It’s gratitude, not attitude, the Lord God Almighty wants compliance over complaining. Listening over lame excuses. We should be thankful for we do know God’s thoughts in His scriptures. We do know what mercy is. And we should know that without God’s mercy and grace, we would not be running this race. Really, how many times do we know this already, but God wants us to know Him intimately, really know, Him. Intimate not ignorant.

He is truly reminding us to be ready to know Him one day at His judgment throne, but really to know Him as ALMIGHTY ALREADY.

Israel’s people in the wayward days and years, hundreds of years, as re-told by Amos, prophet during the divided kingdom years, called out the obvious – the people would actively sin but make the sin offering sacrifices as rote duty, then go back sinning and worshipping other gods. They were arrogant, not ignorant. They knew better. They did not act better. Their history included prophesy of a Savior in David’s line, a rescuer and ruler. So paying attention to the real and realness of God is required.

We should know this too. We should keep God in our undivided devotion. Does this mean we don’t live? No, contrary, it means we live ACTIVELY and live actually more ABUNDANTLY, knowing our job is to LIVE and LOVE, so we love VIGOROUSLY and with VITALITY and PURPOSE.

Best phrases in the Bible include this one, told to the troubled souls: “PREPARE TO MEET YOUR GOD!”… Well, surely our Savior in Jesus calls our names and saves.

Yes, Amos knew we and others needed this truth for reminding us of God’s power.
“He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind, and who reveals his thoughts to mankind, who turns dawn to darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth – THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY IS HIS NAME.”

Don’t confuse the knowing of God’s thoughts with freedom to forget them.

I’ve seen arrogance as a play and a ploy, but it IS being in God’s service I will enjoy.

Amen, and thank You Lord for forgiveness in Jesus. Thank You Lord for showing us the Way.
Love over listlessness.
Shepherding over sleep-walking.
Home over hassle or hustle.
.
Waking us for Walking.
Forgiveness For Forevermore.
Again and Amen

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Amos 4
Israel Has Not Returned to God
Hear this word, you cows of Bashan on Mount Samaria, you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy and say to your husbands, “Bring us some drinks!” The Sovereign Lord has sworn by his holiness: “The time will surely come when you will be taken away with hooks, the last of you with fishhooks. You will each go straight out through breaches in the wall, and you will be cast out toward Harmon,” declares the Lord. “Go to Bethel and sin; go to Gilgal and sin yet more. Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three years. Burn leavened bread as a thank offering and brag about your freewill offerings – boast about them, you Israelites, for this is what you love to do,” declares the Sovereign Lord.

“I gave you empty stomachs in every city and lack of bread in every town, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the Lord.

“I also withheld rain from you when the harvest was still three months away. I sent rain on one town, but withheld it from another. One field had rain; another had none and dried up. People staggered from town to town for water but did not get enough to drink, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the Lord.

“Many times I struck your gardens and vineyards, destroying them with blight and mildew. Locusts devoured your fig and olive trees, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the Lord.

“I sent plagues among you as I did to Egypt. I killed your young men with the sword, along with your captured horses. I filled your nostrils with the stench of your camps, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the Lord.

“I overthrew some of you as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. You were like a burning stick snatched from the fire, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the Lord.

“Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel, and because I will do this to you, Israel, prepare to meet your God.”

He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind, and who reveals his thoughts to mankind, who turns dawn to darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth – THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY IS HIS NAME.