Ezekiel 38 ~ then they will know that I am the LORD

Hesiod, ''the father of Greek didactic poetry,'' identified Magog with the Scythians and southern Russia in the 7th century B.C.


Ezekiel 38




¹ The word of the LORD came to me: ² "Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him ³ and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. ⁴ And I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great host, all of them with buckler and shield, wielding swords. ⁵ Persia, Cush, and Put are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; ⁶ Gomer and all his hordes; Beth-togarmah from the uttermost parts of the north with all his hordes— many peoples are with you.
 

⁷ "Be ready and keep ready, you and all your hosts that are assembled about you, and be a guard for them. ⁸ After many days you will be mustered. In the latter years you will go against the land that is restored from war, the land whose people were gathered from many peoples upon the mountains of Israel, which had been a continual waste. Its people were brought out from the peoples and now dwell securely, all of them. ⁹ You will advance, coming on like a storm. You will be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your hordes, and many peoples with you.

¹⁰ "Thus says the Lord GOD: On that day, thoughts will come into your mind, and you will devise an evil scheme ¹¹ and say, 'I will go up against the land of unwalled villages. I will fall upon the quiet people who dwell securely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having no bars or gates,' ¹² to seize spoil and carry off plunder, to turn your hand against the waste places that are now inhabited, and the people who were gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell at the center of the earth. ¹³ Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all its leaders will say to you, 'Have you come to seize spoil? Have you assembled your hosts to carry off plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to seize great spoil?'

¹⁴ "Therefore, son of man, prophesy, and say to Gog, Thus says the Lord GOD: On that day when my people Israel are dwelling securely, will you not know it? ¹⁵ You will come from your place out of the uttermost parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great host, a mighty army. ¹⁶ You will come up against my people Israel, like a cloud covering the land. In the latter days I will bring you against my land, that the nations may know me, when through you, O Gog, I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.

¹⁷ "Thus says the Lord GOD: Are you he of whom I spoke in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel, who in those days prophesied for years that I would bring you against them? ¹⁸ But on that day, the day that Gog shall come against the land of Israel, declares the Lord GOD, my wrath will be roused in my anger. ¹⁹ For in my jealousy and in my blazing wrath I declare, On that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. ²⁰ The fish of the sea and the birds of the heavens and the beasts of the field and all creeping things that creep on the ground, and all the people who are on the face of the earth, shall quake at my presence. And the mountains shall be thrown down, and the cliffs shall fall, and every wall shall tumble to the ground. ²¹ I will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Lord GOD. Every man’s sword will be against his brother. ²² With pestilence and bloodshed I will enter into judgment with him, and I will rain upon him and his hordes and the many peoples who are with him torrential rains and hailstones, fire and sulfur. ²³ So I will show my greatness and my holiness and make myself known in the eyes of many nations.

Then they will know that I am the LORD.

Theologians wonder if this attack Ezekiel was speaking of was after the return from the second Exodus. It is not recorded.

 Matthew Henry and other theologians believe this war will occur in the last days of Revelation.

(In the 'Anne of Green Gables' series, I loved as a tween, the grown Anne has Chinese book ends on her mantle she names Gog and Magog. I never understood the reference, but it is like Abraham, the enemies - troubles of life will be defeated in the blessing of God's favor.)

TROUBLE is part of life. We can all be interested in the cause and outcome of Trouble.

What is the cause of trouble?

James 4:1
What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 

Proverbs 27:4 
Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?

 A nation, with vast resources behind them, with elaborate plans. The outcome?  

Proverbs 16:9 
The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps James 1:20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God

 Psalm 37:8 
Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper--it only leads to harm.

We can also see plotting in anger and letting anger get a way from us as a destructive force, with the victim being the instigator.  

Luke 12:58  
As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison.  


Psalm 141:3
Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.

 Psalm 37:8-9 
Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

<><

 

Psalm 3 ~ you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head

Psalm 3

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible


O LORD, how many are my foes!
Many are rising against me;
² many are saying of my soul,
there is no salvation for him in God.
Selah

³ But you, O LORD, are a shield about me,
my glory, and the lifter of my head.
⁴ I cried aloud to the LORD,
and he answered me from his holy hill.
Selah

⁵ I lay down and slept;
I woke again, for the LORD sustained me.
⁶ I will not be afraid of many thousands of people
who have set themselves against me all around.

⁷ Arise, O LORD!
Save me, O my God!
For you strike all my enemies on the cheek;
you break the teeth of the wicked.

⁸ Salvation belongs to the LORD;
your blessing be on your people!
Selah

Psalm 3 has an unusual meaning for me. The day I gave birth to our daughter, we knew she had a life ending medical condition called Trisomy 13. And as week 33 began, labor began. We arrived at the hospital and I could feel Isabelle kicking. But as we waited in the labor room, an ultra-sound revealed, an hour later, no heartbeat for tiny 3 pound Isabelle.

Psalm 3 reminds me of the friends from Church who waited with us in the labor room, as I was heavily medicated, for her birth. I slept soundly and was so very sad, but not worried. I had my loving, caring husband and friends to watch with me to see Isabelle. And as she was born, we knew from the smile on tiny, beautiful Isabelle's face - the utter peace. Isabelle had the Lord to be the lifter of her head. Salvation came that day. Not as her parents hoped, but an eternal salvation of joy and peace for Isabelle. Selah.


Hebrews 2:14-15
Because God's children are human beings--made of flesh and blood--the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. And deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.


<><

Luke 11:29-32 ~ Rise up

Abstract of the painting Pierro Della Francesca did of the Meeting of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba in 1466.


Luke 11:29-32

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

²⁹ When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, "This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. ³⁰ For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.

³¹ The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. ³² The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.


Jonah and the Queen of Sheba. What did God call them to do in their lives? Jonah, prophet and man of God, was determined to use his free will and to escape the will of God to preach repentance to his enemy Assyria. The Queen of the Sheba was determined to meet Solomon and learn of his wisdom in ruling. Jonah was running from and the Queen of Sheba was working at her job - ruling. The Scriptures say her agenda book said learn everything you can from King Solomon.

Jonah was swept up by the Holy Spirit and put on the correct path. The Queen of Sheba was swept past the glories of the kingdom and the king - to understanding the real power of God.

People fear the Lord will send them around the world to be a missionary in horrible circumstance. Jonah. It is the Fear. And the best case scenario is the Queen of Sheba. We know Jonah's name, but not the Queen. God says the difference wasn't their occupation - it was internal.

The world has many legends of the Queen of Sheba. The Scripture says it was religious revival. The history of Ethiopia has a hidden Ark of the Covenant, today, and the Hebrew language was the official language of Ethiopia during the same time gold was being mined in Ethiopia in copious amounts.

For both of these people - the power of the LORD caused them to rise up. Beyond their moment to moment desires and to see, with awe and renewal, what the Power of God is. Jonah was still a man of God, continuing to work for the LORD, but more willing to allow His choices. The Queen of Sheba was still a queen, but more willing to be open to God's decisions for her.

God did not change them from their path, or their walk, He asked them to be open to being a child of God. To rise up to seeing, help work towards, the Higher Good. Using their God-given talents, repenting of wrong/selfish desires, and walk in the paths He gave them. Their lives changed in more depth - reaching to eternity - than in the course of what they were doing. An enormous change, soul deep. Such deep, soul deep changes within them, Jesus would speak of Jonah and the Queen of Sheba a millennium later.


Mark 12:24
Jesus replied, "Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?

1 Corinthians 1:18
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.


<><

Psalm 101 ~ sing of steadfast love and justice

Our lives should walk with Jesus.


Psalm 101


English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible


¹ I will sing of steadfast love and justice;
to you, O LORD, I will make music.
² I will ponder the way that is blameless.
Oh when will you come to me?
I will walk with integrity of heart
within my house;
³ I will not set before my eyes
anything that is worthless.
I hate the work of those who fall away;
it shall not cling to me.
⁴ A perverse heart shall be far from me;
I will know nothing of evil.

⁵ Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly
I will destroy.
Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart
I will not endure.

⁶I will look with favor on the faithful in the land,
that they may dwell with me;
he who walks in the way that is blameless
shall minister to me.

⁷ No one who practices deceit
shall dwell in my house;
no one who utters lies
shall continue before my eyes.

⁸ Morning by morning I will destroy
all the wicked in the land,
cutting off all the evildoers
from the city of the LORD.

Just as the life of Abraham was remembered to be faithful, we remember Abraham thought fulfilling God's plan was up to his own efforts. Isaac knew God would name all of Abraham's offspring through him, but he planned to bless only one son. Jacob would be renamed Israel, but Jacob was a worrier and a plotter. Joseph was a bragger as well as blessed one. Moses was a murderer and a stutterer, not just the man, the adopted child, who received God's name. Rahab was immoral. And faithful as David's great-grandmother. Gideon was poor, brave, courageous and foolish in old age. Samson was a deceiver and a destroyer as well as a Judge of Israel. Peter was impulsive and loving. Martha a worrier. The woman at the well was ashamed and eager to find the Lord.

Hebrews 11:1-3
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.


Ephesians 2:8
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,


<><

Jeremiah 35 ~ living in Jerusalem

Jeremiah 35

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible


1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: 2 "Go to the house of the Rechabites and speak with them and bring them to the house of the LORD, into one of the chambers; then offer them wine to drink." 3 So I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, son of Habazziniah and his brothers and all his sons and the whole house of the Rechabites. 4 I brought them to the house of the LORD into the chamber of the sons of Hanan the son of Igdaliah, the man of God, which was near the chamber of the officials, above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, keeper of the threshold. 5 Then I set before the Rechabites pitchers full of wine, and cups, and I said to them, "Drink wine." 6 But they answered, "We will drink no wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, 'You shall not drink wine, neither you nor your sons forever. 7 You shall not build a house; you shall not sow seed; you shall not plant or have a vineyard; but you shall live in tents all your days, that you may live many days in the land where you sojourn.' 8 We have obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he commanded us, to drink no wine all our days, ourselves, our wives, our sons, or our daughters, 9 and not to build houses to dwell in. We have no vineyard or field or seed, 10 but we have lived in tents and have obeyed and done all that Jonadab our father commanded us. 11 But when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against the land, we said, 'Come, and let us go to Jerusalem for fear of the army of the Chaldeans and the army of the Syrians.' So we are living in Jerusalem."

12 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: 13 "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Go and say to the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will you not receive instruction and listen to my words? declares the LORD. 14 The command that Jonadab the son of Rechab gave to his sons, to drink no wine, has been kept, and they drink none to this day, for they have obeyed their father’s command. I have spoken to you persistently, but you have not listened to me. 15 I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, sending them persistently, saying, 'Turn now every one of you from his evil way, and amend your deeds, and do not go after other gods to serve them, and then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to you and your fathers.' But you did not incline your ear or listen to me. 16 The sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have kept the command that their father gave them, but this people has not obeyed me. 17 Therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing upon Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the disaster that I have pronounced against them, because I have spoken to them and they have not listened, I have called to them and they have not answered."

18 But to the house of the Rechabites Jeremiah said, "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Because you have obeyed the command of Jonadab your father and kept all his precepts and done all that he commanded you, 19 therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Jonadab the son of Rechab shall never lack a man to stand before me."


One of the things the nation of Israel says today - that all the religions of Jews, Muslims and Christians - all are welcome in Israel to worship God, see and make pilgrimages to the historical sites of the Scriptures. Jerusalem is open to all faiths. And they are correct. Traveling the Nile is being changed, in Egypt, to becoming a pilgrimage of Muslims only. Not all Muslim countries allow pilgrimages of other faiths.

How would the house of Rechabites know whether to listen to Jeremiah in the house of God telling them to drink wine or to remember their oath. It would be confusing living during those moments. Coming war had driven them from a nomadic state to the city. The oath to the father, to be pure, is more important than the invitation to live for the moment or to sympathize with a prophet of God in the Lord's house.

Adversity is as defining as blessing. Solomon wrote the day of adversity is as from the Lord as well.

The way wasn't clearly cut, but the Rechabites listened not to the moment or the political environment or an unpopular prophet or to merely dismissed his offer for political gain. They didn't curry favor with a man of God and they did not work against him by declining his offer to appeal more to the king - who disfavored Jeremiah. God weighted the hearts and minds of the Rechabites and found their motives to be to His liking.

I like this passage. It is not always easy to determine what is the best path in given circumstance swiftly moving. But prayer for guidance and relying upon the Lord directs one to the next step.

Matthew 25:23
"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.


<><

Psalm 7 ~ test the minds and hearts

Psalm 7

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

1 O LORD my God, in you do I take refuge;
save me from all my pursuers and deliver me,
2 lest like a lion they tear my soul apart,
rending it in pieces, with none to deliver.

3 O LORD my God, if I have done this,
if there is wrong in my hands,
4 if I have repaid my friend [ the one at peace with me] with evil
or plundered my enemy without cause,
5 let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it,
and let him trample my life to the ground
and lay my glory in the dust.
Selah

6 Arise, O LORD, in your anger;
lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies;
awake for me; you have appointed a judgment.
7 Let the assembly of the peoples be gathered about you;
over it return on high.

8 The LORD judges the peoples;
judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness
and according to the integrity that is in me.
9 Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end,
and may you establish the righteous—
you who test the minds and hearts,
O righteous God!
10 My shield is with God,
who saves the upright in heart.
11 God is a righteous judge,
and a God who feels indignation every day.

12 If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword;
he has bent and readied his bow;
13 he has prepared for him his deadly weapons,
making his arrows fiery shafts.
14 Behold, the wicked man conceives evil
and is pregnant with mischief
and gives birth to lies.
15 He makes a pit, digging it out,
and falls into the hole that he has made.
16 His mischief returns upon his own head,
and on his own skull his violence descends.

17 I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness,
and I will sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High.


This is a song David sang to the Lord about Saul. Saul falsely accused David of being a traitor, when actually Saul was gripped with fear knowing the anointing of God had left Saul. David believes only God alone could judge each man. And trouble has an ending when put before the Lord.

Perhaps for us today, we can look at our enemies as our own destructive habits. Believe God sees what drives those habits and we ask for His forgiveness and look forward in expectation to God's help. Not merely our own strength, but relying upon His grace. God is steadfast and holy in His love for us. In this context, we become whole with God.

Ultimately the goal of each life following the LORD, is to mirror the light of Jesus Christ. When we compare this Psalm to the life of Jesus, we see that harm was intended by the Roman officials, the Temple elite acting for the darkness of evil. Instead Jesus was not forgotten by Roman officials, the Temple did not continue, darkness was given the most trouble eternity had ever seen and the Light of Jesus still shines. The Church of Jesus continues today! Believers place their trust in Him ~ living, active, moving and pervasive in His believers today!

1 Timothy 3:16
Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:
He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.



<><

Matthew 9:18-26 ~ your faith

Matthew 9:18-26

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible


18 While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, "My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live."

19 And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. 20 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, 21 for she said to herself, "If I only touch his garment, I will be made well." 22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, "Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well." And instantly [from that hour] the woman was made well.

23 And when Jesus came to the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, 24 he said, "Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him. 25 But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. 26 And the report of this went through all that district.





We Cry Holy, by Casting Crowns




<><

Luke 11:1-4 ~ Jesus was praying

“Head of Christ, done from life.” Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn's mid career religious (1650s) scenes depict a Jewish Jesus, to be known personally.



Luke 11:1-4

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

¹Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." ² And he said to them,

"When you pray, say: "Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. ³ Give us each day our daily bread [or our bread for tomorrow], ⁴ and forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation."

My first thought when coming to this Scripture passage is to wonder why the passage stops (Your will be done on Heaven and on earth) and does not continue with.... deliver us from evil for thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory. Amen.

Okay.... Jesus never did say the other portions. But it was my first thought. Amen is, of course, Your will be done. No need to repeat it twice. Jesus didn't say once God's will be done, Jesus was living daily the Father's will. Hallowed is His Father - so the Kingdom, the power and the glory are undoubted His.

Jesus asked God not lead us into temptation. Yet where is this temptation coming from?

Matthew 18:7
"Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!"

Jesus is not saying God tempts us in a human way. God allows circumstance. Solomon said the day of adversity is from the hand of God as the day of blessing. We are defined by our choices. It is part of life to have difficulties and to make decisions. Psalm 7 says God tests our Spirit. He expects good from us.

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

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Man's spirit is human. We pray for God to help us escape temptation. I'd imagine when we pray for deliverance from evil - we are merely clarifying for ourselves we agree God does not tempt us.

And it says Jesus was praying in a specific place. He was on that day. Jesus prayed in lonely places, Jesus prayed out loud, Jesus prayed as He healed. Jesus did not have to say an Amen, because it was an ongoing conversation.

There isn't a more perfect posture or place to the Lord.

Eyes open - John 11:41
Shout Ezra 3:11-14
Sing - Psalm 100:4
Loud voice - Acts 7:60
Standing - 1 Kings 8:22
Kneeling - 1 Kings 8:51
Speak with no sound - I Samuel 1:7-10
Face on ground - 2 Chronicles 7:3
Walk - 2 Kings 4:33-35
Squat/bow down - 1 Kings 18:42/ Psalm 95:6
Dance - 2 Samuel 6:14-16
Bow head - Isaiah 58:5
Raise hands in praise - Psalm 134:2
With two or more - Matthew 18:19

In expectation - Matthew 21:21
With persistence - Luke 11:8
In hope, always - Luke 18:1

Jesus always knew His Father heard Him and was eager to be in conversation with Him. Just as our Father is today for you and for me.



Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.


1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

When we pray what Protestants call The Lord's Prayer and Catholics call the Our Father, or Pater Noster, I am praying the Book of Common Prayer - Anglican - from the year 1662. Which version speaks to you? I'm happy to pray the below prayer with you. (Remember time is not an obstacle with God!)

Our Father, which art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done,
in earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.


I always wanted to know - why have we added on to Jesus' prayer - we are acknowledging we need additional words because we are not perfectly living God's will as sinners. We acknowledge we do not understand God as well as Jesus does. Really, we are exalting Jesus as God. The Lord's prayer encompasses a framework of praise, provision, forgiveness given, forgiveness required and a blessing of peace and protection. Surrounded with the idea that whatever is God's will for us - we will live out with praise for Him. Asking Him to work His will, as in Heaven, in our lives. Great for corporate worship. As we speak to our Father, we need more conversation springing from the framework like a tree. Remember Jesus said to us not to repeat empty phrases heaped up like the Gentiles. God loves you, be at peace!



<><

Psalm 126 ~ when the Lord restored

Psalm 126

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dream.
² Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then they said among the nations,
"The LORD has done great things for them."
³ The LORD has done great things for us;
we are glad.

⁴ Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like streams in the Negeb!
⁵ Those who sow in tears
shall reap with shouts of joy!
⁶ He who goes out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him.

Restoration. Not just thrown out and replaced. To be made new with effort and valued. Something of beauty. What the Lord has in store for those who love Him.

You see things; and you say "Why?" But I dream things that never were; and I say "Why not?"
~ George Bernard Shaw

Psalm 33:18
Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love

Psalm 39:7
And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you

Matthew 12:21
and in his name the Gentiles will hope


<><

Matthew 19:1-15 ~ your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so

Matthew 19:1-15



¹ Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. ² And large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.

³ And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, "Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?" ⁴ He answered, "Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, ⁵ and said, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? ⁶ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate." ⁷ They said to him, "Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?" ⁸ He said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. ⁹ And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery." [Some manuscripts add and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery; other manuscripts except for sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.]

¹⁰ The disciples said to him, "If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry."

^{Last Supper, painted by Jappo Bassano (b. 1515, Italian, d. 1592)}

¹¹ But he said to them, "Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. ¹² For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it."

¹³ Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, ¹⁴ but Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." ¹⁵ And he laid his hands on them and went away.


Latin traditor, from tradere to hand over, deliver, betray. The Roman Emperor Valerian (his photo on the his coin below, c. 253–260 A.D.) did the best he could to destroy all New Testament Scripture. The early traditions of the Church say the word traitor originated with the clergy and lay people tortured to hand over any Scripture to the Emperor and worship him. It became one of the first heresies of the Church saying the traitors were not to be forgiven, the clergy and Church worked on forgiveness during a time of death for worshiping Jesus Christ.

Still... isn't it interesting how the disciples weren't meek Sunday School lambs accepting all of Jesus' words with halos and earnest expressions. And add more interesting to it, the next words from Jesus are Him spending time with loving children. Perhaps Jesus felt a need for fresh air when He went to the Children. It is a fascinating combination of parables.

Consider - Jesus is indeed preaching to the Choir. If the DISCIPLES are not thrilled with hearing divorce isn't Las Vegas style, then who today will cheer about the commitment of marriage. In Europe and in the United States, there are many, many marriages never made because children are increasingly born out of wedlock.

What Jesus is saying is something we should practice as Children of God. When we say to our spouse, we are saying to our children and our family - you matter to me in more ways than my moment to moment happiness. When I ask myself, "How am I?" I have a very satisfying answer - I am building the futures of my children that will effect my grandchildren and, very possibly, my great-grandchildren. I am building up my spouse. And the good news goes further to say - I am building up myself.

I know this from living it - my dad chose to be happy and left us. And I mean left us. We did not know where he lived as the divorce proceedings took place. We knew where he worked and his attorney had contact, but we were not supposed to contact him. It has effected the way my mother values my children and my brother's children. It has effected the way we value my mom and she values us. One of the consequences of being a divorced family, the married families' traditions are much more important than the split family divorced one's from the past. My mom went to the funeral of an old, old friend yesterday to find the married families still remain close. Not the single spouse.

But the old friend had many job losses. Many failed business adventures. People joked about the old friend and said he had some ways that were foolish and feeble almost all his life. But the old friend had many, many old friends arrive - not to applaud his worldly success. But people cried. For their friend and the loss of his kindness. For the husband. For their dad. For their father-in-law. He was a man who built others up. I am today comparing this funeral to the one I went to where the man was a 90 year old business success without one tear for him.

So... again.... it is very interesting Jesus chose to go to the Children next.

Our minister   says in his sermons - that people come up to him to say - but you don't know my spouse. The troubled marriages who agree they are to remain together for life - find in 5 years they report - it is a good marriage again. Stick with it. God knows.




<><

Proverbs 17:17-18:5 ~ a discerning man

Proverbs 17:17-18:5

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

17 A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity.
18 One who lacks sense gives a pledge
and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.
19 Whoever loves transgression loves strife;
he who makes his door high seeks destruction.
20 A man of crooked heart does not discover good,
and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.

21 He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow,
and the father of a fool has no joy.

22 A joyful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
23 The wicked accepts a bribe in secret
to pervert the ways of justice.
24 The discerning sets his face toward wisdom,
but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

25 A foolish son is a grief to his father
and bitterness to her who bore him.

26 To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good,
nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.

27 Whoever restrains his words has knowledge,
and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise;
when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

Proverbs 18

Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire;
he breaks out against all sound judgment.

2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
but only in expressing his opinion.
3 When wickedness comes, contempt comes also,
and with dishonor comes disgrace.

4 The words of a man's mouth are deep waters;
the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5 It is not good to be partial to the wicked
or to deprive the righteous of justice.

Did any of the verses resonate in you?

We are blessed ... when Scripture speaks to our lives, even when it is uncomfortable.

My husband & I did a Biblical word study on success being a gift of God, about 5 years ago. It annoyed a few people, because sometimes success is aloof from effort. Other times we like to feel as if we've done it by ourselves. Sometimes we have contempt for people who aren't trying hard enough, resting on faith alone.

Then there are the times we want to justify our indifference to suffering. We have all stood on different squares of life's checker board.

We went around the room and read out loud several verses. Sometimes the verses we read aloud were irritating to the person reading it. When we read Scripture that annoys us, it is the opportunity to see if there isn't higher wisdom we should put our hands out and ask for mercy, for wisdom. Sometimes we are stung because we feel it is unjust. Still time to ask for help and mercy.

A discerning man keeps wisdom in view,
but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth.

We are blessed when Scripture speaks to our lives, even when it is uncomfortable. The Scriptures don't just point out the ways others should be behave, but speak to us individually.

Hebrews 12:6
For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child. As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?


<><

John 15:12-27 ~ The Spirit of Truth

John 15:12-27

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’

26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.

Genesis 1:

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.


Acts 2:
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. They persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.

This lists the fate of the formerly fearful apostles of Jesus:

SIMON, GIVEN THE NAME PETER ~ Peter worked among the Jews before he eventually reached Rome, where he was the first bishop. Along with the Apostle Paul, he may have been executed around AD64 during the persecutions of Emperor Nero, or later in AD67. Apparently he was crucified, head-down, at his own request. Later church archaeology found that St. Peter's in Rome was built over his grave. This article is complete with photographs.

JAMES, SON OF ZEBEDEE - A FISHERMAN ~ During the persecutions of Herod Agrippa I, King of the Jews, in c AD44, the apostle James was beheaded - Before his death, James the Greater as he is known to distinguish him from James, son of Alphaeus, preached in Jerusalem and Judea, modern Israel. A later Spanish tradition is that James preached the Gospel there sometime before his death.

The Synagogue of Capernaum has pillar with the name Zebedee and his son's James and John - disciples of Jesus.

Acts 12:1-2 - "It was at this time (of great famine, possibly around AD44) that King Herod laid violent hands on some of the Church members. James, John's brother, he executed with the sword ....."

JOHN, BROTHER OF JAMES and SON OF ZEBEDEE - A FISHERMAN ~ According to John's Gospel (19:26-27), it was John who took Mary, the mother of Jesus, as his adopted mother. He preached in Jerusalem, and later, as bishop of Ephesus, south of Izmir in western Turkey, worked among the churches of Asia Minor. During the reigns of either Emperor Nero (AD54-68) or Domitian (AD81-96), he was banished to the nearby island of Patmos, now one of the Greek islands in the Aegean Sea. He was subsequently freed and died a natural death at Ephesus c. AD 100.

PHILIP ~ Philip preached the Gospel in Phrygia (west central Turkey) before dying or being martyred there at Hieropolis.

BARTHOLOMEW, also NATHANAEL ~ The missionary work of Bartholomew is linked with Armenia (present day Armenia, eastern Turkey, northern Iraq, north western Iran) and India. Other locations include Egypt, Arabia, Ethiopia and Persia (Iran). Traditionally he met his death by being flayed or skinned alive, and then beheaded. Derbent, north of present day Baku on the Caspian Sea may have been his place of martyrdom. Recent archaeological findings, Scripture written by Bartholomew, in India place 2nd century gospel carried in by Bartholomew.

THOMAS DIDYMUS - 'DOUBTING THOMAS' ~ Thomas may have labored for the Gospel in Parthia (including modern Iraq and Iran), but stronger traditions link him with southern India. Indian Christians from the west coast Kerala area claim they were evangelized by Thomas, who was later speared to death near Madras on the east coast. Mount St. Thomas, close to Madras is associated with his name.

MATTHEW, also LEVI - TAX-COLLECTOR/PUBLICAN ~ Nothing definite is known of Matthew's career. After preaching in Judea, different traditions place his missionary work and possible martyrdom in Ethiopia or Persia. The first Gospel of the New Testament from the earliest times been attributed to Matthew.

JAMES, SON OF ALPHAEUS ~ Known as James the Less, to distinguish him from James the Greater, son of Zebedee, but more likely because of his smaller stature than his relative importance. He, and Jude, should not be confused with James and Jude (or Judas), the brothers of Jesus. Most commentators treat them as separate sets of brothers. Tradition claims he first worked in Israel before preaching and martyrdom in Egypt.

JUDE, also THADDAEUS ~ Jude is also confused in some sources with Jude, one of the brothers of Jesus. He may have preached in Assyria (eastern Iraq) and Persia (Iran), before joining with Simon the Zealot and being killed with him in Persia.

SIMON THE ZEALOT or PATRIOT ~ Simon is referred to both as the "Cananaean" and the "Zealot". The titles may refer to him being "zealous", or to his membership of one of the Jewish revolutionary movements known as Zealots. One tradition is that he first preached in Egypt, before joining Jude and traveling to Persia, where both were martyred. Simon may have been crucified or hacked to death.

MATTHIAS ~ As a disciple from the time of Jesus' baptism through to his death and resurrection, and possibly one of the 72 sent out to preach and heal, Matthias was chosen by prayer and the drawing of lots to replace Judas Iscariot as the twelfth apostle, Acts 1:15-26. No more is heard of him in the New Testament, and the various traditions are made more confusing because of the similarity of his name to Matthew's. He may have preached and been martyred in Ethiopia, Other traditions place him in Judea, and later Cappadocia (eastern Turkey) and the Caspian Sea area.

PAUL OR SAUL OF TARSUS ~ Paul traveled widely, made at least three major missionary journeys, wrote many letters of which thirteen still exist, and his life and work is touched upon in a variety of ways in his letters. On returning to Jerusalem after his third journey, he was arrested and during his subsequent trials, as a Roman citizen "appealed to Caesar" for judgement - all covered by Acts 21-26. Chapters 27 and 28 then describe Paul's voyage and journey to Rome in fascinating nautical detail. The Catholic Church researched for 20 years the stumbled upon bones in St. Paul's . After careful research, the bones St. Paul in the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, were declared to be Paul's.

For some two years after his arrival in Rome, he was under house-arrest, before possibly being executed in the persecutions of Emperor Nero that followed the burning of Rome in AD64.

However, there are strong traditions that on appeal to the Emperor on what was a Jewish religious charge, he was acquitted. He remained free for perhaps three years, revisiting Ephesus and other churches, and even going as far as Spain, before being re-arrested and sentenced to death. In his cell, he wrote his last letter - the Second Letter to Timothy - before execution around the year AD67.

Archaeologists say he was beheaded at a place now called Tre Fontane in Rome, and that the church of St. Paul stands over his grave.

The apocryphal "Acts of Paul" describe Paul as "a man small of stature, with a bald head and crooked legs, in a good state of body, with eyebrows meeting and nose somewhat hooked, full of friendliness; for now he appeared like a man, and now he had the face of an angel!"

These people walked with Jesus, our Christ. The Scriptures report that some left all behind them and followed Him, merely from meeting Him one afternoon. While they coward behind locked doors upon the arrest & death of Jesus, they came out and taught in the Temple itself after Jesus returned from death to them. They carried on after beating and imprisonment. Even Roman historians record amazement the followers still proclaimed Jesus as Messiah after His resurrection. It's interesting to remember Luke, Timothy, Mark, Lazarus, Mary Magdalene, Martha and John all lived to be very old. They were not among the disciples who fled from Jesus during His Sacrifice. Peter was told he would die a martyr, by Jesus, but continued to feed to love Him and feed His sheep. Peter counted the cost and cast it aside in the great joy of walking with Jesus.






<><

Romans 15:4-13 ~ Rejoice! Again and again!

Romans 15:4-13

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

⁴ For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. ⁵ May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, ⁶ that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁷ Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

⁸ For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, ⁹ and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, "Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name."

¹⁰ And again it is said,

"Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people."

¹¹ And again,

"Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
and let all the peoples extol him."

¹² And again Isaiah says,

"The root of Jesse will come,
even he who arises to rule the Gentiles;
in him will the Gentiles hope."

¹³ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Hello Father God,
Thank you for gathering together new and old friends. When we forgive each other, we broaden our horizons. When we gather together to know each other's cares and put the effort into fellowship - we enrich all the lives we touch. Thank You for the opportunity to fellowship with others who love You.

Thank You for the blessings that are sunshine on our backs, warming us. To know in this season of change we all are touched by our children as we hope for them to have the best new opportunities. To be comforted to know we all miss them. As we trust You with our lives and the lives of our children. To wonder with expectation and hope at the future.

Bless the children with many opportunities. Bless the parents who are both glad and sad. Comfort the lonely, calm the stressed, strengthen what is wobbly, empower the good, subdue what is doubtful, light the path and help us to walk it. With joy and expectation, we call on You, Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit. Amen.

<><

John 1:47-51 ~ you will see greater things than these

John 1:47-51

 English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!" 48 Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." 49 Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" 50 Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these." 51 And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man." 1 Corinthians 2:9 As it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him” — Mark 14:62 "I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."

<><

Matthew 6:25-34 ~ do not be anxious

Change

Matthew 6:25-34

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible


25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.


My husband & I traveled last week to Augusta, Georgia for the National Championship for the Professional Disc Golf Association. We were up very early and fog was coming up, with a little rain as we traveled down the rural highway to Wildwood Park. As we traveled, we notice some dead pine trees. I asked my husband if Georgia had some drought like the record drought and wildfires of our area of Houston. We noticed some yellowing in the trees. I cried out - "Oh no, they've had drought too!" Thankfully no, Georgia was experiencing the beginning of fall, the trees barely touched with red and gold.

Change - Life is a lot like being in the Mississippi River, we are pushed by tremendous forces we cannot see or control. We have eddies and resting places, we convince ourselves that now we in control. We have life in our own boundaries. But the people we love - move, they age, they change - we change. The things, the places, the people we love are not within our grasp, our vision… forever.

Change cause us to grow. Like faith.

Matthew 13:32
It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.

Rick Warren points out in the book he co-authored called "40 Days of Love" that permanent change requires changing beliefs first. "Trying to change behavior without changing beliefs is a waste of time. Say I have a boat on auto pilot headed north. If I want it to head south, I have two options: I could wrestle the steering wheel or (the better way) change the auto pilot. Change always starts in the mind. "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Rom. 12:2). The Bible teaches clearly that the way we think affects the way we feel, and the way we feel affects the way we act."

It's difficult to achieve the peace Matthew 6 tells us we can have. Jesus summed in up in
John 14:1
Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

Father God, be with us as life changes. Prepare us to do the good works You have planned for us. Help us to rely upon You in courage and in the hope Your plans always involve a working towards good. We ask in the highest name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

<><