Reading Scripture helps us know God's Love. Every Bible verse is written for you. Jesus Christ is all mankind's Light. John 1!

Saturday, February 28, 2009

John 1:43-51 ~ Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!

I saw you under the fig tree.

Nathanael was having a prayer conversation with the Lord; a quiet moment to discuss something very important with Him. Nathanael knew this prayer was an intensely important prayer discussion. Nathanael was coming in all honesty, straight to the Lord.

After being questioned by Peter over a withered fig tree, Jesus says: Mark 11:22-24
“Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

During prayer, a believing Nathanael knows, deeply in his soul, the Lord God has been part of their prayer conversation and listens with an open, loving heart. Nathanael recognizes immediately Jesus is the Christ, the long promised Son of God, sent to save God’s people. Nathanael recognizes Jesus as his Savior.

Nathanael recognizes Jesus again in the last chapter of the book of John.

John 21:1-7, 12
Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. "I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?"

"No," they answered.
He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!"

12 Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord.

Jesus was very pleased with the first person to recognize Him, even before the disciples were banded together. He was amused by Nathanael, his bluntness, but the Lord knew Nathanael spoke to the Lord expecting Him to show up. With Nathanael’s belief, Nathanael had no trouble discerning the Lord.

We are all called. Jesus invites us to come and see greater things. Come and see, come and be a part of greater things!

Psalm 68:19
Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up,
The God who is our salvation. Selah

John 1:43-51

43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”

44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”

48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?”
Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”

49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”

50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

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Friday, February 27, 2009

Genesis 41:1-36 ~ I remember my offenses today

Joseph, Overseer of Pharaoh's Granaries, 1874. Painted by Lawrence Alma Tadema

The cupbearer, a high ranking officer, guards against poison in the king's cup, and sometimes swallows the wine before serving it. This is a position of great influence; only people well thought of by the king & highly esteemed for courage, honesty, industriousness and service will be chosen.

In Genesis 41, Pharaoh’s chief cupbearer, remembers his offenses today. Not only does the cupbearer remember his offenses, he speaks to Pharaoh of: his offense, the anger of the Pharaoh, of imprisonment, of a person he met in prison & who helped him only once.

We cannot know the heart of the cupbearer, he could be like the worldly, shrewd, dishonest servant in Luke 16:7,8
"Then he asked the second, 'And how much do you owe?'

" 'A thousand bushels of wheat,' he replied.
"He told him, 'Take your bill and make it eight hundred.'
The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.

But the cupbearer puts all of the story in front of Pharaoh. If this man, Joseph, is wrong, the cupbearer is not one whom Pharaoh has never cast doubt upon. The cupbearer has gone past gratitude for forgiveness, he speaks up of his offenses and of his knowledge. The cupbearer wants others to share in his good fortune. He wants Pharaoh, who imprisoned him and terrified him with threat of his own death, to be comforted. This cupbearer doesn’t seem to be bitter, he is better. The fruit of the cupbearer, going out on a limb to bring a prisoner in front of Pharaoh, is the deliverance of Joseph.

Philippians 2:5-7
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.

Jesus, knew our offenses. Luke 22:42
"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."


Genesis 41:1-36

1 After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile, 2 and behold, there came up out of the Nile seven cows attractive and plump, and they fed in the reed grass. 3 And behold, seven other cows, ugly and thin, came up out of the Nile after them, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. 4 And the ugly, thin cows ate up the seven attractive, plump cows. And Pharaoh awoke. 5 And he fell asleep and dreamed a second time. And behold, seven ears of grain, plump and good, were growing on one stalk. 6 And behold, after them sprouted seven ears, thin and blighted by the east wind. 7 And the thin ears swallowed up the seven plump, full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream. 8 So in the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was none who could interpret them to Pharaoh.

9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “I remember my offenses today. 10 When Pharaoh was angry with his servants and put me and the chief baker in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, 11 we dreamed on the same night, he and I, each having a dream with its own interpretation. 12 A young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. When we told him, he interpreted our dreams to us, giving an interpretation to each man according to his dream. 13 And as he interpreted to us, so it came about. I was restored to my office, and the baker was hanged.”

14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they quickly brought him out of the pit. And when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh. 15 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” 16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” [1] 17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Behold, in my dream I was standing on the banks of the Nile. 18 Seven cows, plump and attractive, came up out of the Nile and fed in the reed grass. 19 Seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and thin, such as I had never seen in all the land of Egypt. 20 And the thin, ugly cows ate up the first seven plump cows, 21 but when they had eaten them no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were still as ugly as at the beginning. Then I awoke. 22 I also saw in my dream seven ears growing on one stalk, full and good. 23 Seven ears, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprouted after them, 24 and the thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears. And I told it to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.”

25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years; the dreams are one. 27 The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind are also seven years of famine. 28 It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29 There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt, 30 but after them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will consume the land, 31 and the plenty will be unknown in the land by reason of the famine that will follow, for it will be very severe. 32 And the doubling of Pharaoh's dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about. 33 Now therefore let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plentiful years. 35 And let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. 36 That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine.”

Footnotes
[1] 41:16 Or (compare Samaritan, Septuagint) Without God it is not possible to give Pharaoh an answer about his welfare.

John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life”

Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

Romans 3:24
and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Romans 4:7
"Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

Jeremiah 31:34b
Declares the LORD, "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."

Matthew 6:12
Forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Matthew 6:14,15
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Psalm 25:18
Look upon my affliction and my distress
and take away all my sins.

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Thursday, February 26, 2009

1 Corinthians 10 ~ Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God

1 Corinthians 10 (Today's New International Version)

1 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry." 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9 We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.

11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to us all. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

14 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.

18 Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? 19 Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons. 22 Are we trying to arouse the Lord's jealousy? Are we stronger than he?


23 "I have the right to do anything," you say—but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do anything"—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26 for, "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it."

27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. 29 I am referring to the other person's conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another's conscience? 30 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?

31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.


Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God.

Have you seen the Superbowl commercial put on by Hulu?


The analogy or parable isn’t about aliens, but more the concept of what we do put in our lives. When was the last time popular media really thought about what’s good for us instead of what’s pleasing? Okay, that concept has been hashed out time and time again. Ad nauseum.

But here is an alien concept: why do we expect media to lead us in what’s right? Why don’t the 89% of praying and believing Americans let the media know, if you produce junk that isn’t good for us, we won’t see it or support it? Isn’t it an act of kindness to lead the entertainers in a good path?

It can happen and it does happen, but not as often as it could. Moviemakers were stunned, in the last months, when they produced a children’s film from a book, Golden Compass, that was savagely anti-christian and anti-catholic. Made with top famous, highly paid actors, directors and special effects people. Outspoken atheists were elated to “disengage children from the myth of Christianity”. Many sequels and games were planned from the movie, lots of advertising. The internet buzzed about how absolutely horrible the anti-christian agenda was hidden in the movie. It completely flopped.



Movie makers keep looking with some interest at the revenue from Christian themes and Christian values movies. But movie makers want to entertain and teach their values, Christians attend, without too much of a problem. Or we go and we are surprised with the current motive packed in as a side glitch. We don’t have to be surprised.

It’s kindness to encourage friends to see a movie coming out to support a relationship with Jesus Christ. When we don’t have a good way to bring up our faith, we can bring up the movies and books we enjoy and support. We don’t have to support or encourage entertainment to be less than good for us.

The Dove Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to encourage the creation, production, distribution and consumption of family friendly values and entertainment. The website is: http://www.dove.org/

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Wednesday, February 25, 2009

The ashes are made from blessed palms used in the Palm Sunday celebration from the previous year. The ashes are christened with Holy Water and are scented by exposure to incense. Our foreheads are marked with ashes reminding us life passes away on earth. We remember and are told; "Remember, Man is dust, and unto dust you shall return." God is gracious and merciful to all who call on Him with repentant hearts. His Divine mercy is of utmost importance and we seek His mercy during Lent with reflection & prayer.

You are Invited to Attend Ash Wednesday with Us:
Hope Pointe Anglican Church
3333 South Panther Creek
on the Southeast Corner of Woodlands Parkway and South Panther Creek
Across the Street from McCullough Junior High School
The Woodlands, Texas 77381
7:00 P.M.

It seems almost comical to mention, but today when we think of a cloud hanging over us, we think of bad news and bad luck. I’ve said before, and will say again, we are so very fortunate to live in this present day, after Jesus gave us the new covenant. Today, I thought of all the people in the Old Testament who have seen the glory of God; how did they react and where are they today, I wondered.

This cloud, the fire of the Holy Spirit, led the children of Israel. It kept Pharaoh’s army from attacking until they could cross to freedom through the Red Sea. But after walking through the Red Sea, seeing Pharaoh and his army destroyed, the children of Israel still complained again and again.

Remember the story of Jesus and the 10 lepers:
Luke 17:11-19
Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"
When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed.

One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."


Remember Jesus told parables and the Pharisees were angry? Today, when we read the story of Jesus and the lepers, we are the lepers and Lent is the time to remember to say thanks. We call upon His Name to save us, believe in our hearts and our lives change to reflect His Grace and Mercy.

Numbers 9

The Passover

1 The LORD spoke to Moses in the Desert of Sinai in the first month of the second year after they came out of Egypt. He said, 2 "Have the Israelites celebrate the Passover at the appointed time. 3 Celebrate it at the appointed time, at twilight on the fourteenth day of this month, in accordance with all its rules and regulations."

4 So Moses told the Israelites to celebrate the Passover, 5 and they did so in the Desert of Sinai at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. The Israelites did everything just as the LORD commanded Moses.

6 But some of them could not celebrate the Passover on that day because they were ceremonially unclean on account of a dead body. So they came to Moses and Aaron that same day 7 and said to Moses, "We have become unclean because of a dead body, but why should we be kept from presenting the LORD's offering with the other Israelites at the appointed time?"

8 Moses answered them, "Wait until I find out what the LORD commands concerning you."

9 Then the LORD said to Moses, 10 "Tell the Israelites: 'When any of you or your descendants are unclean because of a dead body or are away on a journey, they may still celebrate the LORD's Passover. 11 They are to celebrate it on the fourteenth day of the second month at twilight. They are to eat the lamb, together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 12 They must not leave any of it till morning or break any of its bones. When they celebrate the Passover, they must follow all the regulations. 13 But if a man who is ceremonially clean and not on a journey fails to celebrate the Passover, that person must be cut off from his people because he did not present the LORD's offering at the appointed time. That man will bear the consequences of his sin.

14 " 'An alien living among you who wants to celebrate the LORD's Passover must do so in accordance with its rules and regulations. You must have the same regulations for the alien and the native-born.' "

15 On the day the tabernacle, the Tent of the Testimony, was set up, the cloud covered it. From evening till morning the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire. 16 That is how it continued to be; the cloud covered it, and at night it looked like fire. 17 Whenever the cloud lifted from above the Tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped. 18 At the LORD's command the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. 19 When the cloud remained over the tabernacle a long time, the Israelites obeyed the LORD's order and did not set out. 20 Sometimes the cloud was over the tabernacle only a few days; at the LORD's command they would encamp, and then at his command they would set out. 21 Sometimes the cloud stayed only from evening till morning, and when it lifted in the morning, they set out. Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud lifted, they set out. 22 Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out. 23 At the LORD's command they encamped, and at the LORD's command they set out. They obeyed the LORD's order, in accordance with his command through Moses.

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Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Genesis 32 ~ This is God's camp

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God – Psalm 146.

Recently, Scripture for Today looked at Jacob, who isn’t always what we’d hope our children will be. Jesus came to tell us more about His forgiving Father; in Genesis 32, this is the forgiving Father of Jacob. This is not the horrible rap we hear about the terrible and vengeful God of the Old Testament.

How fortunate Jacob was to have heard from the Lord directly. The Lord tells Jacob (in Genesis 31) it’s time to return home and He will be with him. As Jacob returns home & sees the angels of God, he realizes this is God’s camp. Just as Peter soothes us being the believing, but wayward disciple, Jacob immediately decides this is two camps. One side of the camp will be “I believe”, the other side will be “If-God-does-not-come-through-I’ll-have-a-backup-plan”.

Once we were sitting on my husband’s parents’ beach veranda, overlooking the small courtyard and the neighbor’s always completely deserted, wonderful, cool, blue pool. We could see all of that blue pool, perfectly, just over the fence. It was hot. The other nieces and nephews had been using the pool all summer, and our young sons decided, after discussion, we’d supervise their swimming in the neighbor’s deserted pool. We’d all agreed, the neighbors were never, ever there and the boys would be fine. But just in case of being caught, run the opposite way of the back gate and run down the street, come home through the front door. Great plan. Until the neighbor comes home, the 7 year old runs the diversion and runs off the opposite way to make a u-turn down the block & out of sight. Both the neighbor and the 5 year old boy are looking at each other in stunned surprise. The 5 year old turns, runs out the gate, heads the other way (as directed) – for a grand total of 18 feet, does a U-turn and returns home in front of the stunned neighbor. The foolish parents realize the 5 year old had more sense than they did, & collapse in laughter, embarrassment and hilarity. No harm was done, but the very nice neighbor called asking for no repeat performances. God is merciful, indeed.

Jacob hears from the Lord, sees angels, worries and runs home to “If-God-does-not-come-through-I’ll-have-a-backup-plan”. Jacob still isn’t in a relaxed “I believe” faith mode, but he prays and wrestles with God all night long. Just as Jesus did not let Peter drown in the Sea of Galilee, the Lord blesses Jacob/Israel and helps him prevail.

The Lord sees into our hearts, perhaps Jacob and Peter were helped, in spite of their lack of present and clear faith, because the Lord is overwhelming in mercy. Or perhaps it was because they never quit seeking the Lord even in the darkness of doubt. Father God fufills His word to Jacob/Israel to be with him. He promises us He will never leave or desert us, but will always be with us, too.

The scripture, when remembering Jacob, reminds us Jacob is alive and living in the presence of God and enjoying the company of Isaac, Joseph and Abraham.

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God.


Genesis 32

1,2 Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. And when Jacob saw them he said, “This is God's camp!” So he called the name of that place Mahanaim. [1]

3-5 And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the country of Edom, instructing them, “Thus you shall say to my lord Esau: Thus says your servant Jacob, ‘I have sojourned with Laban and stayed until now. I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, male servants, and female servants. I have sent to tell my lord, in order that I may find favor in your sight.’”

6-8 And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and he is coming to meet you, and there are four hundred men with him.” Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed. He divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two camps, thinking, “If Esau comes to the one camp and attacks it, then the camp that is left will escape.”

9-12 And Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O Lord who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your kindred, that I may do you good,’ I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps. Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children. But you said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’”

13-21 So he stayed there that night, and from what he had with him he took a present for his brother Esau, two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, thirty milking camels and their calves, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys. These he handed over to his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass on ahead of me and put a space between drove and drove.” He instructed the first, “When Esau my brother meets you and asks you, ‘To whom do you belong? Where are you going? And whose are these ahead of you?’ then you shall say, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a present sent to my lord Esau. And moreover, he is behind us.’” He likewise instructed the second and the third and all who followed the droves, “You shall say the same thing to Esau when you find him, and you shall say, ‘Moreover, your servant Jacob is behind us.’” For he thought, “I may appease him with the present that goes ahead of me, and afterward I shall see his face. Perhaps he will accept me.” So the present passed on ahead of him, and he himself stayed that night in the camp.

22-32 The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had. And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.” The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. Therefore to this day the people of Israel do not eat the sinew of the thigh that is on the hip socket, because he touched the socket of Jacob's hip on the sinew of the thigh.

Footnotes
[1] 32:2 Mahanaim means two camps


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Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Mark 1:1-20 ~ Prepare the way of the Lord, make His path's straight

St. John the Baptist by Leonardo da Vinci. 1513 to 1516, believed to be da Vinci’s last painting. Musée du Louvre.

Prepare the way of the Lord, make His path’s straight.

Our lives can be so complex, we want something to happen or move forward, but the consequences stop us or the effort costs something in time, emotion or money. Eventually we even become more interested in the process than the goal. The first step in making our path straight is honesty. We come before the Lord honestly, knowing He knows us as well as we know ourselves.

Mark 1:1-20

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,

“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way,
3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”

4-8 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

9-11 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

12-13 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.

14-15 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

16-20 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.


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Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Genesis 6:5-10 ~ he walked with God

The Contention Leading Away, or Finding the Trees from the Forest:
Scholars of the Bible point out Genesis 6 is told in two voices: the Priestly writer emphasizes the progress humans made in understanding their relationship with God. The Yahwist writer describes God’s compassion in being grieved in His heart and closing the door for Noah getting into the ark. Then scholars start deciding which part was added in which century. Forgetting ancient Jewish scribes have long maintained that the first books of the Bible were actually one word from God that man has struggled to put into his own understanding, his own chapter and verse, and with punctuation.

The Argument:
Scholars then get all hung up on the details of the animals, how this is possibly true or untrue. Then the arguing really heats up to be about which society records a huge flood. And did the great flood actually occur. Contention, argument, words and fur all fly.

The Need:
Mankind has a great capacity to distract away from hurt, physical or emotional. Genesis 6, the great flood, is a story of suffering. Why do people have tragedy, illness and have suffering? How does God react to pain! Why isn’t it all good?

Just maybe this is a roadmap to living past the hurt: God saw life has wickedness, He didn’t live in denial. God acknowledges the wickedness is deep, hurtful and evil. This wickedness in our lives is sometimes forced upon us and sometimes it is us, we ourselves.

He had regret, sorrow and anger. God is seeking justice. God seeks justice, so when we afflict others, we should still want the balance of justice in order to put ourselves back on the right path of God. When we have injustice forced upon us, we should continue to pray, hope and work for justice.

God did not seek revenge. We shouldn’t either.

In the midst of God’s hurt - His plan unfurling - He finds a blessing and finds gratitude. God gives a blessing in the midst of His right to suffer, His right to be angry, to sulk, to take revenge and to inflict punishment. God gives a blessing and seeks a reason to find a blessing.

Genesis 6:5-10

5
* When the LORD saw how great was man's wickedness on earth, and how no desire that his heart conceived was ever anything but evil,
6
he regretted that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was grieved.
7
So the LORD said: "I will wipe out from the earth the men whom I have created, and not only the men, but also the beasts and the creeping things and the birds of the air, for I am sorry that I made them."
8
But Noah found favor with the LORD.
9
These are the descendants of Noah. Noah, a good man and blameless in that age,
10
for he walked with God, begot three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.


* [6:5-8:22] The story of the great flood here recorded is a composite narrative based on two separate sources interwoven into an intricate patchwork. To the Yahwist source, with some later editorial additions, are usually assigned Genesis 6:5-8; 7:1-5, 7-10, 12, 16b, 17b, 22-23; 8:2b-3a, 6-12, 13b, 20-22. The other sections come from the "Priestly document." The combination of the two sources produced certain duplications (e.g., Genesis 6:13-22 of the Yahwist source, beside Genesis 7:1-5 of the Priestly source); also certain inconsistencies, such as the number of the various animals taken into the ark (Genesis 6:19-20; 7:14-15 of the Priestly source, beside Genesis 7:2-3 of the Yahwist source), and the timetable of the flood (Genesis 8:3-5, 13-14 of the Priestly source, beside Genesis 7:4, 10, 12, 17b; 8:6, 10, 12 of the Yahwist source). Both biblical sources go back ultimately to an ancient Mesopotamian story of a great flood, preserved in the eleventh tablet of the Gilgamesh Epic. The latter account, in some respects remarkably similar to the biblical account, is in others very different from it.



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Monday, February 16, 2009

Blessed be the Lord! For He has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.

I had a conversation with a teenage boy, let’s call Zach, who was conquering his addictions & made a pretty big impression on me. In our small community, it was fairly noticeable he changed from a private school to a public school in the middle of the year; being gregarious and popular, people learned fairly quickly Zach had been discovered with drugs. Soft drugs, most people assume aren’t addictive, but Zach received counseling for 14 months because he found it very difficult to quit.

Some of the reasons, Zach told me, he’d worked hard to quit - being completely robbed twice during wilder parties by his new “friends”. Not being accepted anymore by old friends, people he respected, like my son. He said one of the things he wanted to do, was to convince teenagers drugs are a slippery slope. Zach said it was easier to quit using soft drugs than convince teenagers drugs weren’t the way to go. With his reputation, new druggies loved to come and tell Zach about their new highs, Zach tells them about the lying, the excuses, the spiral down drugs cause & they really didn’t want to hear. Zach said he hadn’t convinced one person and wanted to know how to reach people better.

On Sunday, someone new at church asked me to help them out of their job loss situation. This someone has a complicated life, more complicated than most people I know. I wrote to a few people and asked for help. I really feel pretty powerless to help.

Zach and I are in the same situation, it is just difficult to help people. It is too large a job. God is in control. Difficulty and trouble can help us see the light to Him. I read a Max Lucado article on prayer, he reminds, God hears all of our prayers. Max Lucado’s words saying, “Father, the one you love is …. ill, worried, in need, lonely or whatever the situation requires” and Abba hears us. This touched me because it is true. We should help others, when we can’t, we still can, we can pray and the One who loves us will hear.


Psalm 28

1 To you, O Lord, I call;
my rock, be not deaf to me,
lest, if you be silent to me,
I become like those who go down to the pit.
2 Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy,
when I cry to you for help,
when I lift up my hands
toward your most holy sanctuary. [1]

3 Do not drag me off with the wicked,
with the workers of evil,
who speak peace with their neighbors
while evil is in their hearts.
4 Give to them according to their work
and according to the evil of their deeds;
give to them according to the work of their hands;
render them their due reward.
5 Because they do not regard the works of the Lord
or the work of his hands,
he will tear them down and build them up no more.

6 Blessed be the Lord!
For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
and with my song I give thanks to him.

8 The Lord is the strength of his people;
he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
9 Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!
Be their shepherd and carry them forever.


Footnotes
[1] 28:2 Hebrew your innermost sanctuary


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Sunday, February 15, 2009

1 Corinthians 2 ~ my message and my preaching were not wise and persuasive words

I grew up in a Christian denomination priding itself on being loving, but not literal. One of our family members was a pastor, with a master’s in theology from a fine university. We went to church at least twice a month, I went to a private Christian elementary school and attended chapel every morning. I attended a Christian camp and went to Vacation Bible School. In fact, my mother loved Vacation Bible School and I went to several every summer when my mother would pass a sign saying one of the local churches was having one.

I have to say, I wasn’t fond of Vacation Bible School, it interfered with my summer break. In the 70’s almost everyone was Christian. Just as it is polite to say “fine” when someone asks you how you are, it was polite to reply “yes” and tell your denomination when asked if you were a Christian. I think if I’d met someone in the 70’s who said they were atheist, I probably would have thought they were communist. Hey, I was a child in the part of the city that was a lot like the suburbs.

I prayed, I wondered, but mostly I felt like God wasn’t overly interested in me. One night, I was asked by a priest to really make a commitment in my belief, was I a believer in Jesus Christ or an agnostic? I realized I was a believer. It was a moment in my life, unforgettable moment, of great and overwhelming joy.

Many years after that night, I have been privileged to have seen, heard or taken part in amazing demonstrations of the Spirit’s power. I have had occasions in my life to discuss, matter–of-factly, some of the amazing things I’ve seen God do in my lifetime and watch the other person’s mouth drop open. As I write Scriptures for Today, or tell someone something of the Lord, I realize, we have to see the Lord and His deeds with faith. Because without faith, it is seems like a tall tale or myth. Are you a believer?

1 Corinthians 2

1 When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.[a] 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.

6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 However, as it is written:
"No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love him"

[b]— 10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.[c] 14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment:
16 "For who has known the mind of the Lord
that he may instruct him?"

[d] But we have the mind of Christ.


Footnotes:
a. 1 Corinthians 2:1 Some manuscripts as I proclaimed to you God's mystery
b. 1 Corinthians 2:9 Isaiah 64:4
c. 1 Corinthians 2:13 Or Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to spiritual men
d. 1 Corinthians 2:16 Isaiah 40:13

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Friday, February 13, 2009

Mark 7:31-37 ~ taking him aside from the crowd privately

The Ark made by the Temple Institute

The Temple Institute, in Jerusalem, Israel, has an ultimate goal seeing Israel rebuild the Holy Temple on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem, in accord with the Biblical commandments. They have rebuilt the temple tools and the Ark of the Covenant with gold to be used in the third temple. Using the expression "lost" ark is not an accurate description for the Jewish people’s point of view - because it's not lost, but "Hidden," and hidden quite well.

The deaf man’s miracle, given to him by Jesus, causes biblical scholars to have a lot of speculation. It seems to have hidden meanings. One scholar says, biblically, the Holy Spirit is God’s hand to accomplish His purpose, so Jesus used His hand. Another says Jesus changed His usual method of healing showing God’s purpose is not to be dictated by men; the healing occurred because of His mercy. Jesus might have withdrawn from this particular crowd because He perceived they were overwhelmingly looking for a sign, even just for entertainment. We know, certainly, Jesus was not trying to escape hypocritical judgement by the Pharisees.

The deaf man would not hear Jesus speak to him before the healing. Most of the recorded miracles Jesus did, for specific individuals, He asked them to have faith. Jesus says to us over and over, we are in a deep relationship of love with Him. The man, formerly deaf and mute, wasn’t publicly healed, but privately, with signs he could understand.

Father God, thank You for Your mercy. Help us to understand and walk the path You planned for us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mark 7:31-37

31-37 Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”



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Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Psalm 146 ~ Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God

This heavenly painting is by Wolf Kahn


When claiming the help of the God of Jacob, we’re reaching out to the most forgiving of Fathers. I remember when my boys were babies and people would tell horrible teenager stories, and I’d think, “Not my boys.” Well, my boys are people too, and I’m so proud of them, even with the scrapes we all have happen.

Jacob connived and plotted against his brother from birth. Stole the blessing, ran out on his dying father and ran away from home, brought so many people and animals back home later, Esau had to move away. Just what every parent hopes for.

God loves Jacob. He named him Israel after fighting with him! Gave him 12 sons and named tribes after him. Brought back a son, whom Israel had given up for dead. Took Israel to royal accommodations in Egypt, elevated all of his 12 sons, giving them the best of Egypt, all while healing the family with forgiveness. And gave Israel grandsons to adopt, as an act of kindness to be included in his blessing.

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God!


Psalm 146 - Listen

1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
2 I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

3 Put not your trust in princes,
in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.
4 When his breath departs, he returns to the earth;
on that very day his plans perish.

5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord his God,
6 who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them,
who keeps faith forever;
7 who executes justice for the oppressed,
who gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets the prisoners free;
8 the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
the Lord loves the righteous.
9 The Lord watches over the sojourners;
he upholds the widow and the fatherless,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

10 The Lord will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the Lord!

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Wednesday, February 04, 2009

Hebrews 12:4-15 ~ the one He loves

Hebrews 12:4-15

4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.”

7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled


Romans 5: 2-5

We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Galatians 6:9

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

I have a great-aunt by marriage, Clarice. She lives in heaven now, but she was such a wonderful woman. Laughter, love and straight talk were a large part of Clarice’s life. My youngest great-uncle used to tease Clarice and say, “I have 12 brothers and sisters. 6 are Baptist and 6 are Christian.” Then, he’d look to Clarice, to her reaction. He enjoyed that old joke around her all the time.

Clarice wanted to have children, but her husband was chronically ill and they never conceived. He didn’t live to be old, but Clarice really did live to be old and she had a wonderful life filled with good choices. Clarice did not grow bitter, but blessed and busy. Clarice never lacked for children, she and Walton had a long hallway covered with photos of nieces and nephews. I believe Clarice was as close to a saint as I’ve ever met. She spoke her mind & her paths were straight. She was an irritant to the less well behaved cousins.

Clarice believed in disciple-ship as she took in a troubled nephew, so a young man who couldn’t obtain a high school diploma in the bigger city, could graduate from her small town with the help of the local principal and Clarice’s encouragement. He lived with her for a year. Many nieces and nephews went to college because they had an Aunt Clarice.

When one of the wealthy brother-in-laws became immersed in an East Texas shady charlatan using religion for money, the youngest brother-in-law went to get Clarice and get him out of there. Clarice, when asked, cried, “Why me?” She was assured she was the one to be relied upon to free the uncle. So, she and the youngest brother, went on a long car trip that very day and brought back the relieved uncle. :)

Because of Clarice, young women in the family had beautiful wedding receptions. Newlyweds were given new living room furniture. Sisters lived on the four corners of the same street and ran a dress shop together, owned and worked in by Clarice. As I go along in life, I am encouraged by her memory, her love for the Lord and the joy she gave and received.

I have one more favorite and precious memory of Aunt Clarice. She was ill and having hospice care for her. What was supposed to be weeks, turned into months as Aunt Clarice was in a coma. I sent her a letter for her next-door sisters to read to her - a thank you for the many kind things she'd done for my mother, uncle and family. I loved her. One night, no one had reported Aunt Clarice was any closer to dying, about 2 or 3 in the morning - I sat up in tears from sleep. I could feel Aunt Clarice's soul going to heaven - the joy she felt couldn't be compared to a wedding day or winning the lottery - the joy of discovering all of God's promises were true. Jesus Christ and His Kingdom were in front of her forever. The next morning, the call came Aunt Clarice had, in truth, passed on.


Blessed be You, Lord Jesus.
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Tuesday, February 03, 2009

Romans 13 ~ salvation is nearer now than when we first believed

Before I go for a walk, I like to read the scriptures – walking is a quiet time, usually my own thoughts for the day, but the scriptures help pull me out of my own thoughts, or routine, and focus on the Lord.

Romans 13 helps to begin the day: pushing aside anxious thoughts – this type of concern isn’t even a concern worth delving into, instead the kindness and love given to us - we should return in overflowing abundance. As we pray, we are clothed with the goodness of God, His love guides us and leads us in His path.


Romans 13

1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God's servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.


8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not covet," and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 10 Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

11 And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.


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Monday, February 02, 2009

Luke 2:22-32 ~ blessed God

Simeon's Song of Praise, 1631, Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn

Luke 2:22-32 (King James Version)

22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; 23 (As it is written in the law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) 24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. 26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,

28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

29 "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:

30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel."



Today is Candlemas in the church. This is the day when, traditionally, all the Church's candles for the year ahead are blessed. It’s a wonderful way for Simeon and us to remember recognizing the light of the world. As Simeon recognized Jesus, he took the baby into his arms and blessed God.

Two weeks ago, I received my first email from a Christian book store offering really spectacular savings on books. Because they were in the $1 range, I bought one written by Carole Lewis called ‘A Thankful Heart’. She lost her daughter and discovered that gratitude brings hope and healing into our lives. I thought it would help me, having lost a daughter at birth.

Today, my husband suggested I travel with him to Galveston as he saw a client. As I waited for him, I opened the book for the first time.

Amazing. As I opened the book In the first few pages of the book, I realized that the author lives in Galveston and I was reading the book in Galveston. One of the opening points of her book is from:

1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Carole Lewis writes, “I promise you that an attitude of gratitude is not already part of who you are, God can change your heart. When we begin to thank God in the middle of our situations –no mater what we’re going through – our situations no longer appear hopeless, and we’ll begin to see change.

Our tribulations have a purpose, Scriptures says. God has an end product in mind for us, and God’s end product is like the finest oil or a nourishing drink. That’s what God wants for our lives. God has an amazing plan for us, and He uses the moments of our lives to fulfill His plan. God wants us to become like His Son, Jesus Christ.

God calls us to give thanks not only for our comforts but also for our afflictions. That means we’re to give thanks, even if our child died, even if we’ve been the victim of sexual molestation, or (as Corrie Ten Boom discovered in the concentration camp) if there are fleas in the barracks.

God is never a God of coldness or heartlessness. He doesn’t look at us when we’re going through troubling times and tell us simply to buck up or put on a smiley face on our most heartbreaking situations. Giving thanks always recognizes the greatness and compassion of a God who loves us so intently, so passionately, so wonderfully that words can barely express it. Giving thanks is part of God’s design: when we look closely at this design, we see something of the majesty of His Being and of His care and concern for us –even in the most trying times.”





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Sunday, February 01, 2009

John 7:14-31 ~ we know where this Man comes from


The Essenes, discerning the corruption of the second temple, went into the desert, at Qumran, to preserve the scriptures, to write the Dead Sea Scrolls. They wrote what Jesus’ ministry would look like as God’s Son, 4Q521:

Seekers of the Lord, strengthen yourselves in His service!
All you hopeful in (your) heart, will you not find the Lord in this?
For the Lord will consider the pious (hasidim) and call the righteous by name.
Over the poor His spirit will hover and will renew the faithful with His power.
And He will glorify the pious on the throne of the eternal Kingdom.
He who liberates the captives, restores sight to the blind, straightens the b[ent]
And f[or] ever I will cleav[ve to the h]opeful and in His mercy . . .
And the fr[uit . . .] will not be delayed for anyone.
And the Lord will accomplish glorious things which have never been as [He . . .]
For He will heal the wounded, and revive the dead and bring good news
to the poor

Jesus had been in ministry for about 6 months. Jesus stayed away from Judea and was in the Galilee area avoiding the enmity of the religious leaders. Jesus’ brothers asked him to attend the feast of Tabernacles because they wanted his ministry to be publicly seen & approved of, also to clear up their own doubts. In the middle of the feast of Tabernacles, in September/October lasting 8 days, Jesus began to teach.

People who doubt Jesus and doubt the word of God, do it for the same reason the religious authorities doubted Jesus; they wanted to be disobedient to God. People who come to the Lord, after years of doubt, do not usually have more evidence than before, their hearts are changed.

John 7:14-31

14-24 About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching. The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?” The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?” Jesus answered them, “I did one work, and you all marvel at it. Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man's whole body well? Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”


25-31 Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, “Is not this the man whom they seek to kill? And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ? But we know where this man comes from, and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from.” So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, “You know me, and you know where I come from? But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know. I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me.” So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come. Yet many of the people believed in him. They said, “When the Christ appears, will he do more signs than this man has done?”


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We believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He has saved all who call upon His name and rely on Him for His Grace. The Scriptures are living & active and are for understanding the Lord Almighty. Biblical readings are chosen from the Ecumenical Christian Church and the Nicene Council, 325 A.D., approved Apocrypha. People remember not just from reading, but by sight and orally- an image has been added as well as audio readings. God tends to link the passages together with fascinates - this blogger, Anne-Laurel Gardere

A simple blog, scripture-for-today.blogspot

This blog is pretty simple, but for a reason. This blog isn't about agenda or me, it is for the joy and love to found by reading the Scriptures. Ultimately, it is you and the Lord.

The Scriptures are Father God's letter to you. He wanted you to know more, to know He loves you.

Thanks for Joining us today!!!


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Email registry at bottom.! “All Scripture is inspired by God” (2 Timothy 3:16). Men “moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:21). The Holy Spirit carried men along, moving and guiding them as they wrote in their own words what God wanted them to say. The Bible is unique; comprised of 80 separate books, & written over a period of thousands of years by more than 40 writers with one Author, spanning the centuries, different states of peace & war & different situations in life. The Bible answers the question: of who is God, who is man & what can their relationship can be. Although the Bible was written on perishable material and copied by hand for many centuries, its accuracy is not in doubt, proven by Dead Sea Scrolls and papyrus from 2,000 years. The Bible has survived persecution & criticism to be read with great interest in each generation. The Bible gives witness to the greatness of the Creator. A loving Father concerned for all of his creation. With each verse of the bible witnessing to God is love and the multitude & vastness of His attributes. The Bible was written for you. <><

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Share the artist's name!
Jesus, the Good Shepherd. If you see a painting or photo on this blog, know who the artist is, and I didn't, please email me: holdenll@hotmail.com



New Posts by Subject Matter

Overcoming



The World Changed Rapidly after the first Easter

Our God of All





Posts by Subject Matter





Blessings, Anne-Laurel





Who Jesus Is
1 Timothy 1:1-11 ~ God our Savior, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope
Matthew 16:13-20 ~ who do people say the Son of Man is?

Good News for us to remember and Think Upon
Animals are found in Heaven ~ 6 Prophets See Animals in Heaven

Anger, Jealousy=Trouble




The Bible explains the Bible, Prophetically

Bible - in your hand, today

Bible Accuracy



Blessing







Blessing our Father God

Blessing - unaware

Boundaries

Brothers
Christmas - His Word Upholds the Universe - December 25th


Psalm 135 ~ who is in your midst
John 1:1-14, 16, 29-51 ~ He was in the world

Details - Putting it all together and discovering it is about God

Psalm 108 ~ In triumph I will parcel out Shechem

Determine your own path, just love Him

Judges 16 ~ like any other man
John 4:43-54 ~ Doing what Jesus says


Earthquake

Every Day, Still Today
Today, Yesterday, Tomorrow


Exodus - History












Heavenly Hosts
His Messengers of Light












Elements of Nature Displaying HIS Glory
Exodus 40:16-38 ~ In the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was erected.

I Decide What is Right and Wrong - God noticed this in the Garden of Eden from Eve

Individualism and Groups

It's the End of the World as We Know it, And I Feel Fine. (One of our most read posts.)
Grandpa - The Bible is Really the Life Story of People and
their Abba









Gates of Heaven


Gifts of God, all of us


Giving - God certainly is





























Glory


God sees His Creation as Good!!!


Gravity






















Good Friday

Gossip

Gratitude

Greatest

Grief, Forgiveness, Homecoming


Hated Emotion - Fear




































History - Is There History Showing Jesus was Alive - VERY EXTENSIVE HISTORY

Holiness


Holy Spirit ~ Manifestations

Homeward Bound, still a sojourner

Honey, Do this

Invitation
John 3:31-36 ~ that God is true

Israel - Destroyed Completely and Rebuilt. A sign of Jesus. Existing today.

Jesus clearly put a Foundation for His Resurrection to be Believed by the Multitudes of all of Israel and the Nations

Jesus and His Childhood Privacy
Nazareth - What Jesus did See Growing Up

John the Beloved Disciple


The Journey of Joseph


























Live It
Psalm 117 ~ Praise the Lord
Psalm 82 ~ rescue the weak and the needy
2 Samuel 4:1-12 ~ David answered
Hebrews 12 ~ Thankful
Psalm 31:3-8,17-21 ~ Thou hast redeemed me
Isaiah 40:1-11 ~ His reward is with Him
Matthew 13:31-32 ~ the birds of the air come and perch in its branches
Matthew 6:25-34 ~ your heavenly Father knows that you need
Luke 11:29-32 ~ Rise up
Psalm 126 ~ shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves
Luke 14:15-24 ~ there is still room
Joshua 1:1-9 ~ I am giving
Acts 5 ~ speak in the name of Jesus
John 1 ~ the Light shines
John 3:5-8 ~ born again
~ they went on from there and passed through Galilee
Judges 20 ~ Israel

Losing a Loved One - Passing ON

Revelation 21:22-27 ~ those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life

Not Being Tossed Back and Forth with Emotion
Ephesians 4 ~ speaking the truth in Love

Marriage
Romans 7:1-12 ~ bear fruit for God
1 Corinthians 7 ~ For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband
Genesis 37:12-24 ~ when Reuben
Psalm 143 ~ Your steadfast love
Psalm 86 ~ For great is your steadfast love

Media... taking it down the path
1 Corinthians 10 ~ Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God





Mercy, an Inseparable Component of Truth
Matthew 23:23-26 ~ clean
1 Samuel 12 ~ serve the Lord with all your heart
Matthew 22:34-40 ~ The great and first commandment. And a second is like it

Miscellaneous
Job 38 ~ Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.
Psalm 19 ~ the heavens declare the glory of God
2 Kings 5:1-15 ~ a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper
1 Chronicles 13 ~ the Lord blessed the household of Obed-edom










Peace




Pharisee ~ Religion
Luke 11:42-46 ~ Woe to you Pharisees!


Pictorial Images of the 12 Tribes of Israel








Picture It


















Overcoming, with God's help!


Positive Attitude in Trouble




Prophets - the Law and the Old Men in Robes or People who Love the Lord. Flaws and Virtues. What They Sought in the Lord and What Drew Them to Him.



Praise



























Prayer

Psalm 91 ~ Prayer is always heard, God has an open door policy



Prayer Needs




Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words

Promises

Prosperity Gospel











Repeat and Repeat







Rest

Restore

Revelation 8:2
Seven Angels who stand before God

Revisionist History - Moses and Jeremiah said
there would be days like this
Deuteronomy 8
Jeremiah 23


Rock


SALVATION! What is needed?

Science - Blinded me - No - He Who Opens the Eyes of the Blind - With Science!!!

Second (3rd or 4th) Rate Seventh Level of Heaven

Seventh Level of Heaven







Shepherd

Smile!



Time Management





Life and Travels of Paul

Shroud

Transfiguration



True
The World Changed Rapidly after the first Easter



Trust Him

Uncomfortable Scripture

Video Game Player

Visual







Who is like our God?

Willingly

Works and Grace
Mark 1:4-11 ~ You are my beloved Son; with You I am well pleased

Worry

Wrathful, Nasty Old God from the Old Testament

Yahweh




Years - Thousands of Them are Yesterday in His Sight


80 Books of the Bible
Holy Spirit Approved by the First Council Nicaea and St. Nicholas
Included by the Essenes in the Dead Sea Scrolls
Today included by the Catholic Church
God wants to save the world.
The Apocrypha has Purpose; other cultures blend here.





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