Exodus 20:2, 3 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shall have no other gods before Me
Deuteronomy 5:6,7 I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.
Deuteronomy 5:29 . . . fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!
Deuteronomy 8:19 It shall come about if you ever forget the Lord your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I testify against your today that you will surely perish.
Psalm 81:9 Let there be no strange god among you; Nor shall you worship any foreign god.
2 Kings 17:35 . . . with whom the Lord made a covenant and commanded them, saying, “You shall not fear other gods, nor bow down yourselves to them nor serve them nor sacrifice to them.
God wants us to keep Him first and foremost in our hearts and minds. In fact it is a commandment, the first commandment. I believe they are all important, but I think that first one is the most important. He deserves to be honored and revered, and wants to make sure our selfish, self centered minds remember that He created all, ALL. He knows all, is everywhere, sees our sins and our good deeds, He knows our hearts, and He knows the creatures He created, and the ease with which we often think we are the most important in our narrow world.
Because He knows who and what we are, how easily we slide into selfishness, He designated the first commandment to be remembering He alone is God, our Creator, and He made it ALL. We need to revere Him. It is so awesome to realize how all things interconnect—our world is awesome!
Think of our bodies. We breathe in and out, usually with ease, and probably rarely think of the act. Our heart beats routinely, sometimes maybe speeding up with exercise, or getting excited or frightened—but it’s automatic. If you need a bit more blood flowing for a while, then your heart speeds up. You take in food and drink which all gets swallowed and processed, eliminated once the necessary nutrients are taken from it via intestines or kidneys. How cool is that! God conceived that humans would live and process air and food in this manner. We have miles of blood vessels to deliver oxygenated blood to all our cells, tissues, and organs, and miles to bring the old blood back to the lungs and heart to be refreshed and renewed with new oxygen to go about its design as He set up. Wow!
But He did it for all creatures! Fish swim and eat what God has provided, using their gills to “breathe” and suck out the oxygen in a manner that is right for them. Dolphins and whales need to to breathe air, but live underwater, so they need to be able to exchange air with a quick surface, then can swim and live their lives during sea mammal things.
God created trees, all sorts of different trees. Some are fruit producing, some are sap producers and show off gorgeous colors at different times of the year. Some are so sturdy and mammoth and with root systems that are not too deep, but may extend out several feet in all directions. There are multiple and varied flowers and plants, sometimes many different kinds within one species. How awesome is our God?! He created all.
I want to always keep it in my mind how wonderful, powerful, loving and creative is our God. Living in this area, we can have remarkable sun rises, and stunning sunsets. We can see the ocean come in and out each day—sometimes with a temper and impressive power, other times with serene beauty. But that is another of His creations—and it serves us food, through educators with National Geographic, Smithsonian and others, we can be taught about the world beneath the ocean teeming with life, fish, coral and all. It all interacts and both land and waters give us food, beauty, and many reasons to be thankful.
My God is such an awesome, loving creator and He CHOSE me. Wow!
I I am the Lord thy God, thou shall not have any gods before me (idols, foods, and on and on…)
II Thou shall not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain
III Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day
These are the top three, and these are all about recognizing God is Supreme, He deserves to be honored, and thanked each and every day—including times when things may not be running smoothly. We are blessed. We are chosen, and our God loves us. He wants to see us prosper.
Father, my God, thank You for ALL Your creations. You are an awesome God. Thank You for all Your blessings for me and ‘mybellaviews.’
Matthew 6:19-21 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Hebrews 13:5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Ecclesiastes 5:10 Whoever loves money, never has enough.
Proverbs 11:4 Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.
So often, we grumble about inconveniences, and never fully realize how blessed we are in this country.
Last year, we had a shock dealing with limited access to some supplies, being fairly sequestered from others—and thank YOU God that there is enough technology in this country to allow us to have ZOOM meetings and connections, people had the ability to work from their homes via computers and means of maintaining contact long distance, we could locate masks and go to the grocery stores and buy most of what was needed. . . . but we had a minor taste of doing without. And we grumbled.
We gave little thought to the people living in countries who always do without, and the murmuring continued and the fears and anxieties in many were rampant. I didn’t have this fear and anxiety, and was more than a little surprised at my friends who refused to want to socialize even outside, staying 6-8 feet apart. My neighborhood is a close knit group. We frequently socialize with one another, have a celebration with a huge crowd, and we look out for each other. It was so different during the initial hype of COVID—and that was bothersome to me. From a nursing point of view, I could get it, but for the general mental and emotional health of all, I thought it detrimental.
Certainly, I used and followed the mask mandates, washed hands frequently, avoided over crowding, but I did think it good and healthy to see people at least outside. And doing ZOOM bible studies, or attending church online I thought repeatedly we are so blessed to live in this country and have access to this kind of technology. So there were things that were difficult to adapt to last year during the months of unease with COVID, but in comparision to what others live with on a daily basis in many of these poor, overcrowded, under-priveleged countries, we have no reason to gripe, complain, or be irritated.
The world dealt with COVID, and our country was able to be vaccinated sooner, and although we lost many thousands of people to the ravages of this virus, most had little reason to truly gripe and complain. We have the means to bathe, to boil water, to feed ourselves (for the most part) and reach out via phones, televisions, ZOOM, computers, and in many other ways. We should be thankful for where we are and all that we have, the many blessings, and remember that our occasional inconveniences are many other peoples daily life, unending.
We have riches, we have dollars and we are not always wise with what we have been blessed with. We do not always share and make available for others. Frequently, we spend just on a whim, to fill a momentary want or desire, and think nothing of it, because we have it, fairly easily. I want to spend more time remembering many others do not have the blessings I enjoy, and pray that I will be less nonchalant with all the He has blessed me with.
Thank You, LORD, for You have abundantly blessed me, and at times I forget and grumble, and don’t spend wisely, and don’t appreciate all luxuries available here that are not available through much of this world. I am so sorry for my selfishness and impatience with occasionally not being able to fill a desire at the time. You are so abundant to me and ‘my bellaviews’.
Proverb 3:27, 28 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so. Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back and tomorrow I will give it to you,” when you have it with you
Matthew 5:42 Give him to who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
Philippians 2:4-5 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus
Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Hebrews 13:16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Titus 1:16 They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work
Titus 3:1 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work.
Titus 3: 8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works.
James 2:15-17 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead
James 2:26 For as the body without spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also..
James 4:17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin
Hmm, with the number of verses dealing with helping and giving to others (not just financial, but time, service, encouragement, etc), I’d say it’s abundantly clear, He wants us to serve others in much the same way He and then His disciples served.
God wants us to become new creatures, casting out our evil, selfish, self centered ways, and becoming loving and giving, eager to be serving others who need. There are so many people who seem to be natural givers. Mother Theresa, Carrie ten Bloom, and many others, including a couple within my own family. I feel like a Cretan compared to them. (And yes, I know I am not supposed to compare!)
So many passages remind us to do for others; get up, off your duff and do. He doesn’t want us just being mouthpieces, claiming we believe in Him and want to do right, and then largely doing NOTHING. There are always folks worse off than you and you can lend a hand; certainly not necessarily money. (In fact, I am abundantly blessed.) But you can read to elderly persons who can no longer see well enough to, spend time in a library reading to a children’s group, maybe help a young student just learning and having a little problem with math or reading, or some other subject you are good at; you can volunteer to give a young mother a break by babysitting her children so she can go shopping or have an afternoon to herself, perhaps you can mow someone’s lawn, maybe you can make cupcakes when it’s a neighbor’s turn to bake them for her child’s class—and it is one more stress she does not need. Perhaps you can volunteer to pick up groceries for an ill or elderly neighbor. The point is, we all can help others, should help others, and not just see a need and walk past it. Actually do something to help.
I ask God to open my eyes to opportunities to help, and when I hear of a need, I try to act. But I don’t actively seek those opportunities, and that is one area I would like to see change in my life. There are so many things I could do if I knew of the need. But I think I need to step out and find the needs.
I know several from my church who routinely step out. It’s perhaps time for me to hold onto their shirt-tails until I find the avenues to walk and serve. If I can mention several areas of helping others, I ought to be able to find the persons who need those services.
There are many different ways you can find opportunities. You can check with your church—members may know of another member who is ill or needing help, the grocery store sometimes allows folks to put up cards with a request of help, deacons at church are also good resources, one can check at hospitals or you can look at local chapters of Meals on Wheels, elderly facilities such as memory care, nursing homes, and so forth. You can volunteer at a local Salvation Army, Good Will, Food Bank, and so many more resources. It might take some exploring through internet for local opportunities, but they are there. I’ve decided I have sat back long enough waiting for opportunities to present themselves, but I need to step out and seek.
Thank You, Lord, for reminding me of persons from my church for me to reach out and get information. Take me out of my selfish ways to reach out. It is so much better to give than to sit and wait…Thank You for all You have done to guide me and ‘mybellaviews.’
Isaiah 55:2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good and delight yourselves in rich food.
Proverbs 23:4 Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. Proverbs 11:24 One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
Luke 12:15 Then He said to them, “Watch out? Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.
James 5:3 Your gold and silver have become worthless… The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh like fire. This treasure you have accumulated will stand as evidence against you on the day of judgment.
Material things are fairly plentiful in this country. We live a life of luxury compared to the majority of the world, and yet we often grip about some minor inconvenience. Maybe your water has been turned off for a few hours for a main water break someplace requiring repair. Maybe you don’t have instant electricity because of a hurricane, other storm, or just loss of power to your home for some reason. We are accustomed to instantaneous gratification and fulfillment of our “needs.” Yet there are many in this world who have to do without. They do not have what we consider basic needs–easy access to water (and maybe no clean water), electricity, fresh foods–plentiful food, clean clothing, medical or dental care, supplies for basic hygiene–bars of soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes, combs…
For many of us, someone suggests a shopping time, and we go, maybe not even with any intent to purchase anything. After all, you have no need, but then desire kicks in and in my case have purchased something I like, yes, but need, no. I have not used sense in regards to my dollars. And although I don’t shop often, even a couple times a year, makes me think, once the item(s) purchased, that there are some who have no fresh water, no food, no way to fully cleanse themselves or their family.
So often, we grumble about inconveniences, and never fully realize how blessed we are in this country.
Last year, we had a shock dealing with limited access to some supplies, being fairly sequestered from others—and thank YOU God that there is enough technology in this country to allow us to have ZOOM meetings and connections, people had the ability to work from their homes via computers and means of maintaining contact long distance, we could locate masks and go to the grocery stores and buy most of what was needed. . . . but we had a minor taste of doing without. And we grumbled.
For some reason, toilet paper was initially hard to but when COVID first raised its ugly head in this country. The virus caused no GI symptoms, but the product was snatched off the shelves. It truly made me laugh. Again, some spent dollars with no sense.
We gave little thought to the people living in countries who always do without, and the murmuring continued and the fears and anxieties in many were rampant. I didn’t have this fear and anxiety, and was more than a little surprised at my friends who refused to want to socialize even outside, staying 6-8 feet apart. My neighborhood is a close knit group. We frequently socialize with one another, have a celebration with a huge crowd, and we look out for each other. It was so different during the initial hype of COVID—and that was bothersome to me. From a nursing point of view, I got it, but for the general mental and emotional health of all, I thought it detrimental.
Certainly, I used and followed the mask mandates, washed hands frequently, avoided over crowding, but I did think it good and healthy to see people at least outside. And doing ZOOM bible studies, or attending church online I thought repeated we are so blessed to live in this country and have access to this kind of technology. So there were things that were difficult to adapt to last year during the months of unease with COVID, but in comparison to what others live with on a daily basis in many of these poor, overcrowded, under-privileged countries, we have no reason to gripe, complain, or be irritated.
The world dealt with COVID, and our country was able to be vaccinated sooner, and although we lost many thousands of people to the ravages of this virus, we had little reason to truly gripe and complain. We have the means to bathe, to boil water, to feed ourselves (for the most part) and reach out via phones, televisions, ZOOM, computers, and in many other ways, and we should be thankful for where we are and all that we have, the many blessings, and remember our occasional inconveniences are many other peoples lives daily, unending.
We have riches, we have dollars and we are not always wise with what we have been blessed with. We do not always share and make available for others. Frequently, we spend just on a whim, to fill a momentary want or desire, and think nothing of it, because we have it, fairly easily. I want to spend more time remembering many others do not have the blessings I enjoy, and pray that I will be less nonchalant with all the He has blessed me with.
Help me Lord, to spend more using sense and not wasting dollars. I don’t want to be foolish with what You have entrusted me with.
Thank You, LORD, for You have abundantly blessed me, and at times I forget and grumble, and don’t spend wisely, and don’t appreciate all luxuries available here that are not available through much of this world. I am so sorry for my selfishness and impatience with occasionally not being able to fill a desire at the time. You are so abundant to me and ‘my bellaviews’.
Psalm 119:11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Jeremiah 31:33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Hebrews 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hears, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Hebrews 10:16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,” Yes, they ARE different verses, and Yes they do say the same thing. So YES, I think this is important to GOD!
2 Corinthians 3:3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
We are rapidly approaching the 245th anniversary of our country declaring independence from England. Many of the early settlers had arrived here in search of freedom in their religious beliefs, as many kings had declared their own interpretation of the bible, and declared all must follow the king’s beliefs. God’s Word had spread throughout Asia, Europe, and was being carried to “all the nations” as He had written. I never much thought about the fear, the need to express one’s religion and live according to God’s Word, and being told one had to follow the edicts of another in regard to one’s beliefs.
In school there were several things that struck me with this time period. First was that much of the anger and initiation of freedom was begun in Massachusetts with Samuel and John Adams, the Tea Party, and of course, Paul Revere and his infamous ride from Lexington and Concord. My mind recorded the concerns as high taxes, the right to not judge and govern for themselves, and the fact they were being “bullied” to comply to a great they had left, and now still were expected to give wealth to.
Then I began learning more and more of the religious components and how very important God was to these new settlers, and the risks they undertook to arrive here so they could live their lives according to the biblical principles they believed in. I saw the movie, Monumental, with Kirk Cameron. It depicted the persecution of people in the late 1500’s and early 1600’s and their desire for freedom to have and practice their biblical beliefs, even to the point of crossing an ocean and taking the chance of that dangerous, long, and crowded ship ride to reach freedom. The other side was a big unknown.
These people chose to come here because they believed in God, and God’s freedoms listed. They chose that their children’s first readers were verses of the bible. This how the children learned their letters and first words, and obviously were learning the truths held within the covers of this book.
Most families had their own bible and it held a place of honor and easy use within each home. It was the way to end each day, after dinner, to read a chapter or more by candlelight as a family. They took it to heart to learn, study and teach their families God’s Words and His Will. I love the fact that prime readers for these youngsters was all from the bible. There was no ‘See Spot. See Spot Run. Dick played with Jane.’
They learned the Words and thoughts of God early; it was important to many of these early settlers, and they were willing to take a chance it could cost them their lives because His words were so important to them.
So as we approach Independence Day, I hope you remember many settlers came to this country to “be My people and I will be their God.” We all need to remember the basics and get study and learn and love and honor Him the way they did. Thank You, Lord for Your freedoms.
I am so thankful I did some more research regarding this holiday, and realize it was not just leaving English rule, but fighting for religious freedoms, the right to govern our colonies/country, and the right to grow in Your name. I am honored to declare You and all You have done for me and mybellaviews.
Hi, I'm Kathy. Welcome to my website!