So I started this blog to hold myself accountable for daily Bible study and reflection. Right now, I am using The Divine Mentor,
by Wayne Cordeiro to guide my meanderings. My hopes are that I can
reflect on Scripture and how it applies to my life. Since I plan to
publish a few, I also hope that my thoughts ring true with others as
well. While I am no Bible scholar, I have studied with appetite and
apathy for many years. Since I spend so much time with technology, I
should FINALLY use it for accountability.
– Ozykha
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
– Ozykha
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
My tech? Foolish? No way!
July 1, 2016
My universe becomes smaller with every new app and tech tool. Do I use them to grow closer to my Source? Not usually. I’m beginning this blog in attempt to keep myself accountable to both God and me. Anyone else who comes along for the ride must receive my apologies up-front. It is abundantly clear that I am no pro, just attempting transparency. My responses to Scripture begin with my studies through The Divine Mentor, by Wayne Cordeiro, recommended to me through my church.
Isaiah 1
What a sick world we live in today. As Revelations tells us that in the latter days people will become lovers of themselves, we have birthed a generation of selfie-loving children. Our desire to have all of our “friends” know exactly what we are doing/thinking/feeling at any given moment of the day is a disease of epic proportions. Isaiah has much to say to us in this present condition. We are the sinful nation in 1:4, with bruises, sores, wounds and without health. He warns that the offerings of the people were hated by God because they were from a heart of iniquity. How many times are my offerings like those in Isaiah 1, with dirt ground into my soul by the steady trampling this world offers, a weekly trip to Pamplona? And how do I get clean and healthy, knit back together? By reading God’s Word consistently and with the desire to understand it through my personal microcosm and macrocosm. Thus my challenge to ignore the NUMEROUS distractions surrounding me through the same tech that can help free me.
Isaiah warns that the choices we make will shame us to blushing over them. He’s right. God however does not limit his prophet to words of doom alone. We are redeemed, chosen, wanted.
Isaiah 2
“Stop regarding man…for of what account is he?” – v. 22 ESV
Isaiah warns that we will worship the creations of our own hands. How about the creations that fit in our hands? Access to anything, including the path to darkness and separation from all that is Good. I love my smartphone, my tablet, my laptop AND my desktop. I keep shopping and to-do lists on them and check with friends and family daily, possibly hourly. My tech employs visual and auditory reminders of the numerous responsibilities and goals I have set for myself, therefore driving me further into this world and, in spite of the apps I have to assist me, away from my Father. For what account are our tools and toys?
Isaiah 3
“…the Lord God of hosts is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah support and supply…” –v. 1 ESV
In the battle against worldliness that his people fought in this chapter, God warned that he would take away supplies and allow them to go down a path of total foolishness, a path in which their leaders were ridiculous. Who leads me? Our society sometimes chooses its leaders by convenience, or surface appearance. “You have a cloak; you shall be our leader, and this heap of ruins shall be under your rule;” – v.6 ESV. The leader in this reference even refuses the mantle of leadership. I allow myself to be led by any number of foolish people and pursuits. Later in this chapter, God explains that in their foolish choices, the people will lose all the empty trappings of prosperity that they have collected, including… beautiful HAIR! I can recount many times I have been humbled by the loss of whatever unwise choice I was grasping (thankfully, I’m not bald). I have always thought that God kept me on a tight leash, one that I willingly put on myself. I don’t get very far off the path before I stumble and fall, ensuring that I stay close for my own safety. I need that plan, I fear.
Titus 3
“…and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people,” –v.8 ESV.
I thank God for this man and his Inspired words of wisdom to other believers in his time… er, mine too. My day’s previous readings warn of dangers in my world. Titus reminds me of all the wonderful things to which I should aspire. God’s wonderful Word never leaves us with just a negative. There is always hope in our Savior. I should aspire to these good works, not because they save me from anything, but because I want to be a conduit of Goodness to those around me. How I am thankful for being surrounded by others who want the same! I am thankful to have found a church which provides myriad of opportunities to do good in both my microcosm and macrocosm.
-Ozykhan
My universe becomes smaller with every new app and tech tool. Do I use them to grow closer to my Source? Not usually. I’m beginning this blog in attempt to keep myself accountable to both God and me. Anyone else who comes along for the ride must receive my apologies up-front. It is abundantly clear that I am no pro, just attempting transparency. My responses to Scripture begin with my studies through The Divine Mentor, by Wayne Cordeiro, recommended to me through my church.
Isaiah 1
What a sick world we live in today. As Revelations tells us that in the latter days people will become lovers of themselves, we have birthed a generation of selfie-loving children. Our desire to have all of our “friends” know exactly what we are doing/thinking/feeling at any given moment of the day is a disease of epic proportions. Isaiah has much to say to us in this present condition. We are the sinful nation in 1:4, with bruises, sores, wounds and without health. He warns that the offerings of the people were hated by God because they were from a heart of iniquity. How many times are my offerings like those in Isaiah 1, with dirt ground into my soul by the steady trampling this world offers, a weekly trip to Pamplona? And how do I get clean and healthy, knit back together? By reading God’s Word consistently and with the desire to understand it through my personal microcosm and macrocosm. Thus my challenge to ignore the NUMEROUS distractions surrounding me through the same tech that can help free me.
Isaiah warns that the choices we make will shame us to blushing over them. He’s right. God however does not limit his prophet to words of doom alone. We are redeemed, chosen, wanted.
Isaiah 2
“Stop regarding man…for of what account is he?” – v. 22 ESV
Isaiah warns that we will worship the creations of our own hands. How about the creations that fit in our hands? Access to anything, including the path to darkness and separation from all that is Good. I love my smartphone, my tablet, my laptop AND my desktop. I keep shopping and to-do lists on them and check with friends and family daily, possibly hourly. My tech employs visual and auditory reminders of the numerous responsibilities and goals I have set for myself, therefore driving me further into this world and, in spite of the apps I have to assist me, away from my Father. For what account are our tools and toys?
Isaiah 3
“…the Lord God of hosts is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah support and supply…” –v. 1 ESV
In the battle against worldliness that his people fought in this chapter, God warned that he would take away supplies and allow them to go down a path of total foolishness, a path in which their leaders were ridiculous. Who leads me? Our society sometimes chooses its leaders by convenience, or surface appearance. “You have a cloak; you shall be our leader, and this heap of ruins shall be under your rule;” – v.6 ESV. The leader in this reference even refuses the mantle of leadership. I allow myself to be led by any number of foolish people and pursuits. Later in this chapter, God explains that in their foolish choices, the people will lose all the empty trappings of prosperity that they have collected, including… beautiful HAIR! I can recount many times I have been humbled by the loss of whatever unwise choice I was grasping (thankfully, I’m not bald). I have always thought that God kept me on a tight leash, one that I willingly put on myself. I don’t get very far off the path before I stumble and fall, ensuring that I stay close for my own safety. I need that plan, I fear.
Titus 3
“…and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people,” –v.8 ESV.
I thank God for this man and his Inspired words of wisdom to other believers in his time… er, mine too. My day’s previous readings warn of dangers in my world. Titus reminds me of all the wonderful things to which I should aspire. God’s wonderful Word never leaves us with just a negative. There is always hope in our Savior. I should aspire to these good works, not because they save me from anything, but because I want to be a conduit of Goodness to those around me. How I am thankful for being surrounded by others who want the same! I am thankful to have found a church which provides myriad of opportunities to do good in both my microcosm and macrocosm.
-Ozykhan
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