Day 243 of My 4th Bible Study JOurney

Day 243, 30 August 2024 

1) Ezekiel 22,23

Ezekiel 22

The Sins of Jerusalem

1 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
2 (Eze 20:4; 24:6) Now you, son of man, will you judge, will you judge
the bloody city? Indeed, you shall show her all her abominations.
3 (Eze 22:27) Then say, Thus says the Lord God: The city sheds blood
in her midst, that her time may come, and makes idols against herself
to defile herself.
4 (2Ki 21:16; Ps 44:13-14) You have become guilty in your blood that
you have shed and have defiled yourself with your idols which you have made.
And you have caused your day to draw near and have come to your years.
Therefore I have made you a reproach to the nations and a mocking
to all countries.
5 Those who are near and those who are far from you shall mock you,
you of infamy and much turmoil.
6 (Isa 1:23; Eze 22:27) The princes of Israel in you, every one according
to his power, have been bent on shedding blood.
7 (Ex 22:21-22; Dt 27:16) In you they have treated father and mother lightly.
In your midst they have dealt with the stranger by oppression.
In you they have vexed the fatherless and the widow.
8 (Eze 20:13; 22:26) You have despised My holy things and have profaned
My Sabbaths.
9 (Lev 19:16; Hos 4:10) In you are men who carry slanders to shed blood.
And in you they eat at the mountain shrines.
In your midst they commit lewdness.
10 (Lev 18:19; 18:7-8) In you they have uncovered their fathers' nakedness.
In you they have humbled her who was unclean in her menstrual impurity.
11 (Lev 18:15; 20:17) One has committed abomination with his neighbour's wife,
and another has lewdly defiled his daughter-in-law. And another in you
has humbled his sister, his father's daughter.
12 (Dt 27:25; Eze 23:35) In you they have taken bribes to shed blood.
You have taken usury and increase, and you have injured your neighbours
for gain by extortion, and you have forgotten Me, says the Lord God.
13 (Isa 33:15; Eze 21:17) Therefore I have struck My hand toward
your dishonest gain which you have made, and toward your blood which has been
in your midst.
14 (Eze 17:24; 21:7) Can your heart endure, or can your hands be strong
in the days that I shall deal with you? I the Lord have spoken and will do it.
15 (Dt 4:27; Zec 7:14) I will scatter you among the nations and disperse you
in the countries and consume your filthiness out of you.
16 (Eze 6:7; Ps 83:18) You shall profane yourself in the sight of the nations,
and you shall know that I am the Lord.

[1] Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
[2] Now, thou son of man, wilt thou judge, wilt thou judge the bloody city?
yea, thou shalt shew her all her abominations.
[3] Then say thou, Thus saith the Lord GOD, The city sheddeth blood in the
midst of it, that her time may come, and maketh idols against herself to
defile herself.
[4] Thou art become guilty in thy blood that thou hast shed; and hast
defiled thyself in thine idols which thou hast made; and thou hast caused
thy days to draw near, and art come even unto thy years: therefore have I
made thee a reproach unto the heathen, and a mocking to all countries.
[5] Those that be near, and those that be far from thee, shall mock thee,
which art infamous and much vexed.
[6] Behold, the princes of Israel, every one were in thee to their power to
shed blood.
[7] In thee have they set light by father and mother: in the midst of thee
have they dealt by oppression with the stranger: in thee have they vexed
the fatherless and the widow.
[8] Thou hast despised mine holy things, and hast profaned my sabbaths.
[9] In thee are men that carry tales to shed blood: and in thee they eat
upon the mountains: in the midst of thee they commit lewdness.
[10] In thee have they discovered their fathers' nakedness: in thee have
they humbled her that was set apart for pollution.
[11] And one hath committed abomination with his neighbour's wife; and
another hath lewdly defiled his daughter in law; and another in thee hath
humbled his sister, his father's daughter.
[12] In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and
increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and
hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD.
[13] Behold, therefore I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain which
thou hast made, and at thy blood which hath been in the midst of thee.
[14] Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the days that
I shall deal with thee? I the LORD have spoken it, and will do it.
[15] And I will scatter thee among the heathen, and disperse thee in the
countries, and will consume thy filthiness out of thee.
[16] And thou shalt take thine inheritance in thyself in the sight of the
heathen, and thou shalt know that I am the LORD. 

Jerusalem as God's Furnace

17 The word of the Lord came to me, saying:
18 (Ps 119:119; Isa 1:22) Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross
to Me. All of them are bronze and tin and iron and lead in the midst
of the furnace. They are the dross of silver.
19 Therefore thus says the Lord God: Because you all have become dross,
therefore, I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem.
20 As they gather silver and bronze and iron and lead and tin into the midst
of a furnace to blow fire on it to melt it, so I will gather you in My anger
and in My fury, and I will lay you there and melt you.
21 Indeed, I will gather you and blow upon you in the fire of My wrath,
and you shall be melted in the midst of it.
22 (Eze 20:8; 20:33) As silver is melted in the midst of a furnace,
so you shall be melted in the midst of it. And you shall know that
I the Lord have poured out My fury upon you.

[17] And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
[18] Son of man, the house of Israel is to me become dross: all they are
brass, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they are
even the dross of silver.
[19] Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye are all become dross,
behold, therefore I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem.
[20] As they gather silver, and brass, and iron, and lead, and tin, into the
midst of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it, to melt it; so will I gather
you in mine anger and in my fury, and I will leave you there, and melt you.
[21] Yea, I will gather you, and blow upon you in the fire of my wrath, and
ye shall be melted in the midst thereof.
[22] As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall ye be melted
in the midst thereof; and ye shall know that I the LORD have poured out my
fury upon you.

Indictment of Sinful Leaders

23 The word of the Lord came to me, saying:
24 (Isa 9:13; Jer 2:30) Son of man, say to her: You are the land that
is not cleansed nor rained upon in the day of indignation.
25 (Hos 6:9; Jer 2:34) There is a conspiracy of her prophets in her midst
like a roaring lion ravening the prey. They have devoured souls. They have
taken the treasure and precious things. They have made many widows
in her midst.
26 (Lev 10:10; 1Sa 2:12-17) Her priests have violated My law
and have profaned My holy things. They have made no distinction
between the holy and profane, nor have they shown the difference
between the unclean and the clean, and they have hidden their eyes from
My Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.
27 (Eze 22:13; Isa 1:23) Her officials in her midst are like wolves ravening
the prey by shedding blood and destroying lives in order
to obtain dishonest gain.
28 (Jer 23:25-32; Eze 13:6-7) Her prophets have daubed them with whitewash,
seeing vanity and divining lies for them, saying,
"Thus says the Lord God," when the Lord has not spoken.
29 (Eze 22:7; Ex 23:9; Isa 5:7) The people of the land have used oppression
and exercised robbery and have vexed the poor and needy and have oppressed
the sojourner wrongfully.
30 (Jer 5:1; Eze 13:5) I sought for a man among them who would build up
the hedge and stand in the gap before Me for the land so that I would not
destroy it, but I found no one.
31 (Eze 7:8-9; 9:10) Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them.
I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath.
Their own way I have recompensed on their heads, says the Lord God.

[23] And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
[24] Son of man, say unto her, Thou art the land that is not cleansed, nor
rained upon in the day of indignation.
[25] There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a
roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken
the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the
midst thereof.
[26] Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things:
they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they
shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes
from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.
[27] Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to
shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.
[28] And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing
vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when
the LORD hath not spoken.
[29] The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and
have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger
wrongfully.
[30] And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and
stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I
found none.
[31] Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed
them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their
heads, saith the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 23

The Sins of Oholah and Oholibah

1 The word of the Lord came again to me, saying:
2 Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother.
3 (Lev 17:7; Jos 24:14) And they committed harlotries in Egypt.
They committed harlotries in their youth. There their breasts were pressed,
and there their virgin bosom was handled.
4 (Eze 16:8) Their names were Oholah the elder and Oholibah her sister.
And they were mine, and they bore sons and daughters. As for their names,
Samaria is Oholah, and Jerusalem is Oholibah.

[1] The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,
[2] Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother:
[3] And they committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed whoredoms in their
youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there they bruised the teats of
their virginity.
[4] And the names of them were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister:
and they were mine, and they bare sons and daughters. Thus were their names;
Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah.

Samaria

5 (2Ki 15:19; 16:7) Oholah played the harlot when she was Mine. And
she lusted after her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbors,
6 who were clothed in purple, captains and rulers, all of them desirable
young men, horsemen riding on horses.
7 (Hos 5:3; 6:10) Thus she committed her harlotries with them, with all those
who were the chosen men of Assyria, and with all on whom she doted,
with all their idols she defiled herself.
8 (Ex 32:4; Eze 23:3) She did not forsake her harlotries from the time
in Egypt. For in her youth they lay with her, and they handled her virgin
bosom and poured their harlotry upon her.
9 (2Ki 15:29; 17:23) Therefore I have delivered her into the hand
of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians after whom she doted.
10 (Eze 23:29; Hos 2:10) They uncovered her nakedness. They took her sons
and her daughters and killed her with the sword. And she became
a byword among women, for they had executed judgments on her.

[5] And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine; and she doted on her
lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbours,
[6] Which were clothed with blue, captains and rulers, all of them
desirable young men, horsemen riding upon horses.
[7] Thus she committed her whoredoms with them, with all them that were the
chosen men of Assyria, and with all on whom she doted: with all their idols
she defiled herself.
[8] Neither left she her whoredoms brought from Egypt: for in her youth they
lay with her, and they bruised the breasts of her virginity, and poured
their whoredom upon her.
[9] Wherefore I have delivered her into the hand of her lovers, into the
hand of the Assyrians, upon whom she doted.
[10] These discovered her nakedness: they took her sons and her daughters,
and slew her with the sword: and she became famous among women; for they had
executed judgment upon her.

Jerusalem

11 (Jer 3:8-11) Now her sister Oholibah saw this, but she was more corrupt
in her inordinate love than she, and in her harlotries more than her sister
in her harlotries.
12 (2Ki 16:7-15) She lusted after the Assyrians her neighbors,
captains and rulers clothed most gorgeously, horsemen riding on horses,
all of them desirable young men.
13 Then I saw that she was defiled, that they both took the same way.
14 (Eze 8:10; Jer 22:14) So she increased her harlotries. And she saw men
portrayed on the wall, the images of the Chaldeans portrayed with vermilion,
15 girded with belts on their loins, exceeding in dyed attire on their heads,
all of them looking like officials, after the manner of the Babylonians
of Chaldea, the land of their nativity.
16 (Eze 16:29; Mt 5:28) And as soon as she saw them with her eyes,
she lusted after them and sent messengers to them into Chaldea.
17 (Eze 23:22; 23:28) The Babylonians came to her into the bed of love,
and they defiled her with their harlotry, and she was polluted with them,
and her soul became disgusted with them.
18 (Ps 78:59; 106:40) So she uncovered her harlotries and uncovered
her nakedness. Then My soul became disgusted with her, as My soul
became disgusted with her sister.
19 (Eze 23:3) Yet she multiplied her harlotries while remembering
the days of her youth in which she had played the harlot in the land of Egypt.
20 (Eze 16:26; 17:15) For she lusted after their paramours, whose flesh is
as the flesh of donkeys and whose issue is like the issue of horses.
21 Thus you longed for the lewdness of your youth when the Egyptians handled
your bosom because of the breasts of your youth.
Judgment on Jerusalem
22 (Eze 16:37) Therefore, O Oholibah, thus says the Lord God:
I will raise up your lovers against you, from whom you were alienated,
and I will bring them against you on every side:
23 (Jer 50:21; 2Ki 20:14-17) the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans,
Pekod and Shoa and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them.
All of them are desirable young men, captains and rulers,
officers and men of renown, all of them riding on horses.
24 (Jer 39:5-6; 47:3) They shall come against you with weapons,
chariots and wagons, and with an assembly of peoples. They shall set
themselves against you on every side with buckler and shield and helmet.
And I will set the judgment before them, and they shall judge you according
to their customs.
25 (Eze 23:47; Ex 34:14) I will set My jealousy against you, so that they deal
furiously with you. They shall take away your nose and your ears.
And your remnant shall fall by the sword. They shall take your sons
and your daughters. And your remnant shall be devoured by the fire.
26 (Eze 16:39; Jer 13:22) They shall also strip you of your clothes
and take away your fair jewels.
27 (Eze 16:41; 23:3) Thus I will make your lewdness and your harlotry brought
from the land of Egypt to cease from you so that you shall not lift up
your eyes to them or remember Egypt anymore.
28 (Jer 34:20; Eze 16:37) For thus says the Lord God: I will deliver you
into the hand of those whom you hate, into the hand of those from whom
you were alienated.
29 (Eze 16:39; 23:25-26) And they shall deal with you hatefully,
and shall take away all your labor, and shall leave you naked and bare.
And the nakedness of your harlotries shall be uncovered,
both your lewdness and your harlotries.
30 (Eze 6:9) I will do these things to you because you have gone whoring
after the nations, because you have polluted yourself with their idols.
31 (2Ki 21:13; Jer 7:14-15) You have walked in the way of your sister.
Therefore I will give her cup into your hand.
32 (Ps 60:3; Isa 51:17) Thus says the Lord God:
You shall drink of your sister's cup,
which is deep and wide;
you shall be laughed to scorn and held in derision;
it contains much.
33 (Isa 51:17; Jer 25:27) You shall be filled with drunkenness and sorrow,
the cup of horror and desolation,
the cup of your sister Samaria.
34 (Ps 75:8; Isa 51:17) You shall drink it and drain it,
then you shall gnaw at its fragments
and tear off your own breasts;
for I have spoken, says the Lord God.
35 (1Ki 14:9; Isa 17:10) Therefore thus says the Lord God:
Because you have forgotten Me and cast Me behind your back,
now bear the punishment of your lewdness and your harlotries.

[11] And when her sister Aholibah saw this, she was more corrupt in her
inordinate love than she, and in her whoredoms more than her sister in her
whoredoms.
[12] She doted upon the Assyrians her neighbours, captains and rulers
clothed most gorgeously, horsemen riding upon horses, all of them desirable
young men.
[13] Then I saw that she was defiled, that they took both one way,
[14] And that she increased her whoredoms: for when she saw men pourtrayed
upon the wall, the images of the Chaldeans pourtrayed with vermilion,
[15] Girded with girdles upon their loins, exceeding in dyed attire upon
their heads, all of them princes to look to, after the manner of the
Babylonians of Chaldea, the land of their nativity:
[16] And as soon as she saw them with her eyes, she doted upon them, and
sent messengers unto them into Chaldea.
[17] And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled
her with their whoredom, and she was polluted with them, and her mind was
alienated from them.
[18] So she discovered her whoredoms, and discovered her nakedness: then my
mind was alienated from her, like as my mind was alienated from her sister.
[19] Yet she multiplied her whoredoms, in calling to remembrance the days of
her youth, wherein she had played the harlot in the land of Egypt.
[20] For she doted upon their paramours, whose flesh is as the flesh of
asses, and whose issue is like the issue of horses.
[21] Thus thou calledst to remembrance the lewdness of thy youth, in
bruising thy teats by the Egyptians for the paps of thy youth.
[22] There, O Aholibah, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will raise up thy
lovers against thee, from whom thy mind is alienated, and I will bring them
against thee on every side;
[23] The Babylonians, and all the Chaldeans, Pekod, and Shoa, and Koa, and
all the Assyrians with them: all of them desirable young men, captains and
rulers, great lords and renowned, all of them riding upon horses.
[24] And they shall come against thee with chariots, wagons, and wheels, and
with an assembly of people, which shall set against thee buckler and shield
and helmet round about: and I will set judgment before them, and they shall
judge thee according to their judgments.
[25] And I will set my jealousy against thee, and they shall deal furiously
with thee: they shall take away thy nose and thine ears; and thy remnant
shall fall by the sword: they shall take thy sons and thy daughters; and thy
residue shall be devoured by the fire.
[26] They shall also strip thee out of thy clothes, and take away thy fair
jewels.
[27] Thus will I make thy lewdness to cease from thee, and thy whoredom
brought from the land of Egypt: so that thou shalt not lift up thine eyes
unto them, nor remember Egypt any more.
[28] For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will deliver thee into the hand
of them whom thou hatest, into the hand of them from whom thy mind is
alienated:
[29] And they shall deal with thee hatefully, and shall take away all thy
labour, and shall leave thee naked and bare: and the nakedness of thy
whoredoms shall be discovered, both thy lewdness and thy whoredoms.
[30] I will do these things unto thee, because thou hast gone a whoring
after the heathen, and because thou art polluted with their idols.
[31] Thou hast walked in the way of thy sister; therefore will I give her
cup into thine hand.
[32] Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou shalt drink of thy sister's cup deep and
large: thou shalt be laughed to scorn and had in derision; it containeth much.
[33] Thou shalt be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, with the cup of
astonishment and desolation, with the cup of thy sister Samaria.
[34] Thou shalt even drink it and suck it out, and thou shalt break the
sherds thereof, and pluck off thine own breasts: for I have spoken it,
saith the Lord GOD.
[35] Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast forgotten me, and
cast me behind thy back, therefore bear thou also thy lewdness and thy
whoredoms.

Judgment on the Sisters

36 (Eze 22:2; Isa 58:1) The Lord moreover said to me: Son of man, will you
judge Oholah and Oholibah? Then declare to them their abominations.
37 (Eze 16:36; 16:20-21) For they have committed adultery, and blood is in
their hands. Thus with their idols they have committed adultery
and have also caused their sons whom they bore to Me to pass through
the fire for them as food.
38 (Eze 20:13; 2Ki 21:4) Moreover they have done this to Me:
They have defiled My sanctuary in the same day and have profaned My Sabbaths.
39 (2Ki 21:4; Jer 23:11) For when they had slain their children
to their idols, then they came the same day into My sanctuary to profane it.
And thus they have done in the midst of My house.
40 (2Ki 9:30; Jer 4:30) Furthermore, they have even sent for men to come
from afar, to whom a messenger was sent; and they came. For them you washed
yourself, painted your eyes, and decked yourself with ornaments.
41 (Est 1:6; Isa 65:11) And you sat on a stately couch with a table prepared
before it on which you had set My incense and My oil.
42 (Eze 16:11-12) A sound of a multitude at ease was with her,
and drunkards were brought from the wilderness with men of the common sort.
And they put bracelets on the hands of the women and beautiful crowns
on their heads.
43 Then I said to her who was worn out by adulteries, "Will they now commit
harlotries with her when she is so?"
44 Yet they went in to her as they go in to a woman who plays the harlot.
So they went in to Oholah and to Oholibah, the lewd women.
45 (Lev 20:10; Hos 6:5) But righteous men shall judge them
after the manner of adulteresses, and after the manner of women who shed
blood, because they are adulteresses, and blood is on their hands.
46 (Eze 16:40; Jer 15:4) For thus says the Lord God: Bring up a company
against them and give them over to terror and devastation.
47 (Jer 39:8; Eze 16:40-41) The company shall stone them with stones
and cut them down with their swords. They shall slay their sons
and their daughters, and burn up their houses with fire.
48 (Eze 16:41; 23:27) Thus I will cause lewdness to cease from the land,
that all women may be warned and not commit lewdness as you have done.
49 (Eze 7:4; 9:10) Your lewdness shall be recompensed upon you, and you shall
bear the punishment of worshipping your idols. Then you shall know
that I am the Lord God.

[36] The LORD said moreover unto me; Son of man, wilt thou judge Aholah and
Aholibah? yea, declare unto them their abominations;
[37] That they have committed adultery, and blood is in their hands, and
with their idols have they committed adultery, and have also caused their
sons, whom they bare unto me, to pass for them
through the fire, to devour them.
[38] Moreover this they have done unto me: they have defiled my
sanctuary in the same day, and have profaned my sabbaths.
[39] For when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came
the same day into my sanctuary to profane it; and, lo, thus have they done
in the midst of mine house.
[40] And furthermore, that ye have sent for men to come from far, unto whom
a messenger was sent; and, lo, they came: for whom thou didst wash thyself,
paintedst thy eyes, and deckedst thyself with ornaments,
[41] And satest upon a stately bed, and a table prepared before it,
whereupon thou hast set mine incense and mine oil.
[42] And a voice of a multitude being at ease was with her: and with the men
of the common sort were brought Sabeans from the wilderness, which put
bracelets upon their hands, and beautiful crowns upon their heads.
[43] Then said I unto her that was old in adulteries, Will they now commit
whoredoms with her, and she with them?
[44] Yet they went in unto her, as they go in unto a woman that playeth the
harlot: so went they in unto Aholah and unto Aholibah, the lewd women.
[45] And the righteous men, they shall judge them after the manner of
adulteresses, and after the manner of women that shed blood; because they
are adulteresses, and blood is in their hands.
[46] For thus saith the Lord GOD; I will bring up a company upon them, and
will give them to be removed and spoiled.
[47] And the company shall stone them with stones, and dispatch them with
their swords; they shall slay their sons and their daughters, and burn up
their houses with fire.
[48] Thus will I cause lewdness to cease out of the land, that all women may
be taught not to do after your lewdness.
[49] And they shall recompense your lewdness upon you, and ye shall bear the
sins of your idols: and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.

2) Our Daily Bread for 30 August 2024 titled <a href="
https://odb.org/2024/08/30/whats-in-your-hand-2">What'’'s in Your Hand?</a>

Exodus 4:1-5

Moses' Miraculous Signs
1 And Moses answered and said, "But they will not believe me,
 nor listen to my voice. For they will say, 
'The Lord has not appeared to you.' "
2 The Lord said to him, "What is that in your hand?" And he said, "A rod."
3 He said, "Throw it on the ground." And he threw it on the ground, 
and it became a serpent. Then Moses fled from it. 
4 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Put forth your hand and take it by the tail." 
And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand. 
5 "This is so that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers, 
the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob,
has appeared to you."

[[1] And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor
hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto
thee.
[2] And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A
rod.
[3] And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it
became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.
[4] And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the
tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his
hand:
[5] That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of
Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.

A few years after I received salvation and dedicated my life to God, I felt 
Him directing me to lay down my journalism career. As I put down my pen and my
writing went into hiding, I couldn't help feeling that one day God would call 
me to write for His glory. During my years of wandering in my personal 
wilderness, I was encouraged by the story of Moses and his staff in Exodus 4.

Moses, who was raised in Pharaoh's palace and had a promising future, fled 
Egypt and was living in obscurity as a shepherd when God called him. Moses 
must've thought he had nothing to offer God, but he learned that He can use 
anyone and anything for His glory.

"What is that in your hand?" God asked. "A staff," Moses replied. God said, 
"Throw it on the ground" (Exodus 4:2-3). Moses' ordinary staff became a snake.
When he grabbed the snake, God turned it back into the staff (vv. 3-4). 
This sign was given so the Israelites would "believe that the Lord, the God of
their fathers-the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob-has 
appeared to you" (v. 5). As Moses threw down his staff and took it back up 
again, I laid down my career as a journalist in obedience to God. Later, 
He guided me to pick up my pen again, and now I'm writing for Him.

We don't need much to be used by God. We can simply serve Him with the talents
He's given us. Not sure where to start? What's in your hand?

By:  Nancy Gavilanes

Reflect & Pray

How can you use your talents to serve God? 
How can you use your resources to bless someone today?

Father God, please help me to use my life to honour You.

3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation

Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools

Week 2 - Saved by Grace - Day 6 - It is Finished

John 5:24

24 (Jn 3:18; 1Jn 3:14; Jn 3:36) "Truly, truly I say to you, whoever hears
My word and believes in Him who sent Me has eternal life
and shall not come into condemnation, but has passed from death into life. "

[24] Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth
on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into
condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

"PLEASE BE PATIENT - GOD IS NOT FINISHED WITH ME YET,"
the sweatshirt read. In this case, the message was an ironic one,
for the occupant of the shirt was a snaggle-toothed, freckle-faced six year
old!
In one sense, God is not finished with the work he has to do in each of us.
Life in Christ is an ongoing process of change and growth as we become
more like him. Certainly, the more we see of ourselves, the more we hope
he isn't finished with us!
Yet whatever plans God has for making us into the men and women he created
us to be, certain aspects of our life in Christ are finished, finalised.
Jesus declares with absolute assurance, "whoever hears
My word and believes in Him who sent Me has eternal life
and shall not come into condemnation, but has passed from death into life. "
Because we do not have to earn or deserve God's grace, because we are not
called to prove ourselves worthy of Salvation, we can have immediate
and total assurance of the security of life in Jesus Christ. The one who
put his trust in the Lord has eternal life; he will not be condemned;
he has crossed over from death to life.
This "crossing over" into life happens in the split second when we acknowledge
our dependence upon Christ alone. And the rest of our lives is given over to
the development of his image in us.
God is not finished with us yet.
But his work of salvation is finished - complete,
fully dependable an accomplished fact.

Application

a) Have I ever doubted the "accomplished fact" of my own salvation? Why?

b) How can today's verse help me realise that, although I may have a lot of
growing yet to do, my salvation in Jesus Christ is secure?


4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland

1 Cor 13:3

3 If I give all my goods to feed the poor,
and if I give my body to be burned,
and have not love, it profits me nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor,
and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity,
it profiteth me nothing.

5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:

God's Inexhaustible Strength

Ps 18:30-34

30 As for God, His way has integrity;
the word of the Lord is proven;
He is a shield to all those who take refuge in Him.
31 For who is God except the Lord?
Or who is a rock besides our God?
32 It is God who clothes me with strength,
and gives my way integrity.
33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
and causes me to stand on my high places.
34 He trains my hands for war,
so that my arms bend a bow of bronze.

30 As for God, his way is perfect:
The word of the LORD is tried: He is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
31 For who is God save the LORD?
Or who is a rock save our God?
32 It is God that girdeth me with strength,
And maketh my way perfect.
33 He maketh my feet like hinds' feet,
And setteth me upon my high places.
34 He teacheth my hands to war,
So that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.

Remember God's promises when You pray

The Lord's prayer 

Matthew 6:9-13

9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: 
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 
11 Give us this day our daily bread. 
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: 
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2022 edition?)

Nova Scotia

Total population 942700
Muslim population (est.) 14629

With 6 of the Nova Scotia's 10 universities located in Halifax, there is
a high concentration of Muslin international students in the area,
a harvest field in itself.
Pray for Nova Scotia and her Muslim populations

- in and around Halifax and other cities

- on university campuses

- for new workers among Muslims

- for pastors and churches to be bold in vision, passion and outreach
to Muslims in their areas.

- for Muslims who are searching for a better way to find a Christian friend
to share Jesus with and disciple them

- for Muslim-background believers to be both wise and bold in sharing their
new faith in Jesus with other Muslims

Halifax is the centre of Muslim activity for the Province of Nova Scotia
with at least 10 Islamic centres (mosques) and musallas
(prayer locations, especially for Friday prayer). And there are other mosques
in Chebucto, Kearney Lake, Dartmouth, Bedford and Truro.

Though the original community of Muslims was primarily composed of
newcomers from Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh and India, continued immigration
has further diversified this community. Anf it is said thay Arabic
is the second most spoken language in Halifax.

while conservative estimates place the number of Muslims at almost 15000
in 2014, the Imama of a primary Halifax mosque estimates their population
somewhere between 25000 to 30000.

Adding further

30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020

Under the Keep Praying page

When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.

Acts 2:12-17 : 17 12 They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other,
"What does this mean?"
13 (1Co 14:23) Others mocking said, "These men are full of new wine."

Peter's Speech at Pentecost

14 (Ac 1:26) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice
and said to them, "Men of Judea and all you who dwell in Jerusalem,
let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose,
since it is the third hour of the day.
16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 (Isa 44:3; Ac 10:45) 'In the last days it shall be,' says God,
'that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.'

- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.

- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.

Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."

Ideas for prayer

- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -

Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!

My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity

(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, atheists, secular humanists, ...) 

7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada

http://www.ehc.ca

Day 29 of the Month

a) Pray that God will enlighten those in medicine and health care
to acknowledge the sanctity of life and server with true
integrity and compassion (

Ps 139:13-16

13 You brought my inner parts into being;
You wove me in my mother's womb.
14 I will praise you, for You made me with fear and wonder;
marvelous are Your works,
and You know me completely.
15 My frame was not hidden from You
when I was made in secret,
and intricately put together in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw me unformed,
yet in Your book
all my days were written,
before any of them came into being.

13 For thou hast possessed my reins:
Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:
Marvellous are thy works; And that my soul knoweth right well.
15 My substance was not hid from thee,
When I was made in secret, and curiously wrought
in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect;
And in thy book all my members were written,
Which in continuance were fashioned,
When as yet there was none of them.

)

b) Pray that the Church in Canada will remember the poor
and compassionately respond to their plight (

Gal 2:10

10 (Ac 24:17) Only they requested that we should remember the poor,
which I also was eager to do.

10 Only they would that we should remember the poor;
the same which I also was forward to do.

)

Conclusion:

Pray to the Lord and pray for your nation not to participate 
in the sins of the world.

Pray to the Lord: "Father God, please help me to use my life to honour You."

Pray to the Lord and pray to know the accomplishment of the Salvation
of Jesus Christ in your life.

Pray to the Lord and pray to have true love in you.

Pray to the Lord and pray to know how he guides your steps.

Pray for Muslims and New Brunswick
- that the eyes of pastors, believers and entire congregations will be opened
to see this growing body of Muslims, and their hearts will be opened
to sharing God's love in Jesus Christ with them

- that intentional ministries to Muslims will grow and flourish in these
areas of concentration

- that cooperative CNNMM Networks will form to really, encourage,
and equip believers to lovingly reach Muslims in this province.

Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.

- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people - 
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims 
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days! 

 Pray that God will enlighten those in medicine and health care
to acknowledge the sanctity of life and server with true
integrity and compassion  

 Pray that the Church in Canada will remember the poor
and compassionately respond to their plight

Pray for the successful distribution of Bibles, especially in areas
of heavy persecution in Indonesia .

Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.

Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.
-- 
Member - Liberal International This is [email protected] Ici [email protected]
Yahweh, King & country!Never Satan President Republic!Beware AntiChrist rising!
Look at Psalms 14 and 53 on Atheism ;