Ez 25: 8-17

Sorry for the delay, Friday the blogging system was down and yesterday I got up late.

This passage deals with neighboring tribes that have caused turmoil and have been enemies of Israel from the start. Some like the Moabites were given to other tribes like the Ammonites. Others like the Edomites were subject to the sword and were destroyed due to their revengeful nature. The Phillistines were destroyed because they acted in vengeance and "took revenge with malice in their hearts". Whole tribes and mini-nations suffered because of their vengeful and evil hearts. They sought their own desires while neglecting the Lord and in times even mocking God.  I wonder how long we as a nation can be far from this fate as well. Are we or can we be "one nation under God". We serve ourselves and our desires rather than what the Father wants.

While the feet still drain, albeit slower and less each day - I am growing impatient with not being able to go to the gym. Hate this feeling of inactivity! Still this hopefully will teach me patience and trust. Giving a shout out to my friend Andy and his birthday today. Glad to see his faithfulness to our Lord being rewarded as he is able to spend the time with his family and being "off the road". Still I miss him and my other dear friends' ministry and music.

Very thankful I was able to chat with GG last night albeit really late. Glad to see him doing well and enjoying his "perks". Looking forward to seeing and praying with him this weekend.

Prayers for my peeps - marriages to come, children to be born, graduations and careers to start, summer time refreshment for those teaching (Dave, Flo and Mars) and those being taught. Prayers for those who are suffering and in need of healing and in search of employment.

Praise for today - Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!!!!

Ez 25:1-7

Now the Lord will turn His attention on the neighboring areas: Ammon was a country to the north-east of Judah. They were instrumental in the downfall of Judah and were content when the Babylonians destroyed the temple and Judeans were placed into exile. As a result of the their actions, God saw to it that the nation of Ammon would no longer exist. Their "former allies", the Babylonians were ultimately the ones that God used to destroy this nation. The fulfillment of this prophesy proved that Israel's God was the true one.

Today I go to the podiatrist and have the feet checked. Still draining but pain-free, now it's her turn to assess the situation.

Praise for today: that I will praise Him for directing my paths and I will acknowledge Him in all my ways!

Ez 24: 15 - 27

There are some things that I while may understand with my head, I may not with my heart. This is one of those circumstances. Here Ezekiel would lose the "delight of his eyes" (wife) and not be allowed to go through the customary practices of mourning - tearing of clothes, wearing of sack cloths (Jonah), cutting of hair and the covering of half of their faces. They would refrain from eating and lie down and sit on ashes. All outward signs of mourning, be Ezekiel would not even be allowed to shed tears. He did what he was commanded after his wife's death. I don't know if the Lord would ever require that of me, I pray not since the void in my life would take a long time to heal.

Rather he took the time to explain and be an example to the people of what was to come. As he lost the "delight of his eyes" so were the people to lose theirs - their stronghold, their joy and glory. Rather than someone of prominence telling them of the news, a fugitive would be the one delivering the news. That will be the sign from the Lord.

A watchman's job is not easy and it comes with sacrifice and suffering. Still His ways and thoughts are higher than ours.

Praise for today: that He is the same - yesterday, today and forever!

Ez 24: 1:14

God spoke to Ezekiel and told him to mark the date that would start the siege and downfall of Jerusalem. Some feel that it was in January 588BC - 2 years and 5 months after Ch. 20. The poem of the pot is interesting. The meat and best bones were the people and the leaders of Jerusalem and the point was to get enough wood to get the pot hot enough to burn the impurities away. The pot was Jerusalem itself. While the meat was cooking, the pot which was damaged to start would not burn away it's impurties to be ususable at all.Just like the sin and carnage that was happening in this city - it no longer had any use and had to be destroyed. The only way the pot was to be usuable again was to reforge the molten metal into a usuable pot again. The similarities between Jeremiah and the potter are very striking, however here it is about a city en masse, while in the Jeremiah case - it was the individual that had to be molded into a usuable instrument. Only through the fire would the Lord's weath be satisfied.

I guess the same could be said of us. We need that "road to Damascus" experience where the shales can be removed from our eyes so that we can see with His eyes and be humbled enough to be used. Only when we are on our knees can we see His purpose and will for us.

Recovery is slow but progressing. Still leakage from both feet but the holes are getting smaller. Pretty soon, a "normal" life can be possible. Still trusting in Him for all things.

Praise for today: that He does give us Sonshine after the rain.

Ez 23

Finally after a long delay, I am back. Mostly because I forgot my power cable to my laptop which was the driver for this. Ez. 23 basically talks of two sister (Samaria and Jerusalem) whose lewdness and prostitution of themselves bore judgement on both. Samaria was lusting after the Assyrians and gave herself to their ways  and let the Lord down hard!. They were assimilated and plundered by the Assyrians to the point of losing their status and nearly their identity and were ulitimately despised for it - even until Jesus' time. Jerusalem was soon to be captives as well with "suitors" on all sides and again they will be getting their "just desserts". God will not be mocked and has (at the end of the chapter) Ezekiel "pssing judgement" on them as well.

Good weekend, God-daughter's graduation and dinner (magna cum laude) on Saturday - decided to stay home and "prep" the home for the occassion at our house. Church was great and the luncheon and dinner was good as well for Irene.

I was blessed to chat, encourage and pray with GG on Sat as well. God is good, all the time!

I am slowly recovering from my surgery - still have issues on the left foot but they will pass in time. Other than that, just grateful and thankful for my mom and Irene's mom as well.

Praise for today: that He is my rock and salvation!

Ez 22

The attention now is turned upon Jerusalem - and its leaders. Ezekiel is challenged to "judge" or pronouce judgment on this city and its leaders. The idol worship, the innocent bloodshed , the oppression of the fatherless, the alien and the widow have left a bitter taste in the mouth of the Lord. Slanderous men who have done detestable things (v 10-12) to bring upon themselves God's wrath. They have been bold in their actions, almost to the point of pretending to be courageous. Will their courage take them through their destruction? Still it is the analogy of dross of fine metals in the flame to purify the quality of the metals is what is the most striking. The finality of their actions will culiminate in their ultimate destruction,

V. 23-31 speaks directly to the lack of true prophesy that existed in the land. One who is striving for holiness will hear the voice of God directing his/her path. Thus was not the case here. It was the priests/prophets role to move us toward His holiness. I am glad that I belong to a church and has a pastor that doesn't water down the Gospel. We need to hear more messages about His holiness rather than pretend it doesn't exist and thus we become insensitive to the True North and the Higher road. Richard Halverson commented upon this passage in a different way - we need to become men of availability to His calling. We need to step out beyond our box and look beyond our prejudices and become men of vision - whose feet are on the ground but whose eyes are on the far horizon. Far sighted and selfless men - men with a goal. Men of integrity  who are dedicated to God and His holy, high purposes.

I need to recognize that our God is bigger than life and my circumstances. I do praise Him today for that.

Ez. 20:45 - 21

v. 45 of this chapter should really be the start of the next chapter since it talks about the imminent destruction of the South via fire. This was to be an all consuming fire that would not be stopped and destroy those who mocked God saying all that He does is speak in parables. According to historians, this occurred in 586 BC. The next part speaks of the judgement of the "sword" against Israel which became the Babylonian captivity and the dismantling of the Israel nation.This would affect "good and bad" people so that all would know that the Lord means business. Ezekiel is saddened since he knows what the Lord will and can do and yet all he can do is let them know. He cannot change their hearts or their ways - only the Lord can. They are "passed the point of no return" (POTO). v 14-17 shows the extent of His anger and Ezekiel's lament. The next thing for  Ezekiel to do is to lay down the path by which this is to be done. Heavy is his heart but it wasn't that he didn't see it coming.

I am doing something that I very rarely do... not go to church. It was advisable given that our church doesn't have a parking lot and we have to find street parking, sometimes a distance away. Still it grieves me not to be there and worship Him. The feet are still recovering and there is still leakage with the wounds that are healing. Very disconcerting to say the least, but still I am giving Him praise and thanksgiving for all He has done and brought me through. I enjoy the quietness to some extent but still .... Maybe I'll crank up some movies to watch on BluRay as some have suggested until the family comes home.

I read about my friend Heather and all that she is and has gone through. Her posts are deep and thought provoking and while we have never met, her and her family's plight has touched me and so I keep her in prayer. Father, carry them through this season of suffering as they have gone through much - I lift them up to you daily for their bread and your care.

Praise for today - that He alone is worthy of my praise and that He will carry me and others through.