Tag Archives: Bible

Christian Living

Fertilizer for the Garden of our Heart

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Dung.

In our society it is a polite word for feces, refuse, etc.  Albeit it’s a Biblical word as well. Have you noticed ABBA is not a prude?

Dung.  A word that came to mind as I prayed this morning.

Let me give it to you straight; just like it came as I prayed for myself and others.

May it be that the dung people heap upon us be turned to fertilizer so that we will produce even more of the fruit of the HOLY SPIRIT.

I think it’s a good prayer.  It was a new insight for me.  Forgive me for sharing it so graphically with you, but perhaps you will be helped even as I.

It is our business when we are maligned by others with words or deeds that are tantamount to refuse – dung – that we allow the Holy Spirit to use that dung as fertilizer – that is one of the uses of dung in the Scripture. Here see for yourself:

DUNG Excrement of man or beast. “Dung” translates several different Hebrew and Greek words. An ash heap or rubbish heap was used to convey the haunt of the destitute (1 Sam. 2:8; Luke 14:35).

The first mention of dung in the Bible is in connection with the sacrificial rites. The sacred law required that the dung, along with other parts of the animal, should not be burned on the altar but should be burned outside the camp (Exod. 29:14; Lev. 4:11–12).

A major disgrace for a Jew was to have one’s carcass treated as dung (2 Kings 9:37). Dung has been used as fertilizer for centuries. It is recorded in Luke 13:8 and Isa. 25:10 that the people of Palestine used it for that purpose. Dry dung was and is often used as fuel (Ezek. 4:12–15). Animal dung was used as fuel when it was mixed with straw and dried to a suitable state for heating the simple bread ovens.

Paul used a powerful metaphor with the word “dung” when he made a comparison between his personal knowledge of Christ and those who did not know Christ (Phil. 3:8). The word is used also in Scripture to indicate symbolically the degradation to which a person or a nation might fall (2 Kings 9:37; Jer. 8:2).

Gary Bonner[1]

[1] Brand, C., Draper, C., England, A., Bond, S., Clendenen, E. R., Butler, T. C., & Latta, B. (2003). Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (444–445). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.    (Logos)

Galatians 5:
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
via Galatians 5 KJV – Stand fast therefore in the liberty – Bible Gateway.

There is no way for you or I to live unscathed in this world. DUNG is going to come our way. Perhaps we will just step in a pile of it by our own lack of discipline and diligence.  Sometimes we even trip and fall headlong into it. Other times it is splashed on us by the falling of those around us. And then there are the times when it is flung at us with hurtful intent -perhaps the hardest of all to wash off.  Nevertheless, it is crucial that we take the dung in all its ugliness and putrid smell to the LORD of HEAVEN and allow Him to transform it into fertilizer so the Garden of our Heart will produce more and more fruit to His glory and the good of others.

Presently I have no update on the three-year old boy we are praying for since yesterday.  And, of course, there are others on all our minds as we gather here at our respective screens and times.  And so, ABBA, we come with our concerns for others and for ourselves and we petition You for help in all our matters. Those things that are pleasant and not pleasant; those things that bring us happiness and not; all of it we bring with us and surrender to You entrusting each and all things to You, knowing without doubt that You are capable but more than capable You are willing and have our very best interest in Your Heart and with our cooperation Your Best will come.  Thank You, our LORD and our GOD.  In JESUS name. Amen and . . . .    .

We have the God-given Right to do right in this wrong World,

Christian Living

Places

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While praying for someone especially close and dear, I thought of you all. It’s a hope in JESUS for you that is possible and in my thinking so desirable.

That your homes  be places in which JESUS is the welcomed and loved King; places filled with prayer and praise; where the Bible is treasured, is the most read of all books and is consistently obeyed; where laughter is abundant and love prevails. Places where reason replaces shouting matches; where chaos is banished and order is welcomed; where cooperation replaces bickering and unhealthy competition. Seems idyllic, doesn’t it? Yet JESUS makes it possible.   Let us pray for it till we get it!

Isaiah 32: 17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance for ever.

18 And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings and in quiet resting places
via Isaiah 32 KJ21 – Behold, a King shall reign in – Bible Gateway.


ABBA, thank You. It has not been the morning I planned but I am blessed that it is still well with my soul; I praise You and You alone for that. Thank You. And, HOLY SPIRIT, as I think about this home-life description, it does seem idyllic, perhaps like an impossible dream to some, but day by day, step by step progress can be made; You can be welcomed in a moment as KING and Your Presence can be learned and practiced. Make it so for each soul, each home, that comes here to pray. Thank You for each One, attend them today I pray. We have many matters in mind, some sitting heavy on hearts — You know them least I name them here; least others name them; You know and we thank You for knowing; knowing what is needed; knowing how to position souls to say yes and it is for that we pray; that souls will say yes to You and yield to the homes You have for us. We continue to remember the political arena and personally, ABBA, I am asking You for mercy and revival for us all. I am asking You to rain down grace to repent. I am asking You, HOLY SPIRIT, to convict and convince of sin, of righteousness and judgement to come; as Prophets of Old pleaded for mercy and repented of sin, so do we, ABBA.  Encourage the weary I pray, heal the sick and restore the fallen and let us enter into this Work with You, resting wholly and solely on the merits of JESUS our Savior.

We have the God-given Right to do right in this wrong World,
Praying (PFT)!

Christian Living, KWT Paraphrasing, Repentance

Bad Press

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A new television series airing on ABC on March 4, 2012 was brought to my attention today.Truthfully I was completely unaware of ABC’s intent. Furthermore, I now understand that it was scheduled to air last Fall but One Million Moms was influential in getting the premier delayed.

I appreciate One Million Moms for the work they are doing. It takes courage to stand against sin in the marketplace and their stand is creating a stir.

I am not opposed to boycotts. I have participated in a few myself. But you know, boycotts would not be necessary and series like the one set to premier would not be produced if every man, woman, boy and girl in America who says they are a Christian lived like one.

I watched some trailers of the subject series and from them, I gathered it centers around a collection of females who frequent church services, have knowledge of a Scripture or two, call themselves Christians but who obviously to me at least have no acquaintance with the Author of the Bible and have never read the Bible for purposes of correcting their behavior.  

Why would Writers and Producers offer this series?
Could it be because there is an audience for it?
And I am wondering how many ‘Christians’ will actually watch the series and find it humorous?

And how far from real life is it?
Do not church-goers call themselves Christians and yet they dress, talk, act and react just like non-believers?
Is it any wonder television and other forms of media mock and ridicule Christianity?
Yes. I am alarmed.
Truth is though I think I am going to have to admit I am angry.  But I’m not angry at the creators of the show.  Really I’m not. What else could I expect of them?
I think I am angry at wolves in sheep’s clothing and people who go to church on Sunday and live like hell the rest of the week.

But let me wrap this up with this plead: Please. If you Name the Name of Christ and you have no intention of getting into the SCRIPTURES to learn how by God’s grace  to dress, talk, act and react as the Bible reveals is becoming a Christian, by all means PLEASE keep your ‘profession of Christianity’ to yourself. Do not tell a living soul that you are a Christian – we have more than enough bad press from television, movies and Washington.

Truly it is not my intention to be harsh or unkind and I am remembering that JESUS said be angry and sin not and let not the sun go down on my wrath and by His grace I am obeying Him. It is my hope that my plea will startled someone into stopping long enough to allow the HOLY SPIRIT to speak.

Romans 13:10-12
21st Century King James Version (KJ21)
10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awaken out of sleep; for now is our salvation nearer than when we first believed.
12 The night is far spent; the day is at hand. Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
via Romans 13:10-12 KJ21 – Love worketh no ill to his neighbor; – Bible Gateway.

There are prayers to pray! Praying (PFT)!