<![CDATA[ForwardMoving - Creative Bible Study - Blog]]>Mon, 28 Oct 2024 08:37:39 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[The "If"s of Deuteronomy]]>Sat, 02 Jul 2022 22:56:58 GMThttp://www.forwardmoving.com/creative-bible-study---blog/the-ifs-of-deuteronomyMy dear children, you will have happiness and success if:
  • If you seek me daily (Deuteronomy 4:29)
  • If you turn to me when things get easy, and when things get hard. (4:30)
  • If you keep my commandments (6:25; 7:12; 11:13; 11:22; 15:5; 28:1, 9, 13, 15, 58)
  • If you remember how I led in the past when you come upon insurmountable obstacles. (7:17)
  • If you forget me and turn and walk in the way of the world and then turn back. (4:30, 8:19; 11:28; 30:17)
  • If you stay close to my Word, and thus recognize false doctrine and prophets. (13:1; 18:21, 22)
  • If you refuse to be turned aside from me by friends or family. (13:6)
  • If you stay far from the occult or anything to do with the devil. (13:6, 12, 14)
  • If you do not choose close companions of those who serve other gods. (17:2)
  • If you become entangled in controversy, and either walk away or refer the issue to the proper authorities. (17:8)
  • If you remember your tithes and offerings and don't forget the needy among you. (15:7; 18:6)
  • If you are always true and honest in your dealings with others. (19:18)
  • If you have nothing to do with, or enter into agreements with, those who will, either by requiring or influencing, turn away from me. (20:11)
  • If you turn to me with prayer every time you see sin happening around you. (21:1)
  • If you do not marry until you know your beloved well and then treat him/her well, and if you do not have children by more than one wife/husband. (21:14, 15; 22:13)
  • If, when you have children, then be sure you prayerfully raise them to be obedient and self-disciplined. If you don't the consequences could be serious. (21:18-21)
  • If you do not commit a sin worthy of death. (21:22)
  • If you find lost animals or items, do all in your power to find the owner and return them—without reward. (22:2)
  • If you are kind to animals. (22:6)
  • If you make safety first. (22:8)
  • If you refrain from immorality and impurity. (22:22-30; 24:3)
  • If you practice proper hygiene. (23:10)
  • If you keep your promises. (23:22)
  • If you value the personhood of everyone. (24:7; 24:12)
  • If you take punishment when you deserve it. (25:1-3)
  • If you don't want to marry your brother's wife if he dies, don't live with him. (This is hard to re-vision in today's terms) (25:5-8)
  • Even if you have failed and run into much difficulty, and then turn back to me. (30:4, 17)
  • If you remember, vengeance belongs to me and trust me to resolve issues and be just. (32:41)


]]><![CDATA[The Aged King David and the Shepherd's Psalm]]>Sun, 17 Nov 2019 12:28:25 GMThttp://www.forwardmoving.com/creative-bible-study---blog/the-aged-king-david-and-the-shepherds-psalmKing David shivers in bed. The sun is high in the sky, but he huddles under too many covers, too cold and too weak to get up. Let someone else take care of the business of the kingdom. It is too difficult to think. His hips hurt from too many covers. (Too bad they hadn't invented electric blankets yet!) He is hungry, but has no interest in food. It sits untouched on the tray next to the bed.

Although uncomfortable, He is at peace. He has surrendered his past to his compassionate Lord, and today he has no want. He begins to recite the shepherd's psalm, but can't remember whether the sheep lie down or drink first. The servants come and go, concerned but helpless. “Yea though I walk through the valley.”

Then Abishag, a beautiful young virgin, is brought to be David's nursemaid. According to custom, she even cuddles close to David so her body warms his. He responds with appreciation, but that is all. The valley is dark, but he relaxes in the peace. His mind plays tricks on him and he again is running from enemies. They come from all sides. He sits down to a banquet and eats while they watch.

Abishag's warmth relaxes him, but he pushes her away, remembering again his grave weakness that led him to sin. He begins to mutter, barely understandable, “'Thy rod and thy staff they comfort.' Comfort? How many suffered for my sin? 'Surely goodness and mercy.' Mercy? Mercy, Lord, mercy! My sin is ever before me! 'cast me not away!'”

There is a knock at the door and Abishag answers it. It is Bathsheba. Bathsheba, a symbol of forgiveness. She speaks of their son, Solomon. Solomon, chosen by God to be the next king. Solomon, chosen by God to build the house of the Lord. Solomon, a symbol of David's sin and God's grace.  A man guilty of blood cannot forget his sin and forgive himself, but apparently God can.

David turns to Bathsheba, “The Lord anointed me, but now it is Solomon's turn. Make him king. God has said he will be the one to build the house of the Lord. The materials are gathered. Things are ready. Just let me rest. My cup runs over. It is enough. Go, call the prophet Nathan, He will know what to do.” As she turns to leave, Bathsheba hears him whisper, almost inaudibly, “Surely, goodness and mercy have followed me and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever!”


If there is any one character in the Bible that we can despise—outside of Judas, of course—it would be David. Yet he died in the peace that he was forgiven. His prayer is my prayer, “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation.” Psalm 51:12

“God made Him [Jesus] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

References: 1 Kings 1; Psalm 23; Psalm 51
]]><![CDATA[Wiki and Prayer - A look at Scientific Method]]>Sat, 05 Oct 2019 21:58:25 GMThttp://www.forwardmoving.com/creative-bible-study---blog/wiki-and-prayer-a-look-at-scientific-methodScience Aside, I Believe God, the Creator of the Universe, Hears My Prayers!
I just read a Wikipedia that “Some religions claim that praying for somebody who is sick can have positive effects.” However, Wiki says, scientific studies have “failed to produce significant findings.” (See Wikipedia on "Intercession")

Ok, I agree, prayer cannot heal anyone. Prayer, in any religion, is like a telephone. It is just a channel. You do not talk to the phone; you talk through the phone. You do not talk to prayer. You talk to someone through prayer. It is the “someone” that makes the difference.

King Ahab and all of Baal's prophets prayed to Baal to send rain. It did not rain, simply because Baal was an idol that had no powers. The story goes like this, Elijah shows up at Ahab's palace and declares, that in the name of the God of Israel, there would be no rain. There is no rain. Cattle and crops died. The country was devastated. After 3 ½ years Elijah presents himself again to Ahab and Ahab confesses that for 3 ½ years Baal has not responded to their prayers. Would Elijah please pray?

God had everyone where He needed them. They realized their great need, and were looking to Him to solve it. Elijah told Ahab to bring all the people with the prophets of Baal and meet him on Mt. Carmel. There was to be a test. They would each build an alter and offer a bullock. The god who answered with fire would be the true God. Baal worshipers prayed, danced, cut, jumped and shouted most of the day, no fire. Elijah stepped forward, poured water on the alter, then, humbly prayed and fire consumed the bullock, the wood, the alter and the water around the alter.

I suppose it would not class as a scientific test, but if you had been there, you would have been foolish not to admit that the God of Israel, the Creator-God, had answered Elijah's prayer.

Is that repeatable in a scientific study? No way!

Nor is Peter and John's healing of the cripple by praying to Jesus provable by scientific methods. See Acts 3:1-9

Science does bear out that a positive attitude promotes healing, that a calm peaceful life is good for the health. The body is made that way, and no matter the reason for your peace, it seems to work. But prayer is different. It presumes we are calling on a higher power. If the power is impotent, the prayer goes unanswered. If the power is the all-wise God of the universe, it is answered in God's wisdom.

I often hold up my friends and loved ones in prayer to the Lord, Jesus Christ. I leave my request in His hands to answer as He sees fit. I wait in peace. I have seen God intervene in my life and answer many prayers—including many healings! My family and friends can exchange answers to our prayers for hours. That is all the proof I need!

Does prayer heal? No way. Does God heal in answer to our humble petitions through prayer? Sometimes. Does God hear our prayers? Always!

This essay inspired by my study of Ezekiel. In Ezekiel 22:30 God says He needs someone to stand in the gap / intercede.
]]><![CDATA[I am a woman]]>Fri, 19 May 2017 17:31:19 GMThttp://www.forwardmoving.com/creative-bible-study---blog/i-am-a-womanI am a woman of:
  • Prayer
  • Praise
  • passion
  • Power
  • Peace
  • purpose
  • Poise
  • purpose
I am a princess! -- God's daughter

Powerful talk by Janice Watson:

https://www.audioverse.org/english/sermons/recordings/1179/becoming-a-godly-woman-part-3.html]]><![CDATA[A New Heart]]>Mon, 19 Sep 2016 00:11:54 GMThttp://www.forwardmoving.com/creative-bible-study---blog/a-new-heartPsalm 
 19:12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. 
 19:13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. 
 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. 

Psalm 
 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 
 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 
 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 
 51:13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. 

Psalm 
 118:18 The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death. 
 118:19 Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD


]]><![CDATA[God's Sovereignty]]>Mon, 15 Aug 2016 13:20:40 GMThttp://www.forwardmoving.com/creative-bible-study---blog/gods-svereigntyGod is all-wise, all-powerful, all-knowing and LOVE. He is ruler of the Universe, (everything) but, built within the very fabric of love is freedom to choose, and God gave us that freedom.
 
Thus, God sets aside His sovereignty and allows us to choose against His will.
 
When we choose wrong, whether willfully or ignorantly, God allows it, but, because of His love, He seeks to bring us back into relationship so that He can show us a better way.
 
Proverbs 3 is a great chapter. Here is the beginning:
 
Proverbs 3:1-8
 
 
It points out the truth that when we seek to know and follow God’s will, He will help us deal with life as it hits us.
 
Philippians 4:4-9
]]><![CDATA[Have You Seen My Flies?]]>Fri, 15 Jul 2016 00:01:50 GMThttp://www.forwardmoving.com/creative-bible-study---blog/have-you-seen-my-flies
Picture
No, not the ones I chased out my door, nor the ones that buzzed my head while I read.  Have You Seen My Flies? is a delightful presentation of photos of flies. My friend, Renee McKey,  took a gazillion photos of flies in the Black Hills and put them into a delightful little book. They are amazing! It's a must-have for all nature loving people young and old. 30 pages.  Click below to see a preview:
]]><![CDATA[Choices]]>Mon, 18 Jan 2016 15:09:17 GMThttp://www.forwardmoving.com/creative-bible-study---blog/choices
The choices we make today become who we are tomorrow. God has given us a clear picture of His will, and if we choose to follow Him, He gives us an inner peace and a power to face the storms of life.
 
If we choose to do nothing that will displease God, He will, after we ask Him, show us the path we should take, and not only that, He will give us the courage  and power to follow that path!
 
 Check it out in the following verses:
 
Proverbs 3:1-7
James1:5, 6
1 Corinthians 10:31
Philippians 4:13
Philippians 4:19

]]><![CDATA[2016 -- Upwardmoving]]>Mon, 11 Jan 2016 02:00:57 GMThttp://www.forwardmoving.com/creative-bible-study---blog/2016-upwardmovingAs I looked forward into 2016 and back into 2015, I summed it all up in the following bit of personal philosophy.

Life is a series of challenges—our health, our children, our daily ability to cope, the immorality of society, our fragile nation—both economically and environmentally, but we take heart because we know that God, Jesus Christ, the Creator of the Universe, is still on His throne. We are learning to lean on Him to carry us through. We want Him to shape our values and our priorities. The message that comforts us this New Year is that God hurts with us, but He has a bigger plan. He foresaw these times before we got here, and He has told us it will get a lot worse. The time is upon us when sin and the consequences of it will be so devastating that all will be forced to look for solutions. It is then that all will choose between good and evil, between God and the devil. THEN, (praise His name!), God will come, rescue all who chose Him as Lord and destroy the devil and all evil. Then the entire universe will see God’s love. The good news is that He has promised, if we trust Him,  to carry us through.

I like this upward thinking. My hope, my safety is in Jesus. My goal for this year is to know Him better. I plan to do that by submersing myself in His Word, the Bible. Won't you join me?
]]><![CDATA[Thoughts on the Everlasting Covenant]]>Sun, 06 Dec 2015 16:03:15 GMThttp://www.forwardmoving.com/creative-bible-study---blog/thoughts-on-the-everlasting-covenantHere, after a year of silence we are posting again.

There is a lot to study about the "old" and "new" the covenants. I have summed it up this way:

Hebrews 10:16 This [is] the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;  10:17    And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 

If God were speaking to us today of the same covenant, perhaps it would be something like this:
 
Look, I understand that life on this earth is full of problems. From the day that sin entered, all have sinned and brought terrible curses—consequences—upon themselves and others. Your lives are miserable, and all you have to look forward to is death. BUT I extend to you the same proposition that I have extended from the very first. My covenant: A promise of life—blessings!
 
My Son—Jesus Christ, Creator of the Universe, my other self—actually came to this earth, died the death that was yours so you can live eternally with me. If you accept, I will send the Holy Spirit to teach you how to walk in this sinful world and give you the overcoming power so you can avoid the consequences of sin and can sit down with Me on My Throne

The journey will not be easy. In fact we are told we will.  1 Peter 1:7 tells us we will have troubles,  "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: " But in the end the promise of Revelation in 3:21 is ours. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Just writing this out helped me. Let me know if it helped you.
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