John 7 ~ the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true

John 7

7 After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him. 2 Now the Jews' Feast of Booths was at hand. 3 So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. 4 For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For not even his brothers believed in him. 6 Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. 8 You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.” 9 After saying this, he remained in Galilee.

10 But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private. 11 The Jews were looking for him at the feast, and saying, “Where is he?” 12 And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, “He is a good man,” others said, “No, he is leading the people astray.” 13 Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him.

14 About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching. 15 The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” 16 So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. 17 If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. 18 The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. 19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?” 20 The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?” 21 Jesus answered them, “I did one work, and you all marvel at it. 22 Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 23 If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man's whole body well? 24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

25 Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, “Is not this the man whom they seek to kill? 26 And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ? 27 But we know where this man comes from, and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from.” 28 So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, “You know me, and you know where I come from. But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know. 29 I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me.” 30 So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come. 31 Yet many of the people believed in him. They said, “When the Christ appears, will he do more signs than this man has done?”


The details of honesty. Jesus said, " my time has not yet fully come." And yet Jesus went to Jerusalem. There are at Least four passages in the New Testament about being true in all you say.

James 5:12
But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

James is the Brother of Jesus Christ and lived some sibling rivalry with HIM (i.e. this passage):

James 3:17-18
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Jesus said something about mercy, maybe,  somewhere:

Matthew 23:23
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

Paul met Jesus and said:

Hebrews 4:16
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Ephesians 2:4-10
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

This passage in the second Chapter of Ephesians  is perfect for our daily reading today.  Jesus faced his brothers in their sibling rivalry, their trespasses. And HE continued to show HIS Grace and kindness to -  all of us. We are saved through faith, as a gift.

Even His brothers learned this from Jesus . And they went into the world at large to proclaim Jesus risen from the dead.

Matthew 19:28-30
Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

Listing one more reason, we can judge with right judgment, Jesus is the SON of the MOST HIGH, GOD THE FATHER:

His brothers will not be last. In the book of Act alone, the Holy Spirit reminds us 51 times all who do the will of God are brothers and sisters. Yet we learn about Jesus' brothers and their faith.

Acts 1:13-14
And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

And we even learn about the sister-in-laws of Jesus.

1 Corinthians 9:5
Don't we have the right to bring a Christian wife with us as the other apostles and the Lord's brothers do, and as Peter does?

You have to figure these men were of God.

James 1:25
But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.

James 2:12
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!



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Psalm 1 ~ like a tree

Psalm 1

^{English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible}    

Blessed is the man^[a]
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

² but his delight is in the law^[b] of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

³ He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

 

⁵ Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
⁶ for the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.

Footnotes:
a. Psalm 1:1 The singular Hebrew word for man (ish) is used here to portray a representative example of a godly person;
b. Psalm 1:2 Or instruction

We have had an incredible year for the trees here in the Houston area. Record drought. A stunning number of trees are still standing and dead as a doorbell. Being a gardener, a friend called me to show me her incredible composting skill. That couple can really make dirt. Anyway, they called me to show me their patio tree, one of 3, shading their patio, died in the middle of the drought. It had been fertilized, watered and it just keeled over. It was the 'one' they relied upon for shade. "Why?" They asked. I said my cousin worked for the Louisiana State Forestry Commission and when he visited he said record drought is not record drought. It is just an event that has occurred again and again over the millenniums we have no record of. It is nature's way of making the forest stronger.

But they said, "The tree had all the necessary things for life." I said," It's still the stress of the event of constant wind, constant heat and it got to the tree. "

And I have to add here, we lost a 120 year old Oak that I was passionately in love with during Hurricane Ike, 2008. That grand old lady had a tornado hit her and she politely leaned over and slowly did a whole lot of damage to the next door neighbor's home. An 18 wheeler crane had to come, from Colorado, to remove that beautiful, still green tree covered in acorns. Our area township building authority saw the 3 story crane appear and drove over to see what the crane, he could see over the housetops, was doing. We had just learned our daughter, at 33 weeks gestation, was not going to live.

And wouldn't you know, Psalm 1 was my reading that tornado/hurricane evening. I felt worse than worse. It set me on a journey. What did the book of Job mean and how did it relate to me...

Psalm 1 is about hope and believing we can trust God. The acorns left by the 120 year old Oak left a tree. We are the tree that survived this year's drought. Some day, we will be the real Christmas tree that will just be glorious for this particular season. But in God's promises - all those lights of Christmas - Jesus the Light - continue to shine.


John 1:
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. ¹¹ He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. ¹² But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, ¹³ who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.



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Genesis 27 ~ He said, “Are you really my son Esau?” He answered, “I am.”

Jacob Deceives Isaac,  painted by James Tissot



Genesis 27


When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son”; and he answered, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Behold, I am old; I do not know the day of my death. 3 Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me, 4 and prepare for me delicious food, such as I love, and bring it to me so that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.”

5 Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to his son Esau. So when Esau went to the field to hunt for game and bring it, 6 Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “I heard your father speak to your brother Esau, 7 ‘Bring me game and prepare for me delicious food, that I may eat it and bless you before the Lord before I die.’ 8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice as I command you. 9 Go to the flock and bring me two good young goats, so that I may prepare from them delicious food for your father, such as he loves. 10 And you shall bring it to your father to eat, so that he may bless you before he dies.” 11 But Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “Behold, my brother Esau is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man. 12 Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be mocking him and bring a curse upon myself and not a blessing.” 13 His mother said to him, “Let your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice, and go, bring them to me.”

14 So he went and took them and brought them to his mother, and his mother prepared delicious food, such as his father loved. 15 Then Rebekah took the best garments of Esau her older son, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son. 16 And the skins of the young goats she put on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. 17 And she put the delicious food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.

18 So he went in to his father and said, “My father.” And he said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?” 19 Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me; now sit up and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me.” 20 But Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?” He answered, “Because the Lord your God granted me success.” 21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, to know whether you are really my son Esau or not.” 22 So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, who felt him and said, “The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” 23 And he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau's hands. So he blessed him. 24 He said, “Are you really my son Esau?” He answered, “I am.” 25 Then he said, “Bring it near to me, that I may eat of my son's game and bless you.” So he brought it near to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank.

26 Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come near and kiss me, my son.” 27 So he came near and kissed him. And Isaac smelled the smell of his garments and blessed him and said,

“See, the smell of my son
is as the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed!
28 May God give you of the dew of heaven
and of the fatness of the earth
and plenty of grain and wine.
29 Let peoples serve you,
and nations bow down to you.
Be lord over your brothers,
and may your mother's sons bow down to you.
Cursed be everyone who curses you,
and blessed be everyone who blesses you!”

30 As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, when Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, Esau his brother came in from his hunting. 31 He also prepared delicious food and brought it to his father. And he said to his father, “Let my father arise and eat of his son's game, that you may bless me.” 32 His father Isaac said to him, “Who are you?” He answered, “I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.” 33 Then Isaac trembled very violently and said, “Who was it then that hunted game and brought it to me, and I ate it all before you came, and I have blessed him? Yes, and he shall be blessed.” 34 As soon as Esau heard the words of his father, he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me, even me also, O my father!” 35 But he said, “Your brother came deceitfully, and he has taken away your blessing.” 36 Esau said, “Is he not rightly named Jacob?[a] For he has cheated me these two times. He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing.” Then he said, “Have you not reserved a blessing for me?” 37 Isaac answered and said to Esau, “Behold, I have made him lord over you, and all his brothers I have given to him for servants, and with grain and wine I have sustained him. What then can I do for you, my son?” 38 Esau said to his father, “Have you but one blessing, my father? Bless me, even me also, O my father.” And Esau lifted up his voice and wept.

39 Then Isaac his father answered and said to him:

“Behold, away from the fatness of the earth shall your dwelling be,
and away from the dew of heaven on high.
40 By your sword you shall live,
and you shall serve your brother;
but when you grow restless
you shall break his yoke from your neck.”

41 Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” 42 But the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah. So she sent and called Jacob her younger son and said to him, “Behold, your brother Esau comforts himself about you by planning to kill you. 43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice. Arise, flee to Laban my brother in Haran 44 and stay with him a while, until your brother's fury turns away— 45 until your brother's anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send and bring you from there. Why should I be bereft of you both in one day?”

46 Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I loathe my life because of the Hittite women.^{[daughters of Heth]} If Jacob marries one of the Hittite women like these, one of the women of the land, what good will my life be to me?”

The Shadow Knows. If you are old enough, you remember this was a radio broadcast.

John 2:25
He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.


Yin and  yang,  a Chinese philosophical idea explaining opposite forces are interconnected and interdependent of each other. In other words, good follows evil.

Psalm 23
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life

David says in the presence of his enemies, he is determined his life will still give goodness and mercy.

If life is problem solving, Isaac is having a heck of a time. He knows and believes he is the Keeper of Abraham's Blessing "Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you." And he knows he is surrounded by Rebecca, who is his love, yet is a self-interested, chess player. And Jacob, the shifty son who already has Esau's birthright for a bowl of stew. You'd think Isaac would have put a caveat saying if you're Jacob, no dice on the blessing. However, Isaac did think he was dying, but held on for Jacob to grow up and return with his 12 sons. And Rebecca did herself in, that daughter in law was a long time in coming and then, oi vay, the bickering of two of them. More sibling rivalry.

I once heard a very interesting sermon by a Catholic Priest (he'd been a married Episcopal Priest, but brought his wife and the entire congregation to the Catholic faith) on yin and yang in Christianity. Every time there is great good, evil is going to show up, because evil is, by nature, jealous of goodness. Isaac has a great blessing and he wants to decide God's will. Rebekah wants to decide God's will and improve her own life by controlling Jacob's. Jacob wants all the goods all the time and is smart enough to take a blessing of God's. Esau is going to get tired of everybody.

You would think the Scriptures would be more like Dick and Jane go to summer camp, meet and marry. Instead you see life does strange things to families trying to get by. The one thing you can say for this Biblical family, they are still together after Lamon gets finished decades later working out his own issues on his son-in-law.

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

Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us

Ephesians 3:19
and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

1 Corinthians 15:58
So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.




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2 Thessalonians 3 ~ the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored

 Photo Compiled by Investigation Bureau of Germany. I'd think this is the compilation of the numerous icons of St. Paul. Usually Paul looked more cheerful in the early Christian art.


2 Thessalonians 3


3 Finally, brothers,^{[brothers and sisters]} pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored,^[glorified] as happened among you, 2 and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 9 It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. 11 For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.

13 As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. 14 If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.

17 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.


What was Paul's thorn in the flesh? I've heard several people come up with a prayer inspired answer.  A PhD who has used his life interpreting versions of the Bible. A woman with a vast healing ministries say, separately, they believe Paul suffered from pain in his legs and knees, like arthritis. This a man who went many places for the LORD.


Today I had a great to do list and about three of the things were accomplished. Making me feel rather inadequate to write this blog. However, we press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus. Do not grow weary in doing good.

It's important when Scripture calls to you, to listen. Not to turn away in frustration. How easy to forget in verse 3, the evil one would like nothing better than to condemn us for not being perfect. Instead we remember with power and strength, grasping how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Jesus Christ. Why would we remember that with all the saints? There is not one saint in this Book explaining the attributes, the qualities, the mercy, the forgiveness of God, who has not been a sinner. The miracle explained in this paraphrase of Ephesians 3  - families named by God on earth and in Heaven -  God says come as we actually are to HIM. The miracle is He takes us as HIS own.

God explains in this passage, about eating and idleness. He could also being speaking of the work we do in tearing flesh, of sarcasm. Busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.

An example to imitate, we look to the good Jesus Christ gave us. This is one more example the Word of God is from the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. Do not grow weary in doing good. Idleness? Always pray taking our needs to the Highest Authority is never an idle thing to do.


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


The Lord be with us all. Remember Jesus Christ appeared to Paul,a sinner to bring Paul to live the adventure Paul love,  serving and loving HIM. Jesus appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.

Jesus, risen from the dead, appeared to Paul.

Acts 9:5-6
And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.  But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”

1 Timothy 3:16
He appeared in a body,
was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory.

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all. Father God, open our hearts to You. Let us be willing to be gathered to You as Your Child. Let us rest in Your Grace. In the name of Jesus Christ. We pray for Your world-wide Church for Your Love to fill and direct the people You send. Let us be Your Temple and not Herod's Royal Stoa. In Jesus' name. Amen.









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Exodus 13 ~ By a strong hand the Lord brought us out

Exodus 13

The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Consecrate to me all the firstborn. Whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine.”

Kosher kept the children of Israel surviving in the desert and giving birth. The Iron Age saw parents raising children and grandchildren instead of eking out self-existance. First born personality traits tend to be high achievers, driven, self assured, confident. They are usually the focus and center of their parent’s life, and as a result, they grow up with distinctive personality traits. Almost every one of the Presidents of the US were first born children. They are used to being relied on. Determination is next. They have probably felt this pressure from their family, and others who have relied on them being self-motivated, as they know people count on them. Organization is another part, with a system. Eager pleasers, used to having the approval of others. Peacemakers. Hiders keeping their problems hidden, in order to maintain this image.

God, that Smartie, was setting up a system where leaders had a way to be recognized and valued. Rather like Kosher working for the Children of Israel. God moving His Children forward.



3 Then Moses said to the people, “Remember this day in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of slavery, for by a strong hand the Lord brought you out from this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten. 4 Today, in the month of Abib, you are going out. 5 And when the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, you shall keep this service in this month. 6 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the Lord. 7 Unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days; no leavened bread shall be seen with you, and no leaven shall be seen with you in all your territory. 8 You shall tell your son on that day, ‘It is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ 9 And it shall be to you as a sign on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the law of the Lord may be in your mouth. For with a strong hand the Lord has brought you out of Egypt. 10 You shall therefore keep this statute at its appointed time from year to year.

Why is this night like no other? We would do well to examine our days. Gratitude is always something we need to uplift us and go forward. The Psalms tell us HE loads us with benefits each day. Without looking for the benefits we are bereft.


11 “When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and your fathers, and shall give it to you, 12 you shall set apart to the Lord all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your animals that are males shall be the Lord's. 13 Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. Every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. 

14 And when in time to come your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you shall say to him, ‘By a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery. 15 For when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of animals. Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all the males that first open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’ 

16 It shall be as a mark on your hand or frontlets between your eyes, for by a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt.”

Deuteronomy 4:34
Has any god ever tried to take for himself one nation out of another nation, by testings, by miraculous signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, or by great and awesome deeds, like all the things the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?


17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.” 18 But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle. 19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones with you from here.” 20 And they moved on from Succoth and encamped at Etham, on the edge of the wilderness. 21 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. 22 The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.

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Psalm 96 ~ Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it

Psalm 96

Oh sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!

4 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

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

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

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

This week we decided was a good time to start working on the tree.  After kids start growing up, they are not as in love with the idea of a Christmas tree. Matter of fact to bring up the Christmas Tree starts everyone, except me, groaning about the tree. And after a couple of years of trying to build the thing with the numbers falling off of the branches, I make sure we take a shot at dividing up the tree decorating. We start with the bargaining of boxes and then get to the nitty gritty. My husband does a good job with the lights, but that usually involves buying more lights and some loud discussion. Loud Discussion.

So that brought down my oldest son. Who observed the loud discussion with some humor. As he wiped that off his face, he said, "Dad, I can solve this for you.  And you will never have to do this again."  My husband paused, this sounded good. "You only have to do one thing." What ~ we wondered as we turned to look at Cal. "You just have to embrace Judaism."  My husband was not amused. But Cal and I laughed harder and harder.

And actually this is a pretty good analogy for Psalm 96.

Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; ^{[holy attire]}

We treat the Lord pretty casually these days. We arrive with our kids in wrinkled clothes. We might not arrive on time. We might have fast food on the way home. I actually know a pretty good joke. (This woman has an electric, of course, window in her car go out. And she checks on the price $350 for a .50c plastic part. So she decides not to. And then the next window goes out and the next. So she has a car with three windows that aren't working. And finally her driver's window won't go down. And she says to the mechanic can you fix this window. He says, "Lady, what about the other three windows?" She replies, "Don't You Understand!?" "What?"The Mechanic asks.  She replies, "I Feed My Family From That Window!!.")

Worship is Worship. Render to God the things that are God's. Acknowledge His Holiness and stand in awe. Let Wonder be inspiring. 


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





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Psalm 100 ~ Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!

Psalm 100


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

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

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

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


This particular Psalm is my favorite. We would belt this out, in Elementary School's Morning Prayer, while jumping and moving on the kneelers and the whole place smelled like Elmer's glue. You have to love what is dear and familiar to you. 

Below is the Old 100th Psalm and was created in 1551 A. D.  There is a good reason this one has lasted this long.  This is indeed a Joyful Noise to the LORD.







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Galatians 6:1-10 ~ restore him in a spirit of gentleness

That's My King, by Dr. S.M. Lockridge

Galatians 6:1-10

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

Brothers,^{[Brothers and sisters]} if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load.

6 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.



Muscular Christianity has been something admired through the generations. And the passage declares ... this isn't the path forward.

We were told in Church, one evening, with a very brilliant, interesting and well-known Professor from SMU, he loved the people he lived with in the Middle East. They had an endearing quality he loved; they kept urging him to say this phrase, "Allah is God, and Mohammad His Prophet." It seems if you say those words, in their tradition, then you are saved. In like Flynn. 

And our admired professor left his year long new friends, with smiles, having never uttered that phrase.  Perhaps he should have done as Paul - and become all things to all people.  The Professor was asked to just say the phrase. Instead our professor declined -  saying Jesus is KING, his Savior, the Son of God. And knowing our professor, he was gentle and witty.  

This year in his life expands this passage so well. Our friend was there learning about his lifework of Hebrew & of History, and instead his reason to boast was not his. His work as a Priest overshadowed the lessons. He proclaimed Jesus Christ in gentleness to the those who insisted on their own way. Our Priest Professor believed God would not be mocked by the repetition of a mere phrase.  He believes: 

Romans 10:9
Because, 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.

A relationship, not a religion.


In not making the requested declaration, our Priest heard a woman come up to recite prayers to one of the more questioning and reasonable men. They all knew the woman would not be able to say these prayers in Arabic and yet she perfectly recited the daily prayer, and had not a clue she omitted one phrase "and Mohammad was His Prophet."  Which would usually incite a riot, or at least a good fist fight. Instead this created a long memorable, earnest,  conversation of the tongues of fire given in the Book of Acts. The gift of language. 

Acts 2:1-8
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. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?

Now we could end our post by reporting a conversion with this miracle. Instead we will say a seed was planted.

1 Corinthians 3:4-9

4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?

5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 9 For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.


We are not blessed to know the outcome of the ears hearing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Instead we learn about the Priest.

the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, 
for in due season we will reap,
 if we do not give up. 

10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.


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Ezekiel 24 ~ write down the name of this day, this very day

Ezekiel 24


English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible



In the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, write down the name of this day, this very day. The king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day. 3 And utter a parable to the rebellious house and say to them, Thus says the Lord God:

“Set on the pot, set it on;
pour in water also;
4 put in it the pieces of meat,
all the good pieces, the thigh and the shoulder;
fill it with choice bones.
5 Take the choicest one of the flock;
pile the logs under it;
boil it well;
see also its bones in it.

6 “Therefore thus says the Lord God: Woe to the bloody city, to the pot whose corrosion is in it, and whose corrosion has not gone out of it! Take out of it piece after piece, without making any choice.^{[no lot has fallen upon it]} 7 For the blood she has shed is in her midst; she put it on the bare rock; she did not pour it out on the ground to cover it with dust. 8 To rouse my wrath, to take vengeance, I have set on the bare rock the blood she has shed, that it may not be covered. 9 Therefore thus says the Lord God: Woe to the bloody city! I also will make the pile great. 10 Heap on the logs, kindle the fire, boil the meat well, mix in the spices, and let the bones be burned up. 11 Then set it empty upon the coals, that it may become hot, and its copper may burn, that its uncleanness may be melted in it, its corrosion consumed.

 12 She has wearied herself with toil; its abundant corrosion does not go out of it. Into the fire with its corrosion! 13 On account of your unclean lewdness, because I would have cleansed you and you were not cleansed from your uncleanness, you shall not be cleansed anymore till I have satisfied my fury upon you. 14 I am the Lord. I have spoken; it shall come to pass; I will do it. I will not go back; I will not spare; I will not relent; according to your ways and your deeds you will be judged, declares the Lord God.”


15 The word of the Lord came to me: 16 “Son of man, behold, I am about to take the delight of your eyes away from you at a stroke; yet you shall not mourn or weep, nor shall your tears run down. 17 Sigh, but not aloud; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban, and put your shoes on your feet; do not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.” 18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and at evening my wife died. And on the next morning I did as I was commanded.

19 And the people said to me, “Will you not tell us what these things mean for us, that you are acting thus?” 20 Then I said to them, “The word of the Lord came to me: 21 ‘Say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the delight of your eyes, and the yearning of your soul, and your sons and your daughters whom you left behind shall fall by the sword. 22 And you shall do as I have done; you shall not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men. 23 Your turbans shall be on your heads and your shoes on your feet; you shall not mourn or weep, but you shall rot away in your iniquities and groan to one another. 24 Thus shall Ezekiel be to you a sign; according to all that he has done you shall do. When this comes, then you will know that I am the Lord God.’

25 “As for you, son of man, surely on the day when I take from them their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes and their soul's desire, and also their sons and daughters, 26 on that day a fugitive will come to you to report to you the news. 27 On that day your mouth will be opened to the fugitive, and you shall speak and be no longer mute. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the Lord.”



The Word of God is living and active, as the blog is being written I realized I'd put the new kettle on, it has no whistle and the pot has recently been corroded. However, thank the LORD, the corrosion wiped up nicely.

This week, the day before Thanksgiving, we euthanized our wonderful, treasured, loyal 14 year old Springer who had a miraculous healing from Cutaneous Lymphoma last October 19th from Texas A&M Dermatology portion of the Veterinary Medicine. Merit developed the tumors from the disease, he was prayed for, a foot heated up from the prayer and the healing began. He was healed and was told in May, by his regular Veterinarian, he appeared to be half his age. As July turned into August, similar symptoms began to occur. Merit lost 15% of his body weight; he followed me as usual, but didn't notice when I left the room. He was always worse when we left him with our good friend to be dog sat. I rationalized he couldn't sit, he couldn't stand, and he didn't know when I left the room. Putting him down wasn't easy. Merit was always determined to be by my side and never ran away, just sat by the front door.

Later, as with our last dog, also a Springer, I felt guilt because of the decision to euthanize to end the life of one who was so loyal, brave and good. The Vet told me, almost 95% of dogs are put down, not to suffer to the last minute.  We stayed with both dogs as they departed. I felt, with Merit, I had put him down too soon. With Spencer, not soon enough. I came home much more dry eyed with Merit, who was actually more my dog, by my side for 14 years. Why. More of knowledge, this time, of the certainty of seeing Merit again. Reading Romans 10
I realized Jew- the law, Greek-the wisdom Merit was going to the place some versions of Romans 10 call the oneness of God. 

Romans 10:1-2
Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. ² For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

I've heard people debate if the Lion lying down with the Lamb in Isaiah 11 is just a beautiful allegory. So many things Jesus told us in allegory expressed a greater truth. God could have sent an angel for Elijah, a cloud or a thunderbolt. Instead Father God sent horses. Just as He sends out horses in Revelations. The promises of life given during the days of Noah cover the animals. Creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of men. Surely Merit was part of His glorious and loving creation. An oasis. A dog descended from his grandsire,a winner of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, with an aunt who won also. Merit was so named because he had an extra tooth and was 10 pounds too light. His breeder hoped we would show his brother and allow her to handle his brother. Instead we had a dog who picked us. A puppy only too glad to have the collar put around his neck.

Matthew 11:30
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Merit made life easier, he let me know every minute he loved me.

Merit lived 14.2 years. .2 years longer than possible. On the day before Thanksgiving, Merit went home to eagerly wait for the day we Shall be Reunited.  Ezekiel said not to mourn because we have earned judgement from HIM. And I would agree. How I need a Savior. A Savior so gentle that promises are made to me of my undeserved salvation.  And letters written just for me to say, this is My Nature. Promises I look towards to see reunion with a treasured part of His Creation.


Isaiah 11:6-7
6 The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them.
7 The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.


Psalm 50:10-11
10 For every beast of the forest is mine,
the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know all the birds of the hills,
and all that moves in the field is mine.


Psalm 145:16
You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

Psalm 147:9 
He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call.

Matthew 6:26
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?


2 Kings 2:
11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 12 Elisha saw this and cried out, "My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!"

The four winds sent from heaven are on horses. The four winds are written of in Daniel, Zechariah and Revelations 7.

Zechariah 6:
2 The first chariot had red horses, the second black, 3 the third white, and the fourth dappled—all of them powerful. 4 I asked the angel who was speaking to me, "What are these, my lord?"

Proverbs 12:10
A righteous man has regard for the life of his animal,
But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.

Luke 18:18-19
18 A ruler questioned Him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

19 And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.

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James 3 ~ the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere

James 3

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life,^{[wheel of birth]} and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers,^{[brothers and sisters; also verse 12]} these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

~ And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

2 Timothy 4:2
preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

In Chapter XVII of his Rule of 1221, St Francis of Assisi told the friars not to preach unless they had received the proper permission to do so. Then he added, “Let all the brothers, however, preach by their deeds.”

We have adapted the phrase to say "Preach the Gospel, and if necessary,  use words."

Youth Ministry has adapted this phrase to be, "Earn the right to be heard." And even more meaningful, "Make a friend, be a friend, bring a friend to Jesus Christ."

We love to say Christians give Christ a bad rap, but we should also have mercy and say the world will always be at enmity with Christians.

Romans 8:7
The sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.

And also with this thought, life is a process - a journey, how are we to judge others when we are beset with weaknesses: 

1 Kings 19:7
7 And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.”

And the words of Jesus:

Luke 9:3
And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics."

Jesus Christ came to be our advocate and mediator. That does not make light of the people who lay down their lives for Truth, instead this is a remembrance God died for us.

Numbers 9:20
Sometimes the cloud was over the tabernacle only a few days; at the LORD's command they would encamp, and then at his command they would set out.

Psalm 37:3
Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

Psalm 37:5
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this

Proverbs 22:19
So that your trust may be in the LORD, I teach you today, even you.

Proverbs 28:26 
He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.




The best known, the most visited, the most written about, the most sung about, the most parodied work of art in the world, might have adopted her Thanksgiving face as Signora del Giocondo ruminated on:

Job 13:5
If only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be wisdom.

Proverbs 17:28
Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

Proverbs 25:11
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.

<>< !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Drive Safely, Wave with Courtesy, Pray for the Other Guy, Always. And with constant prayer be filled with gratitude. Happy Thanksgiving!






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