Do I want a King or Do I want my God

Here is part of the reading from my chronological reading yesterday, and some of my thoughts.


1 Samuel 8
Israel Requests a King 1 As Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons to be judges over Israel. 2 Joel and Abijah, his oldest sons, held court in Beersheba. 3 But they were not like their father, for they were greedy for money. They accepted bribes and perverted justice.
4 Finally, all the elders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel. 5 “Look,” they told him, “you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.”
6 Samuel was displeased with their request and went to the Lord for guidance. 7 “Do everything they say to you,” the Lord replied, “for it is me they are rejecting, not you. They don’t want me to be their king any longer. 8 Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually abandoned me and followed other gods. And now they are giving you the same treatment. 9 Do as they ask, but solemnly warn them about the way a king will reign over them.”
Samuel Warns against a Kingdom 10 So Samuel passed on the Lord’s warning to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 “This is how a king will reign over you,” Samuel said. “The king will draft your sons and assign them to his chariots and his charioteers, making them run before his chariots. 12 Some will be generals and captains in his army, some will be forced to plow in his fields and harvest his crops, and some will make his weapons and chariot equipment. 13 The king will take your daughters from you and force them to cook and bake and make perfumes for him. 14 He will take away the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his own officials. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and your grape harvest and distribute it among his officers and attendants. 16 He will take your male and female slaves and demand the finest of your cattle and donkeys for his own use. 17 He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you will be his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will beg for relief from this king you are demanding, but then the Lord will not help you.”
19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel’s warning. “Even so, we still want a king,” they said. 20 “We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle.”
21 So Samuel repeated to the Lord what the people had said, 22 and the Lord replied, “Do as they say, and give them a king.” Then Samuel agreed and sent the people home.


Today's reading is sad and scary. How many times have we allowed Things and People to capture our God and take Him out of our lives. How many times have we turned to other things and people for comfort, joy, peace and prosperity. I'm guilty. It reminded me of Romans 12:2 (NLT) Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.



Even more reason why it is so critical that we build ourselves up in God's word. I know personally that the more I read the more I want to be pleasing to God and the farther from this world I see myself. I feel like I don't belong, and you know what - I'm okay with that. It's hard sometimes to read through so many wars and rules and laws, but it also helps me see the passion and feelings that God has. His emotions, anger, hurt and frustration. If we are made in his image, then why do we think He won't understand what we are going through. Why do we hesitate to go to Him for our answers. Is it because we feel He won't agree with us? Today reminds me that I/we need to slow down and carefully think about the things I think I want in and for my life. Do I really want a King? Or do I want my God?



Thanks for reading, Blessing to all of you - Have a wonder-filled Easter. He is alive!

Lynn

I AM part 2

Last night I did a post about God reminding me that He is the I AM and that He is and always has been with me. Today in my chronological reading, I am reading thru Judges 5 and 6. What is popping out to me is the Lord stating over and over "I AM the Lord your God".
Judges 6:12 The angel of the Lord appeared to him (Gideon) and said "Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!" Gideon feels he is the weakest and can't save Israel, and I was reminded of
1 Corinthians 1:27 - But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise and God has chosen the weak things of this world to put to shame the things that are mighty. Then as I read on - Judges 6:14 Then the Lord turned o him and said, "Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I AM sending you!" Then again in vs 16 "The Lord said to him, "I will be with you."

Lord thank you for your signs of reassurance and presence in my life. Thank your for reminding me that you never leave me nor forsake me. In Jesus Name, Amen

Thanks for reading,
Blessings,
Lynn

I AM

On the way to work this morning God and I were talking and he brought something to my remembrance. When I was in college straight out of high school, I originally took classes to go into the advertising field. Well one of the classes I took was Graphic Illustration. One of our assignments was to do a phrase or quote in calligraphy on parchment and frame it. For what ever the reason these were displayed on the wall outside the class. The Phrase I choose was from a book that I liked - the phrase was "I AM"
Well here is the long of the story - I didn't know what that meant, but I was drawn to it. Now I grew up going to church and I prayed every night - but I didn't know God. So this morning as God brought this back to my remembrance, I was asking God wow I loved you, but didn't know you, and why would I choose that saying, not knowing what it meant. He said even though you didn't know me personally I knew you, and I was with you.
He chose me before I chose Him.
A nice reflection for the morning.
Thanks for reading,
Blessings
Lynn

For The Twins

We went down to Southern Oregon to visit my Sister for several Birthday's in the family (check out my other blog and posts about the trip).

One of my Sister's friends that has known me and I've known since I was probably 13 yrs old (15yrs ago - ha ha ha ha ha - sounds better than 30+yrs) is going to have twin grand babies.

So what's a quilter to do on short notice. Make two quick and easy quilts. Here are a couple pictures.

Thanks for looking and have a Blessed Day!

Lynn

Happy Sweet 16

Well my oldest Granddaughter will be 16 on the 9th. Yahoo! We are taking her out to dinner tonight at her favorite restaurant that we take her to every year - Olive Garden.

Then she gets to go to the mall and pick out a gift. We have done this for several years because we don't want to be the type of Grandparents that get a 13 - 14- 15 year old a stuffed squirrel on a slab of wood, because it looks like them. (I was grateful, but would have liked something else) :) I have several wonderful memories of that set of Grandparents, the squirrel was just not one of them.

So this year I have a little extra surprise - kinda, her quilt is finally done. I have been working on this for over 2 years. It was my first real quilt that I started out of scraps and learned as I went. I also hand quilted every thing except the borders. The center was cross-stiched off a drawing I made into a pattern when I was much much younger.

You have seen Pictures before, but here is the finished product. Yahoo!

Happy Birthday Sweetheart!

Love you with all my Heart,

G'Ma Lynnie

Awaiting "Taylor Marie"

A Good Friend of mine is going to be a Grandma! Her Son and future and Daughter-in-law are expecting a little girl in May. "Taylor Marie" Here is the Quilt I put together for her. Daddy was being all macho and said he didn't want the whole house to be pink now that they were having a girl, :) so I went with mostly oranges and yellows.

Originally I was going to applique animals and baby stuff where the hearts, flowers and stars are. But after talking with another quilting friend, its for a baby and you want it to be functional too. That and my limited time to get it done for her Baby Shower on March 15th, I just went simple. :)

It may be hard to see but there are animals on the back material.

So that is what I have been doing. I also finished MY Granddaughters Quilt that I have been hand quilting for 2 years (her Birthday is 3/9) and a Table runner for my Sister B-day 3/21 and I am still working on some placemats to match. She knows about the table runner, but not the placemats. :) I will post pictures of those after I finish the placemats.

Well I guess that's all for now.

Have fun, be good and Be Blessed

Lynn

Love is ...God ... and Love never fails!

1 Corinthians 13 says Love is patient and kind, love does not envy or boast it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful, it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth, Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Bears - Believes - hopes - Endures!

Sadly that doesn't sound like the kind of love I see very much of in this world today. I see the more of the

Try it - Didn't like it - What's in it for me - I'm out of here! Type of love.

Let's recap of what this thing Love is according to God.

Love is patient and kind, ( Steadfast, despite Opposition,difficulty or adversity, with a sympathetic or helpful nature) Love does not envy or boast, (does not look upon with disapproval or assert with excessive pride), Love is not arrogant or rude, (not overbearing with a attitude of superiority in a rude or vulgar savage way), Love does not insist on its own way, (it is not concerned with its own welfare or advantage in disregard of others) Love does not rejoice in wrong doing, but rejoices in truth, (Love does turn from what is right) Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Now let me pull out only my emphasis:

Love is steadfast, despite opposition, difficulty or adversity, with a sympathetic or helpful nature, Love does not look upon others with disapproval or assert its self with excessive pride. Love is not overbearing, with an attitude of superiority in a rude or vulgar savage way. Love is not concerned with its own welfare or advantage in disregard of others. Love does not disregard what is right. For Love bears all things believes all things, hopes all things endures all things.

Is this the type of love you mean when you say I love you, love it, loves and Love ya with the Love of the Lord?

Do you Kill? Do you Steal? Do you commit adultery? Do you honor your parents? Do you put other gods before God? Do you take the Lord's name in vain? You say well never..... however,

Matthew 22:37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (nkjv)

But do you Love? Gods kind of love? ????

Malachi 1:2 “I have always loved you,” says the Lord. (nlt)

John 3:16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. (nlt)

I am willing to give my life to save my husbands, or children or grandchildren' life, but have never been able to say I could give their life for someone elses. But God did for me. In fact Abraham loved God so much and trusted Him so much he took Isaac, the son he waited 100 years for (20 years after the promise) to the mountain to sacrifice him for God. Abraham's willingness was all God wanted, and God provided the ram for the sacrifice instead. God provided our sacrifice too, His son.

Read what David wrote: Psalm 63:1-6

1 O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. 2 I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. 3 Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! 4 I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. 5 You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy. 6 I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night.

If we have nothing else in this world except Gods Love we are rich. If we learn to live in and give God's kind of love we will have the overflowing life, that is exceedingly more than we could hope or ask for. Do you see that "Love" is not a casual word to throw around? Do you see that "Love" is not just about what all someone can do for you? Do you see that "Love" is a commitment.

"Love" is a choice -it is not a FEELING. If God only loved us when He felt like it, or only when we made Him feel good, we would be in big trouble. God tells us to Love one another, as He loves us. We must choose to do that out of obedience to Him whether we feel like it or not. Feelings do come, but without obedience, submission and commitment it will fail, and God's kind of Love NEVER Fails.

The Greatest Gift

1Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. (nkjv)

Without God's love and God's kind of love we are and have nothing.

Blessings,
Lynn