10/26/12

Thanks!


I woke up very early today with the realization that I was loved.  Nothing out of the ordinary happened to make me feel this way, I just did.  Before my feet touched the floor, I remembered how much God and my family and my friends care for me and today's post is about saying "Thank you"!!!!!  As I mentioned, my first thought was of God and that first and foremost, HE IS MY FRIEND; here is why....

John, Chapter 15

 8 “In this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; and so you will be my disciples.  9 Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love.  10 If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and remain in his love.  11 I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full.

 Since my last name is Rose, the picture is a tad corny, but that is who I am and I probably won't change that any time soon.  However, the sentiment is real and those who read this should know that I love you all, because God has taught me to do this.  If we try real hard, I am sure we could find something to disagree about, but why bother?  I don't know how you feel, but I am sick to death of turning on the TV and hearing all that negativity.  I thought it would be nice to say something both truthful and positive BEFORE THE ELECTION IS OVER!!! May God bless you all!!!!!!!!  Love, Gary

Oct. 26 Song of Solomon 7, 8


Oct. 26
Song of Solomon 7, 8

Son 7:1 How beautiful are your feet in sandals, prince's daughter! Your rounded thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a skillful workman.
Son 7:2 Your body is like a round goblet, no mixed wine is wanting. Your waist is like a heap of wheat, set about with lilies.
Son 7:3 Your two breasts are like two fawns, that are twins of a roe.
Son 7:4 Your neck is like an ivory tower. Your eyes are like the pools in Heshbon by the gate of Bathrabbim. Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon which looks toward Damascus.
Son 7:5 Your head on you is like Carmel. The hair of your head like purple. The king is held captive in its tresses.
Son 7:6 How beautiful and how pleasant you are, love, for delights!
Son 7:7 This, your stature, is like a palm tree, your breasts like its fruit.
Son 7:8 I said, "I will climb up into the palm tree. I will take hold of its fruit." Let your breasts be like clusters of the vine, the smell of your breath like apples, Beloved
Son 7:9 Your mouth like the best wine, that goes down smoothly for my beloved, gliding through the lips of those who are asleep.
Son 7:10 I am my beloved's. His desire is toward me.
Son 7:11 Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field. Let us lodge in the villages.
Son 7:12 Let's go early up to the vineyards. Let's see whether the vine has budded, its blossom is open, and the pomegranates are in flower. There I will give you my love.
Son 7:13 The mandrakes give forth fragrance. At our doors are all kinds of precious fruits, new and old, which I have stored up for you, my beloved.
 

Son 8:1 Oh that you were like my brother, who sucked the breasts of my mother! If I found you outside, I would kiss you; yes, and no one would despise me.
Son 8:2 I would lead you, bringing you into my mother's house, who would instruct me. I would have you drink spiced wine, of the juice of my pomegranate.
Son 8:3 His left hand would be under my head. His right hand would embrace me.
Son 8:4 I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, that you not stir up, nor awaken love, until it so desires. Friends
Son 8:5 Who is this who comes up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? Under the apple tree I aroused you. There your mother conceived you. There she was in labor and bore you.
Son 8:6 Set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm; for love is strong as death. Jealousy is as cruel as Sheol. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a very flame of Yahweh.
Son 8:7 Many waters can't quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man would give all the wealth of his house for love, he would be utterly scorned. Friends
Son 8:8 We have a little sister. She has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister in the day when she is to be spoken for?
Son 8:9 If she is a wall, we will build on her a turret of silver. if she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar. Beloved
Son 8:10 I am a wall, and my breasts like towers, then I was in his eyes like one who found peace.
Son 8:11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon. He leased out the vineyard to keepers. Each was to bring a thousand shekels of silver for its fruit.
Son 8:12 My own vineyard is before me. The thousand are for you, Solomon; two hundred for those who tend its fruit. Lover
Son 8:13 You who dwell in the gardens, with friends in attendance, let me hear your voice! Beloved
Son 8:14 Come away, my beloved! Be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices!

Oct. 26 1 Thessalonians 3


Oct. 26
1 Thessalonians 3

1Th 3:1 Therefore, when we couldn't stand it any longer, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone,
1Th 3:2 and sent Timothy, our brother and God's servant in the Good News of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith;
1Th 3:3 that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you know that we are appointed to this task.
1Th 3:4 For most certainly, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction, even as it happened, and you know.
1Th 3:5 For this cause I also, when I couldn't stand it any longer, sent that I might know your faith, for fear that by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor would have been in vain.
1Th 3:6 But when Timothy came just now to us from you, and brought us glad news of your faith and love, and that you have good memories of us always, longing to see us, even as we also long to see you;
1Th 3:7 for this cause, brothers, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith.
1Th 3:8 For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.
1Th 3:9 For what thanksgiving can we render again to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sakes before our God;
1Th 3:10 night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face, and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
1Th 3:11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you;
1Th 3:12 and the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we also do toward you,
1Th 3:13 to the end he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

1 John, Chapter 2, Mark Copeland

                      "THE FIRST EPISTLE OF JOHN"

                              Chapter Two

We have an Advocate who is also the propitiation for our sins and to
truly know Him we must keep His commandments (1-6), especially to love
one another (7-11).  Describing his original readers’ spiritual state
(12-14),  John cautions against loving the world and being deceived by
antichrists (15-23), by letting truth abide in them and they in Christ
(24-29).

POINTS TO PONDER

   *  The true test of knowing Jesus as our Advocate and our propitiation

   *  Things in the world we cannot not love

   *  The identity of antichrists in the writings of John

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - Our Advocate and how we know Him - 1Jn 2:1-6
   - A new commandment - 1Jn 2:7-11
   - Their spiritual state - 1Jn 2:12-14
   - Love not the world, beware of antichrists - 1Jn 2:15-23
   - Let truth abide in you, and you in Christ - 1Jn 2:24-29

2) How can Jesus be of aid to us when we have sinned? (1-2)
   - He is our Advocate with the Father, and the propitiation for our
     sins

3) What are two proofs that we know Jesus and that we abide in Him?
   (3-6)
   - Keeping His commandments and walking as He walked

4) What commandment is both "old" and "new"? (7-11)
   - To love one’s brother (cf. Jn 13:34-35)

5) List three groups of people and how John describes their spiritual
   state. (12-14)
   - Little children:  forgiven of sins,  and having known the Father
   - Fathers:  Having known Him (Jesus) who is from the beginning
   - Young men:  Strong, the word of God abides in them, have overcome
     the wicked one

6) What three things in the world should we not love? (15-17)
   - The lust of the flesh (immorality)
   - The lust of the eyes (materialism)
   - The pride of life (self-importance)

7) What does John reveal about antichrist? (18-23)
   - There will be many:  whoever denies 1) Jesus is the Christ, 2) the
     Father and the Son

8) How can we be sure that we will abide in the Son and in the Father?
   (24-29)
   - By abiding in the truth spoken from the beginning and practicing
     righteousness