Tohearfrometernity's Blog

From the Book of Sirach Chapter 2 verses 1-11

Of all of the verses I have come to enjoy within the Bible this is and always will be one of my favorites.

DUTIES TOWARD GOD

1)”My son, when you come to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for trials.

2)Be sincere of heart and steadfast, undisturbed in time of adversity.

3)Cling to him, forsake him not; thus will your future be great.

4)Accept whatever befalls you, in crushing misfortune be patient;

5)For in fire gold is tested, and worthy men in the crucible of humiliation,

6)Trust God and he will help you; make straight your ways and hope in him.

7)You who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy, turn not away lest you fall.

8)You who fear the Lord, trust him, and your reward will not be lost.

9)You who fear the Lord, hope for good things, for lasting joy and mercy.

10)Study the generations long past and understand; has anyone hoped in the Lord and been disappointed?   Has anyone persevered in his fear and been forsaken?   Has anyone called upon him and been rebuffed?

11)Compassionate and merciful is the Lord; he forgives sins, he saves in time of trouble.”

Jesus asks so little of us, yet it is difficult at times to accomplish what He impresses upon our hearts.   With Jesus it is all about the ‘heart’!   So important is the heart to Jesus that He speaks of the ‘hardened heart’.    What He is expressing to us is our lack of feeling to his heart and our lack of trust in His love.   The very love that hung so greivously on a cross, suffered for three hours, was denied numerous times, and still said, ‘Father forgive them for they know not what they do’!    Yet, in all this the ‘flesh of the soul’ is inclined to doubt.   This is the tempting of Satan to deter a soul from the ‘love of God’!

In Mark Chapter 3 verse 5

Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, he said to the man, “stretch out your hand.”  He stretched it out and his hand was  restored.

In Mark Chapter 7 verses 6-8

6)He said to them: “How accurately Isaiah prophesied about you hypocrites when he wrote, ‘This people pays me lip service but their heart is far from me.

7)Empty is the reverence they do me because they teach as dogmas mere human precepts.’

8)You disregard God’s commandment and cling to what is human tradition.”

Take notice that Jesus uses the term, ‘human tradition’.   Implying that we go through the motions of every day life without ‘feeling’.   Simply put: When Christ is in you and you have invited Jesus into your heart with sincereity, you feel His very presence in your daily life.   The ‘hardened heart’ does not experience Christ on this level.    Jesus Christ is a relationship waiting to happen.   For those who have not experience the ‘love of Christ’ He waits.  He is as real as you or I and feels as you and I feel.  So the sins, that I have spoken of before cut into the heart of Jesus when they are committed!   That is why Jesus is the Alpha and Omega!

In the book of Revelations Chapter 22 verses 12-16

12)”Remember, I am coming soon!   I bring with me the reward that will be given to each man as his conduct deserves. 13) I am the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End! 14)Happy are they who wash their robes so as to have free access to the tree of life and enter the city through its gates! 15)Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers, the fornicators and murders, the idol worshipers and all who love falsehood. “6)”It is I, Jesus, who have sent my angel to give you this testimony about the churches. I am the Root and offspring of David, the Morning Star shining bright.”

The Golden Rule is a standard put forth by Christ in very few words.   In the fifties and sixties when I was growing up, I heard it time and again.   Now many have no idea what it is, or where it comes from.   Jesus Christ said many wise and wonderful things.   Yet, because  I heard this growing up I choose to share it with you.   It is as pertinent now as when first uttered by Jesus.

Matthew Chapter 7 verses 12-14

12″Treat others the way you would have them treat you: this sums up the law and the prophets.”

13 “Enter through the narrow gate.   The gate that leads to damnation is wide, the road is clear, and many choose to travel it. ”

14″But how narrow is the gate that leads to life, how rough the road, and how few there are who find it!” 

In the course of my childhood we picked rocks every spring.   For a new field needed to be freed of rocks, so planting could be done without machinery breaking down.   This chore  was detested by all of us children.   Yet, our Father delegated it to us, and it was expected!

So it is with our daily lives today! Our Father in Heaven has delegated to us the very nature of  peparing for the kingdom of heaven.  So, Even as ‘grown-ups’ we still ‘ pick rocks’!   If we do not do the  work we can not have a bouniful harvest!   Our Lord speaks of the vine yard.  He also mentions that laborors are ‘few’   Numerous times our Lord speaks of preparing for the ‘harvest’.     So much so that I could not possiably relay the importance to you, other than to say in both  the books of Mark and John Jesus is candid in the importance of preparing for the harvest.

If we take a look at Mark Chapter 4 verses 3-9 

3)”Listen carefully to this.   A farmer went out sowing.   4)Some of what he sowed landed on the footpath, where the birds came along and ate it. 5) Some of the seed landed on ‘rocky’ ground where it had little soil; it sprouted immediately because the soil had no depth. 6)Then, when the sun rose and scorched it, it began to wither for lack of roots. 7)Again, some landed among the thorns which grew up and choked it off.  8)Some seed, finally, landed on good soil and yielded grain that sprang up to produce at a rate of thirty- and sixty- and a hundred fold.” 9)Having spoken this parable, he added: “Let him who has ears to hear me, hear!”

Jesus goes on to explain to the apostles the meaning of the parable:

verses 16-20

16)”Similarly, those sown on rocky ground are people who on the listening to the word accept it joyfully at the onset.   17) Being rootless, they last only a while.   When some pressure or persecution over takes them because of the word, they falter.   18)  Those sown among the thorns are another class.   Tehy listened to the word, 19) but anxieties over life’s demands and the desire for wealth, and cravings of other sorts come to choke it off; it bears no yeild. 20) But those sown on good soil are the ones who listen to the word, take it to heart, and yield it thirty-sixty-and a hundred fold”

What is truth?  If we want the truth, do we not look to the Bible.  If we are in court, do we not swear on a Bible to tell the truth.   Really as important as ‘truth’ is, is it not taken for granted?   Do we not live in a world where truth is sold for money?   Is greed not the core to our existence to day?    Truth is Christ!   In the book of John Our Lord emphasizes the importance of truth.  Here are some examples our LORD uses :

Book of John Cahpter 8 verses 31-32

JESUS AND ABRAHAM

31) Jesus then went on to say to those Jews who believed in him:

“If you live according to my teaching, you are truly my disciples;

32)Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 

Again  In Chapter 4 verses23-24

23)”Yet an hour is coming, and is already here, when authentic worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth.   Indeed, it is just such worshipers the Father seeks.

24)God is  Spirit, and those who worship him Must worship in Spirit and Truth.” 

Then again we find the importance of Truth in this example from our LORD:

Chapter 14  verses 5-7

“LORD,” said Thomas, “We do not know where you are going.   How can we know the way?”

6)Jesus told him: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me.

7)If you really knew me, you would know my Father also.   From this point on you know him; you have seen him”

In the book of Proverbs Chapter 4 verses 5-9

5″Get wisdom, get understanding!   Do not foget or  turn aside from the words I utter.

6)Forsake her not, and she will preserve you;love her, and she will safeguard you;

7)The bginning of wisdom is : get wisdom; at the cost of all you have, get understanding.

8)Extoll her, and she will exalt you; she will bring you honors if you embrace her;

9)She will put on your head a graceful diadem; a glorious crown will she bestow on you.”

Thank You Father

For you are everything !  Because you thought of me I am anything.

In thinking of me, you chose to make it so.

So that I may have life through you,  you made me flesh, and  so I am!

Yet, in giving me life, you saw that I was broken and so you gave me Jesus.

In giving me Jesus you have made me perfect in your sight!

Thank You Father for you are perfect!   In your perfection you have chosen me.

Having chosen me, you sent your HOLY SPIRIT, that I may always feel your presence!  

Thank You Father for your perfect love for me!

For you are everything, and I am nothing without you.

Love, Paula

When something or someone is shattered, incrediable pain is infused.   It can be an object as readily as a person.   In either case, the heart breaks.  Think of it:   If it is priceless and becomes broken, does it not bring you to tears?   And of Love:   Does a broken, refused, abandoned heart not bring you to tears?   Pain! Indescribable Pain!   It is written there is no greater wound than that of a broken heart.
Book of Sirach Chapter 25 verse 12-13

12)Worst of all wounds is that of the heart, worst of all evils is that of a woman.

13)Worst of all sufferings is that of one’s foes, worst of all vengeance is that of ones enemies.

Regardless of what brings forth a shatter life, we all decide.   It usually will bring forth a change in direction in our lives.    Some will choose sin: alcohol, excessive sex, and fornication, drugs, and even murder.   Yet, this life is a journey.   As with any journey it has its trials.  Free Choice is of the Lord.   He is the only unconditional love.   With all that happens, all one encounters, and all those we meet, He is there.   Even though He is not given much thought to in these ‘modern days’.   Christ is, Christ waits, and Christ loves!

Yet, as with any love, It takes giving of oneself to reach perfection!   Christ has done it all!

He has no more to prove.  He gave His life so that all would believe.   Yet, to believe is a journey as well.  It is a living thing.  Beliveing is loving God. Trusting God. Following God!

When life becomes ‘shattered’ and the human spirit has pierced your soul, God is waiting!

His undying and perfect love, proven time and again, and then finally, perfectly, and timely through the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, Jesus Christ.  He is over the Top!    There is none other!  No one can do what He does, no one can love as He loves and no one can die as He did!   He is the Alpha and Omega  and no one but He can take away the sins of the world and leave it unblemished!  No one but He can mend a shattered life!

The weak things of this world are spurned and cast offs.   Yet, it is Christ, the ‘cornerstone rejected’, whom He calls  these to be His own.   In the writing of Paul to the Corinthians Chapter 12  verses 7-10  we can take note of Humility towards Christ.

7) “But I refrain, lest anyone think more of me than what he sees in me or hears from my lips.   As to the extraordinary revelations, in order that I might not become conceited I was given a thorn in the flesh, an angel of Satan to beat me and keep me from getting proud.   8)   Three times I begged the Lord that this might leave me.   9)He said to me,”My grace is enough for you, for in weakness power reaches perfection.”   And so I willingly boast of my weakness instead, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.   10) Therefore, I am content with weakness, with mistreatment, with distress, with persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ; for when I am powerless, it is then that I am strong”

So that Jesus Christ may be ‘real’ to a believer, one must put on Christ.   It is not enough to simply profess Christ but rather to live as He lived.   He himself tells us in John Chapter 14 verse 21-24

21) “He who obeys the commandments he has from me is the man who loves me;and He who loves me will be loved by my Father.   I too will love him.”

22) Judas said to him, “Lord, why is it that you will reveal yourself to us and not the world?”

23) Jesus answered:   “Anyone who loves me will be true to my word, and my Father will love him; we will come to him and make our dwelling place  with him.

24)He who does not love me does not keep my words.   Yet the word you hear is not mine; it comes from the Father who sent me.”

The course of our lives are of our choosing.   The course of choosing Christ is the way to the Father.   The strength of Paul was through love of Christ.   He lived out the commanments in order that Christ may make a dwelling place within him.    This is true today.   To come to Christ is the Peace all who thirst for but weary of maintaining.    Jesus Christ is a true love affair and only the way to the Fathers Heart!

Have you ever considered the significance of an egg?   Everything starts with an egg. Everything!  Can you think of one living thing that does not need to fertilize an egg?  It is the most amazing of things.   The egg has an outside and inside.   Though that is stating the obvious, the inside is where the ‘good’ stuff is!!   Without accessing the inside of an egg it is worthless.    Did you know that if you freeze and egg, the inside will not freeze.   Another miracle of God.   He in His infinite wisdom made it such that in order to realize the potential of the ‘egg’ we must go to the inside.    The egg by itself has no great quality.   It needs someone or something to bring it to full potential.   The shell of an egg is  misleading.   Just because there is a shell it does not mean it is ‘good’ to use.    Realizing that the shell is the protective coating, we access the inside.   From there we go to great lengths to discover the potential of the inside.   The human heart has and outside and inside.   The ‘hardened heart’ reflects harshness.   The hardened heart is afraid to allow the development of its possabilities.   In the Book of Hebrews Chapter 3 verses7-19 17)”Wherefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you should hear his voice,  8)Harden not your hearts as at the revolt in the day of testing in the desert, 9) When your fathers tested and tried me, and saw my works 10) for forty years.   Because of this I was  angered with that generation and I said, ‘They have always been of erring heart, and have never known my ways.   11) Thus I swore in my anger, ‘They shall never enter into my rest.'”   12)   Take care, my brothers, lest any of you have an evil and unfaithful spirit and fall away from the living God.   13)   Encourage one another daily while it is still “today,” ” so that no one grows hardened by the deceit of sin.   14)   We have become partners of Christ only if we maintain to the end that confidence with which we began.   15)   When Scripture says, “Today, if you should hear his voice, harden not your hearts as at the revolt,”  16) who were those that revolted when they heard that voice?   Was it not all whom Moses had led out of Egypt?   17) With whom was God angry for forty years?   Was it not those who had sinned, whose corpses fell in the desert?   18)   To whom but to the disobedient did he swear that they would not enter into his rest.   19)   We see, moreover, that it was their unbelief that kept them from entering.”

So it is, the ways of God are hidden.    We must choose to search them out.   In the heart of men and women lay the significance of our being.   We can choose to remove the ‘hardened heart’ through  the love of God through Jesus Christ.   Yet, we need to ask!    Strange though it may be the egg and the heart can both be ‘hardened,’ both by choice.   So with that said, in closing I will leave you with this thought:  Hebrews Chapter 5  verses 14-16

14) ” Since then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our profession of faith.   15) For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness, but one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet never sinned.   16)  So, let us confidently approach the throne of grace to recieve mercy and favor and to find help in time of need.”

In the complexity of life there are many challenges facing mankind.    Perhaps one of the gravest is sin.    Sin is taken for granted; simply a drink of water.   Yet, it is what separates mankind from God.   To believe forgiveness is absolute, is contrary to Gods plan.   Fear of the Lord surpasses all understanding, it is in that, that peace abounds.  In the book of Sirach Chapter 25 verses 10-11:

10)”He who finds wisdom is great indeed, but not greater than he who fears the Lord.”

11)”Fear of the Lord surpasses all else, its possessor is beyond compare.”

Whereas, the gravity of sin has lost its merit, we can find the truth in Sirach chapter 23 verses 16-21

16)” Two types of men multiply sins, a third, draws down wrath; for burning passion is a blazing fire, not to be quenched till it burns itself out:

A man given to sins of the flesh, who never stops until the fire breaks forth;

17)The rake to whom all bread is sweet and who is never through till he dies;

18)And the man who dishonors his marriage bed and says to himself,’who can see me?’    Darkness surrounds me, walls hide me; no one sees me; why should I fear to sin?’   Of the Most High he is not mindful.

19)fearing only the eyes of men; He does not understand that the eyes of the Lord, ten thousand times brighter than the sun, observe every step a man takes and peer into hidden corners.

20)He who knows all things before they exist still knows them all after they are made.

21)Such a man will be punished in the streets of the city; when he least expects it,  he will be apprehended.”