Daily Bible Study #16

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:11 KJV
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Isaiah 55
1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.

5 Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.

6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

Today I would like to add a video of pastor Jesse as well. I found this gentleman about a year ago and have been trying to listen and validate his authenticity. So far I have not heard any discrepancies. Like stated before I have listened to pastor Arnold for many years now and feel confident in his videos. With that being said, it is nice to see current videos and a new face from time to time. Just a reminder, don’t take mans words for anything. Read it and study it yourself.

As always thanks for reading and God bless.

Animal Fun Facts

Another animal facts article! How fun😊. I truly enjoy writing these articles and plan to write many more. The spotlight will be on the Echidna this time. I am not familiar with the community standards here so just to be safe I will mention that this article contains notes about the male and female reproductive  anatomy of the Echidna. Although I have confidence my readers are mature enough to handle the content.


Echidnas, also known as spiny anteaters, are egg-laying mammals with spiky exteriors native to Australia, New Guinea, Tasmania, Indonesia, and Papua.  The Echidna is usually found in open heathland, forests, woodlands, shrublands and grasslands. They also enjoy scavenging among low vegetation or in hollow logs. The only other egg laying mammal  that is also a marsupial in the world would be the platypus. The name “echidna” comes from the Greek word ékhidna, which means “viper”. It also refers to a mythological monster that was half-woman and half-snake. 

Unlike the porcupine, they cannot shoot quills. Instead they have razor sharp spines made of keratin.  When under attack they can curl into a ball and burrow underground to protect themselves. Echidnas do not have teeth but pads to grind their food, similar to those of the cattle, llama and alpacas. Just like anteaters, they have long sticky tongues to eat larvae, beetles, termites and ants, among other insects. The snout is narrow and the mouth very small. Echidnas are stocky and virtually tailless except for a little bald snub hidden underneath.

They have strong-clawed feet and spines on the upper part of the brownish body. These animals have the lowest internal body temperature of all mammals.  Despite having no external ears, echidnas’ hearing is well above average. They also have electro sensors in their noses and have been known to blow snot bubbles to clear debris from their nostrils. It is speculated that the electro sensors on their snout helps locate bugs deep underground and within tree trunks. Their sense of smell is exceptionally accurate.

Echidnas are powerful diggers, with hind feet that point backwards to help expel dirt away. Local people say the animal can dig holes as fast as a human using a shovel. They are often found digging massive burrows in search of their food. They are also excellent swimmers and tree climbers. It is not unusual to see them high in the trees in search of tree dwelling insects. However, they are slow moving on the ground and can be an easy target. The echidna’s face many predators including foxes, dingoes, goannas, eagles, snakes and tasmanian devils.


  Perhaps what is the most bizarre thing about the echidna is that the male has a four headed penis, which are actually rosette-like glans at the end. Only two of these four glans ever become functional during erection. Which glands are functional seems to alternate between subsequent erections.The male appendages are bright red and retract into the body when not in use, and emerge through the cloaca when erect. Echidna penises are used only for sexual reproduction, unlike most other mammals.

The cloaca is a multipurpose opening for urinating, defecating, and, in females, egg laying. Both males and females have a cloaca. For the males, their testes never descend. Their anatomy does not consist of a scrotum. When not in use, their penises are stored internally and their ejaculate contains bundles of up to 100 sperm that swim cooperatively until they reach the egg. Yep, you read that right, they work together!

From mid-May to early September, male echidnas actively seek out females to mate.They form a line known as an ‘echidna train’, with the female leading the ‘train’, followed by up to ten males. A smaller, younger male is often at the rear of the line.The male suitors follow the female for long distances until the female is ready to mate. She then lies relaxed and flat on her stomach and the males that formed the ‘train’ dig a circular trench around her. Eventually the largest male pushes the competing rivals out of this ‘mating rut’.
He then digs more dirt out from the spot where the female’s tail is resting, lies on his side and places his tail under hers, and they mate.

The female lays a single soft-shelled, leathery egg 22 days after mating, and deposits it directly into her pouch.  At this time it is about the size of a grape. The pouch is a temporary structure and will soon disappear after the baby leaves, usually around twelve months.
Baby echidnas are called puggles and are hairless and blind when hatched. They use a sharp tooth to break the egg similar to the chicken. Puggles drink pink milk from patches on their mum’s abdomen inside the pouch. The females do not have nipples so they release high iron milk into these patches for the puggles to lap up.
Echidna moms leave their babies in the burrow while they forage for food, returning every few days to feed them.
At about a year old it is weaned and begins to live life alone. Echidnas are solitary creatures unless they are with young or in search of a mate.

There you have it folks, the fascinating life of an echidna. If you enjoy this content please hit the like and subscribe buttons for my latest posting. I plan to do more of these in the future as the urge comes along. As always thank you for reading and God bless.

Sources:
https://www.zooborns.com/zooborns/echidna/

https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/solving-the-mystery-of-the-four-headed-echidna-penis

https://www.google.com/search?q=echidna+life+stages+&client

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echidna

https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/goodliving/posts/2019/01/echidna-facts

Daily Bible Study #15

My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? Psalms 42:2 KJV
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Psalms 42
To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah.

1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

3 My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?

4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.

5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.

7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

8 Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.

9 I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

10 As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?

11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

With these Bible studies I strive to meet people where they are in their personal walk with God. Whether you have time for  a verse or an hour long video, I want to help give you a convenient and useful Bible study post for your day. May you read God’s work everyday. Because even in times of trouble, a day in His word is a good day. I am not a preacher nor a teacher, just a truth seekeer.  As always thanks for reading and God bless.

Rhyming

I like poems that rhyme.
They have always been a favorite of mine.
A fun little way to unwind
and pass the time.

What a blessing it is to pick up a pen
and choose a world to dive in.
Do I Choose now or then
or somewhere where it all begin?

The words dance and sway.
A series of rules they must obey.

A set of unique chimes for each new design.
The words dance and sing to their own melody.
On what a sight to see.
Words come alive that came from me.

like a jingle stuck on repeat.
I must find the words to match the beat.
Or the cadance inside my mind
Will continue till the end of time
waiting for the perfect word to complete the rhyme.
With little pieces of me left behind.

Hush

An urge to write takes control
but my mind seems to resist.
Something is amiss.

Words on paper, pictures in my head
But its all just the surface of why I bled.

Words scurry from the lead not wanting to be read. Each time they are brought to light it always means dread.
Unheard, unseen, my bridles tounge bleeds
Knowing silent is always the key

Invalidate, mistake, brush to the side and realize. God hears the silent tears and feels the heavy weight of fears.

Daily Bible Study #14

Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: Joel 2:12 KJV
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Joel 2
1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;

2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.

3 A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.

4 The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.

5 Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.

6 Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.

7 They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:

8 Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.

9 They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.

10 The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:

11 And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:

13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?

15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:

16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.

17 Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?

18 Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.

19 Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:

20 But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.

21 Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.

22 Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.

23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.

24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.

25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.

27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.

32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

As always thanks for reading and God bless.

Man Behind a Desk.

I was scrolling through YouTube reels when I saw this video. The song really spoke to me so I decided to share it here.

Daily Bible Study #13

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20 KJV
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Revelation 3
 

1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

As always thanks for reading as God Bless.

Putting God First



Luke 14:26 King James Version.
26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
In the beginning of my walk with Jesus this verse bothered me. I could not wrap my head around why I must hate my family to love God properly. Why couldn’t I just love them both equally but differently like I do my spouse and children? How could I ever get to the point of loving God so much I hated my family? Was this even possible?

Many years later, as my faith became stronger and more knowledge based, I revisited that very question. How do I put God first? The Greek word is 
miseō (mis-eh’-o) μισέω, which means to love less. So in other words I am supposed to love my family less than God. That made more sense than I expected to hate them. Still feeling confused and like I was missing something I went to God and asked. I asked him to provide me with clarity and wisdom. I asked for a deeper understanding of the subject and the motivation to successfully get to that point in my life.

Not long after, the pieces came together like never before. Matthew chapter 6:33 reads, But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. I was starting to learn If I put God first, all else will fall into place. He will not only lead, guide, direct and protect me, but my family as well. By putting Him first and relinquishing my life to Him, I am giving my family the best possible security I can.

Today, I put God first because I know he will never leave me nor forsake me. He makes a way before me and will never tempt me beyond my capacity without providing a solution. He tells me all things and never changes. He cannot lie and is always looking out for my best interest.  He blesses me abundantly and his grace covers me completely. By putting God first I am forming a bubble of protection around my family in a sense. I know by prioritizing God, everything else will be taken care of, including my family.



How to Put God First

Make Him your very first thought every morning. In the past, the moment my eyes opened my first thought would be whether I had to work or not. With practice, I now thank our heavenly Father for another day to live and another opportunity to serve Him. Each and every day is a blessing and should not be taken for granted. I want my first and last thought everyday to always be God. A major step in putting God first is to make Him your very first thought.

Another way to put God first is to thank him continually for the day to day things. If you get a raise at work, praise God for it. If you slipped but didn’t fall and bust your head open, thank God for your fortune. Maybe your utility bill was a few dollars cheaper, or the day went by without so much as a hiccup. Remember to count your blessings each and everyday and don’t forget about the little things. The little things are so often missed and taken for granted. Just the fact that your eyes are open, you are breathing without help, and your legs function enough to carry you, are more blessings than some people have. Never forget all you possess comes from the Lord. Your physical health, job, financial stability, vehicle, home, mental health, the list goes on and on. If you can’t find a blessing, try changing your perspective.

Trusting in God and His plan for your life goes hand in hand with putting God first. Relinquish the fight to maintain control and allow His will to take precedence in your life. Before making any decisions that have any kind of impact, ask for His counsel and guidance. Pray for His blessings to lead your life according to His will. God has a much better plan for us than we do ourselves. We just have to stop getting in the way and be a willing servant. He will give you sound advice and help in your endeavors only if you are a faithful servant. Philippians 4:6-7 reads
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
And Proverbs 16:3 reminds us,  Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.

Lastly, reading the Bible is a great way to be God oriented. By keeping scripture fresh in your mind it also stays close to your heart. Matthew 15:11 KJV, states “Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.” What you feed your mind will ultimately come out of your mouth. The more you focus on scripture and God, the more it will show in your life as well. The living word will transform your life in unimaginable ways, you just need to read it. The Bible is essentially a guide on how to make it during the time we are in the flesh. It tells us what to eat and what not to eat. It gives answers on how to deal with sickness and disease. It teaches us how to be neighborly and a good friend. The Bible was written to study and implement in our daily lives.


Am I perfect and where I ought to be? No. I am sure my faith could be stronger and my patience longer. But if I look into the past compared to today I have made leaps and bounds in progress. I have a more Christ centered life and strive to serve him each and everyday. I look forward to His guidance and counsel with every decision and remember to thank Him for the abundance of blessings. I tell God often I love Him and ask Him to make known His plan for my life. So that I may follow His will and not my own. I aspire to be a woman after God’s own heart.

Of course, these are not the only ways a person can create a God centered life. There are hundreds of ways to accomplish this. As humans we all have free will. God will never force anyone to do anything. Isn’t that the ultimate test? To see whether we choose God or follow Satan. Everyday is a choice that either brings us closer to God or further away. LITTLE STEPS EVERYDAY MAKE HABITS STAY. What direction are you heading today?

Silence

What is one question you hate to be asked? Explain.

What question do you hate to be asked and why?

I hate to be asked, “how are you?”  I hear this question at least 5 times a day. Each one is the same as the last, superficial and a sentence used to fill space. No one wants a straight answer. I usually reply, “Good, how are you?”, as if I really care. In fact I do not care and neither does the person asking. It’s a mundane thing called pleasantries. If I was to say, “I am in fact horrible today,” I quickly turn the conversation into an awkward and pitiful tone.
Perhaps what bothers me the most is I can feel that the habitual words are lies. I can sense the troubled soul. I can see the weariness in their eyes or the heavy load on their shoulders. I notice the burdens of life taking its toll. The heart aches pulsates from their bones covering their body in a hue of blue. Some are light and wispy but others are dark and cumbersome. I see it and say nothing. Because it is what people do.
“Hey, how are you?”
“I am great. How are you?”
“I am Good.”
Then the conversation ends. Everybody asks but none really wants the truth.
We are taught by society to say nice things, and to participate in this meaningless exchange of words but for what reason other than it is the social norm. I read once that Americans do not know how to handle silence. When two friends get together they feel the need to fill every second of their time with some sort of conversation. The article stated that in other countries a comfortable silence among friends is common and expected. It is a natural part of two people talking. Yet, Americans seem uncomfortable with the lack of words and talk about the whispering wind just to have something to say. Has meaningful conversations become a thing of the past? Conspiracy theories, your hopes and dreams, physics, time travel, relativity, or your fears, I can talk about all day long. But if it is just the surface you want to speak about, leave me out.

Heather Congrove

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