Psalm 135 ~ bless the Lord

Psalm 135

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sometimes in Bible Study people ask why are the Psalms mentioned so many times? Well, for the same reason I would choose the photo for today - it reminds me of my son when he was young. See that youth and innocence? It speaks to me.

The Psalms to David (they record he wrote most of them - 73, while some do not say) are different than the books of law or history, the Psalms capture the aspects - the Nature of God - in His works. The Psalms are God's greatness speaking to David.

These are the Psalms of David, telling not of dry - dusty ancient history, but fresh, warm and alive. These are the stories of his father Jesse, his grandfather Obed and his great-grandfather Boaz, his not-too-distant- fathers. David didn't just hear these stories in the Temple, the written history, but like our family stories - in family moments. Just as Jesus was to become David's family, these are David's family stories.

To David, the Lord is beautiful, good, pleasant & part of the victories. They spoke and sang of these when in the field at night - taking care of family business - watching over the flocks. David doesn't just think about God's mighty acts, he feels in his soul about God's love as the events are told. Not only in David's family, God is part of his nation, his land, God dwells all around Him. God's goodness pours forth.

The awesome, overwhelming righteousness of God dwells not just in the miracle, but in the every day. Blessed be the name of the Lord. David did not suddenly rise up to slay Goliath, David grew up like Jesus. Not just writing the Psalms some day, but living them.

Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

How David, as a young child, might have pictured God dwelling around him

Father God, Matthew Henry once said the Psalms are a warm place to be. Let us be like David and Jesus - to feel the nature of Your goodness in Your creation. In Jesus, these are our family stories. Abba, we are Yours. Amen and Amen in the name of Jesus.

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Mark 16 ~ they will recover

The Disciples Peter and John Running to the Sepulcher on the Morning of the Resurrection, by Eugene Burnand, c. 1898

Mark 16

When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” 8 And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.


9 Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11 But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.


12 After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. 13 And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.

14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. 15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.


Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

The fear of most things makes most people mostly stay home. Even just what is uncomfortable causes most people to avoid it. I had a friend in college, Suzanne, she could gather a crowd and make fun happen. She could get people to drive across the state of Texas to bring trucks and equipment so all the people she could gather from our dorm would have a day at Lake Somerville. One day she asked me to come to her dorm room at 2:00 on a Friday and not mention it to anyone. When I arrived she was so embarrassed and began to tell me she is intelligent. I agreed. She said she wanted to go to church, but when people talked they seemed to know all of it. What? The people they talk about. I was puzzled. Suzanne explained some more. I was still puzzled. Finally I had some comprehension. You mean "Matthew, Mark, Luke and John?" Right!

How difficult it is to come to Church and not know what is going on. How many people come to Church & leave because it is uncomfortable? Watching the Church Lady on Saturday Night Live is enough to cause anyone to bolt.

What about the phrase "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" ... it sounds medieval.

The first day of the New Covenant - when God decided to create Heaven and abolish death by giving us His Son, Jesus - no one was feeling peaceful. Easter Sunday had a tremendous amount of fear. All of the Saints were acting very humanly. They were hiding, filled with trembling & astonishment. The embalming of Jesus was left to the women (the disciples were so much in hiding they didn't know the body of Jesus already has 75 pounds of spices) because the men were in fear of their lives. None of the children of God had it remotely figured out.

This first day they had more disbelief than hope. And God didn't take the hope from them or punish them for their less than saintly reactions. They didn't know how to react.

What happened next is known throughout the world. This is the fear of the Lord, it is only the beginning of the wisdom. They did recover from their fear. Not because they became more saintly, but through the gift of God. With their belief, with their courage, with the overwhelming help of God's Spirit, Jesus Christ changed the heavens and the earth.

1 Thessalonians 5:23
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Psalm 9 ~ He does not ignore the cry of the afflicted

Psalm 9 (New International Version)

Audio Link, Psalm 9

To the chief Musician upon Muth-labben - Here at the head of Psalm 9, appears the subscription. Muth-labben means literally, "the death of the Champion" and also belongs to Psalm 8 - a Psalm of David dedicated to his victory over Goliath, the giant of flesh.

1 I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonders.

² I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

³ My enemies turn back;
they stumble and perish before you.

⁴ For you have upheld my right and my cause;
you have sat on your throne, judging righteously.

⁵ You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;
you have blotted out their name for ever and ever.

⁶ Endless ruin has overtaken the enemy,
you have uprooted their cities;
even the memory of them has perished.

⁷ The LORD reigns forever;
he has established his throne for judgment.

⁸ He will judge the world in righteousness;
he will govern the peoples with justice.

⁹ The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.

¹⁰ Those who know your name will trust in you,
for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

¹¹ Sing praises to the LORD, enthroned in Zion;
proclaim among the nations what he has done.

¹² For he who avenges blood remembers;
he does not ignore the cry of the afflicted.

¹³ O LORD, see how my enemies persecute me!
Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death,

¹⁴ that I may declare your praises
in the gates of the Daughter of Zion
and there rejoice in your salvation.

¹⁵ The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug;
their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.

¹⁶ The LORD is known by his justice;
the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.
Higgaion [musical device representing meditation, solemn sound]
Selah.

⁷ The wicked return to the grave,
all the nations that forget God.

¹⁸ But the needy will not always be forgotten,
nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish.

¹⁹ Arise, O LORD, let not man triumph;
let the nations be judged in your presence.

²⁰ Strike them with terror, O LORD;
let the nations know they are but men.
Selah

Biblical historians say this Psalm is David giving his victory over Goliath to God. David proclaims the nature of God is steadfast love and justice. David comments on the aspects of trouble - at God's rebuke, the wicked are destroyed forever. The wicked ensnares himself.



Pottery shard found in Gath, Goliath's hometown. With the Phoenician word Goliath written on it.

1 Samuel 17:4
A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. He was over nine feet tall.


The tiny shard was unearthed at the site, near a destroyed Phoenician fort, where the Bible says the shepherd boy David killed the giant Goliath. The pottery shard, written in the language used by the Hebrews at the time, has been dated to as early as 975BC, based on burned olive pits found nearby that have been carbon-dated at Oxford University. Researchers have not yet been able to decipher the full text of its five lines but they have translated the words for "king", "judge", and "slave," suggesting it was written by a trained scribe in the king's court.

Father God, You are present in the joyful times and the times of trouble. When our troubles seem as large as Goliath, we trust in You for help and deliverance. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

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Psalm 103 ~ as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transressions from us

Psalm 103 (New International Version)

Audio Link for Psalm 103

¹ Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being,
praise his holy name.

² Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-

³ who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,

⁴ who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,

⁵ who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

⁶ The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.

⁷ He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:

⁸ The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.

⁹ He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;

¹⁰ he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.

¹¹ For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;

¹² as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

¹³ As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

¹⁴ for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.

¹⁵ As for man, his days are like grass,
he flourishes like a flower of the field;

¹⁶ the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.

¹⁷ But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD's love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children's children -

¹⁸ with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.

¹⁹ The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.

²⁰ Praise the LORD, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.

²¹ Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.

²² Praise the LORD, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the LORD, O my soul.

^~12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

At the end of the 22nd Chapter of Matthew, Jesus tells us we should know the Scriptures and know the power of God.

It's good to know the perception of Christians when the worldly ask questions to figure it out, 30,000 randomly selected adults were questioned from 48 continental states.

In 2009 Barna Group decided "Casual Christians were the up and coming segment of Christianity. This is the way the media at large focuses on Christianity: -Casual Christians represent 66% of the adult population of the U.S - driven by a desire for a pleasant and peaceful existence - moderation. Theologically nominal Christians - It allows them to feel religious without having to prioritize their faith. - Never have to publicly defend or represent difficult moral or social positions or even lose much sleep over their private choices."

Now check out the name given to the second half of Christianity by the Barna Group:

"16% of the U.S. are Captive Christians. Captive Christians are focused on upholding the absolute moral and spiritual truths they glean from the Bible. Captive Christians consider Casuals to not be genuine followers of Christ."

I really would place myself in the belief catagory of upholding the absolute moral and spiritual truths gleaned from the Bible. But I wouldn't call myself captive. I know the Truth and it has set me free. I Hold Firmly to 1 Thessalonians for the whole Body of Christ.

The Church is growing from people leaving denominations and going to unaffiliated Churches.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-24

12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.

23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

All those people questioned... were slant questioned... questions can be leading.

Where is our Christian Growth Headed?

According to News from the National Council of Churches & The Pew Forum - not the moderate theology denominations. This data isn't just random questions. This is the attendance numbers and the money received in the churches. This is the actual accounting for attrition/matriculation of member counts and the tithes.

Now we've established these are the facts for real growth, who is it? Orthodox Churches, Catholic Churches & The Unaffiliated Bible Believing Churches.

My church affiliation - Anglican Missions in America and all of the Common Cause - Christ believing, Scripture believing Churches are one of the fastest growing denominations in the USA.

What do the growing Churches believe?

We are seeing a Revival.

John 4:23-24
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

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Matthew 25:14-30 ~ You delivered

Writing in the Sand, painted by Carl Bloch

Matthew 25:14-30

14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants [bondservants] and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, [A talent was a monetary unit worth about twenty years' wages for a laborer] to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.

19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. [bondservant] You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.

29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

If we condense this passage the way Jesus condensed God's Word:

Matthew 22:37-40
37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

How does God love us in this passage:
~ God trusts us with what belongs to Him
~ God wants to be generous
~ God will invite us into His Kingdom to live His joy
~ God, who is on High, has regard for us - dust in the wind, a fading flower.
~ God expects what we would do for a friend, an employer - we would be willing to do for Him.
~ God determines not all are fit for His Kingdom.

When people, our life spans are so brief, judge God - the Eternal Almighty - with their lives and years of judgement words, they have rendered judgement upon themselves. It really isn't good to be one of the people campaigning against God to others.

Psalm 18:25-26

²⁵ To the faithful you show yourself faithful,
to the blameless you show yourself blameless,

²⁶ to the pure you show yourself pure,
but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.

Father God, Abba, we live in a fallen world, & we are not worthy to receive all of Your goodness. Help us each day to love You with all of our heart, to love ourselves, to love others as You would have us to. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Matthew 25:1-13 ~ the Kingdom of Heaven

Matthew 25:1-13

1 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.

6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

~ The Kingdom of Heaven

If you are around the Christian crowd for any length of time, you hear about "God-incidences." The idea being God has a plan and there are not coincidences, but being part of God's plan and instead having an affirmation. Like the story of Abraham's oldest servant...

Genesis 24:1,2
And the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. 2 And Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he had..

7 The Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and from the land of my kindred, and who spoke to me and swore to me, ‘To your offspring I will give this land,’ he will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.

Abraham's faithful servant, was also a person of faith..

12 And he said, “O Lord, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. 13 Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. 14 Let the young woman to whom I shall say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who shall say, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels’—let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master.”

A bible passage to say, God-incident instead of coincidence. The love story of Rebekah & Isaac. Genesis 24

This week, I've had two God-incidences - my husband asked me to go to the store for one item - that hasn't happened in a long, long time - it isn't the way we organize our lives. So the car radio is on and the subject is a woman interviewed on our Christian radio, which usually plays songs. The subject is coping with a child's death at the 2nd Anniversary. Next month will be our daughter Isabelle's 2nd birthday - the day she arrived in Heaven.

The interviewed mother is asked what was the most difficult part to overcome? Her answer was great. She said her surviving daughter was crying and weeping her heart out on the stairs one day. Her young daughter asked her mom, "Why does it have to be this hard? Why?" And the mom said, "Life is hard, but because Jesus did the hardest part, we can have hope." Perfect.

The next few days, I clicked on an upbeat Houston (my city) Christian Blog, it is a ray of 'Sonshine'. Usually. And the subject was helping a family cope with the loss of a child. What the positive steps were to continue to help the bereaved. This was a difficult one... because the guest writer is a mom who lost her child - a month ago. It made me remember, things are just a blur at first. I felt sorry for the mom trying to teach others to cope with something so deep, at such a hard time in her life. Almost as if, "well that is done now... a month ago... tell us how it went for you..."

The Kingdom of Heaven ~

The Kingdom of Heaven isn't just about being prepared in your soul. Although so many of the grieving stories are about sudden death. Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Preparing for the Kingdom of Heaven is about how we feel when others, we love, pass on before us. How much oil will you have in your lamp?

When you have experienced grief, like the loss of a child, the loss of a parent to suicide - people feel comfortable to tell you about their grief. Americans. are. not. comfortable. with. grief. Americans cling to the belief that if you have grief and tragedy - you've earned it. Let me tell you the hard part about grief - it is lonely and it hurts for a long time.

Jesus wept.

If you Google overcoming grief , you will find, and people will tell you in the face of raw - fresh grief - you will never recover from this..... pages and pages of people chatting about how they are not going to recover. Encouraging isn't it? Public opinion is.. this is unending. That is so counter-productive. Loss eases over time. We can do what no loved one would ever hope we would do - to cling to our loss. No, strive for the future - the eternal gift of God.

1 Thessalonians 4:13
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.

Now, be reasonable. God likes moderation. We should tell the Lord and tell people when we hurt.

Philippians 4:5
Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand

One of my favorite novels, written by Susan Howatch "Wheel of Fortune" has a saying about grief that has stuck with me for about 25 years. I'm going to have to paraphrase. "There is no time table for grief. Grief is standing in the ocean on a peaceful day, turning to see the buildings on the coast, and being driven to your knees by a stray wave."

Grief.. should have the hope of the virgins with oil for their lamp. The night is dark, the torch doesn't hide the darkness, the light burns bright. We will move forward with joy.

We have treasure in Heaven.

Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

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1 Corinthians 7 ~ For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband

1 Corinthians 7

1 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 2 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

6 Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. 7 I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.

8 To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single as I am. 9 But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

10 To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband 11 (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.

12 To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. 13 If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. 15 But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you [us] to peace. 16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

17 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. 18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. 19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. 20 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. 21 Were you a slave [bondservant] when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) 22 For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 So, brothers, [brothers and sisters] in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.

25 Now concerning [Now concerning introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians' letter; see 7:1 ] the betrothed, [virgins ] I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. 26 I think that in view of the present [impending] distress it is good for a person to remain as he is. 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman [virgin] marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. 29 This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, 30 and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, 31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

32 I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. 33 But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, 34 and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. 35 I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.

36 If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, [virgin] if his [her] passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin. 37 But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well. 38 So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better.

39 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. 40 Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

When my younger son came home from the hospital, I wanted to write something wonderful about brothers in my older (by 2.5 years) son's baby book, with a photo of them both. I looked for about an hour and a half, in the Scriptures, for a quote on brothers who love each other. Finally I found Paul, in Philemon, saying that his brother had refreshed his soul. Not his biological brother.

Norman Rockwell believes it turns out all brothers love each other. The Scriptures take a more limited view. Peter and Andrew were brothers. James and John- sons of Zebedee, were all biological brothers and they followed Jesus.

What does this tell us? Families have bumps and bruises.

I've heard people look at this chapter as an archaic viewpoint on chastity. This, my friends, is the Good News about peace. It is an absolutely fabulous Chapter!

Do you feel husbands should not beat their wives? Or wives not beat their husbands? Or verbally abuse a family member?

God feels that way too!

15b God has called you [us] to peace.

Families, good families have years where the children are little; the children are visions of hope and wonder. Suddenly, they are teenagers exploring the world. What happens to them? Praying parents shouldn't give up hope on the "cave years". (Like yesterday's reading in Job 8:4-6) Look at this ... God's Promise:

14 For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.

Remember when people believed that marriage was for two people (male and female) who were bound spiritually in sexual relations? Yeah, it was believed that sex actually made them bound by their souls together... God remembers it, because He invented it and wrote it. He likes the idea so much it is actually a huge "loop hole." We would call it a loop hole, God would say Love is the fulfillment of the law. He still believes it. God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow - as He breathes out Scripture. 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Samuel 23:2


The promise is:,
For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband.

Of course there are ways to give up your salvation. But God believes so much in the unification of souls, He says one married soul can offer salvation to the other soul. That is a flat out astonishing idea given Hollywood standards of purity. And this chapter indicates God - who had the idea in the first place - thinks there should be abundant sexuality within marriage.

God is generous.

32 I want you to be free from anxieties.

So, if we honestly look at the entire Bible for loving families - we are honestly going to find people struggling to get on with life and irritating and feuding with each other. God knows this and He wants us to be at peace. He's got us covered.

Blessed be You, Father God Almighty. You give in amazing abundance. In Your love we are blessed and fulfilled. And blessed be Your son, Jesus. Amen.

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Job 8:1-7, 11-19 ~ if you seek God

Ephesus Theater

Job 8:1-7

1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:

2 “How long will you say these things,
and the words of your mouth be a great wind?
3 Does God pervert justice?
Or does the Almighty pervert the right?
4 If your children have sinned against him,
he has delivered them into the hand of their transgression.
5 If you will seek God
and plead with the Almighty for mercy,
6 if you are pure and upright,
surely then he will rouse himself for you
and restore your rightful habitation.
7 And though your beginning was small,
your latter days will be very great.

Job 8:11-19

11 “Can papyrus grow where there is no marsh?
Can reeds flourish where there is no water?
12 While yet in flower and not cut down,
they wither before any other plant.
13 Such are the paths of all who forget God;
the hope of the godless shall perish.
14 His confidence is severed,
and his trust is a spider's web.
15 He leans against his house, but it does not stand;
he lays hold of it, but it does not endure.
16 He is a lush plant before the sun,
and his shoots spread over his garden.
17 His roots entwine the stone heap;
he looks upon a house of stones.
18 If he is destroyed from his place,
then it will deny him, saying, ‘I have never seen you.’
19 Behold, this is the joy of his way,
and out of the soil others will spring.

I hear Christian people say it is more difficult to be a Christian in these times. Sometimes it is and sometimes we are not aware to a great degree people take comfort in us - they expect kindness and receive it.

For the times when it is uncomfortable, it is because Christianity still threatens the way worldly people conduct themselves. What was true for St. Paul, is true of the world today:

Acts 19:23-41

23 About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way. 24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen. 25 These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. 26 And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. 27 And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.”

28 When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul's companions in travel. 30 But when Paul wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples would not let him. 31 And even some of the Asiarchs, who were friends of his, sent to him and were urging him not to venture into the theater. 32 Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. 33 Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had put forward. And Alexander, motioning with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the crowd. 34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all cried out with one voice, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

35 And when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, who is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from the sky? 36 Seeing then that these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash. 37 For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess. 38 If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. 39 But if you seek anything further, it shall be settled in the regular assembly. 40 For we really are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion.” 41 And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.

As we connect the readings for Job, let's see the lesson in Acts.

The beginning of the Way was small, yet God's justice carried it further.

The sin of mankind was great, but God as Father restores us to His righteousness.

When the world sees something as sure, God's will prevails.

When it seems the world is collapsing around us, God will still make a path.

Sometimes it is difficult, Jesus did the most difficult for us. God is good.

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