what is necessary, for everyone in town knows you are a virtuous woman. 12 But while it’s true that I am one of your family redeemers, there is another man who is more closely related to you than I am. 13 Stay here tonight, and in the morning I will talk to him. If he is willing to redeem you, very well. Let him marry you. But if he is not willing, then as surely as the Lord lives, I will redeem you myself! Now lie down here until morning.”

14 So Ruth lay at Boaz’s feet until the morning, but she got up before it was light enough for people to recognize each other. For Boaz had said, “No one must know that a woman was here at the threshing floor.” 15 Then Boaz said to her, “Bring your cloak and spread it out.” He measured six scoops[a] of barley into the cloak and placed it on her back. Then he[b] returned to the town.

16 When Ruth went back to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, “What happened, my daughter?”

Ruth told Naomi everything Boaz had done for her, 17 and she added, “He gave me these six scoops of barley and said, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’”

18 Then Naomi said to her, “Just be patient, my daughter, until we hear what happens. The man won’t rest until he has settled things today.”

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

Terra Nova!

A hundred and ten years in the future. I can't wait for Terra Nova to start. I love dinosaurs! And it looks intriguing, like the idea of "Among the Hidden" series, including the population control and the fact people are only allowed two children. Except it's because the world is overpopulated, as opposed to there isn't enough food for everyone (which turns out to be a lie...) And of course the planet is dying. When isn't it dying?

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

Author Heather Harris recently came to speak. It was a great presentation. Since it was Saturday, it was a small crowd, but her words were poignant and needed. She spoke on her battle with mental illness and winning with the help of the Lord.

She had a few tips.
1) You can say no.
2) All you can do is try.
3) You are not perfect and no one should expect you to be.
4) You can relax.
5) It doesn't matter what people say.
6) People aren't thinking about you, all the time. They aren't paying attention to you, so just do it.
7) Speak with confidence.

Her website is www.http://heatherstewartharris.com/. I also bought her book to read.

We know her sister, Megan, and that was our connection to Heather Harris. I think that we should bring her back next fall if Mandy and DICE lets us.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

Tyndale Reading Blogger Program Winner

I was one of the top three bloggers in the Tyndale Summer Reading Program. I'm so excited!! I chose a $50 Amazon gift card. Criminal Minds? I think so. 

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

Darien's Rise

In a new and exciting series called "Passages" by Paul McCusker, Kyle and Anna, a brother and sister travel to Marus, a fantasy land, and experience unusual adventures. Belief in God in this world takes the believer on amazing trips and expeditions. History repeats itself - with the siblings in it! They also find that they have mysterious new powers.

The theme of the story is God's call on your life, and parallels that of David and Saul.

The stories were great and faith-grounded, and there was nothing too dark in them. They help show that the Bible is the living, breathing Word of God, and that the stories of real Biblical people are never too out of date. And the Bible CAN relate to our lives, if we allow it to.

A beautiful story that is also engaging!

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

Springtime of the Spirit

I enjoyed the latest book in the Great War series. Annaliese Duray and Christophe Brecht are a sweet couple. He is a war weary soldier, she is a fiery Socialist. They knew each other when they were younger, and they are surprised by the differences the years can bring.

The Great War has ended by 1918. Christophe Brecht has returned to his hometown from the Great War (called World War I by us). The Durays, who he knows, ask him to bring back their runaway daughter, Annaliese. He agrees, and goes to Munich, where he discovers she is caught up in the German Socialist movement, though she isn't aware that they want to create a communist government. He tries to take her home, but she refuses, and he stays near her to make sure she is safe. When an army from Berlin threatens their blossoming love, the two must make difficult choices.

A great read, and not too romantically over-the-top. The book balanced historical fiction with romance. I like that they used to know each other, and then realized that they had each changed. But Annaliese had always loved him, and now she had a chance to get him, but she really does love her country. I just wish many women didn't have to choose between their careers and marriage. Why can't women have both? I know plenty of women who can do both, and being a humanitarian is also a great aspiration! I'm glad Annaliese cared about her country, even if she didn't know everything about the people she was representing; that happens a lot!

An 8 on a 10-point scale. 

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

Look to the East Book Review

Look to the East is the first book in the Great War series by Maureen Lang, a Christian writer, an introduction to the series that makes me feel upbeat about the rest of the series. 

The background setting is France in World War I, better known as the Great War. Julitte Toussaint lives in a village (Briecourt) that is isolated from the battles but not from family feuds, but soon the war comes to her back door. Charles Lassone, a wealthy Belgian-American, is hiding from the Germans in the church for now, but if they find him her entire village may be destroyed...

A sweet account of two people in the midst of, in my opinion, an overshadowed war (thanks to World War II). Julitte's family is in the midst of a feud with the de Colvilles but even that is not the worst thing that can happen to the village. Charles being Belgian was an interesting decision, because Belgium was even more overlooked. It also touches on adoption, as Julitte's parents adopted her. Julitte also experiences isolation and rejection because she is a bit different from her friends and neighbors, something that so many readers can relate to and one that I myself related to.

The book emphasizes the sexual purity of Charles and Julitte, a fact that I was pleasantly surprised about, and quite happy with the author's decision. It's nice to see just sweet love between two people without sexual sin every once in awhile, although it is hinted about with other characters.   

I would say that this book is an 8 out of 10. 

Praying you have faith, hope and love,

Rachel 

Julitte was a very perfect character.