SEEK & YOU SHALL FIND

 

SEEK & YOU SHALL FIND

Are you searching scriptures searching for truths amidst the confusion between the different denominations? I did a study for that reason. That's what the Lord wants us to do. He wants us to seek and search and find. We have the Holy Spirit to help us with that. This is what I found. It seems to go hand-in-hand with the verse in II Timothy 2:15, "Study to show thyself approved unto God a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

Proverbs 2
My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding—
indeed, if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.
For the LORD gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He holds success in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
for he guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones.
Then you will understand what is right and just
and fair—every good path.
For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
Discretion will protect you,
and understanding will guard you.

Proverbs 25:27 (I have to admit, this one puzzles me because I am a deep thinker.)
It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.

1 Corinthians 2:10
these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

Deuteronomy 4:29
But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.

2 Chronicles 15:12
They entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul.

Psalm 9:10
Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Psalm 53:2
God looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.

Psalm 119:2
Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart

Proverbs 14:6
The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.

Proverbs 15:14
The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

Proverbs 18:15
The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.

Isaiah 58:2
For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them.

Jeremiah 29:13
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Matthew 7:7
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

Matthew 7:8
For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Acts 17:27
God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.

THE 12 TRIBES OF ISRAEL ARE BORN

Genesis 18:1

The LORD appeared to Abraham

In the worst heat of the day.

He was sitting at the door of his tent,

When three men came his way.

Abraham looked up and saw,

The three men standing nearby.

He said, "If I’ve found favor with you, my Lord,

Do not pass me by.

Let a little water be brought,

Then you may all wash your feet.

You can rest under this tree.

Let me get you something to eat.

You will be refreshed,

Then you can go on your way—

Now that you’ve come to your servant.”

They replied, "Go ahead and do as you say."

So, Abraham hurried to Sarah.

Saying, "Quick, bake some bread."

Then he selected a choice, tender calf

And had it cooked so they could be fed.

He then brought some curds and milk,

And the calf that had been prepared.

He stood near them under a tree,

While the hearty meal they shared.

"Where is your wife, Sarah?" they asked

He replied, "There, in the tent,"

Then the LORD said, "I will return next year,

And Sarah will be pregnant."

Now Sarah was listening at the tent’s entrance

What she heard she couldn’t believe.

The couple was very old,

She was certainly way too old to conceive.

Sarah laughed to herself as she thought,

"I’m worn out and my master is old,

Will I now have this pleasure?"

She scoffed at what he was told.

"Why did Sarah laugh?” the Lord asked.

Is anything too hard for me?

I will return to you next year

And Sarah’s baby I will see.

Sarah was afraid, so she lied,

She thought the truth could be hid.

She said, "I did not laugh."

But the Lord said, "Yes, you did."

Abraham was 100 years old,

When their son, Isaac, was born.

God had plans for Isaac’s own son;

Tho’ the family, through Jacob, was torn.

Time would make them the parents of nations,

And kings from which Christ would descend.

Jacob would produce 12 tribes,

And they’ll appear again in the end.

Becky Wall

LAYING DOWN THE LAW

LAYING DOWN THE LAW

I Timothy 1:9-10a

Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind…

Galatians 3:24
So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith.

Matthew 5:17
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

Matthew 5:18
For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

Matthew 7:12
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Matthew 12:4
He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests.

Matthew 13:52
He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

Matthew 22:40
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Matthew 23:23
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

Luke 2:27
Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,

Luke 2:39
When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.

Luke 10:26-28

“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

YOU KNOW YOU ARE LOVED WHEN:

 

YOU KNOW YOU ARE LOVED WHEN:

The person can’t wait to see you.

The person’s eyes light up when they do see you.

The person on occasion beams with pride while looking at you.

The person thinks of you when they are shopping and see something you would like.

The person overlooks your faults in favor of looking for the good.

The person values your opinion.

The person treats you with loving respect.

The person defends you when the situation warrants.

The person is happy when you are happy and sad when you are sad.

The person thinks ahead as to what you might need.

The person tries their best to nurse you back to good health when you are sick or hurt.

The person considers you a best friend.

The person puts your needs before their own.

The person wants to spend much of their spare time with you.

The person speaks highly of you, never negatively.

If married, the spouse is second only to God, not second to sports, work, money, or immoral things or people.

The person supports you and encourages you.

The person is proud of you.

The person trusts you without hesitation.

 

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

II Timothy 3:14-17

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Romans 15:4
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

Matthew 5:17-20
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 13:52
He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

I Corinthians 10:
Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel. These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!

Luke 24:44-47
He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Why do we keep some of the Old Testament laws and not all of them? Here is my study from 1992. I had to clean it up because it was taken from an old floppy disk and transferred with a lot of encoding.

‘92

Why forbidden foods and practices mentioned in Leviticus, once considered wrong, are now allowed:

Most of the "laws" mentioned in Leviticus were preparations for ceremonial cleansing. There were, also, instructions for worship, and commandments of behavior, or moral laws, under which category homosexuality and other sexual immorality falls. Because the Israelites were "unclean" before God, who cannot look upon sin, they were required to cleanse themselves before approaching God's "house." God knew about germs and bacteria long before man, so even though the ceremonial cleansing was symbolic, the outward body was made clean. Still, both body and soul were only temporarily cleansed. This is why Christ came (Heb.9:9-14). He became the priest (Heb.2:17) and the atoning sacrifice (Heb.7:23-28). The rules of worship taught the Israelites the concepts of purity, obedience, and self-discipline and were analogies or symbols (prophetic acts) of things to come. For instance, pork, considered ceremonially unclean in the O.T., is symbolic of Gentiles, also considered unclean. Both are "made clean" by Christ in the N.T.(Acts 10:9-28). At Christ's death, prophesies were fulfilled, and a new covenant was established. The physical acts of worship were replaced with spiritual acts of worship. Jesus declared all foods clean in Mark 7:19. The commandments of behavior, or moral laws, including homosexuality, bestiality, incest, etc., continued to be condemned in the N.T. (Rom.1:24-27, I Cor. 6:9-10). Incidently, these scriptures specifically condemn women exchanging natural relations for unnatural ones.

BIBLE VERSES ABOUT NATION

BIBLE VERSES ABOUT NATION

 MEMORIES OF LENA WALL

Lena (Ancona) Wall and I were not especially close but I was her son’s wife and she was his mother and so we kept a decent relationship during the 30 years I was married to her son. Lena was full-blooded Italian, more specifically Cicilian. Her ancestors moved from Cicily to Chicago where she lived in an Italian district. If I remember correctly, she moved to Mt. Vernon in the 4th grade and was the only non-English speaking student in the class. She never did fully master the English language while in the meantime she forgot much of the Italian language. Her use or misuse of some English words was oftentimes humorous. Three examples that come to mind are “friction” for the word “affection,” “Ho de ho” for “Lo and behold,” and she called a watch a clock. Her words left me puzzled many times but I would eventually figure them out. We laughed at the way she butchered the English language, but not to make fun of her. It was just a cute characteristic of hers, part of what made her unique.

Lena and Tallie had four kids: Mary Alice came first (now Mary Mullinax). John and Jane are twins and Donnie is the youngest.

She had several brothers and sisters: Joe, John (Big John), Tony, Elizabeth and Josie. They were the typical loud, hyper Italian family. Lena’s husband, Tallie, was more low key, laid back. He was the one who built the snow cone stand and he poured the snow cone machine in his foundry from a pattern. He was a patternmaker. He worked in the car shops until he built a foundry in his back yard and would make things people needed that hadn’t been invented yet. Several of his ideas were stolen and patented because he never really knew the process. But before he had his cardiac arrest which disabled him, he made several snow cone machines. He designed the cutting blade so that it would shave the ice really fine rather than gritty like the usual snow cones of the day.

Lena would go into the snow cone stand in the morning and refill the syrup bottles from large jugs. Where she obtained her syrup was top secret. She didn’t want competition. I forget how many flavors she had – 27, maybe. (How many can you name?) She had to mix certain ones and they had to be kept refrigerated. She would also refill the straw spoons. Remember them? The snow cone stand was not air conditioned. It had screens all around and she used a rotating fan, but that was it. The ice was kept in an industrial-type cooler. She started selling around noon and continued until dark. Very little could keep her away from her snow cone stand. She was even late for one of her grandkid’s wedding because she had to sell a few more snow cones.

Donnie got the job of purchasing the ice once he got his driver’s license. He had a bad car accident on the curve by the bridge on his way to town. A drunk missed the curve and sideswiped him with his arm out of the window and the doctors discussed amputating it, but all turned out well. Keeping the snow cone stand going wasn’t easy going. It was not only work, it was hard work.

Lena had another little quirk that I remember. My family was at her house one evening when a tornado warning was issued. The wind was blowing ferociously and instead of finding a safe place in the house, she ran outdoors. I was told she always did. She had to be coaxed indoors.

Lena’s mother was a Torregrossa from the produce family. They weren’t particularly a close-knit family. I don’t know a whole lot about them but what I do know I probably shouldn’t tell.

Lena’s dad ran a store that was in the brick building to the right of the snow cone stand. It burned down once and was rebuilt. He was a hard man. That’s all I will say about him. He died before Lena’s mother died and she lived downstairs in the building until she died. There was an apartment upstairs.

Tallie, Lena’s husband, built the house they lived in. It is well built. He was as good with woodworking and even carving as he was with patternmaking. He was super-talented.

WOMAN: HELPMATE OR NAG?

               

       

WOMAN: HELPMATE OR NAG? WHICH ARE YOU?

Helpmate/Helpmeet:

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Genesis 2:18

Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” Genesis 3:16

He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord. Proverbs 18:22

Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Ephesians 5:24

A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord. I Corinthians 7:39

A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 1 Corinthians 11:7

Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Colossians 3:18

Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Titus 2:4-5

Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives... 1 Peter 3:1

For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands... I Peter 3:5

Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord. Proverbs 19:14

Proverbs 31 - (exceptional woman) 

10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Nag?:
(Story of Samson) With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was sick to death of it. Judges 16:16

Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife. Proverbs 21:19

A foolish child is a father’s ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like the constant dripping of a leaky roof. Proverbs 19:13

Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife. Proverbs 21:9

Proverbs 27:15
A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping of a leaky roof in a rainstorm;

As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife. Proverbs 26:21

OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE STORIES PUT TO RHYME

 

My whole book of Old Testament Bible stories put to rhyme. Copy the link then paste it in the URL bar at the top.

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I DID IT MY WAY

I DID IT MY WAY

That song strikes fear in my heart for the person singing it and also for the one who wrote it. Paul Anka wrote it and Frank Sinatra made it popular followed by Elvis Presley. Elvis came from a strong Baptist background but he strayed and went his way. The song is so anti-scriptural that it may play a role in where the singer spends eternity. After all, we will be held responsible for every idle word spoken. 

And now the end is near

And so I face the final curtain

My friend I'll say it clear

I'll state my case of which I'm certain

I've lived a life that's full

I traveled each and every highway

And more, much more than this

I did it my way

Regrets I've had a few

But then again too few to mention

I did what I had to do

And saw it through without exemption

I planned each charted course

Each careful step along the byway

And more, much more than this

I did it my way

Yes there were times I'm sure you knew

When I bit off more than I could chew

But through it all when there was doubt

I ate it up and spit it out, I faced it all

And I stood tall and did it my way

I've loved, I've laughed and cried

I've had my fill, my share of losing

And now as tears subside

I find it all so amusing

To think I did all that

And may I say not in a shy way

Oh no, oh no, not me

I did it my way

For what is a man what has he got

If not himself then he has not

To say the things he truly feels

And not the words of one who kneels

The record shows I took the blows

And did it my way

Yes it was my way

Look at the last stanza: "And not the words of one who kneels." Who kneels? Those who pray. The singer is letting us know he doesn't do things like a religious person. He does it his own way.

I'm not judging. I'm fearing for the eternal life of the singers. We are to do things God's way, not our way. We weren't put on earth to see how happy we can make ourselves. What use are we to anyone, then? Certainly we are of no use to God if we take that attitude.

Proverbs 12:15
The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.

Proverbs 14:12, 16:25
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. KJV

Proverbs 16:2
All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.

Proverbs 21:2
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts. KJV

Proverbs 21:4
An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin. KJV

Proverbs 26:5
Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.

Isaiah 56:11
They are dogs with mighty appetites; they never have enough. They are shepherds who lack understanding; they all turn to their own way, they seek their own gain.

John 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Becky Wall
beckyowall.blogspot.com