Tag Archives: Ezra

Tone

Gallery 1 Mar 2013 Kathie Whitestone Thompson Leave a comment

I have no explanation. It just does. This verse I mean. It settles soft and warm upon me (bold and underline emphasis mine).

11 They sang antiphonally, praising and giving “thanks to Adonai, for he is good, for his grace continues forever” toward Isra’el. All the people raised a great shout of praise to Adonai, because the foundation of the house of Adonai had been laid.

via Ezra 3:10-12 KJ21;CJB – And when the builders laid the – Bible Gateway.

And I continued to read. Job 38 and 39.

4 “Where were you when I founded the earth? Tell me, if you know so much.
5 Do you know who determined its dimensions or who stretched the measuring line across it?
6 On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone,
7 when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

via Job 38; 39 CJB;KJ21 – Then ADONAI answered Iyov out of the – Bible Gateway.

Do you recognize the passage? Job had been mouthing his case before Jehovah and ABBA responded. I, personally, recognize the tone. I shall spare you the details. Even so, as our initial verse promises GOD is forever good. And don’t you love the black and white clarity of Who it is that brought about this planet upon which we reside?

And one more. I just can’t leave this one out?

36 “Who put wisdom in people’s inner parts? Who gave understanding to the mind?

via Job 38; 39 CJB;KJ21 – Then ADONAI answered Iyov out of the – Bible Gateway.

A Blessed weekend, my Friends,

ABBA, thank You for Your Word. Thank You for wisdom; thank You for planting Your Wisdom within our inner parts. Thank You for bringing this planet to be; for setting boundaries and laws in place so we can learn to love You. Thank You that You are forever good and Your grace does not depart from us. Thank You.
Terri. Thank You for Your Hand of mercy and healing upon her. Thank You for the plans You have for her; You know each need; you know the cry of our hearts; we trust You. Mission trips scheduled, just days away. So many needs, ABBA. Safe passage to and from; Your anointing upon Your servants and the people to hear and believe; health; protection; favor; supplies; climate; housing; food; water; insects; unfriendly creatures; in total, ABBA, every detail perfected to bring glory to Yourself and people to JESUS that is my prayer.
And as other times, for each Reader to be encouraged as they visit here; to know Your Presence; to discern Your Will for them and with a willing and cheerful heart, obey. Ray. Thank You for allowing us to remember him as he grieves; again we pray for his heavy, heavy heart to heal. Stephanie. It’s a load and yet You are faithful. Thank You, ABBA. Leslie. Continuing to ask that You heal her. Dori. Kerri. Pam. Joy. Norman. Pat. Each we bring in like manner as the four brought their friend to You and we ask You to heal them. Thank You, LORD JESUS. Amen and amen.

A Quick Hello, Just Chatty Today

Horizon

Gallery 25 Feb 2013 Kathie Whitestone Thompson Leave a comment

It is Sunday evening as I type these words. Our Soul Detox study is complete. Now what?

Where to now with THE WHITE STONE or more affectionately known by long time friends – IDOK Devotions?

Our Home page says THE WHITE STONE is A Gathering Place for Christian Devotions and Prayer. And so we are. Can we be more? Is there a need to be more? Is there a need to be less? Shall we ponder those a while?

A Bible exercise this morning. I trust you will play along. Please read the following (redacted for ease of reading) Text and list the similarities and differences then and today when we gather for corporate worship.

Nehemiah 8 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)

1 all the people gathered with one accord in the open space in front of the Water Gate and asked ‘Ezra the Torah-teacher to bring the scroll of the Torah of Moshe, which Adonai had commanded Isra’el.
2 ‘Ezra the cohen brought the Torah before the assembly, which consisted of men, women and all children old enough to understand. It was the first day of the seventh month.
3 Facing the open space in front of the Water Gate, he read from it to the men, the women and the children who could understand from early morning until noon; and all the people listened attentively to the scroll of the Torah.
4 ‘Ezra the Torah-teacher stood on a wood platform which they had made for the purpose; beside him on his right stood . . . .
5 ‘Ezra opened the scroll where all the people could see him, because he was higher than all the people; when he opened it, all the people rose to their feet.
6 ‘Ezra blessed Adonai, the great God; and all the people answered, “Amen! Amen!” as they lifted up their hands, bowed their heads and fell prostrate before Adonai with their faces to the ground.
7 The Levites . . . explained the Torah to the people, while the people remained in their places.
8 They read clearly from the scroll, in the Torah of God, translated it, and enabled them to understand the sense of what was being read.

via Neh 8 CJB;NASB – all the people gathered with one accord – Bible Gateway.

Blessings Friends + + +

ABBA, thank You for the privilege of reading Your Word and sharing it here in this forum. I pray we will have eager hearts to read, to hear, to pray and to obey. I pray for each one who gathers at this screen to read and to pray that, HOLY SPIRIT, You will encourage them, will give them answers to the questions they have and the quandaries they face; I pray You will strengthen them in their love for You and their trust in You. I pray You will heal their diseases and prosper their homes and their families as they seek You with their whole hearts — and me too, ABBA, in the Mighty Name of YESHUA, our Savior and coming King. And in particular I pray for Leslie’s recovery and steady gaining of strength and practices for health; Kerri – always holding her up before You and Dylan too; Dori – she blesses me so, broaden her boundaries I pray; and I pray for those whose names I am not privy to but who are held close in the hearts of our Readers here; that You will make them whole, LORD JESUS. Amen and amen.

Guests

Keeping Company

Gallery 23 Oct 2012 Kathie Whitestone Thompson Leave a comment

My You Version devotion is good to share this morning.

PARROTS

A man purchased a parrot. Unfortunately, he soon found out his bird had a lurid vocabulary. The man had a friend who also owned a parrot. This bird had been taught to only sing hymns. So the man decided to put the two birds together. He hoped that the hymn-singing parrot could teach the swearing bird better language. After leaving the birds together for some time, the man found–to his dismay–that the hymn-singer forgot his songs and took up the questionable language of his new companion.

Ezra saw the same kind of deterioration among the Israelites. They married foreigners and, rather than raising them to meet God’s standards, the Israelites were dragged down by evil influence. Ezra went to God in desperate prayer seeking a solution (Ezra 9:5-15). He was ashamed that God’s people had so soon forgotten the bitter lesson of captivity. God heard Ezra’s prayer and through him brought the people back to Himself.

There are two important lessons in Ezra’s prayer. First is the vital importance of choosing the right friends. We do become like those closest to us in many subtle ways. Second, we must notice that Ezra first talked to God about the problem; he did not complain to others. We often criticize first and then pray. May we learn to pray for those entrapped by evil. And may we choose our friends as if our life depends on it. It does.

I particularly noticed: And may we choose our friends as if our life depends on it. It does.