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

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Proverbs 24 ~ lest the Lord see it


Solomon Sacrificing to Idols. Sébastien Bourdon (1646-47) was also a prolific history painter. Louvre. 1 Kings 11:8-10


Proverbs 24

1 Be not envious of evil men,
nor desire to be with them,
2 for their hearts devise violence,
and their lips talk of trouble.

3 By wisdom a house is built,
and by understanding it is established;
4 by knowledge the rooms are filled
with all precious and pleasant riches.
5 A wise man is full of strength,
and a man of knowledge enhances his might,
6 for by wise guidance you can wage your war,
and in abundance of counselors there is victory.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool;
in the gate he does not open his mouth.

8 Whoever plans to do evil
will be called a schemer.
9 The devising [scheming] of folly is sin,
and the scoffer is an abomination to mankind.

10 If you faint in the day of adversity,
your strength is small.
11 Rescue those who are being taken away to death;
hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.
12 If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,”
does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it,
and will he not repay man according to his work?

13 My son, eat honey, for it is good,
and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.
14 Know that wisdom is such to your soul;
if you find it, there will be a future,
and your hope will not be cut off.

15 Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous;
do no violence to his home;
16 for the righteous falls seven times and rises again,
but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.

17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,
18 lest the Lord see it and be displeased,
and turn away his anger from him.

19 Fret not yourself because of evildoers,
and be not envious of the wicked,
20 for the evil man has no future;
the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

21 My son, fear the Lord and the king,
and do not join with those who do otherwise,
22 for disaster will arise suddenly from them,
and who knows the ruin that will come from them both?

23 These also are sayings of the wise.

Partiality in judging is not good.
24 Whoever says to the wicked, “You are in the right,”
will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations,
25 but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight,
and a good blessing will come upon them.
26 Whoever gives an honest answer
kisses the lips.

27 Prepare your work outside;
get everything ready for yourself in the field,
and after that build your house.

28 Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause,
and do not deceive with your lips.
29 Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me;
I will pay the man back for what he has done.”

30 I passed by the field of a sluggard,
by the vineyard of a man lacking sense,
31 and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns;
the ground was covered with nettles,
and its stone wall was broken down.
32 Then I saw and considered it;
I looked and received instruction.
33 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest,
34 and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want like an armed man.

Envy, desire, violence, trouble, evil, war, victory, fool, adversity, sloth, poverty - Perfect words for the tabloids at the grocery store check out.

This week I've signed Hospice papers for my 94 year old cousin, she is semi-comatose. My cousin is my ward, I have been her legal guardian for 10.5 years due to many strokes she has had. Well of course, Hospice, we are all civilized. On television this would be easy, it is not and the people around react to it. 3 doctors have told us this is the end of life. As I signed the papers, I realized I would want the same considerations for myself. So this is the fulfilling of Jesus' command to love one another . It provokes reactions for all the family & people involved with Maxine. It is both great and unfortunate this is not an easy thing. Scripture for Today Blogspot does not seek to be about me and my life, but death is something we all encounter in our end and around us in the people we love.


What a turbulent week this is. Proverbs suits it just fine. Proverbs is uncomfortable. We had a Bible Study years ago, we were supposed to read aloud several of the Proverbs verses, then change readers, in order, and by chapter. By the end of the reading of a couple of chapters, some people were truly miffed. Which is precisely why Scripture finds itself - in each generation - in a perpetual game of disdain, rejection, ignorance, study, love, adoration, and fascination. And this has gone on for 3,000 years.

I read Proverbs 24 and it pinches. On different days, I will be pinched in different aspects. Is God pleased with my sins showing up? No, He is a Holy and Righteous God. Not that signing the papers for Hospice was a sin, but it makes one mindful of who they are. Thanks be to God, for Jesus Christ. I do not have to live in an unforgiven state. In my weakness, God is strong. Paul said God intertwines all things for His glory and for good. Life is anticipation just what adventure He will provide.

Matthew 26:41
Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Who has felt this?

Romans 7:24-25a
24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Paul, one of the writers of the New Testament.

We experience trauma in life and wonder if God has suddenly found our secret selfishness leading into sin. We have wonder if cancer, if death, if divorce, if bankruptcy of if job loss is a direct result of our sin from a vengeful God. The answer is clear. Jesus took our sin from us, at one time, on the cross. Trouble will come in life, sometimes we earn it. Neglect our spouse, we are left. Other times, trouble finds us. We live in God's plan, with joy, knowing God does not provide circumstance to merely grieve us.

I am grateful for the pinch of Proverbs 24. I am not left to wonder what God thinks from on high and from far away, as an absent landlord - Deist philosophy. Instead, we have God who writes to us, what He says is not brushed away as a remark merely to overcome. Not an opinion to think upon and decide for ourselves. The sting of Scripture is that of our Father, parenting us. No loving Father leaves His children without direction. The response is up to us. Solomon experienced God, but wanted God to speak to Him in a manner Solomon chose. If Solomon is to be remembered for his wisdom, it is Solomon's return to God's plan as he looks for real meaning in his life, not just temporal values.

God chose to live with us and chooses so today.

John 1:14,16
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.



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Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Psalm 100 ~ come into His presence with singing



Psalm 100

1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!

3 Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his; [and not we ourselves]
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!

5 For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.

There are some Sundays we go into Church and I do not feel like being there. I have things on my mind that feel more present than God. There have been a few times in my life I've contemplated going home, once I actually did. You know, it didn't help. Getting to focus solely on myself wasn't what I really needed. Being a Christian, loving FatherGod helps me remember what is important. Thank God, literally, for the ability to look up. To worship Someone Greater than myself and to realize I am not in charge of it all.

Today has been a sad day. Family has gathered to see Maxine and say good-bye. Family get togethers over death aren't always pleasant. The aspect of death, Hospice, papers and decisions reminds me of parts of the Old Testament were death & fear can be pretty brutal. Life moves along pretty easily for this generation with antibiotics & miracle drugs, but the end of life can be graphic.

Thank you, God, Maxine lives in an era of people using pain relievers. Thank you, God, for the positive aspect of dementia, there is no fear in Maxine. Thank you, God, for the family who are helpful. For people who want to remember the love and want to come see someone who has lived with dementia for 10 years, even when she was unable to have a conversation. Thank you, God, for Your Word, not the sugar coating of the good ship lollipop, but the way we must face death is serious. I am grateful for Jesus Christ mourning with Mary and Martha over Lazarus, before the resurrection. Thank You for the images of death You give us telling us this is not surprising. Mostly, FatherGod, thank you for the Good News telling us we can look up. We can look up in hope. Death is a reason to remember we will come into Your presence with singing.

Please remember to pray for 94 year old Maxine as she comes into God's Kingdom.

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Monday, April 12, 2010

Psalm 24:1 ~ The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it

Psalm 24

1 The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it

Please pray for my cousin Maxine today. She is 94 years old and has been diagnosed as being in extremis.

Come, Lord Jesus, be with Maxine, her need is great. Amen.

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Saturday, April 10, 2010

Psalm 128 ~ May you see your children's children! Peace be upon Israel!

This is one of the wedding gifts Maxine gave us ~ Look down with favor, O Lord on these Thy servants, who, by Thine Divine Authority, are one in Holy Matrimony. Grant them Thy loving protection through days of lasting peace; and bless them with the love of their children's children. Amen.


Psalm 128 ~ Revised Standard Version

[1] Blessed is every one who fears the LORD,
who walks in his ways!

[2] You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;
you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.

[3] Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
around your table.

[4] Lo, thus shall the man be blessed
who fears the LORD.

[5] The LORD bless you from Zion!
May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life!

[6] May you see your children's children!
Peace be upon Israel!

This Psalm of God's always fills me with hope and raises me up. I like it more & more as I grow older, when I was younger I expected all the bounty and blessings of God, without a lot of real prayer. Not only is it a Psalm about Heaven, where the best is yet to be, but it is the promises of the Lord's goodness for this life.

When we are young, life is so very pleasing. As we grow older, we have a greater appreciation for what our parents and grandparents did for us. God says it is more blessed to give than receive; I am grateful for Maxine's prayer gift, I look forward to my grandchildren. My son Alexander laughs like my paternal grandmother, it is an echo of love. A hearty laugh from the belly, like being surprised at joy & overtaken. I look forward to seeing the next generation and to have the opportunity to be the love and caregivers my grandmothers & parents were to me.

I try to picture heaven & my limited vision gives perhaps a tiny glimpse. This Easter I was blessed to receive a J
acquie Lawson card, wow, it was what I think of. If you've ever seen the movie "Places in the Heart", 1984, it won 2 Oscars? Fabulous ending scene in the Church over Communion. If you are looking for a quiet Saturday afternoon, watchlastmovies.com has "Places in the Heart." Norton says the site is safe.

Blessings to you this Saturday.



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Friday, April 09, 2010

Psalm 96 ~ declare His glory among the nations


Psalm 96

1 Oh sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
4 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

7 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!
8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering, and come into his courts!
9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; [or holy attire]
tremble before him, all the earth!

10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.”

11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
12 let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
13 before the Lord, for he comes,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness,
and the peoples in his faithfulness.


Please pray for my cousin Maxine, she is 94. My grandmother's family was quite large & generations are all spread apart, Maxine is almost 50 years older than I am. Maxine is my mother's first cousin and she is my legal ward. Maxine & her husband lived in Los Angeles, in the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, for a number of years. Her husband worked in the television company producing the Lone Ranger and Lassie TV programs.

Maxine has me for her guardian because she has severe dementia & lives in a dementia facility. She had a number of strokes, 10 years ago. And she never had children. Maxine is in the hospital tonight for dementia related illness. It is not supposed to be life-threatening, but she has done what her mother and my grandmother did, she has shrunk a foot and now weights about 80 lbs at exactly four feet. She is quite frail.

Christians are sometimes set apart because we look at circumstance and wonder if it is the work of the Lord. When Maxine was 90, she became very unresponsive. We examined why there was suddenly no speech, her responsiveness was like pushing a large rock up a steep hill. It turns out she was being given too much medicine and it had covered up another large stroke. Maxine began having physical rehabilitation sessions and she went from needing minimum add'l care to maximum. Maxine, the doctors concluded, had become institutionalized and to move her into a different facility would kill her, so she needed a sitter to prompt her more to participate in the dementia facility. But her speech had been removed and she now merely made one noise.

At Christmas, Maxine had been with the sitter for about 7 months, she was almost 91 & walking again. Her speech had not recovered. Our Church asked everyone to bring a cross to hang on the wall of our new Church building. I found a beautiful crucifix, Jesus looked as He had just asked the Lord to forgive His people. I just couldn't give it to the Church, I felt Maxine needed the cross to look down on her bed. So, at Christmas, I put the cross were Jesus would look down at Maxine. As I did, I said a prayer that I had done what I thought FatherGod wanted and would He use this symbol, & the action I had completed, I felt was prompted to prayer, to bless Maxine's sleep, her safety and bring her to know the Lord's love in a fulfilling relationship, to know the comfort of His salvation. Maxine had been angry with God as a child, she felt the Lord took too much of Aunt Eloise (her mother's) attention and work. According to Maxine, the rend had never completely healed between the Lord and Maxine & Maxine didn't feel there is any heaven.

Later in the year, in the spring, I was sitting with Maxine. A year since the last stroke, I really didn't expect to hear anything back. I told her she had on a beautiful blue dress and it matched her eyes, she still has beautiful blue eyes. I told her she was the only one in the family with eyes as blue as the sky. The next moment, I was sitting with my mouth open. I couldn't even speak. My 91 year old cousin told me she did think it was a pretty dress and she was pleased to have pretty dresses that are fancy in her closet. She leaned over to tap my ring and said she liked it. Maxine had not been able to say that kind of sentence since 1996, about 10 years prior. I think I was rude enough to sputter, "Maxine you are talking! Saying things!" No, it was not clear as a bell, but I understood her perfectly.

I called the sitter & Katherine said, "Yeah, Maxine is talking again! Some days she has a lot to say and some days she doesn't say too much at all!" Yes, Maxine is significantly happier to have Katherine, who is there just for her every day. But my 91 year old cousin never had speech rehabilitation. I don't know if it was the chicken or the egg first, but Maxine regained her speech and picked up ground to be able to, not just repeat phrases, but to express her thought. This just must be from God. How many people recover that much in their 90's? Maybe speech, but Maxine was able now to express her clear thought.

Maxine is 94 now. Because of the need for a guardian, every year a social worker comes in & checks on Maxine's environment, in an unannounced visit. On Tuesday, Maxine's social worker got to hear Maxine communicate. Now, the answers are more rote and not actual conversation, but Maxine was still able.

Father God, please be with Maxine. I remember cartoons I shared with her when I was a child & the garden walks we took. I remember Maxine to have retained her delight in Your creations. Look at Maxine with mercy, these years she has remained on this earth, are Your years. Please remember the kindnesses she has shown us. Father, when it is time for Maxine to go home to You, let it be so peacefully. Like the Camellia my grandmother and Aunt Eloise prayed about. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

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Thursday, April 08, 2010

Acts 5:12-16 ~ multitudes






Today in Jerusalem, this is a model of the 2nd Temple with a close-up of Solomon's Porch.






Acts 5:12-16 ~ American Standard Version

And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. But of the rest durst no man join himself to them: howbeit the people magnified them; and believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of them and women; insomuch that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that, as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow some one of them. And there also came together the multitudes from the cities round about Jerusalem, bring sick folk, and them that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

Quite a change. From hiding behind locked doors, the disciples are preaching Jesus Christ the Savior in the 36 acres of the Temple Court.

John 20:19-20
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

The Pharisees are having a bad week. That pesky Jesus didn't just disappear, instead multitudes have come... not to the Sea of Galilee, or the wilderness, but to the Temple to hear more about Jesus. Those annoying miracles and signs haven't stopped either. Some of the Sanhedrin, the ruling council for the Temple, want to go over and hear too.

Ian Wilson's book, "The Historical Jesus" tells of a letter from the first century Anno Domino. This famous letter - Rabbi Lyracathra, of Lystra, Israel, writes he cannot keep the Jews from being interested in the multitudes of healings done in Jesus' name, after the man has died. He wonders how Judiasm will continue when these signs cannot be contained. Yes, these are hard times, the miracles just keep coming.

Thanks be to God. Thank You for Your steadfast love and Your miracles You give us in the highest name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Wednesday, April 07, 2010

1 Samuel 9 ~ behold


The tomb of Samuel has not been proven archaeologically to be Samuel's. One of the historical proof's would be Judas Maccabeus, in 167 B.C., honored the site as Samuel's tomb. In 1 Samuel 25, Samuel was buried at his house in Ramah. Today Nebi Samuel and the surrounding archeological excavations are now part of a National Park. Samuel's house was also where Saul went to meet him for the first time.

1 Samuel 9

1 There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite, a man of wealth. 2 And he had a son whose name was Saul, a handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.
3 Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. So Kish said to Saul his son, “Take one of the young men with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys.” 4 And he passed through the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them. And they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then they passed through the land of Benjamin, but did not find them.
5 When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come, let us go back, lest my father cease to care about the donkeys and become anxious about us.” 6 But he said to him, “Behold, there is a man of God in this city, and he is a man who is held in honor; all that he says comes true. So now let us go there. Perhaps he can tell us the way we should go.” 7 Then Saul said to his servant, “But if we go, what can we bring the man? For the bread in our sacks is gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?” 8 The servant answered Saul again, “Here, I have with me a quarter of a shekel of silver, and I will give it to the man of God to tell us our way.” 9 (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said, “Come, let us go to the seer,” for today's “prophet” was formerly called a seer.) 10 And Saul said to his servant, “Well said; come, let us go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was.
11 As they went up the hill to the city, they met young women coming out to draw water and said to them, “Is the seer here?” 12 They answered, “He is; behold, he is just ahead of you. Hurry. He has come just now to the city, because the people have a sacrifice today on the high place. 13 As soon as you enter the city you will find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat. For the people will not eat till he comes, since he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. Now go up, for you will meet him immediately.” 14 So they went up to the city. As they were entering the city, they saw Samuel coming out toward them on his way up to the high place.
15 Now the day before Saul came, the Lord had revealed to Samuel: 16 “Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have seen my people, because their cry has come to me.” 17 When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord told him, “Here is the man of whom I spoke to you! He it is who shall restrain my people.” 18 Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate and said, “Tell me where is the house of the seer?” 19 Samuel answered Saul, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for today you shall eat with me, and in the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is on your mind. 20 As for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not set your mind on them, for they have been found. And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father's house?” 21 Saul answered, “Am I not a Benjaminite, from the least of the tribes of Israel? And is not my clan the humblest of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this way?”
22 Then Samuel took Saul and his young man and brought them into the hall and gave them a place at the head of those who had been invited, who were about thirty persons. 23 And Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion I gave you, of which I said to you, ‘Put it aside.’” 24 So the cook took up the leg and what was on it and set them before Saul. And Samuel said, “See, what was kept is set before you. Eat, because it was kept for you until the hour appointed, that you might eat with the guests.”
So Saul ate with Samuel that day. 25 And when they came down from the high place into the city, a bed was spread for Saul [and he spoke with Saul] on the roof, and he lay down to sleep. 26 Then at the break of dawn Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Up, that I may send you on your way.” So Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went out into the street.
27 As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to pass on before us, and when he has passed on, stop here yourself for a while, that I may make known to you the word of God.”
Behold is a word we don't hear enough. The ability not just to hear & see, but to observe and reason. Life moves faster and faster. My oldest son was fortunate to go to a very privileged school when he was young; we routinely received school messages from the principal, or the priest, or guidance counselor saying it is wonderful to have all types of lessons & athletic competitions, but every child really learns from having time to themselves. We need to have time to discover for ourselves our...soul. When you read this passage of Saul do you rush through it because Saul didn't turn out to fulfill his potential? Handsome, wealthy, tall, considerate of his father, polite, diligent for the needs of his family, faithful and humble. I really had forgotten Saul had so many blessings. Proverbs 14:10 The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy. Saul begins by being welcomed by Samuel, prophet of God, and Saul recognized the greatness of the honor. Of all Saul's attributes, the most important, Saul understands to seek direction from God. By Samuel 15 (notice the Scriptures do not have a book of Saul) the Lord is replacing Saul, Saul transferred his respect for God to the ability to make fast decisions for himself. Saul began to honor all of his own decisions as wise. God does not treat Saul with perpetual disfavor, not in the beginning of Saul & not at the end. We may rush through the biblical chapters of Saul, but even Samuel cared for Saul and mourned his trouble. Saul may have made a hash of it all, even murdering the priests for doing God's will. At the end of Saul's life, Samuel tells Saul he will be with him. God knew and saw all of Saul's life; as we would recall a movie we have already seen. Saul did not do well all of his days, yet the Lord lived with Saul in Saul's heart, knowing his joy and his bitterness. The Lord was far from being a stranger to Saul - in potential, in victory, in defeat and in death. The Lord loved Saul and gave us his life as lesson to remember to seek the Lord and realize He is close to us, even when we feel invincible, overwhelmed, un-blessed, and pressed for a decision. If the Lord never abandoned Saul, even if Saul felt forsaken - just as Jesus cried out- He will never forsake you. Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” <><

Tuesday, April 06, 2010

Psalm 114 ~ who turns

Pre-Communion Prayer: "Just say the word, Lord, & I shall be healed"


Psalm 114

1 When Israel went out from Egypt,
the house of Jacob from a people of strange language,
2 Judah became his sanctuary,
Israel his dominion.

3 The sea looked and fled;
Jordan turned back.
4 The mountains skipped like rams,
the hills like lambs.

5 What ails you, O sea, that you flee?
O Jordan, that you turn back?
6 O mountains, that you skip like rams?
O hills, like lambs?

7 Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,
at the presence of the God of Jacob,
8 who turns the rock into a pool of water,
the flint into a spring of water.

The people of Judah, or Judea, expected the Messiah to be like Moses. Just like today, we pray and expect God to give us what we want. A little bit like Abraham deciding to take God's will into his own terms, and Ishmael was born. Abraham believed he was right to act for God, he'd been promised and it seemed nothing was happening in Abraham's time schedule. Or horribly, like Judas, who decided what he wanted was best - why - all kinds of reasons, jealousy, anxiety over the repeat attempts to take Jesus, wanting to be with the powerful winner, realizing he'd been caught stealing from the disciples and Jesus, greed - any reason. Or just plain thinking that morality was up to Judas to determine. Judas put his own needs and desires first.

The people of Judea expected Jesus to be their magic 8 ball. Give us what we want or we'll crucify you. Or depending on the century... we'll find another god. I'm seeing this in my son's college age friends. Sometimes it is called humanism. Or realism - you decide what is meaningful to you.

It is not uncommon, even among the people who believe fervently. Moses threw a temper tantrum between God's instructions, his own danger, stress of responsibility & the continual thunderous threats of the children of Israel for water. Moses was the one caught between a rock and hard place.

Who turns; who has the will to bend in man's perpetual struggle for his own plans in this life - a life that is over so quickly? God or man. Read the Old Testament, even the villains struggling only for themselves alone accomplish God's will. Prayer can sometimes be a struggle for man speaking with God- struggling to accomplish man's will. God gave us His Son. God's will is going to be accomplished. His purpose for you will be complete. God answers prayer, but even Paul had to let God's will prevail in Paul's life. The prayer of Jabez was willingly granted. David was anointed of God, but he struggled with God's will and his own will. Jesus understood man's desires, and he gave us this parable:

Luke 18:1-818:1
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Jacob/Israel struggled with God. We all do. Jacob learned something David learned. Something Job learned. Something Paul learned.

Psalm 8:1-4
Lord
, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants,
you have established strength because of your foes,
to still the enemy and the avenger.

3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?

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Monday, April 05, 2010

Psalm 111 ~ Great are the works of the Lord





Hereford Cathedral - what does Heaven look like to you?

Psalm 111


1
Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
2 Great are the works of the Lord,
studied by all who delight in them.
3
Full of splendor and majesty is his work,
and his righteousness endures forever.
4 He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and merciful.
5
He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever.
6
He has shown his people the power of his works,
in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
7
The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy;

8
they are established forever and ever,
to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.

9
He sent redemption to his people;
he has commanded his covenant forever.
Holy and awesome is his name!

10
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all those who practice it have a good understanding.
His praise endures forever!

Footnotes 111:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, each line beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet

What does Heaven look like to you? Jesus called it the Kingdom of Heaven and Paradise. Cathedrals have their place in God's worship, even if you prefer an outdoor guitar celebration for Easter.

Church worship should inspire you to think about the sermon and the readings. Our guest preacher inspired me to think about the Church and being part of the loving body of Christ. I sometimes miss being part of the huge Church, one of the nation's largest, at Easter and Communion. It would bring tears to my eyes to see people going up to take communion in the awesome, vast, auspicious Church. I told my husband it is like seeing people queue up to enter the Gates of Heaven. All different types of people in line to receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ, expectant faces.

Smaller churches are like family. My family has decided we love our church. The drawbacks? Say you & your husband decided to play hookie and walk to Starbucks on a beautiful Sunday morning, the next Sunday, someone is going to ask you what you were doing when they saw you walking while they were on the way to church. Yes, and decorating the church for Holy Saturday... there is going to be that sister who is letting you know how it should be done and correcting your word usage. If they were your actual sibling, you might accidentally pinch them. But nothing takes the place of your family when your baby dies, as our daughter did.

Last night, my husband & I were winding down our Easter celebration meal, it was dark outside and we looked through our 300 hundred channels to find something reminding us this actually is Easter. So thanks, television schedulers for letting us have one choice. One? We were watching Anthony Hopkins in a movie called "Peter and Paul". Edward turned to me and said, "What do you think Jesus looked like when He returned? Did He look good, remember the tombs opened and prophets and people returned like Jesus. The photo I saw had hands clawing their way out of the ground like zombie day. And they weren't in the ground, they had tombs!"

Edward's question reminded me of the early days after Isabelle died and he asked me forlornly what babies did in Heaven. Which caused me to go the the Scriptures and find Isaiah 49. Yes, this is getting to a point. There actually is a physical resurrection of Jesus. Paul let us know about the new physical body, so the answer is... He looked great. Which reminded me of the jumping little lamb photo I had tucked away.

So...now for the Easter sermon we heard. Our guest was a young man in his 20's, who had bounced from Brazil to America with his family, with his father's employment. He had bonded as a young adult with Brazil and chose to go back, away from his arguing family, and found lots and lots of drug related trouble. He had a church family in Brazil, due to being with his family sometimes in Brazil. They spoke to him, but he was taken in, physically, with the drug family to become part of the drug dealing and drug smuggling culture. After being involved in a very violent fight, he'd brought the baseball bats from America, that became a gunfight/drive by, he realized he was no longer part of the body of Christ. The friend he saw dying, if it had been him, he was destined for hell. He found his aunt, she helped him detox and found a youth weekend were he opened his heart to Jesus Christ. Now he is a young man on his way to youth ministry and seminary.

Where does that leave the body of Christ? This is worth a lot of thought. My father was very important to me. He had many wonderful qualities. He had a fatal flaw, he medicated his hurts with alcohol and was an alcoholic. He told me one of the troubles he had with church was to see upright men so comfortable in church. It is a perpetual problem with the upright, in the congregation. It is an ongoing situation for well over 2,000 years.

Consider if you had been this preaching young man's church family. Would you invite a teenager to live with you knowing he had drug issues, drug friends, drug possession, drug police & drug usage? Would you expose your young children to him? Part of the real problem, this boy brought the bats used to create some of the violence with him from the USA. It is impossible for men to save men from themselves. Only with God is this possible. His church family did not save him, God did. His church family was still speaking to him, so I would hope they continued to pray for him.

Where does that leave you? If you are part of Jesus Christ, it asks you to approach people and their troubles with prayer. It asks you to look for the open door God will provide for you and the person you are praying for. It asks you to act when God prepares a path. Where does that leave you if you are the person who is hurting? You are a child of God. Never forget it. God won't forget His child. Never neglect it. Get yourself to a Christ honoring Church. Make your feet take you weekly. Why? Dropping in and out makes it easier for you to drop out. Realize as you sit in the congregation of God, you are not more unworthy than anyone else. You are not saved by your worthiness, you are saved as a gift of God. Be grateful and remember.

Matthew 22:37-40

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.

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Sunday, April 04, 2010

Luke 24:1-35 ~ going farther

Eucharist Window. Stained Glass is sand pummeled, beaten, stained, fired, beautifully & diligently made to the glory of God.

Luke 24:1-35

1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Each time Scripture for Today Blogspot has a biblical reading with some archaeological proof, it is a joy. Yet each archaeological site or artifact always has a skeptic or an opposing view point. It is difficult to have an object with complete proof. If you look all over Jerusalem today, you would see churches over the declared site of many important occasions of Jesus' life. There is not definitive proof of a physical resurrection for Jesus Christ. There are reliable historian references to eye witnesses of Jesus' life. There are two millenniums of changed lives, giving service and love to God Almighty, enabling mankind to do what isn't done by kings, governments & agencies of charities. There are miracles not explainable by chance or circumstance, by those who have sought the Lord.

The Church of Jesus Christ has had mighty victories. And famous defeats crowed over by enemies of the Church, in every century. The enemies of the Church are not new. Because the Church is not man, forgiveness from God and His people allow what a man-made structure could not do; carry on in hope of the saving power in Jesus Christ. Only love can defeat darkness.

John 3:16-21
“For God so loved the world, [Or For this is how God loved the world] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Where is the proof? In each of us the proof must come from you and Your Creator. What do you believe? Jesus told us we would find if we knocked, looked and sought diligently. He said we would be invited in, to have Him dwell in our souls and He will be our salvation.

One night, years ago, I had enjoyed the company of Christians, and clung to my doubts. Yes, the people around me had faith, but this faith was filled with unknowable aspects. Surely the people surrounding me had the same doubts, but this cheerful faith was just a bit false. Gradually it dawned on me, this was not false. A priest asked us that dark night, where did we stand in our faith, did we believe? I cried out to the Lord and knew the love of my Father. My life has changed forever with God's love; I am a believer, a child of God in Jesus Christ. The light shone in the darkness.

Matthew 11:25-30

25 At that time Jesus declared, “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; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. [ Or for so it pleased you well] 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

John 16:33
"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

We returned home from our Easter service; our guest, preaching, used to be a drug smuggler until one night a gunfight caused the realization he had become a monster who did not deserve heaven. His faith, time in church, had given him friends who would still speak to him during his drug dealing years, but it had gone no further. He found Jesus Christ in a youth mission and the love of God has changed his life from drug dealer/smuggler to youth minister attending seminary to spread Jesus' love. The doors of the church, the heart of Jesus, remained open & waiting for this man to seek, to knock, to seek diligently, to go farther.


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Saturday, April 03, 2010

Mark 15:42-47 ~ preparation

Holy Saturday, mosiac by A.L. Gardere


Mark 15:42-47
42 It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. 45 When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. 46 So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.


Matthew 27: 62-66

62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 "Sir," they said, "we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise again.' 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first."

65 "Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how." 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

Luke 23:55,56
55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

John 19:38-41
38 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away. 39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. 40 Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. 41 At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. 42 Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.


John 20:19
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders

What will you remember from the readings of late Good Friday (Preparation Day), Holy Saturday (Passover or Special Sabbath) and early the first day of the week (Easter Sunday)? If you are focusing on the details of the embalming spices, you are either fortunate to have not have lived through a trauma or you are seeing a "mistake" in the gospels. Mary Magdalene & the other ladies were not merely making a mistake by bringing a second round of spices to a sealed tomb. This is, more than likely, not a mistaken detail in the Gospels.

In an extreme trauma, people all react differently. Some bring spices in an effort to do the last possible thing for one whom they have given their heart to, Jesus. Some will be focused on observing the ritual to pull them through, like following step a to step b, believing life will go on more easily if all the steps are followed appropriately. Some will cling to the Jewish burial customs because they are numb and unable to focus properly. Some come to the tomb because they are trying to believe Jesus' tragic death did occur. Some will come to be near Jesus, a first step in good-bye.

During Jesus' trial, His suffering and His death, all the Temple authorities heard Jesus declare He was God's Son. Pilate heard Jesus say He was a King and declared so himself by posting the sign in 3 languages. The Roman Guard knew Jesus' death was of an innocent, declared to be God. The crowd waited with morbidity to see if a miracle would occur. Those guilty in His death placed damage control in place.

The disciples were hiding in fear. Jesus lived defiantly through an attempt to stone him, once the temple guards wouldn't take Him because the realized He spoke unlike anyone else, with authority from His Father. Jesus lived through several attempts to seize him. Some believed they would be next to be destroyed by the Temple authorities. The beloved disciple, John, knew he had directly seen the most evil the spiritual realm had to offer. John believed for the rest of his life, the world would end soon. Some of the disciples were defiantly angry - Thomas. Some of the disciples were ashamed. All were afraid and heart broken.

Mary, the mother of God, is not heard from. She was probably beyond being seen by others. Simeon had told about Mary's sorrow in Luke 2:34-35
Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."

Yet the people involved with Jesus and Good Friday had one emotion in common, they were all waiting. Some to help Jesus' body, to see if the crowd would react or to find out if they would be seized; unlike most deaths, people were expectant of the next event. The Roman Empire would be waiting during the next 350 years to eradicate Jesus.

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Friday, April 02, 2010

Luke 22:57-71, Luke 23 ~ the cross, to carry


Luke 22:57-23:56

57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.

63 Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him. 64 They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” 65 And they said many other things against him, blaspheming him.

66 When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, 67 “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, 68 and if I ask you, you will not answer. 69 But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70 So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” 71 Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from is own lips.


Luke 23

1 Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” 3 And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” 4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” 5 But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.”

6 When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 And when he learned that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. 8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. 9 So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. 10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. 11 And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. 12 And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.

13 Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. 15 Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. 16 I will therefore punish and release him." [Now he was obliged to release one man to them at the festival.]

Scala Sancta, according to Christian tradition, are the 28 steps that led to the praetorium of Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem. Jesus stood on the Scala Sancta during his trial. The original marble steps are encased with wood. They are located today in the Lateran Palace, part of the Vatican that was once a Papal residence.

18 But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— 19 a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. 20 Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, 21 but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” 22 A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” 23 But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.

26 And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. 27 And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. 28 But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

32 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. 35 And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him, [in the letters of Greek, Latin and Hebrew] “This is the King of the Jews.”

39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed [blasphemed] at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

44 It was now about the sixth hour, [noon] and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, [3 PM] 45 while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. 47 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” 48 And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. 49 And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.


Cross placed in tomb floor, Church of the Holy Sepulcher on Good Friday, Jerusalem

50 Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. 54 It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning [dawning]. 55 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments.

On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.



Just as God gives us physical seasons and seasons of growth in our lives, we have Holy seasons to re-evaluate our faith. This Easter is a good time to look into our souls and decide all signs in our heart, mind, soul point to Jesus as God's Son, our Savior. God sent His Son to save. All we must do is believe in our heart and confess with our lips Jesus Christ is Lord.



Clips from The Passion of the Christ, Choreography by Jason Tremblay

2 Peter 1:20-21
20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 2:13
13 And we also thank God constantly [without ceasing] for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.


John 3:11-12
11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?

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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

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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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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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