HillThread ~ Supporting Missions

Proverbs 1:8-9
8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
9 They will be a garland to grace your head
and a chain to adorn your neck.

Proverbs 31:8-9
8 “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
9 Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

2 Timothy 3:14-17
14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Related Text:
Exodus 2:1-9
Proverbs 6:20-24
2 Timothy 1:5

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One Minute Memory:
Take some time, maybe write it down, but try to memorize Proverbs 31:8-9. If you get some ideas while you’re studying this verse, write them down too; see where they go. See what happens when you devote some of your day to God’s word.

Psalm 113
1 Hallelujah!
Give praise, servants of the LORD;
praise the name of the LORD.
2 Let the name of the LORD be praised
both now and forever.
3 From the rising of the sun to its setting,
let the name of the LORD be praised.
4 The LORD is exalted above all the nations,
His glory above the heavens.
5 Who is like the LORD our God-
the One enthroned on high,
6 who stoops down to look
on the heavens and the earth?
7 He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the garbage pile
8 in order to seat them with nobles-
with the nobles of His people.
9 He gives the childless woman a household,
making her the joyful mother of children.
Hallelujah!

Related Text:
1 Samuel 2:1-10
Job 42:12-16
Psalm 127:3-5
Proverbs 17:6
Isaiah 54:1-8
Luke 1

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Sing it out loud
Did you know that the Psalms ere written to be sung? Just like today, music was popular and powerful during Biblical times. Moses sang and taught his followers to sing – the Israelites sang on their way to the Promised Land. Jesus sang with His disciples. Paul sang praises in jail. Just imagine how great the singing will be in Heaven.

God’s not concerned with the quality of your voice. Stop lipping the words when they play songs in church. Sing praises to God!

Isaiah 49:13-19
Heavens, raise the roof! Earth, wake the dead!
Mountains, send up cheers!
God has comforted his people.
He has tenderly nursed his beaten-up, beaten-down people.
But Zion said, “I don’t get it. God has left me.
My Master has forgotten I even exist.”
“Can a mother forget the infant at her breast,
walk away from the baby she bore?
But even if mothers forget,
I’d never forget you-never.
Look, I’ve written your names on the backs of my hands.
The walls you’re rebuilding are never out of my sight.
Your builders are faster than your wreckers.
The demolition crews are gone for good.
Look up, look around, look well!
See them all gathering, coming to you?
As sure as I am the living God”-God’s Decree-
“you’re going to put them on like so much jewelry,
you’re going to use them to dress up like a bride.
“And your ruined land?
Your devastated, decimated land?
Filled with more people than you know what to do with!

Related Text:
Psalm 51:1-9
Psalm 77:1-8
Psalm 103:1-18
Isaiah 66:12-14
Colossians 3:12-14

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Love
Moms are famous for the incredible love they show their children. They are nurturing and loving. But, since all love originates with God, just think how much more God loves you: “Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” – 1 John 4:7

Deuteronomy 5:16
Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and so that you may prosper in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

Matthew 15:1-9
1-2 After that, Pharisees and religion scholars came to Jesus all the way from Jerusalem, criticizing, “Why do your disciples play fast and loose with the rules?”
3-9But Jesus put it right back on them. “Why do you use your rules to play fast and loose with God’s commands? God clearly says, ‘Respect your father and mother,’ and, ‘Anyone denouncing father or mother should be killed.’ But you weasel around that by saying, ‘Whoever wants to, can say to father and mother, What I owed to you I’ve given to God.’ That can hardly be called respecting a parent. You cancel God’s command by your rules. Frauds! Isaiah’s prophecy of you hit the bull’s-eye:

‘These people make a big show of saying the right thing,
but their heart isn’t in it.
They act like they’re worshiping me,
but they don’t mean it.
They just use me as a cover
for teaching whatever suits their fancy.’

Related Text:
Exodus 20:12
Exodus 20:15
Leviticus 20:9
Ephesians 6:1-2

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Sometimes It Feels Like Doing That Last Push-up
Not everyone’s relationship with their mom is the best. Some people are super close to their mom, some people aren’t even talking to their mom. Right now, as you are reading the word “mom”, you might be smiling, or you might be thinking “whatever this Bible study says, there’s no way I’m talking to or thinking about my mom.”

So we’ve talked about being obedient to God in the past. It’s no different with today’s topic.

Whether you’re close or far away from her, make a list mentally or write it down; what are 4 qualities that you appreciate about your mom?

One way you can honor her is by telling her what’s on your list. In person, in a card, on the phone, through an email, update you twitter status, whatever.

If you are in the situation where your relationship with your mom isn’t close at all, and you still shaking your hear saying “there’s no way I’m doing this”, then just pray about it. Pray for your mom, cause you probably think it’s all her fault anyway. Pray that God will mend your relationship, pray specifically for the things that you can’t stand about your mom, pray that you will do what is necessary on your part to fix what you can between you and her.

Lift up your mom today, pray for her no matter what your relationship looks like. I hope it’s great! You should hope for the same thing.

What if we figured out somehow in our lives how to give $10 away each month.  Not just throw it away, but spend it on someone or something because the love of God wells up in us to the point where it is overthrowing everywhere.  Spend it, donate it, buy a hungry person a meal or a homeless person some long johns; do something with $10 other than spend it on ourselves.  Nothing I can say will convince you to try this.  I can only say that as I write these words, I am praying for eveyone who will read this.  Change your world, big or small.

Galatians 5:13-14
It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows. For everything we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself.

Deuteronomy 16:1-2
In honor of the Lord your God, celebrate the Passover each year in the early spring, in the month of Abib, for that was the month in which the Lord your God brought you out of Egypt by night. 2 Your Passover sacrifice may be from either the flock or the herd, and it must be sacrificed to the Lord your God at the designated place of worship-the place he chooses for his name to be honored.

Colossians 3:16-17
16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Deuteronomy 6:1-9
“This is the command-the statutes and ordinances-the LORD your God has instructed me to teach you, so that you may follow them in the land you are about to enter and possess. 2 Do this so that you may fear the LORD your God all the days of your life by keeping all His statutes and commands I am giving you, your son, and your grandson, and so that you may have a long life. 3 Listen, Israel, and be careful to follow them, so that you may prosper and multiply greatly, because the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you a land flowing with milk and honey.
4 “Listen, Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. 7 Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Related Text:
Exodus 12
Exodus 23:14-17
Leviticus 23
Luke 22:7-20

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Party Like It’s Passover

The Old Testament is jam packed with festivals, celebrations and offerings. Some of the names of the festivals might seem a bit bizarre to us, but they were very meaningful and significant to the Israelites. Like the word passover.

If you are unfamiliar with the Old Testament or Hebrew history, then you might not be able to make sense out of that word. Basically, the last plague that God brought against Egypt when Israel was still in slavery was the death of the first born son. But God told the Hebrews that if they smeared lambs blood on their door frame, their first born son would not die. So the Passover Festival remembers and celebrates that time when God rescued them from Egypt.

The word “festival” is a Hebrew word which means “to celebrate”. God commanded the Israelites to take time out of their busy schedules, out of their lives, and celebrate and praise Him.

If you’re looking for a verse to memorize or meditate on or just something to think about, zoom in on Deuteronomy 6:6 up there. Let that sink in. It’s not about going through the motions, it’s about obeying God from your heart; it’s all about the motives baby.

Celebrate and praise God today. Rest in His strength and security, no matter how bad the world around you is crumbling down. Remember a time in your own life when God made Himself known to you, when He rescued you, when He answered a prayer. Celebrate God in your life!

Leviticus 11:1-3
1 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 2 “Say to the Israelites: ‘Of all the animals that live on land, these are the ones you may eat: 3 You may eat any animal that has a split hoof completely divided and that chews the cud.

Leviticus 11:9-11
9 ” ‘Of all the creatures living in the water of the seas and the streams, you may eat any that have fins and scales. 10 But all creatures in the seas or streams that do not have fins and scales-whether among all the swarming things or among all the other living creatures in the water-you are to detest. 11 And since you are to detest them, you must not eat their meat and you must detest their carcasses.

Leviticus 11:20-21
20 ” ‘All flying insects that walk on all fours are to be detestable to you. 21 There are, however, some winged creatures that walk on all fours that you may eat: those that have jointed legs for hopping on the ground.

Leviticus 11:44-45
44 I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves about on the ground. 45 I am the LORD who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.

Acts 10:9-15
9About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. 13Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”
14″Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”
15The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

Related Text:
Genesis 7:1-4
Matthew 15:1-20
Mark 7:1-23
Romans 14

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Eat This
Following the journey of the Israelites is an up and down path. They lived in slavery for 400 years (down) before God delivered them from their Egyptian oppressors (up). God promised them a new home (up) but when they got there they rebelled against God (down). God punished them by not allowing them entry into the promised land, but instead they had to wander around the desert for 40 years (down). Finally God fulfilled His promise to the Israelites and granted them access into the promised land (up).

The up times are when we are obedient to God, and the down times (obviously, duh) are when we are disobedient to God. The verses above detail one of the Hebrew Law requirements about eating certain animals. This scripture that we read today represents just one area where the Hebrews had a choice about whether or not to remain obedient to God.

What I encourage you to do today is examine your life and your obedience to God. Not about what to eat and what not to eat. (I would imagine that most of the members of this Bible study are not Jewish anyway) I encourage you to examine your obedience to God in your daily life. Do you love God above all else, truly? Do you love others? Do you pray for people you can’t stand? Are you honest? Are you a Christian by default, or by your daily commitment to following Him who died for you?

Philippians 4:4-9 (NIV)
4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

***READ THE SAME VERSES IN PHILIPPIANS IN THE MESSAGE VERSION, PRETTY COOL.***

Philippians 4:4-9 (The Message)
4-5Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!

6-7Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

8-9Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious-the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.

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Get Real
We’ve got to step outside of our self deception, we’ve got to quit lying to ourselves when we read scripture. If you’re anything like me, (and there’s a huge possibility that you’re nothing like me) when I read scripture, I’m way too quick to say, “yea, I do that” without really stopping fully to inspect myself and my habits and ask myself if I really am doing what the scripture says. (follow me so far?)

I think that when I read my Bible and I’m quick to say “yea, I do that”, what I really mean is “yea, I’d really like to do that”. But it seems like too often I don’t take the time to apply it to my life. I check off my Christian box for the day, but don’t always make the truth of the scripture a reality. I wish I did.

I felt this way when I read today’s Bible verses. I read about rejoicing always and praying continually and thought, “well, I do that”. But I don’t. Not always and continually. There are a couple of days in a row, or even weeks in a row where I have done it before, but always is always and continually is continually. So, no breaks right!?

I don’t curse God, so I’m not saying that I do the opposite of rejoicing. But I don’t rejoice in the Lord always, and there are times where worries take the place of prayers. I get tired of the hassle at work, I feel overwhelmed by responsibilities, sometimes it feels easy to sleep in – spiritually speaking.

My prayer this morning is that I find a way to celebrate God all the time, every day, no matter what. No matter my stress level, no matter how tough work gets, no matter how sleepy I am, no matter if it’s raining and the dog gets mud all over the carpet, no matter anything. I want my rejoicing and praise and worship of God to mold my worries into prayers. I want to seek God with all of my energy. I don’t ever want to give up. I want God to work His most excellent harmonies in me!

So there it is. If none of this makes sense to you or if you can’t connect with these scenarios, then I guess this was just my time of confession and prayer before God. But if you can relate to some of this stuff today, then hit me up and we can start sharing ideas, helping with accountability, rejoicing together, always praising our God and praying about anything and everything, all the time!

Psalm 62:5-6
5 Rest in God alone, my soul,
for my hope comes from Him.
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I will not be shaken.

Exodus 21:22-25
22 “When men get in a fight, and hit a pregnant woman so that her children are born prematurely, but there is no injury, the one who hit her must be fined as the woman’s husband demands from him, and he must pay according to judicial assessment. 23 If there is an injury, then you must give life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, bruise for bruise, wound for wound.

Leviticus 24:17-22
17 “If a man kills anyone, he must be put to death. 18 Whoever kills an animal is to make restitution for it, life for life. 19 If any man inflicts a permanent injury on his neighbor, whatever he has done is to be done to him: 20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. Whatever injury he inflicted on the person, the same is to be inflicted on him. 21 Whoever kills an animal is to make restitution for it, but whoever kills a person is to be put to death. 22 You are to have the same law for the foreign resident and the native, because I am the LORD your God.”

Matthew 5:38-39
38 “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. 39 But I tell you, don’t resist an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

Related Text:
Deuteronomy 19:16-21
Psalm 103:8-12
Matthew 5:38-42

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Revenge!
During the age of the Old Testament, “controlled” revenge seemed to be valued. For instance, if Tom smacks you in the face, then by law he gets to hit you back, in the same place with the same amount of force.

But in the New Testament, Jesus explains the essential meaning of the law. He said, “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you . . . For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing out of the ordinary.” Matthew 5:44, 46-47a

Jesus teaches and inspires His followers to live different than the rest of the world. Basically, if Jesus is your strength coach, He can teach you which muscle group you need to work out the most to be able to flip your world upside down.

So here’s the challenge; some of you may take it seriously, and some may just shake it off and never try it. But seriously, you got to try this: The next time you pass by someone you can’t stand, the next time you are near someone you hate (let’s be honest), the next time that horrible person pops into your mind, pray for them. Lift them up to God. No matter how horrible, terrible or mean of a person they are, they are a broken sinner just like the rest of us. Step outside yourself for a second, and pray for that person that you just can’t stand to think about. It’s crazy how God’s love will work in you if you are sincere about this little experiment!

Romans 12:9-21 – Love
9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”says the Lord. 20On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Exodus 22:1
“When a man steals an ox or a sheep and butchers it or sells it, he must repay five cattle for the ox or four sheep for the sheep.

Exodus 22:3-5
3 But if this happens after sunrise, there is guilt of bloodshed. A thief must make full restitution. If he is unable, he is to be sold because of his theft. 4 If what was stolen-whether ox, donkey, or sheep-is actually found alive in his possession, he must repay double.

Exodus 22:9
In any case of wrongdoing involving an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or anything else lost, and someone claims: That’s mine, the case between the two parties is to come before the judges. The one the judges condemn must repay double to his neighbor.

Related Text:
Numbers 5:5-8
Matthew 5:23-24
Luke 19:1-10
1 Corinthians 6:1-11

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Consider This
Restitution means to pay back or to make equal. For example, if you stole something, you would need to pay that person back in order to his or her property and to restore the relationship.

Restoration, or bringing people back together, is a Biblical theme. Jesus taught is disciples to restore relationships. Restoration was such a big deal to Jesus that He told His disciples that it was more important to leave worship and go make things right with a person instead of staying and worshiping God.

Jesus didn’t give instructions to steal your joy, if fact the opposite is true. Biblical instructions are given to us to help us live right and enjoy the relationships around us, even our relationship with God. Do you have any friendships that need to be restored?