Today is the last day of the first half of this year.
2021 is half done.
That means it is half-time.
Here are two questions for us to ask of ourselves:
Have fun with the second half of 2021!
Over the next few weeks, I am going to re-post some of my favorite posts.
I am spending my mental energy on a bigger project right now.
So for today, enjoy A Winepress and a Warrior!
POSTED ON BY TIM SORBO
This post is a continuation of some Old Testament people. Click on Abraham or Joseph to read the other two Old Testament posts.
Gideon. As with most of these people, their stories are filled with crazy, supernatural stuff. Angels visiting, people testing God, battles begin fought. It all seems unreal to me. But yet it is real. And that is what strikes me. These people, especially Gideon, are normal people. And by normal, I mean normal-every-day-average-unremarkable people.
Just like me.
But before we get to the angel visit, the testing, or the fighting, we find Gideon hiding.
He was hiding from the enemy. Why? So they would not take his wheat. The enemy of Israel was oppressing Gideon and all of Israel. For seven years this was happening. The first 11 verses of Judges 6 give us the account. It was all the Israelites could do to stay alive. They hid in caves. Their crops and livestock were under constant attack. It was bad.
But that is what happens when, “Again, the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord,”. God let the enemy invade and oppress.
Is the enemy of your soul invading and oppressing you? Are you doing evil in the eyes of the Lord? Just a thought.
Back to Gideon. He was in a winepress threshing some wheat. This picture shows an ancient winepress. The next one shows a threshing floor.
Note the difference. The threshing floor is an open area where the wind can blow easier (perhaps like the Holy Spirit?) . Gideon was in a winepress. He was trying to thresh the wheat in a secret place. Only fearful people do such things. Wheat was meant to be tossed into the air out in the open. This way, the wind could separate the wheat from the chaff. It is much more difficult if you are hiding in an enclosed space.
But that is what happens when doing evil in the eyes of the Lord. We are meant for one thing but we are doing another. Our actions are secret or hidden instead of being lived out. But if you are discouraged about that, the story is not over.
Verse 12 shows how God feels about Gideon. Here is the verse, “When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”
Boom! Gideon was not a warrior, he was in a winepress! However, God feels differently.
Your surroundings should not dictate your status. Your circumstances do not negate your christianity. Your foes can’t take away your faith.
Gideon needed a supernatural reminder of his position. I think that you and I could use reminders now and again, don’t you?
Well consider this your reminder. God created you. You are a mighty warrior! Get out of your winepress and get to the business of God.
Plans change. Sounds like life, doesn’t it?
If you read my post form last Tuesday, you would not be expecting any new content today.
Plans change.
Here is a link for last week so you can catch up. Summer break!
My original plan was to not post anything new until September. I wanted to focus more on a novel I am trying to write.
Plans change.
A thought came to mind while I was reading a book. I try to do this on a regular basis.
The book is entitled 33 A.D. It is the second of two in a series.
Ted Dekker, the author, blends the life of Jesus into a fictional story. I am almost done with the second book. They are really engaging and thought-provoking.
There are no spoilers here just some praise for a good read.
There is one section that describes the scene at the Garden of Gethsemane. The night before the crucifixion, Jesus and his disciples go to the garden after the last supper.
Two things take place.
Jesus went to God with his pain, concern, anxiety, and troubles. He knew that he was destined to be killed.
But his flesh did not want it to happen. After all, he was fully human as well as fully God.
2. Peter slept. (Luke 22)
He was tired. Maybe he was trying to stay awake but he failed. We know that later that night, he denied Jesus.
His flesh was also pulling on his mind. And he yielded to it.
When we choose to be like Jesus, we become adept at getting through trials.
If we behave like Peter, we stay inept while being tempted.
Isn’t it nice how those four words rhyme?
Jesus wept and in doing so, became adept at overcoming temptation.
Peter slept and in doing so, was inept to fighting the temptation.
We all have Gethsemane moments in our lives. Sometimes daily.
One of 2 things is happening: sleeping or weeping.
Which one are you doing?
Welcome to summer! I am thankful for the AC in our home. With high heat and humidity, a cool house brings relief!
It is summer time now. My kids have one and a half days of school left. I have been done for two weeks now.
We have some house projects on our list to accomplish this summer.
Yep, it is officially summer!
With that in mind, I am taking a break.
Here is what you can expect from twominuteswithtim this summer:
This will allow me to focus on a novel that I have started. I am making time to write this summer!
Hopefully, you will continue to stay with me. It is fun (and somewhat humbling) to get “likes” and new followers every week.
May this summer be great for you! God bless!
In the USA, yesterday was Memorial Day. This day (going back to the Civil War) is a day when we remember/celebrate/honor fallen soldiers.
These men and women have given their lives in service of this country.
They died so we could be free.
It is fitting that we, as a country, recognize this sacrifice.
Freedom has cost the lives of millions of soldiers throughout the years.
To experience that freedom is somewhat humbling. Even more so because I have never been in the military.
I am certainly not saying that we are perfect and that our country has it all together.
But I am thankful that I am living here.
There is another place that is experiencing freedom as well.
This place has tremendous joy. All of its citizens are perfect.
In fact, there is no crying, pain, or hardships of any kind.
You may have already guessed it but I speak of heaven.
Heaven will be my future home. This home, earth, is just a stop on the road of eternity.
The bible references heaven numerous times. So much so that there is not time in this post to look at all of those passages.
But what I do have time for is to explain why I am going to heaven.
Jesus fought and died in the ultimate war. He is a fallen hero.
His death paved the way for freedom and ultimately, heaven.
That battle is over now. Jesus is not in the grave anymore. He is risen!
The bible explains how Jesus is now in heaven preparing for us a place.
For eternity.
We will be with Him for all of time.
And so when Memorial Day comes around and we honor those who have fallen, let’s not forget the One who died for our spiritual freedom as well.
For those who have put their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, everyday is memorial day.
Two Minutes With Tim 