March week 2 Reflections - The Greatest Commandment

OT Narrative
- Each person has strengths and weaknesses. Utilize and hone strength so that the weakness will be overpowered by his/he strength!
- Levites are like first borns, segregated for the Lords!
- Puzzling why the cloud of smoke keeps moving when original interpretation by scientist said the cloud of smoke comes in fact from the volcano in the region!
- Blowing of trumpets (in effect sound of music) always bears significant impact to either people going to battle or a major event needing the Lords presence. Maybe a good way to start praise and worship to sound the trumpet too! Battle against principalities and power!
- Numbers 10: 10. It seems only the Israelites are complaining, but here we see Moses likewise complaining to the Lord!
10 Moses heard the people of every family wailing at the entrance to their tents. The Lord became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled.11 He asked the Lord, “Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me? 12 Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you promised on oath to their ancestors?13 Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep wailing to me, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ 14 I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. 15 If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.

0 Psalm 51
 Create in me a pure heart, O God,  and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

NT Narrative
- The oldest and greatest commandment bears 3 words: LOVE ONE ANOTHER
- The woman pouring expensive perfume on Jesus feet still amazes me to this day. Especially if it was sung with the song "Alabaster Box".
- Strategy of warfare has always been 'striking the shepherd' so the sheep will be scatterred. 

March wk1 Reflections - Unacceptable Sacrifices!??

OT NARRATIVE
- Not all sacrifices are pleasing to the LORD! Not everything that counts can be counted.
- More words-more mistakes. Brevity the brother of bravado.
- Power of the spoken word. But still - out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. So be careful what we put inside our hearts.
- Eating but never satisfying. Drinking but never quenching. Planting but never reaping. Result? Discontentment. Maybe designed by God that our contentment rest in Him and in Him alone.
- Levites (musicians) were set apart. They have no ownership whatsoever in the land, only the maintenance of the temple, tabernacle and the worship place.
- NAZARITES - if we are being chosen by the Lord to do a special task, just obey, and if we dont, consequences will follow. (Samson the Nazirite)

Proverbs 10:19Sin is not ended by multiplying words,  but the prudent hold their tongues.

Proverbs 10:20-21: The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value. The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of sense.

Proverbs 10:22The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it.

Leviticus 25: 20 Your strength will be spent in vain, because your soil will not yield its crops, nor will the trees of your land yield their fruit.

NT NARRATIVE
- Whoever is not against us is for us! (Or the enemy of your enemy is your friend!)
- Being hopeful in what we don't see. Tough but doable.
- I need to remind myself of this - that in order to lead - become the greatest servant of all!
- May we never be like the donkey who was the medium of Gods as he enters Jerusalem.
- When tempted or tested, ask God to drive away the naysayers in order that His Will be done.
- Give to ceasar what is to Ceasar, and to the Lord what is to the Lord.
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Hebrews 11

11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Mark 10: 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”