A Magnolia's Heart Beats

Note: my IOW Tuesday post is below this one.

Welcome to to TUESDAYS TOGETHER (in the WORD), hosted by DeeDee. We are following a reading plan posted on her blog, I have No Greater Joy... and we gather on Tuesday's to share what we've gleaned. Won't you join in? Click on the button above to read DeeDee's post and link up and share or read what others have gleaned from His awesome Word!

Quite a few things stood out to me this week. It's a long post. I hope you'll stay with me.

Still Going Strong

"When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed them: "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men.Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."

His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ."

~ Acts 5:33-42 (NIV) ~

Is it not precious that the Word of God and the good news that Jesus is the Christ has stood the test of time, when others have failed?! How awesome is it that though many have fought against God, the cause for Christ is still strong and active today?

Delegation is a Wonderful Thing

"In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."

This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith."

~ Acts 6:1-7 (NIV) ~

These men realized they couldn't do it all. Had they not delegated important duties to others, duties they had not been called to do, would the Word of God have continued to spread or would they have gotten caught up in the details? How many would not have come to faith had delegation not been used. This is a useful tool. We cannot do it all, though we feel sometimes we must. Each one of us have been given different spiritual gifts and callings in life. If I were to have continued on myspace and not found this blogging world, what a blessing I would have missed out on. I have been ministered to by so many, and I pray that I also minister to others in my writing. I'm sure that there are alot of people who use myspace as a wonderful ministry tool, and that's their calling. It wasn't mine, however. Praise God that I was led here!

The Strength & Power of God and His Word

"As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. ~ Psalm 18:30 (NIV)

The Hebrew word for perfect is tamiym. It means:

1) complete, whole, entire, sound
a) complete, whole, entire
b) whole, sound, healthful
c) complete, entire (of time)
d) sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity
e) what is complete or entirely in accord with truth and fact (neuter adj/subst)

We can know that God's precious word is perfect in all these ways!

The Hebrew word for flawless is tsaraph. It means:

1) to smelt, refine, test
a) (Qal)
1) to smelt, refine
2) to test
3) to test (and prove true)
4) smelter, refiner, goldsmith (participle)
b) (Niphal) to be refined
c) (Piel) to be a refiner
1) refiner (participle)

God has put His Word to the test for us and it is refined and as pure as He is. There is no error in His Word. What a comfort this is to me.

"For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?" ~ Psalm 18:31 (NIV)

There is no other God that we can or should worship. There just isn't. He alone is God and is worthy of all our honor and praise and worship. Magnify His Name together with me!

It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights." ~ Psalm 18:32-33 (NIV)

Look at the Hebrew word for arms. 'Azar means:

1) gird, encompass, equip, clothe
a) (Qal) to gird, gird on (metaphorical of strength)
b) (Niphal) be girded
c) (Piel) hold close, clasp
d) (Hiphpael) gird oneself (for war)

Oh, be still my heart! Does this not just make you want to sing praises to God? He holds us close and encompasses us, surrounding us with His strength!

The Hebrew word for strength is chayil. It means:

1) strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army
a) strength
b) ability, efficiency
c) wealth
d) force, army

Look at how He enables us to stand as the deer on the heights. The Hebrew word for stand is `amad. It means:

1) to stand, remain, endure, take one's stand
a) (Qal)
1) to stand, take one's stand, be in a standing attitude, stand forth, take a stand, present oneself, attend upon, be or become servant of
2) to stand still, stop (moving or doing), cease
3) to tarry, delay, remain, continue, abide, endure, persist, be steadfast
4) to make a stand, hold one's ground
5) to stand upright, remain standing, stand up, rise, be erect, be upright
6) to arise, appear, come on the scene, stand forth, appear, rise up or against
7) to stand with, take one's stand, be appointed, grow flat, grow insipid
b) (Hiphil)
1) to station, set
2) to cause to stand firm, maintain
3) to cause to stand up, cause to set up, erect
4) to present (one) before (king)
5) to appoint, ordain, establish
c) (Hophal) to be presented, be caused to stand, be stood before

He sustains us with strength, might, efficiency, wealth in Him, and the force of an army to stand in this crazy world we live in and in Him. How great is that?

I know this post was long and I applaud you if you stayed here with me. Now let's give applause to the Lord our God, our Strength, our flawless Word-giver, our holy and risen King. He gives us so much and it just makes me want to give all glory, honor and praise back to Him.