Biblical Shakers

  Click on Title for Video Intro Monday, Ezekiel Chapter 20 Ezekiel 20  Verses 23-24 Bart Strayer Verses 23-24: “I would disperse them among the nations and scatter them through the countries, because they had not obeyed my laws but had rejected my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths, and their eyes lusted after their fathers’ idols.” THOUGHT When we walk away from God, He lets us go through stuff with consequence. I know in my life, it is the consequence of the event that helps remind me that I have gotten too far from God and that I need Him even more in my life. Thank the Lord for that.  For me, I have found that disgust is my most empowering emotion that brings about change. When I go lukewarm, I tend to not care enough to do anything about my problem. However, when I get disgusted, change happens. I would encourage you all to let the misfortunes of your life bring you to a sense of how you have failed and let disgust with your actions bring about a revelation in your ...

Click on Title for Video Intro Monday, Chapter 15 Ezekiel 15 Verse 5 Tanya Ruden Verse 5:  Vines are useless both before and after being put into the fire! THOUGHT Man, and I thought chapter 12 was hard. I read this chapter in 4 different translations trying to find something to discuss, and the one thing that stuck out to me is the calling of the vine as useless.  I have always believed that everything has a purpose.  God didn’t create anything without a purpose.  Using this branch as an example may be a little out of context.   I think the branch on the vine has a purpose — to produce fruit.  But unlike wood that can be used for other things, once it is used for fire fuel, the job is done.  It has no other use. That is the “use” they are trying to illustrate in the example.  The illustration leads to the bigger part of the story, but I didn’t want to focus on that. So, what is your purpose, and are you living the purpose God has set out for...

Click on Title for Video Introduction Monday, Ezekiel Chapter 10 Ezekiel 10  Verse 14 Delores Little Verse 14:  Each of the cherubim had four faces:  One face was that of a cherub, the second the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.   THOUGHT In this chapter the glory departs from the temple of God.  We read of the cherubim that had four faces.  One face was that of a cherub, the second the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.  These heavenly beings typified Jesus Christ as seen in the four gospels.     1. The cherub (was the ox in Ez.1:10). This one represents the most valuable domesticated animal and represents strength and patient service as the servant of God, symbolic of Jesus Christ, as presented in Mark. 2. The face of the man represents the humanity of Christ as prefect, fully human, fully divine, as presented in Luke. 3. The lion represents...

  Click on Title for Video Introduction Monday, Ezekiel Chapter 5 Ezekiel 5 Verse 12 Delores Little Verse 12:  A third of your people will die of the plague or perish by famine inside you; a third will fall by the sword outside your walls; and a third I will scatter to the winds and pursue with a drawn sword.   THOUGHT Today as we read chapter 5, God uses Ezekiel’s hair for telling a message to God’s people.  I noticed he used a sword to cut his hair off and then took a set of scales to weigh it and divide it up.  He split it into thirds and then gave instructions about what to do with it.    1. Burn a third of the hair inside the city. 2. Take a third and strike it with the sword all around the city. 3. Scatter a third to the wind. 4. Tuck the few strands remaining away in the folds of his garment.  5. Take a few strands and throw them into the fire.  The fire will spread to the whole house of Israel. God is really trying to get the peo...

Click on Title for Video Intro Monday, Ezekiel Intro  Ezekiel Intro Jane Jones June 1, 2010 THOUGHT A computer can be programmed to respond at your command, and by conditioning a dog with rewards and punishments, you can teach it to obey. But as every parent knows, children are not so easily taught. People have wills and must choose to submit, to follow the instructions of their parents and leaders. Surely discipline is part of the process---there is a choice to be made. God’s children must learn to obey their Heavenly Father.  Ezekiel was a man who chose to obey God. Although he was a priest, he served as a Jewish “street preacher” for 22 years. Ezekiel was a younger contemporary of Jeremiah. Ezekìel lived what he preached. He had to illustrate his messages with object lessons. One lesson was told of him lying on his side for 390 days during which he could eat only one eight-ounce meal a day cooked over manure.   In this book, we will read the exciting record of Eze...

  Click on Title for Video Intro Monday, I Peter Chapter 5 I Peter 5 Verse 5 Jeanie Boldt  Verse 5:  All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."  THOUGHT Nine years ago I was a very judgmental Christian. I would look at people whose lives were messed up and troubled and wanted just to say, "Get it together." Well once upon a time, I woke up in a mess. It was at that moment that the Lord brought humility into my life and judgment of others out. I found out soon that I had to give it all to the Lord and trust as I had never done before. There is not one soul that is so important or strong that he cannot be humbled.  I thank the Lord for the life I came from. I never really had to experience a lot of strife in my life except for a few years. Now being married to a gentleman that lived in strife most of his life, I have come to understand that people living with hurt, pain, and turmoi...

  Click on Title for Video Intro Monday, I Peter Introduction I Peter Introduction Bart Strayer A FEW THOUGHTS ON PETER As I reflected on Peter, I tried to think of some descriptive words to help set the stage for Peter. When I think of the book of Peter, the following words come to mind: heartache, oppression, suffering, distress, overwhelmed, heartsick, torn, loss of hope, and so on. What I love about Peter is that among these feelings there can be the light of hope and redemption; a redeemer, counselor, and friend. One that is complete in all answers and has the keys to everlasting life in his hands. That person is Jesus. As we will see, following Jesus is not always easy, but we can rest easy, knowing we serve an all-knowing, all-powerful God that loves us and will be with us regardless of the situation.  PRAYER Heavenly Father, we thank You for this time in Your Word. We ask that as we continue our study with Peter, that You bless this time of reading and reflecting on th...