Just Give Me Jesus

I'm doing the Beth Moore Bible study about James. I am coming to the end of the workbook and was questioned what I'd ask James when I see him in heaven. You know what I answered? After learning all about how he lead the church in Jerusalem and was called "righteous" and "camel knees," after hearing the mystery surrounding his death, I'd still ask him the same question I would before I began studying him. After hugging him (because I feel like I know him) I'd ask, "What was Jesus like when you grew up with him?" The fact is that the Bible is filled with wonderful characters, but they all dim in comparison to Jesus...just give me Jesus!

The Hawk

If you haven't read my blog from yesterday, read it before you read this one.

In January, I saw a hawk sitting on a small road sign a few feet from my car with its wings spread out right there in the middle of the city. This got my attention. Then, over the next couple of days, I saw two more hawks. For some reason, I thought that the Lord was trying to tell me something.

I looked up "hawk" in my Bible concordance and I couldn't find anything about it. I looked up "hawks" online and found out that they eat an average of 2 snakes every 2 days. I read an eye witness account of a hawk swooping down and grabbing a snake in its talons.

Then, I began reading my Beth Moore "A Woman's Heart" Bible lesson for the day. Everyday, the study has one verse that we focus on. Guess what the verse was for that particular day? Psalm 91:4 "He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart." My study also led me to these scriptures: Psalm 17:8, Psalm 63:7, and Matthew 23:37. They all refer to His wings being our refuge.

I felt as if the Lord was saying that He was going to take care of the snakes. As long as we stay in the shadow of His wings, we would have His protection...

Keep the Flame Burning

I want to share something that I've learned in the Bible study I'm in the middle of right now. It's a Beth Moore study about the original tabernacle. I think that I skipped over much of the book of Leviticus. However, there's some cool stuff in there. Lev 9:23-24 says, "Moses and Aaron then went into the Tent of Meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. Fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown." The original altar was lit by the Lord Himself.

Lev 6:12 says, "The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add firewood and arrange the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offerings on it." I did not know this! They had to keep that fire going. Beth Moore says, "God lit the fire, but humans had to fuel it."

Now, 2 Timothy 1:6-7 says, "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." Another thing that Beth Moore says is "Power is up to God. Participation is up to us." You see, God lights the initial fire, but it's up to us to keep it burning.

This got me to thinking. Am I keeping the flame burning everyday of my life? Am I praying and spending time with the Lord in order to keep that flame ablaze? Am I developing my gifts for the Lord? Are you?