Judges 6:12, 14-17 When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”…The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?’ “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.”
Judges 6:36-40 Gideon said to God, “If you save Israel by me hand as you have promised—look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.” And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water. Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.” That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.
I heard a sermon about God calling Gideon to fight against the enemy armies. Gideon had enough nerve to tell God, He must be mistaken, after all, “I am the smallest and weakest of my family. You must want someone else.” But, God persisted, saying He was not mistaken, and the uncertain, low self-esteem Gideon felt he had to MAKE SURE, really, truly sure. I am sure when the angel called Gideon ‘a mighty warrior,’ he probably looked over his shoulder to see if one of his brothers or a neighbor was approaching. (I mean, hey, God, you talkin’ to me? To me? Ya know I’m a nobody, right? You can’t be talkin’ to me.) I can just hear him sounding like a kid from the Italian section of NY or Boston, can’t you?
So, Gideon, apologetic, but still needing proof God actually meant to choose him, asked God to give him a sign, and told God the sign so he could know with certainty that this message, feeling, was from God, our Creator. And for two nights running, God answered Gideon’s test exactly as requested. The first night He sent enough water on the fleece only, to wring out a full bowl of water; the next night, He had wetness with the dew only on the grass, but none on the fleece.
How exciting was this! I had only to ask God a question, tell Him which outcome would show me a specific direction, and then follow what I was told. Truly, that was about as far as I developed as a Christian for several years. But I hungered for more, although I did not know what I hungered for.
Of course, I was not positive why I was restless, dissatisfied, and wanting . . . .something. I thought it must be I was a single parent going to school full time and working fulltime. I must be yearning for downtime, a day off without school work and a day not full of errands and chores. That will probably fix this. But it did not.
I then started questioning God. Should I do this or this? If this, then You will do that, and if You want me to do that, then You will do this. Anyone who has known me for years, will tell you that is the way I lived for years. I depended on the fleeces to show me His Will. Finally, God was irritated and told me to grow beyond being a child and SEEK Him.
I was not quite sure how to do this. I was watching different preachers on television, we were attending a bible teaching church on the Sundays I was off, I had a close friend and her husband and we would discuss our growth and hunger to have more, and finally, one of the preachers on tv said I had to be responsible for reading His word, for learning who He is, and learning all about Him as He wrote the bible.
And about this time, I read Deuteronomy 6:36 “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah.” And then Matthew 4:7 Again, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ Uh-oh, that is exactly what I had been doing. Yes, testing direction, testing if He would answer and direct my path, and whining if He did not answer promptly. . . . UNTIL He said I needed to grow up and get deeper.
Where to begin? I must say, much of the first five books in the Old Testament left me discouraged. So, I decided to leave that, and move in to the New Testament. Much better, although I did not understand all that I read there either. But I was growing.
Once Gideon believed God did indeed to have him defeat the Midians, he moved confidently. And God certainly did conquer them, again freeing the Israelites from some of their oppression. I wanted Gideon’s confidence. So my reading the bible and attending bible studies and ensuring I was in a bible teaching church continued.
We grow more confident and more in our knowledge when we study and SEEK God. I wish all could know there may be an answer to their restlessness, their yearning, the craving to know and fill themselves with . . .something, can actually be found in God. But I see a lot of head shaking and scoffing at that suggestion oftentimes, and although I don’t hear the words, am sure it is being thought, ‘for sure that is not it.’ People have to be receptive to hear. I pray that perhaps a seed is planted even as the head shakes and it looks as though the thought will be forever spurned; but I don’t know that it was totally discarded, nor do I know who else our Lord may put in this person’s path. So I pray for them.
I continue to pray for all my family; they will seek God and fill voids, bringing more connection into their lives which has NOTHING to do with computers, phones, entertainment, and has more to do with reading and meditating on His Words. Thank You for introducing me to who You are and rescuing me and ‘mybellaviews.’
Genesis 1:1-2 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
Jeremiah 32:17 Ah, Sovereign Lord, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too heard for You.
Hebrews 3:4 For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.
Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
I can’t even imagine the world as dark and formless, but that is what God’s Word says it was before He created the earth, heaven and the world, and its blessings as it is now. His Word describes what this truth is. Since my reality has always been able to see, hear, and learn the differences of just this present world, I have a hard time imagining the almost nothingness, the dark and formlessness and all that He created by speaking it into being. (Well, minus all sorts of inventions, cities, and so on!)
It is so awesome God created the entire world and everything in it. He formed the waters and land, mountains, then day and night, stars, moon and sun. I cannot even imagine since I have always had and experienced the blessings of all this. Being blessed with good eyesight, I can see and identify many different animals; my ears can identify many different bird songs; I can tell which of the neighborhood dogs are barking and so forth. There is so much beauty with the world He created.
Identifying stars in the sky is not one of my strengths, but with the help of an App, I can spot them and see what I am looking at. The few planets we can see are easier for me to identify, but I am thankful technology has advanced enough I can pull out an App that can show me. It is so fortunate to be alive in this day and age when there is so much available for education via an App on a cell phone. Technology has advanced so rapidly in the past twenty years, enabling us to explore areas of the world we may never see or visit.
There are animals we are now able to watch in their own habitat because talented and patient photographers spend hours getting footage which can be made into an educational bit for television, or cell phone or computer. The world feels smaller than when I learned of my grandparents first coming to this country; when I learned of my parents being separated by many countries while my father served as a military man in Germany and my mother remained here. Nothing but letters which took several days to over a week to arrive. My grandparents arrived in the states in the early 1920’s and at that time wondered if they would ever see their homeland again. Yet now, we can easily travel from country to country with the right identifying paperwork. Yet, now the world seems smaller now because so much is easier and quickly accessed. We are able to travel fairly easily, see different lands and cultures, and be exposed to things less than a century ago, were difficult to travel and experience.
Technology has advanced and we are blessed with opportunities to see so much of this gorgeous creation our Lord created from nothing.
He made man to be in His image and gave him reasoning and the ability to make choices. We don’t always make wise decisions with our free choice. Eve was easily led to make a bad wrong choice through her selfish desire, and the human race has continued to let their own whims and wants rule their decisions for the most part. That is sin. And no one has been lived, except Jesus Christ, the Son of God, sinless.
God could tolerate the sins and violence no longer, so had Noah construct an Ark and bring aboard two of every kind of animal as well his three sons, daughters-in-law and his wife. After the flood, they were going to populate the world again.
And did, but the results were the same. We are a selfish, self-centered, self-gratifying animal, and this is the crux of our sinning. Because we have free choice we make choices to please ourselves. And this is sin. No other animal commits sin. That is left to the animal He created in His own image, and the one He opted to give the privilege of being in command of all on the earth, and to have free choice. But having the ability to choose, leads us selfish creatures to sin. We see something, anything we want, and scheme to have it: we want what we want when we want it. Our emotions are complex and lead us to rash behaviors at times.
Jealousy, anger, greed, lust, and envy and so forth lead us to commit sinful, willful behaviors. Sin means we are separated from God. He created man to be in His image, and to have a relationship. Sinning keeps us separated from Him. Through all of time since Eve first convinced Adam to join her in disobeying God, this is what mankind has done. We choose our sinful, selfish, self appeasing choices most of the time than God’s commands.
Oftentimes, we will tell ourselves we are not so bad–even doing a mental comparison with someone else’s behavior–as though that excuses our own. It does not. Many are pretty adept at reassuring themselves they are ‘good people’ so they don’t consider themselves sinners and do not want to listen to the actual Words of God.
I know several people who have this apparently closed viewpoint, and my heart aches for them. But God gave man free choice, reasoning, learning and knowledge, and ability to ferret out His words for themselves and to learn who He is, what He has created and given us, blessed us with, and what He expects. Each has the ability to learn that God sent His only Son to be the final, redeeming blood sacrifice for all. We have only to believe with our heart and claim that Jesus is the Son of God, the Savior and He gave His life so we could be freed of sin. What a concept! Who would do such a wonderful thing?
Jesus, my Lord and Savior died for all who believe in Him and claim Him as the Savior of their life. I am so thankful Jesus holds me and ‘mybellaviews’ in His palms.
Genesis 1:1-5 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day…
Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.
Acts 2:23 This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. (foreknowledge–God knew because it was His plan, long before the earthly birth of Jesus, our Savior)
Romans 8:28-29 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.
1 John 5:11-12 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son f God does not have life.
Revelations 21: 1-7 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heave and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was n more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And He who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also He said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
What do you think is the largest hesitation that folks you know want to avoid following Jesus? Several people I know scoff as they see many Christians preaching one thing and then behaving in a manner different than the one they preach and talk. I think they also are concerned they might have to give up some indulgence they enjoy and don’t want to do that. But they all say the same thing, “I think I’m a good person, so I don’t need that. And I don’t really believe there is a heaven or a hell; when you’re dead, there’s just nothing.” I look at these same people and see frequently how much kinder, loving and good they are compared to me! But that does not save them; and their beliefs will have them spending eternity in hell. And that grieves me through and through.
I do think there are a lot of reasons others tend to resist learning about God and salvation. Yes, there are the supposed restrictions, they feel they might have to spend all their time in church, and “I’m way too busy. And what could church do for me? I can look up anything I have a question about on the internet. Plus, I do good things; I send money to charity, I help neighbors whenever I hear of a need.”
But long before He created all, He had a plan. He SPOKE, and it came to be, He SAW that it was good, and He continued with His organized, methodical plan. Just a dare. Read slowly for yourself and see if it is not mind boggling!
Many people seem to think their entire lives will change from their comfort zone into a weird and different one—folks falling down, yelling and waving their arms and shouting out praises. And I am not denying some of those churches exist. And I agree that is and feels more staged and false.
I find people closest to me, who do not believe, are the most resistant. They frankly say, they believe there is not heaven, Jesus was a nice guy, and make clear with a lot of body language that discussion over, and in a firm voice, say, “Well, let’s disagree to disagree.”
But wait! This is your life. After you die, this body is gone, but you do not want to spend eternity in Hell. You need to have a relationship with Christ, know He died for you so you can live in heaven with Him. I can show you verse upon verse that proves God created the world, that it was His plan all the time to send Jesus to be the last and final sacrifice to free us from sin. But you have to believe Jesus is the Son of God, a part of the trinity of God, and He gave up His life on earth for you, for me, for all who believe in Him.
Please do NOT scoff until you look up the many verses so I can show you… He loves you, He wants to have a relationship with you, He wants you to reside with Him in the New Jerusalem, the eternal heaven, He wants to walk with you through this life, and more. What if I am right and you are wrong? What a price to pay to scoff and reject without doing your own research in His Word. There is no expectation you or anyone else will be perfect. That is not true. Yes, there are some who judge, but His Word already has them earmarked that they will be judged with the same ruler they use toward others, it will be used on them. No one is perfect, and that is not what God’s Word preaches. The only perfect and sinless one is Jesus Christ.
So often, I think these folks are much more Christ-like than me. I still get impatient, frustrated, and many other selfish, self-centered behaviors show up. Yet, I see these folks giving of themselves, some giving of finances, but they are light-hearted, warm, loving and there is such goodness to them. Yet, I know, even as good as they are, God’s Word is clear. ‘You come to Me through My Son, believing He died for your sins, and your sins are forgiven.’
And to read the Bible is almost like treasure hunting. Initially, there may be some areas that are difficult to understand, but the more you read, study, explore, listen to pastors and bible study teachers, the more is unveiled. It’s exciting! But they do not want to open one, even an introductory devotional is put aside. The sense I frequently get, although have not verified, is that they feel they are more intelligent; the already have the answers, and the rest of us are “foolish sheep following some shepherd.”
I can agree that when one initially, especially without attending a bible teaching church, starts reading and delving into the Bible, it feels intimidating and confusing. But the connections are awesome; God used many authors over centuries to write His Words for our benefit, our blessings, and for our eternal life. He had a plan before He created the world, and it is ALL tied together throughout the Old Testament and into the New Testament. It is so humbling to read how He chose you, and wants a relationship with you, not just ‘a la-te-da, continue on your own path’ through your life, but a relationship.
So I continue praying, loving these people, tolerating their skepticism and scoffing. Meanwhile, my heart aches as I would love to know they will be in the New Jerusalem also.
Lord, You know I pray for those I love who do not know You, or even believe in You, never mind know. I am so thankful that I do, You love me, and You are there for me and ‘mybellaviews.’
Genesis 1:26-28 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Malachi 2:10 Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously with one another by profaning the covenant of the fathers?
Isaiah 40:26, 28 Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things, who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, bu the greatest of His might and the strength of His power; not one is missing…have you not known? have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary, His understanding is unsearchable.
Over the years, the large world of ancient days has become more accessible to people. The first couple left the garden and found themselves in a big world, strange and alone. How overwhelming and frightening it must have been! They were outside the garden walls and all the animals Adam had named were roaming out there. . . lions, and tigers, and. . .
God made the sky, the land, water, mountains, flowers, trees, and all the animals until He created Man, created him ‘in Our image’. How vast and wonderful the world (the Garden) must have seemed with its lovely fruit trees, and all sorts of grains to eat. Then Eve chose to entice Adam to also eat something forbidden, to disobey, thus they committed sin, and were separated from God. Now they were alone. More people were born and communities grew; and there was more space to explore and settle, but grievances, anger, jealousy, selfishness grew, leading to more and more sin.
Travel was slow even once the wheel was invented and carts could be attached to animal pulley systems. As transportation advancements were made and people had more and more access to see other areas of the world, they were exposed to different cultures, false gods, and more decadence. The world was beginning to feel smaller and more accessible, slightly less intimidating and differences could be explored.
My grandparents left their homeland in the 1920’s and believed they would never have the opportunity to return and see family and their country and countryside, and all that was familiar, including the family farms. Travel was not as easy and accessible as nowadays. They were on a stinky steamer ship for twenty five days. They were leaving a poor country in the hopes of making a better life. Sheep, cows and stone walls were plentiful in the land they were leaving, but the land and livestock belonged to wealthy land owners and they “rented” space by working for a few potatoes and caring for the animals.
Seeing the Statue of Liberty with her welcoming torch and symbol of freedom must have been overwhelming and touching for all the passengers who made the trip, whether sailing from Ireland or one of the many other countries. The uncertainty, hope and trepidation must have been palpable.
As technology advances, travel improved. Trains were invented, steaming across countrysides, giving faster and easier access to areas, and the world became even “smaller.”
Televisions and cameras were invented; keeping us better informed about what was happening in lands across the oceans from us. Suddenly, animals, lands, foods we might never have an opportunity to experience are at least visually accessible. How awesome! Photographers spend hours in areas many cannot go to because of finances, time, and other reasons which might inhibit them. Not everyone will have opportunity to travel to areas of Africa, South America, Asia, Europe, and so forth. But television has opened our eyes and ears to more—animals not indigent to our area, deserts, mountains, history and cultures, science and technology discoveries; suddenly the world is far more attainable to us, to anyone who has the desire to explore a specific new interest.
We can pull up a video to explore anything we want; a different country, marine life including coral, different fish and mammals that make their home in the ocean. Maybe you want to learn about differences in elephants, or all the big cats of the world. Now, almost as soon as you can think a question, you can find the answers, pictures all contained somewhere within a television show or movie, or on the computer.
What a blessing many of these changes are! Before my husband and I married, we had a long distance relationship for a year. We certainly wrote frequently, but if the missing to hear one another’s voice was too long, we could pick up the land-line and make a call and connect. During this time, I thought often of my parents who also had a long distance relationship in the early 1950’s their sole contact was through letters, and snail mail flowed even slower at that time. I always felt so blessed I could reach out and talk with my spouse when those periods of aloneness grabbed me. I am so glad things have again advanced from the 1950’s. And during the 1920’s, how achingly difficult it must have been waiting a few weeks for letter turn around! There were no telephones then, no ability to satisfy the need to hear a loved one’s voice.
So we are blessed to have so much information and technology at our fingertips. It seems the world is smaller, although God has not changed the dimensions He made it. I love the ease of finding out information in a moment. I have a thought or question and I can key it into my computer or phone and read on.
Certainly there is misinformation available also. The always true information is within the Bible. Years ago, it was more difficult to have a few bibles, and certainly not many different translations. Today, we have access to KJV, NKJV, CIV, ESV, Holman and others which I really like. I own several and have my two favorites, but I frequently check one and see if another’s version has a clearer recitation of the verse. I like to check verses, see the differences in word variation and if I can grasp more from one than another. The fact I have options is great.
But our ancestors had less choices than we can access; money was tighter, there was one family bible, there didn’t seem to be a need for more as it was read from each evening after dinner and before bed.
I am so relieved the world has “become smaller” because of all the advancements made in travel. Prior to 2020’s worldwide issues, one could travel fairly easily throughout the world, and with that ability go on safari in Africa, experience the Taj Mahal, see the glorious Alps and so much more. Each area has its own uniqueness, beauty and culture, special foods and so on.
I am so grateful for all the chances God has placed in my path to experience what many others have not had. Our God is so wonderful and He creates opportunities for each of us to choose, or not choose. Thank You, God, for all the opportunities throughout my life and ‘mybellaviews.’
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Galations 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh
Do you have a vice or a weakness you repeatedly end up letting you get foiled? Is there something you are trying to avoid, not do, and feel like a failure if you find yourself doing the activity? Mine is wine and I really don’t like wine. I have found very few that I truly enjoy the taste of, yet, I will put a glass in my hand at a social event, then agree to a second, and possibly a third if I am not driving, and once home safe and sound, may also have another if there is a bottle in the house.
I have a very slight headache the next day, certainly not enough to even be an annoyance, just enough to feel, and a lethargy, laziness, and realize my ‘ooompf’ has been misplaced. I should avoid wine, but once I have had the initial glass, I cannot seem to do that. This year, I am going to try to avoid all wine, not agree to any, and then give God praise that He has apparently broken this crazy compunction to swallow something I don’t particularly enjoy.
Most people have something that they would like to change; perhaps too much tv, bakery goods or some other sweets, hoarding, smoking, spending money and shopping, and so many other things that one might do. Some do not have issues with bad things, yet over-exercise, spending 3-5 hours with concentrated exercise, maybe to the exclusion of family, tweeting or other facets of social media, concentrating on your phone while out with friends and not talking, but texting with someone else during the time that should be set aside for the persons you are sitting with.
It’s possible to have a weakness, addiction for all kinds of things—not just the biggies of drugs, alcohol, ambling, shopping and stuff, but also the exercise, maintaining a severe unhealthy caloric intake, one too low to keep one’s body functioning.
These traits are perpetuated by Satan when we feel we have an issue and don’t want to continue, or realize we should not continue the behavior for various reasons. ‘Satan, the liar, smoothly whispers that having one glass of wine is manageable, then goes on to say, it is social, you can hold on to one glass for an entire evening. . .’ So I agree to the glass and unfortunately know what will happen.
So I am handing this to God. I have a God-bag where I dump stuff that I need help with and leave it in His hands. The deal is, that when the demon tries to whisper that I have failed, or I could be tempted to fail, I have to forcefully, mentally, push him aside, ask the Holy Spirit for help and know that God will help, and with faith, I will receive the strength to resist the temptation. I purposely remind myself I dropped this issue in the God bag, and God has this now. I trust it will not be a problem this day.
But, I do have to work the steps. I have to ask for help and know it will be given. It helps to have a scripture verse or two regarding temptation at my ready. Satan loves to battle for my mind, reminding me of all sorts of lies to try to entice me to do as he wishes and not as I wish. He doesn’t want me to succeed fighting temptation at all.
It’s early on in 2021, but so far God has helped me beat Satan back every time. I am so thankful I have God/Jesus Christ/ The Holy Spirit all rolled into one to help me win my battles against things I want to master. Thank You, God for helping me defeat the enemy and strengthening me to resist temptation for me and ‘mybellaviews.’
Hi, I'm Kathy. Welcome to my website!