Life – Page 9 – Daniel Condurachi's Blog

What To Be Thankful About

Bible passage

(1) I love the Lord, because He has heard [and now hears] my voice and my supplications. (2) Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live. (3) The cords and sorrows of death were around me, and the terrors of Sheol (the place of the dead) had laid hold of me; I suffered anguish and grief (trouble and sorrow). (4) Then called I upon the name of the Lord: O Lord, I beseech You, save my life and deliver me! (5) Gracious is the Lord, and [rigidly] righteous; yes, our God is merciful. (6) The Lord preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He helped and saved me. (7) Return to your rest, O my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. (8) For You have delivered my life from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from stumbling and falling. (9) I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living. (10) I believed (trusted in, relied on, and clung to my God), and therefore have I spoken [even when I said], I am greatly afflicted. Psalm 116:1-10

My thoughts

It happens to me to lack joy, to be happy, to forget to smile. But, today, I was reminded once again why should I be happy and thankful to my Lord.

So why should I love my God and be thankful to Him?

He listens to my voice, He’s not indifferent,
He listens to my requests, and He can change His mind about stuff,
He is merciful, righteous and gracious,
He preserves the simple, the people with no wickedness, so I pray that I could be like that,
He helped and saved me,
He dealt bountifully with me…
- saving my soul from death,
- my eyes from tears,
- and my feet from stumbling and falling.

Therefore, I shall:

lift up the cup of salvation and deliverance,
call on the name of the Lord,
pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people.

Big Problems Resolved With Small Sacrifice

Bible passage

(1) There happened to be there a base and contemptible fellow named Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjamite. He blew a trumpet and said, We have no portion in David and no inheritance in the son of Jesse! Every man to his tents, O Israel! (2) So all the men of Israel withdrew from David and followed Sheba son of Bichri; but the men of Judah stayed faithfully with their king, from the Jordan to Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 20:1-2

(15) And they came and besieged Sheba in Abel of Beth-maacah, and they cast up a siege mound against the city, and it stood against the rampart; and all the men with Joab battered and undermined the wall to make it fall. (16) Then a wise woman of the city cried, Hear, hear! Say to Joab, Come here so I can speak to you. (17) And when he came near her, the woman said, Are you Joab? He answered, I am. Then she said to him, Hear the words of your handmaid. He answered, I am listening. (18) Then she said, People used to say, Let them but ask counsel at Abel, and so they settled the matter. (19) I am one of the peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city which is a mother in Israel. Why will you swallow up the inheritance of the Lord? (20) Joab answered, Far be it, far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy! (21) That is not true. But a man of the hill country of Ephraim, Sheba son of Bichri, has lifted up his hand against King David. Deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said, Behold, his head shall be thrown to you over the wall. (22) Then the woman in her wisdom went to all the people. And they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri and cast it down to Joab. So he blew the trumpet, and they retired from the city, every man to his own home. And Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king. 2 Samuel 20:15-22

My thoughts

The people from the Sheba in Abel of Beth had a really big problem. They were all going to die because of this one man that was in their walled city. They were saved by this wise woman. She understood that they have to cast out the evil from among themselves, so they should live.

Nowadays we live in a strange community. It seems that nothing goes right. The non-rightness people prosper and all the other suffer. But actually all of us have issues with our correctness.

Each of us are like that walled city. So we could really live we have to give up on the bad things. We have to accept God as He is, and let Him cleanse us. If we want to live our life to the full, we have to accept Him, as God says I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). John 10:10

The Process of Wise Choices

The Real Rescue

Bible passage

(29) And those who passed by kept reviling Him and reproaching Him abusively in harsh and insolent language, wagging their heads and saying, Aha! You Who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, (30) Now rescue Yourself [from death], coming down from the cross! (31) So also the chief priests, with the scribes, made sport of Him to one another, saying, He rescued others [from death]; Himself He is unable to rescue. (32) Let the Christ (the Messiah), the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see [it] and trust in and rely on Him and adhere to Him! Those who were crucified with Him also reviled and reproached Him [speaking abusively, harshly, and insolently]. Mark 15:29-32

My thoughts

I would not say much in words about this. I pity the people of that times, and the ones nowadays that do not understand Christ’s sacrifice. They mocked Jesus saying that He rescued others, but is unable to rescue Himself. Actually, in that moments He was doing the actual rescuing of all the people that believe in His sacrifice. His power didn’t stay in the ability to go down the cross. Of coarse He could have done that. But, His was in staying there, on the cross, for me and you. He stood there, he suffered instead of me, the was the supreme sacrifice. He died so I could live. And not the life as we see it now. Not this earthly life, but the eternal life.

Carefully choose you friends

A good lesson that I learned this morning is that I should carefully choose my friends. By friends, I mean the ones that give me advices, that show me what I should do in troubled times. Because a friend indeed is one when you’re in need.

Amnon loved David’s daughter – Tamar – and it seemed impossible for him to do anything to her (2nd Samuel 13:2B). Amnon saw himself weak, with not enough courage to go to his dad – David – and talk with him about this. As we see in 2nd Samuel 13:13B (speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you) it was possible Amnon to marry Tamar. Amnon had a friend – Jonadab. This guy was a very cunning man (2n Samuel 13:3). Cunning is not wisdom. People might see the same, but they are so different in their essence. As we find in Proverbs 9:10, the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning (the chief and choice part) of Wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight and understanding. So, one good point is that when I choose someone to be my friend, to advise me, he/she should in the first place have a reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord. If this lacks, I can be sure that the advices I get will not take me anywhere good.

Reading the rest of the 2nd Samuel 13 chapter we see that Amnon forces Tamar to sleep with him. The consequences are that Amnon ends up dead by Tamar’s brother – Absalom – and the curse comes down in the family.

The bad friendships examples are further shown. In 2nd Samuel 14:1-23 we see Joab. In the first place I thought that he was a wise man. Joab was indeed devoted to David and did great things for the king, but we can not say that he always acted with wisdom. Joab killed Abner and Absalom.

Further reading I found another bad example – Ahithophel. He was one of David’s advisers/counselors, but he betrayed his king on Absalom’s behalf (While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he also sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, to come from Giloh, his hometown. And so the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept on increasing. 2nd Samuel 15:12; Now David had been told, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David prayed, “O LORD, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.” 2nd Samuel 15:31). If you read 2nd Samuel 15-17 Ahithophel always had bad influence on people. His apogee is described in 2nd Samuel 16:23: Now in those days the advice Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God. That was how both David and Absalom regarded all of Ahithophel’s advice.

I pray that God would watch over me, so that I would never have such friends.

What do you think about choosing your friends? What advise do you have?

BIR: When God Writes Your Love Story – Eric & Leslie Ludy – UPDATED

BIR – Books I Read is a new section in my Blog. I do not start to read a book, finish it and then start another one. I am not like that. I read several book in the same time. I do not have all of them open and read from one a word and from another one a word and so on. But, when I find out about a good book I try to get it and I start to read it. Some say that by doing this, I can not get the whole picture of a book. But for me that is not true.

For some time now I heard about When God Writes Your Love Story by Eric & Leslie Ludy. A few days ago a good friend told me that read it. And yesterday evening I borrowed the book. As I got home, after I had something to eat, I opened the book. I’m at the 3rd chapter now. I really like the style of how the book was written. It is fresh and easy to read. But this doesn’t make it a light book. I believe that I have things to learn from this book and that it is going to help me.

Until now, I agree with what I read. The main things in those chapters I read, is that remained in my head are:

I can trust in God also to write your love story. He is more than qualified to do this. He made me, so knows me better than I do.
together we have to build the foundation. This is hard gray concrete, not very attractive, but strong to build later on.
I should let God drive my life, not my dreams. He has better dreams dreams than I do.

I’ll keep you updated as I read the book and how it transforms me.

(3) Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (4) Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. (5) Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Matthew 5:3-5

2007.05.19 UPDATE – new ideas:

God says Do not try to build me in your life, but build your life around me (chapter 4, sub-chapter 4, 3rh paragraph, p. 63, Romanian translation)
There’s not super formula for a great love story. When and if I would trust in a formula, we would loose the whole beauty that is in the love story that God wants to write for me (chapter 4, sub-chapter 5, 10th paragraph, p. 66, Romanian translation)
Wrong & Right questions (chapter 4, sub-chapter 8, 2nd paragraph, p. 70, Romanian translation):
- WRONG: How far can I go without upsetting God?
- RIGHT: How far can I go in pleasing God?
Immature love always compares, complain and feels unsafe, which transforms it self into jealousy (chapter 5, sub-chapter 1, 1st paragraph, p. 75, Romanian translation)
“Eric”, whispered softly, with here delicate voice, “I forgive you!” She touched my cheek with her hand and with tremble she said, “Eric, I love you! You are my here, my knight in shining armor! And I chose to love you exactly as I sweet Jesus loves me!” (chapter 5, sub-chapter 1, 11th paragraph, p. 76, Romanian translation)
Love is Christ’s sweetest perfume. If you approach Him, more and more, you’ll start to smell the same way (chapter 5, sub-chapter 2, 1st paragraph, p. 79, Romanian translation)

Go to the Books I Read Page.

Why I Didn't Write Anything In The Weekend

Some might ask why I didn’t write anything in the weekend. Well, I was at home, in Botosani. We had a great time. It was so good to see my parents, to give them a big hug and spend time together.I really appreciate all that my parents did for us. They are hard working people. Even if they are not feeling good with their health, they still work and do not stop.

I will not talk a lot about this, but let the photos talk for them selfs…

¿ What Do I Do When I Am Given Power ?

One Of The Today’s Thoughts

Continuing 1st book of Samuel, I read about how David spares again Saul’s life.

Here are the key texts:

(9) But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless? (10) As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike him; either his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. (11) But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go.” 1st Samuel 26:9-11
(23) The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. The Lord delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. (24) As surely as I valued your life today, so may the Lord value my life and deliver me from all trouble.” 1st Samuel 26:23-24

I see those occasions that God gives to Daniel, when Saul’s life is in David’s hands, as a test. God already anointed David, and David knew that. So, that is why I really like how David continues to behave. It is said that give power to a man to see how he really is. This is what God did with David. At church, work or in another places we are given the opportunity to do something, to take decisions. When we are in that posture, our flesh is ready to show it’s real face. Are we strong enough to say “NO”? Am I going to do what God taught me, or listen to the flesh?

NOT JUST Morning thoughts 11th may 2007

Today I learned something very interesting. As I was reading 1st Samuel 25, I discovered how I should behave wisely. As we read (in 1 Samuel 25:3B) Abigail was an intelligent and beautiful woman. The most important thing in here is that Abigail was smart.

The short story is that Nabal, Abigail’s husband, was very rich, but he was surly and mean in his dealings. Nabal was shearing his sheep. David send 10 men to Nabal. David asked to give them something because they took care of Nabal’s heard at the Carmel. Nabal refused to give anything to David and his people. So, David got angry and set his 400 men army to go and kill all that belong to Nabal. When Abigail heard how Nabal treated David’s people, she prepared food, and went to meet with David on the road.

What I like about this story is the way Abigail talks to David. Indeed she was beautiful, and David liked that. But let’s look at the more important thing… her wisdom.

Abigail came humble in front of David ((23) When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before David with her face to the ground. (24) She fell at his feet[…] 1 Samuel 25:23-24). What is the cost of being humble, to behave like this? When you really want something it is worth to be humble. Behavior has no cost.
Abigail admitted Nabal’s guilt, her guild as she says ((24) My lord, let the blame be on me alone […] (25) May my lord pay no attention to that wicked man Nabal 1 Samuel 25:24-25). Again, what does it cost to day that you were wrong, even to admit that it was your guild, when actually it was another’s? Abigail was to face death and all that was hers and Nabal’s to be taken by David, after they were killed. So, when you have to face that, keeping you pride is not worth dieing for.
Abigail made some research on David. She knew who he was and what David did.
Abigail says may your enemies and all who intend to harm my master be like Nabal. The word Nabal means crazy. David had troubles then, he had enemies – Saul.
Abigail excuses herself again (Please forgive your servant’s offense, for the LORD will certainly make a lasting dynasty for my master, because he fights the LORD’s battles)
Again Abigail talks about the David’s problems and wished that they would get resolved (Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life, the life of my master will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the LORD your God)
Then Abigail pus in her sentences the word sling. David killed Goliath with a stone and a sling. So, makes David feel good, remembering him about the old days.

Abigail is very smart. She resolves the conflict. After a few days Nabal dies. When David heard that he asks Abigail to marry him. Wise choice for David as well.

What do I have to learn from this? Well…

come humble in front of the one that is angry with you
it doesn’t matter if I am wrong or not, I should say that I am sorry
make research on the opponent
use that research to make the opponent feel proud of himself/herself
say again that you regret what happened, and admit your guilt (even if you were not guilty)
wish all the good things to happen to your opponent

Gica & Andi, Happy Birthday!

Today it’s my cousin’s birthday. It is also his dad birthday. So,…

Gica & Andi,

LA MULTI ANI!
In our family something strange happened. My siste, Anda, was born on the same date with my mom – 15th December. Andi was born on the same day with his dad – 9th May. Another cousin of mine was born on the same day with his dad. My sister Ema was born 12 hours before Andi’s sister, Andra.

Morning thoughts 9th may 2007

As I was reading i got to those verses from Psalm 103:8-9 and I thought what if I put my name in there?.. is it still true? So this is what came out:

Daniel is merciful and gracious, Daniel is slow to anger and plenteous in mercy and loving-kindness. Daniel will not always chide or be contending, neither will Daniel keep His anger forever or hold a grudge.

I admit that there are times when the above is not true for me. I wish it would always be true. And…

(13) As a father loves and pities his children, so the Lord loves and pities those who fear Him [with reverence, worship, and awe]. (14) For He knows our frame, He [earnestly] remembers and imprints [on His heart] that we are dust. Psalm 103:13-14

So, all my hope is in God that will transform me more in every day.