What does this mean to you?

dluvs2trvl · Jan 28, 2008

I started this in the main singles forum and it didn't really take off...I'm hoping that maybe some of you might like this idea.

I thought it might be interesting to post a verse or passages of scripture and discuss them to see what they mean to each of us. I hope that we can help each other delve into scripture more without insulting, flaming or debating.

So I'll start...what does this mean to you?

Zechariah 9:12: Return to your fortress, O prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.

FlatpickingJD · Jan 28, 2008

If I didn't misread it in context, it means the Lord will provide, so we need to return to him and be patient. He will provide for the different peoples (tribes) against His enemies, for He sees what is happening.

GritsnGrace · Jan 29, 2008

FlatpickingJD said:
If I didn't misread it in context, it means the Lord will provide, so we need to return to him and be patient. He will provide for the different peoples (tribes) against His enemies, for He sees what is happening.

I got that same thing, as JD. And I believe that, too. because it has happened to me. When I lost my house to fire in 2002. I didn't lose my daughter, which very well could have happened. We were able to replace everything, including the house, and got a few other things, too. (Praise God for insurancce )

dluvs2trvl · Jan 29, 2008

I love what you guys said! And I agree! The other part I like is the thought of being a prisoner of hope! So many times we become prisoners of our pain, our circumstances, our disappointments, etc...but here, it reminds us to be a prisoner of HOPE!!!

GritsnGrace · Jan 29, 2008

Yes, that is exactly what it means! There is always hope, and a light at the end of the tunnel!

dluvs2trvl · Jan 29, 2008

What about this passage of scripture:

Luke 17:1-10:

Jesus said to his disciples: "Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. So watch yourselves.

"If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him." The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!"

He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you.

"Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'? Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'? Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.' "

soccerdad66 · Jan 29, 2008

dluvs2trvl said:
I started this in the main singles forum and it didn't really take off...I'm hoping that maybe some of you might like this idea.

I thought it might be interesting to post a verse or passages of scripture and discuss them to see what they mean to each of us. I hope that we can help each other delve into scripture more without insulting, flaming or debating.

So I'll start...what does this mean to you?

Zechariah 9:12: Return to your fortress, O prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.

When looking at OT Scripture, It's important to look at the content and audience.

It's important to realize that there are passages in the OT that were promises meant specifically for the Israelites, but many promises were meant for both the Jews and new testament church then and now.

Zechariah prophecies had a little of all these aspects, but he prophesied during a time when the Jews were starting to return to Jerusalem, so it's primary audience was the Jews, a message of assurance of Gods faithfulness that he will restore them, and at the same time, likely has implications for us today as well.

FlatpickingJD · Jun 9, 2008

*bump *

What do you say we turn this into our own little on-line bible study group? Correct me if I'm wrong, d, but isn't that kind of what you had in mind when you started this thread?

Anyway, I've read in a few places where a few of us have not been as diligent in our daily readings. Since we are here as much as we are, maybe we could use this as an accountability type thread too?

My idea here is that we tell what passages we've read that day and what we got out of it. Or, if we've struggled with the meaning of particular passages, we can come here and get some insight from others.

So, whaddya say?

ido · Jun 9, 2008

Sounds like a good idea to me.

dluvs2trvl · Jun 10, 2008

Sounds good to me JD and yes, you're right - that's what I was thinking when I started this thread

ido · Jun 10, 2008

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

This scripture has been speaking to me a lot lately. It is a constant struggle to simply lay my burdens at the foot of the cross. But, at the end of the day - it's all I can do. I am powerless over the adversity in my life. I have to trust God and hand it over to Him, b/c I am nothing without Him. I have been working on visualizing myself in each situation that is causing me grief and then literally (visually) laying it at the foot of the cross. Every time I try to take it back and worry about it again - I repeat the visualization exercise. I also remind myself of the following quote from Tom Clancy:

"Fix your eyes forward on what you can do, not back on what you cannot change."

What has happened, has happened. I cannot go back and change it, so I am praying for God to show me what purpose each situation I am struggling with at the moment serves in my life. I have also begun sincerely praying for the people involved in the situations.

justanobserver · Jun 10, 2008

sounds like a really cool idea. will pop in when I can get online.

FlatpickingJD · Jun 10, 2008

flnativegrl said:
2 Corinthians 12:9-10

9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

This scripture has been speaking to me a lot lately. It is a constant struggle to simply lay my burdens at the foot of the cross. But, at the end of the day - it's all I can do. I am powerless over the adversity in my life. I have to trust God and hand it over to Him, b/c I am nothing without Him. I have been working on visualizing myself in each situation that is causing me grief and then literally (visually) laying it at the foot of the cross. Every time I try to take it back and worry about it again - I repeat the visualization exercise. I also remind myself of the following quote from Tom Clancy:

"Fix your eyes forward on what you can do, not back on what you cannot change."

What has happened, has happened. I cannot go back and change it, so I am praying for God to show me what purpose each situation I am struggling with at the moment serves in my life. I have also begun sincerely praying for the people involved in the situations.

I really like that passage too. What it says to me is that we're not perfect, we're who we are and God made us that way. Work with what you have. It's like the Spanish saying "God paints straight with crooked lines."

And I agree, fng, that's all we can do, give it over to God, as hard as that is sometimes.

justanobserver said:
sounds like a really cool idea. will pop in when I can get online.

FlatpickingJD · Jun 10, 2008

I've been reading Job the last few days. What's struck me in the book is that his friends are basically condemning him, saying he's sinned - - without listening to what he's saying or asking what he's done. They've looked at the results, what's happened to him in his life and assumed that God punished him for sins.

ETA: Job wanted his friends to support him and offer words of encouragement. That's all.

The lesson I'm taking from this, on this level at least, is just to try to support my friends when struggles and problems beset them. Listen to what they're saying, and not presume, based on what's happened, that the friend is in the wrong.

My impressions might change as I haven't finished reading the entire book. Have I misread it?

ido · Jun 10, 2008

I've never studied Job intently, but I like the take away that you've settled on.

dluvs2trvl · Jun 10, 2008

flnativegrl said:
2 Corinthians 12:9-10

9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong

I like that scripture as well. It reminds me that when I feel weak and unable to handle a situation - I should get excited because God's power is going to make me strong. It may not be visible on the "outside" in that my circumstances may not change but the way I feel about it or the way I see the situation may change...or it may be very visible on the "outside" in that the Lord will work a miracle and totally turn things 180 degrees...but no matter what - when I feel weak - I need to press on and be excited because the Lord is going to move and His power is going to be made perfect!

Edited to add: I was just looking through a little book I have titled "Praying God's Promises in Tough Times" and I came across a devotion based on this very passage of scripture. One thing that stood out in the devotion was this quote from a prayer prayed by US Senate Chaplain Peter Marshall:

"When we long for life without difficulties, reminds us that oaks grow strongi n contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure"

I like that a lot!

dluvs2trvl · Jun 10, 2008

FlatpickingJD said:
I've been reading Job the last few days. What's struck me in the book is that his friends are basically condemning him, saying he's sinned - - without listening to what he's saying or asking what he's done. They've looked at the results, what's happened to him in his life and assumed that God punished him for sins.

ETA: Job wanted his friends to support him and offer words of encouragement. That's all.

The lesson I'm taking from this, on this level at least, is just to try to support my friends when struggles and problems beset them. Listen to what they're saying, and not presume, based on what's happened, that the friend is in the wrong.

My impressions might change as I haven't finished reading the entire book. Have I misread it?

No, I don't think you're misreading it at all...my bible has notes at the bottom and one of things it says about Job's friends and (this has often brought a smile to my face) is a note about when they sat on the ground with him...the note says:

"Their mere presence was of more comfort to him than their words of advice would prove to be"

I think it's a good reminder that as well intentioned as our words may be that sometimes it's just best to let our presence be of comfort and zip our lips

dluvs2trvl · Jun 13, 2008

I was thumbing through my bible tonight and came across Psalm 139. It's one of my favorite chapters in the bible and verse 13 stood out..."For you created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb"...

I've often reflected on that verse and others in that chapter when I'm struggling with self-esteem and questioning why the Lord created me the way that He did...

Anyways, I started reading a little book that I had received as a gift awhile back but never opened it up to read it. It's one of Max Lucado's - You! God's Brand-New Idea. Made to Be Amazing.

And one of the first pages I read was about Psalm 139:13. This little book is a compilation of thoughts and quotes from other Max Lucado's books. Anyways, the thought regarding this verse really struck me and I thought I would share it with all of you:

"Knitted together" is how the psalmist described the process of God making man. Not manufactured or mass-produced, but knitted. Each thread of personality tenderly intertwined. Each string of temperament deliberately selected.

God as creator. Pensive. Excited. Inventive.

An artist, brush on pallet, seeking the perfect shade.

A composer, fingers on keyboard, listening for the exact chord.

A poet, pen poised on paper, awaiting the precise word.

The Creator, the master weaver, threading together the soul.

Each one different. No two alike. None identical.

I really liked that...I liked the part that says - each thread of personality tenderly intertwined. It just painted a different picture for me. My mom knits and crochets and it's amazing to watch her as she takes yarn and creates something beautiful from it...each stitch has a purpose in the pattern...without one the design wouldn't work.

That's like us - each part of us - each freckle - each hair - our eye's - our smile - our bone structure - all are important and come together to make us...yes, I may not be beautiful according to the world's standards but the Lord chose each part of me and He put them all together because He thought they all fit perfectly. He was the artist who created me and just like some like modern art - and some like minimalism - and some like impressionistic and others prefer realism...all art is beautiful and unique in it's own way - and each part of it was chosen and placed specifically because the creator used their artistic eye and saw beauty in their creation.

That's us - God used is artistic eye and created each of us because He saw beauty in His creation - it was on purpose - not on accident - he didn't just take leftover clay and slam it all together cause He was in a hurry - NOPE! He knitted each of us together in our mother's womb - it was deliberate and purposeful.

Anyways...just wanted to share

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