Month: April 2024

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YOUR HARVEST TIME-Hosea Part 2

THANKS, friends, who have shared (via e-mail) on your own study of HOSEA 10:12. If you’ve been receiving e-mail from me, you have received the following… The discovery of  SUBSTANCE and CONVICTION of this text!

I shared with you about the discovery of that great web site Net Bible for 8 different translations of HOSEA 10:12. Finally, a listing from cross-references of this text and some random Hebrew definitions of some of the POWER WORDS like “SOW” and “REAP”, for example. If you haven’t received any of these, write me at tristief@juno.,com or tristief@gmail.com and I will get them to you. It will really help your study!

I. “SOW WITH A VIEW TO RIGHTEOUSNESS” The Hebrew “sow” is “zara”-Lev.26:33, Jer. 31:10. The Hebrew for “righteousness “tseh-dek”” which can mean ethical conduct, integrity, upright, and true. Another view  is”conforming to a standard” .
HOW CAN WE  SOW?
CONSIDER. I love the Proverb “Consider the field and receive instruction”. If I want to grow spiritually, what is this decision to sow “seeds with a view to righteousness” going to cost me? I need to realize the discipline of a well-watered garden (Is. 58) requires thought, preparation and work.

DIG. The value of dirt can be aesthetic. There is immense satisfaction to look at a well-dug garden with neatly planted rows. This is what the farmer or gardener wants. But, how messy must my hands get to grow in this way? It’s hard to stay bent over for hours digging out rocks and vines. My mind must be fixed on the RESULT of  this task and see the pain as a worthy price to be paid!

II. “REAP IN ACCORDANCE WITH KINDNESS” A Hebrew rendition  of “kalah” (Strong’s 3615) meaning “to finish” is comparable. Compare the Greek word  “therizo”-“to gather in harvest” (Strong’s 2325) with this. Remember “God’s “kindness”? Translate it as “hesed”-the loyal love of GOD has for us can also be the unconditional seed we share with those around us!

HOW CAN WE REAP?
REJOICE…As we reap, we gather with JOY. YAHWEH TSIDKENU-“GOD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS”- has seen fit to bless us with growth. My motivation is that His righteousness has brought about my righteousness!
GATHER...We have work to do! In the midst of reaping, we can become tired or LET THIS TOIL BUILD our endurance. If you know Christ, He fills you with His Spirit and you will “not grow weary of well-doing.” For the farmer or gardener, to LOOK AND SEE GROWTH is the reward!

III. “BREAK UP YOUR FALLOW GROUND” The Hebrew is “niyr” Strong’s 5124. Could there be any doubt what God is telling Israel (here called Ephraim, the Northern Kingdom)? Remember from our last blog, they are living in open rebellion of idol worship and God is trying to draw them back to his loyal love!
HOW DO WE BREAK UP OUR FALLOW GROUND?

My friend, Holly, defines “breaking up fallow ground” as “to plow, harrow, and break up without seeding for the purpose of destroying weeds and insects“. I also like Holly’s definition of “fallow” as “undeveloped but useful“!  Ouch…that describes me pretty well.

***Have you ever felt that way? “OH LORD, you can’t use me! I’m involved in too much sin! ” Peter said the same thing to Jesus ,”Go away from me LORD, for I am a sinful man.” What was the Savior’s response? “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”

The farmer or gardener has to make decisions.  Do I wait on this ground and let it settle or do I need to dig out impurities? How do we wait? Actively or passively? My friend, Jeanne, calls this ” passive, yet active (aggressive?) waiting  to know when the time is right.” HERE’S  YOUR BOTTOM LINE: DO I NEED TO BURROW DEEP IN THE THINGS GOD IS ALREADY TEACHING ME OR REMOVE THINGS THAT HINDER MY GROWTH IN JESUS? MY ANSWER IS  “YES.”

IV. “For it is time to SEEK the LORD until HE comes and rains RIGHTEOUSNESS on you.”

HOW DO WE SEEK?

PURSUE AND TAKE ACTION! What do you want your HARVEST to look like next year?  BOUNTIFUL -brimming with new fruit and fresh joy OR dodging the SAME rocks (sin?) as obstacles and trying to untangle the vines around your legs? (Heb. 12) Our goal is to grow…that’s what we were made for.

God is very clear that “if we draw near to Him , He WILL draw near to us”? (Jas. 4). If we spend solid time in His Word-asking Him for growth-He will give it in His timing. A CONFESSIONAL HEART AND A CONTRITE SPIRIT ARE HIS DELIGHT.

Don’t you love that last phrase “until HE comes and rains righteousness on you”? What a beautiful circle to me…the verse starts that way with US activating our faith and ends with HIM giving it!!

He saturates our spirits. His gifts have become ours. Let us sow in faith, reap in joy, break up the fallow ground of mediocrity, and seek Him while He may be found!

BLESSINGS as YOU enjoy the harvest of your faith!

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A simple overview of HOSEA! Part 1

This is what I have been studying for the last 3-4 weeks with a few friends and we have all been SO BLESSED by it, I knew I had to share it with you! Nobody ever thinks of an inductive study of HOSEA (usually) but I literally fell into a verse that has changed my perspective these last weeks. HOSEA CHAPTER 10, VERSE 12. I’m not planning on writing a study about this, but simply sharing ONE verse with you and how it can change your year! Many of us have read the bestseller REDEEMING LOVE by Francine Rivers and so we have a bit of background on this book. For those of us digging deep..it’s obvious we must understand the context of the book, why the author wrote it, and the spiritual state of Israel.

  • HOSEA, considered a “minor” prophet wrote this book of the Old Testament. HIS NAME MEANS SALVATION.
  • He wrote this book (like his contemporary Amos) to Israel also called Ephraim here. Other prophets ( like Isaiah) would be called to prophesy to the southern kingdom of Judah. But, the key thing to remember here is HOSEA is primarily addressing Israel as the tribe of Ephraim.
  • This all happens during the reign of JEROBOAM II.
  • During this time, the people were materialistically prosperous, but spiritually bankrupt.(Is it me or does that seem familiar?) Idol- worship replaced their worship of YAHWEH. Judgement from God would come to Ephriam (Israel) through the FALL OF ISRAEL TO ASSYRIA.
  • Most of think of HOSEA and think of his sad marriage to GOMER. In summary, God specifically called HOSEA to “marry a woman of harlotry”. He did and she bore him 3 children with sad names reflecting Israel’s spiritual condition.
  • Next on the time-line, GOMER deserts HOSEA to resume relationships with other men. Perhaps the most emotionally moving point of this book is that GOD called HOSEA to go find his adulterous wife (new being sold as a slave by a new boyfriend) and BUY HER BACK. Needless to say, the theme of REDEMPTION that GOD is trying to show us is apparent.
  • HOSEA delivered all these messages in his 50 years as prophet of YAHWEH.

As always, we understand that the church does not replace Israel (see Romans 9-11) or here Ephraim. BUT, THE TIMELESS PRINCIPLES OF YAHWEH’S REDEMPTIVE LOVE IS CONSTANT. This is the lesson and blessing we receive as we read and study this tragic, yet powerful book. Consequently, chapter 10 verse 12 reflects our calling as a people redeemed!

HOSEA 10:12 “SOW TO YOURSELVES RIGHTEOUSNESS, REAP ACCORDING TO KINDNESS, BREAK UP YOUR FALLOW GROUND, SEEK YAHWEH, UNTIL HE COMES AND RAINS RIGHTEOUSNESS ON YOU.” 

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Mama Bear & the sisterhood of infertility

This necklace could be my favorite Mother’s Day gift ever from my husband & kids! I’ve walked the hallowed halls of motherhood for over 20 years now, yet the name “Mama” still touches my heart in deep places. There were years of infertility, multiple miscarriages, & a slow trod through the valley of unanswered lonely prayer.  Throughout these years, I truly suspected that “Mama” would never be my name.

The women who are part of the never-desired Sisterhood of Infertility will tell you we all lived in the “Why God?” zone. We all told ourselves, “Don’t hope this month-then the grief won’t be as bad.” 

(This is impossible because our very nature as Christians is designed to hope.)

As my husband & I trudged through these years, we learned that God may not take pain away but the Man of Sorrows will offer Himself as companion & comfort. A life of faith will always be lived out in the bizarre tension of accepting pain and praying a way out of it! Many days, I still marvel at God blessing me with the honor of mothering two precious God-given lives.

May we never take Mother’s Day for granted as we lean into the One who loves us most!