Showing posts with label honour. Show all posts
Showing posts with label honour. Show all posts

Monday, October 5, 2020

Warrior Queen

Photo by John Arthur Photography
My awesome granddaughter!
Costume created and photo taken by
John Mattson. 

And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.

And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the Lord shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.

And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him.

And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the Lord hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the Lord gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.

And the Lord discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet.
                                                                            (Judges 4:8-10, 14-15 KJV)

For twenty years, the children of Israel had been oppressed by the Canaanites.  

Deborah, a leader in Israel was a prophetess and judge. She had instructed Barak to lead the vast army of Israel against the Canaanites. But, he would not go unless Deborah went with him. She went. The army was defeated. 

Sisera, the leader of the Canaanite army was also  defeated; but, not by Barak's army. He was defeated by Jael, the wife of Heber. She pounded a nail into his temple when he took refuge in her tent to rest. 

Throughout history we can find sprinklings of women who have served in various ways to defeat oppression and injustice of various kinds. God calls whom He will call to serve and lead his children. Some are rich; others poor. Some are young. Some are old. Some are men and some women. 

Let us thank God for all whom He has called.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Thursday, February 6, 2020

Where Is The Abundant Life?

He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour. (Prov 21:21 KJV)

Where do we find life and not just life but abundant life? Where do we find righteousness? Where is the honor? In all of my years, I know of only one place. That place is in Jesus the Christ. That place is in his Kingdom.

If you are looking for these things to come from the world, you are looking in the wrong place. The normal direction we go in when we travel by any means is forward. Sometimes, we might have to back up or go sideways around an obstacle. But, in order to reach our goals we focus on what is in front of us. 

If our focus is on revenge or justifying ourselves or getting ahead of someone else we are seeking things that will not move us forward. We are seeking things that will not add to our life.  We are not seeking anything honorable. They will distract and detract. 

Those who follow righteousness and mercy will know abundant life. They will know mercy. "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy." (Matt 5:7)

In the end it all depends on what you are looking for in life. Do you want abundant life? The genuine abundant life (and I don't mean silver and gold) is found only in the Kingdom of God through Jesus the Christ our Savior and Lord. 

Jesus advises us: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matt 6:33)