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