Donkey In The Well

One day a farmer’s donkey fell into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally m he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn’t worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come and help him. They all grabbed their shovels and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone’s amazement he quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer’s neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon , every one was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

MORAL:

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well your in is to shake it off and take a step. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells by not stopping, and never giving up, Shake it off and take a step up.

The Voice Of The Nahash

The Hebrew words for serpent or snake is Nahash. It sound like someone is whispering, Nahash Nahash . The word for snake also means the whisperer. Nahash. In the Bible,bother serpent is the symbol of the enemy. The enemy is a whisperer; he works in a subtle crafty way, in secret, in the darkness. The work of the enemy begins with a whisper. A thought that comes into your mind and you’re wondering, “How did that happen?” He doesn’t say it out loud. He whispers a little thing, a little idea. If you go with that, the whisper becomes a sin. The whisper becomes an action, the action becomes a habit, the habit becomes a lifestyle, and the lifestyle becomes a destiny. How do you fight the enemy? You fight him when that thing is just a notion, a whisper or a temptation. That thing comes in a whisper of anger, that whisper of lust, that whisper of doing what you know is wrong, you fight it. Drown it out when you hear that lite word of temptation. Speak the Word of God and you will drown out that whisper.

2 Corinthians 10:5

How about fighting sin today when it’s just a whisper, a thought, a notion. Drown it out at the beginning.

Gravity Free Living

Is seems like in today’s society we all have someone that weighs us down, problems, worries, fears, a million issues.

We think if we get rid of our problems we will get rid of our burdens. The truth is this world has problems, but there’s a secret to how to live a burden free life.

The problem isn’t that we have problems, it’s the gravity of the problem that weighs us down. We’re supposed to be living in the heavenlies, so the weight of the problem won’t weigh us down. Where there’s no gravity.

Get your life away from the earthly things. And you won’t be bound by the gravity of this world. Live in the spirit. Dwell in the heavenlies. Get your mind off the problem. Get your eyes on Gods and refresh yourself in the heavenly places.

Rejoice in heavenly treasures and you will find yourself free from the gravity of the world. You might have the problem but it won’t weigh anything anyone. He said, “ My yoke is easy, my burden is light.”

Dwell with the Lord in the heavenlies and your burden will become light. It all begins when you begin to dwell in the heavenly places.

Matthew 11:28-30

Powerful Reasons To Understand And Know Jesus As The Lion Of Judah

Often, when we think of Jesus one of the images that come to mind is a lamb. After all, when John the Baptist was about to baptize Jesus he declared Him the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.When you think of a lamb you think of tenderness, gentleness, and I would even add submissiveness.

While Jesus was all these things, there is another description of Jesus in Scripture that is the complete opposite of Him as a lamb. That description is the Lion of Judah. I think we under the importance of knowing Jesus as the lamb. I want to give you four reasons to know Jesus as the Lion of Judah.

What Does Lion Of Judah Mean?

To get an understanding of this phrase, there are two places in Scripture where the Lion of Judah are tied together. One of them is in Revelation.

“Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Revelation 5:5

Let’s consider about the significance of the tribe of Judah. Judah was one of the twelves son of Jacob. To make it simple, the descendants of these sons formed the twelve tribes of Israel, a reference to the tribe of Judah is a reference to the human or natural lineage of Christ. The genealogy is found in Matthew 1.

Jesus as a descendant of Judah which also included David, Solomon, and eventually making its way all the way down to Joseph, Jesus’s earthly father (actually step-father to be technical).

The other mention of the lion happens in Genesis 49. In this occasion, Jacob calls his sons together and tells them what will happen to each of them in the days to come. Clearly Jacob is speaking with prophetic language. When he gets to his son Judah here is what he proclaims:

“Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons will bow down to you. You are a lion’s cub, Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness- who dares to rouse him? The scepter will not depart from Judah, not the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his. He will teacher his donkey to a vine, his colt to the choicest branch; he will wash his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes. His eyes will be darker than wine, his teeth whiter than milk” (Genesis 48:8-12).

When you consider these verses, then a reference to the Lion of the Tribe of Judah points to the conquering victorious King that would descend from Judah’s lineage. We know that this lion was pointing to only on person, Jesus Himself, God in human for , who is the lion of the tribe of Judah. This is important because it fulfills the promises and prophecy of God’s word. It also gives us hope and confidence in this one who will ultimately be our deliverer.

As we look closely at this proclamation made by Jacob in Genesis 49, some prophetic truths come to light. These are truths that, when considered, point directly to Jesus. From these verses, you can uncover four resonance to know God as the Lion of Judah. Let’s take a closer look:

1. Your Brothers Will Praise You – You Will Acknowledge The Lion Of Judah’s Lordship.

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth, and every tongue acknowledges that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).

Regardless of what people think or feel about Jesus, one thing we know for sure: He is Lord. Because He is Lord, everyone will eventually praise Him as Lord. It doesn’t matter if a person believes that now, but at some point every knee will bow and every tongue will confess this to be true. When you recognize this now you can willingly take bow and acknowledge His as Lord of all, and most importantly Lord of your life.

2. Your Hand Will Be On The Neck Of Your Enemies- You Acknowledge The Lion Of Judah’s Victory.

“Then the end will come, when he hands over the Kingdom to God the Father after He had destroyed all dominion, authority, and power. For He must reign until He has put all Him enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For He “has put everything under His feet” (1 Corinthians 15:24-26).

Ultimately Jesus will destroy allHis enemies, even Satan who know He is on borrowed time because his defeat is imminent. However, the greatest enemy we face as humans in the reality of sin and death. Our sin interrupted our relationship with God and our death meant eternal separation and punishment for our sin. Jesus conquered both of these enemies on our behalf. Our Lion has given us victory over sin and has removed the penalty of death and replaced it with the promise and hope of eternal life. You can celebrate, because you are victorious today. You are no longer under the penalty of sin.

3. The Scepter Will Not Depart From Judah – You Acknowledge The Lion’s Eternal Rule.

“The seventh a gem sounded his trumpet, and there were load voices in heaven, which said: ‘The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and His Messiah, and He will reign for ever and ever’” (Revelation 11:15).

Another wonderful reason to know God as the Lion of Judah is that His Kingdom will reign forever. The good part about being on His side is that we will in the end, regardless of how challenging life gets and regardless of the struggles or persecutions you may experience in this life. It is important to recognize that as long as you are on Jesus’s side you will win. Because He will rule for all eternity, and you are part of His Kingdom, then you get to experience the benefits for all of eternity. So, don’t be discouraged, no matter how bad it may feel or get, it is only for a little while. Our Lion is coming soon and He will reign forever.

4. He Will Wash His Garments In Wine, His Robes In The Blood Of Grapes – You acknowledge His Shed Blood For The Forgiven Of Your Sins.

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Jesus, a lamb without blemish or defect” (Peter 1:18-19).

As important as it is to know God as the Lion, that wouldn’t have mattered much unless He became the lamb. He would still be God. He would still reign forward. He would still ultimately triumph over His enemies. However, we would still be lost. What makes Jesus all the more impressive is that His road to conquering – His road to being the Lion -came through suffering. He didn’t redeem us by keeping His status as a Lion. He redeemed us by becoming humble as a lamb. That precious blood He stilled purchased our salvation, forgave our sins, and allowed us to triumph. I am thankful that He became like a lamb to win back our salvation. In fact, it was His suffering as a lamb that paved the way for Him to be the true Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Remember Philippians:

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Jesus: Who, being in very natural God, did not consider equality with something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every Name” (Philippians 2:5-9).

The Great Lion Of The Tribe Of Judah Conquered By Becoming A Lamb.

The Purpose Of Trials

God uses trials to condition our hearts for holiness and to increase our spiritual maturity.

When difficulties come into your life, do you grumble, complain, or resist? Or do you respond the way God desires – with a joyful attitude, a humble and submissive heart, and a understanding of when He wants to accomplish in your life? Okay, no-one is joyful about a trial in their life. But, God puts us all through trials and tests and it’s difficult no matter what it is big or small.

Sometimes people mistakenly think that after they are saved God is going to make life comfortable and stress free, but that’s not what it’s all about, Jesus said that in this world we would have troubles and tribulations. Peter told us not to be surprised at the fiery ordeals that come upon us for our testing. (Peter 4:12). The writer of Hebrews said that our Heavenly Father disciplines and trains us as His beloved children so that we may share in His holiness. (Hebrews 12:4-11)

James’s command was to consider all trials as joy (James 1:2) which makes no sense unless we see them opportunities for spiritual growth. Trials are designed by the Lord to test our faith, humility. Submission, and values. We can either waste our difficulties by resisting God or benefit by trusting in and depending on Him. The first way leads to suffering, but the second way results in spiritual maturity and eternal rewards.

Personality Traits

Broadly there are five parameters whigh describe a persons personality.

An individual’s behavior towards other#, attitude, characteristics, it’s true mindset makes personality.

The development of our personality is defined as a process of enhancing one’s personality.

Following are five personality traits of an individual:

1. Openness to experience. Individuals with openness to experience are generally very active, have a tremendous inclination towards creativity and aesthetics and listen to their heart, and follow their inner feelings. Such individuals are generally open to new learnings, skill sets and experiences. People who high on openness are quite broad minded and modern in the outlook as compared to individuals are not. Such individuals are conservative, and reluctant to change and have a grad approach to life.

2. Conscientiousness. As the name suggests, individuals with a consciousness personality trait listen to their conscience and act accordingly. Such individuals are extremely cautious and self-disciplined. They never perform any task in haste and think before acting. People with this personality trait are generally methodical and tend to become perfectionists in the long run. They are proactive, goal oriented and self-disciplined. They strive hard to accomplish goals and objectives within a stipulated time frame.

3. Extraversion and Introversion.

  • Extraversion. Refers to a state where individuals show more concern towards what is happening outside. Such individuals love interacting with people around and are generally talkative. They do not like spending time alone but love being the center of attraction at parties and social gatherings. Such individuals love going out, partying, meeting people and often get bored when they are all by themselves. They admire company and hate being alone.
  • Introversion. On the other hand refers to a stat when an individual is concerned only with their own life and nothing else. Such individuals do not bother about others and are seldom interested in what is going on around them. They prefer staying at home rather that going out and spending time with friends. Such individuals speak less, and enjoy their own company. You would seldom find them in meetings, clubs, parties or social get togethers.

4. Agreeableness. Is a personality trait which teaches individuals to be adjusting in almost all situations. Such individuals do mot crib and face changes with a smile. They accommodate themselves to all situations and are friendly and kind hearted. They are ready to help others and flash a smile whenever a problem arises.

5. Neuroticism. Is a trait where individuals are prone to negative thoughts such as anxiety, anger, envy, guilt, and so on. Such individuals are often in a state of depression and do not know to enjoy life. They always look at the negative sides of life and find it extremely difficult to cope with stress.

Get to know yourself better. What traits do you have?