Thankful Thursday

Father God, I thank you! Today I want to thank you for your glorious Word! How precious it is! How alive it is! How it cuts right to my spirit! It fills me with life, with energy!

"I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your Word.....your statues are my delight; they are my councelors.

...your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart."-Psalm 119

I love the Word and am so thankful that God has given us the beautiful gift of it. And, thank you, Precious Father, you have given us the Holy Spirit that teaches us in the Word!

I have recently begun listening to the Word on CD and DVD. I have "The Gospel of John" on DVD and watch it often, either for our movie time, or just putting it in while I am working around the house. I don't always SEE the movie, but I hear the sound, and I am mediatating on the Word. It is awesome. This movie is actually word for word the Book of John. It is amazing that when you hear the Word SPOKEN, you can actually hear things that you may have missed reading it. I'll give you an example. I had read verse 8:58 before but did not "get it" until I heard it said by the actor playing Jesus. I was in my closet putting away clothes, had the DVD on loud in the bedroom, had to stop what I was doing and rewatch that part.

It was when Jesus was in the temple talking the people. He was telling them that if they were from God, they would believe that God, His Father had sent Him. They think he is crazy, or demon possessed and the exchange between them went on for several verses (12-58). They are claiming to be Abraham's children and followers. Jesus tells them if they were truly children of Abraham, they would have FAITH (Abraham is the father of faith!!!!!). Jesus tells them Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing Jesus' day. They of course, laugh, saying how could you have talked to Abraham???? He was dead long before you were even born. Now listen to this, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth. Before Abraham was born, I am!" At this, the picked up stones to stone Him, but Jesus hid himself..."

WOW!!!!!!!! When I read that in my Bible, I had passed right over it. But, hearing it out loud, you couldn't miss it!!!!! Jesus was calling himself "I AM." Do you remember when Moses talked to God through the burning bush? God tells Moses to go free his people from Egypt. Moses asks, "what is your name? Who should I say sent me?" God answers, "I AM WHO I AM. Tell them I AM has sent me." (Exodus 3). Do you see now why the people wanted to stone Jesus? Jesus was referring to that sacred Name of God- I AM. He was saying, I am I AM!!!!!! Wow! Anyone who says Jesus wasn't controversial hasn't studied the Gospels!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But, I may have missed that really cool revelation if I hadn't HEARD it. And, you may be wondering, what is the big deal with that? I don't get it. Why is Tracy so excited anyway???? It is because the Holy Spirit teaches each one of us individually- shining Light on scripture and quickening it in our hearts. Don't be "spoon fed" the Word. Please don't just read blogs, listen to speakers, go to church and hear sermons, PICK UP THIS WORD AND READ IT FOR YOURSELF!!!! LET THE HOLY SPIRIT TEACH YOU AND GUIDE YOU! BE TRANSFORMED BY IT! LET IT BRING YOU JOY!!!!!!!!

So, for my Thankful Thursday, I am so thankful for the Word. I am also thankful for different ways of hearing scripture. Check out:

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Blessings!