tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81497348254786067742024-03-14T03:54:57.634-07:00The New Benediction ProjectNew Postings and discussion concerning life and benediction.
Robert Rakestrawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15826957327917662324noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8149734825478606774.post-81091467447953680572014-10-29T12:06:00.000-07:002014-10-29T12:06:01.143-07:00Beautiful Things
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<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Beautiful Things<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b>Bob Rakestraw</div>
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October 29, 2014 <span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">(first posted December 30,
2010)</span></div>
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“The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">New</b> Benediction Project”</div>
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<a href="http://newbenedictionproject.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://newbenedictionproject.blogspot.com/</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p><o:p> </o:p></div>
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I’m sick and tired of ugly—anything and everything ugly. I’m
sick of violence, war, famine, human trafficking, disease, rape, materialism,
injustice, idolatry, hunger, rage, lying, adultery, greed, loneliness, grief,
self-hatred, addictions, corruption, senseless noise, and a thousand other evils!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Here I want to focus on beauty. The <i>Oxford American
Dictionary </i>defines beauty first of all as “a combination of qualities that
give pleasure to the sight or other senses or to the mind.” I believe there is
more beauty than ugliness in our world, and I trust my reasoning will become
evident in the thoughts to follow. Here are a few of my favorite beautiful
things.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<b>Christian Character</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Other than God himself, a mature, wise, virtuous person, living in
harmony with his or her Creator and Lord, is the most beautiful individual
thing in the world. Nothing else that I know of meets so well the definition of
beauty mentioned above. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
Is there a man or woman you know—perhaps several—with such a
sterling Christian character that you long to be around them, listen to them,
and try to learn what makes them tick? This person, among other things, is
unselfish, kind, and suffers well. He or she is concerned for children, teens,
the differently-abled, the elderly, and “working” adults (what a strange term).
The man or woman of deep Christian character has a beautiful soul. This person
is not perfect—just beautiful! (I Cor. 13:4-8; Gal. 5:22-23)<o:p></o:p><br />
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<b>Personal Relationships. </b>Real beauty, flowing from the
person of Christian character, can be seen when two or more such persons are
living, working, discussing, studying, worshipping, playing, or serving others
together. There is not a lot of beauty in the one, however appealing he or she
may seem to be individually, who cannot exist in harmony with others. The home,
the church, the school, the workplace, the playing field—these are the places
where real beauty can shine. I love to see people in close friendships, strong
marriages and effective working arrangements. This does not mean that there are
never disagreements—sometimes vigorous ones—but that love and unity of purpose
sustain the relationships for the good of all (Ps. 133:1-3; <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Rom.</st1:place></st1:country-region> 12: 9-18).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Loving Churches.</b> At first I was inclined to write
“vibrant” churches or “Spirit-filled” churches. As I thought about it, however,
I realized that love (closely aligned with unity) is the true mark of a
Christian and a Christian church. “They will know we are Christians by our
love.” This is biblical (Jn. <st1:time hour="13" minute="35" w:st="on">13:35</st1:time>;
I Cor. 13:3).<o:p></o:p></div>
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When the Pharisees asked Jesus “which is the greatest
commandment in the Law” (they had 613 laws), Jesus said it was to “Love the
Lord your God.” He then added the second most important: “Love your neighbor as
yourself” (Mt. <st1:time hour="22" minute="34" w:st="on">22:34</st1:time>-40).
Strong Christian individuals amid solid personal relationships and loving
churches constitute a triad of beauty superior to every other created thing,
including the choirs of angels and the wonders of nature. A loving church not
only cares for its own but for those in its community, its country, and its
world. Such churches consist of loving and humble Christians committed to
promoting justice and mercy and the whole truth of God until the end of the
ages. (Mic. 6:8; Mt. 28:18-20)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>God. </b>Above all else, there is God. Above all angels,
natural wonders, creations of humankind, loving churches, strong relationships,
and men and women of excellent Christian character, there is God. The reason
Jesus said to love God above all else is because God IS above all else. To love
anything else supremely is to love something less than God, and that is
idolatry.<o:p></o:p></div>
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God has always existed and will forever exist as one God in
three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Mt. 28:19; 2 Cor. <st1:time hour="13" minute="14" w:st="on">13:14</st1:time>). This is a great mystery,
especially concerning the incarnation. The doctrine of the trinity is beyond our
full logical comprehension but is not illogical. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The Bible also teaches that “God is love” (1 Jn. 4:8), but
how can this be? Can this teaching assist us to understand the trinity? Some
have suggested (helpfully, I believe) that God as a single person—a
“monad”—could not give and receive love without an “other,” an object of that
love. Thus the Godhead must exist as a “dyad” (two persons) at least. But in
order for these two persons to have a nonexclusive love, a love that is shared,
there must be at least a triad—a Trinity. God’s threefold eternal dance of love
“within” the Godhead and “outside of” the Godhead is complete and perfect, and
serves as the supreme model for all human love.<o:p></o:p></div>
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God is the only uncreated beauty. Although he is beautiful
beyond description, we do well to ponder some of the qualities of our great
God. Theologians often distinguish between God’s perfections in himself (such
as eternity and omnipotence) and God’s perfections that extend to his personal
creatures (such as mercy and justice). Sometimes these are called the non-moral
and moral perfections (attributes) of God. To God, however, these are all one,
and never conflict within themselves.</div>
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Lord, you are altogether lovely, and nothing I desire
compares to you. Help me not to focus on the ugly, but on the beautiful. (Phil.
4:8)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
Robert Rakestrawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15826957327917662324noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8149734825478606774.post-45911186574161260882014-09-10T07:52:00.003-07:002014-09-10T07:52:49.163-07:00God's Mouth
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">God’s Mouth<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Job 23:10-12</span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Bob Rakestraw</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">September 10, 2014</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">“The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">New</b> Benediction Project”</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">http://newbendictionproject.blogspot.com/<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">What is your mouth? What is my mouth? Sometimes when I
think of my mouth I consider it to be just a hole in my face, surrounded by
lips. It <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i> such a hole, but it is
not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">just</i> a hole. Our mouths are so
much more than moist caverns that open and close at our command. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">We use our mouths to eat, drink, speak, shout,
whisper, sing, laugh, kiss, make funny faces and, if necessary, to breathe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Inside every adult’s mouth are, among other things, a
set of 32 teeth, four curved sections of gums, a tongue, a throat, vocal cords,
pads of soft flesh that form the insides of the cheeks, and a hard palate at
the roof of the mouth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">God, who made such a remarkable mechanism as the human
mouth, also has a mouth. His is very different from ours, of course, because
God’s mouth is not physical. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The scriptures tell us several things about God’s
mouth, the most notable being that he uses it—in harmony with his whole
being—to communicate with and providentially guide his creation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">God created the universe by his mouth: “By the word of
the LORD the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth”
(Ps. 33:6). He gives his law with his mouth (Ps. 119:13, 72, 88) and makes
promises with his mouth (Ps. 40:3-5). In addition, with his mouth God teaches
(Deut. 8:3), pronounces judgment (Isa. 1:20) and destroys (Ps. 18:8)—sometimes
with a sword in his mouth (Rev. 2:16; 19:15).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">One of the most powerful and awe-inspiring sayings in
the Bible—“for the mouth of the Lord has spoken”—is used after some statements
to emphasize the non-negotiable truth of God’s words. These are sometimes words
of great comfort (Isa. 40:5; 58:14) and sometimes words of both comfort and
warning: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">If you are willing and obedient, <br />
you will eat the good things of the land;</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">But if you resist and rebel,<br />
you will be devoured by the sword.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">For the mouth of the LORD has spoken (Isa. 1:19-20).<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">For the remainder of this discussion I would like to
focus on the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">voice</i> of God—the most
important aspect of his mouth. And I can think of no better place in the Bible
to demonstrate the truth about God’s voice then the 10th chapter of John’s
gospel. Here we find the words of Jesus concerning the shepherd and his sheep. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The one
who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep….and the sheep listen to
his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has
brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him
because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact
they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice” (vss.
2-5). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">In this remarkable paragraph Jesus tells of a flock of
sheep and how they relate to the voice of their shepherd. (From the rest of the
chapter it is clear that he is speaking of himself as the good shepherd, with
those who know him being the sheep.) Implicit in the words of Jesus are four
phases or steps that the sheep (and we) may move through. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">First, before the shepherd even speaks to them at a
certain moment, they already know his voice. They have spent so much time
together with him and have heard him so often that, even when he is not
speaking, they have a built-in sense of his distinctive voice. They know how he
will sound because their ears are so attuned to his special way of
communicating with them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Second, they recognize his voice. Whether the shepherd
speaks softly to them in a quiet pasture, or calls to them from the midst of a
busy marketplace, they recognize his voice immediately. Because they have
already come to know his voice in their minds they are able to detect his
presence at once. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">After knowing the sound of their shepherd’s voice, and
after hearing and recognizing it, the sheep then listen to his voice. In order
to hear well—in such a way that blocks out the surrounding noises and
voices—the sheep tune in intently to their shepherd’s unique voice and sounds. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Finally, after these three phases of communication
(which, in some cases, may occur almost simultaneously), the sheep follow the
shepherd. Because they have come to know and trust him so well they will go wherever
he leads. If the sheep could speak, each might repeat these words from the most
beloved of all psalms: “The LORD is my shepherd,….He guides me along the right
paths for his name’s sake” (Psalm 23:1-3).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">We are God’s flock, and when the voice of our Great
Shepherd comes to us in our need it is full of wisdom and comfort, and
sometimes correction and rebuke (Isaiah 30: 19-21). But he always speaks and
guides us from his heart of love for us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Our responsibilities, then, as God’s precious sheep,
are to know his voice within us at all times, recognize it and listen to it at
special times, and follow it immediately with confidence and joy in his
sovereign care. Moses reminded ancient Israel, and Jesus repeated, “man does
not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the
LORD” (Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">If we nourish ourselves from the scriptures regularly,
we will be able to say with Job, even in the midst of the most severe
sufferings:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">But he knows the way that I take;<br />
when he has tested me, I will <br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>come forth as gold. …</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I have not departed from the <br />
commands of his lips;</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I have treasured the words of<br />
his mouth more than<br />
my daily bread (Job 23:10-12).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Robert Rakestrawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15826957327917662324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8149734825478606774.post-25247387622101201702014-07-18T07:38:00.003-07:002014-07-18T07:38:54.144-07:00God's Arms
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">God’s Arms</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Bob Rakestraw</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">July 17, 2014</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">New</b>
Benediction Project”</span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://newbenedictionproject.blogspot.com/">http://newbenedictionproject.blogspot.com/</a></span></u></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Leaning,
leaning, safe and secure <br />
from all alarms;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Leaning,
leaning; Leaning on<br />
the everlasting arms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">For
many years God’s people have been singing these comforting words from a hymn
written by Elisha A. Hoffman. This greatly-loved song expresses the words of
Moses shortly before his death:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The eternal God
is your refuge,<br />
and underneath are the everlasting arms (Deuteronomy 33:27).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In
the same chapter of the Bible, in which Moses pronounces a blessing on each of
the tribes of Israel, we read:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Let the beloved
of the LORD rest<br />
secure in him, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">For he shields
him all day long, <br />
and the one the LORD loves rests<br />
between his shoulders (vs. 12).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">While
this verse does not mention God’s arms, but rather his shoulders, the picture
given is that of someone lying on the chest of a strong, protective person,
with that person’s arms embracing their loved one.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">God’s
arms and our arms are interesting to compare and contrast. Our human arms are
used for many important purposes, and one of these is to help others. One way
we may do this is to give protection (and its partners comfort and security),
as the above scriptures declare so eloquently about the strong arms of God.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Another
way we may use our arms to help others is for rescue, as when we reach down
into a pit and lift out an injured child. When God promised the Israelites that
he would rescue them from slavery in Egypt, he said, “I will redeem you with an
outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment” (Exodus 6:6).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God’s “outstretched arm” is mentioned often
in the Old Testament, frequently combined with God’s “mighty hand.” Referring
again to the Exodus, God asks:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Has any god ever
tried to take for himself one nation out of another nation, by testings, by
signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, or by
great and awesome deeds, like all the things the LORD your God did for you in
Egypt before your very eyes (Deuteronomy 4:34)? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">We
may also use our arms to help others with important work they cannot do alone.
When a barn burns to the ground in an Amish community, for example, all the
neighbors use their arms to rebuild the barn. They give their power and
strength, and exercise mercy, toward those needing help. God does the same for
his people, and often uses only one arm to accomplish his will.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Perhaps
surprisingly, when speaking of God, the Bible uses the singular form “arm” much
more than the plural “arms.” However, if we notice the many references to God’s
“wings,” then the amounts of plural and singular terms seem to be closer
together. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">God’s
“wings”—another term for God’s strong arms and nurturing hands—are mentioned
beautifully in the words of Boaz to Ruth:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">May the LORD
repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the
God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge (Ruth 2:12).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">One
more way we may use our arms to help others, in addition to giving protection,
rescue, and labor, is to offer invitation and welcome. In the same way that the
father of the rebellious son ran to him, “threw his arms around him and kissed
him” (Luke 15:20), so we may, by God’s grace, extend such an invitation and
welcome to someone who has hurt us deeply.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Similarly,
our gracious Lord will welcome us back to himself after we have departed from
him, as we see in these sad words of Jesus:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Jerusalem,
Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have
longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her
wings, and you were not willing (Luke 13:34).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The
biblical invitations and welcomes of God to enter and receive his kingdom are
very real and very sincere to everyone, but Jesus insists on one condition:<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">‘Truly I tell
you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will
never enter it.’ And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them
and blessed them (Mark 10:15-16).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">God
longs for us to have the humility and trust of a small child, yet even when we
go astray, and then repent, he uses his strong arms to gather and restore us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">He tends his
flock like a shepherd:<br />
He gathers the lambs in his arms<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">and carries them
close to his heart;<br />
He gently leads those that have young (Isaiah 40:11).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">With
all of these glorious teachings about the arms of God, we do well to cry out to
our Lord as Isaiah did:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Awake, awake,
arm of the LORD,<br />
clothe yourself with strength (51:9)!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">As
we live day by day, and throughout each day, we may be greatly encouraged by
the biblical truth about God’s arms. With his strong arms he protects us,
rescues us (even when we are not aware of danger), works mightily to help us in
our daily labor, and continually invites us to come closer to him and receive
his welcome and blessing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">God’s
arms never, ever weaken, but our arms, as well as our other body parts, lose
their strength regularly. Even our will and courage falter. When this happens,
the book of Hebrews has just the right words for us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore,
strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. ‘Make level paths for your feet,’
so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed (12:12-13).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Robert Rakestrawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15826957327917662324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8149734825478606774.post-57953455387126689432014-06-30T04:55:00.001-07:002014-06-30T04:55:07.584-07:00
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">God’s Heart<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Jeremiah 32: 37-41</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Bob Rakestraw</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">June 28, 2014</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">New</b>
Benediction Project”</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 193.5pt; text-align: center;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">http://newbenedictionproject.blogspot.com/<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 193.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 193.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">God
has a heart, but he does not have a physical heart like we do. Where the Bible
writers refer to God’s heart, they are using a figure of speech for God’s emotions,
thoughts and desires. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 193.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Hundreds
of years before the time of Jesus, the prophet Jeremiah (appropriately called
“the weeping prophet”) wrote about the heart of God, the hearts of God’s
rebellious people, and his own grieving heart—grieving over the sins of his
fellow Israelites. Sometimes Jeremiah recorded the words of God himself, as
when God spoke of unfaithful Israel (here referred to as Ephraim): </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; tab-stops: 193.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Is
not Ephraim my dear son,<br />
the child in whom I delight?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; tab-stops: 193.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Though
I often speak against him,<br />
I still remember him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; tab-stops: 193.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Therefore
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">my heart yearns for him</i>;<br />
I have great compassion for him (31:20). </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 193.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Here
we see God’s heart, yearning not only for the Jewish people of long ago but for
every Jewish person today, for you and me, and for everyone on earth. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 193.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Every
human being also has a heart. Actually, we have two hearts: a physical one and
a mental/emotional/spiritual heart. We have no choice in the matter, and it is
good for us to be mindful of both hearts.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 193.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Hardly
anyone ever thinks of the remarkable reddish-brown organ beating in their
chest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know I didn’t, until I learned
that I had a heart problem. My heart illness worsened until I needed open heart
surgery and eventually needed, and received, a heart transplant. My old heart was
so weak that, when the surgeons opened my chest and looked at my heart, it was
barely moving. It was trying hard to pump but was merely quivering. It was
very, very close to stopping completely when the doctors removed it and put
another one in its place.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 193.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It
has now been over ten years since one person died and, by filling out a donor
form while alive, provided me with a new heart. Every day my new biological
heart, like yours, beats about 100,000 times and pumps about 2,000 gallons of
blood. Think of a gallon container of milk. Then place 2,000 of these
containers on a parking lot or on the street in front of your house. You may arrange
them in a rectangle 20 jugs wide and 100 jugs long.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 193.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Now
think of these gallon containers not as white but as red. This is the amount of
blood your little, eleven-ounce heart pumps in one day. Every day. Without a
break, except for the half-second of “rest” between beats. For 70, 80, 90 or
more years!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 193.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">God
has made our physical hearts so strong that if you take a tennis ball and
squeeze it tightly, you will feel how hard your beating heart has to work each
time it pumps blood. No muscles in the body are as strong as those of the
heart, except those of a woman’s uterus when she delivers her baby.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 193.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">God
has also given each of us a non-physical heart. When the Bible refers to the
human heart in this sense it is speaking of the mental, emotional and spiritual
“center” of our being. This is not our brain nor our physical heart. Perhaps we
may think of it as our soul-spirit, or simply as our “spiritual heart,” or even
our inner “control center.” What we love, hate, desire, think about and
choose—these all come from our spiritual heart, which the Bible says is
“deceitful above all things and beyond cure” by human improvement schemes
(Jeremiah 17:9). </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 193.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Fortunately,
our spiritual heart, when quickened by God, is able to cry out to God for
mercy, inner peace, purity of mind and soul, and genuine love for God and
others.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 193.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">When
our spiritual heart is truly made alive by the new birth (John 3) we have an
almost unlimited capacity—by God’s indwelling Holy Spirit—to pump adoration to
God, holiness to our lives, and compassion to others. “May he <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">strengthen your hearts</i> so that you will
be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus
comes with all his holy ones” (1 Thessalonians 3:13) . Because our spiritual
heart is the powerful control center of our lives, the Bible warns us solemnly
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Proverbs
4:23).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 193.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I
want to close this brief essay by saying a little more about the
characteristics of God’s heart. When we think about the truly remarkable
strength of our physical heart it will be good for us to dwell on the
infinitely more powerful, wise, holy and compassionate heart of God. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 193.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Isaiah
the prophet records words that almost certainly come from God himself, although
they express the heart-cries of the prophet as well. After lamenting, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My heart cries out</i> over Moab” (15:5),
the Lord declares, “So I weep, as Jazer weeps.…I drench you with tears!...<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My heart laments</i> for Moab like a harp,
my inmost being for Kir Hareseth” (16:9, 11). </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 193.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Yes,
God grieves deeply over sin. He hates it, and sometimes must chasten us to
bring us back to himself. But his compassion never fails, as we see in his
words to his people Israel.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tab-stops: 193.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I will bring
them back to this place and let them live in safety. They will be my people and
I will be their God. I will give them <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">singleness
of heart and action</i>.…I will never stop doing good to them, and I will
inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me. I…will
assuredly plant them in this land <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">with
all my heart and soul </i>(Jeremiah 32:37-41).</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 193.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In
much the same tone the Lord says, “Return, faithless people…. Then I will give
you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">shepherds after my own heart</i>, who
will lead you with knowledge and understanding” (Jeremiah 3:14-15). These
words, along with the following words of the Good Shepherd while on earth,
reveal the astonishing depths of God’s ever-inviting heart.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tab-stops: 193.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Come to me, all
you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you
and learn from me, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">for I am gentle and
humble in heart</i>, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy
and my burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30).</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 193.5pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">*********************</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 193.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">For
you who would like some very encouraging material for your personal or group
Bible study, I include here this outline from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The NIV Study Bible</i>, 2011 edition, page 2239. (The initials NIV refer
to the New International Version.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 193.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 193.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">God’s Relationship
to the Human Heart:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 193.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">He knows it (1 Samuel 16:7)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 193.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">He searches it (Psalm 7:9; Jeremiah
17:10)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 193.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">He tests it (I Chronicles 29:17; 1
Thessalonians 2:4)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 193.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">He influences it (Ezra 7:27)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 193.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">He directs it (Proverbs 21:1)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 193.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">He opens it (Acts 16:14)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 193.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">He touches it (1 Samuel 10:26)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 193.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">He makes light shine in it (2
Corinthians 4:6)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 193.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">He cleanses it (Hebrews 10:22)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 193.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">He writes his law on it (Jeremiah 31:33)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 193.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">He strengthens it (I Thessalonians 3:13)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 193.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">He keeps it loyal (I Chronicles 29:18)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 193.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">He gives a new heart (Psalm 51:10;
Ezekiel 11:19)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 193.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Remember,
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it”
(Proverbs 4:23).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 193.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
Robert Rakestrawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15826957327917662324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8149734825478606774.post-50245139436041997482014-05-01T12:55:00.002-07:002014-05-01T12:55:33.395-07:00God's Nostrils
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><o:p> </o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b>God’s Nostrils</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
2 Samuel 22:7-16<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
Bob Rakestraw</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
May 1, 2014<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
“The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">New</b> Benediction Project”</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://newbenedictionproject.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://newbenedictionproject.blogspot.com/</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<o:p> </o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
God does not have a nose. At least, there is no mention of
one in the Bible. But the Bible does speak of God’s nostrils and God’s
smelling.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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If anyone wonders how God can have nostrils without a nose
(try picturing that!), it is helpful to keep in mind that God’s “body parts”
mentioned in the Bible are not physical. The Bible writers often used
figurative language to try to picture God, because is actually “indescribable.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
As recorded in the book of Exodus, God divided the Red Sea
and then closed it up, drowning the entire Egyptian army that pursued the
escaping Israelites (14:21-31). Moses and his sister Miriam sang a song of
praise to God for this miracle. Here is part of that song.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
By the blast of your nostrils</div>
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the waters piled up.</div>
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The surging waters stood up</div>
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like a wall….</div>
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The enemy boasted,</div>
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“I will pursue, I will overtake
them.…”</div>
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But you blew with your breath,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in;">
and the sea covered them
(15:8-10).<o:p></o:p></div>
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The only time you and I blow from our nostrils is to clean
them for better breathing. But at the Red Sea, God used a “blast from [his]
nostrils” to part the waters (also in Psalm 18:15). It may be that one reason
the Bible writer uses “nostrils” here instead of “mouth” is to show how
effortlessly God delivered his people. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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The most we can move by blowing air from our nostrils—unless
we block one side—is perhaps a thin piece of paper or a feather. We can move
more by blowing from our mouth. But for God, his nostrils are all that he
needed to divide the impassible waters. As human beings, the “mighty things” we
accomplish are due to the strength of our arms, shoulders and legs. God blew
the Red Sea apart with his nostrils!<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
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The Bible also refers to smoke in relation to God’s
nostrils. Sometimes smoke goes into his nostrils. Concerning his own chosen
people who engaged in pagan rituals, God said, “Such people are smoke in my
nostrils, a fire that keeps burning all day” (Isa. 65:5).<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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Sometimes smoke comes out of God’s nostrils. At times, when
God chooses to rescue his chosen people, he goes after their enemies like an
angry, raging bull. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
Smoke rose from his nostrils;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in;">
consuming fire came from his
mouth.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in;">
burning coals blazed out of it….</div>
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The valleys of the sea were exposed</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in;">
and the foundations of the earth
laid bare</div>
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at the rebuke of the LORD,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in;">
at the blast of breath from his
nostrils (2 Sam. 22:9, 16).<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Foul-smelling</i>
smoke goes into God’s nostrils when his people persist in rebellion against
him. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Angry smoke</i> comes from God’s
nostrils when he pursues our enemies.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
Sometimes, however, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pleasant-smelling</i>
smoke goes into his nostrils, as when Noah, after the great flood, sacrificed
burnt offerings to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The LORD
smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart” that he would never again
curse the ground nor destroy all living things with a flood (Gen. 8:21; 9:11;
15-16).<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Every time we see a rainbow we do well to remember that it
is God’s verification of this promise—a promise he made just after the pleasant
aroma entered his nostrils.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Smells other than those from burning sacrifices may give
pleasure to God. Concerning certain material gifts the Philippian church sent
to Paul, the apostle wrote, “They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable
sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to
the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:18-19). Have you ever thought
that, at the moment you give your offerings to God’s work and God’s servants, a
pleasant fragrance may be entering his nostrils?<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
One glorious truth remains: as devoted followers (captives)
of Jesus Christ, we ourselves—in our very being—are a pleasing aroma to God!
“We are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ” and this pleasing aroma is
also—remarkably—“among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that
brings life” (2 Cor. 2:14-16). God actually, and always, “ leads us as captives
in Christ’s triumphal procession and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">uses
us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere</i>” (v. 14). <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Simply by being who we are as captives of Christ—walking,
talking, working, worshipping, serving—we are spreading an aroma. This is the
“pleasing aroma of Christ” to fellow believers and even to those who are
perishing and smelling this “pleasing aroma” as “an aroma that brings death!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
If we are faithful Christians, even many nonbelievers will
notice something “pleasing” about our presence. Our employers will often value
us for our work ethic and our ability to work smoothly with others. Our
neighbors—often but not always—will detect this pleasing aroma of Christ.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
If “those who are perishing” respond to the grace of God
calling them to himself through us, they will become “those who are being
saved.” We who were formerly “an aroma that brings death” to certain people
(because of their rejection of the Lord of life and death within us) will then
be—to such ones who come to believe—“an aroma that brings life.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
If we are faithful followers of Christ we do not have to
“try hard” to leave a pleasing aroma of Christ. We <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">are</i> “the pleasing aroma of Christ”—to God and to others. And we do
not have to “try hard” to ensure that God will protect us from our enemies: God
will use a blast from his nostrils to do that!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
We are privileged as captives of Jesus Christ to be living
sacrifices and faithful givers to his work. In these ways you and I will
radiate a pleasing fragrance to God and to the thousands of people we will
encounter during the course of our lives here on earth.<o:p></o:p></div>
Robert Rakestrawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15826957327917662324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8149734825478606774.post-67806978512878902112014-04-19T16:27:00.000-07:002014-04-21T10:40:58.553-07:00God's Body (Revised)<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><o:p> </o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b>God’s Body</b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<o:p> </o:p>Bob Rakestraw</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
April 19, 2014<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
“The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">New</b> Benediction Project”</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://newbenedictionproject.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://newbenedictionproject.blogspot.com/</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
A very unusual—yet very interesting—area of thought concerns
God’s body and parts of God’s body. In the Bible God is said to have eyes,
ears, arms and other body parts.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
But what can these things mean? How can we think about God’s
body, since God has no physical body nor material substance? Why, then, does
the Bible often mention God as having bodily parts?<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Because God is a spiritual being (the apostle John says that
“God is spirit” in John 4:24), and because God is present everywhere at the
same time (this is called “omnipresence,” and is seen in Psalm 139), then we
know that God has no actual body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If God
would live always in a physical body, then God would be limited to time and
space and could not be with everyone in heaven and earth at the same moment.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
But what about God’s body parts? To help us understand an
infinite God with our finite minds, the Bible writers—led by God’s
Spirit—frequently refer to God’s characteristics, actions or emotions in human
terms. Such descriptions of human qualities in God are known as
anthropomorphisms, with the accent on “morph”.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The study of God by means of such colorful figurative
language is a valuable method to help us understand God better than we might
otherwise do. Any language or picture-thinking—reverently considered and
biblically balanced—that may assist us in coming to know our Lord better is
worth investigating.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
May these brief studies of God’s “body” be used by God to
guide us into a fuller knowledge—both in our heads and our hearts—of our
Creator, Redeemer and Friend.<o:p></o:p></div>
Robert Rakestrawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15826957327917662324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8149734825478606774.post-62606710656772241982014-04-02T12:09:00.001-07:002014-04-02T12:10:22.971-07:00God’s Ears<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12.222222328186035px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222;"><b>Psalm 34:15-18</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt;">Bob Rakestraw</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt;">March 30, 2014</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.5pt;"> </span></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt;">Ears are very common devices. There are
over seven billion people on our planet, so that means there are over 14
billion ears. You almost certainly have one on each side of your head, as I do.
Even though we seldom think about them, they are vital parts of our bodies and
our daily lives.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt;">According to the popular book by J.D.
Ratcliff,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Your Body and How it
Works</i>, we usually think of our<i>eyes</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>as
our most important sensory organs. Yet, without our ears, we would be “doomed
to solitary sonic confinement—far more emotionally disabling than blindness.”</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt;">Author Ratcliff imagines an ear speaking.
It is the right ear of a 47 year-old man named Joe. “I [Joe’s ear] have enough
electrical circuits to provide phone service for a good-sized city. I am also a
kind of automatic pilot, keeping Joe from toppling over.” In the ear canal—a
one-inch twisted channel connecting the outer ear to the eardrum—“a profusion
of hairs and 4,000 wax glands act as a flypaper trap for insects, dust and
other potential irritants.”</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt;">“My eardrum…is where the intricate
business of hearing starts. Sound-bearing airwaves strike it—like a stick
beating a drum. Even faint vibrations from a whisper can push it inward—but
ever so little, perhaps only a billionth of a centimeter. [A centimeter is
about four-tenths of an inch.] This minute displacement is then changed, in an
awe-inspiring chain of events … into meaningful sound for Joe. … Thus, Joe
hears<i>with</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>me, but<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>in</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>his brain.”</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt;">God has ears too. While God’s ears are
not physical organs, they are also very finely tuned, only infinitely more so
than ours. If even a whisper may move a human eardrum a billionth of a
centimeter, how much more does the slightest prayer affect the “eardrum” and
“brain” of God!</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt;">A highly encouraging section of the
Bible, attributed to King David, is Psalm 34:</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt;">The eyes of the LORD are on the
righteous,</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt;">and his ears are
attentive to their cry;</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt;">but the face of the LORD is against those
who do evil,</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt;">to blot out their
name from the earth.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt;">The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears
them;</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt;"> <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>he delivers them from all their
troubles.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt;">The LORD is close to the brokenhearted</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt;"> <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>And saves those who are crushed in
spirit.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt;">For some 3,000 years the people of God
have been heartened by these remarkable assurances: God hears their cries,
delivers them, is close to them, and saves them.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt;">But these are not unconditional promises.
God does these things for “the righteous”—those who are serious about doing
right and being right in their hearts in the light of God’s revealed truth.
Even those who have not yet been made righteous by the transforming grace of
God in salvation—even those, if they hunger and thirst for righteousness—will
be heard by God and filled with him.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt;">These all need to “cry out” to him,
however. God expects us to bring our requests to him in faith, whether we cry
out outwardly or deep within our hearts only.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt;">But who are “the brokenhearted” and
“those who are crushed in spirit”? It seems to me that these are ones who are
hurting so deeply that whatever hopes and positive expectations they once had
concerning their problems, these have now been shattered. Such ones may be
broken and crushed due to circumstances such as severed relationships, serious
health issues, crippling financial setbacks, job and career disappointments, or
the terrible pain of sin—their own or that of others.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt;">When we who desire to do right and to be
right cry out to God for mercy and hope, “his ears are attentive to [our] cry,”
and he hears us and sustains us in ways that we may not sense at the time. As
David wrote elsewhere, “a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise”
(Psalm 51:17; see also Psalm 130: 1-2; Hebrews<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="aqj"><span style="z-index: -1;"><span data-term="goog_237937079" style="z-index: 0;" tabindex="0">4:16</span></span></span>; James 5:4).</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt;">While our circumstances may not be as
crushing as those of others, it is likely that everyone reading this is
burdened in some way or ways. Yes, life has its more serene times, but quite
often it has its turbulent times. Our heartaches are sometimes known only to
ourselves or to one or two others. They are always, however, known to God. His
ears are always attentive to our cries.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt;">But what about<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>our</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>ears? Jesus and the prophets spoke
often about those who have ears but do not hear, and those who have stopped
their ears so that they cannot hear.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt;">Remember Joe’s right ear? He has more to
say. “Joe’s hearing started declining almost the moment he was born. It is now
going down each year as my tissues lose elasticity, hair cells degenerate and
calcium deposits invade critical spots. When Joe was a baby he had a hearing
range of 16 to 30,000 cycles per second (vibrations). … Now [at age 47] he
hears nothing above 8000, and if he reaches the age of 80, that will be down to
about 4000. He will then hear conversation reasonably well in a quiet place,
but may have difficulty in a noisy area.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt;">“Perhaps the biggest thing Joe should be
worrying about right now is noise pollution.” According to Joe’s ear, some
things that will wreck him are loud rock music, the whine of jets, the
rat-a-tat-tat of riveting machines and the repeated burst of a shotgun.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt;">“Joe has his eyes examined regularly, and
I would like the same attention. If Joe only knew how limited and lonely the
world of silence is, he would take all possible steps to preserve my partner
[Joe’s left ear] and me.”</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt;">With our spiritual ears, we too must
guard against noise pollution. The noises and voices of the world, the flesh
and the devil will surely, over time, decrease our ability to hear the voice of
God.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt;">We may even become spiritually deaf, just
as people become spiritually blind. And so Jesus repeatedly warned his
listeners: “Whoever has ears, let them hear.”</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Robert Rakestrawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15826957327917662324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8149734825478606774.post-31751087417847122552014-02-02T20:21:00.001-08:002014-02-02T20:23:43.715-08:00God’s Eyes<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11pt;">2 Chronicles 16:9</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">Bob Rakestraw<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">January 31, 2014<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">Greetings and (belated) Happy New Year! I trust that the year
2014 will be the best year of your life so far, in the things that matter most.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">About 50 years ago I discovered an unusual and fascinating
expression in the Bible. These words have been tremendously encouraging to me,
over and over, through all of my life since then. I will quote the whole
sentence and then discuss the expression, as well as the rest of the verse:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro
throughout the whole earth, to shew [show] himself strong in the behalf of them
whose heart is perfect toward him” (2 Chronicles 16:9, King James Version –
KJV).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">The words that especially struck me are
“the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth.” I knew that,
even though God does not have physical eyes (and that this expression is
therefore an “anthropomorphism”), the Bible writer is here presenting a
remarkable truth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">The picture that comes into my mind when
I read these words of scripture, then and now, is that of a supreme being (a
very powerful, wise and kind human-like ruler) seated or standing in the
heavens and looking slowly and carefully over the earth. His eyes are roaming
(the Hebrew form indicates continuous activity), not in a nervous, frantic
manner but in a calm and all-knowing search, aware of every person and the
heart of every person.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">The New International Version (NIV,
2011) translates the verse somewhat differently from the KJV:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">For the eyes of the LORD range
throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to
him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">Instead of God’s eyes running “to and
fro” they “range” over the earth. Here is the doctrine of God’s omniscience”
(literally “all-science”): God knows everything. Whatever the Bible translation
(both of the above are accurate), we know unmistakably that God is intensely
aware of what is going on here on earth, and what people—including you and
me—are thinking and doing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">The reason for God’s careful searching
activity throughout the earth is “to shew [show] himself strong in the behalf
of them whose heart is perfect toward him” (KJV). This is also remarkable: God
studies every inhabitant of the earth (now over seven billion people) to see
which ones are fully devoted to him, in order to “show himself strong” on their
behalf. In other words, God actually looks for opportunities to do mighty
things for those who love and serve him! And whatever he chooses to do, it will
be very good for us—“immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to
his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">Whether, as with the KJV, we think of
God’s showing himself strong on our behalf or, as with the NIV, we think of
God’s strengthening us directly (the latter is the more accurate translation),
the great truth is the same: God’s mighty power is released to accomplish
wonderful works in, for and through his faithful ones.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">So far we have written only of the
things that God does and will do. But the most important part of the verse for
our everyday lives has to do with our part:” what must we do, and be? We know that
God will do his part—the text states that very clearly and powerfully. But our
responsibility is to have hearts that are “fully committed” to him (NIV),
“perfect” toward him (KJV) or “blameless” before him (English Standard
Version).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">The words “perfect” and “blameless” may
discourage some Christians because they know (as we all know) that they (and
we) are far from being perfect and blameless. God’s people may say, “Well I
guess God will not be strengthening my heart. Why even hope for that?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">The best translation, however, is that
of the NIV: “fully committed” to God. The purpose of this scripture text is not
to discourage us, but to encourage us. From the context of verse nine
(especially verses seven and eight) and chapter 15 (especially verse 17) we can
see that the “fully committed” child of God—King Asa in this case—is one who
relies totally on the Lord, not on their own perceived strength and resources.
When Asa did the latter, sadly, he grieved the Lord and trouble followed him
the rest of his days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">The Hebrew term translated “fully committed” (<i>shalem</i>)
does not mean perfect or blameless in an absolute sense. The idea of the word
is complete, whole, safe, at peace and especially—praise God—friendly! It comes
from the root<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>shalem</i>: to
be safe in mind, body and belongings. It is related to<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>shalom</i>: safety, peace,
wholeness, happiness and friendship, especially in a covenant of peace and
friendship.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">Our responsibility, then, in order to see God do mighty things
in, for and through us—to experience God’s powerful inner strengthening—is to
be at peace with God in a covenant relationship of friendship! (Three times in
the Bible Abraham is called “the friend of God” even though he surely was not
“perfect.”) If our hearts are “fully committed” to God, living daily with him
in peace as our covenant partner and friend, trusting fully in him and not in
ourselves, doing those things that please him and shunning those things that
displease him, we will experience great and mighty things, not only this year
but for the rest of our earthly lives—and forever!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">I ask myself as I ask you: when God’s eyes examine our hearts
carefully, what does he see and how will he act in light of that knowledge in
2014? He will assuredly do his part!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Robert Rakestrawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15826957327917662324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8149734825478606774.post-68705665277574135372013-11-06T08:20:00.002-08:002013-11-06T08:22:09.340-08:00When You Feel Sad<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everyone
feels sad at times. Some people feel sad more often or more deeply than others,
while some people appear not to experience much sadness. But we all know the
feeling and it is not pleasant.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am
not writing here about depression, which is a very serious mental health
condition. From my own experience with depression in 2008-2009, I can say that
depression is the worst health problem I have ever had. It is being gripped in
one’s mind, soul and will by the strong clutches of an enemy called hopelessness.
It is often debilitating, and can be very dangerous, even life-threatening.
Sadness, while different from depression, may also be debilitating. But, on the
whole, sadness is not as deep or as long-lasting as depression.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We feel
sad for different reasons, at different times. Sometimes I feel sad about world
events and circumstances, or national and local issues. Human suffering can
tear me apart, and perhaps you as well. You may also experience sadness over
family matters, financial issues, your job or career, your appearance, your
church, your health, your marriage or some other relationship. Sometimes people
just feel an overall sense of sadness about themselves and their place in life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While I
have thought about sadness and its opposite, gladness, for many years, I was
prompted to write on sadness for this posting because of a television program I
saw recently. It was a one-hour documentary on one of Adolf Hitler’s closest
associates, Heinrich Himmler, during Hitler’s ascendancy and reign of terror in
Europe during the 1930’s and 1940’s. I have watched numerous such programs, but
because of the way this one ended I felt especially sad. After the commentator
spoke of the double suicide of Hitler and his new bride in Berlin, and the
deaths of Himmler and other key aides to Hitler, with pictures and melancholic
music for accompaniment, the program ended without further words.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
cameras then simply panned slowly over the bombed city of Berlin, showing the
vast landscape of rubble. There were, in addition, ghastly pictures of
skeleton-like prisoners slowly emerging hollow-eyed from their prisons. The
eerie black and white photography and the mournful violins left me—after I
clicked off the television—with only the stillness and the blankness of my thoughts.
The simple thought then came to me: “and a great sadness settled over the whole
land.” I later thought of the first verse of the book of Lamentations written
after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. “How deserted lies the city, once so
full of people! How like a widow is she, who once was great among the nations!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
murderous reign of Hitler and his associates is one of the saddest accounts in
recorded history. There are many others—some on a major scale as mentioned
above, and some known only to a small group. The sufferings are just as real,
however, as are yours and mine. But, praise God, there is hope!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today I
looked at a number of scriptures on sadness and sorrow and I offer them here
(from the NIV 2011) for your consideration and benefit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ecclesiastes 1:18. “With much wisdom
comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ecclesiastes 7:4. “The heart of the wise is in
the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Proverbs 15:13. “A happy heart makes the
face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Proverbs 12:25. “Anxiety weighs down the
heart, but a kind word cheers it up.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Exodus 3:7. “The LORD said, ‘I have indeed
seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of
their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.’ ”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Isaiah 53:3-5. “He was despised and rejected
by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain…. Surely he took up our
pain and bore our suffering, …”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mark 14:32-34. “They went to a place
called Gethsemane, and Jesus …. began to be deeply distressed and troubled. ‘My
soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death, …’ ”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Romans 9:1-4. “I speak the truth in Christ – I
am not lying, … I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I
could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my
people, … the people of Israel.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 Corinthians 6:4-10. “As servants of God we
commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance, in troubles, hardships and
distresses; … dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful,
yet always rejoicing; …”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Revelation 21:1-4. “Then I saw a new heaven
and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, …And
I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now
among the people, … He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no
more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has
passed away.’ ”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I think
on the above scriptures, several conclusions come to me with regard to sadness,
sorrow and suffering.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<ol>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sorrow is not necessarily a bad thing; it can
actually be helpful in our service for God and others.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Father, in his son Jesus, suffered for us
and suffers with us; he knows very well when we are sad.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we serve our Lord and others faithfully, we
can be “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.”</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All sadness, sorrow and suffering will one day
come to an end.</span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One final word: please do not sorrow alone. None of us is strong enough
for that. If you have no one, ask God in faith for at least one person to come
into your life with whom you may speak freely – someone who will pray for you
as you pray for them.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bob Rakestraw</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">November 4, 2013<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“The <b>New</b> Benediction Project”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://newbenedictionproject.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">http://newbenedictionproject.blogspot.com/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
Robert Rakestrawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15826957327917662324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8149734825478606774.post-15123657374579582572013-09-13T19:10:00.000-07:002013-09-13T19:10:27.526-07:00Not A Farewell
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<b>Not A Farewell</b><o:p> </o:p></div>
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Bob Rakestraw</div>
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September 13, 2013<o:p> </o:p></div>
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“The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">New</b> Benediction Project”</div>
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<a href="http://newbenedictionproject.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://newbenedictionproject.blogspot.com/</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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Dear Reader,<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is a difficult posting to write. I have come to a point
in my life when I need to cut back on my involvement with “The Benediction
Project” (which has now become “The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">New</b>
Benediction Project;” the link above will enable you, with just a click, to go
back and forth between the two).<o:p></o:p></div>
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The blog was started in May, 2007, with the help of my very
capable blog manager, Abigail Miller, now Abigail Sengendo. Abigail, who has
done an excellent job for the past six plus years, will be moving soon to
Africa, where she, her husband and their darling twin daughters will live with
and serve the people of Uganda.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As I have mentioned previously in this blog, I was informed
by two doctors in the spring of 2007 that I would probably not live more than
six months. My immune system, despite being suppressed by powerful medications,
appeared to be winning the battle to reject the new heart which I had received
in 2003. I entered hospice care and then started this blog.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Well, I am still here (by God’s sovereign plan) and the blog
is still active, even though I post only once a month. My health, however, has
continued to decline, especially with my breathing. I cannot get enough oxygen,
and medically-supplied oxygen does no good in my case. It has become
increasingly difficult to speak, move about and just be (whether sitting,
standing or lying down).<o:p></o:p></div>
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In light of the above matters, I believe I should focus the
little energy I still have to complete the two books I am writing. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Grace Quest</i> is my spiritual
autobiography, with the tentative subtitle: “A Teacher’s Search for Salvation,
Spirituality and the Strength to Suffer Well.” The first draft is now finished,
and I hope to see the book published before the end of 2014. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Maria: Five Days in Heaven</i> is a novel
about a Mexican woman who dies and goes to heaven. I am not too far along with
this project, but I expect to return to it after <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Grace Quest</i> is completed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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While I hope to continue posting something each month, the
items likely will be much briefer than before. As my wife and I are able we will
try to keep you aware of any major health-related issues. In addition, I am on
Facebook and will welcome you as a friend if I know who you are. I am not,
however, an avid Facebook user. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The 120 or so previous postings—those of the past six years—will
remain available on “The Benediction Project” site. New postings will appear
here, on “The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">New</b> Benediction
Project.” The links on each blog site should enable you to switch back and
forth and read or print any ones you wish.</div>
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I hope you will stay with me in the months and years ahead,
as God permits. Thank you for your faithful readership and prayers for both my
health and the ongoing usefulness of this blog in the lives of people all over
our world who are seeking God’s benediction in their lives.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to
the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who
loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,
encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” 2
Thessalonians 2:15-17</div>
Robert Rakestrawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15826957327917662324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8149734825478606774.post-48063373628465025712013-08-30T12:02:00.001-07:002013-08-30T12:02:40.608-07:00I can post from email<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPYhMF0bvTex4uHvFWACIPT5gpohUQ6hf0FyNG8tuCkZEHyX9pqgeDoo0X1LTVxBnxXf5WazyEhiDEEs2plnymnQRLBLs7FNuWCMqJ9iV99DZupTIgi9ySe-wfp0SDSlcZcOU6nT4CkAhd/s1600/Tulips-760609.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPYhMF0bvTex4uHvFWACIPT5gpohUQ6hf0FyNG8tuCkZEHyX9pqgeDoo0X1LTVxBnxXf5WazyEhiDEEs2plnymnQRLBLs7FNuWCMqJ9iV99DZupTIgi9ySe-wfp0SDSlcZcOU6nT4CkAhd/s320/Tulips-760609.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5917989742280488354" /></a></p> Robert Rakestrawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15826957327917662324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8149734825478606774.post-1164326533240199592013-08-30T10:54:00.003-07:002013-08-30T10:54:43.107-07:00Welcome to the New Benediction ProjectHello Readers,<br />
<br />
I'm so glad you could make it over to the new site! The old site was beginning to generate so many technical difficulties that we decided the best solution was to move to a new blog with a new look. Do you like it? The old blog will still be there for reading and reference for as long as Blogger allows us to keep it there. But new posts will be posted here.<br />
<br />
Thanks so much for joining me over here.<br />
<br />
Click here to go back to the old blog:<br />
<a href="http://bobrakestraw.blogspot.com/">http://bobrakestraw.blogspot.com/</a>Robert Rakestrawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15826957327917662324noreply@blogger.com0