56th Week Hosesa Chapters 8-10 (Click on Title for Video Introduction)

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Click on Title for Video Introduction



Monday, Hosea Chapter 8
Hosea 8
Verse 4
Tanya Ruden
September 28, 2006

Verse 4:  They set up kings without my consent; they chose princes without approval.

THOUGHT
I don’t know how many of you are in an election year in your state, but in Kansas we have our Governor election this year. Ads have been popping up more and more, and when I read this verse, it made me think of an ad I saw last night.  I was thinking, how could someone vote for him?  He appears so cocky. Is this how I should think about voting?  

This thought brought me back to the verse.  We should begin praying for the person, whether Republican or Democrat.  We should pray for the outcome that happens. I know praying for our leader and officials is what the Lord would want of us.  I have really fallen short.  

This is something for all of us to consider, especially if you have some elections in your area this year.

PRAYER
Dear Jesus, You have placed us on this earth to be Your disciples, to live, reflect and share You with all we meet. But You also call us to be citizens of our area.  Help us to fulfill our duties as ‘townspeople’ and vote and pray for our elected officials. Help us to never have ‘kings’/officials without Your approval.  Also, watch our mouths so that our words would never be badly spoken of our officials.  May we always support them so that it is a reflection of our community and our commitment to You to be stewards.  Tongue bashing is not a proper action of one of Your disciples. AMEN




Tuesday, Hosea Chapter 9
Hosea 9
Verse 10
Tanya Ruden
September 28, 2006

Verse 10:  But when they came to Baal Peor, they consecrated themselves to that shameful idol and became as vile as the thing they loved.

THOUGHT
The footnotes to this verse talked about how the Moabites worshipped Baal and did terrible actions.  They enticed the Israelites to do the same.  “They became as corrupt as the gods they worshiped. People take on the characteristics of what or whom they love.” This quote made me think about what we worship.  Do we take on characteristics of  the things we love? 

You know how some married people begin looking like each other after they have lived together for a while?  Some people look like their animals.  I also thought about the saying, “You are what you eat.”   Do people who worship exercise become too physically fit?  You can tell people who love cars by the car they have and how they take care of it.  I really don’t know the answer or if this was what the author had in mind.  I just thought that it was an interesting analogy.

Point - Wouldn’t it be great if people mistook us for Jesus? I don’t mean literally, but if our worship for Him was so great that when people met us they would say, “Man, I can see Jesus in them. Their eyes look like I would envision Jesus.”  Or the way that situation was handled was like how I could imagine seeing Jesus react in the same way. When I was growing up and even today, my mom would have a saying about some people. She would say, “I can see the love of Jesus in their eyes.”  

I pray we all are worshipping the right God and not wrong idols so that we would reflect His love when we meet people.

PRAYER
Dear Jesus, there are so many idols around us.  There are new cars, possessions, food, fun things to do, but so often we do these things, and they become a part of our character. Our character should be You. We should be a reflection of You taking on Your characteristics through our worship of You. Help us never worship idols - ONLY YOU. AMEN

Wednesday, Hosea Chapter 10
Hosea 10
Verse 12
Tanya Ruden
September 28, 2006

Verse 12:  Sow for yourselves righteousness,
    reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground;
    for it is time to seek the LORD,
    until he comes and showers righteousness on you.

THOUGHT
After I read this, I wanted to say ‘AMEN’ - like at the end of a sermon. This verse compares us to a field. In this verse he is saying the field is ready to be planted, the ground is prepared for planting - smooth with no rocks, etc.

Are our lives ready for God to work in them? Are you harboring unhealthy things in your heart?  Do you have a place prepared for God to work in? I was thinking. If I owned farmland, and I hired someone to care for it; and it was a mess, never plowed or ready for planting, he would say, “Well, we have our work cut out for us.” He could help prepare the land and make wheat (Kansas reference).  

The same is with God.  If your heart is a mess, and God is having a tough time shining his light in it, pray to Him about it.  With His help, clean up your heart and prepare it to be a place where righteousness can be sown.  You will then reap the best of the best.  If your heart is ready for God, and He is alive, be sure and ‘water’ Him and care for Him so your ‘crop’ can be the best ever.

PRAYER
Dear Jesus, help us never harbor hard feelings in our hearts. Help us let go of them and make our hearts a pleasant place for You to do Your work in our lives.  When we allow it to become ‘rocky’, help us turn to You for help to make it ‘plantable’ again. Work Your righteousness in our lives. Shine Your light in all we do.  AMEN

Thursday, Bible Facts
1.  The first printed Bible was the Gutenberg, which appeared in 1456 with text in Latin. 
2.  In 1535 the first complete English Bible was published by Miles Coverdale.
3.  The King James Bible appeared in 1611.  This was one of the great achievements of King James I of England's reign. 
4.  Presently there are many versions of the Bible, translated into 1,900 languages.  
5.  Most people in the world can hear it being read or can read it for themselves in words they can understand.  

Friday,  Meet Tanya and Heather, Jean's Daughters


Heather is on the Left and lives in Maple Grove, MN, with her husband, David.  She a CPA with a MBA and works for Entegris.  They are currently living in Singapore on a work assignment with her job.  David has his MBA and works for General Mills in IT.  They love to travel, have a weekly podcast called Marriage and Money - David & Heather Proehl and a weekly YouTube called Singapore Expat.  The Lord is their strength and companion wherever they go.  

Tanya is on the right and lives in Des Moines, IA, where she shares her life with husband, Alan Ruden, owner of 4 Orange Leaf stores;  Daughter, Sierra, Sophomore at UNI; Crystal, a senior at Urbandale High School and son, Tony, 13 years of age.  Tanya is also a CPA and works for American Equity.  Their lives are busy with school and sporting events.  Christ is a large part of each of their lives.

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