That I May Know Him Journal

  On January 28, 2009 an ice storm hit Northeastern Arkansas with up to 3" of ice.  As the day turned into night the ice had built up on the tree's and power lines that was a beautiful sight to behold, but then as the weight began to take it's toll on the tree's, the only sound in the dark was breaking and cracking of branches.  Before morning would hit again over 350,000 people in Northeastern Arkansas would be without power that lasted for weeks. I thought as I was driving down the roads all covered in ice with branches and falling tree's everywhere, "was this God's way of pruning the tree's this winter".  If so, what was he getting ready to do?  Eventually, the lights came back on and life got back to normal.  However, the evidence of the ice storm would remain until the spring that brought new growth.  This storm was brought back to my remembrance tonight while thinking on a thought for a study God has laid on my heart.  It started earlier thi...

The importance of this study is to show how Jesus is both our king and High Priest for all eternity. He was not born in the lineage of the Levites as his earthly father Joseph came from the tribe of Judah. He was able to be both because of the Order of Melchizedek, a time before the Laws of Moses came to be. We will explore who Melchizedek is and how his short story plays a major role even with us today.   The very first time the bible mentions Melchizedek is in Genesis 14. The story is a time when four minor kings rebelled and made war with the five major kings that were joined together in the Vale of Siddim which was a river valley at the salt sea. The minor kings revolted and took all from Sodom and Gomorrah including the family of Abraham. Abraham received word by one man who escaped. Abraham took his men and went after his family. He was successful in retrieving his family, all the people, and all goods that were taken this is known as the Slaughter of Chedorlaomer....

I was lowly, poor, and nothing more than a bag of dirt. I was empty and rejected by man and society before you found me. What was it that you saw that would cause you to choose me?  A king who could have anything took his time with me.  Sat with me.  Made a path ahead of me.   Covered me with peace and mercy.  Clothed me with righteousness and modesty.  Sheltered me in the darkest of days.  Most of all loves me unconditionally.   Just like so many others you walked and talked with, I was nothing until the day you became my everything. You made me somebody as you do with everybody who makes that same decision.    Equality to all who comes to you. Something humanity in itself cannot achieve that can truly only be found in you.  So, I thank you this morning for not just overlooking me. For if you had I would hate to imagine what my life today would be. How truly miserable and unhappy I would be.  My thoughts to someone r...

There is a desire within us all to be close to others, even if we don't like to admit it or have been hurt by someone close and trusted.  God himself created man in his image so he could have companionship.  We have this same yearning not be alone.  I believe there is a season we go through of feeling this loneliness especially if you have asked Him for a deeper relationship.  I have found it is part of understanding him in a way I never thought before. I have been trying to understand this in going through different situation in life and like this past year in social distancing.  When so many people in my life was no longer able to do the "normal" things we use to do together.  It was very easy to feel singled out, all alone.  In prayer and trying to understand this I believe God allowed these feelings into my life in order to better understand his thoughts and feelings when we break that communication with him.  Just as he finally created man an...

This study came to me a little while after the fig study.  I was once again at work and a couple people came into the lab and started a discussion about the Word of God.  In the midst of this conversation another person came in and turned, looked straight at me and said he didn't believe in God that he was an athiest.  That struck curiosity in me and it didn't seem to offend him to answer my questions.  Later, we talked out on the floor where he worked and then I knew this was my next study God was leading me into.   After I realized this I started hearing and seeing things much like when you get another car you didn't realize how many of that same exact car was in your own town. LOL!!!  One Sunday, I was listening to Pastor Trayler and he was doing a chapter study in Revelations about the seven churches. This is where I had to rewrite the beginning of this study.  This new information flowed right into where this study was going.   Oh, ...

How amazing it is to me when I reread part 1 after God revealed "The Beginning The Age of Innocence" and logically what fruit it was that Adam and Eve ate in the garden. Then tying these posts all together. What are the attributes of the fleshly man vs. the spiritual man. Which is pleasing to God, and which attributes do you possess?  There is a choice that we each have to make. You can be like the first carnal man or you may choose to become the blessed second man by submitting your will to God the father.  In making this choice it is a life changing experience from that point on. Exactly, what is it about the first man that displeases God?  Let's take a look back at Cain and Abel.  In Genesis 4 there was something more than a murder that took place.  In my thoughts both sons were born of Adam and Eve.  Surely, they both were told the stories of life in the Garden of Eden, and the events that changed their entire way of living.  How through their...