Psalm 68 ~ Father of the fatherless and protectors of widows is God

Sycamore tree in Jericho

Psalm 68

1 God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered;
and those who hate him shall flee before him!
2 As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away;
as wax melts before fire,
so the wicked shall perish before God!
3 But the righteous shall be glad;
they shall exult before God;
they shall be jubilant with joy!

4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name;
lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts;
his name is the Lord;
exult before him!
5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows
is God in his holy habitation.
6 God settles the solitary in a home;
he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,
but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

7 O God, when you went out before your people,
when you marched through the wilderness, Selah
8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain,
before God, the One of Sinai,
before God, the God of Israel.
9 Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad;
you restored your inheritance as it languished;
10 your flock [1] found a dwelling in it;
in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.

11 The Lord gives the word;
the women who announce the news are a great host:
12 “The kings of the armies—they flee, they flee!”
The women at home divide the spoil—
13 though you men lie among the sheepfolds—
the wings of a dove covered with silver,
its pinions with shimmering gold.
14 When the Almighty scatters kings there,
let snow fall on Zalmon.

15 O mountain of God, mountain of Bashan;
O many-peaked [2] mountain, mountain of Bashan!
16 Why do you look with hatred, O many-peaked mountain,
at the mount that God desired for his abode,
yes, where the Lord will dwell forever?
17 The chariots of God are twice ten thousand,
thousands upon thousands;
the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary.
18 You ascended on high,
leading a host of captives in your train
and receiving gifts among men,
even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there.

19 Blessed be the Lord,
who daily bears us up;
God is our salvation. Selah
20 Our God is a God of salvation,
and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.
21 But God will strike the heads of his enemies,
the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways.
22 The Lord said,
“I will bring them back from Bashan,
I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,
23 that you may strike your feet in their blood,
that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from the foe.”

24 Your procession is seen, O God,
the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary—
25 the singers in front, the musicians last,
between them virgins playing tambourines:
26 “Bless God in the great congregation,
the Lord, O you who are of Israel's fountain!”
27 There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead,
the princes of Judah in their throng,
the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.

28 Summon your power, O God, [Your God has summoned your power]
the power, O God, by which you have worked for us.
29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem
kings shall bear gifts to you.
30 Rebuke the beasts that dwell among the reeds,
the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples.
Trample underfoot those who lust after tribute;
scatter the peoples who delight in war.
31 Nobles shall come from Egypt;
Cush shall hasten to stretch out her hands to God.

32 O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God;
sing praises to the Lord, Selah
33 to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens;
behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
34 Ascribe power to God,
whose majesty is over Israel,
and whose power is in the skies.
35 Awesome is God from his [your] sanctuary;
the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people.
Blessed be God!


Deuteronomy 10:14,15

To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. Yet the LORD set his affection on your forefathers and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nations, as it is today.

The great wide path isn’t the path of the Lord. The Lord doesn’t ask us blend in with the crowd. He asks us to look for Him, to seek Him and to find Him. The Lord our God and Father asks for a personal relationship like Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus went out of his way to find Jesus and found Jesus. Jesus, teaching us about our Father, welcomed Zacchaeus with love and interest. Zacchaeus was jubilant with joy.

Luke 19:1-6

1-5 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

Also remember an important subject on family and fathers. One of Jesus' last words was to adopt John into His family by giving John His Mother. Then as Mary Magdalene found Jesus at the empty tomb, Jesus tells Mary, "Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" We Are Adopted into Jesus' Family.

Does God understand the challenges of not having an earthly father? Yes. God does. I know I do, my father left us when I was a teenager. It is heart wrenching to loose your dad.


Exodus 22:22
You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child.

Job 24:3
They drive away the donkey of the fatherless; they take the widow’s ox for a pledge.

The Scriptures are written for you, here is what God says:

Job 29:11
When the ear heard, it called me blessed, and when the eye saw, it approved, because I delivered the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to help him.


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Genesis 45:1-15 ~ And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it.

Jesus Wept. Sculpted by Mike Scovel.

Genesis 45:1-15 (Revised Standard Version)

[1]
Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him; and he cried, "Make every one go out from me." So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers.

[2] And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it.
[3] And Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph; is my father still alive?" But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence.
[4]
So Joseph said to his brothers, "Come near to me, I pray you." And they came near. And he said, "I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.


[5] And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.
[6] For the famine has been in the land these two years; and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest.
[7] And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors.
[8] So it was not you who sent me here, but God; and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
[9] Make haste and go up to my father and say to him, `Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not tarry;
[10] you shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children's children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have;
[11] and there I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come; lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty.'
[12] And now your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth that speaks to you.
[13] You must tell my father of all my splendor in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. Make haste and bring my father down here."
[14] Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck.
[15] And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that his brothers talked with him.


John 11:35
Jesus wept.

By Dr. George C. Anderson

The good news in the story of Joseph is forgiveness. God wants us to know Joseph’s compassion didn’t come from a careless heart or a blasé heart. The good news of forgiveness is repeated when Jesus wept for Lazarus, "Jesus wept." God will get us from the valley of the shadow of death to the summit. He will meet us at our lowest place and stay with us until we get to a better place. He will meet us in our grief, in our fear, in our doubt, in our despair, in our dark depression. In Christ, God joins his cry to ours. He shares in our grieving so as to share in our rejoicing. God joins us in the verse "Jesus wept."

I say this for all those who may have lost loved ones months, even years ago, and who still grieve, maybe with added pain because others have gone on with their lives and have perhaps forgotten how much was lost in yours. There is good news in knowing the weeping came from Jesus Himself. By His grace, our sighs can become our prayers to the one who raised Lazarus and did not Himself remain in the grave. The Spirit of that resurrected One will join with our spirit and share in the sigh too deep for words and raise it as an offering to the throne of grace.

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Matthew 5:43-48 ~ perfection

Matthew 5:43-48 - Listen

43-48 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

My friend - who is my walking buddy and dear, dear friend- we were discussing the subject of being kind to hateful people yesterday. This is not one of my better attributes. I personally like to be offended until a sharp verbal stick jabs out, as long as the hypocrisy is avoided. Avoidance of jerks is fine with me, as well. I think frenemies are unhealthy. So, I do not speak from perfect experience in loving my enemies.

My friend said she had overcome someone who was unkind in 6th grade by killing an outspoken jerk with kindness. She said the unpleasant girl used sarcastic comments because she was unhappy. I remembered something that always touches me: my best friend, in kindergarten, lived 4 houses down from me and the boy next door to her was a 6 or 7 year old. He was huge to us. Mark used to lurk in his front yard, with a hill, and when I’d leave to go home, he’d use try to body slam me down the hill. Several body slams for each evening. I was afraid of him, on that hill, he looked two feet taller than me.

One day, Mark was running up to me, slammed into me and I was falling back. In desperation, I reached around him and held on to him – like a hug. We were both very surprised. Mark looked so surprised, that instead of screaming like a caveman, his face worked with a lot of different emotions. Eventually his face changed to being pleased. And instead of continuing to bounce me down the hill. He swiftly left. I went home being very pleased with myself, instead of being afraid.

The next evening Mark charged at me yelling like a caveman. I waited until he was close enough and threw my arms around him. He was perfectly still and quiet until I let go. I smiled and started to leave, he waited for me to get about 15 feet again and began the stampeding screaming. I turned hugged him again and we repeated the process. It was an evening ritual (with a lot of smiling) for about a week, until some neighborhood grownup made a gushy comment of how sweet. That killed that.

The next evening, Mark was waiting, he really was puzzled. No more smiling. He was turning to go to his backyard and unhappy. He was leaving, I knew the game was over. I ran at him making caveman screams, he turned back with a ferociously mean face, and I opened my arms to indicate I was going to hug him. The unhappy look was gone, he really enjoyed running from me and screaming I was trying to hug him. This evening ritual went on a long time.

Several years later, the family moved. Because I was older, the neighbors told me the rest of Mark’s family life. Mark’s mother was an aspiring (& became famous) artist, what I didn’t know was, Mark’s mother put all her 3 kids outside after breakfast and they weren’t allowed back in the house until dark. Mark wasn’t just lurking outside, he was alone as it was getting to be dark.

Forgiveness is a process. Graciousness has to be acquired. If you are like me, and we are both novices at loving our enemies, we can both ask God to forgive us and to forgive them. We can pray for God the Father to help bring peace. We will look for His grace to grow in this situation. I know the people like Mark in this world would appreciate it.

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Psalm 51 ~ deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation; and my tongue shall sing aloud of Thy righteousness

blud-gilt'-i-nes: Found in the King James Version in Psalm 51:14. The Revised Version adds Exodus 22:2,3; 1 Samuel 25:26,33. Ezekiel 18:13 indicating the phrase does not necessarily signify bloodshed, but any grievous sin which, if it remains, will block God's favor to His land and people. Psalm 51 is to be interpreted in this light.

Leviticus deals with the type of sacrifice needed for different sin. For the more severe crimes, like murder, the death penalty was given; then lesser offenses were given fines and excommunication. Evidently, God does not see all sin as alike to Him.

In the New Covenant, we are given the assurance: we are all sinners and God the Father reaches out to us in love, to forgive us. In Acts, sinners receive condemnation, even during this lifetime, for their sins. The first-century church witnessed these events knowing the Old Testament. They recognized God’s work among them was consistent with Scripture, which had so accurately revealed His character. At no point did the church feel compelled to offer the rationale: That was then; this is now.

In chapter 8 of Acts, one who sins asks prayer to receive forgiveness for his sin. Paul tells him to pray to be forgiven.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Psalm 51 American Standard Version

1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: According to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions; And my sin is ever before me.

4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, And done that which is evil in thy sight; That thou mayest be justified when thou speakest, And be clear when thou judgest.

5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity; And in sin did my mother conceive me.

6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts; And in the hidden part thou wilt make me to know wisdom.

7 Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Make me to hear joy and gladness, That the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

9 Hide thy face from my sins, And blot out all mine iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence; And take not thy holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; And uphold me with a willing spirit.

13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; And sinners shall be converted unto thee.

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation; And my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

15 O Lord, open thou my lips; And my mouth shall show forth thy praise.

16 For thou delightest not in sacrifice; else would I give it: Thou hast no pleasure in burnt-offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: A broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: Build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then will thou delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, In burnt-offering and in whole burnt-offering: Then will they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

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Psalm 71 ~ You will restore my life again

Snow Drops. Even a child will be able to plant these flower bulbs & produce amazing results with little effort. With the first rays of sunshine, the green shoots of snowdrops start to emerge. These little flowers are used to pushing their way up through the snow. Snowdrop bulbs are tiny; it's great to spot them poking through the snow, and knowing that spring is only a few weeks away.

God is good on so many different levels. We know He gave us, freely, gave us, His Son, Jesus Christ, God brings us into eternity with Him. We know we have eternal redemption and peace with Him. We trust Him to bring us home and, also, to care for our loved ones.

God is also concerned with our lives, He doesn't just forsake us. He promises He will never leave us or forsake us. We may see many trouble in this life, but His Scripture fully assures us, He is with us helping and caring. Lent is 40 days. God gives us opportunity all the time to renew, regenerate & grow. We can rely upon God, His love doesn't change. But in Jesus Christ, we are new creatures and we can look at our sins, habits or patterns and seize His hope and opportunities to change.

40 days of Flood, 40 days of waiting for land - Genesis 7
40 days of Egyptian embalming for Israel - Genesis 50:3
40 days, Moses was on the mountain with God, twice - Exodus 24:18, Exodus 34:28-29
40 days, the spies of Moses (God did not ask for) looked at the promised land - Numbers 13:25
40 years, the children of Israel wandered after not seizing the promised land - Numbers 14:33
40 days Goliath mocked Israel - 1 Samuel 17:16
40 days, Elijah strengthened by one angelic meal went to Mount Horeb where the Lord passed by and he heard the voice of God - 1 Kings 19:8
40 days to repent, Jonah warned the City of Nineveh until God would overthrow the city.
40 days the people repented in those 40 days and God spared the city - Jonah 3:4
40 days Jesus fasted in the wilderness - Matthew 4:1-2
40 days Jesus was seen on earth after His crucifixion - Acts 1:3

Psalm 71
Max McLean Audio Bible, English Standard Version


1 In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame.

2 Rescue me and deliver me in your righteousness;
turn your ear to me and save me.

3 Be my rock of refuge,
to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.

4 Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of evil and cruel men.

5 For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD,
my confidence since my youth.

6 From birth I have relied on you;
you brought me forth from my mother's womb.
I will ever praise you.

7 I have become like a portent to many,
but you are my strong refuge.

8 My mouth is filled with your praise,
declaring your splendor all day long.

9 Do not cast me away when I am old;
do not forsake me when my strength is gone.

10 For my enemies speak against me;
those who wait to kill me conspire together.

11 They say, "God has forsaken him;
pursue him and seize him,
for no one will rescue him."

12 Be not far from me, O God;
come quickly, O my God, to help me.

13 May my accusers perish in shame;
may those who want to harm me
be covered with scorn and disgrace.

14 But as for me, I will always have hope;
I will praise you more and more.

15 My mouth will tell of your righteousness,
of your salvation all day long,
though I know not its measure.

16 I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD;
I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone.

17 Since my youth, O God, you have taught me,
and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.

18 Even when I am old and gray,
do not forsake me, O God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
your might to all who are to come.

19 Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God,
you who have done great things.
Who, O God, is like you?

20 Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter,
you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
you will again bring me up.

21 You will increase my honor
and comfort me once again.

22 I will praise you with the harp
for your faithfulness, O my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,
O Holy One of Israel.

23 My lips will shout for joy
when I sing praise to you—
I, whom you have redeemed.

24 My tongue will tell of your righteous acts
all day long,
for those who wanted to harm me
have been put to shame and confusion.

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Deuteronomy 9:4-12 ~ It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity that you are going in to take possession of their land

Deuteronomy 9:4-12 (New International Version)

4 After the LORD your God has driven them out before you, do not say to yourself, "The LORD has brought me here to take possession of this land because of my righteousness." No, it is on account of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is going to drive them out before you. 5 It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity that you are going in to take possession of their land; but on account of the wickedness of these nations, the LORD your God will drive them out before you, to accomplish what he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 6 Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people.

7 Remember this and never forget how you provoked the LORD your God to anger in the desert. From the day you left Egypt until you arrived here, you have been rebellious against the LORD. 8 At Horeb you aroused the LORD's wrath so that he was angry enough to destroy you. 9 When I went up on the mountain to receive the tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant that the LORD had made with you, I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights; I ate no bread and drank no water. 10 The LORD gave me two stone tablets inscribed by the finger of God. On them were all the commandments the LORD proclaimed to you on the mountain out of the fire, on the day of the assembly.

11 At the end of the forty days and forty nights, the LORD gave me the two stone tablets, the tablets of the covenant. 12 Then the LORD told me, "Go down from here at once, because your people whom you brought out of Egypt have become corrupt. They have turned away quickly from what I commanded them and have made a cast idol for themselves."


Wow. Technology is a good thing. So many people, when I google, have something wonderful to say about Deuteronomy 9. God’s message is so encouraging. We don’t deserve it, we can’t sustain deserving it, and God wants to overwhelmingly bless us.

When we believe Jesus is Lord, when we let His grace live in our lives, we are adopted in by Jesus Christ to being the chosen people of God.

Googling is a good thing. Some people just don’t love Deuteronomy; this portion of the bible lets us know we are a mess. Funny, I don’t see it as anything less than a blessing.

Deuteronomy sounds like parenting to me. When I was 6, I lost one (just one, mind you) very expensive and brand new shoe in a construction sand pile. The shoe loss occurred during a visit to a new friend, where I had never visited before. My mother attempted to recover the shoe, but the new mother, we didn’t know, shrugged, and said she needed to leave to go to an appointment. I could tell my mother was unhappy and it was promised to be a discussion with my dad when he returned home. The discussion said I should take better care of my belongings, not leave them somewhere haphazardly to be picked up later. I was told they knew I could be careful, I’d be receiving a new pair of shoes & they knew I’d take better care of the next shoes.

My parents did not shrug and say let’s get another pair of shoes tomorrow. They didn’t hug me and say what a sweet precious, of course, you need new shoes. It was a lesson on how to get a long in life. Learn from your mistakes.

What does it look like to be God’s chosen people? God has a passion for holiness; all of the law is to teach us how to live life. God’s people should want to love and choose Him. God chose to love us and He fulfills His promises to us.

What does it look like to let God know we choose Him? Today, I read about a family who reads the Scriptures, every day, they each pick a verse of what they read to write down and think about. We see God’s word with faith. We love the Lord our God with all of our heart and soul. Love our neighbor as ourself. We call upon Jesus Christ to save us with His forgiveness.

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Job 4:1-21 ~ if one ventures a word with you

If one ventures a word with you, will you be offended?
But who can keep from speaking?

Job 4:1-21 (New Revised Standard Version)

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:
"If one ventures a word with you, will you be offended?
But who can keep from speaking?
See, you have instructed many;
you have strengthened the weak hands.
Your words have supported those who were stumbling,
and you have made firm the feeble knees.
But now it has come to you, and you are impatient;
it touches you, and you are dismayed.
Is not your fear of God your confidence,
and the integrity of your ways your hope?

"Think now, who that was innocent ever perished?
Or where were the upright cut off?
As I have seen, those who plow iniquity
and sow trouble reap the same.
By the breath of God they perish,
and by the blast of his anger they are consumed.
The roar of the lion, the voice of the fierce lion,
and the teeth of the young lions are broken.
The strong lion perishes for lack of prey,
and the whelps of the lioness are scattered.
"Now a word came stealing to me,
my ear received the whisper of it.
Amid thoughts from visions of the night,
when deep sleep falls on mortals,
dread came upon me, and trembling,
which made all my bones shake.
A spirit glided past my face;
the hair of my flesh bristled.
It stood still,
but I could not discern its appearance.
A form was before my eyes;
there was silence, then I heard a voice:
'Can mortals be righteous before God?
Can human beings be pure before their Maker?
Even in his servants he puts no trust,
and his angels he charges with error;
how much more those who live in houses of clay,
whose foundation is in the dust,
who are crushed like a moth.
Between morning and evening they are destroyed;
they perish forever without any regarding it.
Their tent-cord is plucked up within them,
and they die devoid of wisdom.'


My grandmother left me her little black book. I realized, fast, it’s a contradiction in terms when I was telling a friend how I treasure her little black book. Her little black notebook has her thoughts on her bible studies, filed alphabetically, by subject of her study.

Grandmother had a great page, in her little black book, (the page I can’t find again today) saying God makes His plans for us because He is The Lord. I remember it came from Deuteronomy, but today I can’t find it.

Romans 9:14-18, Exodus 33:19*
What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses,
"I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."[*]
It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.

You have to love the book of Job; it is so relevant today: good intentions, poor discernment, wanting to please the Lord, laziness in communication, struggling to please the grieved, trying to do good, copping out, excuses & valiant effort. Job is, obviously, the Lord’s great bible book on the Lord’s will & overcoming suffering. Today, we are talking about discernment. And loving your neighbor as yourself.

It was surprising to me to read Job 2:3, God says this about Job:
Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity

Eliphaz is a contradiction, he is a loyal friend, praising Job, enduring through Job’s many disasters, but offering up advice from Eliphaz’s very own special vision. Eliphaz praises Job for his many efforts to strengthen others and gives the best advice possible – God is the basis of Job’s hope. But Eliphaz has judged Job as being unrighteous – someone who has deserved tragedy. Maybe Eliphaz is comforting himself, the disasters falling on Job will not fall on Eliphas, himself, because he sees Job as a man who has the appearance of righteous, but is a sinner. Eliphaz clings to a vision of rigid Religious Law, and refuses to see suffering comes to us all. Eliphaz clings to Religion instead of the hope of God’s redemption.

Before we kick Eliphaz to the curb, he should be praised. Eliphaz hangs in there and listens (sometimes poorly) to an angry, offensive and offended Job. Everyone I’ve talked to about losing a parent (as an adult offspring) is astonished this great hurt is treated by our fast-paced life as, more or less, a speed bump. It hurts at the time, but after the initial shock, we should move on. Many more people will ask, “How you are doing” after losing a parent, but not take any action like sending a note. I have been guilty of this myself, but realized after Isabelle’s death how much it means to receive a note written with a few thoughts on it.

Usually grief takes at least a year to recover from losing a parent. More like two years for losing a child, as I did. One of my peeves as a grieving parent is to be asked, delicately, how I am. When I reply, I say, “I’m pretty good.” That is a good description, I am not fine, and really do not care to lie. But I am tired of being asked and then receive a look like I am a damp spot on a bright day. It’s annoying. But I am like Eliphaz says, “If one ventures a word with you, will you be offended?” I don’t always want to be asked about grieving, but at the same time, don’t want Isabelle to be forgotten. With all grieving, help comes from the Lord. Psalm 121.

Eliphaz, a Jew, is more like today’s Jewish community, he understands it will take time to recover. No one in the Jewish community is expected to put aside grief like changing a tire. After the funeral is over, the crowds don’t pat the grieved on the back and depart. The calling, gathering, food and cards take quite a while before it’s finished. Mirrors are covered with black cloth, there is usually a black banded wreath on the door. What I appreciate about this acknowledgement of grief: the knowledge a human being – valuable to the Lord – isn’t swept away with a euphemism of celebrating their life and moving on.

We are fortunate knowing Jesus is the basis for our hope. We are fortunate knowing Job’s desire, never to be born, was healed, he began to see the blessing in this life again & found earthly redemption for his sorrow. We know the end of Job’s story. In Jesus Christ, we are assured there is a time of enduring peace and joy.

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Mark 7:1-13 ~ Word of God

Mark 7:1-13

1 The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and 2 saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were "unclean," that is, unwashed. 3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.[a])

5 So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, "Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with 'unclean' hands?"

6 He replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:
" 'These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
7 They worship me in vain;
their teachings are but rules taught by men.'[b]

8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men."

9 And he said to them: "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! 10 [d,e] For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.' 11 But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban' (that is, a gift devoted to God), 12 then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. 13 Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that."

a. Mark 7:4 Some early manuscripts pitchers, kettles and dining couches
b. Mark 7:7 Isaiah 29:13
d. Exodus 20:12; Deut. 5:16

e. Exodus 21:17; Lev. 20:9

Deaf Ears, Blind Eyes, and Thick Heads. The pharisees were in the presence of the Light of the World and saw only lawlessness. This occurs to us today, when Jesus Christ’s love is thrown out. Holiness is viewed as achievable moral excellence with man-made rules and definitions.

This formal tradition of the elders is applied when Christianity becomes Religion. Probably, most of this formality occurs when there isn’t a personal relationship with the Lord. One of my friends from church , a wonderful and witty lady, said talking to the Lord is just like having a conversation. Her husband doesn’t expect to come home to his wife saying, in solemn, austere, stilted tones, with her hand folded properly, “Dear Doug… How was your day?... Thank you for providing for us…We are grateful…. I hope you will continue to bless us… We are mindful of the needs of others…. Thank you…. “

About nine years ago, I was having a conversation with a group of English Christians. They were saying the Church of England’s attendance level fell off after the bombing of England during World War II and I asked them why. One said it was because God did not protect them from the horrors of war and then the anger led to indifference. One said it was because people were crying out to God, while the church just read the liturgy with the traditional order for a typical year, leaving people feeling the church didn’t respond to their ferocious need.

In each life, tradegy will strike. We do not leave this life unaffected. We can receive our lives as a blessing, knowing God rains on the just and the unjust. Understanding we are the just and we are the unjust; we are saved by God’s grace – not ours. Our lives find meaning by finding the blessing in our lives and being a blessing. Or we can spend our lives becoming bitter, trying to have meaning in life only by playing by the old school rules. Filling our lives with things like materialism; we’ve all seen the bumper sticker, ‘whoever has the most toys wins’.

Real blessings in life come from faith, hope and love.

Word of God Speak by Mercy Me -Listen

1 Corinthians 13:13
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.


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John 1:43-51 ~ Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!

I saw you under the fig tree.

Nathanael was having a prayer conversation with the Lord; a quiet moment to discuss something very important with Him. Nathanael knew this prayer was an intensely important prayer discussion. Nathanael was coming in all honesty, straight to the Lord.

After being questioned by Peter over a withered fig tree, Jesus says: Mark 11:22-24
“Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

During prayer, a believing Nathanael knows, deeply in his soul, the Lord God has been part of their prayer conversation and listens with an open, loving heart. Nathanael recognizes immediately Jesus is the Christ, the long promised Son of God, sent to save God’s people. Nathanael recognizes Jesus as his Savior.

Nathanael recognizes Jesus again in the last chapter of the book of John.

John 21:1-7, 12
Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. "I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?"

"No," they answered.
He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!"

12 Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord.

Jesus was very pleased with the first person to recognize Him, even before the disciples were banded together. He was amused by Nathanael, his bluntness, but the Lord knew Nathanael spoke to the Lord expecting Him to show up. With Nathanael’s belief, Nathanael had no trouble discerning the Lord.

We are all called. Jesus invites us to come and see greater things. Come and see, come and be a part of greater things!

Psalm 68:19
Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up,
The God who is our salvation. Selah

John 1:43-51

43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”

44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”

48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?”
Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”

49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”

50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

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Genesis 41:1-36 ~ I remember my offenses today

Joseph, Overseer of Pharaoh's Granaries, 1874. Painted by Lawrence Alma Tadema

The cupbearer, a high ranking officer, guards against poison in the king's cup, and sometimes swallows the wine before serving it. This is a position of great influence; only people well thought of by the king & highly esteemed for courage, honesty, industriousness and service will be chosen.

In Genesis 41, Pharaoh’s chief cupbearer, remembers his offenses today. Not only does the cupbearer remember his offenses, he speaks to Pharaoh of: his offense, the anger of the Pharaoh, of imprisonment, of a person he met in prison & who helped him only once.

We cannot know the heart of the cupbearer, he could be like the worldly, shrewd, dishonest servant in Luke 16:7,8
"Then he asked the second, 'And how much do you owe?'
" 'A thousand bushels of wheat,' he replied.
"He told him, 'Take your bill and make it eight hundred.'
The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.

But the cupbearer puts all of the story in front of Pharaoh. If this man, Joseph, is wrong, the cupbearer is not one whom Pharaoh has never cast doubt upon. The cupbearer has gone past gratitude for forgiveness, he speaks up of his offenses and of his knowledge. The cupbearer wants others to share in his good fortune. He wants Pharaoh, who imprisoned him and terrified him with threat of his own death, to be comforted. This cupbearer doesn’t seem to be bitter, he is better. The fruit of the cupbearer, going out on a limb to bring a prisoner in front of Pharaoh, is the deliverance of Joseph.

Philippians 2:5-7
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.

Jesus, knew our offenses. Luke 22:42
"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."

Genesis 41:1-36

1 After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile, 2 and behold, there came up out of the Nile seven cows attractive and plump, and they fed in the reed grass. 3 And behold, seven other cows, ugly and thin, came up out of the Nile after them, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. 4 And the ugly, thin cows ate up the seven attractive, plump cows. And Pharaoh awoke. 5 And he fell asleep and dreamed a second time. And behold, seven ears of grain, plump and good, were growing on one stalk. 6 And behold, after them sprouted seven ears, thin and blighted by the east wind. 7 And the thin ears swallowed up the seven plump, full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream. 8 So in the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was none who could interpret them to Pharaoh.

9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “I remember my offenses today. 10 When Pharaoh was angry with his servants and put me and the chief baker in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, 11 we dreamed on the same night, he and I, each having a dream with its own interpretation. 12 A young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. When we told him, he interpreted our dreams to us, giving an interpretation to each man according to his dream. 13 And as he interpreted to us, so it came about. I was restored to my office, and the baker was hanged.”

14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they quickly brought him out of the pit. And when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh. 15 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” 16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” [1] 17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Behold, in my dream I was standing on the banks of the Nile. 18 Seven cows, plump and attractive, came up out of the Nile and fed in the reed grass. 19 Seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and thin, such as I had never seen in all the land of Egypt. 20 And the thin, ugly cows ate up the first seven plump cows, 21 but when they had eaten them no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were still as ugly as at the beginning. Then I awoke. 22 I also saw in my dream seven ears growing on one stalk, full and good. 23 Seven ears, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprouted after them, 24 and the thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears. And I told it to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.”

25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years; the dreams are one. 27 The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind are also seven years of famine. 28 It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29 There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt, 30 but after them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will consume the land, 31 and the plenty will be unknown in the land by reason of the famine that will follow, for it will be very severe. 32 And the doubling of Pharaoh's dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about. 33 Now therefore let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plentiful years. 35 And let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. 36 That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine.”

Footnotes
[1] 41:16 Or (compare Samaritan, Septuagint) Without God it is not possible to give Pharaoh an answer about his welfare.

John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life”

Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

Romans 3:24
and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Romans 4:7
"Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

Jeremiah 31:34b
Declares the LORD, "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."

Matthew 6:12
Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Matthew 6:14,15
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Psalm 25:18
Look upon my affliction and my distress
and take away all my sins.

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1 Corinthians 10 ~ Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God

1 Corinthians 10 (Today's New International Version)

1 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry." 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9 We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.

11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to us all. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

14 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.

18 Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? 19 Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons. 22 Are we trying to arouse the Lord's jealousy? Are we stronger than he?


23 "I have the right to do anything," you say—but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do anything"—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26 for, "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it."

27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. 29 I am referring to the other person's conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another's conscience? 30 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?

31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.


Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God.

Have you seen the Superbowl commercial put on by Hulu?


The analogy or parable isn’t about aliens, but more the concept of what we do put in our lives. When was the last time popular media really thought about what’s good for us instead of what’s pleasing? Okay, that concept has been hashed out time and time again. Ad nauseum.

But here is an alien concept: why do we expect media to lead us in what’s right? Why don’t the 89% of praying and believing Americans let the media know, if you produce junk that isn’t good for us, we won’t see it or support it? Isn’t it an act of kindness to lead the entertainers in a good path?

It can happen and it does happen, but not as often as it could. Moviemakers were stunned, in the last months, when they produced a children’s film from a book, Golden Compass, that was savagely anti-christian and anti-catholic. Made with top famous, highly paid actors, directors and special effects people. Outspoken atheists were elated to “disengage children from the myth of Christianity”. Many sequels and games were planned from the movie, lots of advertising. The internet buzzed about how absolutely horrible the anti-christian agenda was hidden in the movie. It completely flopped.



Movie makers keep looking with some interest at the revenue from Christian themes and Christian values movies. But movie makers want to entertain and teach their values, Christians attend, without too much of a problem. Or we go and we are surprised with the current motive packed in as a side glitch. We don’t have to be surprised.

It’s kindness to encourage friends to see a movie coming out to support a relationship with Jesus Christ. When we don’t have a good way to bring up our faith, we can bring up the movies and books we enjoy and support. We don’t have to support or encourage entertainment to be less than good for us.

The Dove Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to encourage the creation, production, distribution and consumption of family friendly values and entertainment. The website is: http://www.dove.org/

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The ashes are made from blessed palms used in the Palm Sunday celebration from the previous year. The ashes are christened with Holy Water and are scented by exposure to incense. Our foreheads are marked with ashes reminding us life passes away on earth. We remember and are told; "Remember, Man is dust, and unto dust you shall return." God is gracious and merciful to all who call on Him with repentant hearts. His Divine mercy is of utmost importance and we seek His mercy during Lent with reflection & prayer.

You are Invited to Attend Ash Wednesday with Us:

Hope Pointe Anglican Church

3333 South Panther Creek

on the Southeast Corner of Woodlands Parkway and South Panther Creek

Across the Street from McCullough Junior High School

The Woodlands, Texas 77381

7:00 P.M.

It seems almost comical to mention, but today when we think of a cloud hanging over us, we think of bad news and bad luck. I’ve said before, and will say again, we are so very fortunate to live in this present day, after Jesus gave us the new covenant. Today, I thought of all the people in the Old Testament who have seen the glory of God; how did they react and where are they today, I wondered.

This cloud, the fire of the Holy Spirit, led the children of Israel. It kept Pharaoh’s army from attacking until they could cross to freedom through the Red Sea. But after walking through the Red Sea, seeing Pharaoh and his army destroyed, the children of Israel still complained again and again.

Remember the story of Jesus and the 10 lepers:
Luke 17:11-19
Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"
When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed.

One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."

Remember Jesus told parables and the Pharisees were angry? Today, when we read the story of Jesus and the lepers, we are the lepers and Lent is the time to remember to say thanks. We call upon His Name to save us, believe in our hearts and our lives change to reflect His Grace and Mercy.

Numbers 9

The Passover

1 The LORD spoke to Moses in the Desert of Sinai in the first month of the second year after they came out of Egypt. He said, 2 "Have the Israelites celebrate the Passover at the appointed time. 3 Celebrate it at the appointed time, at twilight on the fourteenth day of this month, in accordance with all its rules and regulations."

4 So Moses told the Israelites to celebrate the Passover, 5 and they did so in the Desert of Sinai at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. The Israelites did everything just as the LORD commanded Moses.

6 But some of them could not celebrate the Passover on that day because they were ceremonially unclean on account of a dead body. So they came to Moses and Aaron that same day 7 and said to Moses, "We have become unclean because of a dead body, but why should we be kept from presenting the LORD's offering with the other Israelites at the appointed time?"

8 Moses answered them, "Wait until I find out what the LORD commands concerning you."

9 Then the LORD said to Moses, 10 "Tell the Israelites: 'When any of you or your descendants are unclean because of a dead body or are away on a journey, they may still celebrate the LORD's Passover. 11 They are to celebrate it on the fourteenth day of the second month at twilight. They are to eat the lamb, together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 12 They must not leave any of it till morning or break any of its bones. When they celebrate the Passover, they must follow all the regulations. 13 But if a man who is ceremonially clean and not on a journey fails to celebrate the Passover, that person must be cut off from his people because he did not present the LORD's offering at the appointed time. That man will bear the consequences of his sin.

14 " 'An alien living among you who wants to celebrate the LORD's Passover must do so in accordance with its rules and regulations. You must have the same regulations for the alien and the native-born.' "

15 On the day the tabernacle, the Tent of the Testimony, was set up, the cloud covered it. From evening till morning the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire. 16 That is how it continued to be; the cloud covered it, and at night it looked like fire. 17 Whenever the cloud lifted from above the Tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped. 18 At the LORD's command the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. 19 When the cloud remained over the tabernacle a long time, the Israelites obeyed the LORD's order and did not set out. 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. 21 Sometimes the cloud stayed only from evening till morning, and when it lifted in the morning, they set out. Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud lifted, they set out. 22 Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out. 23 At the LORD's command they encamped, and at the LORD's command they set out. They obeyed the LORD's order, in accordance with his command through Moses.

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Genesis 32 ~ This is God's camp

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God – Psalm 146.

Recently, Scripture for Today looked at Jacob, who isn’t always what we’d hope our children will be. Jesus came to tell us more about His forgiving Father; in Genesis 32, this is the forgiving Father of Jacob. This is not the horrible rap we hear about the terrible and vengeful God of the Old Testament.

How fortunate Jacob was to have heard from the Lord directly. The Lord tells Jacob (in Genesis 31) it’s time to return home and He will be with him. As Jacob returns home & sees the angels of God, he realizes this is God’s camp. Just as Peter soothes us being the believing, but wayward disciple, Jacob immediately decides this is two camps. One side of the camp will be “I believe”, the other side will be “If-God-does-not-come-through-I’ll-have-a-backup-plan”.

Once we were sitting on my husband’s parents’ beach veranda, overlooking the small courtyard and the neighbor’s always completely deserted, wonderful, cool, blue pool. We could see all of that blue pool, perfectly, just over the fence. It was hot. The other nieces and nephews had been using the pool all summer, and our young sons decided, after discussion, we’d supervise their swimming in the neighbor’s deserted pool. We’d all agreed, the neighbors were never, ever there and the boys would be fine. But just in case of being caught, run the opposite way of the back gate and run down the street, come home through the front door. Great plan. Until the neighbor comes home, the 7 year old runs the diversion and runs off the opposite way to make a u-turn down the block & out of sight. Both the neighbor and the 5 year old boy are looking at each other in stunned surprise. The 5 year old turns, runs out the gate, heads the other way (as directed) – for a grand total of 18 feet, does a U-turn and returns home in front of the stunned neighbor. The foolish parents realize the 5 year old had more sense than they did, & collapse in laughter, embarrassment and hilarity. No harm was done, but the very nice neighbor called asking for no repeat performances. God is merciful, indeed.

Jacob hears from the Lord, sees angels, worries and runs home to “If-God-does-not-come-through-I’ll-have-a-backup-plan”. Jacob still isn’t in a relaxed “I believe” faith mode, but he prays and wrestles with God all night long. Just as Jesus did not let Peter drown in the Sea of Galilee, the Lord blesses Jacob/Israel and helps him prevail.

The Lord sees into our hearts, perhaps Jacob and Peter were helped, in spite of their lack of present and clear faith, because the Lord is overwhelming in mercy. Or perhaps it was because they never quit seeking the Lord even in the darkness of doubt. Father God fufills His word to Jacob/Israel to be with him. He promises us He will never leave or desert us, but will always be with us, too.

The scripture, when remembering Jacob, reminds us Jacob is alive and living in the presence of God and enjoying the company of Isaac, Joseph and Abraham.

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God.


Genesis 32

1,2 Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. And when Jacob saw them he said, “This is God's camp!” So he called the name of that place Mahanaim. [1]

3-5 And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the country of Edom, instructing them, “Thus you shall say to my lord Esau: Thus says your servant Jacob, ‘I have sojourned with Laban and stayed until now. I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, male servants, and female servants. I have sent to tell my lord, in order that I may find favor in your sight.’”

6-8 And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and he is coming to meet you, and there are four hundred men with him.” Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed. He divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two camps, thinking, “If Esau comes to the one camp and attacks it, then the camp that is left will escape.”

9-12 And Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O Lord who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your kindred, that I may do you good,’ I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps. Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children. But you said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’”

13-21 So he stayed there that night, and from what he had with him he took a present for his brother Esau, two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, thirty milking camels and their calves, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys. These he handed over to his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass on ahead of me and put a space between drove and drove.” He instructed the first, “When Esau my brother meets you and asks you, ‘To whom do you belong? Where are you going? And whose are these ahead of you?’ then you shall say, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a present sent to my lord Esau. And moreover, he is behind us.’” He likewise instructed the second and the third and all who followed the droves, “You shall say the same thing to Esau when you find him, and you shall say, ‘Moreover, your servant Jacob is behind us.’” For he thought, “I may appease him with the present that goes ahead of me, and afterward I shall see his face. Perhaps he will accept me.” So the present passed on ahead of him, and he himself stayed that night in the camp.

22-32 The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had. And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.” The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. Therefore to this day the people of Israel do not eat the sinew of the thigh that is on the hip socket, because he touched the socket of Jacob's hip on the sinew of the thigh.

Footnotes
[1] 32:2 Mahanaim means two camps


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Mark 1:1-20 ~ Prepare the way of the Lord, make His path's straight

St. John the Baptist by Leonardo da Vinci. 1513 to 1516, believed to be da Vinci’s last painting. Musée du Louvre.

Prepare the way of the Lord, make His path’s straight.

Our lives can be so complex, we want something to happen or move forward, but the consequences stop us or the effort costs something in time, emotion or money. Eventually we even become more interested in the process than the goal. The first step in making our path straight is honesty. We come before the Lord honestly, knowing He knows us as well as we know ourselves.

Mark 1:1-20

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,

“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way,
3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”

4-8 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

9-11 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

12-13 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.

14-15 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

16-20 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.


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Genesis 6:5-10 ~ he walked with God

The Contention Leading Away, or Finding the Trees from the Forest:
Scholars of the Bible point out Genesis 6 is told in two voices: the Priestly writer emphasizes the progress humans made in understanding their relationship with God. The Yahwist writer describes God’s compassion in being grieved in His heart and closing the door for Noah getting into the ark. Then scholars start deciding which part was added in which century. Forgetting ancient Jewish scribes have long maintained that the first books of the Bible were actually one word from God that man has struggled to put into his own understanding, his own chapter and verse, and with punctuation.

The Argument:
Scholars then get all hung up on the details of the animals, how this is possibly true or untrue. Then the arguing really heats up to be about which society records a huge flood. And did the great flood actually occur. Contention, argument, words and fur all fly.

The Need:
Mankind has a great capacity to distract away from hurt, physical or emotional. Genesis 6, the great flood, is a story of suffering. Why do people have tragedy, illness and have suffering? How does God react to pain! Why isn’t it all good?

Just maybe this is a roadmap to living past the hurt: God saw life has wickedness, He didn’t live in denial. God acknowledges the wickedness is deep, hurtful and evil. This wickedness in our lives is sometimes forced upon us and sometimes it is us, we ourselves.

He had regret, sorrow and anger. God is seeking justice. God seeks justice, so when we afflict others, we should still want the balance of justice in order to put ourselves back on the right path of God. When we have injustice forced upon us, we should continue to pray, hope and work for justice.

God did not seek revenge. We shouldn’t either.

In the midst of God’s hurt - His plan unfurling - He finds a blessing and finds gratitude. God gives a blessing in the midst of His right to suffer, His right to be angry, to sulk, to take revenge and to inflict punishment. God gives a blessing and seeks a reason to find a blessing.

Genesis 6:5-10

5
* When the LORD saw how great was man's wickedness on earth, and how no desire that his heart conceived was ever anything but evil,
6
he regretted that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was grieved.
7
So the LORD said: "I will wipe out from the earth the men whom I have created, and not only the men, but also the beasts and the creeping things and the birds of the air, for I am sorry that I made them."
8
But Noah found favor with the LORD.
9
These are the descendants of Noah. Noah, a good man and blameless in that age,
10
for he walked with God, begot three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.


* [6:5-8:22] The story of the great flood here recorded is a composite narrative based on two separate sources interwoven into an intricate patchwork. To the Yahwist source, with some later editorial additions, are usually assigned Genesis 6:5-8; 7:1-5, 7-10, 12, 16b, 17b, 22-23; 8:2b-3a, 6-12, 13b, 20-22. The other sections come from the "Priestly document." The combination of the two sources produced certain duplications (e.g., Genesis 6:13-22 of the Yahwist source, beside Genesis 7:1-5 of the Priestly source); also certain inconsistencies, such as the number of the various animals taken into the ark (Genesis 6:19-20; 7:14-15 of the Priestly source, beside Genesis 7:2-3 of the Yahwist source), and the timetable of the flood (Genesis 8:3-5, 13-14 of the Priestly source, beside Genesis 7:4, 10, 12, 17b; 8:6, 10, 12 of the Yahwist source). Both biblical sources go back ultimately to an ancient Mesopotamian story of a great flood, preserved in the eleventh tablet of the Gilgamesh Epic. The latter account, in some respects remarkably similar to the biblical account, is in others very different from it.



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Blessed be the Lord! For He has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.

I had a conversation with a teenage boy, let’s call Zach, who was conquering his addictions & made a pretty big impression on me. In our small community, it was fairly noticeable he changed from a private school to a public school in the middle of the year; being gregarious and popular, people learned fairly quickly Zach had been discovered with drugs. Soft drugs, most people assume aren’t addictive, but Zach received counseling for 14 months because he found it very difficult to quit.

Some of the reasons, Zach told me, he’d worked hard to quit - being completely robbed twice during wilder parties by his new “friends”. Not being accepted anymore by old friends, people he respected, like my son. He said one of the things he wanted to do, was to convince teenagers drugs are a slippery slope. Zach said it was easier to quit using soft drugs than convince teenagers drugs weren’t the way to go. With his reputation, new druggies loved to come and tell Zach about their new highs, Zach tells them about the lying, the excuses, the spiral down drugs cause & they really didn’t want to hear. Zach said he hadn’t convinced one person and wanted to know how to reach people better.

On Sunday, someone new at church asked me to help them out of their job loss situation. This someone has a complicated life, more complicated than most people I know. I wrote to a few people and asked for help. I really feel pretty powerless to help.

Zach and I are in the same situation, it is just difficult to help people. It is too large a job. God is in control. Difficulty and trouble can help us see the light to Him. I read a Max Lucado article on prayer, he reminds, God hears all of our prayers. Max Lucado’s words saying, “Father, the one you love is …. ill, worried, in need, lonely or whatever the situation requires” and Abba hears us. This touched me because it is true. We should help others, when we can’t, we still can, we can pray and the One who loves us will hear.


Psalm 28

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

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

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

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


Footnotes
[1] 28:2 Hebrew your innermost sanctuary


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1 Corinthians 2 ~ my message and my preaching were not wise and persuasive words

I grew up in a Christian denomination priding itself on being loving, but not literal. One of our family members was a pastor, with a master’s in theology from a fine university. We went to church at least twice a month, I went to a private Christian elementary school and attended chapel every morning. I attended a Christian camp and went to Vacation Bible School. In fact, my mother loved Vacation Bible School and I went to several every summer when my mother would pass a sign saying one of the local churches was having one.

I have to say, I wasn’t fond of Vacation Bible School, it interfered with my summer break. In the 70’s almost everyone was Christian. Just as it is polite to say “fine” when someone asks you how you are, it was polite to reply “yes” and tell your denomination when asked if you were a Christian. I think if I’d met someone in the 70’s who said they were atheist, I probably would have thought they were communist. Hey, I was a child in the part of the city that was a lot like the suburbs.

I prayed, I wondered, but mostly I felt like God wasn’t overly interested in me. One night, I was asked by a priest to really make a commitment in my belief, was I a believer in Jesus Christ or an agnostic? I realized I was a believer. It was a moment in my life, unforgettable moment, of great and overwhelming joy.

Many years after that night, I have been privileged to have seen, heard or taken part in amazing demonstrations of the Spirit’s power. I have had occasions in my life to discuss, matter–of-factly, some of the amazing things I’ve seen God do in my lifetime and watch the other person’s mouth drop open. As I write Scriptures for Today, or tell someone something of the Lord, I realize, we have to see the Lord and His deeds with faith. Because without faith, it is seems like a tall tale or myth. Are you a believer?

1 Corinthians 2

1 When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.[a] 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.

6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 However, as it is written:
"No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love him"

[b]— 10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.[c] 14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment:
16 "For who has known the mind of the Lord
that he may instruct him?"

[d] But we have the mind of Christ.


Footnotes:
a. 1 Corinthians 2:1 Some manuscripts as I proclaimed to you God's mystery
b. 1 Corinthians 2:9 Isaiah 64:4
c. 1 Corinthians 2:13 Or Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to spiritual men
d. 1 Corinthians 2:16 Isaiah 40:13

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Mark 7:31-37 ~ taking him aside from the crowd privately

The Ark made by the Temple Institute

The Temple Institute, in Jerusalem, Israel, has an ultimate goal seeing Israel rebuild the Holy Temple on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem, in accord with the Biblical commandments. They have rebuilt the temple tools and the Ark of the Covenant with gold to be used in the third temple. Using the expression "lost" ark is not an accurate description for the Jewish people’s point of view - because it's not lost, but "Hidden," and hidden quite well.

The deaf man’s miracle, given to him by Jesus, causes biblical scholars to have a lot of speculation. It seems to have hidden meanings. One scholar says, biblically, the Holy Spirit is God’s hand to accomplish His purpose, so Jesus used His hand. Another says Jesus changed His usual method of healing showing God’s purpose is not to be dictated by men; the healing occurred because of His mercy. Jesus might have withdrawn from this particular crowd because He perceived they were overwhelmingly looking for a sign, even just for entertainment. We know, certainly, Jesus was not trying to escape hypocritical judgement by the Pharisees.

The deaf man would not hear Jesus speak to him before the healing. Most of the recorded miracles Jesus did, for specific individuals, He asked them to have faith. Jesus says to us over and over, we are in a deep relationship of love with Him. The man, formerly deaf and mute, wasn’t publicly healed, but privately, with signs he could understand.

Father God, thank You for Your mercy. Help us to understand and walk the path You planned for us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mark 7:31-37

31-37 Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

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