Author: spirit366

Ezekiel Chapters 1-3  

The story of Ezekiel starts out with his vision, for your understanding you must read Ezekiel chapter1 and ride on the wings of your spiritual  imagination. Moving right along, Ezekiel at the end of the vision saw the brightness of the glory of God, fell on his face, that’s when he heard God’s voice, even though he was an exile by the canal of  Chebar. Which goes to show you that God can speak to someone and they can hear His voice wherever they are and in whatever circumstance or situation. God spoke and addressed Ezekiel by calling him Son of Man and instructed him to stand up on his feet while He spoke to him. Like a son who acknowledges and respects his earthly father, Ezekiel stood on his feet and listened as our heavenly Father, God spoke to him. And this is what God said “ Ezekiel Son of Man eat whatever you find here. Eat this scroll and go speak to the House of Israel.”  So Ezekiel opened his mouth in obedience and consumed the scroll, God’s words, and found the scroll as sweet as honey and not bitter. Then God instructed him to go to the House of Israel and speak with His words to them. Just like Jesus telling His disciples go and teach the people to obey and do all that He has taught them (Matthew 28:20). God explained that He was not sending him to a people of hard language and foreign speech but to the House of Israel. God further explains to Ezekiel that Israel will not be willing to listen to Ezekiel for they are not willing to listen to Him because they have a stubborn heart and a hard forehead. I wonder if that is where some parents got the saying, “Don’t be a hardhead.” Well anyway,

 In the midst of things God made Ezekiel a watchman for the House of Israel. And God told him whatever you hear a word from my mouth you shall give them warning from me. So God gave him several statements of what he was to say to the wicked and to the righteous person who had turned from there righteousness and committed injustice, in addition to explaining to him the consequences of what would happen if he did not warn the people. At the end of chapter three, God told Ezekiel when He speaks with him, He would open Ezekiel’s mouth and he shall say to the House of Israel “ thus says the Lord God” not that one should be going around saying thus says the Lord God.” But Ezekiel was instructed to say it and to say to them “He who will hear let him hear, and he who will refuse, to let him refuse,” for they are a rebellious house. Reminds one of  the seven churches in Revelation who are to heed and hear what the Spirit says to the churches. “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches” ( Revelation 2:29; 3:22). Wow! From Ezekiel to Revelation what can I say.

Moral of Story: One may have a vision or dream, and God may speak to them, they may have to eat His words and tell His people what He wants them to know even if they do not want to hear or refuse to listen.

Watch out for those filled with self-indulgence and greed

 Watch out for those who give you orders yet do not give you a helping hand

 Watch out for those who have shut the door of the Kingdom of heaven in people’s faces

 Watch out for those who appeared clean on the outside but dirty on the inside

The Lord has told them to love, show mercy, and be just

 Never forget that there is only one Father who is in heaven

And one instructor who is Christ

Watch out for the Pharisees.  Watch out!

Reading: Matthew 23:23

Love: In every relationship we must demonstrate love, dedication, and high moral standards. Love the Lord your God with your heart, with your soul,  and with all your strength (Deuteronomy 6:5), honor your father and your mother (Ephesians 6:2), and love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:31).

Respect: Demonstrate courtesy in all your interactions with others. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord my strength and my Redeemer (Psalm 19:14).

Kindness: True faith in God produces kindness, humility, justice, and compassion. Seek these attributes in order to please God wherever you are home, school, church, and community. And be kind to one another tenderhearted, forgiving one another even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32).

Follow these steps

And you will know how to walk

Walk in the Light as He is in the Light

Walk on a straight path

Whenever you turn to the right

Whenever you turn to the left

You will hear His Spirit say

This is the way, walk in it

Don’t look down look up

Walk uprightly in the Lords paths

Walk in the newness of life

Walk in love, keep the peace

Walk in the Spirit

This is how one is to walk

Reading: Colossians 2:6

“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him”

His love leaves a sweet taste on my tongue

Taste the Lord and see

He is sweeter than the honey made by the honeybee.

I tasted the Lord

 His addicting love made me desire Him more and more

Taste the Lord and you shall see that the LORD is good

His taste is even sweeter

When I smell His fragrant aroma of His presence

With the breeze of the wind in the air that I breathe

I take a deep breath and inhale to fill my soul

With love, peace, and hope and the taste of His love

Oh I say this day and everyday savior that taste

 Of the Savior’s love on your lips  

Taste the LORD and know He is good

Oh, I say this day and everyday savior that taste

 Of the Savior’s love on your lips

And share the essence of His sweet loving presence.

Reading: Psalm 34:8

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

How precious is the word of God

 More precious than silver or gold.

 More precious than diamonds.

 More precious than the eyes can see.

 The word of God is precious.

 Because He talks about and instructs you and me.

 On how we should be.

Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-2

 Be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you.

My sons, my sons are killing

And on the run.

My son, my sons, your mother’s cry

You cannot begin to realize the way

You bring tears and heartbreak to their eyes

Please stop, says your mother!

Please stop says your brother!

Please stop says your father!

When will you stop this crazy  mime

Black-on-black crime is not a rhyme.

Where did it start brother killing brother?

When will it stop

This black-on-black crime.

A mother’s son

Killing another mother’s son

And on the run

 Running towards the black sun

Steady on the run

Carrying that gun

Killing some mother’s son    

           

When will you stop this crazy mime

Black-on-black crime is not a rhyme.

Where did it start brother killing brother?

No matter when it started the question is?

“What have you done?

The voice of your brother’s blood

is crying out to Me from the ground (Genesis 4:10).

Joseph’s Dream, Genesis 37

As you shall see in the story of Joseph, jealousy brews hatred, evil schemes, and lies. The story of Joseph begins with his dream of reigning over his family. After telling his brothers and father about his dream where they would bow down to him, the brothers became jealous but the father kept what he said, in his mind. The brothers were jealous of Joseph because the father paid more attention to him. And when the brothers saw how much the father loved him, they hated Joseph. Perhaps the brothers did not know the reason that the father loved Joseph more. The father loved Joseph because he was born to him at an old age. Moreover, the brothers’ anger and jealousy caused them to hate Joseph. One day as Joseph was approaching them, they made the sarcastic remark “Oh look, here comes that dream expert!” And plotted to kill him. However, Reuben the first born convinced them not to shed blood or take Joseph’s life but instead, throw him into a pit. In agreement the brothers stripped him of his robe of many colors and threw him into the waterless pit. As the brothers sat to eat their meal, a caravan of traders from Gilead caught their eyes. Judah expressed that selling Joseph would be more profitable than taking Joseph’s life. So they sold Joseph for 20 pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites who then, took Joseph to Egypt. Once Reuben was informed by his brothers of the events that took place, in his fear of what to say to his father, agreed to tell the lie that Joseph was killed by a male goat. Proverbs 27:4 reads  “Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?  

Through all Joseph’s troubles, God was with Joseph for He had a plan and purpose for his life. Romans 8:28 reads “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” As one further reads the story of Joseph, his dream did come true. For God was with him and had sent him to establish his family as a remnant within the land and keep them alive by a great deliverance, in addition to settling them in the land of Goshen where they were to be sustained (Genesis 45:7-11).

Reflection: Your family may have jealousy that brews hate, not knowing that the plan and purpose for your life may turn out to be for the good in their lives and the lives of many others in the land of milk and honey.

Sharing one of my creative ideas, matching songs with scripture. I invite you to try it. Sing to the Lord for He has done excellent things. This is known in all the earth (Isaiah 12:5).

Order My Steps: Psalm 37:23-24 the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and He delights in ways. Though they stumble they will never fall for the Lord holds them by the hand.

Now Behold the Lamb: John 1:22, John the Baptist, proclaims! Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

I Give Myself Away: Romans 12:1-2,  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God which is your reasonable service.

How Great is Our God: Psalm 95:1-3 Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the Lord is the great God,
And the great King above all gods.

Blessings,

His Love endures forever Psalm 136:3-6

Most Mighty, Omnipotent, Omnipresent God, we ask for a Spiritual awakening through the power of Your Holy Spirit, let Your love pour out like falling rain, let the waters of the flowing river overflow with the abundant fruits and gifts of the Spirit. May the Spirit of the Living God fall fresh on Your beloved children in a powerful and mighty way. Father we pray for their hearts and minds to be open as wide as the gates of heaven to believing and receiving all that you have through the power of the Holy Spirit. Father, through Your divine power instill in Your beloved children a fresh new love for You, each other, and the world. This is the prayer of Your servants, in the precious blood of the Lamb, Jesus. Amen.