Do You Just Blend In?

For, Behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.  But unto you that fear My Name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.  And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of Hosts.  Malachi, Chapter 4, verses 1-3.

This makes me think of when I’m driving the speed limit and someone in my car gets annoyed.  They tell me that I need to just “blend in” with the others (going the same speed that others are driving, so as to not be noticed).  At times, I let people persuade me to go faster to “blend in” with the flow of traffic, still knowing I’m driving at a speed that’s against the law.
Are we, as Christians, finding ourselves “blending in” with a lifestyle speed of the people we associate with, so our actions go unnoticed?  Do we use God’s Name in vain because everyone else does?  That way we don’t stand out in a crowd as a Christian.  Do we do unethical things at work because everyone else does them?  Well, we are exceeding God’s speed limit for our lives and we know it.  Even if we “blend in” with lifestyles similar to others, we have to make a decision.  Do we want to be one of God’s “Jewels” or just “blend in” with the traffic of lifestyle choices that won’t get us to Heaven?
You have a chance to make a monumental change in your life and to show your commitment to God.  No, you don’t have to shave your head and sell flowers on street corners!  You just have to make a conscious effort to live as an example of God’s influence on your life.  If you listen to the instincts that God gives you instead of listening to the urges of society to “blend in” with the traffic of life, you will attain the ultimate goal of Salvation through Jesus.
I want to, again, explain that I do not profess to be an expert on the Bible.  Read the passages noted and see what God is saying to you through them.  I have read the Bible from cover to cover sixteen plus times now, and every time I read a passage, I get something totally new from of it.  God gave me a feeling that I should share how reading the Bible on a regular basis has positively influenced my life and deepened my relationship with Him, and may do the same for you.
I apologize if I have offended anyone, because that isn’t the intent of this book.  There were times I thought about not writing particular things, not wanting to offend people I care about or for fear of antagonizing the media and the business world.  If I had done that, I would just be “blending in” with the traffic of life instead of genuinely expressing how God has influenced my life.
It is my desire that you will come to relate to the Bible in a way that is personally significant to you.  If nothing else, I hope that this gives you things to think about as you use the instincts that God gives you while reading your Bible.

The whole book: Bible Passages That Can Influence Your Life has now been printed and shared on this blog for free. You can read it all, starting at the original post, but it really doesn't need to be read in order to see examples of how a person can relate the Bible to their daily life.
D. S.

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.

This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 
Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie

Are You One of God's Jewels?

And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.  Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His Name.  And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.  Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him not.  Malachi, Chapter 3, verses 15-18.

I was just talking about how some business people take advantage of the Hispanic workforce.  Management talks behind their backs, talks down to them and takes advantage of them financially, treating them like sub-standard human beings.  Now, these workers may or may not realize that they are being treated poorly, because some of them don’t understand the language.
Do you think we can pull the same thing on God and get away with it?  Think again!  He knows when we have a perfect opportunity to share our belief with others, but we are too embarrassed to mention it.  He knows when we take advantage of others or make fun of them.  He knows when we put work before Him and our families.  He knows when we only turn to Him in dire trouble, but we forget about Him until the next traumatic situation.  He knows when we harbor hatred, jealousy and resentment toward others.
        Although He is very forgiving, God will remember these things, using them to help determine if we are one of His “Jewels” or not.  Are you one of His “Jewels”?  It’s never too late to reassess your actions and to change them around.  Reading this book has given you the opportunity to see things from a different perspective. You have a choice.  You can decide to start reading the Bible on a daily basis or you can ignore what you have read.  I pray that God opens your heart to be willing to do His will. 

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.

This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 
Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie

Are We What's in it For Me Christians?

Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept His ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of Hosts?  Malachi, Chapter 3, verse 14.

Boy! Are we ever an “I-Me” population, looking out for ourselves as a “What’s In It for Me Christian?”  My impression is that God wants unconditional love.  He doesn’t want Christians who are only doing it to look good to other members of society.  He doesn’t want Christians who are doing it to reap the many rewards God gives His followers.  He wants Christians who genuinely love and follow Him and His Word, regardless of the consequences, both positive and negative.
Are we looking at our belief, saying, “Hey, what’s it for me to get up each week and go to church?…to be kind to others?  to take risks to be examples of our faith in the workplace?”  Something to think about!
(Well, this is my last editing before I send this back to the publishers, and I just had to share this with you.  I’ve been telling you throughout this book that I haven’t been taking the risks to share my love for Jesus with others.  I’ve always been afraid they would think that I’m a religious fanatic and back away.  Writing this book has been an extremely eye-opening experience for me, making me much more aware of my weaknesses as a “Self-absorbed Christian.”
Well, about five minutes ago, I was thumbing through the church newsletter while I was munching on something and saw a request.  It was asking for a volunteer to do a Bible Study at a local nursing home.  I surprised myself and decided to act on it right away before I got cold feet.  Unfortunately, the person wasn’t there but I left a message saying that I would be willing to lead the Bible Study and asked that they call me back.
The more I got to thinking about it, I thought this book would probably be ideal to use for the Bible Study.  Nope, I’m not trying to sell more books, although additional sales will help whichever charity I choose to donate the proceeds to.  What I was thinking is that I have this book on my computer.  I could copy several pages each week and enlarge the print to make it easier for the people in the nursing home to read.  We could talk about how they relate to the passages.  Although I haven’t listed every passage in the Bible that relates to a given topic, I occasionally have other passages that support a great many of them.  This may take us off into different directions.
You realize that I’m talking this all out with you, processing it as I write.  I think I like this idea, because I know that the passages I have listed in this book come from the King James Bible.  Then I don’t have to be concerned about which study guide to pick, worrying if another author’s point of view matches my belief in Jesus as my Savior.

I’m starting to get excited about this whole new adventure.  I almost feel a little teary eyed.  When I started this book, I said that I would see where God leads me and within minutes of being finished with the final editing, I read the request in the newsletter.  Not two weeks earlier where I would have thought that I still had too much to do or two months later, when I might have slipped away from my resolve to take more risks.  God had me read it minutes before finishing.  God works that way in my life and can work that way in your life too, if you let Him.  I know you’re a captive audience, but thanks for being here with me as I grow in my relationship with God.  He has positively influenced my life through reading the Bible on a daily basis and He can do this for you too.  Thanks again.  D.S.)

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.

This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 
Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie

Employers Who Take Advantage of Minority Employees

And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not Me, saith the Lord of Hosts.  Malachi, Chapter 3, verse 5.

God tells us about lots of lifestyle choices that don’t meet with His approval.  One of the things I was thinking about is the part about not oppressing the hireling in his wages or turning aside the stranger from his right.
I live in an area where there is a large Hispanic population; many coming here directly from Mexico.  I see that business owners take advantage of them and it’s almost a common practice.  The cost of living is high and so are the wages.  The businessmen pay the Hispanic workers sub-standard wages, being able to get away with it because these hard-working people don’t know the system or the language to dispute this.
I remember driving by a construction site on a Sunday evening, about 7:00 p.m.  There were 5-6 Hispanic workers busily digging and installing something at the apartment complex construction site.  I was thinking that the vast majority of people wouldn’t be working on a Sunday night doing physical labor, especially without being paid overtime.  (I highly doubt that these men were even offered any overtime.)

The sad thing is these employees are generally extremely hard workers, but are often treated without the respect they deserve.  Even if we aren’t the people employing them and paying them the extremely low wages, we might be guilty of not paying them the respect and dignity they deserve as God’s people?

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.

This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 
Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie

Planting the Seeds of Faith

Since I already have individual posts on-line for the whole book, Bible Passages That Can Influence Your Life, I am now putting several links together for each post. Just click on the title of the post if you'd like to read more. Thanks! Debbie Seiling


Then said He, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?  It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.  Luke, Chapter 13, verses 18-19.

This reminds me of when I mention to someone else about how God looked after me in a particular situation.  It’s like planting a seed that has the potential to grow and to continue to grow into a full-fledged belief in God.  It’s just like the mustard tree that grows from that tiny seed that is planted.

It makes me think that we never know how the little things we share might make a difference in someone else’s life.  My being fearful of sharing my relationship with God may not be giving that person the opportunity to come to have a relationship with God. Click on the Post title to read another related Bible passage.



Then said one unto Him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And He said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.  When once the Master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and He shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.  But He shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.  Luke, Chapter 13, verses 23-27.

This reminds me of when I was heavy and there were people that weren’t really friendly to me.  When I lost the weight, all of a sudden these same people were much friendlier.  I didn’t really want to be close friends with them at that point.  They had an opportunity to be friendly with me before when I was heavy, and they hadn’t chosen to.
Jesus may be telling us something very similar about putting off our decision to become active Christians.  If we don’t acknowledge Him when He calls us, maybe He won’t remember us when we get around to asking Him for help. Click on the Post title to read more.


O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!  Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see Me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord.  Luke, Chapter 13, verses 34-35.

When I was reading my Bible this morning, I was thinking about how God uses picturesque language throughout the Bible to give us a mental picture of what He is trying to convey to us.  This passage is a good example of that.
I can picture a mother hen spreading her wings trying to focus her children to go in the correct direction, just as Jesus does for us.  Do we listen?  No, just like kids we say we want to do things our own way and tend to wander off, losing our focus.  Now, when something traumatic happens in our lives or the lives of our loved ones, BAM, we are right back on target, asking God to help with this situation. Click on the Post title to read more.

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.

These are other blogs I felt led to create:

This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 
Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie

God DOES NOT Condone Abuse

Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.  And did not He make one?  Yet had He the residue of the Spirit, and wherefore one?  That He might seek a Godly Seed, Therefore take heed to your Spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.  For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that He hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the Lord of Hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.  Malachi, Chapter 2, verses 14-16.

Some people are able to grab a Bible and quote verses out of it to support their abuse of their wives and children.  I want to tell each and every one of you now; God Does Not condone abuse whether it’s physical, sexual, mental or any other type of abuse.  Anyone who thinks God says those behaviors are permissible in the Bible, is twisting things around (pulling passages out of context) to support their criminal and inappropriate behavior!!!  They can possibly hide the abuse from others by trying to justify their actions, but they can’t hide it from God.

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.

This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 
Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie

Regretted Wishes

These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the Truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of Truth and peace in your gates: And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the Lord.  Zechariah, Chapter 8, verses 16-17.

Boy, this makes me think of all the times that I secretly hoped that all of the cheerleaders would get fat.  What a terrible thing to wish on other people.

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.

This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 
Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie

Always Wishing for More

Now therefore thus saith the Lord of Hosts; Consider your ways.  Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.  Thus saith the Lord of Hosts; Consider your ways.  Haggai, Chapter 1, verses 5-7.

This passage makes me think of times when anything I have doesn’t seem like enough.  I have food, but I wish I had better food.  I have clothes, but I wish I had better clothes.  I have friends, but I wish I had “status” friends.  I have a job, but I wish I had a “high level job”.  I have money, but I wish I had more money.

Am I ever grateful for what I have?  I sure wouldn’t want God saying, “Debbie is so ungrateful for all I’ve given her.  If she thinks things are tough now, wait until she sees tough.  I’m wasting my efforts here.  I’ll spend My time helping some other Christian who appreciates what I do more than she does!”  Something for me to think about, what about you?

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.

This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 
Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie

The Bible Doesn't Say Our Lives Are Controlled by Fate

God had been telling Jonah to go to Nineveh to tell them to change their ways or they would be destroyed, but Jonah had been reluctant to do it until he was swallowed into the belly of the great fish.  After God saved him, he went to Nineveh to do God’s Will.

And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.  So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.  For Word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.  And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.  Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from His fierce anger that we perish not?  And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil that He had said that He would do unto them; and He did it not.  Jonah, Chapter 3, verses 4-10.

Some people believe our lives are controlled by fate and we can’t do anything to change our lives or our fate.  Well, this passage refutes that position.  The people of Nineveh lived the high life and didn’t focus on God.  They turned their lives around after Jonah warned them that they were going to be destroyed and God spared them.
So that means that if we have made some pretty stupid counterproductive choices in our lives, we can apologize to God and turn our actions around.  God will forgive us, too, just like He did for the people who lived in Nineveh.

Here are some related passages:
*Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; Who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies.  Psalm, Chapter 103, verses 2-4.
*The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.  He will not always chide: neither will He keep His anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor regarded us according to our iniquities.  For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him.  As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.  Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear Him.  Psalm, Chapter 103, verses 8-13.

*But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness unto children’s children: To such as keep His covenant, and to those that remember His Commandments to do them.  Psalm, Chapter 103, verses 17-18.

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.

This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 
Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie

One True God and It Sure Wasn't the Astrologers, Magicians or Wizards!

Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, show unto the king; But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days.  Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these… Daniel, Chapter 2, verses 27-28.

You may want to read the rest of the second chapter of Daniel and elsewhere in Daniel to find out what is going to happen in the last days.  It has more to do with symbols of countries that are in power or have fallen at particular times in history.  I don’t truly understand all of that, but I have an uncle who has studied this topic and is very knowledgeable about this.
This passage is included because of the people who turned to fortune tellers, astrologers, magicians, etc.  None of these could interpret the meaning of the king’s dream, but God could.  After Daniel interpreted the dream by trusting the instincts that God gave him, the king realized there is only One True God and it sure wasn’t the astrologers, magicians or wizards!

Do you think God would be pleased that the influences of the astrologers, wizards and magicians have worked their way into our lives through the newspapers, books, TV and the movies we choose?  Are we spending time focusing on something other than the One True God without even realizing it?

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.

This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 
Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie

Going to Great Lengths to Prove Their Faith When It Is Unnecessary

And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into My mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.  Jeremiah, Chapter 32, verse 35.

What people are willing to do in the name of their beliefs always seems to amaze me.  Can you imagine how some people were willing to have their children, their own flesh and blood, walk through fire thinking these acts will get them Salvation?  They went to such great lengths when all God asks of us is to believe in Jesus Christ, as our Savior, and try to live as examples of how He works in our lives.  He doesn’t ask that we sacrifice our children, give all our belongings or money away to have Salvation.  His request from us is pretty simple, but I guess it seems too simple for some.
What a shame.  Some people can risk their Salvation by getting led astray by cults or they send some TV evangelist all their money so they can get to heaven but they aren’t turning to God.  All we have to do to get Salvation is underlined in this section.  I like to skip the middlemen and focus directly on God.

Here are some related passages:
*When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nation from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land; Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? Even so will I do like wise.  Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which He hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.  What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.  Deuteronomy, Chapter 12, verses 29-32.

*And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too sore for him, he took with him seven hundred men that drew swords, to break through even unto the king of Edom: but they could not.  Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall.  And there was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.  2 Kings, Chapter 3, verses 26-27. 

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.

This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 
Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie

Acting Like Nothing Ever Happened

Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.  Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; And come and stand before Me in this house, which is called by My Name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?  Jeremiah, Chapter 7, verses 8-10.

I realize that we don’t burn incense to idols like Baal, and then go to church, acting like nothing ever happened.  Do we do unethical things at work in order to climb the corporate ladder and then go to church and act like nothing ever happened?  Do we flirt with people other than our spouse and then go to church acting like nothing ever happened?  Do we tell white lies to get ourselves out of financial predicaments with the I.R.S. and then go to church acting like nothing ever happened?  Are we rude and talk hatefully to others, even telemarketers, and then go to church acting like nothing ever happened?
It’s funny how we can waltz into church acting as if we can pull the wool over everyone’s eyes.  Maybe we can pull the wool over the eyes of most, but not God who sees and knows who we are and what we have failed to do.

Consider taking the time to tell God that you haven’t always behaved the way He would want.  Ask Him to forgive you and give you the willingness to be a better Christian in the future.  He will do it if you take the time to ask Him to.

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.

This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 
Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie

Turning Our Act Around

Seek ye the LORD while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.  Isaiah, Chapter 55, verses 6-7.

It’s amazing, how forgiving God is.  The people had been focusing on astrologers and sorcerers rather than Him, the One True God.  God told them that if they realized that they were wrong and turned their act around, He would forgive them and take care of them.  Such divine forgiveness is something I haven’t always been able to muster.

If people were rude to me, I might be nice to them, but I still remembered that they had been rude to me.  Well, this far surpasses any rudeness or disloyalty we might have to endure.  God is always willing to forgive us if we ask Him and turn our act around by focusing on His will for us.

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.

This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 
Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie

You Made Your Bed, Now Lie in It

Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail.  Thou are wearied in the multitude of thy counsels.  Let now the astrologers the stargazers, and the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee.  Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it.  Thus shall they be unto thee with whom thou hast laboured, even thy merchants, from thy youth: they shall wander every one to his quarter; none shall save thee.  Isaiah, Chapter 47, verses 12-15.

God seems to be telling the Babylonians (paraphrased), “You made your bed, now lie in it!”  Prior to this, God tried to refocus the Babylonians who were being led astray.  They listened to those with power, the sorcerers and astrologers, etc.  People were paying attention to them instead of to God.  He told them (paraphrased), “When push comes to shove, those people you looked up to are going to hit the road and they won’t be there to protect you.  But then again, you deserve it because you ignored Me when I tried to help you.  I am the Only One who could have saved you.  So, sad!

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.

This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 
Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie

How Does God Feel About People Who Believe in Using the God Power Within Them?

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!  how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!  For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds: I will be like the most High.  Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.  They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms. That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?  Isaiah, Chapter 14, verses 12-17.


God is condemning Satan’s influence on mankind, especially Babylon.  Now, if God didn’t like that Satan had tried to become like God, don’t you think God would be equally displeased when people professing to be Christians want to have “the god power within them?”  I’m no expert, but through the things I have read in the Bible, God usually gets pretty upset when anyone is arrogant enough to try to gain the power of God.

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.

This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 
Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie

Are Extra-Marital Affairs Becoming the Norm?

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil, that put darkness for light, and Light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!  Isaiah, Chapter 5, verse 20.

It’s sad that having extra-marital affairs has almost become a norm in society.  People seem to feel no remorse in doing unethical things in order to climb the ladder of success.  People who have great status and wealth are looked upon more approvingly than those who lead good-Christian lives.  People who live according to their Christian ethics are often ridiculed and aren’t given the same respect as others.  God calls it like He sees it!  When it comes to determining people’s Salvation, no amount of money, status or remarks trying to justify one’s actions are going to buy them entrance into heaven.

Here are some related passages:
*Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!  Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the Law of the LORD of Hosts, and despised the Word of the Holy One of Israel.  Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against His people, and He hath stretched forth His hand against them and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcasses were torn in the midst of the streets.  For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still.  Isaiah, Chapter 5, verses 23-25.
*And they shall teach My people the difference between the Holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.  And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to My judgments: and they shall keep My Laws and My Statutes in all Mine assemblies; and they shall hallow My Sabbaths.  Ezekiel, Chapter 44, verses 23-24.
*Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the Lord, the God of Hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken.  Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the Lord God of Hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.  Amos, Chapter 5, verses 14-15.

*Ye have wearied the LORD with your words.  Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied Him?  When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and He delighteth in them: or, Where is the God of judgment?  Malachi, Chapter 2, verse 17.


Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.




This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 
Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie

Relying on Someone Else's Opinion

The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.  Isaiah, Chapter 40, verse 3.

When a new movie comes out on the market, there are some who won’t go to see it immediately.  They don’t just believe the advertisements that the movie producers put out.  They are cautious, waiting until they see the movie reviews first to make sure it’s going to be good.  Well, I think that’s why John the Baptist was important.  Others had to hear him say that Jesus was our Savior before they would be open to believing.  Those that heard John the Baptist profess this were more willing to risk believing in Jesus.
Isn’t it strange that some have to hear someone else’s opinion before they are willing to take risks?  Well, there are people out there who aren’t going to get to know Jesus as their Savior unless they hear us share the positive influence Jesus has in our lives.  It makes me realize that I have a bigger responsibility than I was aware of.  My sitting quietly, rationalizing why it’s not a good time to share this information with others may keep someone else from getting to heaven.

Here are some related passages from the New Testament:
*For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.  Matthew, Chapter 3, verse 3.

*For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send My messenger before Thy face, which shall prepare Thy way before Thee.  Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.  And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.  Matthew, Chapter 11, verses 10-12.

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.




This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 
Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie

Get Off Your High Horse

And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.  And the idols He shall utterly abolish.  And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the Glory of His Majesty, when He ariseth to shake terribly the earth.  Isaiah, Chapter 2, verses 17-19.

I remember my father reminding me not to get so high and mighty when I was spouting off about something.  I’m glad he drew my attention to it.  I don’t want God coming to me someday saying, “Debbie, get off your high horse.  You think you’re someone special just because you have a Master’s degree.  If you spent less time focused on your career and your ‘stuff,’ you’d have more time to focus on Me and what I want for you.  It would have been nice if you could have joined Me in heaven, but you had your chance and blew it on worldly things-so sad!”

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.




This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 
Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie

Those Who Validate Atrocities to Those Different From Us

Therefore thou hast forsaken Thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers.  Isaiah, Chapter 2, verse 6.

It doesn’t sound like God approves of His people getting involved in fortune telling and trying to predict the future.  He probably isn’t any more pleased with people doing things like this, today!
What’s even more abominable is that they pleased themselves, in the children of strangers.  Does child abuse, child porn, etc. seem less objectionable when it’s connected to children who are totally different than we are?  During war times, atrocities like this are committed as if the women and children of other countries are sub-human entities, absolving them of any guilt for abusing them.  It’s an abomination no matter what!

Children aren’t to be exploited.  Looking at child porn sites on the Internet keeps people in the business of taking advantage of children.  Are you helping to perpetuate the problem?


Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.




This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 
Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie

God Has Times to Fight for the Cause

And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.  O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the Light of the Lord.  Isaiah, Chapter 2, verses 4-5.

This is a very famous passage.  There is another passage in the Bible that is the complete opposite, telling people to beat their plowshares into swords and spears.  Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say I am strong.  Joel, Chapter 3, verse 10

These passages tell me that God has times when we are to fight for the causes He wants.  Then there are times when we aren’t to fight and are to try to maintain peace in all aspects of our lives, if at all possible.

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.




This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 
Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie

Those Who Believe in the Sin now, Pay Later Tactic

Hear the Word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the Law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.  To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto Me?  saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.  Isaiah, Chapter 1, verses 10-11.

We all know what happened to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah.  I think God is saying that they can give offerings until “the cows come home,” but it doesn’t buy them forgiveness for their very worldly lives.  It reminds me of people who live in the “fast lane” and feel that if they put large amounts of money in the offering plate, it absolves them from the things they do in their lives.

Do you think that God overlooks things like cheating on their spouse, unethical business choices or hateful behavior to others because they’ve put lots of money in the offering?  God wants us to ask Him to forgive us and then, out of love for Him, we are to try to live as examples of how He works in our lives.  This “Sin now, pay later tactic” just doesn’t work for God.

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.




This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 
Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie