Segula – Meditate day and night!

Being a part of the remnant starts with…

 1. REMAINING TRUE TO GOD

2. TALKING AND ACTIONS  ARE ABOUT AND FOR GOD

Not only was this remnant faithful, but when they got together in their meetings, evidently they didn’t spend all their time gossiping, criticizing, or talking about the weather or sports or current events. i am to testify about God’s blessings & presence. i am to speak of answers to prayer. Which would require me to pray in the first place.

Ever notice how eager someone in love seems to be to talk about the person or thing he or she loves? The fellow who loves football gravitates to those who share his passion for the game and talks about it constantly. The same could be said about politics, camping, or any number of other loves that we have.

But here it says that God’s special treasure, His segula, are those who love to get together to share with each other about the things of God. i have a handful of people whom that happens with. It’s not intended but it happens. i most enjoy those conversations.

How much does Christianity mean to me? Is it real? Has it made a difference in my life? In the way i talk, & how i live?

There was a bridegroom who purchased only one ticket for a honeymoon trip to Niagara Falls? He hands it to his bride and says, “Have a wonderful time!” “But aren’t you going too?” she asks.

“No, I’ve already been to Niagara Falls. So you go, and I’ll see you when you get back.”

I don’t think I need to go any further with that story, because it’s ridiculous. When people have expressed their love and committed their lives to each other in marriage they want to be together, to share all they are with each other.

And in the same way, those who commit their lives to Christ, who become a part of His bride, the church, want to be together and share all they are with each other, too.

3.  HONORING HIS NAME

Finally, look at the latter part of verse 16. There it says that God caused a scroll of remembrance to be “written in His presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored His name.”

Not only were these faithful people in awe of the Lord, and eager to share their faith in Him with each other, but they also honored Him by their words and by their actions. i must remembered the mighty acts of God. i am to believe what the prophets of old have said & written about Him.

Psalm 1:1 says, “Blessed is the man (ed) that does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit at the seat of the scornful. But his (ed’s) delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he (ed) meditates day & night” (Psalm 1:1).

In a speech in Dallas, Texas, Corrie Ten Boom, author of  The Hiding Place, said that many times people would approach her and say, “Corrie, what a great faith you have.” She smiled as she told how she would reply to them. “No, it’s what a great God I have.”

And whether it was in the nation of Israel in Malachi’s day, or in America today, it is true that:

my God is an awesome God. He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, & love. my God is an awesome God!

 02 Awesome God

Segula – A Remnant!!

And God makes His meaning very clear by saying, “And you will again see the distinction between the righteous & the wicked, between those who serve God & those who do not.” (Malachi 3:16-18)

 

God says, “You who have spoken hard, rude words to me.  “You who ask, ‘When did we ever do that?’ ^“When those of you who said, ‘It doesn’t pay to serve God. What do we ever get out of it? When we did what he said and went around with long faces, serious about God-of-the-Angel-Armies, what difference did it make? Those who take life into their own hands are the lucky ones. They break all the rules and get ahead anyway. They push God to the limit and get by with it.'” The Message

 

God says loud and clear “those of  you will AGAIN see the distinction between the righteous & the wicked, between those who serve God & those who do not.” (Malachi 3:16-18)

 

 i hear and see the patience of God through the word, AGAIN which means, once more; another time, in an additional case or instance; back, to the same place again and again, with frequent repetition.

 

 The life cycle of the Israelites repeats itself and once again but God always seems to find a remnant willing to “be.”

 Being a part of the remnant starts with…  REMAINING TRUE TO GOD

They “feared the Lord” – they held Him in awe and because of that they remained true to Him. It was a time when it wasn’t easy to stay faithful to God. Corruption was everywhere. Hypocrisy abounded. Evil ruled the day.

It’s never been easy to follow God’s ways. But God has always had a remnant.



This remnant said, “Even though everybody else curses God; we will praise His name.” They stood for righteousness in a wicked nation. They endured the ridicule of family and friends. And God looked down on this small group of faithful ones and said, “They will be my treasured possession.”



In 1947, a professor at the University of Chicago was scheduled to teach an advanced course in astrophysics. At the time he was living in Wisconsin, doing research. He planned to commute twice a week for the class, even though it would be held during the harsh winter months. Registration for the course, however, fell far below expectations. Only two students signed up for the class.



People expected the professor to cancel, lest he waste his time. But for the sake of two students, he taught the class, commuting 100 miles round trip through back country roads in the dead of winter. His students did their homework.

 

 Ten years later, in 1957, those 2 students won the Nobel prize for physics. And in 1983, so did the professor. They were only a handful, they were a remnant!



Fredrick the Great, Ruler of Prussia in the mid 1700’s, was widely known as an agnostic. By contrast, his great general, Von Zealand, was a devout Christian. One day, during a festive gathering, the king began making crude jokes about Jesus Christ until everyone was rocking with laughter. Everyone but Von Zealand, that is.



Finally, Von Zealand arose and addressed the King, “Sire, you know I have not feared death. I have fought & won 38 battles for you. I am an old man; and I shall soon have to go into the presence of One greater than you, the mighty God who saved me from my sin, the Lord Jesus Christ whom you are blaspheming.”

 

The place went silent, and with trembling voice, King Fredrick replied, “General Von Zealand, I beg your pardon, I beg your pardon!” And with that, the party quietly ended (Today in The Word, August, 1989)

 

God’s segula remains faithful in every situation. 01 The Remnant

Segula – Jewels – Treasured Possession

At last!! The importance and meaning of Segula. God says in vs. 17. “They will be my treasured possession,” says the Lord Almighty, “in the day when I act. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him.
In that verse, the Hebrew word translated, “treasured possession,” is “segula.” It is often translated as “jewels” or “treasure.” So God is saying that these faithful people are His jewels, His very own treasure. And He goes on to say that in the day when He acts, He is going to remember them & protect them.

Of course He will remember them! Of course He will protect them!  He took the time to listen and hear them and He liked what they were saying so much that He wrote their names in His Book of Remembrance.

Jewels! This is why i chose the post titles that i have. Righteous men are Jewels! The Warrior and the Child are Jewels!  Those who fear God are Jewels! – You are Jewels! Faithful followers are jewels! i or me is/are a Jewel!

What are the standards for being a segula, a jewel? i went back to the verse about the Book of Remembrance. It said, “those who feared the Lord and honored His name.” So if i fear the Lord and honor His name i am a segula… a jewel! A scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared the Lord & honored His name.

What does it look like to fear the Lord and honor His name? Consider your heart stirred in order to find your own answer. This relationship thing with God and each other is personal, and intimate for each of us. I can’t do your walk and you can’t do mine.

 The last part of that, thus says the Lord, is not as easy for me to get.  I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him.

I have shared that my father was and died an alcoholic. And he was not a good alcoholic. He would get mean and angry when he drank which was most of the time especially later on in his life. Anyway i never experienced the compassion of a man who spares his son. i know it concludes with son who serves him. i worked full-time from 7th garde till he died trying to serve him and get some form of acceptance. After he died i understood that i had undertaken an impossible task and was able to move. That is until i am reminded of it in a verse that talks about fathers, sons and the relationship that should have occurred. i think in today’s world there are many who can relate to this.

It’s only because of my deep unshakable belief in the first part of the verse that i can accept and get a glimpse of the last part. Yesterdays song speaks to so much of my ability to walk out these verses. It’s a song that bears repeating.

03 I Am by Jill Phillips

Oh gently lay your head
Upon my chest
And I will comfort you
Like a mother while you rest
The tide can change so fast,
But I will stay
The same through the past,
The same in future, same today

I am constant; I am near
I am peace that shatters all your secret fears
I am holy; I am wise
I’m the only one who knows your heart’s desires
Your heart’s desires

Oh weary, tired and worn,
Let out your sighs
And drop that heavy load you hold
Cause Mine is light

I know you through and through;
There’s no need to hide
I want to show you love
That is deep and high and wide

Segula – me

“Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, & the Lord listened & heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared the Lord & honored His name.

Malachi is saying that the Lord enjoyed what He heard so much that He had it all written down in a book – “A scroll of remembrance…” it’s called. Visualize this! God, summoning an angel, to take notes – to write down what was said & who said it so that it would be remembered forever! i have teased Ann Marie about being God’s secretary for years so this is no problem for me to visualize this.

i find myself, thinking! I AM really does see and hear what i’m doing and saying, and not just when i’m in church or praying to Him. And… there’s a record being kept of it.” That thought takes me to Isaiah 49:16 (Amplified Bible) Behold, I have indelibly imprinted (tattooed a picture of) you on the palm of each of My hands;

Although that was written for Jerusalem, we are all His now (according to Romans). So that verse is for me!

This verse tells me that my damage and hurt (the ruined walls of my life) are always in His mind and He loves me SO MUCH that He has written my name on His hand. my name is tattoed on God’s hand. That is how much i mean to Him. He’s saying He CANNOT forget me, my name is always right there.

Whether i believe that He loves me, or not, either way it doesn’t change how He feels. He loves me.

And no matter what i’ve done today, He chose me KNOWING i’d do it. Think about it, He chose me and wrote my name in His “Book of Life” BEFORE the beginning of this world. He chose me before i knew Him.

my promised healing may take some time to come, my ruined walls can and will be rebuilt. i must remain in Him. i must not run away like the prodigal son.

03 I Am

Segula – He listens and hears?

All Ears

i have been focused on the idea that God listened and heard. Each time i read that or say it to myself i immediately get a visual picture of it in my mind. This post is just for fun.

Hard of hearing

 

Being the curious sort that i am i then began to wonder what others may visualize when reading those words. i went to the internet and did a search on God listening.

In One Ear

 

These pictures are just a few of what i found. If you click on them they will enlarge.

Somewhere out there

 It’s entirely possible that at one time or the other i may have envisioned God listening to me as portrayed by all of these pictures.

What's that you say

 

Rather than me speaking today let the pictures do the talking!

Always there

 

Perhaps you will find one that expresses your idea of God listening and hearing you?

 

Mystical, Cosmic

Casual and near-by

                     

Papa

From a distance

Tuned in

me and I AM

 

                                

Segula – Faithful Followers

i’m still finding humor in my comments on what i think i know about communication from Friday. As i was reading the post it dawned on me that i have many talks that do not accomplish any of the things i outlined as necessary for good talk/conversation. Just to recap. Talk for the purpose of being connected to another.  Talk to have feelings and thoughts heard and respected. Talk to learn new things. Talk to sort through issues and problems. Talk to discuss and explore solutions. Talk to reach an understanding of one another. My suspicions were then verified.

Verification came about by someone, kindly asking me, “your saying that good talk/conversation is two or more people contributing to the conversation right? i recognize a set-up when i hear it. They then proceeded to ask, “does contributing include, uh huh, no, yes, don’t know, maybe, a nod or no response at all?” i told you it was a set-up and i went for it hook, line and sinker. It doesn’t take much imagination to know why this person was asking me this question.

 “Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened & heard.

i’m sorry but isn’t it obvious that the Lord would listen and hear them? He listened and heard the others, the non-fearing. He just finished confronting them with what they said.

 i see another point. It says he listened and heard. That means listening is different than hearing. i guess i already knew that because i sometimes listen but must not have heard as i can’t remember the conversation. i don’t see that as a possible problem with God.

Malachi makes a point of saying that God listened and heard. God was listening to HIS people, not what was going on around them.

i so often have concerns about what is going on around me. I am wondering what penalty God will put upon this nation for its turning away from him. But at that moment, God is paying attention to this remnant of people. Even though they were only a small number of the whole nation. i still don’t know exactly what this remnant was talking about but whatever it was God was more than just interested He is captivated. 

Kings were making decrees, but God was listening to His people. Generals were giving orders, but God was listening to a handful of people talking about Him. Judges were speaking in court, but God was listening to His remnant. Politicians were making speeches, but His ears were tuned to His faithful followers.

04 Find Us Faithful by Keith Green

Segula – You!

“Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other,

Is there any value in me asking what the others who did not fear the Lord did? Would it be safe to assume that they continued talking as well? Would it be fair to say, without to much of a stretch that they kept speaking hard, rude words to God?  That they continued to act as though they had done nothing wrong by asking God when did we do that? That they continued saying ‘It doesn’t pay to serve God. That they continued to ask, “What do we ever get out of it? Were they still delusional and feeling like those who take life into their own hands are the lucky ones. That they break all the rules and get ahead anyway. That they push God to the limit and get by with it.'” i think all that would be a fair assumption!

my choice is made! i am with the group that feared the Lord. Doing what the other group was doing seems like playing Russian Roulette. Now i’m going to get together with God-fearing people and talk. At this point all i can assume is that it is good conversation.

Here’s what i think i know about good talk or conversation. Yes i’m chuckling as i read that back to myself. “What i think i know.” i’ll indulge or should i say humor myself for a moment.  A good talk/conversation is when two or more are contributing to the conversation.

So here’s what this looks like. “Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, for the purpose of being connected to another. “Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, to have feelings and thoughts heard and respected. “Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, to learn new things. “Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, to sort through issues and problems. “Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, to discuss and explore solutions. “Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, to reach an understanding of one another.

Perhaps this is what their talk could have sounded like. The song is You Who Fear The Lord from the album Ancient gates worship from the Deserts of Israel.

03 You Who Fear The Lord

Segula – Those…

“Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, So it’s a mixed crowd. Some feared God and some did not. If i can be allowed some room here i’ll identify those that did as a remnant.

What does that look like?

First of all, it tells me that in the midst of a faithless nation, God still had a faithful remnant! There may not have been as many of them, in comparison to the nation as a whole, but they committed themselves to remain faithful to God, no matter what anyone else said or did. And while surrounded by the spiritual darkness and distractions of their day, they drew closer and closer together to talk with each other, to support and encourage one another in serving God.

That last line bears repeating! While surrounded by the spiritual darkness and distractions of their day, they drew closer and closer together to talk with each other, to support and encourage one another in serving God. While it doesn’t say that, it seems like a safe assumption for me to make? If it’s not now i think that it will be as i read further into these verses.

Okay, God finishes stating what He has heard and THEN (at that time) THOSE WHO FEARED (a specific instance of or propensity for, reverential awe) THE (a specifying or particularizing, as opposed to the indefinite or generalizing of) LORD did what? Talked with each other! What did they talk about? News, weather, chariot races, the new lion’s den? i think not. How about Supporting and encouraging one another in serving God. i will say it again, perhaps it is a premature conclusion but i believe it will prove to be the only conclusion? Oh, i found this song called Encourage One Another.

02 Encourage One Another

In closing i notice that there is a comma at this point in the verse so there must be more.

“Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other,  

Segula – A Warrior & A Child

i am not able to get away from this deep, abiding faith and trusting God one day and falling so far from it the next. The Israelites took generations to fall back into the same old same old. Yesterday i used a song that says the warrior is a child. That’s me. A warrior one day and a child the next. Sometimes both in the same day. i remember with my first grandson how quickly he forgot the gifts that i would give him. We would go to the store and i could see his eyes light up at a particular item and i of course would buy it for him. Last Christmas was like that. I got him a remote-controlled helicopter. After the purchase i decided that it was to babyish for him and so i exchanged it for a more grown up one and of course double the price. Before we left Seattle, i mean within a few days, he had left it lying on the floor in exchange for a more recent fascination. He’s a child!

i am noticing a trend about me and just perhaps the Israelites as well. i’m a warrior when things are fresh and new. When a word of revelation or understanding comes i’m all over it. i am so grateful!! Then time passes and i become less grateful and so i lose focus on what i was given. Just like my grandson. Now as a child he doesn’t realize what’s taking place and i wish i could say the same but…. or can i?

Being ungrateful is so subtle that i don’t realize it until i’m at a dangerous place. Did the Israelites become ungrateful and then decide to not serve God? Were they so ungrateful that they decided to select the latest, newest god that was available?

Well today i just want to listen to the song because today i think i am a child. And… i feel like i must ask myself, am i a child because i am ungrateful?  i’ll close today by simply commenting through-out the song. Never mind, i’ll just let you read the words and ask for your prayers.

Lately I’ve been winning battles left and right
But even winners can get wounded in the fight
People say that I’m amazing
Strong beyond my years
But they don’t see inside of me
I’m hiding all the tears

They don’t know that I go running home when I fall down
They don’t know who picks me up when no one is around
I drop my sword and cry for just a while
‘Cause deep inside this armor
The warrior is a child

Unafraid because His armor is the best
But even soldiers need a quiet place to rest
People say that I’m amazing
Never face retreat
But they don’t see the enemies
That lay me at His feet

They don’t know that I go running home when I fall down
They don’t know who picks me up when no one is around
I drop my sword and cry for just a while
‘Cause deep inside this armor, deep inside this armor, the warrior is a child!

01 – The Warrior Is A Child

Laconic – expressing much in few words. Thank you Todd!

Segula – A Righteous Man

i am looking back at the beginning of the nation of Israel. Their forefathers were settling into the Promised Land and Joshua, their leader, had challenged them,

Joshua 24:14, “Now fear the Lord and serve Him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.

So if i read this right there is a lack of fear for God, which triggers a lack of faithfulness in serving God, which allows them to set up some other gods. Keeping in mind of course that this has been handed down from their forefathers. It’s like a family recipe.

(Joshua 24:15) But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Joshua is leaving the choice up to the people but he is really establishing some guidelines or boundaries for those he is going to do life with. He says look this is what i believe and where i intend to spend my life and so if you’re going to come with me then this is what to expect from me and my family.

(Joshua 24:16-18) And the people had responded, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods! It was the Lord our God Himself who brought us & our fathers up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, & performed those great signs before our eyes. “He protected us on our entire journey & among all the nations through which we traveled. And the Lord drove out before us all the nations…who lived in the land. We too will serve the Lord, because He is our God.”

And so the people of Israel were onboard! That generation of Israelites was faithful to its vow, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord … because He is our God.” They didn’t forget Him, or ignore Him! They didn’t find Him insignificant nor irrelevant. Their forefathers, had a deep & abiding faith & trust in God.

But…  by the time of Malachi it is painfully obvious that the nation of Israel, as a whole, had turned almost completely away from God. Listen again to what God was saying to them:

God says, “You have spoken hard, rude words to me.  “You ask, ‘When did we ever do that?’ ^“When you said, ‘It doesn’t pay to serve God. What do we ever get out of it? When we did what he said and went around with long faces, serious about God-of-the-Angel-Armies, what difference did it make? Those who take life into their own hands are the lucky ones. They break all the rules and get ahead anyway. They push God to the limit and get by with it.'”  Malichi 3:13-15 The Message

Sound familiar?  This week i am faithful to the vow, “Far be it from me to forsake the Lord … because He is my God.” i didn’t forget Him, or ignore Him! i had a deep, abiding faith and trust in God. But…  by the time of Malachi (my next week) it is painfully obvious that the nation of Israel (i), as a whole, (as an individual) had turned almost completely away from God.

i realize that i could take the heat off me by using our nation as the example instead of personalizing it towards me. But then those that i have intended this to be for would never know the struggles that i live out and through my personal intimate relationship with my heavenly Father. i have the tendency to fall short just like Israel, but i am confident enough in my relationship with God that i know He’s right there to help me get back up and on track again in my deep, abiding faith, and trust in Him.

Amplified Proverbs 24:16 For a righteous man falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.

Warrior… i am a warrior in my pursuit of being a righteous man.  But as Twilla Paris puts it so clearly in her song, The Warrior is a child. Sometimes i fight so hard only to trip and fall over my own feet.

01 – The Warrior Is A Child