Love and Keep

In Dt 7:7-8 the LORD says that He chose and set His love upon the nation of Israel because He LOVED them and KEPT the oath He swore to their forefathers. (We have the same oath because we share in the relationship with Abraham as our spiritual father) He set His love upon us, you & me because he LOVES us and KEEPS the same oath with us!!

In verse 9 He tells them (& us) to know therefore:

• that the LORD, ADONAI, YHWH is God
• and He keeps His covenant...

with those who LOVE Him and KEEP His commandments.

It's conditional, we must LOVE & KEEP His commandments....

Keeps struck me when I read through about 2 weeks ago preparing my mind for my next Kid's Church lesson. The Hebrew word is shamar which means to hedge in protect, preserve, to watch, keep safe. Its what Adam was placed in the garden to do cultivate & KEEP it.

For a long time now we have focused on loving. We undertand how to fullfill His Law-by loving Him and His people. Dt 6:5 and Lev 19:18

I believe He is giving us a warning/reminder to keep, protect and guard His Law as we get ready to take our next step Echo. How will we guard this precious Law? How will we ensure we keep watch over it and preserve it for ourselves, each other and the generations to come?

There are many instructions about how to KEEP/SHAMAR His Law/Words in the book of Deuteronomy.

Take note as we are finishing the last book of Torah, how will we (ECF) KEEP?

Proverbs 27:5

Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
Proverbs 27:5

Better to critize thn to not love.

love~ an emotion of stong affection toward someone or something.

Proverbs 26:4-5

Proverbs 23:23

Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding.
Proverbs 23:23

Knowledge is most valuable only a fool would throw it away.

Buy~ to gain for a cost

Proverbs 21:3

To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
Provers 21:3

To do the right thing is better than to do the wrong thing and ask for forgiveness.

Just~ To be fair

Proverbs 20:13

Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare.
Proverbs 20:13

The lazy man is a poor man but he who seeks shall find all he looks for.

poor~ to be in need of richs.

Proverbs 18:4

The words of a man's mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
Proverbs 18:4

Deep waters can contain life but can also cause death, a brook is hard to drown in and doesn't contian any harmful creatures.

Bubbling~ To flow, pour out, or bubble up

Proverbs 17:13

If a man pays back evil for good,evil will never leave his house.
Proverbs 17:13

If you respond to good with evil evil will haunt you.

Proverbs 16:8

Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice.
Proverbs 16:8

its better to earn a small amount of money than steal large amounts

Empty Grave

We went for a walk, the Lord and I...
and I feared...
I feared He was going to show me my sin


He turned to me, knowing my heart...
and He said...
"Yes, I am going to show you your sin."


I sighed, resigned, willing and desiring to go with Him anywhere...
but dreading...
already coming up with apologies and justifications


Then there was shame for my justification...
and for my fear...
Round and round I went like this


Before long I shook myself...
or maybe He shook me...
I noticed we had stopped walking


I looked up and saw the dark place of death...
and I braced myself...
for the stench and the discomfort


He reached out His hand...
and I took it...
and He led me inside


We saw...
nothing...
the grave was empty

(Inspired while driving and singing along with Nicole C Mullen's "My Redeemer Lives" and wrote during Bible study at Echo Fenton that night...)

Proverbs 14:15

A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps.
Proverbs 14:15

A candle seems like a bright light to he who has never seen a chandelier.

Proverbs 13:8

A man's riches may ransom his life, but a poor man hears no threat.
Proverbs 13:8

A wealthy man may have riches that can be stolen, buta poor man has nothing to take.

Echo's Edah

Today the kids learned about Moses' heart for his 'edah' (congregation) even when he learned that he wasn't going into the Promised Land. The kids put together hearts each containing the names of people in Echo Michigan and Arizona, so they could remember to have hearts for their edah, too! Each adult also received a heart and a list...here's my list, and a beautiful list it is!

Prov. 11:21

Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free.
Proverbs 11:21

well, thats it its pretty hard to make it any more simple.

Proverbs 10:1

The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.
Proverbs 10:1

Usualy I give my interpretation down here but today i was wondering if any of you understand why the father gets the joy and the mother carries the burden?

Proverbs 9:8

Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you.
Proverbs 9:8

If you correct a simple man he will reject you, but if you correct a wise man he will love you.

Proverbs 8:19

My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver.
Proverbs 8:19

Wisdom is more valuable than any substance.

Proverbs 8:19

My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver.
Proverbs 8:19

Wisdom is more valuable than any substance.

Proverbs 7:27

Her house is a highway tobthe grave leading down to the chambers of death.
Proverbs 7:27

An adultress will lead you to hell, so be carful to not stray from the path of the pure.

A Time to Tear Down, and a Time to Build Up

A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up.
Ecc 3:3

Tear down = PARATZ... the basis for the name Perez, son of Judah... so named because he caused a breach (made an opening, broke out) for himself by pushing past his twin brother Zerah during birth (Gen 38:29).

So I said, "Okay Lord, I understand, I know there is a time for causing breaches, for making an opening in the walls. What then?" Hm. I was there with Perez already, so I decided to go ahead and look beyond him, to see what comes after him, this "breach..."

We know that Perez' great-great grandson was Nahshon...Aaron's brother-in-law, btw (Ex 6:23), and a mighty leader of the tribe of Judah during the exodus. Beyond that we know of Boaz and David, and of course Jesus Himself. But let's go back to what came right after Perez... the tearing down/breaking out...

Hezron ("Chetzrown") is Perez' son, and his name (from CHATZER = enclosure) means "enclosed" or "surrounded by a wall."

Now, back to Ecclesiastes... "A time to tear down, and a time to build up..."

Build up = BANA... "build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue" and "build a house." A time to make an opening (PARATZ) by removing walls, and a time to surround with walls by building up (BANA).

Oh Lord, Master Builder and Source of Wisdom... Echo's hands are Yours... as She refuses to use them to cover Herself and build Herself up, may She trust You to cover Her well, to surround Her with YOUR walls.

Amen, and amen!

Proverbs 6

There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

Prov 6:16-19

There are seven things the lord hates: a proud look, lying, the hands that kill the innocent, a mind thatthinks of evil plots, feet that go quickly to evil, a witness who tells lie after lie, and those who make trouble among friends.

He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.

Proverbs 2:7-8

This Proverb explaines that if you ar ready to follow god the his isready to lead you and protect you.

Proverbs 1:22

"How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers deligt in mockery and fools hate knowledge?"

Proverbs 1:22 NIV

This Proverb asks how long the people of the world will resort to evil and worldly ways. And how long will those who refuse to accept him will wait to understand the truth.

My Father's House (Psalm 45:10-11)

From the "Writing" Workshop at CFO 2009...

Welcome to my father's house
this is where i learned to hide my tears
there's danger in the light
but comfort when i'm covered by my fears
it may not be the best of homes
but you see it's all i've known
welcome to my father's house

"Listen, O daughter, give attention and incline your ear:
Forget your people and your father's house...
then the King will desire your beauty."

Welcome to my Father's house
this is where i learned to cry my tears
there's danger in the light
but comfort when I bring to Him my fears
this is indeed the best of homes
and i'm forgetting all i'd known
welcome to my Father's house

"Because He is your Lord, bow down to Him."