Psalm 135 ~ all the kingdoms

Windswept, by Marianne Post.
Windswept. Oil on canvas, by Don Gray.

Psalm 135

David Cochran, English Standard Version

1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the name of the Lord,
give praise, O servants of the Lord,
2 who stand in the house of the Lord,
in the courts of the house of our God!
3 Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;
sing to his name, for it is pleasant! [for he is beautiful]
4 For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself,
Israel as his own possession.

5 For I know that the Lord is great,
and that our Lord is above all gods.
6 Whatever the Lord pleases, he does,
in heaven and on earth,
in the seas and all deeps.
7 He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth,
who makes lightnings for the rain
and brings forth the wind from his storehouses.

8 He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
both of man and of beast;
9 who in your midst, O Egypt,
sent signs and wonders
against Pharaoh and all his servants;
10 who struck down many nations
and killed mighty kings,
11 Sihon, king of the Amorites,
and Og, king of Bashan,
and all the kingdoms of Canaan,
12 and gave their land as a heritage,
a heritage to his people Israel.

13 Your name, O Lord, endures forever,
your renown, [remembrance] O Lord, throughout all ages.
14 For the Lord will vindicate his people
and have compassion on his servants.

15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
16 They have mouths, but do not speak;
they have eyes, but do not see;
17 they have ears, but do not hear,
nor is there any breath in their mouths.
18 Those who make them become like them,
so do all who trust in them!

19 O house of Israel, bless the Lord!
O house of Aaron, bless the Lord!
20 O house of Levi, bless the Lord!
You who fear the Lord, bless the Lord!
21 Blessed be the Lord from Zion,
he who dwells in Jerusalem!
Praise the Lord!

Acts 2:1
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.

Psalm 1:4
The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

John 3:7,8
Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Our lives....

Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.



Canaan is, of course...... Israel. We sometimes believe we are going forward in God's plan, when in fact we are acting as the Canaanites. Not the Children of God we hope to be. With this passage being about God being in our midst, what are some of the Biblical manifestations of the Holy Spirit?

1 Corinthians 12

¹ Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. ² You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. ³ Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

⁴ There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. ⁵ There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. ⁶ There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

⁷ Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. ⁸ To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, ¹⁰ to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

¹² Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.


An unknown tongue unto God (I Corinthians 14:2). Tongue that edifies you (I Corinthians 14:4; Jude 20). Assists you in prayer (Romans 8:26-27). Stirs up the prophetic ministry (I Corinthians 14:5). Refreshes your soul (Isaiah 28:11-12). Gives victory over the devil (Ephesians 6:18). Helps you worship in the Spirit (I Corinthians 14:14-15; Hebrews 2:12).

When you sing in the Spirit, God joins in with you and confuses and defeats the enemy (Isaiah 30:29-31). Tongues breaks the yoke of bondage (Acts 16:25). Brings you into the presence of God (Psalm 22:3). Aids you in intercession (Romans 8:26).

A known tongue that is a sign to unbelievers (I Corinthians 14:2; Acts 2:6). A foreign language spoken without being learned.

A tongue that is understood through interpretation and edifies the Church (I Corinthians 14:15).




Tongues. Everyone has a vivid, vivid opinion on this manifestation of the Spirit. The work of the Holy Spirit is to help us to go down God's path. We get so caught up in "Tongues" ( good vs. bad) we forget our own language - our own speech - the things spoken around us are useful to God. This is the edification of tongues, with the list above. It is talking. The thing we do all day. And even in our sleep.

A message of wisdom - can be a warning for danger in our behavior, etc. A blessing. And encouragement. Warming our heart, and our lives. It can be a reminder we would rather not hear leading to the goodness of God's pasture. (Like don't eat that extra helping.)

A message of knowledge - can be a message you alone understand, because it is your thoughts the Spirit is speaking to. I know a man having an affair and he was warned at a dinner party. In plain view of the other people, a serious conversation, and it was still a private conversation. A moment of the Holy Spirit.

A message of faith - having a question, a decision being needed. A word fitly spoken. Usually spoken to by Scripture. Even the drive-by Church Scripture on the billboard.

Proverbs 25:11
Like apples of gold in settings of silver Is a word spoken in right circumstances.


~ to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits

~ 9 who in your midst, O Egypt

How will we know if we are in the middle of a Working of the LORD?

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

When we can take that advice, it speaks to us and we can apply Jesus is Lord to that advice and to our lives.

God spoke to Elijah not with a bull horn, or a blow torch. God did not seek to dominate or control Elijah, He wanted to encourage him and give him faith, hope and love.

1 Kings 19
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. ¹² After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. ¹³ When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Father God, be the wind in our lives. Direct our hearts, our thoughts to Your glory. In You, have us live, move and have our being. In You, is our goodness.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, my rock and my redeemer. Forgive me when I am wrong, when I am self-centered and selfish. Set me again on Your path. Not because I am so worthy, but for the sake of Your Son.

Strengthen me when you would have me speak, give me the gift of wisdom when I need patience and silence. Comfort me when it is Your word and it angers someone. Let my life be the seed you would plant, growing into the largest tree in the forest, letting Your creation come and be gathered in Your love and Your joy. Help me to live Your peace and give Your peace, God who is Love. In the name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.



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1 Kings 9:1-5 ~ I have heard your prayer and your plea

The House of Yahweh Ostracon (a writing on pottery also known as the “House of God Ostracon”) discovered in Arad, an ancient Judean city. Now located in the Israel Museum. The Ostracon is written in ancient Hebrew and dated to the early 6th century BC, it is considered to be one of the earliest references to the Temple Solomon built in Jerusalem outside of the biblical accounts. The House of Yahweh Ostracon reads, in part, as follows: "To my lord Elyashib, may the Lord seek your welfare…and as to the matter which you command me-it is well; he is in the House of Yahweh [God]."

1 Kings 9:1-5

1 As soon as Solomon had finished building the house of the Lord and the king's house and all that Solomon desired to build, 2 the Lord appeared to Solomon a second time, as he had appeared to him at Gibeon. 3 And the Lord said to him, “I have heard your prayer and your plea, which you have made before me. I have consecrated this house that you have built, by putting my name there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time. 4 And as for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you, and keeping my statutes and my rules, 5 then I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’

The promises of Abba began in Genesis. traditional Jewish dates have Abraham living in 1812 B.C. to 1637 B.C.


Genesis 12:2-4
And I will make you a great nation,
And I will bless you,
And make your name great;
And so you shall be a blessing;

And I will bless those who bless you,
And the one who curses you I will curse.
And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

So Abram went forth as the LORD had spoken to him

Abraham's children's blessings continued to 1000 B.C. to David.

1 Samuel 16:12-13
And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” ¹³ Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward.

David believed the Lord.

2 Samuel 28
And now, O Lord GOD, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. ²⁹ Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord GOD, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.”

David's promises began to be fufilled in Solomon's lifetime.

2 Chronicles 5
¹¹ And when the priests came out of the Holy Place (for all the priests who were present had consecrated themselves, without regard to their divisions, ¹² and all the Levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, their sons and kinsmen, arrayed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, stood east of the altar with 120 priests who were trumpeters; ¹³ and it was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the LORD), and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the LORD,

“For he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever,”

the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, ¹⁴ so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.

Hezekiah was the 14th King of David's line, in 600 B.C.

Isaiah 38:20
“The LORD will surely save me;
So we will play my songs on stringed instruments
All the days of our life at the house of the LORD.”

God is still in the business of mercy, healing and hearing prayers.

Isaiah 38:4-6
4 Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah, saying, 5“Go and say to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of your father David, “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will add fifteen years to your life. 6“I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city.”’


Luke 2:9-14
And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. ¹⁰ And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” ¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Many years have passed, what can we say about these passages for us today? Do God's promises end or apply to us?


Romans 8:38
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.


John 5:17
Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working."

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Luke 2:8-20 ~ just as they had been told

Angels found painted in the Cathedral of Seville, Spain

Shepherds in the Field, painted by Nicolaes Berchem. Detail of the angels.

Jesus with the Angels, Artist Unknown. Beautiful.

Shepherds in the Field, painted by Nicolaes Berchem.

The Nativity, painted by Gerard van Honthorst

Luke 2:8-20 ~ (New International Version)

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.


Colossians 2:6
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him

Galatians 3:26
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus

Colossians 1:10
And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God




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Hebrews 10 ~ He who promised is faithful

Hebrews 10

David Cochran, English Standard Version

¹ For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. ² Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? ³ But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. ⁴ For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

⁵ Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said,

“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,
but a body have you prepared for me;
⁶ in burnt offerings and sin offerings
you have taken no pleasure.
⁷ Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,
as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’”

⁸ When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), ⁹ then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. ¹⁰ And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

¹¹ And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. ¹² But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, ¹³ waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. ¹⁴ For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

¹⁵ And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,

¹⁶ “This is the covenant that I will make with them
after those days, declares the Lord:
I will put my laws on their hearts,
and write them on their minds,”

¹⁷ then he adds,

“I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”

¹⁸ Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

¹⁹ Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, ²¹ and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, ²⁵ not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

²⁶ For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. ²⁸ Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. ²⁹ How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” ³¹ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

³² But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, ³³ sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. ³⁴ For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. ³⁵ Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. ³⁶ For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. ³⁷ For,

“Yet a little while,
and the coming one will come and will not delay;
³⁸ but my righteous one shall live by faith,
and if he shrinks back,
my soul has no pleasure in him.”

³⁹ But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

Rylands Papyrus - John 18:31-33 and 37-38, dated at about 125 A.D.Magdalen Papyrus - Matthew 26 -sometime between 30 and 70 A.D.

Oxyrhynchus Papyrus - sayings of Jesus which have parallels in all four gospels, perhaps 110-130 A.D.

Perhaps you have heard the Scriptures were all written around the 4th century by literate men who never knew Jesus. (The archaeology of Peter's house tells us Peter was literate and so were James and John.) This passage tells us - No - this is not correct. There were 4 centuries of Roman Emperors who created the word "traitor" by demanding Christians hand over the Scriptures written on papyrus as letters in exchange for their lives. We are very fortunate to have Scripture today after the 4 centuries of off and on again persecution of Christians. Within 16 years of Jesus' death - an obscure man in the outpost of Judea, a mere suburb of the Roman Holding of Syria - many would be changed forever for belief in Him. The persecution of Christians began 16 years after Jesus died. 1550 miles from Jerusalem. The Good News of Jesus spread very quickly, changing hearts, capturing the attention of the Roman Empire.

The Scriptures have survived persecution in many generations. Fragile bits of Papyrus with an amazing accuracy on all the pieces. The Vatican has well over 1100 Early Christianity Scriptures. In each generation, regardless of peace or war, the Scriptures have been examined. For millenniums these Scriptures bring the Love Jesus Christ has for you personally.

This passage refers to the on-going sacrifices as part of daily life. When did the Jews quite sacrificing the daily sacrifice? 70 A.D. - the destruction of Jerusalem and it would have been the time of Jesus' natural death. God wouldn't have Jesus forgive all of us from the cross and have His generation destroyed. It wouldn't be.... like God.


If we sum up this passage with the bottom line - it has a very, very positive meaning and is very portable - God expects us to go forward. To grow Spiritually; To grow in Faith.

1 Corinthians 6:20
you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.


^{Mark 2:22}
And people do not pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins."

New wine - being changed by Jesus, seeing our lives as a gift from God and for God, not just another salmon swimming upstream without hope and going through the daily work. Old wine - what is valued, mellowed, cherished. What is Jesus telling us? We cannot change, cannot save ourselves. We cannot do it ourselves. With God all things are possible. Every day, we take our old wine - the things we value, the things the world expects, old hurts, the things that concern us. And we put them before God - the new wine of the Holy Spirit. Then we see the blessings and we thank Him.

Psalm 97

¹ The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice;
let the many coastlands be glad!
² Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
³ Fire goes before him
and burns up his adversaries all around.
⁴ His lightnings light up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
⁵ The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the Lord of all the earth.
⁶ The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
and all the peoples see his glory.




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Isaiah 2:1-5 ~ Light of the Lord

Handel's Messiah - Listen

Isaiah 2:1-5

1 This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:

2 In the last days
the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established
as chief among the mountains;
it will be raised above the hills,
and all nations will stream to it.

3 Many peoples will come and say,
"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
to the house of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
so that we may walk in his paths."
The law will go out from Zion,
the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

4 He will judge between the nations
and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore.

5 Come, O house of Jacob,
let us walk in the light of the LORD.

When the Bible tells us about Heaven, we just see glimpses. Most people are interested in Heaven. Dwight L. Moody tells of a man who lost a loved one & began to pour over the Scriptures. It is a good thing to be able to comfort each other by being able to know what the Scriptures say about Heaven. This passage tells us 'nations' will be taught by the Lord.



1 Corinthians 13:12
12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.


1 Corinthians 2: 7-9
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written:

“ Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”






Isaiah agrees with the book of Revelation:

Revelation 21:1-4
1 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. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live 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."



Revelations tells us how many people will be heaven and how salvation is given:

Revelations 7: 9-10
9 After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:


"Salvation belongs to our God,


who sits on the throne,


and to the Lamb."

Heaven is walking in the light of God. Our Christmas lights are glimpses of the Light. The first chapter of John tells us about Jesus:

John 1:3-9
3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

The Nativity (also known as the Holy Night or as Adoration of the Shepherds) is a painting finished around 1529-1530 by the Italian painter Antonio da Correggio

6 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

Psalm 97

¹ The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice;
let the many coastlands be glad!
² Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
³ Fire goes before him
and burns up his adversaries all around.
⁴ His lightnings light up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
⁵ The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the Lord of all the earth.

⁶ The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
and all the peoples see his glory.
⁷ All worshipers of images are put to shame,
who make their boast in worthless idols;
worship him, all you gods!

⁸ Zion hears and is glad,
and the daughters of Judah rejoice,
because of your judgments, O LORD.
⁹ For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth;
you are exalted far above all gods.

¹⁰ O you who love the LORD, hate evil!
He preserves the lives of his saints;
he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
¹¹ Light is sown for the righteous,
and joy for the upright in heart.
¹² Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous,
and give thanks to his holy name!

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Revelation 4 ~ living creatures

Revelation 4

David Cochran, English Standard Version

1 After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. 3 And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald.

4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, 6 and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.

And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: 7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. 8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,

“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and is and is to come!”

9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.”

The Annunciation, painted by Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859 – 1937) first African American to gain international fame.

Luke 1:19
And the angel answered him, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news."


Isaiah 55:8
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.


Luke 20:38
Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him."


Daniel, Ezekiel, Isaiah and Paul were all given visions of heaven. All of them spoke of God as being a God of the Living.

Jesus is quoted 118 times telling us of Heaven in His 4 Gospels. 31 times Jesus tells us Heaven is a Kingdom, the Kingdom of Heaven. When He was asked who would get into Heaven, He said:

Matthew 19:25-26
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” ²⁶ But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Only in Jesus Christ, whom we wait upon in joy and in anticipation. Jesus brought us Life.

Romans 10:9
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.






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Luke 1:39-45 ~ believed

Luke 1:39-45

³⁹ In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, ⁴⁰ and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, ⁴² and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! ⁴³ And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵ And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."


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.”

Luke 1:38
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Luke 1:46
And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior"

Luke 1:56
Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

Matthew 1:4
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife

Luke 2:15-18
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” ¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Luke 2:22 [Jesus Presented in the Temple ]
When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord

Luke 2:21-23
Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against"

Mark 6:2-4
When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.

John 19:27
and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.


Acts 1:14
They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

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Judges 12 ~ judged Israel

Judges 12

David Cochran, English Standard Version

¹ The men of Ephraim were called to arms, and they crossed to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, "Why did you cross over to fight against the Ammonites and did not call us to go with you? We will burn your house over you with fire." ²And Jephthah said to them, "I and my people had a great dispute with the Ammonites, and when I called you, you did not save me from their hand. ³And when I saw that you would not save me, I took my life in my hand and crossed over against the Ammonites, and the LORD gave them into my hand. Why then have you come up to me this day to fight against me?"

⁴Then Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead and fought with Ephraim. And the men of Gilead struck Ephraim, because they said, "You are fugitives of Ephraim, you Gileadites, in the midst of Ephraim and Manasseh." ⁵And the Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan against the Ephraimites. And when any of the fugitives of Ephraim said, "Let me go over," the men of Gilead said to him, "Are you an Ephraimite?" When he said, "No," ⁶they said to him, "Then say Shibboleth," and he said, "Sibboleth," for he could not pronounce it right. Then they seized him and slaughtered him at the fords of the Jordan. At that time 42,000 of the Ephraimites fell.

⁷Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died and was buried in his city in Gilead.

⁸After him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel. ⁹He had thirty sons, and thirty daughters he gave in marriage outside his clan, and thirty daughters he brought in from outside for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years. ¹⁰Then Ibzan died and was buried at Bethlehem.

¹¹After him Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel, and he judged Israel ten years. ¹²Then Elon the Zebulunite died and was buried at Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.

¹³After him Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel. ¹⁴He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys, and he judged Israel eight years. ¹⁵Then Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died and was buried at Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.

Part of our sermon last Sunday was learning to answer the call of Jesus Christ - loving the not loving. And asking prayers for the family we'd rather not gather with over love and joy. Or the neighbor at the neighborhood party that would look good stuffed over his own mantle.

This was our reading for the sermon:


Luke 6:32-35 (The Message)
32 If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. 33 If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. 34 If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that's charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that. 35 "I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You'll never - I promise - regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we're at our worst.

I am not the best at doing this. The Romans liked their dignity. Hey. I do too.

The Message explains pretty well why the two tribes of Israel were fighting each other -

⁴ So Jephthah got his Gilead troops together and fought Ephraim. And the men of Gilead hit them hard because they were saying, "Gileadites are nothing but half breeds and rejects from Ephraim and Manasseh."

So many conflicts are because we try so hard to place each other on the totem pole ranking system. And lots of turmoil results from it. Innuendo, hearty joke and jab with retaliation not far behind. Trouble. Each year, we all gather together to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ with our families. And there will be 'opportunities for a solution'.

I'm from the south - raised most of my years in Texas with parents from Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi. We moved to Pennsylvania for 4 years and I had really always wanted to be in a snow fight. What could be more Christmassy? Let me tell you, if you have never participated in a snowball battle, you have to pack a snowball for it to fly. That happy, happy song about snowflakes that fall on your nose and eyelashes - has nothing, nothing, nothing to do with being hit with a snowball in the face in a snow fight. Even the word snowball is misleading. Ice propellant would be more accurate. So suddenly you are not just cold to pieces, you are now hit in the face with a baseball ice propellant. It is just plain fun like falling off of the roof. I clearly remember watching some 8th grader guys from my class in Emporium, PA very happily take time to set up battle grounds over Christmas trees set out for pickup. Oh, yeah. It looked like a movie studio scene for a little while and then there was jumping over "the fort" for a fist swinging 'good' time. And I thought... there is the reality of it all.

Judges 12 is actually a great passage for this. Jephthah is swung into reaction. So, so very different than David. David complained a lot. Read the Psalms - not everyone was great to wonderful David all the time. David in his complaining - to the Lord - not everyone he could find on the telephone and text and FB, was actually coming to grips with the reality of mankind. David was doing something important - He Was Growing Up. In David's vast life of hero, husband, fugitive, crazy man, and outcast, expatriate killer to king - David never forgot to invite the backsliders to be on his side.

Okay - sure - fine - Jephthah was Justified. Nasty Ephraim didn't help out, Never Did Call, and then began to shovel out fresh hell of totem pole judgement. Nasty, nasty, nasty Ephraim. They've Always Thought that They Deserved More Ever Since Grandpa Jacob Mentioned Them First. Those guys can't even pronounce things correctly. So.... we are going to kill 42,000 of them. Christmas colors are red .... right?

How did Israel feel after the fields ran red (and Christmas was over?) Ibzan of Bethlehem tells us. Overall Israel was Not Pleased. Ibzan starts out doing everything he can to reach out to be inclusive. Kind. Mixing people together. And was it reaction? No. It was a plan. Ibzan knew that trouble is part of life. Like David did. They decided that something was Larger in the mix than being ignored, mistreated and an ignorant comment.

So here's the Christmas thought from a real hero:

Luke 6:35
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

He is kind to...me. Maybe just, maybe I can drum up some of this kindness stuff. God willing to grow His Holy Spirit within me. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.


Merry Christmas!




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Matthew 22:23-33 ~ after them

Matthew 22:23-33

23 The same day Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection, and they asked him a question, 24 saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies having no children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up children for his brother.’ 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died, and having no children left his wife to his brother. 26 So too the second and third, down to the seventh. 27 After them all, the woman died. 28 In the resurrection, therefore, of the seven, whose wife will she be? For they all had her.”

29 But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 31 And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God: 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.” 33 And when the crowd heard it, they were astonished at his teaching.

Today, we don't spend a lot of time wondering what happens to a woman married to 7 brothers. Perhaps we don't even spend time wondering if the people around us will be given Heaven. We, fortunately, live in an age of increasing medical knowledge and antibiotics. More & more people wonder if God would be so cruel as to have a Hell and place His creation in Hell if we don't believe Jesus Christ is His Son. I've had two people say this to me just recently.

The Sadducees believed in no resurrection. The Pharisees believed in religious appearances, and all were told by Jesus daily - He believed more in mercy than sacrifice.

We, this generation, are more like Genesis 2 & 3.

We are vastly different from God - God looked upon emptiness and -

God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

God called the expanse Heaven. God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.

And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. And God saw that it was good.

God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.

So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

And God blessed them.

God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.

And God blessed them.

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.

At least the Sadducees were astonished at His teaching... God sees emptiness and gives, gives, gives and creates. He sees His Creation with gratitude. He blesses His creation. We - look upon our Spiritual ingratitude - and feel full.

The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Can mankind really feel comfortable judging the LORD? In our ease, we de-bunk the validity of Scriptures, usually without being informed. Relying instead on our own limited time and intuition on earth. The conversation continues today:

3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “ 'Did God actually say', ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”

(Emphasis color change added to represent the seed of doubt sown prolifically.)

But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

We invite the LORD into our conversations about Jesus being the only way into Heaven. We invite Him to be part of the "how can God be so unjust"... conversations.

But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God."

Romans 11:15-23
For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?

16 If the dough offered as first fruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. 19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear.

21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. 23 And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again.

Notice this passage!! The saved are not to be arrogant or proud. We cannot judge God's plan of salvation for the unsaved. We shine as lights, not as wet blankets. We do not allow Jesus to be pulled from His Divinity, but we are not placed to judge God's plan of salvation for the weak.

Romans 15:1
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.

What do we say to the lost, the wondering, the pensive? .... Ask them if they don't limit God by the limitations of human weakness.... they will find answers for themselves if they will seek, knock, but the first step should begin.

God has the power to graft them in again.

Jesus spoke on salvation - Who gives us salvation?

Matthew 19:25-26
25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Luke 18:1b
they ought always to pray and not lose heart

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Journey of Faith performed a Christmas "Flash Mob" at the South Bay Galleria in Redondo Beach on December 18, much to the delight of local shoppers. Thanks to all who participated. Merry Christmas everyone!!


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Psalm 138 ~ my strength of soul You increased

Psalm 138

David Cochran, English Standard Version

¹ I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart;
before the gods I sing your praise;
² I bow down toward your holy temple and
give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.
³On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.

⁴ All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O LORD,
for they have heard the words of your mouth,
⁵and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD,
for great is the glory of the LORD.
⁶ For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly,
but the haughty he knows from afar.

⁷ Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
and your right hand delivers me.
⁸The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands.

This is the week we've feted the Needlepoint Group, the College Parents Prayer Group and the Couples Group, we've been in for 11 years. 3 parties in 5 days in our home. (My youngest son chipped his left front tooth with a longboard accident, I went in with him to the dentist to recover my right front tooth! Again.) Covered Dish - many hands make the work lighter and the joy more lasting. Last night I had 3 hours of sleep. Yet there is real joy. It has been a year of looking forward with hope and so much better from the first two Christmas' after Isabelle's death. The Scripture says we look forward to the future with a smile.

Not even the traffic has put a snarl in my heart.

As Christmas Day approaches, we also think about what this year has brought us.

God gives us time to heal. To give us blessings to fill our heart. Lots of reading Scripture for the comfort. So many small matters have really been placed in perspective of importance. Really learning not to fret. In the middle of all of that trouble, God has saved my life. It wasn't lost; sometimes we just need to remember how saved we are. I am stronger. My strength of soul, He has increased. In His love He will continue to fulfill His purpose for me.

And for you as well.

Merry Christmas.

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