2 Kings 2:1-15 ~ Elijah

Elijah's Ascension, pen and ink by Gustave Dore (January 6, 1832 – January 23, 1883) a French artist, who became a well-known artist and had his beginnings as a book illustrator.

2 Kings 2:1-15

English Standard Version, Max McLean Audio Bible

Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3 And the sons of the prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?” And he said, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.”

4 Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. 5 The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.”

6 Then Elijah said to him, “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. 7 Fifty men of the sons of the prophets also went and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. 8 Then Elijah took his cloak and rolled it up and struck the water, and the water was parted to the one side and to the other, till the two of them could go over on dry ground.

9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” 10 And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.” 11 And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more.

Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. 13 And he took up the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water, saying, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” And when he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.

15 Now when the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho saw him opposite them, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.


Elijah and Elisha were an amazing time recorded in the Scriptures. They had so many extraordinary things happening - there was even a group to be schooled called the Sons of the Prophets. It is referenced more during their lives, but referred to twice in the New Testament. I've heard biblical scholars say this time is the only fantasy in the Bible, when it departed from reality. Really? No. The Bible has had more archaeology uncovered in the last 100 years proving each time, the Scriptures record truth. Elijah returns to Jesus in the Transfiguration. Elijah ranks with Moses. What men of God had unusual circumstances in death in the Scriptures? Enoch, Moses, Elijah and Jesus Christ.

Elijah's last physical appearance in the Scriptures is recorded by Matthew 17; John was so overcome with what we call the Transfiguration, and Jesus asking him not to reveal it - he didn't include it in the Gospel of John, but what John saw transformed his Gospel - he only alluded to it. John called this Glory! And referred to the Glory of God 16 times to signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. Peter later wrote of seeing Elijah, in 2 Peter 1:16-21.

John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The Scriptures repeat themselves to increase our awareness of God's Mighty Works.

Why do Elijah and Elisha have this interesting conversation if Elisha will continue with Elijah or not? Elisha was adamant not to accept Naaman's monetary gifts. Elisha spoke to his servant Gehazi about stealthy accepting money, not meant for Gehazi, and told Gehazi he had illness from the stolen goods. Elisha knew, knew, knew very well not to accept the Glory of God's works. In probability Elijah is being modest of the tremendous recognition God is giving him. Also, Elijah demonstrates some illness in his conversational style. It's creditable, because Elijah wants to bless Elisha for walking the second mile with him when only one mile was required - Elijah genuinely wants to bless Elisha, otherwise he did not have to offer a blessing.

Unlike most of Jesus' own disciples, Elisha walks with Elijah to the end - as John did. It seems rather mercenary to suggest Elisha is clinging to Elisha's coat tails only for reward. They are men of God.

How will we let this Scripture live in us today?


Acts 3:18-26
18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.

22 Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ 24 And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. 25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ 26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”

Father God, we are the Sons of the Prophets when we allow Your grace and hope to fill and refresh us. Help us each day to turn from our sins, large and small, that in faith we may serve You in refreshing our own lives and those around us. In Your Glory, let Your Light shine. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Chi Coltrane - Go like Elijah

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Mark 11:12-25 ~ He was hungry

Mark 11:12-25

English Standard Version, Max McLean Audio Bible

12 On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. 13 And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.

15 And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 16 And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. 17 And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” 18 And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching. 19 And when evening came they went out of the city.

20 As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 21 And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” 22 And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received [are receiving] it, and it will be yours. 25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

Fig trees represent Spiritual fruit:

Galatians 5:22-23
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

These paragraphs are a living parable on The Temple being spiritually empty. The Essenes who wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls correctly believed the world would end soon for them (they were killed in the 70 A.D. Roman invasion of Titus). The Essenes left Jerusalem and moved to Qumran, a plateau in the Judean Desert along the Dead Sea. Why did they think the Temple was spiritually void? Primarily because Herod placed all of the Priests in the Temple and Herod, living in adultery with his brother's wife, was a Roman educated, client-state king. The Essenes were correct about Herod, although it would be impossible to eradicate the Holy Spirit where God is praised and people look to Him in faith, hope and love.

Theology students study Ecclesiology - the theological study of the Christian Church. These three paragraphs are probably the cornerstone of Jesus' commentary.

Remember in Luke's Gospel, the Angel Gabriel chose to speak to Zechariah in the Temple. The infant Jesus' time came for purification presentation and sacrifice, Simeon was in the Temple to see with expectation the Consolation of Israel. The prophetess Anna never left the Temple.

Jesus went to the Temple, Himself, to teach, but primarily Jesus came to Display to the Temple - - they were not Feeding the people with their adherence to rigorous rules. Building a bureaucracy of another marketplace driven by position power, political power and rules to keep it all in line. Jesus was concerned: not only with someone like Nicodemus, who was a member of the Jewish ruling council, Scribes seeking the Kingdom of Heaven, elderly widows with their two copper pennies, rich young men with too many possessions, the lame, beggars, the blind, wealthy tax collectors, sinners, even a Roman centurion, and a woman who just decided to be well by touching Him - just not rules to build religious pride and control. Jesus the Christ!!

As Christians we are called to be Shepherds for each other - not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.
1 Peter 5:2-4.

Peter knew His Shepherd. After Peter betrayed the Lord during His trial, many would have slunk away permanently. Or gathered with the other disciples to further condemn Jesus for having placed them in danger.

Peter knew something important about His Shepherd. Peter knew he was loved. When there was a possibility Jesus had risen, Peter ran to him. When Jesus began to appear to the disciples, after His resurrection, Peter was willing to jump out the boat for Jesus again. This time, he swam. Peter wasn't convinced of his own goodness, but he was sure of his Savior.

As lay people, it's our Church theological cornerstone policy to realize Peter knew he was a flawed human and still wanted, turned towards, embraced, jumped in the water, hurried to Jesus Christ. Believing Jesus Christ is the reason, we want to be fed at His Meal.

John 21:15-19
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love (Greek word - agape - complete love) me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love (philo -brothery love) you.”

He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love (agape) me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love (philo) you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”

17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love (agape) me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love (agape) you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

Jesus called Peter twice. Not because Peter was so worthy, but because of the Steadfast Love and Mercy of God our Father.

Thank You, Father God, for Your many deeds of compassion and mercy. Lord, You provide for us physically and spiritually. Thank You for Your willingness to bless us and answer prayer. We look to you expectantly and with gladness, just as your servants Paul and Peter did. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

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Daniel 2:20-23 ~ Blessed be the name of the Lord

Daniel 2:20-23

English Standard Version, Max McLean Audio Bible

Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might.

He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.

He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.

To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king's matter.



Blessed be Your Name by Matt Redman

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2 Kings 5:1-15 ~ a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper

Elisha refuses Naaman's gift, painted by Pieter Fransz. de Grebber - Elisha knew not trade God's works for financial reward.


2 Kings 5:1-15

Max McLean Audio Bible, English Standard Version

1 Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper [Leviticus 13 describes the skin diseases] 2 Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman's wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” 4 So Naaman went in and told his lord, “Thus and so spoke the girl from the land of Israel.” 5 And the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.”

So he went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels [A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms; a shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams] of gold, and ten changes of clothing. 6 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, “When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Naaman my servant, that you may cure him of his leprosy.” 7 And when the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Only consider, and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me.”

8 But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel.”

9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha's house. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” 11 But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. 12 Are not Abana [Amana] and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. 13 But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” 14 So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.


15 Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him. And he said, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant.”

Joram's last few years as King of Israel were filled with illnesses, war, siege, famine. Joram has forgotten he serves the Living God.

How mighty was Naaman? Jesus knows Naaman.

Luke 4:27
"And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”

How did the people of Capernaum react to Jesus when reminded of God's favor outside of Israel? Remember Jesus had chosen Capernaum as his adult hometown....

28 All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. 30 But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.

What did Jesus and Elisha see - that Jesus' generation, King Joram, Elisha's generation and Israel today are missing? A lesson we can learn today because the Scriptures are living and active?

A neighbor of mine vacationed and visited the Middle East. She visited Egypt, Jordan and Israel. She said much of the Arabic countries look very poor. Dust in the streets, poverty. When you see Israel - it is a white, glowing jewel. There is no doubt you are seeing Israel. Beautiful buildings, green grass, trees. You readily see God's blessings on His chosen people. Israel holds more patents today per person than any other nation on earth. Israel owns more books per person, more computers. The cell phone was an Israeli invention.

Where are we going with this:

The wedding band is a symbol of a circle of unending love. Like a wheel. We love God because He Loved us first. Jesus calls the Church His Bride. What God is asking of us is this.... when we receive a blessing, we are to give back. Just like a wheel.... we receive a blessing... the wheel turns.... we give a blessing.... when God reaches into our heart, we receive a Word from Him.... we act upon that Word.... Love in motion.

Yes, we can point to acts of heroism and valor Israel points to for philanthropy. What did we learn from the Word, not just for Israel, for our own lives?

Matthew 6:3-4
When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Who is to receive your good deeds?
Luke 10:25-37 The people you see in need. Your neighbors. Not just going on a trip to another country. Your community, your neighborhood. The people you do not rush to love.

Proverbs 25:21
If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

Matthew 5:41
And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.

.. a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman's wife the girl who wanted to help God's love be the wheel in motion, who walked the two miles when only one mile was required.

Be the Word of God in motion.

Father God, help us to see clearly beyond our own cares to the needs of others. With Your Grace open our eyes and ears, that we are not merely listeners to the Word, help us not to deceive ourselves, but to be Doers of the Word. Doing what You say.

Jesus says come to Him, hear His words, and put them into practice. Luke 6:47. Father, those who hear Your words are not righteous in Your sight, but it is those who obey You who will be declared righteous.

Jesus' brother said: "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?"

Father God, in Jesus' sacrifice, You accept us into Your family. Give us the opportunity to give. We ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Mark 1:14-28 ~ Quiet

Mark 1:14-28


English Standard Version, Max McLean Audio Bible

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

16 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. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 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. 20 And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.

21 And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. 22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. 23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28 And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.


When people try to tell each other about a conversation, they frequently say - "It was the way it was said."

We - this generation reading Scripture - are the generation Jesus said, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Yet we have rely upon other senses, to understand this passage in depth. Jesus had a presence of Grace and Truth.

So, what lesson did Jesus teach..... to make these men want to follow Him - no persuasive sermon was given. No persuasion was used when Jesus called to the apostles to get up & change their lives... “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Why was Jesus allowed to teach in the synagogue in Capernaum? He got up and taught.

The scribes were culturally (no invalids, no non-Jews, no women near to God's presence), ethically (blind guide to Scripture not acknowledging non-Jews, their heart was far from God while giving man-made rules), religiously (allow Herod to dictate priest position), politically correct (not mention Herod's adultery) challenged. The Essenes believed the status quo had smothered the Spirit of the entire Temple. This was the unique time the LORD chose to send His Son, to visit the Temple, proclaiming we are God's Holy Temple.

What we learn from this passage. Jesus had authority. God's authority. Not just any authority, or unusual authority, yet His fame spread because of His authority. Jesus acted as God.

Father God, we bow down in worship, You are the LORD our Maker, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.

To You who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!

Help us to give you our lives for Your care and mercy, Father God. Once we have repented of our sins and believe in the Gospel; Let words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, our rock and redeemer. In Jesus' name. Amen.


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(Reprint from Scripture for Today Blogspot - July 10, 2010)

Psalm 31 ~ O Lord, let me not be put to shame for I call upon You

Psalm 31

English Standard Version, Max McLean Audio Bible

1 In you, O Lord, do I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
in your righteousness deliver me!
2 Incline your ear to me;
rescue me speedily!
Be a rock of refuge for me,
a strong fortress to save me!

3 For you are my rock and my fortress;
and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me;
4 you take me out of the net they have hidden for me,
for you are my refuge.
5 Into your hand I commit my spirit;
you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.

6 I hate [You hate] those who pay regard to worthless idols,
but I trust in the Lord.
7 I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love,
because you have seen my affliction;
you have known the distress of my soul,
8 and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;
you have set my feet in a broad place.

9 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;
my eye is wasted from grief;
my soul and my body also.
10 For my life is spent with sorrow,
and my years with sighing;
my strength fails because of my iniquity,
and my bones waste away.

11 Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach,
especially to my neighbors,
and an object of dread to my acquaintances;
those who see me in the street flee from me.
12 I have been forgotten like one who is dead;
I have become like a broken vessel.
13 For I hear the whispering of many—
terror on every side!—
as they scheme together against me,
as they plot to take my life.

14 But I trust in you, O Lord;
I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times are in your hand;
rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!
16 Make your face shine on your servant;
save me in your steadfast love!
17 O Lord, let me not be put to shame,
for I call upon you;
let the wicked be put to shame;
let them go silently to Sheol.
18 Let the lying lips be mute,
which speak insolently against the righteous
in pride and contempt.

19 Oh, how abundant is your goodness,
which you have stored up for those who fear you
and worked for those who take refuge in you,
in the sight of the children of mankind!
20 In the cover of your presence you hide them
from the plots of men;
you store them in your shelter
from the strife of tongues.

21 Blessed be the Lord,
for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me
when I was in a besieged city.
22 I had said in my alarm [in my haste]
“I am cut off from your sight.”
But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy
when I cried to you for help.

23 Love the Lord, all you his saints!
The Lord preserves the faithful
but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride.
24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage,
all you who wait for the Lord!


Elizabeth Taylor died Wednesday. She had a quote I rather liked. "I don't entirely approve of some of the things I have done, or am, or have been. But I'm me. God knows, I'm me."

Very few people will get out of this life without experiencing some kind of trouble. In my life I've had an alcoholic grandparent and parent. A Dad who was a great parent - who sang, played and read stories. A Dad who was an alcoholic and turned our safe, perfect life into heart-break and poverty in an alcoholic decline & probably to avoid feeling a mid-life crisis. My Dad made choices I wouldn't have made for him for about 15 years, he ended his own life.

Life can be difficult - it can be easy and rewarding - it's better and worse to see both ends of it. I've been blessed in my marriage to have soul deep love. Blessed in my marriage to know a late in life pregnancy, ending in the birth of our 2 pound beautiful daughter Isabelle - stillborn -, wouldn't end our love, marriage or friendship. Our eldest son was a preemie and we spent a year with Cal on an apnea monitor wondering if one day he would just pass on; Talk about stress.

You hate those who pay regard to worthless idols. Let's talk about a particular idol - taking our own pain, hurt and becoming our own best idol. If I have a regret, it is not having the wisdom to know trouble mostly goes away. (And sometimes it doesn't. Some people will always have financial troubles, some people will always have a child who died, some people will deal with an illness or a child with a handicap.) I would have spent less time being so worried about my own problems that I was my own challenge. I sometimes see myself in young people, average people who have had sad circumstances overcoming adversity with a lot of self love, who want to think and talk about themselves until it is boring. There is some shame there.

When we look at this Psalm, the word 'I" is written 15 times in 24 verses. Not to mention "me" and "my" is in there at least a multitude of times. Why didn't God lift His celestial robe up to His strong knees and run for His Heavenly Temple? Angels would have helped Him run faster..... We have all known people who have permanently changed from trouble and from success to becoming this amazingly self-centered.

There are some excellent reasons this Psalm was pleasing to Father God. So pleasing, He let it be recorded for 3,000 years of generations to read this. 1. It is a cry from the heart, and Father God is our Father. Parents listen with love to unhappiness. 2. David trusts His Father. He doesn't believe God has brought Him this far to drop him on his head. 3. David may be crying from his heart to God, but God knows David is going to live in caves for His sake. Live as an outlaw for His sake. David is going to live life and its hardships while loving God and believing in His goodness. 4. David has an honest relationship with God. David is going to tell the Lord when he is wrong and face up to sin. And remorse. David believes the biggest disaster in his life would be to be cut off from his Father God. 5. David is not looking for alcohol, drugs, friends, job and or comfort to take the place of his current situation in life. David does not make other things more important that knowing God - where he puts his hope. 6. David walks the walk of the Lord.


Ecclesiastes 3:11-13
11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.

Ecclesiastes 7:14
When times are good, be happy;
but when times are bad, consider this:
God has made the one
as well as the other.

Jeremiah 17:7-8
7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
whose trust is the Lord.
8 He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Father God in You and in Your Grace, we are not asked to suffer shame. In Your steadfast love, we don't have disgrace or humiliation. You put our sins away from us. Forgiveness covers a multitude of wrong-doings. You forget the shame of our youth, the reproach of poverty, grief, sadness and need.

You are the Sovereign Lord who swallows up death forever. You want to wipe tears from all faces, remove the disgrace from Your people from all the earth. You have spoken.

Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame. In righteousness we will be established: Tyranny will be far from us; we will have nothing to fear. Terror will be far removed; it will not come near us.

Be not afraid, O land; be glad and rejoice. Surely the LORD has done great things!!! Amen, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

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Luke 10 ~ Rejoice that your names are written in Heaven!

Artistic representation of the Book of Life - the Holy Spirit is represented by fire and doves.



Luke 10

Max McLean Audio Bible, English Standard Version

1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. 9 Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more bearable in the judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades.

16 “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” 17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

21 In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 22 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

23 Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii [A denarius was a day's wage for a laborer] and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”


If we look at: the 72 disciples, unrepentant groups (cities here), the good Samaritan, Mary & Martha and the gracious will of God - we are looking at Jesus' work every day. Before we had time and far into eternity - this is what Jesus does. Salvation is the essential key of Jesus' life and sacrifice. Salvation - the summation of all 5 subjects in Luke 10.

We learn there are blessings for trying to bring blessings to others. We learn about consequences for unbelief (even in groups supporting each other's beliefs/unbelief) from Jesus Christ's own words. We learn there is a spiritual battle of good and evil - even though we know of it - we are not to focus on it. We learn the crafty, religious lawyer with his neighbor (and not "brother") question and the good (but hated) Samaritan, Mary and Martha - All have access to God merely by asking Him, regardless of sulk or goodness.

A vital message is this - even 72 disciples don't bring salvation by their own efforts - not even our prayers saves souls. Salvation is a gift of God.... we love God because He Loved us first. Prophets and Kings have longed for salvation. Salvation is a work of God.


Ephesians 2:8
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--

Romans 9:16
It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy.

.... and all the questions we have for God, the doubts of Thomas - met with such Grace. And if we sincerely seek Him and honor Him for asking us to act with holiness....

John 4:10
Jesus answered, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."

Father God we thank You eternally (!), because You have given us Your Word to read, to receive. Your Words give life. The Word of God at work - living and active. Just as Jesus told us in John 5:17 ~ "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working." Your word Is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Father God, let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart, be pleasing to You as I walk Your path and Your plan for my life. Send forth Your Word, on this I will rest. Send forth Your light and it will illuminate my dark corners, I ask in the Grace of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.


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Mark 12:28-34 ~ love Him with all your heart

Gethsemane By Adam Abram

Mark 12:28-34

Audio Bible Max McLean, English Standard Version


28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.

~ love Him with all your heart

My college years, in the early 1980s, were wonderful. "The early 80's," said Senator Trent Lott, Senate Majority Leader, "were a shining era of light." When asked to explain Sen. Lott said his kids were in college then, he visited them & saw college young men and women as well dressed, interested in the American system, behaving well, and believing in the American dream of hard work and playing by the rules. And ya know, I gotta agree. We graduated, jobs were hard to find there was a recession, stores I'd gone to all my life were closing and we still all believed it would be okay. Pope John Paul II, Ronald Reagan, the news about him was almost always amusing & Margaret Thatcher. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall. I still look back on the 80's as challenging and rewarding - plus, big bonus here- the people I knew graduating from college in the 90's all said the best music was from the 80's.

Who is going to look back at these 10 years of (what do we call them? the zeros?) 2000 and say wow. With great certainty the financial situation and the wars lead to this gloom. Where did this gloom come from... quitting. Why all this quitting... me, me, me, me, me, me, me. I saw it today on the Rick Warren Facebook, people commenting they love the gospels, but don't like the New Testament. Like the gospels, but don't like the Old Testament. Have you heard someone say, I liked my Church until.... reason (my feelings were neglected).... I liked my friend until... (their feelings mattered more than courtesy). I liked my actual neighbor until.... (they put themselves in some way before me).

How can we like this passage? It requires belief there is Something Greater than ourselves. In my opinion the news is angry, the politics are angry, the neighborhoods are too busy(angry), because we (including me) are all so taken up with pushing ourselves forward, for the brief span of our adult lives, life now has bigger problems than from 20 years ago.

Well this commentary was awful today, I don't feel better now. Wait! How can we see hope? How can we see a better tomorrow? Love Him with all your heart. Decide not to quit Church, decide not to quit your friend, decide not quit your neighbor. How? It is just justified, it is just rude.

Love Him with all your heart. The first step is to hang in there. Trust Him, He cares, He is there for you. The second step is to not return evil for evil. Love covers all. Keep trying, keep nurturing someone. Love Him with all your heart. Is your cup looking empty? Thank Him for the blessings in life you'd miss if they were gone tomorrow. Love Him with all your heart. Don't quit. Do you hear someone complain about how down the times are? Remind them God is faithful. Care for them. Pray, keep on praying. You are not far from the kingdom of God.

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(Reprint from Scripture for Today Blogspot Friday, February 19, 2010)

2 Kings 21 ~ walk in the way of the Lord

Two Assyrian kings leave records of political dealings with King Mannaseh. Esarhaddon and his son, Ashurbanipa. c 668 BC. The records leave evidence of the Chronicles account of King Mannaseh.



2 Kings 21

David Cochran Audio Bible, English Standard Version

1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hephzibah. 2 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel. 3 For he rebuilt the high places that Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he erected altars for Baal and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel had done, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them. 4 And he built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem will I put my name.” 5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord. 6 And he burned his son as an offering and used fortune-telling and omens and dealt with mediums and with necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger. 7 And the carved image of Asherah that he had made he set in the house of which the Lord said to David and to Solomon his son, “In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever. 8 And I will not cause the feet of Israel to wander anymore out of the land that I gave to their fathers, if only they will be careful to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the Law that my servant Moses commanded them.” 9 But they did not listen, and Manasseh led them astray to do more evil than the nations had done whom the Lord destroyed before the people of Israel.


10 And the Lord said by his servants the prophets, 11 “Because Manasseh king of Judah has committed these abominations and has done things more evil than all that the Amorites did, who were before him, and has made Judah also to sin with his idols, 12 therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing upon Jerusalem and Judah such disaster [evil] that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle. 13 And I will stretch over Jerusalem the measuring line of Samaria, and the plumb line of the house of Ahab, and I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down. 14 And I will forsake the remnant of my heritage and give them into the hand of their enemies, and they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies, 15 because they have done what is evil in my sight and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came out of Egypt, even to this day.”

16 Moreover, Manasseh shed very much innocent blood, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another, besides the sin that he made Judah to sin so that they did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.

17 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh and all that he did, and the sin that he committed, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 18 And Manasseh slept with his fathers and was buried in the garden of his house, in the garden of Uzza, and Amon his son reigned in his place.

19 Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Meshullemeth the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah. 20 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done. 21 He walked in all the way in which his father walked and served the idols that his father served and worshiped them. 22 He abandoned the Lord, the God of his fathers, and did not walk in the way of the Lord. 23 And the servants of Amon conspired against him and put the king to death in his house. 24 But the people of the land struck down all those who had conspired against King Amon, and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his place. 25 Now the rest of the acts of Amon that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 26 And he was buried in his tomb in the garden of Uzza, and Josiah his son reigned in his place.


It's amazing how one generation is different from the next. I read an article from a FB friend saying a daughter of a Christian family had been raised in the Church, her parents sent her to a Bible College - she said due to the culture Christian kids have the same problems as non-christian. She said it was merely good luck she discovered she was in love with Jesus Christ in college because she always believed God was good idea, but most of the time in their busy lives, she believed Church activities were a social obligation. Her father was always so busy with his career, they never sat down and told her of the amazing Love Father God is.

Hezekiah, Eli, Samuel - all have children who were looking at a different Path. My grandmother Anita taught a Methodist Sunday School adult class for 42 years. Her adopted son, who was damaged at birth, was so violently opposed to Christianity - he wouldn't hush if the subject came up and go into a high pitched, on going rant. I frequently left the building if he started. He fairly hummed with anger. My grandmother said she would not stop praying for him. When my uncle was 78 years old, he discovered he enjoyed Joel Osteen on television. One day he heard about the book by Rick Warren, "The Purpose Driven Life." It's very difficult to be handicapped and adopted from an era in history when adoption was considered shameful. My grandparents were actually my uncle's 2nd adoption in his 3rd year of life & they were always quite loving to him. The first adoption went horribly badly - my uncle was burned and beaten.

Reading "The Purpose Driven Life" gave my uncle the hope he was part of God's plan. He had finally arrived at a teachable moment in his life. He no longer rants, talking incessantly. He no longer hums with anger. Jesus Christ has saved his life. God called my uncle's name in the Book of Life. My mom and I cried. My mom said she knows there is a party in Heaven and my grandmother is dancing.

Always pray.

You'd think Hezekiah would have prayed for his son Manasseh.... Hezekiah knew well that Jehovah was a jealous God. We had an excellent discussion in my minister's Sunday School class on God's jealousy. There is a famous celebrity who said she wanted to be part of God until she heard He said He is a jealous God. It sounds rather like the husband who kills the lover, when he discovers sharing his wife's affections. We try so hard to make God like us. God wants to set us apart - to be holy. Like He is. When we do not seek to grow spiritually in Christ, we are likely to wander.

What is Baal worship? Mostly it is sacrificing a child to please Baal who in turn provides prosperity. God expects us to be new creatures in Jesus Christ, to be set apart from what the would accepts as acceptable behavior. He Really doesn't want us to participate in the the body of Christ, open up our 'horrorscope' and play Biblical numbers decoding wisdom. Nope. God never wanted His Church to be like a wisdom cult enabling one to participate more fully when further initiated. God never wanted us to rejoice we are just a little lower than the heavenly beings - to take that Grace and then abuse it with Voodoo or the occult because we might get the attention of a lower god or spirit. God says He is always available to hear us when we call on Him, humbly, and admit we are His people, His creation and we do not save ourselves from our sins.

So.... doesn't it seem like a King, a righteous man, like Hezekiah would have prayed diligently for his son Manasseh? Perhaps Hezekiah did. Although Kings does not record Manasseh's conversion - we are told to read Chronicles. Manassah did repent - he did cry out to God for help - Manassah was saved. Really. Chronicles says so. And I believe it - I believe God's Word is the Way, the Truth and the Life opening our souls to Love the LORD for giving us His Word. And I believe God hears us when we call to Him with open hearts. I love the Lord, my Father God, because He Loved me first.

Father God, in the book of Acts You tell us "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household" and in You will I hope and pray. You have given us baptism, to receive Your Holy Spirit only because Jesus Christ died to save sinners. You live in me, actively since I believed in You.

Father God, You raised Jesus to life, raised Him from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death, because in Your Word it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him. Jesus is Lord.

You've told us always to pray with hope. I will continue to pray for others that Your Love and Your Hope will fill lives with Your Light. Thank You for calling to my uncle, for writing his name in Your Book of Life. Thank You for telling us of Hezekiah's son.

Father, speak the Word, sanctify us through and through. May our whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.


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