Numbers 17:1-13 ~ their chiefs gave him staffs

Numbers 17

1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel, and get from them staffs, one for each fathers' house, from all their chiefs according to their fathers' houses, twelve staffs. Write each man's name on his staff, 3 and write Aaron's name on the staff of Levi. For there shall be one staff for the head of each fathers' house. 4 Then you shall deposit them in the tent of meeting before the testimony, where I meet with you. 5 And the staff of the man whom I choose shall sprout. Thus I will make to cease from me the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against you.” 6 Moses spoke to the people of Israel. And all their chiefs gave him staffs, one for each chief, according to their fathers' houses, twelve staffs. And the staff of Aaron was among their staffs. 7 And Moses deposited the staffs before the Lord in the tent of the testimony.

8 On the next day Moses went into the tent of the testimony, and behold, the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth buds and produced blossoms, and it bore ripe almonds. 9 Then Moses brought out all the staffs from before the Lord to all the people of Israel. And they looked, and each man took his staff. 10 And the Lord said to Moses, “Put back the staff of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebels, that you may make an end of their grumblings against me, lest they die.” 11 Thus did Moses; as the Lord commanded him, so he did.

12 And the people of Israel said to Moses, “Behold, we perish, we are undone, we are all undone. 13 Everyone who comes near, who comes near to the tabernacle of the Lord, shall die. Are we all to perish?”

Millennial Generation (18-29) young adults do not love the Church, but love the Lord. Numbers 17 would indicate, it's best to stay out of the herd. They just complain and jump to conclusions. The Children of Israel were constantly in knots. They always were in need of something.

The Lord is not telling the Children of Israel to make camp on their own.

The people of God cry out for gifts of the Lord to meet immediate need, yet in all of the books of the Bible, when Father God gives a miracle - a gift - awe of the Lord, need for more instruction occurs. Isaiah saw only the hem of the Lord fit in the Temple. Isaiah realized he was unclean compared to the Lord. Peter, when first meeting Jesus, asked to be left alone because he was just a man.

We seem to be much more comfortable with the fruit of the Spirit, a definite sign of God occurring over a season of time:

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

Aaron could have been given just an Almond branch. Aaron was given a gift, God was with them all in all seasons. The bud, the blossom, the fruit. God was involved with Moses, Aaron, and the needs of the people. The steadfast, enduring love of God for the entire community - as a church community, not each person to interpret the signs of God for themselves.

Father God, we pray for the Churches believing in Your son, Jesus Christ. We pray for Your Word to be taught and believed with truthful, tender love. We pray for Your Church to reach out to all your children and to become a Church family. We pray for this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

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Prayer Request

A mom had requested prayer for her daughter, who has made a serious consequence choice. Please pray for safety and help from Father God. The need for prayer this week is urgent.

Thank you God, for hearing. The one you love needs Your protection. In the name of Jesus.
Amen.

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Isaiah 6 ~ And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of Him who called

Silver Lake by Jennifer Young

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

Isaiah 6

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train [hem] of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory [may his glory fill the whole earth]!”

4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”

8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”

9 And he said, “Go, and say to this people:
“‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand;
keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’
10 Make the heart of this people dull, [fat]
and their ears heavy,
and blind their eyes;
lest they see with their eyes,
and hear with their ears,
and understand with their hearts,
and turn and be healed.”

11 Then I said, “How long, O Lord?”
And he said:
“Until cities lie waste
without inhabitant,
and houses without people,
and the land is a desolate waste,
12 and the Lord removes people far away,
and the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land.
13 And though a tenth remain in it,
it will be burned [purged] again,
like a terebinth or an oak,
whose stump remains
when it is felled.”
The holy seed [offspring] is its stump.

A new day dawns, we put out our hands in prayer, remove the shoes from our feet & if we feel or do not feel, yet the Holy Spirit of God is with us. Father God, let us be filled with Your Spirit. This day of my life, direct me, direct my actions, my work, my goals that Your Spirit fills my life and directs me. With You, Father God, all things are possible. In the Highest name, You give us, Jesus.

John 16:13
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Psalm 26:8
O Lord, I love the habitation of your house
and the place where your glory dwells.

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Matthew 5:2--26 ~ come to terms

Matthew 5:20-26

For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny [quadrans worth about 1/64 of a denarius, which was a day's wage for a laborer] .

They love Jesus, but they don't love the church. The Pew Research Center published the 2010 report one-in-four members of the Millennial Generation - called because they were born after 1980 & come of age around the year 2000 (ages 18 to 29) - are unaffiliated with any particular faith. Millennial young adults pray as much and believe in heaven, hell, miracles and God as much as their elders. They are politically much more to the left, do not feel Hollywood will corrupt their morals, and have a different view of homosexuality as a sin.

Newsweek reported in 2009 church goers in America were fading away, but reading the article & the research it wasn't across the country a drop, but the Northeast American Catholics had declined sharply, probably over the sexual abuse scandal. It was a very sharp decline.

Woe is me. Media jump back. Let the bells toll. Proclaim the Catholic church has regaining some of the lost flock. Yes, and it really wasn't reported as news. What should the bells proclaim ~ forgiveness. Hey, I live in a church family, sure we are Protestant, but if foot dragging church members are seeking the comfort, joy, solace And Eternal Benefits of Communion, Public Worship and Church Community - praise God for our prodigal sons and like Father God, run to them.

And this Millennial Generation? I have a 21 year old experiencing all these things in college, I pray for him. What's new? Having read history of the church in England (we are Anglican Bible Believers - Church of England) I see the Light of Christ is always being proclaimed, for the last 2,000 years, as going out by the darkness. The Light still Shines.

The status quo of the bible is still constant. There is a Spiritual Battle between light and darkness, forces greater than us. We pray. We believe in the God of Love. I pray specifically for my sons they will want to be embraced by the Love of Almighty God, desire to know His Word and the letters He has written to them. Desire to love and lift up the body of Christ called the church.

We believe we are in a race, the Scriptures tell us. Yesterday we read, paraphrasing: we are far from perfect, but we press on for the glory of God. If we do not go out of our way in church, and believe "mission work" is in 3rd world countries, and do not love our fellow church family, we fail. Fail. If we are not loving to the adults in our church, why would their kids want to participate? The appearance of righteousness only brings obligation.

Obligation tells us not to murder. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5, there might be controversy, no. No Jesus says there will be trouble. He says if you are angry, you should feel free to discuss it with the offender. He says if you are accused of injustice to address it. Jesus is telling us to be mature enough to discuss the rifts in humanity, knowing He is in our midst. Jesus is not for stuffing our hurt, our sly ways He says we all have, and gritting our teeth to get along with each other.

This passage can be very bruising. You might have attempted to seek peace to an angry situation or heal verbal abuse, an apology was offered and the fire still rages or smolders. God is our judge, continue to picture the other person/ people with love. Remember they are loved by God as His child. Let the God of Love be included in controversy knowing He is the One. Take the higher road, be at peace. God Reigns.

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Phillipians 3:2-12 ~ worship by the Spirit of God

Philippians 3:2-12

2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also.

If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

As Paul traveled bringing the Good News, it would be probable he looked up to the sky and thought of what he'd left behind, good days of childhood, the days he loved worshiping the Most High in The Temple. Paul was unusual, God could have chosen many Pharisees. Paul had voluntarily asked to be the Temple Gestapo going to Damascus Synagogue. There had to be a lot of self-righteousness there. Paul was loved, reached out and changed by the Power of God.

Imagine if Caiaphas had been on the road to Damascus. Caiaphas might have thought about (like Paul, his participation in sentence of martyrdom death) different religious expression led to dishonor or death. An encounter with the Living God is still left in your hands for your choice. Although Caiaphas wouldn't have been left blind by a vindictive God, Caiaphas might have planned some magnificent spin (outright lies) for a spectacular retirement. Blindness would have caused reason for dismissal, priests were perfect physically. If Caiaphas had returned from an encounter with the Living God, he could have chosen just to continue as he was. 10 Lepers were healed by Jesus and only one returned to give thanks.

You can google Caiaphas, see his sarcophagus and the ruins of his home on the web. Caiaphas stayed at the religious pinnacle pushing down The Way for all his days.

Paul chose to let the Holy Spirit of God give his life meaning. Paul opened his hands and said, like Isaiah, "Send me Lord, send me." What an adventure Paul had.

We are invited today. All we have to do is ask. Father God, these are my hands, this is my life, let me live for Your Glory. Allow me to have all the Holy Spirit you would be willing to give me. Let me worship by Your Spirit. Always direct me, please, Father God. I will press on with my life as I know how to do, but I will need Your help because I am Yours. I cannot obtain Your Love, Wisdom, Perfection. Praise be to you, Lord Jesus, for Your mercy.

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Psalm 99 ~ The Lord reigns

CBS News and others announce Israeli archaeologist Eilat Mazar said ancient fortifications recently excavated in Jerusalem date back 3,000 years, to the time of King Solomon, supporting the biblical narrative. This finding would be an indication Jerusalem was home to a strong central government having resources and manpower needed to build massive fortifications in the 10th century B.C. That's a key point of dispute among scholars, it matches the Bible's account the Hebrew kings David and Solomon ruled from Jerusalem. ~ CBS Story


Psalm 99

[1] The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble!
He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!

[2] The LORD is great in Zion;
he is exalted over all the peoples.

[3] Let them praise thy great and terrible name!
Holy is he!

[4] Mighty King, lover of justice,
thou hast established equity;
thou hast executed justice
and righteousness in Jacob.

[5] Extol the LORD our God;
worship at his footstool!
Holy is he!

[6] Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
Samuel also was among those who called on his name.
They cried to the LORD, and he answered them.

[7] He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud;
they kept his testimonies,
and the statutes that he gave them.

[8] O LORD our God, thou didst answer them;
thou wast a forgiving God to them,
but an avenger of their wrongdoings.

[9] Extol the LORD our God,
and worship at his holy mountain;
for the LORD our God is holy!

It looked on Good Friday as if God's Son had been killed.
Jesus said this about the Psalms:

Luke 24:44 Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.

Yesterday we talked about how satisfying it would be to hear David tell us of the Psalms he wrote about his life and what life taught him about the nature of God. God Himself wrote through David; Jesus told his disciples many of the Psalms are written for Jesus 10 centuries before Jesus lived on earth. Just as archeology tells us David existed in the Bible, as written, David explained Jesus.


[1] The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!

Matthew 27:51-54

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!"

[2] The LORD is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples.

Matthew 28:5 The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

[3] Let them praise thy great and terrible name! Holy is he!

Acts 1:3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.

[4] Mighty King, lover of justice, thou hast established equity; thou hast executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.

In Jesus Christ, God's salvation is not for only one country, He grafts us into His Family:

Matthew 28:18-20
Then 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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

[5] Extol the LORD our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he!

John 20:28,29
Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"

Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

[6] Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called on his name. They cried to the LORD, and he answered them.

Matthew 14:27 But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

[7] He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud; they kept his testimonies, and the statutes that he gave them.

Luke 24:36-48 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."

They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence.

He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.

[8] O LORD our God, thou didst answer them; thou wast a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings.


John 21:14-19
This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love (agape) me more than these?" [Agape - Godly, encompassing love] "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love (philo) you." [Philo- brotherly love] Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."

Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you love (agape) me?"
He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love (philo) you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."

The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love (agape) me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love (agape) you."

Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"

[9] Extol the LORD our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the LORD our God is holy!

Acts 3:11-21 ¹¹ While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon's Colonnade. ¹² When Peter saw this, he said to them: "People of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? ¹³ The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus.

You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. ¹⁴ You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. ¹⁵ You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. ¹⁶ By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.

¹⁷ "Now, brothers and sisters, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. ¹⁸ But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. ¹⁹ Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, ²⁰ and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. ²¹ Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.

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Psalm 28 ~ the works of the Lord

Psalm 28

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

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

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

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


Today, I heard a truly wonderful sermon I will not forget, from 2002, made by Evangelist John Bishop - God Is So Good Ministries. King David wasn't writing poetry to God, he was living events of his life and learning about God. It would be so interesting to hear from David about each Psalm.

John Bishop almost died from aseptic meningitis, October, 1995. As he recovered, John Bishop didn't know who he was, or anyone else. He couldn't talk, walk, or make sense. He had to re-learn everything and accept his wife & his sons as his own. When John Bishop speaks, he skips words like a young child. When he reads, Pastor Bishop reads only necessary words because he doesn't see the other ones. He speaks about suffering, patience & learning about the nature of God. When people hear him speak, it is not unusual for strong men to cry.

Our Psalm 28 realizations today, will be from Pastor John Bishop - living out his relationship with Father God and discovering the nature of the Lord Most High. We want to be understood, be heard. David is terribly concerned in his relationship with the Lord God, he feels God is being silent when he wants to be heard. There is joy found as the heart hears! Prayer is heard.

We are heard. Psalm 139 teaches us there is no where we can go away from Him; God is part of our lives. Suffering or a prayer, seemingly unanswered, leaves us feeling isolated in our prayer life. John Bishop tells about being in a conference of ministers, down on their knees praying for a man about to die from meningitis, he realized of the 60 people, he was the only one with tears rolling down his face. Praying for the Lord to ease the man's pain, send healing to the man's brain, asking petitions in tears. John realized, he was the only person in the room having had meningitis.

Suffering isn't God's indifference, it is God in charge of an imperfect world. God helping us learn and show compassion. The Scriptures tell us to rejoice in all circumstances, God is teaching us Grace. When we have a trial, a rejection or a physical pain, we are learning to pray, knowing we are heard, but the answer is God's.

We learn the communion of the saints, to pray for one another with love. As John Bishop says, it seems shallow when we ask blessings for someone else, or lift them up. But would you mind at all if someone prays for you to receive blessings or to be lifted up?

Father God, we pray using the highest name of Jesus, that we will be blessed and lifted up. Thank you, Father, for hearing us. Let Your will and Your Grace be unending. Amen.

Audio Sermon - David's Realization, Response and Request Sermon from John Bishop, Preaching Conference 2002 at Fairhaven Baptist Church and College. Psalm 28. (25 minutes long, well worth the time!)

* My good friend said I could add this to today's discussion on Grace given to us by God. My friend is quite petite and there is trouble with an adult-living-at-home-child. It is not what my friend would like. She has been a Christian parent with a lot of support given to the adult child. The grown child began to make threats about self harm and a misguided set of young men - 3 - and a young woman decided to let the grown child move into a rent-by-the week hotel with them. Not at all what my friend would like. My friend's husband was out of town. It developed they were going to go to a restaurant and then the adult child would return home.

The time to return home came, and the adult child decided to remain in a situation at the hotel, with controlled substances, that would not please a parent or God. My friend had told me she did not know if she had the strength to continue the fight. I told her, previously, with deep conviction, she was built for the fight specifically.

My little friend, with the help of God Almighty, got the adult child away from 3 agitated and threatening grown men, who wanted the child/adult to stay with them. As she hugged her child, she was able to place the child into the car and to get the help that was so needed. If that isn't a miracle, I do not know what is. Please continue to pray for my petite friend and her child, who has had radical behavior changes.

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Psalm 150 ~ praise Him with

Psalm 150

1 Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens!
2 Praise him for his mighty deeds;
praise him according to his excellent greatness!
3 Praise him with trumpet sound;
praise him with lute and harp!
4 Praise him with tambourine and dance;
praise him with strings and pipe!
5 Praise him with sounding cymbals;
praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!

Let Everything that has Breath Praise the Lord - Matt Redman

Praise You, Father, for Your Greatness.

Psalm 57:
0 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

¹¹ Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth.

Praise You God, for being greater than we are:

Hebrews 11:1-3, 20-35
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.

By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.

By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.

By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.

By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.

By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.

By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again.

We thank you, Father God, for the blessings we hold dear to us, as gifts from Your Heart to our hand. Blessed be to You, O Lord. Blessed be Your Holy Spirit and Your Son our Lord, Jesus. Our Redeemer.

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Luke 4:1-13 ~ it is written

Luke 4:1-13

And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’” And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written,

“‘You shall worship the Lord your God,
and him only shall you serve.’”

And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written,

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
to guard you,’

and

“‘On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”

And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.

Jesus wasn't poorly tempted by the devil. It was a campaign offered to His strengths, His fears & frustrations. The devil asked for a show of power - showing Him more power, putting Him above the temple which was put above Jesus. Jesus did not face this temptation by asking for armies of heaven or boasting. Jesus had many more available spiritual weapons than we would realize we have given to us. Jesus was polite and even tempered. Jesus provided us a role model in the face of danger. He remembered Scripture and not the need to quote verse and book. Jesus kept His soul open to the Lord God. Jesus called upon what we are told about first in this passage of Luke, He realized the Holy Spirit dwells within.

Hebrews 12:1,2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

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Luke 5:27-32 ~ Those

Paolo Veronese (1528–88) Italian painter famous for paintings such as The Wedding at Cana and Feast in the House of Levi.

Luke 5:27-32

27 After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” 28 And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.

29 And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. 30 And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31 And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

Judea was place in turmoil. Vast fortunes had been piled up as Rome swept in, Oxford historians said these huge fortunes wouldn't be repeated until 1600 A.D., the middle classes were supporting the Roman tax system. The clash came in Israel as a moral nation being swallowed with Roman favoritism and industry. The appearance of godliness was needed as Israel became just another Roman province.

So what generation are you, where did you grow up and what did your family tell you about the Civil War? Well, put aside your stereotypes, this is what I grew up with: The waaar of Northernnn Aggggressionnn was a terrible thiiing. Your 3rd great grandfather went to Shiloh and fought on the opposite side from his son-in-law. The son-in-law died and your 2nd great grandmother remarried and so you exist. Your other 2nd great grandfather was 10 when the Union Army arrived and confiscated the house. They were fortunate to be allowed to continue to live in the house with the Yankees. His father, James Thomas Elliott was elected as a Republican to the Fortieth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of U.S. Rep. James Hinds - who was killed by the KKK. So, my very Southern family has an - almost carpet bagger Congressman. Some of us were Republicans in the South during the waaar. Some of us weren't. One 2nd great grandmother was a completely angry southerner, who probably didn't mind eating the wallpaper paste during the siege of Vicksburg, at age 6, but never forgave the Yankees when her cat was dinner.

One of those. All these labels are complicated, all the above people should hate each other - they fought against each other and they shot at each other, then they married each other.

All the sinner labels are complicated in this passage, as well. The Pharisees are grumbling about Jesus sitting with sinners. Jesus is One of Those who consorts with sinners. ... The Pharisees are not just misguided powerful people who killed the Lord. The Pharisees are run by Herod.... not descendants of Aaron handed down from Moses. Herod picked and chose who would serve at the 2nd Temple. Herod remodeled the Temple with funds the Romans allowed him to profit & collect as King of Judea. Herod's input would have been needed by the Governor of Judea, Pilate, to appoint the tax collectors. Remember who gave Herod criticism for Herod's morality & what happened to him (Matthew 14).

The Levites were not in charge of the Temple in Jesus' day. Levi, in Jesus' day, was a Tax Collector.

Who are those called by Jesus? All of us. Who was forgiven by Jesus? All of us. We are all... one of those.

Mark 3:28

I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them ...

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Twitter?

If you are a Christian on Twitter, I'd like to follow your tweets. http://twitter.com/Scripfortoday


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

Gethsemane By Adam Abram

Mark 12:28-34

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

~ love Him with all your heart

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

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

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

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

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

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Acts 7:30-34 ~ holy ground

The Winner, sculpted by Glenna Goodacre. She designed: The Vietnam Woman's Memorial in Washington D.C. & the obverse of the Sacagawea Dollar for the USA in 2000. She is a native born Texan, unfortunately transplanted to another state. And currently in good recovery from a stroke in 2007.


Acts 7:30-34 (New Revised Standard Version)

"Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in the flame of a burning bush. When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight; and as he approached to look, there came the voice of the Lord: 'I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.' Moses began to tremble and did not dare to look. Then the Lord said to him, 'Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. I have surely seen the mistreatment of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to rescue them. Come now, I will send you to Egypt.'"

You have to love and adore the bible verses that pack it all in: miracles, acts of God, martyrdom, eloquence, corrupt men of God, valiant deeds, famous words and utmost bravery for the Highest God. This is indeed the book of Acts - it is Stephen, the bible records him having the face of an angel while telling the most important teachers of Israel how they had missed the most important event... the Messiah. What angered them the most: being talked down to, Stephen's profound joy, hollow victory of the top position for religious status, repeat problems with a dead/risen man they had famously given an unjust trial - at night, or being accused of murdering the Son of God?


Sanhedrin Council records, recorded by Talmuds, collected before 400 A.D., report Jesus being alive and a burden to them. After Stephen died they reported this: "On the eve of the Passover they hung Jeshu [the Nazarene]. And the crier went forth before him forty days (saying), [Jeshu the Nazarene] goeth forth to be stoned, because he hath practices magic and deceived and led Israel astray. Anyone who knoweth aught in his favor, let him come and declare concerning him. And they found naught in his favor."

There were a lot of negative, untrue statements written about Jesus in the Sanhedrin Council records, but a list of the positive proof extracted from the negative is this:

• Jesus was alive, they recognized the crowd loved him and they had a dilemma at hand.

• Jesus was born under unusual circumstances, leading some rabbis to address him as ben Pandira and " a bastard of an adulteress."
• Jesus' mother Mary was Heli's daughter.
• Jesus was crucified on the eve of Passover.
• Jesus made himself alive by the name of God.
• Jesus was a son of a woman.
• Jesus claimed to be God, the son of God, the son of man.
• Jesus ascended and claimed that he would return again.
• Jesus was near to the kingdom and near to kingship.
• Jesus had at least five disciples.
• Jesus performed miracles, i.e. practiced "sorcery".
• Jesus' name has healing power.
• Jesus' teaching impressed one rabbi.

Stephen's face is the burning bush. How could this man have gone to his death willingly with such ease? This Sanhedrin Council did not banish Stephen to live at the outer edges, he was too dangerous. In fury over his joy, they destroyed him immediately & he went down forgiving them. I will wonder, today- an appropriate question for lent, how the Sanhedrin Council spent the next several weeks, each person, digesting the destruction of such joy....

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You are Invited to Attend Ash Wednesday with Us:

Hope Pointe Anglican Church

3333 South Panther Creek

on the Southeast Corner of Woodlands Parkway and South Panther Creek

Across the Street from McCullough Junior High School

The Woodlands, Texas 77381

7:00 P.M.

1 Timothy 1:18-2:8 ~ supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings

1 Timothy 1:18-2:8

18 This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, 20 among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

2 Timothy

1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men [mankind - Greek word], the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. 7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

8 I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling

My great-uncle Tate was an Episcopal priest for close to 60 years mostly around Sherman, Texas. A well-educated Southern gentleman who stood about 6'2" with broad shoulders, strong Marlboro-man frame and a full, beautiful head of white hair. A man interested in all types of diverse subjects who loved the Lord with a passionate devotion. He had the most amazing collection of National Geographic Magazines - surely the Smithsonian would have loved his study.

Tate had black eyeglasses (exactly like the photo), I asked him once as a child if he didn't change them for a more modern brand because they matched his cassock. Rarely was Tate knocked for a loop, but he paused and said no it was because he used to have black hair. That floored me, I'd rather thought God and Tate looked like each other for a long time. I remember Tate raising his hands to pray over his congregation, one sight I hope to see again in Heaven (the best is yet to be!).

Tate was the best combination of worldly-wise and innocent dove. We were coming home from a christening and Tate was talking, driving, gesturing, leaving his "autooomobile" lane - a usual day. A man drove up to the driver's side, blared his horn and shot Tate the finger. Tate turned to smile and wave - the man caught sight of Tate's clerical collar and garb - immediately the other driver's car seemed to stop. Tate's smiling comment, as he waved was, "Must be one of my parishoners."

Tate was always unfailingly glad to see everyone. And how did Tate know how to deal with the parishioners who couldn't help out that day, Tate would boom his thanks into the phone, in a refined drawl, generous loud praise and quick exit off the phone. I was never grown enough to find this annoyingly leveled at me, but I loved, loved, loved it when he did this to my dad. ... And, oh, how it worked...

Tate suits this passage to a perfect fit. Tate read about war, loved guns he shot and crafted himself and he agreed there is a spiritual battle. Tate understood we all drift back and forth with our human nature from day to day. Tate never spent time trying to decide who was saved or unsaved, he knew "well indeed" that salvation belongs to Jesus Christ. Tate would have said he was an ambassador for God, welcoming long-time gone souls into the church, visiting widows, trudging to the hospital, cruising around Lake Texhoma in all types of "flotation devices".

God's word is living and active; in Paul's day with the ink wet on the parchment, in Tate's day, and today. All people need the Salvation of Jesus Christ and His mediation. We pray for our children and others to be saved and rejoice in the love God so willingly gives us. God gives Himself, not just to the earth angels making their Ambassadorship look golden, but to us the goy (gentiles) of the world!

Supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people - Ash Wednesday is a great start to great conversation. We are welcomed by God Himself and He treats us as the beloved child He will continue to give His word to.

Praise to You, God Most Loving!

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(this isn't our Scripture for today, just the sidelines)

Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez ~ we spent Fat Tuesday having our Shrove Tuesday traditional (to El Paso) Fajitas at our church HopePointe. It was fun! Edward, my husband, was a singing monk with monkster clothing.

Although ours was a recreation (great!!), it was not this actual video. You should see this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCFCeJTEzNU

Matthew 27:51-66 ~ also were opened

Representation of the Temple Curtain by A. Gardere

2 Chronicles 3:14
He made the curtain of blue, purple and crimson yarn and fine linen, with cherubim worked into it.

Matthew 27:51-66

51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. 54 When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

55 There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him, 56 among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

57 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. 58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59 And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.

62 The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.


If you ever wanted to own a Roman coin, they sell on ebay for not much money. The coins come from Roman soldiers frequently burying their treasure before war, the coins come with instructions to wash millenniums of soil away. Roman soldiers faced death all the time, if not from war, then in decimation from discipline.

Why doesn't the history from the Scriptures, Josephus, from Sanhedrin Council records say the praetorian guard was killed? There was too much going on, if Pilate was frightened and personally flogged Jesus himself (John 19:1) , how must Pilate have felt when all of these events occurred? Even the soldiers surrounding Jesus must have reported to Pilate saying among themselves Jesus was the Son of God. Eclipse, earthquake, Temple steps, Temple curtain, dismissing His own spirit, forgiveness and early death. The tombs opened and bodily resurrection reported, not just of the Lord, but the holy. Pilate's own sign proclaiming in three languages Jesus was King of the Jews.

Did Pilate stand on the steps to see the sky become dark and feel the earthquake on the Scala Sancta, the Holy Stairs, transfered from the archaeological ruins of Pilate's Palace to the Vatican? (Scripture for Today Link)

Pilate was later fired, struck down in his military standing, for his inability to rule in orderly methods with the Jews. There were many examples of Pilate and his extreme tactical mistakes, in later years Jesus' trial was known throughout the Empire and beyond for being unjust.

We praise you, Father, for the events surrounding Good Friday & the reasons people saw and believed as You sent Your Holy Spirit to dwell in us. You are Amazing, Father God.




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Mark 8:11-13 ~ Jesus had arrived

Mosaic by A. Gardere

Two brothers, Moshe and Yuval Lufan, discovered the Galilee boat known as "The Jesus Boat", in 1986. Moshe and Yuval, second generation fisherman from Kibbutz Ginosar, grew up on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. It was a huge drought and fishermen need fish to make a living.

The boat began to appear as hope grew wan. Instead of a time of uncertainty, it became a time of joy.

As they were discovering the boat, a double rainbow appeared in the sky. Ginosar, the Antiquities Authority, and many volunteers took part in the archaeological dig which lasted 12 days and nights. The discovery of this Galilee Boat caused a stir throughout the world, especially when it was conclusively dated to the first century A.D. – the time of Jesus.

The boat, made of twelve different types of wood, is now on exhibit at Kibbutz Ginosar. It is 9 meters long, 2.5 meters wide, and 1.25 meters high.

Mark 8:11-13

11 When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had arrived, they came and started to argue with him. Testing him, they demanded that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority.

12 When he heard this, he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why do these people keep demanding a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, I will not give this generation any such sign.” 13 So he got back into the boat and left them, and he crossed to the other side of the lake.


Philipians 2:5-11
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.



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Luke 9:28-43 ~ appeared in glorious splendor

Luke 9:28-43 ~ (Today's New International Version) Audio Bible

28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, 31 appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. 32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (He did not know what he was saying.)


While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. ³⁵ A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him." ³⁶ When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.

³⁷ The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. ³⁸ A man in the crowd called out, "Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. ³⁹ A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him. ⁴⁰ I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not."

⁴¹ "You unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here."

⁴² Even while the boy was coming, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the evil spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father. ⁴³ And they were all amazed at the greatness of God.

This is a passage you know if you grew up in the Church reading the Bible. It's like wrapping paper on a gift; you see the package, it's beautiful and you proceed to open the present. You believe the person giving you the gift has something in the wrapping paper. Think about reading this to someone who is unfamiliar to the Scriptures. You'd have to provide the who, what and why. You would start with explaining Jesus Christ, His identity & sacrifice for you and the newby.

After you've finished explaining this passage, you are going to be asked why would holy people dead for a 1,000 years show up. You could give them the prophecy from Malachi 4:5 , but it might not satisfy & you would be asked why these men appeared. Why did God choose to send them?

Look at what is ahead for Jesus, an incredible ordeal. Are the disciples much help? As much help as young children helping to fill out your tax forms. Jesus was as encouraged as His disciples. Moses and Elijah spoke to Jesus words of encouragement, as living men who had come through dealing with vast quantities of rebellious people against God Himself. Jesus is able to move ahead in spite of the children of Israel - his disciples - fumbling & bumbling at the foot of the mountain.

Perhaps when you look over this passage, it wouldn't be the passage you would want to explain. Dead prophets appearing and epilepsy interpreted as demons... much more understandable to the first century man. This time the wrapping paper comes with the gift, you wouldn't wad up the wrapping paper and throw it to your host to demand clean up would you?

Historically Jesus lived and died... this is archaeology... unless you are James Cameron. Even Roman Emperors for the first 400 years after Jesus died believed this & came to fear the power of the name of Jesus. So, Jesus was able to die for mankind, you, and unable to converse with men living with God? Jesus who healed the blind, cured the deaf and gave hope for 2,000 years was not gifted with spiritual discernment to know when He was dealing with epilepsy or not?

Forget this whole argument if you please, but know you have been given a gift today. You have been given the Valentine of knowing God the Father, sent comfort to His Son, before His Sacrifice. God does not desert us, God will always hear us and seek us.

We give you great praise Father, for the Steadfast Love that defines You. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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