Daniel 1:12-17 Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see." So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead. To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. (Personally done this for 21 days! It's works)
Genesis 1:11 Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so.
Genesis 1:29 Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.
Numbers 11:7 -9 The manna was like coriander seed and looked like resin. The people went around gathering it, and then ground it in a handmill or crushed it in a mortar. They cooked it in a pot or made it into cakes. And it tasted like something made with olive oil. When the dew settled on the camp at night, the manna also came down.
Psalm 51:7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Genesis 43:11 Put some of the best products of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift--a little balm and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds.
Ezekiel 47:12 Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing."
Deuteronomy 8:7 For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land--a land with streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and hills; 8) a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; 9) a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.
Song of Solomon 2:5 Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love.
Numbers 13:23 When they reached the Valley of Eshcol,[1] they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs.
1 Samuel 14:27 But Jonathan had not heard that his father had bound the people with the oath, so he reached out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it into the honeycomb. He raised his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.
2 Samuel 17:29 Honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from cows' milk for David and his people to eat. For they said, "The people have become hungry and tired and thirsty in the desert."
Leviticus 11:9-12 Of all the creatures living in the water of the seas and the streams, you may eat any that have fins and scales. But all creatures in the seas or streams that do not have fins and scales--whether among all the swarming things or among all the other living creatures in the water--you are to detest. And since you are to detest them, you must not eat their meat and you must detest their carcasses. Anything living in the water that does not have fins and scales is to be detestable to you. (Wait, no more all you can eat crab legs?) ;)
Deuteronomy 14:9 Of all the creatures living in the water, you may eat any that has fins and scales.
Luke 24:42-43 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence.
Ezekiel 4:9 Take wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and spelt; put them in a storage jar and use them to make bread for yourself. You are to eat it during the 390 days you lie on your side. (ouch) Gluten free?
Jeremiah 41:8 We have wheat and barley, oil and honey, hidden in a field.
Isaiah 7:15, 22 He will eat curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right. And because of the abundance of the milk they give, he will have curds to eat. All who remain in the land will eat curds and honey.
Proverbs 27:27 You will have plenty of goats' milk to feed you and your family and to nourish your servant girls.
Isaiah 7:22 And because of the abundance of the milk they give, he will have curds to eat. All who remain in the land will eat curds and honey. (MmmmmmMILK! Does the body good!)
The commitment of our time, talent, and treasures begins with prayer.
Our invitation to prayer is seen in three simple yet very consistent commands: Ask! Seek! Knock!
Matthew Henry says it as such in his commentary, "Ask, Seek, Knock in one word say 'Pray; pray often; pray with sincerity and seriousness; pray and pray again; make conscience of prayer, and be constant in it; make a business of prayer, and be earnest in it'..."
Further Breakdown:
Ask, represents your wants to God, referring to Him for support and supply.
Seek, implies more than just asking. It is the pursuit in our prayer. Search in the scriptures for what you have asked. Matthew 13:45 sums it up quite nicely, "...the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls..." We must seek for that which we ask.
Knock, suggests even more. We must not only ask and seek, but knock! Knock as one who strongly desires to enter the house would knock. To to be admitted into communication with God being taken into His Kingdom and Everlasting Love.
So next time you enter into prayer don't forget to A.S.K.
Ask persistently.
Seek diligently.
Knock continually.
Because... "how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!" -Matthew 7:11b
Lately, I've been seeing a lot of videos and such about "stuff" people say. (For example: Stuff Obama Says, Stuff Gangsters Say, Stuff Nobody Says, Etc.... )
So I thought I'd join the VIRAL movement and add: "Stuff "Jesus Says!
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and everyone who humbles himself will be exalted.
These are only a few things Jesus said, my hope is that you don't stop here... Read for yourself to see what other "stuff" He said.
Thanks for reading!
Blessings,
Michael Paul
PS. I know the Words of my Savior are not just "stuff" ...hence the quotation marks, it's only a play on the other videos and columns who are expressing things said.
Jesus Christ is the "route" through all 66 books in the Bible.
In Genesis He is the Seed of the Woman.
In Exodus He is the Passover Lamb.
In Leviticus He is Our High Priest.
In Numbers He is the Pillar of Cloud by Day and the Pillar of Fire by Night.
In Deuteronomy He is the Prophet "like unto Moses."
In Joshua He is the Captain of Our Salvation.
In Judges He is Our Judge and Lawgiver.
In Ruth He is Our Kinsman Redeemer.
In 1 & 2 Samuel He is Our Trusted Prophet.
In King and Chronicles He is Our Reigning King.
In Ezra He is Our Faithful Scribe.
In Nehemiah He is the Re-builder of the Broken Down Walls of Human Life.
In Esther He is Our Mordecai.
In Job He is Our Ever Living Redeemer.
In Psalms He is Our Sheppard.
In Proverbs & Ecclesiastes He is Our Wisdom.
In Song of Solomon He is Our Lover and Bridegroom.
In Isaiah He is Our Prince of Peace.
In Jeremiah He is Our Righteous Branch.
In Lamentations He is Our Weeping Prophet.
In Ezekiel He is the Wonderful Four-Faced Man.
In Daniel He is the Fourth Man in the Fiery Furnace.
In Hosea He is the Faith Husband Forever Married to the Backslider.
In Joel He is the Baptizer with the Holy Ghost and Fire.
In Amos He is Our Burden-Bearer.
In Obadiah He is Our Savior.
In He is Our Great Foreign Missionary.
In Micah He is the Messenger with Beautiful Feet.
In Nahum He is God Our Avenger.
In Habakkuk He is the Evangelist Pleading for Revival.
In Zephaniah He is the Lord Mighty to Save.
In Haggai He is the Restorer of the Lost Heritage.
In Zechariah He is the Fountain Open to the House of David for Sin and Uncleanliness.
In Malachi He is the Son of Righteousness Rising with Healing in His Wings.
In Matthew He is the Messiah.
In Mark He is the Servant.
In Luke He is the Son of Man.
In John He is the Son of God.
In Acts He is the Holy Spirit Moving and Working Among Men.
In Romans He is Righteousness of God.
In 1 Corinthians He is the Rock of Israel.
In 2 Corinthians He is the Triumphant One.
In Galatians He is Your Liberty that Sets you Free.
In Ephesians He is Christ of Unsearchable Riches.
In Philippians He is Your Joy.
In Colossians He is Your Completeness.
In 1 & 2 Thessalonians He is Your Hope.
In 1 Timothy He is Your Faith.
In 2 Timothy He is Your Stability.
In Titus He is Truth.
In Philemon He is Your Benefactor.
In Hebrews in the the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant.
In James He is the Power Behind Your Faith.
In 1 Peter He is Your Example.
In 2 Peter He is Your Purity.
In 1 John He is Your Love.
In 2 John He is Your Pattern.
In 3 John He is Your Motivation.
In Jude He is the Foundation of Your Faith.
In Revelation He is Your Coming Again.
He is the First and the Last.
The Beginning and the End.
The Keeper of Creation and the Creator of All.
The Architect of the Universe.
The Manager of all Time.
He Always Was, Always Is and Always Will Be.
He is Unmoved, Unchanged, Undefeated and Never Undone.
He was Bruised and Brought Healing.
He was Pierced and Eased Pain.
He was Persecuted and Brought Freedom.
He was Dead and Brought Life.
He Is Risen and Brings Power.
He Reigns and Brings Peace.
HE IS...
LIFE!
LOVE!
LONGEVITY!
LORD!
HE IS...
GOODNESS AND KINDNESS!
GENTLENESS FROM GOD!
HE IS..
HOLY!
RIGHTEOUS!
MIGHTY AND POWERFUL AND PURE!
HIS WAYS ARE RIGHT!
HIS WORD ETERNAL!
HIS WILL IS UNCHANGING!
AND IS MIND IS ON ME!
HE IS MY REDEEMER!
HE IS MY SAVIOR!
HE IS MY GOD!
HE IS MY PEACE!
HE IS MY JOY!
HE IS MY COMFORT!
HE IS MY LORD!
AND... HE RULES MY LIFE!!!
I literally couldn't say it any better than this little guy!
Jesus Christ is the single living thread that runs throughout the entire Bible
Let me first clarify by saying this post has nothing to do with the Giants vs Patriots in the Superbowl.
BUT, don't stop reading now, because it does have some great practical application you can use for your life.
In Numbers 13 and 14 we are given an account of how the Israelites let the size of the Giants discourage them from the size of the Grapes, thus preventing them from entering the Promise Land.
Here is the background: God told Moses to send out 12 men, a leader from each ancestral tribe to scout the land that He was giving to the people of Israel. So Moses sends out the 12 with directions to look over the land, and see what it is like. Assess the people: Are they strong or weak? Are they few or many? Observe the land: Is it pleasant or harsh? Describe the towns where they live: Are they open camps or fortified with walls? And the soil: Is it fertile or barren? Are there forests? And try to bring back a sample of the produce that grows there... this is the season for the first ripe grapes. With that they were on there way.
Notice out of all that Moses asks, he really only wants to know two things:
1st: The people who occupied the land; And 2nd: The lay of the land and the produce that occupied it.
As we read on we get details about their exploration of the Promise Land:
They arrived at the Eschol Valley and cut off a branch with a single cluster of grapes--it took two men to carry it--slung on a pole. After forty days of scouting the land they returned home. (Wow, those must have been some big grapes!)
Once they returned home they presented themselves and their findings before Moses and the whole congregation of the People of Israel and reported the story of their trip: We went to the land to which you sent us and, oh! It does flow with milk and honey! Just look at this fruit! (Here's where the discouragement creeps in) The only thing is that the people who live there are fierce, their cities are huge and well fortified. Worse yet, we saw the descendants of the Giant Anak. The congregation begins to uproar as they here about the giants! (Wow, those must have been some big giants!)
Caleb interrupted calling for silence and said: Let's go up and take the land now! We can do it!
Then verses later Joshua joins in Caleb's claim saying: The land we walked through and scouted out is very good land--very good indeed. If God is pleased with us, He will lead us into that land, a land that flows, as they say, with milk and honey. And He'll give it to us. Just don't rebel against God! And don't be afraid of those people. We will devour them! They have no protection and God is on our side. Don't be afraid of them! -Numbers 14:6-9 MSG
Joshua and Caleb already had the Mind-Set on the Size and Reward of the Grapes! On the 'Promise' of the Land! Unlike all the others who focused more on the 'problem' of the land rather than the promise.
Problem Mindset people say: Yeah, there are grapes BUT do you see the size of those Giants!
They let the giants of their lives grow way bigger in comparison to the grapes in their lives.
Promise Mindset people say: Yeah, there are giants BUT do you see the size of those Grapes!
They let the size of the grapes in their lives tower over the opposition of the giants in their lives.
WHAT A PRACTICAL APPLICATION!
Joshua and Caleb were able to fulfill the will of God because of their faith.
Listen to their faith-filled words:
"He'll lead us into the land, and He give it to us. Just don't rebel against Him. Don't be afraid of the opposition. They have no protection and God is on OUR side! Don't be afraid! He will give us what He has promised, if He is pleased in us." Numbers 14:6-9 [The Message]
Now listen to God's response:
"...because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to and his descendants will inherit it." -Numbers 14:24
"...not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb and Joshua..." -Numbers 14:30
It is impossible to please God without faith. (Hebrews 11:6)
Chances are when you are about to step into the "Promise Land" of your life Satan is going to bring opposition in many different shapes and sizes. More often than not, "the sign" to let us know we are about to walk into our land flowing of milk and honey are the giants.
So when opposition does appear in your life, (and it will) recognize it for the sign it is, "wholeheartedly" seek God, Release your Faith, and walk into your Reward!
The following story is a real life testament of how Amazing God is.
Last night, after shooting some basketball with my friends, I was walking to my truck excited about attending Wednesday Night Worship at St. Andrew's, when all of the sudden this man called out and asked me if I knew where the Russell House was. He then went on to explain that he was late for his A.A. Meeting, and that he really needed to find that house. I told him that I had no idea where the house was, but he was more than welcome to join me at Worship. Besides the church was literally two blocks down the street. Immediately he agreed, jumped in my truck and we were on our way. In our short trip we shared as much as you possibly can when meeting a person for the first time. It is here where I learned his name was Albert Ray Howington. That he was from Greenwood, South Carolina, that this was his first day in Charleston, that this was the first day he had been sober in a long time, and that he was homeless. We pulled into the parking spot and I asked Albert if I could pray for him before we went into the church. He said most certainly and uttered maybe this is just what I needed. I prayed a simple prayer which more or less went like this:
Lord, I thank you for my new friend Albert. I pray that you meet him tonight in service, so that his life would be different from this day forward. I pray that you help him find a place to sleep tonight and that your peace rest alongside him. In Jesus Name, Amen.
We walked in and I introduced Albert to my best friend Diane whom, I mentioned to him earlier that she would be meeting us there. He said, Wow! She really is beautiful. (Way to go Al!) We then proceeded to take our seats. To say that we attended a worship service would be giving the worship team and St. Andrew's Church a major disservice. We took part in a Worship Experience! It was a true Love Encounter. It was as if God's own hand was resting on people's hearts. We literally soaked in His Peace. It was Simply Surreal.
As the service ended, I went and got Albert and noticed something about him had changed. Nonetheless, I said lets find you a place to sleep tonight. As we walked to the truck, Albert told me that He gave His life to Christ while sitting in the church. He said he never felt anything like that before. I knew exactly what he meant and said there is nothing like it. Nothing Greater than it, Nothing Stronger than it. We jumped in the truck and I grabbed the Bible I always keep with me. I opened it and wrote:
To Albert Ray Howington. From: Michael Paul Steele. For your new found life and new found joy! 1/18.12.
Albert said that was the first Bible he had ever owned in 51 years of his life. I told Albert that he was no longer 51 years old, that he was born again and that he was now "one day" old. Albert loved that and we both laughed. We then took off to find Albert a room for the night. The first place we stopped was $74 a night. I said Albert let's try somewhere else. The second place we tried was $65 a night. Getting a bit discouraged I said Albert let's try one more place. We then pulled into the "Master's Inn" walked in only to find the employee literally sleeping on the couch in the lobby. (It's okay to laugh, we did too) After two attempts, the lady finally woke up and said I'm so sorry, how can I help you? I told the lady I needed a room for my friend Albert, and proceeded to ask her how much a room would be for one night? She said $42! I said Albert we found you a room! As the nice lady did our paperwork to secure the room, I asked her what her name was... She looks up at me and says, "Faith." I immediately look over at Albert and he began crying, which then caused me to begin to cry as well. The same Love Encounter we experienced earlier at church literally manifested itself right inside the lobby at the Master's Inn. Faith looked at us both kind of funny, and I smiled and told her it's impossible to please God without Faith. :)
Albert and I grabbed his belongings along with an extra pair of socks, and a fleece I so happened to have in my truck and we went to his room. Albert couldn't stop thanking me and His Savior for the Grace that was displayed in his life that night. I told Albert I loved him and that's what we are called to do... Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind; and love your neighbor as yourself.
I prayed with Albert and he too added into the prayer this time saying, Thank you God for my new friend, for my new life and for a warm place to lay my head, In Jesus Name, Amen.
I smiled. Got in my truck waved to my new friend Albert Ray Howington, and drove home. On my way home Albert called me to thank me once again and to tell me that as soon as he turned on the television they were talking about Jesus!
The term "hump day" is used in the context of climbing the proverbial hill (Wednesday) to get through the rest of the week.
My suggestion: Before you "get over the hump" try USING IT!
Once you've climbed that well-known hill. Take a moment. Breathe. Revel in the moment of making it thus far! People don't climb to the top of Mt. Rushmore just to track back down! They take a moment to bask in their accomplishment. To look at their new found view! To reflect back on the climb and finally to contemplate their next journey.
They...
USE the H.U.M.P.
H- Highlight and emphasize the moments of your week that help build confidence.
U- Utilize the hill to gain a new perspective for the rest of your week.
M- Motivate yourself with an activity that inspires you to conquer the rest of the week.
P- Persevere in your course of action, always looking and thinking forward.
Here is how I use the HUMP in my life.
I reflect and Highlight on what I've been apart of this week. Yesterday, I served alongside my friends at Hot Dog ministry. A moment I cherish every week in which I get the opportunity to help others, catch up with friends, and share my faith.
I Utilize my new perspective to look forward and prepare for what the rest of my week holds; which in my case is my Thursday morning Bible Study.
The pinnacle of my hump is Wednesday Night Worship at St. Andrew's Church. It Motivates me to keep on keeping on. It is my life's "refresh button." (If you will.)
And finally with my new perspective, gained confidence, and refreshed zeal, I Persevere.
The driving force in my walk is my faith in Jesus. For it is He who is truly highlighted. It is He that gives me the new perspective. It is He that motivates me to continue my life's journey. It is He that allows me to run with perseverance the raced marked for me. For it is He who I fix my eyes upon. It is He who is the pioneer and perfecter of my faith.
For Jesus too climbed a hill in His life. He climbed it carrying the cross, scorning its shame for the joy set before Him. And when He got to the pinnacle of that hill, He was nailed and died on that cross. For You and me. So in closing, I ask you to consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart in your own life's journey. [Hebrews 12]
We were the joy set before Him. Now He is the joy set before us!
This thought came into my mind as I was reading in my Bible in The Gospel of Matthew, "...when an angel of the Lord appears to Joseph and says you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:20-21).
Jesus translated from Hebrew literally means "God rescues."
"... for He will save His people from their sins."
Christ translated means "the anointed one."
So Jesus' name literally means "The Anointed One who will save His people from their Sins."
Wow. Thank you Jesus for living up to (and dying to) YOUR GREAT NAME!
So it brings me back to my question, Do you know the meaning of your name?
My name Michael Paul means "Who is like God?" and "Humble"
Boy, do I have some owning up to! Thanks Mom and Dad! ;)
Here are some names and their meanings of my friends and family:
Diane means "divine"
Sarah means "princess"
Anna means "favor" or "grace"
Joseph means "He will enlarge"
Nathan means "to give"
Elizabeth means "God's promise"
Emily means "rival" or "emulating"
Matthew means "Gift of God"
Charlie means "free man"
Stephanie means "crown"
Jason means "healer"
