Jeremiah ~ let me go

Matthew 18:15a,16
If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.'

Michael Jursa, associate professor at the University of Vienna, made the discovery in 1991. Nebo-Sarsekim is found in a perfectly preserved Babylonian Tablet. The tablet reads "the property of Nabu-sharrussu-ukin, the chief eunuch, which he sent via Arad-Banitu the eunuch to [the temple] Esangila: Arad-Banitu has delivered [it] to Esangila. In the presence of Bel-usat, son of Alpaya, the royal bodyguard, [and of ] Nadin, son of Marduk-zer-ibni, Month XI, day 18, year 10 [of] Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon (Reynolds 2007).

The Hebrew spelling of the name is slightly different from the cuneiform, but there is no question that it is the same person. Although the NIV translates Nebo-Sarsekim’s title as “chief officer,” the literal translation is “chief eunuch,” exactly the same as in the tablet.

Reflecting on his discovery, Jursa commented, “It is very exciting and very surprising. Finding something like this tablet, where we see a person named in the Bible making an everyday payment to the temple in Babylon and quoting the exact date is quite extraordinary.”

In "Antiquities of the Jews", renowned historian Josephus says it is Ναβωσαρις. Interpreted by by Christopher T. Begg and Paul Spilsbury as Nabosaris.

Jeremiah 40 Listen

1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord after Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he took him bound in chains along with all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were being exiled to Babylon. 2 The captain of the guard took Jeremiah and said to him, “The Lord your God pronounced this disaster against this place. 3 The Lord has brought it about, and has done as he said. Because you sinned against the Lord and did not obey his voice, this thing has come upon you. 4 Now, behold, I release you today from the chains on your hands. If it seems good to you to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look after you well, but if it seems wrong to you to come with me to Babylon, do not come. See, the whole land is before you; go wherever you think it good and right to go. 5 If you remain, then return to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon appointed governor of the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people. Or go wherever you think it right to go.” So the captain of the guard gave him an allowance of food and a present, and let him go. 6 Then Jeremiah went to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, at Mizpah, and lived with him among the people who were left in the land.

7 When all the captains of the forces in the open country and their men heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land and had committed to him men, women, and children, those of the poorest of the land who had not been taken into exile to Babylon, 8 they went to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, Johanan the son of Kareah, Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, Jezaniah the son of the Maacathite, they and their men. 9 Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, swore to them and their men, saying, “Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Dwell in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you. 10 As for me, I will dwell at Mizpah, to represent you before the Chaldeans who will come to us. But as for you, gather wine and summer fruits and oil, and store them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that you have taken.” 11 Likewise, when all the Judeans who were in Moab and among the Ammonites and in Edom and in other lands heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judah and had appointed Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, as governor over them, 12 then all the Judeans returned from all the places to which they had been driven and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah. And they gathered wine and summer fruits in great abundance.

13 Now Johanan the son of Kareah and all the leaders of the forces in the open country came to Gedaliah at Mizpah 14 and said to him, “Do you know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam would not believe them. 15 Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke secretly to Gedaliah at Mizpah, “Please let me go and strike down Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no one will know it. Why should he take your life, so that all the Judeans who are gathered about you would be scattered, and the remnant of Judah would perish?” 16 But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah, “You shall not do this thing, for you are speaking falsely of Ishmael.”

Jeremiah speaks to us in a troubled time. We can relate to the words: "release, chains, if it seems good to you, thinking it is right, afraid, not believing, let me go". It would seem Mizpah, 4 miles northwest of Jerusalem, situated on the loftiest hill, is the same place Levite's concubine was killed by the men of Benjamin. This led to civil war and destruction of the tribe of Benjamin, leading to more kidnapping and injustice because people began "thinking it is right".

The Scriptures have many situations repeat, why does trouble repeat? It is the human condition, people become self-sufficient, proud and begin to rely upon themselves as guide. The Lord shows mercy, again, by allowing the remnant to gather a harvest in great abundance. He honors His promise to Jeremiah providing the "hope and the future" in the midst of chains and capture.

We have a message today from Jeremiah 40. If we are in trouble, we look for the Lord to make a way and not carve out disaster upon disaster by relying on ourselves to provide solutions in the midst of a whirlwind. If we are in abundant harvest, we need to remember gratitude and look to the Lord to provide His way. We hear Christians not providing an immediate answer, but saying they will pray about it; prayer leads to solutions. Many times Jeremiah prayed and he is the one released in the midst of disaster, not by himself, but by the Lord.

<><

Luke 16:1-8 ~ children of light

Charlie Brown Christmas - Link

Luke 16: 1 - 8

Then Jesus said to the disciples, ‘There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. So he summoned him and said to him, “What is this that I hear about you? Give me an account of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.” Then the manager said to himself, “What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.” So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he asked the first, “How much do you owe my master?”He answered, “A hundred jugs of olive oil.” He said to him, “Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.” Then he asked another, “And how much do you owe?” He replied, “A hundred containers of wheat.” He said to him, “Take your bill and make it eighty.” And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light.

The department stores have officially begun the season of Christmas, maybe the children of light should learn something from the children of this age. My grandmother was really a child of light, she taught me about giving at the age of 6. She gave me Christmas money and guidelines to buy for my family. Part of the Christmas guidelines, no buying for myself, to ask and consider what someone else would enjoy. I remember the first guideline, she explained to me my mother would not enjoy a doll.

This tremendous gift of giving has been one of the largest blessings in my life. If you are a grandparent, please take your grandkids Christmas shopping for others. It is the greatest gift. Please do it each year. If you are a grandparent of means, your grandchildren shopping on your budget could be the best thing you give.

For the first 14 years of our marriage, we lived in a two bedroom house as a family of four. Christmas can be memorable, even on a shoe string. It can be so very sad as a parent with financial worries, but putting off Christmas planning and shopping is not going to make Christmas better. It's better to look at what can be afforded and begin to look in resale, garage and estate sales. We are better off today, but our church has a tremendous rummage sale going on today & everyone (the might & the meek) was getting in on the sales. C'mon looking through piles of s-t-u-f-f when the pressure isn't on high is f-u-n. Find that treasure. Maybe you'll be lucky like I am, I bought my son the upholstered chair he casually asked for in July. Oh yes! It was $15 - it looks like new and it matches his bedspread! It is treasure, it is fabric a famous departed member of our family used to use. It was meant to be.

Proverbs 2:3-5
3 and if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.

Proverbs 24:4
through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.

Isaiah 33:6
He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.

Colossians 2:2-4
2 My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Acts 20:35,36
35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "

36 When he had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.

<><

Romans 14:7-12 ~ Christ died and lived again

Romans 14:7-12

7 We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. 8 If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

10 Why do you pass judgement on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgement seat of God (or Christ). 11 For it is written,
‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall give praise to God.’
12 So then, each of us will be accountable to God.

Romans 8:28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Gossip? Be you for it or agin it? The good news is not frequently in the newspaper, but the Dallas Morning News had an interesting article on gossip. 10 years ago or more, so you know I found it interesting. The article said that gossip is good because it helps us determine how people perceive each other & just like reading a book from another's perspective, we learn what irritates people and how to react. It continued, this was simply like talking to a psychologist and not having to pay for it. A problem shared has half the weight. Sharing it and talking it over releases it. Gossip is just social interaction given a bad name.

True and false. Not everyone is truthful and not everyone's perception should be a role model. Just because there is smoke, it isn't necessarily fire. I have walked on both sides of the fence of gossip and sat on it a lot. I've been lined up at the fence and fired at, justly and unjustly, because of gossip. I'll bet you have too.

I'll bet you'll relate to this: I've been labelled falsely as a gossip. I've been honored falsely as non-gossip. I've deserved both and neither. I do not bear false witness, but I've opened my mouth when it should be shut and shut it when I should have spoken.

There are times when we must share. The bible says to share one another' s burdens - knowing people can be a burden. If we must share, we should find someone who honors our trust and find someone willing to tell us; yes that is hurtful - or yes, you should have said something. Or you are being wrong and self-centered. Find someone who is willing to say the truth in love. Saying yes, I heard you say that before and it is time to let it go, forgive and move on. Sharing means determining the least amount of times repeating it and making sure it is non-invasive.

To live in community is what God planned. Proverbs tells us man sharpens man. I love the teenage language of a fist and the other hand circling it: it isn't all about us. It is especially important in Christian community, even if people are different types of people, to clearly see the bond in knowing Father God loves us.

The bible says the tongue is like a ship, we can head ourselves in two different directions

James 3:3-7

3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

The other interpretation and another direction for our ship:

Romans 8:28
works together with those who love him to bring about what is good.

<><

Jeremiah 33 ~ there shall again be habitations of shepherds resting their flocks

Israel 2009

Jeremiah 33 - Listen


1 The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still shut up in the court of the guard: 2 “Thus says the Lord who made the earth, [1] the Lord who formed it to establish it—the Lord is his name: 3 Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. 4 For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city and the houses of the kings of Judah that were torn down to make a defense against the siege mounds and against the sword: 5 They are coming in to fight against the Chaldeans and to fill them [2] with the dead bodies of men whom I shall strike down in my anger and my wrath, for I have hidden my face from this city because of all their evil. 6 Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security. 7 I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel, and rebuild them as they were at first. 8 I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me. 9 And this city [3] shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth who shall hear of all the good that I do for them. They shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the prosperity I provide for it.

10 “Thus says the Lord: In this place of which you say, ‘It is a waste without man or beast,’ in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man or inhabitant or beast, there shall be heard again 11 the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voices of those who sing, as they bring thank offerings to the house of the Lord:

“‘Give thanks to the Lord of hosts,
for the Lord is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever!’

For I will restore the fortunes of the land as at first, says the Lord.

12 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: In this place that is waste, without man or beast, and in all of its cities, there shall again be habitations of shepherds resting their flocks. 13 In the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the Shephelah, and in the cities of the Negeb, in the land of Benjamin, the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, flocks shall again pass under the hands of the one who counts them, says the Lord.

14 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’

17 “For thus says the Lord: David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel, 18 and the Levitical priests shall never lack a man in my presence to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings, and to make sacrifices forever.”

19 The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 20 “Thus says the Lord: If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that day and night will not come at their appointed time, 21 then also my covenant with David my servant may be broken, so that he shall not have a son to reign on his throne, and my covenant with the Levitical priests my ministers. 22 As the host of heaven cannot be numbered and the sands of the sea cannot be measured, so I will multiply the offspring of David my servant, and the Levitical priests who minister to me.”

23 The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 24 “Have you not observed that these people are saying, ‘The Lord has rejected the two clans that he chose’? Thus they have despised my people so that they are no longer a nation in their sight. 25 Thus says the Lord: If I have not established my covenant with day and night and the fixed order of heaven and earth, 26 then I will reject the offspring of Jacob and David my servant and will not choose one of his offspring to rule over the offspring of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For I will restore their fortunes and will have mercy on them.”

Footnotes
[1] 33:2 Septuagint; Hebrew it
[2] 33:5 That is, the torn-down houses
[3] 33:9 Hebrew And it

Christians have wondered for the last 2 decades, especially, if God's covenant with Israel is over. I've heard people say the Jews today do not deserve Israel. This comes from different theological and personal reasons. Just as the children of Israel have never deserved Israel, we do not deserve a covenant of salvation with the Lord God Almighty. When we read Scripture, we can substitute our personal name when Israel is written. Just as God loves a mighty nation filled with people, He understands, loves and forgives us.

As Paul traveled through Galatia, Macedonia, Achaia and Asia and began to travel on to Rome, he wrote to Roman Christians, not just of their salvation, but of the children of Israel. But all through the Scripture we are taught, we are the children of Israel. Jesus Christ said we are; God could turn stones into the children of Israel.

Luke 3:8

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

Romans 9:14-18
14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 15 For he says to Moses,
"I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." 16 It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. 17 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." 18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.

Romans 11:25-32
25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
"The deliverer will come from Zion;
he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
27And this is my covenant with them
when I take away their sins."

28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, 29 for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable. 30 Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God's mercy to you. 32 For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.

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

<><

Luke 14:15-24 ~ there is still room

Luke 14:15-24


15 When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” 16 But Jesus said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17 And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ 20 And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’

21 So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ 22 And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ 23 And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’”

~ And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’

I heard a good quote from a minister in Anderson, South Carolina this weekend, "God has called us to be fishers of men, not keepers of the fish tank." There are times we sit with our friends and talk about how awful television has become or politics. Or "the world". God has probably heard this conversation for millenniums.

The Good News is we all have an invitation to this great banquet. Unless we can feel the gratitude and begin dwelling on that blessing - You are included - we cannot taste the banquet.

Psalm 72:11
All kings will bow down to him and all nations will serve him.

<><

Psalm 24:1-6 ~ Pure heart

Psalms 24: 1 - 6
1	The earth is the LORD's and the fulness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein;
2	for he has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the rivers.
3	Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place?
4	He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false, and does not swear deceitfully.
5	He will receive blessing from the LORD, and vindication from the God of his salvation.
6	Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. [Selah]

1 Timothy 1:4,5
⁴ nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work—which is by faith. ⁵ The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith

Today we are finishing the book "The Relationship Principles of Jesus" by Tom Holladay. It's been a wonderful book to follow up the "Purpose Driven Life" written by Tom's Associate Pastor and brother-in-law, Rick Warren. I really felt so excited to read the book. I will read the "Relationship Principals of Jesus" again and again. It is very Biblical and arranges the Bible in new and thought provoking ways. The pure heart receiving the blessing is us, the faithful. We don't deserve it, can't earn it, and we will set our goal on becoming like God, but we can't do it. Jesus Christ yesterday, today and tomorrow is what we must trust in.

Matthew 28:19
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.


Hebrews 13:5
God has said,
"Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you."

Deuteronomy 31:6
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."



<><

Luke 14:1-6 ~ Jesus responded

Luke 14:1-6

1 One Sabbath, when he went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, they were watching him carefully. 2 And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy. 3 And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” 4 But they remained silent. Then he took him and healed him and sent him away. 5 And he said to them, “Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?” 6 And they could not reply to these things.

~ Jesus responded

When we really expect the Holy Spirit to show up, there is great joy and expectation. Our Lead Pastor was a graduate student & his priest invited the congregation to come for a Wednesday Prayer Service, the Priest said he'd been praying about the service and felt the Holy Spirit nudge him to have the Wednesday Prayer Service. The Priest said he hoped some people would attend. Our Pastor felt nudged himself & he showed up. He'd expected a small service and 500 attended. Even the Priest was surprised.

Our Minister said everyone felt very excited and people were literally looking around. The Priest prayed for people for different needs and everyone could tell prayers were being answered. It was exciting and low key. A Catholic priest leading 500 people in prayer and the people being prayed for stepped into the main aisle and everyone prayed for that one person, one at a time.

Several Wednesdays went by and still 500 people came for a Wednesday Prayer Service. About the third Wednesday service, a 2 year old boy was presented for prayer. One leg was significantly shorter than the other leg, by 4 or 5 inches, the boy had been born that way. The Priest prayed for the boy and carried him up and down the aisle for all the praying congregation to be able to see the toddler boy. The Priest explained the leg was so different the boy wasn't learning to walk well and boy's mother feared for the baby's future life. The mother stood at the aisle and wept.

The congregation was pleased to pray for the toddler boy. It was the first Wednesday the congregation felt their prayer had not been answered. People were disappointed and left pretty quietly.

The next Wednesday, our minister guessed wouldn't be so crowded. But it was. Several new people, several new prayers, the air of expectancy for the Holy Spirit to be in the church was high. Prayers were joyfully given and received. The boy's mother presented her son for his leg to be healed. The Priest walked him up and down the aisle and showed the congregation and beseechingly asked the Lord to heal the baby boy. It was fervent prayer. An answer was not seen.

Several more Wednesday passed; still about 500 people and expectation for the Lord God Almighty to reach out to all of them in love. They had experienced His presence, received a blessing and all of them wanted the toddler boy to have normal legs. The whole congregation wanted so much for Father God to let this innocent baby experience a normal life, it was one desire.

That Wednesday, 500 people saw a miracle. The toddler's leg grew inches in front of all of them. The love and power of God healed. Both legs were the same. A significant change took place, all at once, after several weeks of prayer. Another change took place, too, Our minister decided, and knew, the only thing to do was to quit law school and serve God. Any other effort was wasting time.

Decades later, our minister has also been blessed with a healing in both arms. An MRI showed the pain in both arms was a total degeneration of his rotator cuffs and a double surgery was scheduled. He had been in pretty bad pain for 2 years. He was in Dallas for a Mission event in January of 2008, when the speaker called for people to come up for prayer at the end of his sermon. Our minister had an unknown person, reach behind him to pray for him. Our minister felt heat surge into his arms and prayed hard with the person behind him. When the prayer ended,  he was healed. Another MRI confirmed what he already knew Jesus had done for him.

Today, let's remember we have a Living God filled with mercy.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

¹⁶Rejoice evermore.
¹⁷Pray without ceasing.
¹⁸In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.


<><

Psalm 66 ~ His eyes keep watch

My Jesus, My Saviour - Michael W Smith - Listen

Psalm 66

1 Shout for joy to God, all the earth;
2 sing the glory of his name;
give to him glorious praise!

3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.
4 All the earth worships you
and sings praises to you;
they sing praises to your name.” Selah

5 Come and see what God has done:
he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.

6 He turned the sea into dry land;
they passed through the river on foot.
There did we rejoice in him,
7 who rules by his might forever,
whose eyes keep watch on the nations—
let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah

8 Bless our God, O peoples;
let the sound of his praise be heard,
9 who has kept our soul among the living
and has not let our feet slip.
10 For you, O God, have tested us;
you have tried us as silver is tried.
11 You brought us into the net;
you laid a crushing burden on our backs;
12 you let men ride over our heads;
we went through fire and through water;
yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.

13 I will come into your house with burnt offerings; I will perform my vows to you, 14 that which my lips uttered
and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.
15 I will offer to you burnt offerings of fattened animals, with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams;
I will make an offering of bulls and goats. Selah

16 Come and hear, all you who fear God,
and I will tell what he has done for my soul.
17 I cried to him with my mouth,
and high praise was on my tongue.
18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened.
19 But truly God has listened;
he has attended to the voice of my prayer.

20 Blessed be God,
because he has not rejected my prayer
or removed his steadfast love from me!

~who rules by his might forever,
whose eyes keep watch on the nations—
let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah


Christian life has a lot of different aspects. We begin with belief, mature into actions and these are tempered with our experiences. Each of us exists to experience similar experiences, we can share, but our lives and the sequence is unique. (This is why I've always looked at horoscopes as horror scopes). God designed each of us. As I've flown on airplanes at night, it always amazes me to see all the lights we produce at night, representing & actually used by people uniquely created and loved by Him.

It's interesting to see small children experience life, they are always so filled with zest! Just as important learning to put childish ways from us, is remembering the joy we had for the daily blessings God gives to us. Today, with the rains after we've had such drought, I remembered the beauty of the trees in my childhood home after the rain. The leaves glisten and seem to be so much more green, the trunks darken and show much more detail. Maybe I was bored & wanted to go outside, but maybe the unusual rain in Texas was always a blessing. We all had something creating awe and gratitude in us.

God tells us something about growth and maturity His eyes have seen during all of mankind's creation:

James 2:19-26
19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

20You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. 24You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

25In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Just as we are called to mature into action in our faith & remembering the joy of belief, we will use our experiences, folding & becoming the unique plan God has created us to live. I loved the homily of a favorite priest, in Dallas, who always said "look for the opportunities... God will give a gentle way and you will shine for Him."



<><

John 15:17-27 ~ the Spirit of Truth

^{John 15: 17-27 (Today's New International Version)}

¹⁷ This is my command: Love each other.

¹⁸ "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. ¹⁹ If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember what I told you: 'Servants are not greater than their master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. ²¹ They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. ²² If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. ²³ Those who hate me hate my Father as well. ²⁴ If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. ²⁵ But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: 'They hated me without reason.'

²⁶ "When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. ²⁷ And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.

~ When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.

What really is the most violent century ? The 20^th century is claimed to be the most violent century of human history. Over 100 million people were killed in two world wars. Smaller wars claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. An estimated 170 million civilians were murdered by their own governments. Places like Afghanistan, Rwanda, Kuwait, Bosnia, Kosovo, Yugoslavia, Chechnya, along with others, experienced unimaginable violence and bloodshed. Words like "holocaust, genocide, terrorism, abortion and mass suicide" became well-known in the 20^th century. The last portion of the 20th century witnessed a dramatic increase in violence, in America.

This is popular information, crime in the 20th century seems to more contained and yet explode in specific areas causing greater damage. The world is no stranger to violence and crime through out the centuries, highway robbers were as plentiful as pirates. Travel at the time of Jesus wasn't attempted lightly, inns didn't exist often and people tried to hide at night.

What isn't discussed, often, is that we can ask for and receive change. In our lives and in the world. Every 500 years, we see a renewal of the Holy Spirit. Now is the 500 year renewal, we see new churches forming, telling us Jesus Christ isn't a religion, but a relationship. When we really expect the Holy Spirit to show up, we see the darkness recede, the light of Christ and new hope emerge.

Christians are held in disdain in different centuries, but new love emerges and the light of Christ endures and brings life. Christian practices of prayer, hope and meditation are practiced in medicine, in healing from addiction, and in hospice facilities.

Whenever we feel alone, discouraged and overwhelmed, we are not alone in human condition, or in the history of the world. The true light of Jesus Christ continues to shine and provide the love we have enough of & to share with others.

<><

Psalm 48 ~ God is our fortress

Windsor Castle, in the English county of Berkshire, is the largest inhabited castle (or fort) in the world and oldest in continuous occupation, since William the Conqueror more than 1,000 years ago.

Listen - He is Exalted Great is the Lord - Maranatha Singers

Psalm 48 (Today's New International Version)

¹ Great is the LORD, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain.

² Beautiful in its loftiness,
the joy of the whole earth,
like the heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion,
the city of the Great King.

³ God is in her citadels;
he has shown himself to be her fortress.

⁴ When the kings joined forces,
when they advanced together,

⁵ they saw her and were astounded;
they fled in terror.

⁶ Trembling seized them there,
pain like that of a woman in labor.

⁷ You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish
shattered by an east wind.

⁸ As we have heard,
so we have seen
in the city of the LORD Almighty,
in the city of our God:
God makes her secure
forever.

⁹ Within your temple, O God,
we meditate on your unfailing love.

¹⁰ Like your name, O God,
your praise reaches to the ends of the earth;
your right hand is filled with righteousness.

¹¹ Mount Zion rejoices,
the villages of Judah are glad
because of your judgments.

¹² Walk about Zion, go around her,
count her towers,

¹³ consider well her ramparts,
view her citadels,
that you may tell of them
to the next generation.

¹⁴ For this God is our God for ever and ever;
he will be our guide even to the end.

~ God is in her citadels; he has shown himself to be her fortress.

Being part of the internet age has benefits, we just shouldn't overlook. Encyclopedias age and become relics. If your Water Oak suddenly looses its leaves, you can see what the probable causes are. A lot of Scripture for today blogspot is reflections on 30 + years of bible reading and bible studies, but so very much is looking at internet sermons & commentary on today's reading.

Psalm 48 doesn't have a lot of exposure, isn't made into famous hymns and songs. Why? This is a beautiful Psalm! Matthew Henry says we should consider Jerusalem as unique, because we are all spiritual citizens of Jerusalem.

Let's look today towards gratitude. We don't live behind walls and we don't see citadels, fortresses, forces advancing, feel astounding terror, ships, ramparts and wonder if we will live until tomorrow. Psalm 48 expresses a great truth, a historical truth. Until about 400 years ago, we would have lived surrounded by walls, great fortresses. Through the Church, the people felt free to build the Church outside of the walls and to begin to come out. Most of the old castles and fortresses are torn down and the Churches survive today.

When you face something serious in life, this hope shouldn't be forgotten. When we have the Lord, the Lord is our guide. Great is the Lord, worthy of praise! Joy on this earth to be a citizen of Jerusalem, God is our fortress, the Lord God Almighty will make us secure!

God tells us that when we have Jesus Christ invited to be part of our lives, we are His temple and have His unfailing love. His love reaches to the ends of the earth. Rejoice, be glad and feel secure, for He is our God forever and ever.

<><

I am looking forward to Friday! We ordered a new computer from Staples, thanks to my deal seeking husband!! Our wireless system keeps crashing and it took my faithful XP with it. On Friday, I will have my new 7!!! I will be so pleased not to borrow my teenager's computer, not to have to sit in his game chair and squint 9 feet away at the screen. (Mom, can I have my computer back?) My back will be ecstatic and how I look forward to publishing Scripture-for-today blogspot. Your continued prayers for Scripture for today blogspot and our wireless would be so appreciated!

<><

Psalm 1 ~ like a tree

1,500 year old Live Oak, named Angel Oak in St. Johns Island, SC. Near Bohicket Creek and the Stono River.

Psalm 1 Listen

1 Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

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

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

~ He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.

Blessed isn't just happy, blessed is deeper. Blessed is having the inner peace and approval of God. None of us exist day to day prancing and leaping in joy. Like the Angel Oak, our lives will see difficulties or opportunities for growth. This Angel Oak was 1,000 years old when Columbus arrived in the New World and is the oldest know living thing east of the Mississippi River. The Angel Oak has survived floods, earthquakes, human interference and hurricanes. The Angel Oak was injured during Hurricane Hugo, but recovered.


Romans 5:1-5

1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

<><

Luke 10:17-24 ~ in Your Name

Luke 10:17-24 Listen

17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

21 In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. (or for so it pleased you well) 22 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

23 Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

~ Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.

Jesus isn't too concerned with the scary and the works of evil. He tells us we don't even have to spend much time rejoicing in victory, because what is in front of us is much more glorious. He says in effect, 'oh uh huh, yeah, that's right" when the disciples have seen miracles and good triumph over evil. Jesus says the victory of His name is Salvation.

<><

Isaiah 60 ~ the Lord will be your everlasting light

Saint Vitus's Cathedral ~ Prague. 900 AD. Painting by Todd Williams.

Isaiah 60 (Today's New International Version)


¹ "Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.

² See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the LORD rises upon you
and his glory appears over you.

³ Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

⁴ "Lift up your eyes and look about you:
All assemble and come to you;
your sons come from afar,
and your daughters are carried on the hip.

⁵ Then you will look and be radiant,
your heart will throb and swell with joy;
the wealth on the seas will be brought to you,
to you the riches of the nations will come.

⁶ Herds of camels will cover your land,
young camels of Midian and Ephah.
And all from Sheba will come,
bearing gold and incense
and proclaiming the praise of the LORD.

⁷ All Kedar's flocks will be gathered to you,
the rams of Nebaioth will serve you;
they will be accepted as offerings on my altar,
and I will adorn my glorious temple.

⁸ "Who are these that fly along like clouds,
like doves to their nests?

⁹ Surely the islands look to me;
in the lead are the ships of Tarshish,
bringing your children from afar,
with their silver and gold,
to the honor of the LORD your God,
the Holy One of Israel,
for he has endowed you with splendor.

¹⁰ "Foreigners will rebuild your walls,
and their kings will serve you.
Though in anger I struck you,
in favor I will show you compassion.

¹¹ Your gates will always stand open,
they will never be shut, day or night,
so that people may bring you the wealth of the nations—
their kings led in triumphal procession.

¹² For the nation or kingdom that will not serve you will perish;
it will be utterly ruined.

¹³ "The glory of Lebanon will come to you,
the juniper, the fir and the cypress together,
to adorn my sanctuary;
and I will glorify the place for my feet.

¹⁴ The children of your oppressors will come bowing before you;
all who despise you will bow down at your feet
and will call you the City of the LORD,
Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

¹⁵ "Although you have been forsaken and hated,
with no one traveling through,
I will make you the everlasting pride
and the joy of all generations.

¹⁶ You will drink the milk of nations
and be nursed at royal breasts.
Then you will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior,
your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

¹⁷ Instead of bronze I will bring you gold,
and silver in place of iron.
Instead of wood I will bring you bronze,
and iron in place of stones.
I will make peace your governor
and well-being your ruler.

¹⁸ No longer will violence be heard in your land,
nor ruin or destruction within your borders,
but you will call your walls Salvation
and your gates Praise.

¹⁹ The sun will no more be your light by day,
nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you,
for the LORD will be your everlasting light,
and your God will be your glory.

²⁰ Your sun will never set again,
and your moon will wane no more;
the LORD will be your everlasting light,
and your days of sorrow will end.

²¹ Then will all your people be righteous
and they will possess the land forever.
They are the shoot I have planted,
the work of my hands,
for the display of my splendor.

²² The least of you will become a thousand,
the smallest a mighty nation.
I am the LORD;
in its time I will do this swiftly."

~ 20 Your sun will never set and your moon will wane no more; the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end.

Strong, uplifting words! Only recently I have begun to understand the spiritual need for Cathedrals. It is our spiritual attempt to announce that the King of All, is King. Houston recently built a Catholic Cathedral, not the variety that takes generations of lives to be built, but all of Houston rejoiced to have the magnificence church built glorifying God. Many television specials and many hours with the artists brought from around the world. One artist was the marble craftsman from Italy, who made the floor, from start to finish. Famous marble statues from the same marble area as Michelangelo. Extreme joy on all faces! Heavenly joy on their faces! These faces were beautiful describing the joy in bringing beauty to the Lord!

Jesus tells us:

Luke 10:20a
Rejoice that your names are written in heaven!

When biblical scholars look at Isaiah 60, we all assume this is heaven. It's got to be and, of course, it is. Jesus told us about heaven:

In Him, in Jesus Christ:

The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand !

How serious was Jesus in announcing that He, the Kingdom of Heaven, was at hand?
Link ( Matthew 3, 4, 5 (multiple times), 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13 (multiple times), 16, 18 (m), 19 (m), 20, 22, 23, 25, Luke 11)

Jesus announced the Kingdom of Heaven was READY, when we repent, to receive:

Sad people looking for hope, righteous people, people looking for a relationship with their Father God and not religious pride, people who pray for God's will to be done and do God's will, people coming from all over the world (in time and circumstance), great and least people in a vast heaven, people seeking a refuge from violence, people healing the sick, people working with the helpless and cast out. He promises to raise the dead & cast out devils. People who give freely because they have received so much.

Jesus tells us how fortunate we are to live in Anno Domini, knowing exactly what His promises are:

Matthew 13:11
it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

Matthew 4:16

The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

Jesus is telling us how fortunate we are to be in an intimate, loving relationship with Him! Heaven, scholars argue in Isaiah 60, isn't just about Heaven, but includes events happening on earth. YES! This is what Jesus was talking about!!

When Jesus said the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, He wasn't just talking about events of indescribable beautiful when we die! He was telling us, that in us, He will make His home in us and in us, we will be His light. Using our love and our lives to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to be at hand.

God uses mere sand, pummeled and stained to be His glory!

Preach the gospel! And if you have to, use words!

Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.

To HIM be the glory!!!

<><

Psalm 145 ~ My God & King, bless your name forever

King David Dances by Slavujac

Psalm 145 ~ (English Standard Version)

1 I will extol you, my God and King,
and bless your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless you
and praise your name forever and ever.
3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and his greatness is unsearchable.

4 One generation shall commend your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts.
5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
6 They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,
and I will declare your greatness.
7 They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness
and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

8 The Lord is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 The Lord is good to all,
and his mercy is over all that he has made.

10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
and all your saints shall bless you!
11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom
and tell of your power,
12 to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds,
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

[The Lord is faithful in all his words
and kind in all his works.]
14 The Lord upholds all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food in due season.
16 You open your hand;
you satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways
and kind in all his works.
18 The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;
he also hears their cry and saves them.
20 The Lord preserves all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.

21 My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.

~ I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever.

Matthew Henry's Bible Commentary records Matthew Henry saying something I like so much that I've remembered it, "the Psalms are so warm and full of love, it is a wonderful place to be."

We are a part of a generation desperate to have ideas about the Bible, having nothing to do with the Bible. In recent history, not the Bronze Age, I've heard arguments that Lincoln didn't write the Gettysburg Address, but we can't prove it or argue it with intelligence, it was long ago. ( I believe Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address.) When we read that someone different than the listed writer wrote a Book of the Bible (with the author being the Holy Spirit), we are really saying the Bible is true, but we can't trust it, so it lies? More and more archaeology proves in fragments and Dead Sea scrolls, that the Bible is true. It just doesn't make the front page and the evidence always needs to be seen with faith.

We are part of generation desperate for answered prayers, but becoming cynical .... if they are answered or answered differently than we hoped. Here is an segment of Conan O'Brian. We are not grateful, all of us. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r1CZTLk-Gk

The psalmist, King David, has a prayer, "~ I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever." David was so excited about the Lord, he danced. When we think of our educated, advanced culture, not many of us are so excited about anything.

The Scripture in 1,000 BC:

4 One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. 5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. 6 They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. 7 They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

And again, Peter says in 64 AD:

1 Peter 1:23-25
For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever."

This Anno Domini, year of our Lord, 2009 we find:

8 The Lord is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 The Lord is good to all,
and his mercy is over all that he has made.

10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
and all your saints shall bless you!
11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom
and tell of your power,
12 to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds,
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

[The Lord is faithful in all his words
and kind in all his works.]
14 The Lord upholds all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food in due season.
16 You open your hand;
you satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways
and kind in all his works.
18 The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;
he also hears their cry and saves them.
20 The Lord preserves all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.

21 My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.

Give thanks to the Lord, it is the only thing we can give Him - that wasn't already His!

<><

Two Prayer Requests

Please pray for my mother, Anne, who received poor results from a blood test for acute liver failure. She recently had a foot surgery requiring a good deal of painkillers, possibly hurting her liver. Her second blood test has shown improvement.

My brother-in-law Bob, was in an accident and has been life flown for a 6 hour surgery for pelvic injury. He is still showing signs of internal injury and will need two additional surgeries for a badly broken leg. The doctors are saying it will be many months of recovery and he will need secondary care after the hospital.

Please pray for the Lord to show continued mercy for their healing, provide the doctors insight to their medical needs, and for wonderful extended care for Bob. We will ask in Jesus' name and look to Father God.

Many thanks!