Tag: Remembrance

Posted in Hiding His Word

My Tongue Shall Speak of Thy Righteousness

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

Esther 1:1–3:15; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34; Psalm 35:17-28; Proverbs 21:19-20

My Tongue Shall Speak of Thy Righteousness 
I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people. – Psalm 35:18

And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness And of thy praise all the day long. – Psalm 35:28

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The King Asks for Counsel
The book of Esther begins with king Ahasuerus throwing a banquet to show off his wealth. He requests queen Vashti to come so that he can show her off, and she refuses. The king is furious and asks his wise men for counsel regarding Vashti and her disobedience.

And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.

For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not. Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king’s princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath.

If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she. And when the king’s decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small.

And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan: – Esther 1:16-21

Search for a New Queen
The king did as counseled. Over time, his anger waned, and he became lonely. His counselors suggested that he find a new queen, and they suggested he bring in the fair, young virgins of the kingdom to prepare them for his search. The king was pleased with this and the search began and Esther was brought to the palace.

So it came to pass, when the king’s commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king’s house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women. – Esther 2:8-9

Esther was brought to the palace and gained favor with Hegai, the keeper of the women. But as her Uncle Mordecai instructed her, she didn’t let anyone know that she was Jewish.

Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it. – Esther 2:10

Esther Becomes Queen – Mordecai Overheard a Plot
When it was her turn to meet the king, Esther didn’t ask for special privileges or gifts. She went before the king, and the king was pleased and loved her. He selects her the new queen. A grand celebration begins.

Meanwhile, Mordecai sat at the king’s gate and overheard two eunuchs plotting to assassinate the king. He lets queen Esther know of the plot. She tells the king and lets him know this information came from Mordecai. The men were found guilty and hanged, and all the details of this specific event were written in the book of the Chronicles.

Haman is Promoted – Mordecai Refuses to Bow to Him
King Ahasuerus promoted Haman and commanded his servants to bow before this man. Mordecai refused, and when the people questioned him, he let them know he could not bow to anyone because he was a Jew. It got back to Haman that Mordecai not only refused to bow but that he was a Jew, and Haman was enraged. He developed a plot not only to kill Mordecai but all of the Jewish people.

Justification to Kill the Jews
Haman goes to the king and justifies why Mordecai and all Jews needed to be killed. The king agrees, gives Haman his signet ring (his authority), and he also gives him the funds to do as he pleased. In others words, the king tells Haman to make it happen.

And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them. If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries. And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy. And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee. – Esther 3:8-11

The People Mourn – The King and Haman Celebrate
Haman sends letters out to all the provinces that on a certain day of the twelfth month, all Jews will be killed. Confusion and mourning cover the land as the king and Haman sit down and have a drink together.

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In Remembrance of Me
For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. – 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Let A Man Examine Himself
Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.. – 1 Corinthians 11:27-340

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Precious Treasure and Oil
There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; But a foolish man spendeth it up. – Proverbs 21:20

There is precious treasure and oil in the house of the wise [who prepare for the future], But a short-sighted and foolish man swallows it up and wastes it. – Proverbs 21:20 AMP

Posted in Hiding His Word

Remember Me, O My God, For Good

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

Nehemiah 12:27–13:31; 1 Corinthians 11:1-16; Psalm 35:1-16; Proverbs 21:17-18

Separated from Israel All the Mixed Multitude
On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever; because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing. Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude. – Nehemiah 13:1-3

Tobiah Given a Great Chamber (in the Courts of the House of God)
And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah: and he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests. But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king: and I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber. Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense. – Nehemiah 13:4-9

Portions of the Levites Had Not Been Given Them
And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field. Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place. Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries. – Nehemiah 13:10-12

Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof. – Nehemiah 13:14

Profaned the Sabbath Day
In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals. There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day? – Nehemiah 13:15-17

Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy. – Nehemiah 13:22b

Marrying Strange Wives
In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: and their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews’ language, but according to the language of each people. And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves. Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin. Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives? And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son in law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me. – Nehemiah 13:23-28

Nehemiah Cleansed Them
Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business; and for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good. – Nehemiah 13:30-31

Remember me, O my God, for good. – Nehemiah 13:31b

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But I Would Have You Know
But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. – 1 Corinthians 11:3

My Soul Shall Be Joyful in the LORD
And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: It shall rejoice in his salvation. All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, Yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him? – Psalm 35:9-10

A Ransom for the Righteous
The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, And the transgressor for the upright. – Proverbs 21:18

The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, And the treacherous in the place of the upright [for they fall into their own traps]. – Proverbs 21:18 AMP

 

Posted in Journal

Today I am Reminded…

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Sand heart

Yesterday I wrote about the difference between walking in a sand dune as opposed to walking in wet sand and how much easier it is to walk when the sand is wet and compacted. I had another thought this morning. If the sand is too wet and the water isn’t being released by evaporation or by flowing elsewhere it can create an environment for quicksand and that can be a dangerous situation to try to walk through.

Today I woke up feeling like if I don’t get a handle on a common feeling bombarding my mind it would be like being stuck in quicksand.

What was this feeling? I wanted to quit!!! My thoughts were – what is the need of me in this present place? What do I do that can’t be done or what do I bring that can’t be brought by just about anyone else out there? Now, these are not thoughts I naturally head toward. I am not prone to quit so I have to scream, GET behind ME, satan. I am calling him out and exposing his lies. In warfare prayer, I asked the Lord for help and cast down the thoughts and imaginations and a few moments later the Lord replaced them with some reminders. Just a fairly normal Tuesday in my office but then a fax showed up and as I read it this flowed out of it like a fast-moving stream.

 

Today I am Reminded…

Today I am reminded that some people face hard things that unless revealed we know nothing about. That some face these hard things, not of their own choosing and they don’t deserve it. Today I am reminded that some in trying to navigate those things lose sight of and even the will to be who God created them to be. Today I am reminded that some are just plain tired of fighting it alone…even if they made a choice to go it alone. Today I am reminded that when they lose their sight or their will or their fight the resulting bondage manifests itself in many ways.

Today I am reminded that some battles are so obvious but some hide theirs with gold and glitter and glamorous attire, riches. If you look at them and see the things that surround them; see their success and status you have no idea of their pain. The truth is that if we are completely honest we think we ourselves would be happier with more money and more worldly status so we can’t imagine they are not.

Today I am reminded that  I was that person.

Today I am reminded that the Bible says in Romans 2:4 that it is the goodness of God that draws men to repentance. I am reminded to have compassion and love people as they navigate no matter the bondage they may be in and no matter how it manifests. I am reminded that if I truly love like Jesus loves then they will see Jesus (the goodness of God) in me. After all, God is love.

Today I am also reminded of how much I wanted someone, anyone to see me and care about me and what I was going through. Today I am reminded that someone did come along and they cared. That one person had compassion on me and loved me enough to speak the Truth but to do so while staying alongside me. I am reminded of one person that wasn’t afraid of my baggage. One that lived out the “greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world.” Today I am reminded that I saw Jesus in that one person and I wanted what they had. I wanted Jesus in my life.

So, truly, even more, today I am reminded of my God and Father that sent His Son, Jesus, to die for me on the cross. For me! Today I am reminded of a God that showed me His grace and mercy and His compassion when I was at the bottom of the pit and on my way to hell. I am reminded of how His goodness drew me to my knees crying out in repentance; asking for forgiveness for my sins; asking Him to help me live a holy life; to help me live only for Him. Today I am reminded of a God that forgave, saved, delivered, healed and turned my life around. I am reminded today of what a beautiful blessing repentance is to you and to me!!!!

God used that one person that loved me as He loves and today I am reminded to be that person for others. I am reminded that when I don’t love, others aren’t seeing the goodness of God in me. What if we all loved? What if God wants to use your next encounter as an opportunity for someone to see His goodness and be drawn to repentance? I am reminded today just how much He loves everyone and each one we encounter.

Today I am in tears at the reality of the hard things some face and are forced to now navigate.

Today I am reminded to love.

Posted in Hiding His Word

Thy Word Have I Hid in My Heart – In Remembrance of Me

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LSArt-470x260 

“And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.

Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:” ~ Deuteronomy 8:2-3; 11

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My dad died when I was young, and one of the most vivid memories of his death was that immediately more than anything else, I wanted to remember his voice. It was before the days of casual recordings and voicemails so all I had was what I could bring to mind. For years every night, I would think on his voice and his words to me. Words of instruction and love and how he would laugh and kid with me. He couldn’t carry a tune, but I wanted to remember his out of tune singing so much.  As I got older and his absence became more familiar, I stopped thinking about him every night, and just every now and then would sit and remember his voice. I will never forget the day and the grief I felt when one day I sat and tried to recall his voice and I couldn’t bring it to mind AT ALL. It is something that I still can’t remember and still grieve and it has been a valuable life lesson to me.  No one is immune to forgetting, and we are not only given a command to remember the Lord in our passage today but we are given a warning – BEWARE that thou forget not the Lord thy God!!!!

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Remember – to recall to the mind by an act or effort of memory; to retain in the memory; keep in mind; to mention to another; to possess a memory

Forget – to cease or fail to remember; be unable to recall; to omit or neglect unintentionally; to leave behind; leave unnoticed; to fail to think of; to neglect willfully; disregard or slight.

Beware – to be wary, cautious, or careful of

Yesterday in the One Year Bible we read in Deuteronomy 7 that Israel was instructed to remember the power of God and his faithfulness in leading them out of Egypt. Today, in Deuteronomy 8 they are commanded to remember the provision and faithfulness and benefits of God in the wilderness. They are commanded not to remember just bits and pieces but ALL the ways the Lord led them and His goodness.

There is great power and value in remembering. When we become forgetful of what God has done we drift away. Eventually, we can drift so far that we remember little at all. We see forgetfulness over and over in the lives of the Israelites, and many of us can see it just as often in our own lives.

This week of Easter is a week of remembrance of how Jesus died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and on the third day arose from the grave. This week we will remember in detail the pain, the torture, the sacrifice, the LOVE as the week goes on and Sunday approaches. Sunday will be a celebration as we remember the resurrection. It is good to remember. Jesus instructed His disciples to remember His body and His blood when He gathered with His disciples, and they sat to eat the Passover. (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:19-20)

And when he had given thanks, he brake it (the bread), and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. ~ 1 Corinthians 11:24-26

Communion or the Lord’s Supper is not only a command of Jesus to His disciples and to us, but it is a beautiful act of remembrance of who Jesus is and what He did for each one of us that we might have eternal life.

Today let’s not forget the cross. Let’s not forget Jesus. Let’s not forget the sacrifice of His body and His blood. Let’s not forget all His benefits. Let’s not forget those that are searching desperately for the love and life we have found in Jesus.

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Lord, help us today to be people of remembrance. Show us how to remember and celebrate and proclaim Your greatness and your faithfulness. Show us and convict us when we are becoming slack and not remembering You as we should. Show us, so we don’t become one of the forgetful. I love You, Jesus and I thank You for dying for me on that old rugged cross that I might have life eternal. I thank You for having Deuteronomy 8 as my manna…to show me the consequence and the Hope in remembrance. Revive us all with Your Spirit that we might remember, today and every day…In Jesus Name, Amen!