Psalm 101 ~ when will

Psalm 101

1 I will sing of your love and justice;

to you, O LORD, I will sing praise.

2 I will be careful to lead a blameless life—

when will you come to me?

I will walk in my house

with blameless heart.

3 I will set before my eyes

no vile thing.

The deeds of faithless men I hate;

they will not cling to me.

4 Men of perverse heart shall be far from me;

I will have nothing to do with evil.

5 Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret,

him will I put to silence;

whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart,

him will I not endure.

6 My eyes will be on the faithful in the land,

that they may dwell with me;

he whose walk is blameless

will minister to me.

7 No one who practices deceit

will dwell in my house;

no one who speaks falsely

will stand in my presence.

8 Every morning I will put to silence

all the wicked in the land;

I will cut off every evildoer

from the city of the LORD

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Psalm 98 ~ He has done marvelous things

Psalm 98

1 Oh sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.

2 The Lord has made known his salvation;
he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.

3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel.All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.

4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises!

5 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody!

6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!

7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
the world and those who dwell in it!

8 Let the rivers clap their hands;
let the hills sing for joy together

9 before the Lord, for he comes
to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity.

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1 Timothy 5:17-25 ~ sin

Jesus in the Synagogue at Nazareth by Greg Olson

1 Timothy 5:17-25

17 The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.

18 For the Scripture says, "YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING," and "The laborer is worthy of his wages."

19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses.

20 Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning.


21 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality.

22 Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin.

23 No longer drink water exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.

24 The sins of some men are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their sins follow after.

25 Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and
those which are otherwise cannot be concealed.


~ 24 The sins of some men are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their sins follow after.

Who is good?

Matthew 19:17
"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."

Jesus had to deal with questionable leaders, one of the Jewish ruling council came to Him at night to find out more. Not many people want to deal with a leader, a ruling council, who doesn't know how to make an appropriate leadership decision and sneaks in the back door, so to speak, unnoticed by the crowds. But Jesus said:

Matthew 5:44
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you

At the same time, the bible doesn't show Jesus went out of His way to find Nicodemus and keep explaining to Nicodemus. Jesus wasn't too hasty about laying hands on Nicodemus. Of course, Jesus (being fully human and fully divine) knew Nicodemus' heart, but this is an appropriate example of Jesus not glad handing Nicodemus' desire to please everyone publicly.

Jesus made himself easily and publicly available as He said in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus did not publicly condone Nicodemus for coming to find out more. But Jesus didn't announce publicly to the many people following Jesus that Nicodemus was a sneaky political leader catering to his own desire for truth without announcing it was worth finding out.

Jesus said:
John 7:24 "Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment."

Jesus could have spent His time with Nicodemus clucking over Nicodemus like a partial grandparent, but He told him something similar to:

Luke 13:4-7

4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."

6 Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. 7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?

Jesus didn't waste His time condoning all of Nicodemus' behaviour, He said:

John 3:10
Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?

We make a mistake when we don't recognize Jesus wants all of us to grow in Him. He loves us and He speaks truthfully. Because Jesus met Nicodemus and gave Nicodemus His truthful love, Nicodemus was able to grow and speak publicly for Jesus. Nicodemus was the only one to ask for the ruling council to give justice to Jesus. Nicodemus grew sufficiently to be able to annoint and prepare Jesus for burial when there would be no praise or public thanks.

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Matthew 22 ~ the greatest commandment in the Law

Matthew 22

1 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2 "The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.

4 "Then he sent some more servants and said, 'Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.'

5 "But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. 6 The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. 7 The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

8 "Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.' 10 So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

11 "But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12 'Friend,' he asked, 'how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' The man was speechless.

13 "Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
14 "For many are invited, but few are chosen."

15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?"
21 "Caesar's," they replied.

Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."

22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

23 That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. 24 "Teacher," they said, "Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and have children for him. 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. 26 The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh.

27 Finally, the woman died. 28 Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?"

29 Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. 30 At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. 31 But about the resurrection of the dead—have you not read what God said to you, 32 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead but of the living."

33 When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.

34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37 Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 "What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?"

"The son of David," they replied.

43 He said to them, "How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him 'Lord'? For he says, 44 " 'The Lord said to my Lord:
"Sit at my right hand
until I put your enemies
under your feet." '

45 If then David calls him 'Lord,' how can he be his son?" 46 No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.

When we read Jesus says the greatest of the commandments is Love - loving the Lord with all our hearts, soul and mind; love our neighbor as ourselves. It brings an awareness to me that I will see glimpses of this in myself, but it isn't within me to be loving all the time. Jesus brings us this gift to know it isn't all about the rules, it is the message of love. Why set this standard of unselfishness? Because it is God's example.

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


Romans 8 (The Message)
1-2 With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.

Father God doesn't ever ask us to save ourselves by being good enough, He offers to love us and fill us with His Love.

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Communication is important. This last week was a difficult week for our family. My mother had foot surgery to correct a failed bunion foot surgery from 8 years ago; we had planned a 2 week recovery. As we were told her surgery was complete, the phone rang and our 20 year old son was being quarantined out of Southwestern University for Influenza A, possible Swine Flu.

Where to go, how to divide up the family? A fast decision was needed. The well part of the family came home with my mother in a borrowed Yukon with a bed in the back, wheelchair, walker and a mountain of supplies. My husband drove to Austin and picked up our son and drove back to Dallas to stay in my mother's house - cut off from his work. His mother brought them supplies, now my husband (who was well) was quarantined as well.

The next day a family member, my husband's Uncle Paul, died and condolences had to be done by phone.

We've been blessed by many prayers and the week gradually sorted itself out. My mother recovered extremely quickly and was out of her wheelchair and into a walker by Thursday. Minimal pain. My son's fever was gone by Thursday and they returned home to less strict quarantine upstairs. No one was else has been sick.

Scripture for Today is very important to me. Sometimes work, family, friends, occasions, technology and necessity make it very difficult, but how I love to do Scripture for Today and look forward to the next one.

Blessings to you!

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1 Corinthians 15:29-58 ~ as for us

1 Corinthians 15:29-58

29 Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? 30 And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? 31 I die every day—I mean that, brothers—just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32 If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised,

"Let us eat and drink,for tomorrow we die.”

33 Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." 34 Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.

35 But someone may ask, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?" 36 How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38 But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. 39 All flesh is not the same: Men have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. 40 There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. 41 The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.

42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. 46 The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. 48 As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.

50 I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true:

"Death has been swallowed up in victory."

55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
 

~ 29 Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them?


What does that mean for us today?

In the 4th century, the Catholic church outlawed baptism for the dead by proxy. It can be
used to be offensive to non-christians believers. There are numerous interpretations on baptism for the dead mentioned in this passage. The explanation I understand the best about this passage is one explained to me years ago; it’s also the explanation the articles I researched, on early Christian baptism for the dead, uphold as the most feasible. When Christ was raised into His Kingdom, the faithful were resurrected by the power of His Holy Spirit. Paul and the early Christians were witnesses to many amazing miracles and phenomenal conversions, these people were the first generation to realize salvation comes from Jesus Christ. Some of these people would have had children, parents and loved ones who died before Jesus was known to them.

It would have brought comfort to the faithful to bring Jesus to their loved ones, feeling they had
given them the most important gift of all. How is that important for us today? Last year on
September 23, 2008 our daughter Isabelle was born at 33 weeks and she was stillborn. It was
so comforting to be part of bringing Isabelle to Jesus. Of course, Jesus would reach out to tiny baby Isabelle without us or if baptism had not been possible. But this is the comfort of baptism
Paul speaks of; not baptism of strangers, not strange dark ritual, not condemnation baptism, but
the joy and comfort of knowing the promises of The Almighty, Most Magnificent come to the tiniest and most frail of us all. This is a beautiful passage full of love!

Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

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1 Thessalonians Chapter 4:1-8 ~ gave you through the Lord Jesus

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

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

1 Thessalonians Chapter 4:1-8

1

Finally, brothers, we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that, as you received from us how you should conduct yourselves to please God--and as you are conducting yourselves--you do so even more.

2

For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

3

This is the will of God, your holiness: that you refrain from immorality,

4

that each of you know how to acquire a wife for himself in holiness and honor,

5

not in lustful passion as do the Gentiles who do not know God;

6

not to take advantage of or exploit a brother in this matter, for the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you before and solemnly affirmed.

7

For God did not call us to impurity but to holiness.

8

Therefore, whoever disregards this, disregards not a human being but God, who (also) gives his holy Spirit to you.

The dates of these fragments indicate the people who wrote them lived during the time of Jesus Christ on earth, or knew parents, family or friends who lived during the time of Christ.

These Papyrus survived more than 5 Roman Emperor campaigns to destroy all Christian Scripture.

For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
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Proverbs 30 ~ There are those

Japanese Bullet Trains

Proverbs 30

[1] The words of Agur son of Jakeh of Massa. The man says to Ith'i-el,to Ith'i-el and Ucal:[2] Surely I am too stupid to be a man.I have not the understanding of a man.[3] I have not learned wisdom,nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.

[4] Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name? Surely you know!

[5] Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.[6] Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you, and you be found a liar.

[7] Two things I ask of thee; deny them not to me before I die:[8] Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me,[9] lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, "Who is the LORD?"or lest I be poor, and steal, and profane the name of my God.

[10] Do not slander a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.[11] There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.[12] There are those who are pure in their own eyes but are not cleansed of their filth.[13] There are those -- how lofty are their eyes, how high their eyelids lift![14] There are those whose teeth are swords,whose teeth are knives,to devour the poor from off the earth, the needy from among men.

[15] The leech has two daughters;"Give, give," they cry. Three things are never satisfied; four never say, "Enough":[16] Sheol, the barren womb, the earth ever thirsty for water, and the fire which never says, "Enough."[17] The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures.

[18] Three things are too wonderful for me; four I do not understand:[19] the way of an eagle in the sky,the way of a serpent on a rock,the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a maiden.[20] This is the way of an adulteress: she eats, and wipes her mouth, and says, "I have done no wrong."

[21] Under three things the earth trembles; under four it cannot bear up:[22] a slave when he becomes king, and a fool when he is filled with food;[23] an unloved woman when she gets a husband, and a maid when she succeeds her mistress.

[24] Four things on earth are small, but they are exceedingly wise:[25] the ants are a people not strong, yet they provide their food in the summer;[26] the badgers are a people not mighty, yet they make their homes in the rocks;[27] the locusts have no king, yet all of them march in rank;[28] the lizard you can take in your hands, yet it is in kings' palaces.

[29] Three things are stately in their tread; four are stately in their stride:[30] the lion, which is mightiest among beasts and does not turn back before any;[31] the strutting cock, the he-goat,and a king striding before his people.

[32] If you have been foolish, exalting yourself, or if you have been devising evil, put your hand on your mouth.[33] For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife.



There are those -- how lofty are their eyes, how high their eyelids lift!


The two trains are reminders of what Rick Warren said about life. Life always has something to complain, stress, and focus on. Life also has blessings each day, to have gratitude.

Looking at the negative: Feeling stupid. Being rich and denying the Lord, being poor and becoming dishonest. Lying to get ahead and pushing someone aside. Being self-centered and not taking care of parents. Self-righteousness, being unable to admit fault or wanting to see ourselves. Such unkindness transforming our face. Mouths spewing anger, words that are knives & swords used against the poor and the helpless.

Becoming planted in taking only; becoming rooted in the tragedies that occur in life and absorbed in the catastrophe of others. Accepting sin and overlooking it for pleasure, gain or conformity.

Obtaining power to use it with the best intentions and turning it into self-gratification, foolish waste & self-aggrandizement. Playing the fool and exalting self.

Look at the wonder of gratitude, the joy of gratitude: The Mightiness of Jesus, overcoming death, establishing an eternal kingdom and returning - giving us the Good News. Jesus Christ, with God, as His Word. creating the wind, the waters and the ends of the earth.

Every word of God is flawless. He gives us a shield and answers our prayers. He, who created all things, is concerned for the small things and gives them to us to see and wonder. Ants to see diligence and believing it to become fruitful. Badgers to give us determination & perseverance with diligence, the miracles of God going to the hopeful and not the haughty. Locusts to remind us of unseen forces in a transient world, lizards remind of hope in hopeless conditions.

To take the mundane & the ordinary of life and rejoice like a child in the things adults take for granted. To give joy in observation instead of judgement, hope instead of cynical wisdom & to believe the promises of God.


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John 2:1-12 ~ Jesus had been invited

William Hole (b before 1600; d 1624). English engraver, appointed chief engraver for the Mint in London, a post he retained until his death. This painting is one of the first to place and clothe Jesus as He was during His life on earth.

John 2:1-12

1 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine."

4 "Woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied. "My hour has not yet come."

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

6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

7Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim.8 Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet."

They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."

11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples put their faith in him.

12 After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.

Why did Jesus let His first miracle occur in a little town, where only the servants and His mother would remember such a small event?

The current litmus test question, to find out how inconsequentially you allow God to seep into your life and thoughts (or how overzealous a Christian you are) is: "Do you pray at stop lights or for parking spaces?" I've had people laugh when they ask and had people laugh when I answer. I always say, "yes, I pray if I feel a need for help." But the correct answer is: don't put God in a box labeled, what "A Gigantic Creator of the Universe Should Care About." With a subtitle: "I Wouldn't Care About it, if I were God." We trust Him to listen to us and to provide for us, in His plan. Just as Mary asks & trusts Jesus - to do what He knows to be best.

Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." - John 10:10

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Proverbs 1 ~ right, just and fair

Buckalew Elementary, The Woodlands

Proverbs 1

1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
2 for attaining wisdom and discipline;

for understanding words of insight;
3 for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life,

doing what is right and just and fair;
4 for giving prudence to the simple,

knowledge and discretion to the young-
5 let the wise listen and add to their learning,

and let the discerning get guidance-
6 for understanding proverbs and parables,

the sayings and riddles of the wise.

7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,

but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

8 Listen, my son, to your father's instruction

and do not forsake your mother's teaching.
9 They will be a garland to grace your head

and a chain to adorn your neck.

It's a good week to continue to pray for our children (& parents) to have the Lord present in their classes, car/bus trips, school activities. We ask for our children to nurture others & be nurtured. We pray for their circumstances to draw them to the Lord and to draw others. Father God, in the name of your son, Jesus Christ, we ask your blessing upon these things, now and in the school year to come. So be it, Amen.

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Numbers 6:24-26 ~ The Lord bless you, keep you, be gracious and give you peace

Numbers 6:24-26

"The LORD bless you
and keep you;

25 the LORD make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;

26 the LORD turn his face toward you
and give you peace."

Life in Texas made another of those season related changes ~ lots of kids headed off to a new school year. Father God bless us as we have a new day and new changes. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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Mark 4:1-20 ~ growing up and increasing

Planting a Gigantic Sequoia tree - found in humid climates with dry summers. Giant sequoia grows best in deep, well-drained sandy loams, such as drainage bottoms and meadow edges. Likes to be planted near other pine trees. When the trees are young they prefer some shade, later in life, they are shade intolerant. Cones bearing fertile seeds observed on trees as young as 10, the usual age is 20 years. Large cone crops of reproductive maturity don't appear before 150 or 200 years. Trees grow an average 1.6 to 2.3 ft per year in height. At age 50, they are significantly taller than other fir trees!

A Gigantic Sequoia is fairly commonly sold in the nursery business. It sometimes grows in the boles of dead or removed trees. Mature trees provide a visual centerpiece for a large landscaped area. Recommend planting a giant sequoia in areas with abundant horizontal and vertical space! Such as parks, campuses, or large yards. Large enough open spaces to provide ample growing room for this species.

Mark 4 (Revised Standard Version)

Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land.

[2] And he taught them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: [3] "Listen! A sower went out to sow. [4] And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. [5] Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it had not much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil; [6] and when the sun rose it was scorched, and since it had no root it withered away. [7] Other seed fell among thorns and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. [8] And other seeds fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold." [9] And he said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

[10]
And when he was alone, those who were about him with the twelve asked him concerning the parables.

[11] And he said to them, "To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables; [12] so that they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand; lest they should turn again, and be forgiven." [13] And he said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? [14] The sower sows the word. [15] And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown; when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word which is sown in them. [16] And these in like manner are the ones sown upon rocky ground, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; [17] and they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. [18] And others are the ones sown among thorns; they are those who hear the word, [19] but the cares of the world, and the delight in riches, and the desire for other things, enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. [20] But those that were sown upon the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold."

Today is analogy day. Seeing the sky, mountains or the ocean and we are reminded of the vastness of God. God has created us as His children to be part of something so loving, so much more powerful than we can take in.

Deuteronomy 6:4
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.

We are like the seeds in today's Scripture. Planted in one place and doing our best with the seeds planted around us. As we journey through path times of famine, good & joyful times, rocky times, times of tribulation & persecution, cares of the world, delight in riches, desire for other things, acceptance and fruitfulness. We rub again the others around us in their journey.

1 Corinthians 13 is the great chapter of love, reminding us love always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

I remember the shock of being rounded up and criticized by my group of friends at 6 years old. We are a lot like the trees in the forest, needing right amounts of light, shade - rest, food and water. Part of life is learning what criticism is healthy and what is simply a tree crowding into the light. With God's love, we bloom where we are planted. As an extreme example, seeing that without God's love, we can become bitter, bent and contorted. Like the bullied boys of Columbine High School, contorting and grotesquely bending. Sometimes we are so occupied by the people around us, we forget to look up and remember God is greater than people and circumstance.

With God, we know we are far more important that seeds, or trees, or just another human cog.
God says He is not a god of the dead. He is God of the Living. In giving us His son, He invites us to His eternal Kingdom, not lasting like the Sequoia, but giving us His Love into Eternity.

"He who has ears, let him hear."

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Psalm 19 ~ reviving the soul

Psalm 19

The heavens are telling the glory of God;and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech,and night to night declares knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words;their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the earth,and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes forth like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,and like a strong man runs its course with joy.

Its rising is from the end of the heavens,and its circuit to the end of them;and there is nothing hid from its heat.

The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the LORD is sure,
making wise the simple;
the precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the LORD is clean,
enduring for ever;
the ordinances of the LORD are true,
and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honeyand drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover by them is thy servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
But who can discern his errors?

Clear thou me from hidden faults.
Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins;
let them not have dominion over me!
Then I shall be blameless,and innocent of great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

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Psalm 101 ~ dwell with me

Psalm 101

1 I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you, O Lord,

I will make music.

2 I will ponder the way that is blameless.

Oh when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart

within my house;

3 I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless.

I hate the work of those who fall away;

it shall not cling to me.

4 A perverse heart shall be far from me;

I will know nothing of evil.

5 Whoever slanders his neighbor

secretlyI will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look

and an arrogant heartI will not endure.

6 I will look with favor on the faithful in the land,

that they may dwell with me; he who walks in the way that is blameless

shall minister to me.

7 No one who practices deceit

shall dwell in my house;

no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes.

8 Morning by morning I will destroy

all the wicked in the land,

cutting off all the evildoers from the city of the Lord.

1 Kings 19:4-8 ~ a day's journey

1 Kings 19: 4 - 8

4
But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree; and he asked that he might die, saying, "It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am no better than my fathers."
5
And he lay down and slept under a broom tree; and behold, an angel touched him, and said to him, "Arise and eat."
6
And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank, and lay down again.
7
And the angel of the LORD came again a second time, and touched him, and said, "Arise and eat, else the journey will be too great for you."
8
And he arose, and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God.

Elijah received real care from FatherGod in a time of need. Today, my oldest son was travelling home from Houston on I-45. It hasn't rained in a long, long time, we are in a stage 4 drought. At about 10 a.m. he slid, on new tires, across 4 lanes of traffic with cars all around him. During the slide his car rotated 540'. He narrowly missed a concrete barrier. When he came to a halt, he was facing oncoming traffic. All the cars and all the objects had been missed and he was not harmed. Thank God for His mercy.

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Mark 1:16-39 ~ that is why I have come

Mark 1:16-39

16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people." 18 At once they left their nets and followed him.

19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, 24 "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!"

25 "Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!" 26 The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

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

29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. 31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for you!"

38 Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come." 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

Meeting Life's Demands by Ray Stedman

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed (Mark 1:35).

After this full day—and what a full day it was, what a heavy ministry our Lord had that day with all the healing He did in the evening!—Mark records that early in the morning, before it was daylight, Jesus went out on the mountainside, and there, by Himself, He prayed. But even there He was not safe. His disciples interrupted this communion, told Him that everyone was looking for Him. And Jesus reveals the heart and substance of His prayer in what He says in reply: "Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also." This is what He was praying about—that God would lead Him, doors would be opened, and hearts prepared in the cities to which He would go next.

Why did Jesus seek the Father's face like this, in these hours of pressure? The only answer we can come to is that He wants to make clear that the authority He had was not coming from Him. This is what our Lord is trying to get across to us so continually in the Scriptures—that it was not His authority by which He acted; He had to receive it from the Father.

I do not know any more confusing doctrine in Christendom today—one that has robbed the Scriptures of their authority and power in the minds and hearts of countless people—than the idea that Jesus acted by virtue of the fact that He was the Son of God, that the authority and power He demonstrated were due to His own deity. Yet He Himself takes great pains to tell us this is not the case. "The Son can do nothing by himself" (John 5:19). Why do we ignore His explanation and insist that it is He, acting as the Son of God? He tells us that "it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work"(John 14:10). And all the power that Jesus manifested had to come to Him constantly from the one who dwelt within Him.

Jesus stresses this because this is what He wants us to learn. We are to operate on the same basis. Our response to the normal, ordinary demands of life and the power to cope with those demands must come from our reliance upon Him at work within us. This is the secret: All power to live the Christian life comes not from us, doing our dead-level best to serve God, but from Him, granted to us moment by moment as the demand is made upon us. Power is given to those who follow, who obey. The Father is at work in the Son; the Son is at work in us. As we learn this, then we are given power to meet the demands and the needs that are waiting for us in the ministry yet to come.

Thank You, Father, that the same power is available to me today, making me ready so be your instrument in any and every situation in which demand is laid upon me.

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Mark 12:18-27 ~ knowing the Scriptures, knowing the power of God

The photo is unique. It's taken from the The Shroud of Turin topigraphical mapping. A regular photograph can't be mapped, but the unique shading of the Shroud adds a new dimension a regular photo does not have. The Shroud of Turin also contains radioactivity not explainable. It's worth remembering, the early art of Jesus - owned by the Vatican - before the 4th century, all show Jesus to have a face that is very similar to this, long and narrow.

Mark 12:18-27

18 Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. 19 "Teacher," they said, "Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 20 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died without leaving any children. 21 The second one married the widow, but he also died, leaving no child. It was the same with the third. 22 In fact, none of the seven left any children. Last of all, the woman died too. 23 At the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?"

24 Jesus replied, "Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? 25 When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. 26 Now about the dead rising—have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the account of the burning bush, how God said to him, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob' ? 27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!"

The subject came up about answered prayer. Some people call it Name it and Claim it. Reminds you of what was said about Abraham. "He believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness." Abraham didn't always want what God wanted. There's a chapter when Abraham laughs at the notion God is still going to provide him a son with Sarah and he tries to persuade God to bless Ishmael instead. God, amazingly, did His own thing and provided. God tends to do that.

God is pleased, even today, with Abraham's faith. Abraham did not claim the victory of God's promise to have collected God's promised blessing.

Lets see if people in the Bible used Name it and Claim it as a key to answered prayer:

In Acts 3, the man at the gate asking for alms was healed, and told to rise up and walk. He didn't even ask for healing, but he expected people going into the temple to help him. He was asking in his soul and the Spirit heard and was willing. Didn't even ask.

In Luke 12, God says consider the lilies of the feild, because He provides. The chapter goes on to say it gives God great pleasure to provide. God gives with great pleasure.

The Greek woman, born in Syrian Phoenicia, was asking Jesus to heal her daughter, in Mark 7. Jesus wasn't interested until the woman asked for scraps from the table of God. Jesus is touched by her willingness to accept her unworthiness and to ask God, and Jesus heals her daughter.

Later in Mark 7, Jesus takes the man who is deaf and mute and performs a miracle for him privately; and in a way the man understands before his hearing is restored. It isn't a miracle for display, but a communication between just a man and his God. God's glory was for one individual and carried out in private. That's how much one man means to God.

The lady with the flow of blood reached out and deliberately touched the fringe of Jesus' garment. That is Name it and Claim it. The mercy of Jesus. Paul was wise and he knew he'd asked God 3 times to remove the thorn from his flesh, but Paul recognized it was time to rest in God's hands with that prayer. But consider the story of Jacob. Name it and Claim it? Founding starter - Jacob - wrestling with God - received permanent pain in his... hip. If we weren't discussing the maker, creator and King of all, I'd think God might have been reaching for his backside and missed.

Just as only one is judged to be good, only one prayer can be considered to be perfect. It is Jesus. Let Your Will be done, Father.

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1 Corinthians 13 ~ face to face

1 Corinthians 13

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends; as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect; but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away.

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood. So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love!

Today, we had a discussion about Christian Fiction Books. I've read about 6 years of Christian Fiction Books, at book club, and I found them, at first, a little alarming. Wow, what better Christians and more saintly than I. Then interesting, wow, I thought I can learn. Then I decided, comfortably, it was dull. Okay, some I've remembered and treasured.

I read about a child who was learning about the Bible and was reading Genesis. She was asked by her priest what she thought. She said they seem to be a lot of friends and she liked that part. Friends, the priest asked? Yes, she explained, everyone 'knew' everyone else.

This ties together the point I'm trying to make. The Bible isn't Pollyana - sweetness, it's about real difficulties, real selfishness, real sin, inadvertant sin and incredible love and forgiveness. The Scriptures are about the power of love being squashed down " by trouble, persecution, the cares, the pleasures, the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things."

One of the greatest love stories in my life is my paternal grandmother. This isn't a Hallmark card or movie. One of my favorite movies has a scene, the main character goes back 20 years to high school, the most meaningful scene, she goes to see her living grandparents. Tears me up, tears me up. What a priviledge.

My grandmother has 4 great-grandchildren. 3 are named after her. My husband loves to recall my Mississippi Grandmother and her beautiful, gentle voice and aristocratic talk and ways. Such a gentle woman, believing life should be accomplished with a lot of Christian ethics. Her penmanship going back to being educated in small town, where penmanship was important. Having wonderful supportive, loving parents. Her love for her house - being one of the few not burned down "in the War of Northern Aggression." The Waaaaaarrrr of Noooorthrn Aggggresssionnnn, say it with me, there is no twang in this.

Grandmother was born in the Mississippi Delta, in the era of Eudora Weldy, and she never belonged to or joined the popular racist club. She adored Veelma, her maid, for over 30 years. Grandmother's old antebellum house looked a lot like Miss Haversham's, minus the wedding cake.

Her perfect childhood, her grandmothers she loved - living with her parents, her father's affluence, her loved remembered, discussed childhood home, her brothers she loved, her sister who annoyed her, her father saving from her from her mother's wrath when she ruined the car bumper and Pop secretly paid for the $16 ruined bumper. Falling in love with her brother's roomate from College; meeting the most handsome man in the world and marrying the man you can't live without. He was from a family with another fine house. He writes his aunt Hattie to say he is giving up alcohol to marry her.

Alcoholism can take many years to sink you down. Alcoholism and alcoholic families have several courses; beat it, join it, enable it or leave it. Grandmother, being the gentle soul she was, joined it. We had a Thanksgiving one year, she became angered - this from the most dignified, gentle loving woman in the world - and took off her wig and threw it on the table & thundered about her new marriage (my grandfather had been dead for 15 years) to her new husband, an Episcopal priest. Robin Williams would say we were pretty Episcopalian.

So.

This being said. When the great Chapter of Love is read or said, I never forget my Grandmother. When I grow old, I want to be the example of love she was to us. She found in us, absolute delight. Every time we saw her, she made sure to say, "I love you and I am so proud of you." Sincerity rang out. Sometimes she did without, to make sure we had something she wanted to give us. Grandmother knew we were parented, so she didn't parent us; she asked us what we thought and she would honestly discuss it. Grandmother wanted to know what interested us and she never encouraged us to be lawyers or doctors. Grandmother was interested in friendships and boyfriends. Her message was to forgive unkindness and to always remember the people the people who have been kind and loving to you and never to push them down. My Grandmother paid for my college education when my father scorned it. Grandmother was always astonished I had a job and flew all over the country. We grinned about it a lot.

At our Rehearsal Dinner, my Grandmother began her blessing of my marriage by saying she was "as old as God". But really, Grandmother's love was a dress rehearsal for God's love.

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Repeat - due to toothache

Luke 3:1-17

1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene— 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert. 3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:"A voice of one calling in the desert,'Prepare the way for the Lord,make straight paths for him.5 Every valley shall be filled in,every mountain and hill made low.The crooked roads shall become straight,the rough ways smooth.6 And all mankind will see God's salvation.' "

7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 9 The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire."

10 "What should we do then?" the crowd asked.11 John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same."

12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?"13 "Don't collect any more than you are required to," he told them.

14 Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?"He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely—be content with your pay."

15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ. 16 John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

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Psalm 79:8-13 ~ let thy compassion come speedily to meet us

Psalm 79:8-13
8 Do not remember against us the iniquities of our forefathers; let thy compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low. 9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name; deliver us, and forgive our sins, for thy name's sake! 10 Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?" Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of thy servants be known among the nations before our eyes!

11 Let the groans of the prisoners come before thee; according to thy great power preserve those doomed to die! 12 Return sevenfold into the bosom of our neighbors the taunts with which they have taunted thee, O Lord! 13 Then we thy people, the flock of thy pasture, will give thanks to thee for ever; from generation to generation we will recount thy praise.

It was the worst day. Work had mess ups at the factory from the quotes, the art wasn't right. My son went to Michigan to see his girlfriend today for a week, he has a sprained ankle. My husband has a really hurt pulled shoulder to neck from digging a ditch at the church and then doing disc golf. My older son went to Ultimate Frisbee and severely sprained both shins, had to go out and buy more Ace bandages. My teeth started to kill me all over, like no other, and I read it is a sinus infection. The dog, Merit, has another bladder infection & I'm worried about my 10 year old dog. So he urinated all over Cal's room in front of us and couldn't stop. Cal's dog, Jackson, threw up on the living room rug. And I broke my brand spanking new steam cleaner. But Cal fixed it.

Life has so many issues and complications, we will rest our worries for today in Jesus' arms and look for Him to bear us up.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



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Exodus 16:1-15 ~ it is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat

Monet, Train Station.

Exodus 16:1-15 (Revised Standard Version)

[1]
They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt.
[2] And the whole congregation of the people of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness,
[3] and said to them, "Would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger."

[4]
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law or not.
[5] On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily."
[6] So Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, "At evening you shall know that it was the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt,
[7] and in the morning you shall see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your murmurings against the LORD. For what are we, that you murmur against us?"
[8] And Moses said, "When the LORD gives you in the evening flesh to eat and in the morning bread to the full, because the LORD has heard your murmurings which you murmur against him -- what are we? Your murmurings are not against us but against the LORD."

[9]
And Moses said to Aaron, "Say to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, `Come near before the LORD, for he has heard your murmurings.'"
[10] And as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.
[11] And the LORD said to Moses,
[12] "I have heard the murmurings of the people of Israel; say to them, `At twilight you shall eat flesh, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread; then you shall know that I am the LORD your God.'"

[13]
In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning dew lay round about the camp.
[14] And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as hoarfrost on the ground.
[15] When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, "It is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat.

Rick Warren gave an interesting interview after “The Purpose Driven Life” became a best seller. When we come to the celebration part of our lives & when we have trouble, we can choose if we are grateful for the daily blessings or we can dissolve into worry. In prayer with Father God, we can choose to have hope.

Interview with Rick Warren , author and pastor of Saddleback Church in California . In the interview by Paul Bradshaw with Rick Warren, Rick said:

“People ask me, What is the purpose of life? And I respond: In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity. We were made to last forever, and God wants us to be with Him in Heaven.

One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body-- but not the end of me. I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillions of years in eternity. This is the warm-up act - the dress rehearsal.

God wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity. We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense.

Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one.

The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort.
God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy.
We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness.

This past year has been the greatest year of my life but also the toughest, with my wife getting cancer. I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don't believe that anymore.

Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life. No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on.

And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for.

You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems. If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness, "which is my problem, my issues, my pain." But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.

We discovered quickly that in spite of the prayers of hundreds of thousands of people, God was not going to heal my wife or make it easy for her. It has been very difficult for her, and yet God has strengthened her character, given her a ministry of helping other people, given her a testimony, drawn her closer to Him and to people.

You have to learn to deal with both the good and the bad of life. Actually, sometimes learning to deal with the good is harder. For instance, this past year, all of a sudden, when the book sold 15 million copies, it made me instantly very wealthy.It also brought a lot of notoriety that I had never had to deal with before. I don't think God gives you money or notoriety for your own ego or for you to live a life of ease.

So I began to ask God what He wanted me to do with this money, notoriety and influence. He gave me two different passages that helped me decide what to do, II Corinthians 9 and Psalm 72. First, in spite of all the money coming in, we would not change our lifestyle one bit. We made no major purchases.

Second, about midway through last year, I stopped taking a salary from the church. Third, we set up foundations to fund an initiative we call The Peace Plan to plant churches, equip leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, and educate the next generation. Fourth, I added up all that the church had paid me in the 24 years since I started the church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating to be able to serve God for free.

We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live for possessions? Popularity? Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt? Bitterness? Materialism? Or am I going to be driven by God's purposes (for my life)?

When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, God, if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and love You better ...God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He's more interested in what I am than what I do. That's why we're called human beings, not human doings.

Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD "

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