Author: MaryEllen

Amos 4 (April 27) The Propelling Love of the LORD”Yet you have not returned to me,” declares the LORD. (6,8,9,10,and 11)

Amos delivers more startling judgement from the LORD – reminding them of how they had gone from city to city sinning more and more – of their oppression of the poor and needy – of their meaningless sacrifices and tithes – and their boastings about it all – and then of of all He had brought down on them because of these things and “YET” how they had not returned to Him.  

The love of the LORD propels Him to go to great lengths to have His people return to a right relationship with Him.

Look at Exodus 19-20 to see the lengths He went to in order to proclaim the commandments to Moses before the people at Mount Sinai – which included in part “Do not have any other gods before Me … Do not make for yourself an idol …for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God …” And lest we think for a minute that this same love does not apply to us let us refresh our minds with John 3:14-17. God made a way where there was no way for us to approach Him – not because He had to but because He desired to save us and – not just to save us but to dwell with us forever and to love us as His own – John 14:15-21. 

While chapter four leaves us wondering what God is going to do – the one thing we know for sure is His Glory will be seen … Because we know that God’s glory is always seen in His dealings with His people – whether it is in the triumph He gives them over their enemies or in the display of His mercy and grace toward His wayward children. 

I know this deep pursuing love of God in a very personal way. He has pursued me more than once when I veered to the right or left. His pursuit of me from the ‘pit’ (A story for another day), when like Israel, I liked to ‘boast’ of worshiping rather than truly and faithfully worshiping God alone, is what led me back to Him and how He taught me of His grace. His pursuit of me is what saved me from my self then – and it is what prepared me for everything in between then and now. Grace revealed His mercy and love – and these continually pointed me back to His grace – and together they developed a relationship of reciprocal love and devotion that strengthened me to weather storms of life that would have otherwise destroyed me. This life-giving relationship continues to fill me daily with strength and peace, courage and comfort, and a wisdom that teaches me to totally rely on Him. He picks me up when I fall and turns me around when I get off track. He is my life and the lover of my soul – and I am forever and profoundly thankful for His faithfulness to pursue and love me.❤️

After-words …

“They have lost the perception of right and wrong because their hearts are hard and sin is numbing their conscience. They have lost all traces of truth because their unrighteousness is suppressing the truth -(Romans 1:18-19). All of their social sins reflect their spiritual poverty, and they engage in worship with a warped mindset. They love to make a show of their offerings, but they lack any heart-affection for the LORD.” First5

In Amos 4:7-11 God’s quest is to get His people to wake up from their apathy and indifference to sin, so they will repent and turn from their sin. The point of God’s repeated discipline is to direct their lives back to Him because He loves them. If Israel would repent, God would relent from his judgment. But five times we read this sad phrase “…yet you did not return to me, declares the LORD.” This little phrase “…yet you did not return to me” holds such a deep sense of sorrow because each and every time they reject God’s correction by refusing to repent, they are rejecting God’s mercy and healing … they are rejecting God’s forgiveness and grace … they are rejecting God’s power to restore their lives … And the saddest part of all is that ultimately, they are rejecting God.” First5

“Over 85 times in this short book, we read about God’s discipline and judgment due to sin. This emphasizes the truth that cultivating sin in our lives will accumulate judgment. When we stubbornly continue to seek our won way, it will result in God’s painful discipline. But when we earnestly repent and seek the Lord, there is restoration and life – because God is the giver and restorer of life! First5

“Where we are right now doesn’t have to determine where we end up.” First5

“But there is another beautiful truth tucked inside this passage to encourage our hearts today. It’s a truth about God. … He is patient and long-suffering. He’s totally committed to His relationship with His people, including you and me. His desire is for ongoing, unbroken fellowship and intimacy with us. he won’t sit back or ignore us or abandon us or walk away when we wander around lost in sin. Instead, He continually pursues us. God’s love is relentless and strong. He’ll do whatever it takes to woo us back to Him when we get off track or stumble or sin.” First5

Amos 1 (April 12-13, 2018)

Personal Messages From the LORD
Amos, a shepherd, is sent to the Northern Kingdom to deliver some not so welcomed news to Israel during a time when life was good. 

Sometimes when I’m reading God’s Word the oddest things pop off the page and grab my attention.  For instance in today’s reading I find it interesting and a rather prominent statement of God’s character that He didn’t just send “a” message in this first chapter – but five personal messages to Israel’s neighbors – calling them by name and listing their egregious sins and the judgment/consequences of those sins.

 This is perhaps my favorite character of God – the fact that He is personal and intentional in His relationship with His people. It is comforting to me to know that He is paying attention, knows how I’m feeling, and what I – not just another human – but Mary Ellen need/want. His words and actions aren’t generic they are specific – words written for ‘all’ but delivered to me through the written page, other’s words/messages, or His still small voice. If I’m paying attention I will notice that something as simple as a smile or as big as a $200 check that arrives in a card – with a message that says ‘not sure why, but I was impressed to share this with you’ – are delivered at just the right time. I often ask Him in the morning, ‘help me to see Your fingerprints today and to hear Your voice, even if it’s a whisper – and He does … that smile came when I was hurting on the inside and needed a friendly face, but they had no idea… and the check met a financial need that I didn’t even know about at the time.

So why does this mean so much to me? Because knowing that He is personal in His relationship with me encourages me to be personal in return … I pray personal prayers – I look and listen expectantly for Him – I trust deeper – and I respond more quickly, which. – I suppose – is why this chapter and the five personal messages of conviction grabbed my attention. 

I noticed in each statement of judgment there was the word ‘Because’. God didn’t just know that they had sinned, He knew what they had done and He didn’t just say ‘you have sinned against me’, he said it’s ‘because …’. Much like the gift of the smile and the check, if I am alert – like He tells me to be – I will often hear His warning before I’ve ever stepped into the sin – and I will see the way of escape that He provides.

… God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:1

And, if I have already stepped or fallen into sin – I can rest assured that because He is personal He will tell me exactly what I’ve done (Amos 1: 3, 6, 9, 11, and 13) and allow me to confess my sin and find forgiveness through the blood of Christ. 

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

Even as I was writing this – my daughter came in and started telling me some things that God had been teaching her and some very personal ways He has been showing up and personal things He’s been doing. With this bottom-line commentary … God is good!

After-words ..

“He (Amos)delivered warnings and God’s messages of judgment during a time of peace, wealth and great prosperity.” First5

 “Israel saw its wealth as blessings from God. But Amos would reveal their breach of covenant with Him.” First5

“Despite how uncomfortable today’s reading may make us feel, let’s allow it to be a springboard in our conversations with God throughout the day. I want to be in tune to His whispers and promptings … Because we have access to God’s word and know about His character and promises, we can fully trust Him … He’s aware of every circumstance. he knows the big picture and will not ignore injustice. His timing has purpose … We can trust that God is in complete control …” First5

Hosea 1 (March 12, 2018)

A Prophet and a Prostitute

Hosea is a prophet of God during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during the reign of Jeroboam son of Joash, King of Israel, he is instructed by God to marry a prostitute – one who would be an adulterous wife – a marriage that would represent the Israelites unfaithful relationship with their God. 

• Note Hosea’s obedience to such a call – and consider the heartache that must have been involved for him – 

•  *” Like the Lord, he would have a wayward wife and a broken heart.” (HCSB Commentary)

• The naming of the three children Gomer had after marrying Hosea had to be another heartbreak for him as they represented judgement, a broken relationship, and “forfeiture” of God’s love. 

• *I find it worth noting that Hosea is only included in the birth of the first child. The second and third child are simply attributed to Gomer. I’m not sure what this means but I have to wonder if it is to imply that they were the products of her unfaithfulness.

Hosea 2 (March 13, 2018)

His Redeeming Love

I love the HCSB commentary on this chapter:

 *”These verses elaborate on the “Not my People” oracle in 1:9-11. They open with the divorce formula in verse 2 that begins the rebuke in verse 1-13: “She is not My wife and I am not her husband.” The forgiveness section in verses 14-23 announces the restoration of Israel. The LORD again becomes “My husband” (v.16), and Israel becomes “My wife” (v.19); “No Compassion” also receives compassion, and “Not My people” (v.23).” 

• Oh the depth of God’s love and compassion, so torn with grief and stirred with anger at His ‘wife’s” betrayal that He inflicts such punishment – only to lead her back to Him where He “speaks tenderly to her” and gives back to her what He had taken (v. 14-15) – REDEEMING her and once again claiming her as His own forever. 

Hosea 3 (March 14, 2018)

A Beautiful Pursuit

The LORD said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD love the Israelites, …” So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver … (v1-2)

Oh to have this servant’s heart – the very heart of the LORD … To love as HE loves His people. To pursue one steeped in sin and unfaithfulness – to purchase her from another lover and take her back to live with him … Obedience and Love certainly define Hosea

• Note the requirement he places on her – to live faithfully with him and as he would with her
• Also note the comparison to the Israelites plight and eventual return to the LORD (v 4-5) which again defines the purpose for God’s request/call on Hosea’s life

• *personal note … Oh the brokenness I feel right now to think that this is what I should have done when my husband left me? Yes,  I let him come home the first time but  should I have done more than beg him to stay when he left the second time telling me he knew he couldn’t remain faithful?  Should I have knocked on the doors of his lovers and brought him back home?  I don’t know the answer to these questions but I do know that  eleven years later I am still living without him and my children have known 11 years without their father as part of their lives and family. My heart is broken at the thought that perhaps Hosea’s call was mine too and I failed – I can only call out for forgiveness where I failed and plead for strength to move forward and not get stuck here looking back at the regret of “what if” … Oh Father forgive me and help me – please help me to keep my eyes on you and not the past. …Thank you for reminding me that it might be best to remember all the times I’ve wandered away from you in unfaithfulness and how you pursued me and spoke to me tenderly in the wilderness drawing me back … Allowing me to return – forgiving me – loving me – and restoring our relationship to even more than I could have hoped for❤️ Yes, LORD! I praise you for Your beautiful – unfathomable pursuit of me! 

Hosea 4 (March 15, 2018)

“Hear the word of the LORD, O Children of Israel, for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land. There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land.” (1)

Hosea is given a strong message to deliver to the people of God … One that describes their faults and guilts and charges both the people and even more the priests/leaders

•  It is a call for them to “recognize the moral and spiritual corruption of the rest of their countrymen who have abandoned their God and forfeited their right to be called His people. These adulterous inhabitants have abandoned (1) TRUTH or integrity, the quality of being reliable and genuine; (2) FAITHFUL LOVE … and (3) the KNOWLEDGE OF GOD. They had ceased to care about knowing Him or the truth about Him (Rm 1:18-32). As a result they were violating the Ten Commandments (HS. 4:2) and suffering the consequences (v 3). HCSB commentary

Note the reference to prostitution and adultery in this chapter and imagine the difficulty Hosea must have had with this message and the personal implications of his wife. We must not miss the underlying message here that no matter what they chased after or who they worship they were never fully satisfied

• “The people of Israel are on trial. They’ve broken the covenant, and God is holding them accountable for their actions. For generations, corrupt priests appointed by the wicked King Jeroboam II had failed to teach the people the law, and now they are ‘destroyed for lack of knowledge'(6). Their malnourished hearts stopped hungering for God’s faithfulness, mercy and wisdom. Instead of feeding on God’s Word, they turned to idolatry, gorged on fleshy fare and never felt full satisfied.” F5

• “Wickedness will run rampant in our lives unless we get a regular intake of God’s Word.” F5

• At the same time … “We can know God’s Word in our head and still fall away if we do not allow God to rule and reign in our hearts.” (Rom 1:21-24) F5

• “We shouldn’t shake our heads at the sins of Gomer and the Israelites without examining our own hearts.” F5  

Father, help me to be satisfied in You alone. Alert me if and when I begin to chase after other gods or to desire things that would compromise my faithfulness to You. Help me Lord God to not just hear Your Word but to love it, to not just read Your Word but to know it, and not just to know it but to live it out everyday – that others may see, know, and follow after You. May it always be a part of my day – whether from the page or from Your Spirit bringing to mind and life what He has hidden in my heart❤️

March 16, 2018

Hosea 5

God is very specific with His message through Hosea … Addressing not just the priests, but the Israelites as well as the “royal house” – no one was exempt from the discipline that God was bringing. 

He made sure that they understood the depth of what He knew about them – from their acts to their what was in their hearts – there was nothing He did not know.

 *Even though God knew all about them, they did not know Him (4:1) (v 7)

 *”Israel’s many evil actions had so enslaved them to sin that they were unable to repent” (v 4) (Rom 6:16-20)

He wanted them to understand that what they were about to experience was coming from Him …

• He would discipline them (2)
• He would withdrawal Himself from them (6)
• He would pour His wrath out on them (10)
• He would destroy them (11-12)
• He will tear them to pieces and not be there to help (14)
• He will carry them off and send no one to rescue them (14)
• He will retreat … Until they admit their guilt and earnestly seek Him (15)

And He told them why …

•  They had been a snare (1)
•  They had become prostitutes in life and in their hearts (3,4)
•  They had become corrupt (3)
•  They were arrogant (5)
•  They remain in their sin, intent on pursuing idols (5,11)
•  They are unfaithful (7)
•  They give birth to illegitimate children (7)

March 17, 2018

Reflections From the Week

Father, I confess this study is difficult for me – such a reminder of times past when I was not faithful to Your ways and a sad eye opener to the consequences I am facing even now … But thank You that with those hard reminders also comes the awareness of how You pursued me 💕 how You did not forsake me 🙌🏻 and how You have forgiven me ❤️ Thank You for letting me hear Your tender voice in the wilderness, for making my ‘valley of trouble into a gateway of hope’, and for leading me back under the shelter of Your Wings and the foot of the cross where Your Grace poured out … where I have known and learned from Your faithfulness …. love …mercy…grace…and compassion 🙌🏻. Help me to continue walking faithfully with You – never again forsaking You for other gods. Guard me Father from getting stuck in thoughts and regrets from the past for I know there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus! Help me instead to fix my thoughts on You – and all that is true and honorable, and right and pure, and lovely and admirable – to think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise 🙌🏻 For there I will find peace that guards my heart and mind as I live in Christ Jesus. Thank You that even now as the enemy targets me with all my wrong choices and their affects on myself and others – Your Spirit reminds me of the confidence that I have through Christ Jesus – that neither death nor life, neither Angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor ANYTHING in creation will be able to separate me from Your love ❤️. 

James 1 tells us that BELIEVERS  will face trials. My first thought (based on a few that I am facing right now): “Oh boy is this ever true.”

Second thought (based on the Spirit’s leading): It is really important  that we understand this TRUTH, so that we do not “faint or grow weary”  

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up” Galations 6:9

but rather “stand firm”

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith.” 1 Peter 5:7-8

and even” count the trials as an opportunity for great joy”. 

“Dear brothers and sister, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.” James 1:2

It is in understanding this TRUTH that we learn to persevere

 We must also understand that these “trials” may somehow tempt us away from God; and sense we know that “God does not tempt anyone”, we must be extra alert and cautious of the devil, the believer’s enemy, when troubles come our way. 

Third thought (again by the Spirit’s leading): How? How, in the middle of our trials, do we perseve? The Spirit whispers – listening to and living the Word … keeping your eyes on The Father. It  is vital to our endurance. For the Word keeps us FOCUSED on GOD who is our strength in times of trouble. 

“The LORD is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in Him”          Nahum 1:7

“He will keep in perfect peace all who trust in Him, all whose thougths are fixed on Him.” Isa. 26:3

Even now as troubles press in … the thoughts of them luring me away from these lessons from James – I hear the Spirit whisper My child:

“Do not be afraid for I am with you, and do not be discouraged for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with My victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

Without a doubt, perseverance is laced with difficulties but in the end there will be the richest of blessings – and it will be worth it all. 

“A man who endures trials is blessed, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.” James 1:12

After reading Paul’s two letters to Timothy, I have been reminded by Paul’s warnings and instructions how difficult “living your faith” can be. “Living my Faith” takes work and requires strength and courage and often suffering; and this means living with intentionality, alertness, awareness, carefulness, and a unique boldness. However, Paul’s words were not without hope and the reminder that in “Living my Faith” there are also blessings – both in this life and in the life to come – 

Prompted by a question from a study on 1 Timothy 3 to give my statement of faith – the chorus from a song I have not thought of in ages came to mind and seemed a perfect answer to the prompt …

He came from heaven to earth to show the way  – from the earth to the cross my debt to pay – from the cross to the grave – from the grave to the sky – Lord, I lift Your name on high. 

I have never understood the book Song of Songs.  – I’ve brushed through it or listened half-heartedly as others have taught on it, particularly after my husband left our marriage of 26 years. It seemed pointless to me in the realm of applicable scripture for my heart. I mean I no longer had a lover so what could it possibly have to offer me? So you can imagine my regret and dread when the last part of my current Bible Study “Covenant” was Song of Songs 😱 – but, rather than lay the study aside when I prayed over it – telling God what a struggle it has always been for me – telling Him I needed His help and wisdom to understand it … asking God to reveal what it says about Him – and what, if anything, it has to say about me … and then I opened my Bible and turned to Song of Songs and began to read ❤️ 

I have admittedly struggled through some of the book – but God is faithful – and has  given me nuggets of truth and encouragement to take from it everyday …  such as: 

• While I no longer have an earthly “lover” (husband/bridegroom), I do have Christ, my Heavenly Bridegroom 💜 Who loved me enough to die for me ❤️and leave His Spirit in me – and is one day coming back for me – to celebrate with me at the Wedding Feast of the Lamb! …
• And oh the sweetness of chapter 2 when I realized that – like the lover called to His beloved – God calls to me❤️ He calls me His and bids me to come to Him … where I can sit at His feet, in the shade of His majestic Presence 💜 and there in His shadow I find love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control💚 Oh what a delight to savor the Presence and the sweet filling gifts of my God and King – The Lover of my soul! … 
• and then the conviction of chapter 3: Do I seek after God (my first true Love) with my whole heart? Do I cling to Him? And do I live and talk as one who wants others to come out and see Him?

 … Wow! What I have gleaned from the first three chapters of this book I almost laid aside – believing it had nothing for me. I am reminded, even now, how that All of Scripture is God-breathed, and is useful for teaching, correcting, rebuking, and training in righteousness – so that I might be a thoroughly equipped servant of God. I can’t wait to see what the rest of the book has to say ❤️

To have victory in my CHRISTIAN WALK – I must “put on the full armor of God“. Once I put everything on it is God who works in and through me – EMPOWERING AND ENABLING me to “STAND FIRM” against “the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of EVIL in the heavenly realms.”

• God wants me to use EVERYTHING He has given me for standing firm … His Word … His righteousness and salvation … the shield of faith … the gospel of peace … prayer in the Spirit … 
• He wants me to be alert and to pray for others – because there is real danger coming against us! The enemy is not just coming to hurt us but to destroy and devour us.  (John10:10; 1 Peter 5:8; Ephesians 6:11)

But we don’t have to live in fear!  We simply have to “put on the full armor of God”     When we do this WE WILL STAND! 

“The devil is vicious but he is not victorious!” (Lysa TerKerust – First 5) 

I love Saturdays! It’s the one day I can wake up – stretch, grab my prayer journal, my Bible and pens and a notebook – and nearly three hours later find myself still sitting at His feet not wanting it to end. ❤️ Free from constraints of the work week, my self imposed schedules, and demands of the world – I am free and able to be lost in the wonder, love, and praise of His word and Prrsence. The house beckons for my attention – the laundry that I didn’t get finished, the patio that desperately needs power washed, the ferns that need watered – they all call my name but I push them aside – for He has drawn me in – It is SATURDAY – and I am free from their demands and I am utterly captivated by Him! 

Ladies, I’ve been running behind all week so when I wrote this in “my moments’ yesterday I didn’t think to or have time to share … not sure anyone will even see it now since by now everyone is another day ahead – but just in case someone out there ever deals with guilt or shame – I thought I would backtrack and share how God chose to use Luke 15 in my life yesterday – grace and blessings to you all ❤️12/13/2016 Tap to edit

Father, you heard me this morning – You alone know the whispers I heard from the enemy as I awoke this morning. You alone heard the lament of my heart and pen as I poured myself forth to you – the hurt of memories, the shame that flooded my soul, the guilt that sought to undo me so early in the morning – You knew and Your Spirit spoke back … Remember, you confessed those sins long ago and He was faithful and just to forgive you … Remember, there is no condemnation to those who belong to Christ Jesus … Remember, He throws your sins into the depths of the sea and remembers them against you no more … and with every whisper from the enemy, every attempt he made to wrestle me to the pit, Your Spirit spoke over the whisper with the TRUTH – the TRUTH that I have been set free, that Sin is no longer my master! Father, while these thoughts this morning shook me and surprised me – they didn’t surprise You. You knew … You knew and just minutes after i poured myself out to You – You met me there on the pages of scripture – scripture that I should have read two days ago – but instead found myself reading this morning – not by chance but because You knew I would need to remember you as the one who so long ago pursued me like the shepherd did his sheep, and like the woman looking for her coin – and You watched for me, the prodigal, You met me on the road home – celebrating my return ❤️and freeing me of my shame and guilt 🙌 what wondrous LOVE is this! Not just that You met me then – but that You met me here this morning with the reminder that I WAS lost but then was found! You have rejoiced over me – robed me in the blood of Christ – and stand with me this morning protecting me from the enemy’s accusations of guilt and shame! And to that inexplicable JOY I REJOICE as one who is FOUND and UNASHAMED❤️