Colossians 2 ~ If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations—

1 Corinthians 3:8

He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 9 For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.

Colossians 2

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.


16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

Bible Study and digging into His Word keeps us replenished.

If you live in the Southern United States, you understand - especially today - the water mark can show drought. The River Jordan has no such water mark.

Where does our Bible Study begin - at the Source - with HIM. And we must appreciate this - I recently saw a Church marquee that said, "He appreciates effort, not wishes." I frankly do not agree. We are a soul wrapped by a perishable body. Our being is Spiritual. We sit with HIM and expectantly at our core - our soul - our prayers express to Father God who we really are. He does not wish us to hide from Him as HE created us to be transparent to Him.

With this in mind, we begin our Bible Study. Digging into His Word.


For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Paul struggled to present the Holy Spirit. We struggle each day saying, here are my open hands, my desires, my ministry, the people I love, like and care to pray for. Norman Vincent Peale had a great remark he frequently repeated "If you have trouble - rejoice - you are alive."

Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Matthew 6:11
Give us this day our daily bread

I frequently shorten Jesus' prayer to Give Us the Day. My abbreviation for - this is the day the Lord has Made. Give Thanks. Who is our daily bread but Jesus? The Bread of Life.

What would God mostly say to us - be encouraged, knit others together in love. The full assurance - understanding - knowledge of God's mystery. He fully, completely and totally sees, understands and loves you. As His Child. His Beloved. And, let's be frank, we are frankly mystified that anyone who fully sees us - Loves us!!! I personally think the great mystery is Wow! He loves us!!!

4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

We read this is His Word:

1 Peter 4:12
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

We see all the time in our media with satellite imagery that the world has struggle, fiery ordeals and we drive in .... traffic.

We should daily be surprised and delighted instead with - awe, amazement, wonder - That God Believes we are part of HIS good order and He firmly has Faith His Son came for us for Very Good Reason. W

6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

What can we give to the LORD, other than Thanksgiving? All of our gifts are from Him. Well, okay - transparency - complaining - struggling. Digging. And not being the whiny Children of Israel.

Not being the people secretly angry with Him.

Joel 3
“What are you to me, O Tyre and Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Are you paying me back for something? If you are paying me back, I will return your payment on your own head swiftly and speedily. 5 For you have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried my rich treasures into your temples."

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.

God has created us to be transparent. He sees our complaints. We sometimes get bored with our own complaints. That's, frankly, a miraculous blessing. And then other times we, as Christians, have the 'root of bitterness' rise up. God is not unaware of the word anger. Anger appears a lot in Scripture. God wants us to reach up. To Him. For the high road. He just isn't asking us to be fake or insincere. Be yourself. Then reach up to HIM. We do Not sustain Him. He Sustains us. We do not exist to serve others. We exist to be in relationship with HIM and then take that light to others. This is a struggle.

To repeat, as God does in Scripture a lot:

you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.

Recheck. HE sustains us. Notice with me this is first person. God, Almighty, Creator of the Universe. The Alpha. The Omega. Is concerned with one person here - you. God is telling us there is a powerful working here - you. And HIM. He is not fumbling around. God loves.... you.

This is the great TA DA - The Victory:

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

The Victory continues. This living Word is written to you. Singular. To you. His child.

16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:16
Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst

God tells us we should look to ourselves  - esteem ourselves  - in our words, actions, attitudes - He values us. God does not see us as slouches.

8 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.


I, very personally, and with verve proclaim, - I'm against asceticism - suffering for goodness. And I believe we are the Body of Jesus Christ. We gently proclaim our virtues and do not insist our gifts be worshiped. While saying - I matter - I'm a Child of GOD. It's not all about me. But I matter to HIM.

20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

If life were up to me, I'd be a poor deity; we might only have donuts. And that is not the Bread of Life. We work to bring talents to the table and recognize He is the Bread of Life. We are supplements. You might be broccoli. You might be apples, but HE is the Bread of Life.

I fully realize this is a very weak analogy. I apologize. The full analogy is that we need to dig into God's Word. Bring our attitudes, heart, soul, mind, work, desires to HIS Table. To be who we are in gratitude. To admit freely to Him - I'm not the best I could be - but I surely - with my heart and soul and entire being desire to be Part of YOU. Dear Father God.

Peter and John looked bodily into the eyes of  God's Only Son. And Peter said this. John recorded this.

John 6:68
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."

Light of God. Jesus Christ the Lord. Dwell in me. Raised me, in faith, in the powerful working of God this day and always. Amen.

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Psalm 8 ~ When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place

 Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge Mount Pleasant and Charleston SC

Proverbs 38:16-20
“Have you entered into the springs of the sea,
    or walked in the recesses of the deep?
 Have the gates of death been revealed to you,
    or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?
 Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth?
    Declare, if you know all this.

 “Where is the way to the dwelling of light,
    and where is the place of darkness,
 that you may take it to its territory
    and that you may discern the paths to its home?

Proverbs 38:12-13
Have you commanded the morning since your days began,
and caused the dawn to know its place,
that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth

Psalm 8

O 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?

5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under his feet,
7 all sheep and oxen,
and also the beasts of the field,
8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,
whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

9 O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!


And all I ask is a tall ship
and a star to steer her by,
John Masefeild wrote.

There are days, aspects of life, when the wind lifts your hair. God is in His Heaven - all is right in the world. Seasons of joy. Far better are the days when our internal compass points much farther.

Philippians 2:9-11
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,  so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Job 11:7
Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?

Job 22:12
Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!

Job 11:8
They are higher than the heavens above--what can you do? They are deeper than the depths below--what can you know?

Job 35:5
Look up at the heavens and see; gaze at the clouds so high above you.

Proverbs 30:5
Every word of God proves true;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

Job 40 

 And the Lord said to Job:

 “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty?
    He who argues with God, let him answer it.”

Job 40
32 Behind him he leaves a shining wake;

one would think the deep to be white-haired.

33 On earth there is not his like,

a creature without fear.

34 He sees everything that is high;

he is king over all the sons of pride.”


When a rock is thrown into water, rings of energy result. What does that wake Jesus gives us say?

Psalm 23:6
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.

1 Thessalonians 3:11-13
Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, 12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.


Jesus is the One who is Good. Those who met Him left behind pleasant ways of life. Home. Hearth. And lives were made richer in meaningful thoughts.

What drew them to Jesus? One of the most astonishing aspects of Jesus is found in the first chapter of the Gospel of John. Jesus called and they knew Him to be God.

1 John 4:19
We love because he first loved us.

John 1:5
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

1 John 4:8
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

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Mark 9:1-28, 36, 49-50 ~ Jesus asked His Father

Mark 9


1 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”

2 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one [no cloth refiner] on earth could bleach them. 

4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified.


 7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; [my beloved] listen to him.” 8 And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.

 


9 And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean.

 11 And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 

12 And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? 13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”

 



14 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. 15 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. 

16 And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” 

17 And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. 18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” 

19 And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” 

20 And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?”

 And he said, “From childhood. 22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 


23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 



24 Immediately the father of the child cried out [with tears] and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” 

25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 

26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” 

27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.





 28 And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” [with fasting]


36 And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”


49 For everyone will be salted with fire.  50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”



Salt and Light. Sounds like a good potato chip. Kind of friendly.

When we think of someone being salty, we think of someone being larger than life. Loud, exuberant. Auntie Mame, Popeye.

Then again when we think of Biblical salt, there is Lot's wife looking back and becoming a pillar of salt.... not a desirable state.

Salt and pop culture go hand and hand. Salt looses it's flavor when exposed to the air. It becomes stale, tasteless and isn't even good fertilizer or pesticide. What we become when we soak in pop culture without a discerning heart.

Salt wasn't unavailable at any time in Israel. Without salt, one could die in the desert of Judea without some travel planning and having some salt. Without salt, food is flavorless. 

No one would want to eat salt by itself. No one enjoys having religious talk, religious ideas crammed down their throat.


Let's look at Jesus asking the father of the boy ill with a demon, “How long has this been happening to him?” Recently, in another reading for Scripture for Today Blogspot, we talked about Jesus not being recorded as being a huge conversationalist. Yet Jesus is Love. Jesus is not looking for data. Jesus is not looking for a long debate with the father. 

Jesus is making contact with this man. Jesus is not browbeating him, He is opening up the conversation. Jesus is hip deep in an emotional experience Himself, returning to the grind of all too human disciples. Jesus is taking time with someone looking to Him. Jesus is opening up the man's choices in his thoughts of God. Jesus is being Himself, there aren't any basketball moves where the hips have to be watched to understand where He is going. 


Jesus is getting to the point. Jesus teaches us to live at peace with one another in this whole passage.

Read the passage once more, 
Jesus is teaching us salt and light - to live at peace with one another. 
Jesus did not live in a peaceful world and His words were not always soothing. 
Just  like Psalm 23, surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.
Jesus forgave everyone from the cross; goodness and mercy was not always given to Jesus, but goodness and mercy were the grace upon grace He gave us.

Blessed be the children of God, Jesus. Help us to be Your creation of salt and light. Protect us from the root of bitterness within us when goodness and mercy do not come our way in life. Let our words be seasoned with the salt of Your Healing and Your wisdom. We always ask for Your help. In the name of Jesus. The highest name of Jesus, Abba. Amen.

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Colossians 3:12-17 ~ as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive

Colossians 3:12-17 ~ (New Revised Standard Version)

As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.


Have you had to forgive someone for causing the death of someone you love? We, as a family, forgave a nursing home caregiver for throwing open a steel exit door in anger, not knowing Grandmother was on the other side of the door and breaking our mother/grandmother’s shoulder. Grandmother died from the injury, she was 93. Grandmother had an amazing passing, full of the peace, going home with her beloved FatherGod. She was 93 and death is not unexpected. The caregiver wept and wept, meeting with us twice, to be forgiven. It wasn’t difficult to forgive an act of carelessness; without malice to Grandmother, the caregiver had really enjoyed Grandmother and was her friend. She wept harder hearing Grandmother forgave her and wasn’t angry. Grandmother dreamed many times of being reunited with family and her husband, gone for 50 years, Grandmother didn’t spend a minute being angry.

My father’s passing was a different matter. It’s complicated. His second wife knew a downward spiral was occuring and was, perhaps, tired of her marriage. The funeral photos looked like a christening or wedding photo, with the faces filled with joy of the step family. As I questioned family members, it became apparent with more help, his death might have been avoided. My grief turned into the most amazing rage. I never knew these violent emotions even could exist. No apology would ever come from the woman who now hailed my father, after his death, as the love of her life. She married again, for the 3rd time, within months of his death.

Years before my dad died, I had attended a Bible study on forgiveness. The Bible doesn’t record the sons of Israel asking forgiveness for telling Israel Joseph had died from being mauled and actually selling him into slavery. Israel grieved for his son for many, many years. Forgiveness needs to occur even when an apology is not ever going to arrive. As Israel died, after discovering the needless years of suffering and the deception of his sons, he blessed his sons, giving each the blessing appropriate to them. Israel died at peace and filled with hope. He wasn’t unrealistic in his forgiveness, but peace filled him.

I have found a willingness to forgive is the first step in forgiveness. Time helps to allow forgiveness to grow. I asked God in the name of Jesus to allow my rage not to conquer me. I pictured living water flowing over me as I prayed. I asked for forgiveness when my forgiveness didn’t grow and placed my heart in God’s hands. The pictured living water of God was my best defense. Today, I able to understand my dad’s responsibility and regret my dad’s wife’s choices. I am at peace. I have forgiven. Because the Lord helped me, and with His grace, I know I am forgiven. Thank God.



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Isaiah 65 ~ my Chosen shall long enjoy the work of His hands

Jesus said the Kingdom of God belongs to the little children. Painted by Greg Olsen.

Isaiah 65

[1] I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me;

I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me.
I said, "Here am I, here am I,"
to a nation that did not call on my name.
I spread out my hands all the day
to a rebellious people,
who walk in a way that is not good,
following their own devices;
[3] a people who provoke me
to my face continually,
sacrificing in gardens
and burning incense upon bricks;
[4] who sit in tombs,
and spend the night in secret places;
who eat swine's flesh,
and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;
[5] who say, "Keep to yourself,
do not come near me, for I am set apart from you."
These are a smoke in my nostrils,
a fire that burns all the day.
[6] Behold, it is written before me:
"I will not keep silent, but I will repay,
yea, I will repay into their bosom
[7] their iniquities and their fathers' iniquities together, says the
LORD;
because they burned incense upon the mountains
and reviled me upon the hills,
I will measure into their bosom
payment for their former doings."

[8] Thus says the LORD:
"As the wine is found in the cluster,
and they say, `Do not destroy it,
for there is a blessing in it,'
so I will do for my servants' sake,
and not destroy them all.
[9] I will bring forth descendants from Jacob,
and from Judah inheritors of my mountains;
my chosen shall inherit it,
and my servants shall dwell there.
[10] Sharon shall become a pasture for flocks,
and the Valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down,
for my people who have sought me.
[11] But you who forsake the LORD,
who forget my holy mountain,
who set a table for Fortune
and fill cups of mixed wine for Destiny;
[12] I will destine you to the sword,
and all of you shall bow down to the slaughter;
because, when I called, you did not answer,
when I spoke, you did not listen,
but you did what was evil in my eyes,
and chose what I did not delight in."

[13] Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:
"Behold, my servants shall eat,
but you shall be hungry;
behold, my servants shall drink,
but you shall be thirsty;
behold, my servants shall rejoice,
but you shall be put to shame;
[14] behold, my servants shall sing for gladness of heart,
but you shall cry out for pain of heart,
and shall wail for anguish of spirit.
[15] You shall leave your name to my chosen for a curse,
and the Lord GOD will slay you;
but his servants he will call by a different name.
[16] So that he who blesses himself in the land
shall bless himself by the God of truth,
and he who takes an oath in the land
shall swear by the God of truth;
because the former troubles are forgotten
and are hid from my eyes.

[17] "For behold, I create new heavens
and a new earth;
and the former things shall not be remembered
or come into mind.
[18] But be glad and rejoice for ever
in that which I create;
for behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing,
and her people a joy.
[19] I will rejoice in Jerusalem,
and be glad in my people;
no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping
and the cry of distress.
[20] No more shall there be in it
an infant that lives but a few days,
or an old man who does not fill out his days,
for the child shall die a hundred years old,
and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed.
[21] They shall build houses and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
[22] They shall not build and another inhabit;
they shall not plant and another eat;
for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,
and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
[23] They shall not labor in vain,
or bear children for calamity;
for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the LORD,
and their children with them.
[24] Before they call I will answer,
while they are yet speaking I will hear.
[25] The wolf and the lamb shall feed together,
the lion shall eat straw like the ox;
and dust shall be the serpent's food.
They shall not hurt or destroy
in all my holy mountain, says the LORD."

~ my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands


Psalm 90:16-17
16 May your deeds be shown to your servants,
your splendor to their children.

May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands.


When Jesus dwelt among us, the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand. Jesus knew the heart of man, yet He chose to willing open His arms, lay down His life and be our sacrifice, to atone for our sin. Many people do not see Jesus as fully human, but God's Son leaving Heaven, temporarily, willing to wade into our midst, like war, and endure it. What would Jesus have missed from His life on earth? For all of us, to die is frightening. Jesus did receive love & worship from a life worth leading:

John 15:11
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

Jesus had a happy childhood, as the adopted child of Joseph. In a small town, everyone's business is known, but Jesus' hometown saw that complete blended family and said:

Matthew 13:
53When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" they asked. 55"Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56Aren't all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?

Luke 2:
48When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you." 49"Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?"

52And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Luke 3:
21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

Mark 1:14,15
Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

Mark 1:
17"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 18At once they left their nets and followed him.

27The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him." 28News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.


Luke 5:
20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."

16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

29 Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.

John 2:
1 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples.

5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

10and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now."

Matthew 11: 19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds."

Mark 1:
41Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!"

13Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them.

Mark 2
23 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grain fields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain.

Mark 3:
13 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him.

34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."

Mark 4:
1 Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water's edge.

Jesus must have recognized His own life in this parable:
30 Again he said, "What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade.

Mark 5:
34 He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."

36 Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid; just believe." 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum!" (which means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!" ). 42Immediately the girl stood up and walked around.

31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."

Mark 6:
4 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

46After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.

50b Immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

Luke 6:
7"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

Luke 7:
9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel."

22 And he answered them, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.

Mark 7:
37 People were overwhelmed with amazement. "He has done everything well," they said. "He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."

Mark 8:
29"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
Peter answered, "You are the Christ."

Mark 9:
1 And he said to them, "I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."

2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

7 Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!"

24 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

36 He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me."

Mark 10:
14When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."

21 Jesus looked at him and loved him.

Mark 11:
7When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
"Hosanna!"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
10"Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!"
"Hosanna in the highest!"

11Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

Mark 12:
29"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'There is no commandment greater than these."

34a When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God."

43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on."

Mark 14:
6"Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.

9I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."

22While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my body."

23Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it.

24"This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many," he said to them. 25"I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God."

John 19:
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" 27Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!"

Luke 23:
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."

34 And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

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Zechariah 12 ~ a spirit of grace and supplication

Jerusalem, Damascus Gate. Rebuilt in 1542, presumably based upon archaeology, it is the 3rd Damascus Gate.

Zechariah 12     ~ (New International Version)

1 This is the word of the LORD concerning Israel. The LORD, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the spirit of man within him, declares: 2 "I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. 3 On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves. 4 On that day I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness," declares the LORD. "I will keep a watchful eye over the house of Judah, but I will blind all the horses of the nations. 5 Then the leaders of Judah will say in their hearts, 'The people of Jerusalem are strong, because the LORD Almighty is their God.'

6 "On that day I will make the leaders of Judah like a firepot in a woodpile, like a flaming torch among sheaves. They will consume right and left all the surrounding peoples, but Jerusalem will remain intact in her place.

7 "The LORD will save the dwellings of Judah first, so that the honor of the house of David and of Jerusalem's inhabitants may not be greater than that of Judah. 8 On that day the LORD will shield those who live in Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the Angel of the LORD going before them. 9 On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that attack Jerusalem.

10 "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. 11 On that day the weeping in Jerusalem will be great, like the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. 12 The land will mourn, each clan by itself, with their wives by themselves: the clan of the house of David and their wives, the clan of the house of Nathan and their wives, 13 the clan of the house of Levi and their wives, the clan of Shimei and their wives, 14 and all the rest of the clans and their wives.


An impossible miracle of God's. God is a fortress, a shield to .... an entire nation. Only God could bring about a miracle to a country so attacked.

Did you know the family of David have kept their lineage and they come together, from all over the world to have family reunions. According to God, David's line continues today.

In the middle of such a great victory, the people do not dance a dance of victory, instead they know only God can have done this and they are far from worthy. God knows how poorly we really listen and learn. So many things in the Scriptures repeat and repeat. The water parted in front of the Children of Israel several times. Jesus was called upon to heal and was met with small faith, many times.

Zechariah tells us about Jesus being killed, how multitudes came not to the rural areas, but to God's Temple to learn more about Jesus. It says so in Acts 5.

Because the Word of God is living and active, this is a story which will repeat when the world is facing the rebuilding of the Temple, when we are coming to the end days the Lord has told us about since the time of Daniel in 600 B.C.

This impossible story occurred to the people of God during the reign of Hezekiah when the Assyrian Empire didn't destroy Judah. The new country of Israel has almost been wiped from the face of the earth, surrounded by enemies in impossible odds. Israel exists today. The miracle will come again. Rejoice.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.


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Mark 5:21-43 ~ “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.”

 Housing in Judea during the time Jesus lived

Capernaum, Jesus' adult hometown, today

Mark 5:21-43

And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. ²²  Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet ²³ and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” ²⁴ And he went with him.

And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. ²⁵ And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, ²⁶ and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. ²⁷ She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. ²⁸ For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” ²⁹  And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. ³⁰ And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” ³¹ And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” ³² And he looked around to see who had done it. ³³ But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. ³⁴ And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

³⁵ While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” ³⁶ But overhearing^{[ignoring, hearing]} what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” ³⁷ And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. ³⁸ They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. ³⁹ And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” ⁴⁰ And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. ⁴¹  Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” ⁴² And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. ⁴³ And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

This would have taken place in Capernaum. It is an interesting dilemma - one we can think about today. Should we acknowledge Jesus in our lives. Jairus has to decide. Is he a Jew running the synagogue. Is it worth it to let Jesus come to his house to see his dying daughter. She probably didn't just get sick that day. Events are pressing in on Jairus.

21 Times Jesus has healed with His Spoken Word
13 Times Jesus has reached out to touch
9 Times people were healed dfuring preaching and teaching, plus the 2 times the Scripture says "He healed them All."
8 Times Jesus drove out demons
7 Times ill people where healed because they had faith
4 Times Jesus was moved with compassion 
1  reached out to touch Him.


And Jairus sees the woman reach out to Jesus. Jairus has done the same thing. He has put aside the pride of his position to reach out to Jesus.  And the woman is healed. Jairus must have been so glad. And then crushed.  Jairus' face must have been completely stricken.

Jesus immediately reacts to Jairus. Saying

 "Do not fear, only believe.”

Mark 9:24
Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

Faith. Jesus saw it waver, in those around Him,  all the time.

Matthew 14:30-31
But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

If Jesus sees faithlessness so often, what set Jairus, the boy's father and Peter apart?

Romans 4:3
For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”

Romans 4:20-25
No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

Both Jairus and the woman - reached out to Jesus. And in reaching out. Jesus had compassion on them. Lives were changed. Hearts renewed.  This is what Jesus is about. Making people know how wide, how deep, how unfailing is God's love. For us.

John 20:29
Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Blessed.


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Psalm 134 ~ may the Lord bless you from Zion

Psalm 134  

 Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord,
who stand by night in the house of the Lord!
2 Lift up your hands to the holy place
and bless the Lord!

3 May the Lord bless you from Zion,
he who made heaven and earth!



1 Corinthians 15:51-52
Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.



1 Thessalonians 4:13-16
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

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1 Timothy 3:14-16 ~ believed in throughout the world

1 Timothy 3:14-16
I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these instructions to you so that, if I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth.

Without any doubt, the mystery of our religion is great:

He was revealed in flesh,
vindicated in spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among Gentiles,
believed in throughout the world,
taken up in glory

~He was revealed in the flesh

John 1:14
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.

~vindicated in the spirit

John 1:-17
John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’” And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

~seen by angels

Luke 2:8-14
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

~proclaimed among Gentiles

Matthew 28:18-20
Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

~believed in throughout the world

Revelation 21:22-27

I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

~ taken up in glory

Revelation 21:1-4

Then I saw "a new heaven and a new earth," for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

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Psalm 114 ~ His dominion

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.

Known as the Cathedral of Basil the Blessed, a Russian Orthodox Cathedral, it is the geometric center of Moscow since the 14th century. Built by Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible), it contains eight side churches arranged around the ninth, the tenth church was erected in 1588 over the grave of venerated Basil - Fool for Christ. Basil lived:

Proverbs 16:7
When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD,
he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.

Basil was an apprentice shoemaker in Moscow, but became a shoplifter. He gave to the poor to shame the miserly and help those in need. He rebuked Ivan the Terrible for not paying attention in Church, and for his violent behavior towards the innocent. Most of the time, admonishing anyone with name "the Terrible" wasn’t such a good idea, but apparently Ivan had a soft spot for the holy fool (as Basil was also known) and ordered a magnificent Church to be built in his name after Basil died. When Basil died on August 2, 1557, Ivan the Terrible, himself, acted as pallbearer and carried Basil's coffin to the cemetery.

Basil must have met with timing only sent by the Lord, because the rest of Ivan the Terrible's reign was marked by a violent spiral downward. Basil's life was remembered as a servant of Jesus Christ and inspired many, including Ivan the Terrible's son. Basil's life, giving to the poor, may have inspired the legends of Robin Hood 100 to 200 years later. Ivan's son, Feodor, commissioned more towers to be built, 30 years later, around Basil's grave and the Cathedral became known as Basil's Cathedral.

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