Psalm 90 ~ For a thousand years in Your sight are but as yesterday when it is past

Remains of Tabernacle Dwelling
First Temple built by Solomon

Wall closest, Archaeological ruin of First Temple Wall.
Models of Second Temple






Night at Golgotha, Vasily Vereshchagin

Arch of Titus, Conquering Jerusalem, relief on the wall. The Ark of the Covenant is missing. The gold from the Temple was used to build the Colosseum. Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD, the time of the natural death of Jesus, if He'd lived to be old.













Way of the Cross, Good Friday Service at the Colosseum

4th Century Church of St. Peter's built by Constantine. Built to look like the Royal Stoa of the 2nd Temple in Jerusalem.
4th Century Church of St. Peter's built by Constantine
St. Peter's Interior Today.
Stained Glass Cathedral Rheims
Lyon Cathedral
Wells Cathedral


Country Church painted by Dzvinka Stifel
Beautiful altars




Psalm 90


A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.


English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible


1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place [our refuge]
in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

3 You return man to dust
and say, “Return, O children of man [of Adam] !”
4 For a thousand years in your sight
are but as yesterday when it is past,
or as a watch in the night.

5 You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,
like grass that is renewed in the morning:
6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
in the evening it fades and withers.

7 For we are brought to an end by your anger;
by your wrath we are dismayed.
8 You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence.

9 For all our days pass away under your wrath;
we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
10 The years of our life are seventy,
or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span [or pride] is but toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away.
11 Who considers the power of your anger,
and your wrath according to the fear of you?

12 So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom.
13 Return, O Lord! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
and for as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let your work be shown to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.
17 Let the favor [beauty] of the Lord our God be upon us,
and establish the work of our hands upon us;
yes, establish the work of our hands!


Psalm 90:4
For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.

2 Peter 3:8
But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

Two days ago, Jesus Christ offered Himself as our sacrifice. Death was abolished and a new Heaven was written of by the apostle John, breathed out by the Holy Spirit ~ in the eyes of our Father God.

When we stand in our sanctuary, Church, praising God, we are - in His eyes - a mere breath away from the events we see posted today.

We are just dust, but Precious in the eyes of God. God is God of the Living. Many generations Living with Him; He is our refuge!

<><

Exodus 33:19 ~ The Lord

Though it is commonly known as Saint Catherine's, the full, official name of the monastery is, The Sacred and Imperial Monastery of the God-Trodden Mount of Sinai.

The oldest record of monastic life, at Sinai, is the travel journal written by a woman named Egeria c. 381-384. She visited many places around the Holy Land and Mount Sinai, where, according to the Hebrew Bible, Moses received the Ten Commandments from God.

The monastery was built by order of Emperor Justinian I (reigned 527-565), enclosing the Chapel of the Burning Bush or referred to as "St. Helen's Chapel." The site is sacred to Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The monastery library preserves the second largest collection of early codices and manuscripts in the world, outnumbered only by the Vatican Library. Its strength lies in Greek, Arabic, Armenian, Hebrew, Georgian, Syriac and old Udi texts. The Codex Sinaiticus, the oldest complete Bible, now in the British Library, left the monastery in the 19th century for Russia, in circumstances that are now disputed.

Exodus 33:19

Listen - click for new tab

19 And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.


When we ask the LORD for His blessings, we ask a good thing.

Psalm 25

Listen - click for a new tab

1 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in you I trust;
let me not be put to shame;
let not my enemies exult over me.
3 Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame;
they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all the day long.

6 Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!

8 Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9 He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble his way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

11 For your name's sake, O Lord,
pardon my guilt, for it is great.
12 Who is the man who fears the Lord?
Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.
13 His soul shall abide in well-being,
and his offspring shall inherit the land.
14 The friendship [The secret counsel] of the Lord is for those who fear him,
and he makes known to them his covenant.
15 My eyes are ever toward the Lord,
for he will pluck my feet out of the net.

16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
bring me out of my distresses.
18 Consider my affliction and my trouble,
and forgive all my sins.

19 Consider how many are my foes,
and with what violent hatred they hate me.
20 Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!
Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
for I wait for you.

22 Redeem Israel, O God,
out of all his troubles.

Father, Abba, we love Your amazing works in the Old Testament, usually worked through one man. Abba, we love even more Your Son, brought the powerful Holy Spirit to All Who Believe and call upon Your name. Father God, we look to You in hope. To see Your path and Your plan move to Your Glory. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

<><

Psalm: 37:19-42 ~ those cursed by Him shall be cut off

Psalm 37:19-40

Listen - click for new tab

19 they (the blameless) are not put to shame in evil times;
in the days of famine they have abundance.

20 But the wicked will perish;
the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures;
they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.

21 The wicked borrows but does not pay back,
but the righteous is generous and gives;
22 for those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the land,
but those cursed by him shall be cut off.

23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
when he delights in his way;
24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
for the Lord upholds his hand.

25 I have been young, and now am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
or his children begging for bread.
26 He is ever lending generously,
and his children become a blessing.

27 Turn away from evil and do good;
so shall you dwell forever.
28 For the Lord loves justice;
he will not forsake his saints.
They are preserved forever,
but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land
and dwell upon it forever.

30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,
and his tongue speaks justice.
31 The law of his God is in his heart;
his steps do not slip.

32 The wicked watches for the righteous
and seeks to put him to death.
33 The Lord will not abandon him to his power
or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial.

34 Wait for the Lord and keep his way,
and he will exalt you to inherit the land;
you will look on when the wicked are cut off.

35 I have seen a wicked, ruthless man,
spreading himself like a green laurel tree.
36 But he passed away, and behold, he was no more;
though I sought him, he could not be found.

37 Mark the blameless and behold the upright,
for there is a future for the man of peace.
38 But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed;
the future of the wicked shall be cut off.

39 The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;
he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.

I was thinking, this week, of the Prodigal Son Parable. I wondered if the Father remained glad to have taken back the son, who humiliated Him publicly. Of course, it is the story of God's mercy for us. I decided under the law, the Father wasn't glad. The son probably continued to be an effort and a problem. And ... in the path, the Way, of the "fulfilling of the Law" = Love, the merciful Father was more than pleased. The Way, the Truth and the Life.

the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures;
they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.

When we think of Eli ~ wonderful Eli who was so intuitive of the Lord in Hannah's prayer & kind to Samuel. Samuel didn't want to bring Eli the news that the Lord had found fault with Eli's sons' sins and Eli who failed to restrain them. Later, Samuel sons were not killed, but directly snubbed by Israel for leadership.

Mark the blameless and behold the upright,
for there is a future for the man of peace

When you look at the descendants of American Puritan leaders, you see a different story. The children of Christian leaders largely have children who went on to live godly, prosperous lives living the Light of Christ. The difference is the mercy of atonement for sin in Jesus Christ. Real Christian mercy makes generous and kind allowances for mistakes and looks with hope to the future.

because they take refuge in Him


<><

Matthew 9:14-17 ~ New wine is put in fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved

Matthew 9:14-17

Listen - click for new tab

14 Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast [often], but your disciples do not fast?” 15 And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16 No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. 17 Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.”

New opportunities, a breathe of God's favor. Versus hopelessness. Jesus told us He is the Vine.

Do you remember President Reagan accepting the nomination to run for President of the United States? He started by saying, America has not finished. Our glory days have not passed us by, there is " a bright dawn ahead." Jesus tells us the same thing when we put our hope in Him.

New opportunities for a solution. Even in the Book of Genesis we see drunkenness, permanent problems from drinking. It's interesting to remember international slave ships and trade were stopped at the same time substance abuse began to go down.

Why do we have substance abuse? People say and indicate all the time, they want to be in control of their lives, they want to decide what they believe, how they act. Then they are overwhelmed, feel insecure, want to distance themselves from their lives. According to Alcoholics Anonymous, people lose their insecurities, feel they are living life, acquire a new set of friends and new habits.

This isn't a new problem for the world. China executed everyone in the Opium Den. The U.K. had Divine Help from God to overcome the Gin problems occurring in early 18th and 19th century; by revivals led with people involved in the Salvation Army, the new Methodist Church and politicians like Wilbur Wilberforce. Did you see the movie, "Amazing Grace"?

If we speak of Spiritual issues or of substance abuse, we are speaking of the same thing. Hope, faith, Love. Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Substance abuse and hopelessness require the same remedy. We have to believe we matter to each other and to God to have hope.

What is the meaning of all of this new wine versus old wine analogy? It is for.... every single one of us:

New wine - being changed by Jesus, seeing our lives as a gift from God and for God, not just another salmon swimming upstream without hope and going through the daily work. Old wine - what is valued, mellowed, cherished. What is Jesus telling us? We cannot change, cannot save ourselves. We cannot do it ourselves. With God all things are possible. Every day, we take our old wine - the things we value, the things the world expects, old hurts, the things that concern us. And we put them before God - the new wine of the Holy Spirit. We become the new wineskins, because of our faith. Then we see the blessings and we thank Him. We put the people we care about forward in prayer. We trust God with our lives.

Blessed be God, who creates light out of darkness.

Isaiah 45:

¹⁹ I have not spoken in secret,
from somewhere in a land of darkness;
I have not said to Jacob's descendants,
'Seek me in vain.'
I, the LORD, speak the truth;
I declare what is right.

²⁰ "Gather together and come;
assemble, you fugitives from the nations.
Ignorant are those who carry about idols of wood,
who pray to gods that cannot save.

²¹ Declare what is to be, present it—
let them take counsel together.
Who foretold this long ago,
who declared it from the distant past?
Was it not I, the LORD ?
And there is no God apart from me,
a righteous God and a Savior;
there is none but me.

²² "Turn to me and be saved,
all you ends of the earth;
for I am God, and there is no other.

²³ By myself I have sworn,
my mouth has uttered in all integrity
a word that will not be revoked:
Before me every knee will bow;
by me every tongue will swear.

²⁴ They will say of me, 'In the LORD alone
are righteousness and strength.' "
All who have raged against him
will come to him and be put to shame.

²⁵ But in the LORD all the descendants of Israel
will be found righteous and will exult!!!

Blessed be the name of the Lord. Jesus. Amen.

<><

How to Be Safe This Year
--------------------------

1. Avoid riding in automobiles because they are responsible for 20% of all fatal accidents.

2. Do not stay home because 17% of all accidents occur in the home.

3. Avoid walking on streets or sidewalks because 14% of all accidents occur to pedestrians.

4. Avoid traveling by air, rail, or water because 16% of all accidents involve these forms of transportation.

5. Of the remaining 33%, 32% of all deaths occur in Hospitals. Above all else, avoid hospitals.

You will be pleased to learn that only .001% of all deaths occur in worship services in Church, and these are usually related to previous physical disorders. Therefore, logic tells us that the safest place for you to be at any point in time is at Church!

Bible study is safe too. The percentage of deaths during Bible study is even less.

FOR SAFETY'S SAKE - Attend Church and read your Bible daily ...IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE.


<><

Hebrews 6:10-20 ~ patiently waited

Hebrews 6:10-20

Listen - click for new tab

10 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. 11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” 15 And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. 16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. 17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

It is a striking statement:

~ it is impossible for God to lie

We who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place

Messages from God, into our inner soul, rarely enter with paragraphs. This is one of the verses, Beloved in the Lord. As strong as God's Love. As High as the Highest Name. Jesus, the LORD.


<><

Mattew 19 ~ He answered

Matthew 19

Listen - click for new tab

1 Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. 2 And large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.

3 And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause?” 4 He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” 7 They said to him, “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?” 8 He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery [ Some manuscripts add and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery; other manuscripts except for sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery ].”

10 The disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” 11 But he said to them, “Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. 12 For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it.”

13 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, 14 but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” 15 And he laid his hands on them and went away.

16 And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 27 Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” 28 Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world [Greek - in the regeneration], when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold [manifold] and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

Life is complex, has many different sides to it. A Youth Minister friend of mine returned from a Motivational Speaker Retreat and came to our office & said - the first talk began - we have: God, our relationship with Him, our Bible Studies, our questions of faith, our questions about living our faith. Our spouse, our marriage, how to please the spouse, how to please me. Our family, our kids, our needs, our problems and concerns, my family needs. My extended family and the concerns in that. My Church, my Church's needs. My job, the spouse's job. Financial wants and needs. The needs and concerns of those jobs. My friends, our friends, the needs in that friendship. Our neighbor and the needs and concerns of the neighbors. (Love my neighbor as myself). My community. Then the things I own that break, I desire or need care.

(This passage has a bit of all of these things: marriage, sexuality, goals for life, children, blessings, deeds, keeping, lack, perfection, treasure, sorrow, difficulty, ease, impossibility and the power of God.)

My husband, looked up from his work, and said, "Did you want to go home after hearing the list? It's accurate, but way overwhelming."

Mike, our Youth Minister, smiled and said, "No, it was refreshing to hear all the things to be addressed. I liked the way, the order, it was presented. It made sense to me in my engineering background. To hear the honesty, most motivation breaks down in just a few weeks because we take it upon ourselves."

So, I was interested and said, "It's too long, was there a simple answer to this, to remember it?"

The answer was very simple. Each day we put out our hands and say:

Father God, let Your priority for today be my priority. Show me what You'd like me to accomplish today. Let Your will be my hands, my feet, my words, my work. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them


<><

John 1:29-42 ~ for this purpose

John 1:29-42

Listen - click for new tab

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour [4 p.m.]. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter [Cephas and Peter are from the word for rock in Aramaic and Greek, respectively]).

We are part of 31 local Christian Churches praying for renewal, redemption, awakening of the Holy Spirit in our area. These different denominations are praying, each Sunday, for each other; the empowerment of Christ loving, Scripture believing Churches to be the body of Jesus Christ. They pray for the Light of Christ to shine.

In this passage John acts as the Church. John doesn't exist to serve himself, but to be part of God's plan. Hurray for John!

I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God!

Father God, so many souls, so many needs, so many seeking You. Establish and strengthen Your Way! Help the men and women who act as the Body of Jesus Christ. Daily encourage, strengthen, lead, and empower Your children with Your Holy Spirit, the people who shine Your Light. We ask in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen!

Isaiah 9:2
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.

Proverbs 4:18
The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

John 8:12
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

<><

Galatians 5:22-26; 6:1-2 ~ bear one another's burdens

In photo.... Emerging Church!!



At the end of our Church service, we are given a blessing. Having a blessing is wonderful! Yet returning the given blessing, in silent prayer, to the Church & praying for "The Church of Jesus Christ" is even better! To have the blessings of the Lord- for the Church - to Do His work - is a necessary, powerful, life-changing, beautiful, blessed, Needed, Ongoing Work. Of His.

A world in need is best served by Jesus' Church! The Church needs to be prayed for in the power of the Holy Spirit. If you visualize this, wouldn't it be like one firework, multiplying, becoming a beautiful display of unending fireworks!!

Almost 2 decades ago, we were in a small group with a Church Junior Pastor, in his 20's, who was quite young; he spent a lot of his time telling the group about hard, unappreciated work. The work was a lot like janitorial and social services. He probably should have just told his confidants, not people in the congregation, but it is so difficult to do the Lord's work.

Remember to pray for the Church of the Lord!

Galatians 5:22-26

Listen - click for new tab

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Galatians 6:1-2

1 Brothers and sisters, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14
"Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love" ♥ !

<><

Genesis 25 ~ sell me your birthright now

Genesis 25

Listen - click for new tab

1 Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah. 2 She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. 3 Jokshan fathered Sheba and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. 4 The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. 5 Abraham gave all he had to Isaac. 6 But to the sons of his concubines Abraham gave gifts, and while he was still living he sent them away from his son Isaac, eastward to the east country.

7 These are the days of the years of Abraham's life, 175 years. 8 Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people. 9 Isaac and Ishmael his sons buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, east of Mamre, 10 the field that Abraham purchased from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried, with Sarah his wife. 11 After the death of Abraham, God blessed Isaac his son. And Isaac settled at Beer-lahai-roi.

12 These are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's servant, bore to Abraham. 13 These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, named in the order of their birth: Nebaioth, the firstborn of Ishmael; and Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16 These are the sons of Ishmael and these are their names, by their villages and by their encampments, twelve princes according to their tribes. 17 (These are the years of the life of Ishmael: 137 years. He breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.) 18 They settled from Havilah to Shur, which is opposite Egypt in the direction of Assyria. He settled over against all his kinsmen.

19 These are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham fathered Isaac, 20 and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife. 21 And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren. And the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is thus, why is this happening to me [why do I live]?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. 23 And the Lord said to her,

“Two nations are in your womb,
and two peoples from within you [from birth] shall be divided;
the one shall be stronger than the other,
the older shall serve the younger.”

24 When her days to give birth were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25 The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau. 26 Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding Esau's heel, so his name was called Jacob [He takes by the heel, or He cheats]. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

27 When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. 28 Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

29 Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. 30 And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom. [Edom, in Hebrew sounds like red.]) 31 Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” 32 Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” 33 Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

Jacob is called the thief, named Israel. It is interesting Jacob didn't steal, but offered an upfront bargain and Red didn't think his words mattered greatly, and agreed. Jacob believes (because God says Jacob lives in Heaven) words matter.

Out of this Scripture passage, we will have thousands of years of conflict. It is the beginning of the Middle East troubles. Created by people trying to make their way in life, failing, sinning, being tired, being indifferent and God still offering away forward.

What did Abraham do to be blessed by God?

James 2:23
and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.

God's willingness to bless continues to the generations.


Psalm 100
1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!

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

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

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

Genesis 12
1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.

How did God's friend react to God's promise?

4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him



1 Corinthians 16:13-14
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.


Father God, You have willing souls, willing hands before You in prayer. We put our hope and our eyes on You. Speak to us each day, the plans we may have together, each day. Each night, as Your Psalm 16 says speak with us, let us be directed in Your plan. That at the end of the day, You say to us "well done, good and faithful servant."

We rest in Your plans. We believe in You, in faithful prayer, a prayer of trust. In You. We look, like Elijah did, for Your ways, in our souls and in the work and opportunities each day. We look for the ways You provide to strengthen our Father and beloved child relationship. We pray in the highest name of Jesus Christ. Your Son. Amen.


<><

Psalm 18:1-19 ~ my cry to Him reached His ears

Psalm 18:1-20

Listen - click for new tab

1 I love you, O Lord, my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.

4 The cords of death encompassed me;
the torrents of destruction assailed me;
5 the cords of Sheol entangled me;
the snares of death confronted me.

6 In my distress I called upon the Lord;
to my God I cried for help.
From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry to him reached his ears.

7 Then the earth reeled and rocked;
the foundations also of the mountains trembled
and quaked, because he was angry.
8 Smoke went up from his nostrils,
and devouring fire from his mouth;
glowing coals flamed forth from him.
9 He bowed the heavens and came down;
thick darkness was under his feet.
10 He rode on a cherub and flew;
he came swiftly on the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him,
thick clouds dark with water.
12 Out of the brightness before him
hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds.

13 The Lord also thundered in the heavens,
and the Most High uttered his voice,
hailstones and coals of fire.
14 And he sent out his arrows and scattered them;
he flashed forth lightnings and routed them.
15 Then the channels of the sea were seen,
and the foundations of the world were laid bare
at your rebuke, O Lord,
at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.

16 He sent from on high, he took me;
he drew me out of many waters.
17 He rescued me from my strong enemy
and from those who hated me,
for they were too mighty for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
but the Lord was my support.
19 He brought me out into a broad place;
he rescued me, because he delighted in me.

If I tell you right off the bat what our Scripture reminds me of, you'd probably raise your eyebrows at me. So I will explain some first with some Scripture:

1 Thessalonians 5:17
pray without ceasing

Luke 18:1
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

2 Thessalonians 1:11
With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.

Ephesians 6:18
18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

Romans 1:9-10
9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you 10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you.

There, I've built a powerful basis to say God wants us to be in constant conversation with Him.

When Noel "Paul" Stookey (of Peter, Paul and Mary) wrote the "The Wedding Song (There is Love)", which he donated the rights to a fund for struggling artists; he spoke about being in constant conversation, prayer, with Jesus. He said even when he boards a train, he asks the Lord to direct him to sit in the right place, to visit with the people Jesus would have him to.

So... this leads me to the point I am making, today this portion of Psalm 18 reminds me of the ferocious cold I have. As I read it, I feel the care of my Savior, telling me - in all circumstances, He is with me. Concerned. Loving.

Be blessed, please use some of your prayer conversation to the healing of this cold. Many thanks.
Anne-Laurel


<><

Judges 8 ~ give bread

Judges 8


Listen - click for a new tab


1 Then the men of Ephraim said to him, “What is this that you have done to us, not to call us when you went to fight against Midian?” And they accused him fiercely. 2 And he said to them, “What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the grape harvest of Abiezer? 3 God has given into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. What have I been able to do in comparison with you?” Then their anger [spirit] against him subsided when he said this.

4 And Gideon came to the Jordan and crossed over, he and the 300 men who were with him, exhausted yet pursuing. 5 So he said to the men of Succoth, “Please give loaves of bread to the people who follow me, for they are exhausted, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.” 6 And the officials of Succoth said, “Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?” 7 So Gideon said, “Well then, when the Lord has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will flail your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.” 8 And from there he went up to Penuel, and spoke to them in the same way, and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered. 9 And he said to the men of Penuel, “When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.”

10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with their army, about 15,000 men, all who were left of all the army of the people of the East, for there had fallen 120,000 men who drew the sword. 11 And Gideon went up by the way of the tent dwellers east of Nobah and Jogbehah and attacked the army, for the army felt secure. 12 And Zebah and Zalmunna fled, and he pursued them and captured the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and he threw all the army into a panic.

13 Then Gideon the son of Joash returned from the battle by the ascent of Heres. 14 And he captured a young man of Succoth and questioned him. And he wrote down for him the officials and elders of Succoth, seventy-seven men. 15 And he came to the men of Succoth and said, “Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, about whom you taunted me, saying, ‘Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hand, that we should give bread to your men who are exhausted?’” 16 And he took the elders of the city, and he took thorns of the wilderness and briers and with them taught the men of Succoth a lesson. 17 And he broke down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city.

18 Then he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “Where are the men whom you killed at Tabor?” They answered, “As you are, so were they. Every one of them resembled the son of a king.” 19 And he said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the Lord lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not kill you.” 20 So he said to Jether his firstborn, “Rise and kill them!” But the young man did not draw his sword, for he was afraid, because he was still a young man. 21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Rise yourself and fall upon us, for as the man is, so is his strength.” And Gideon arose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and he took the crescent ornaments that were on the necks of their camels.

22 Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, you and your son and your grandson also, for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.” 23 Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the Lord will rule over you.” 24 And Gideon said to them, “Let me make a request of you: every one of you give me the earrings from his spoil.” (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) 25 And they answered, “We will willingly give them.” And they spread a cloak, and every man threw in it the earrings of his spoil. 26 And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was 1,700 shekels [41 pounds, 18700 grams, value as of 1/12/2011 is $908,803.] of gold, besides the crescent ornaments and the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian, and besides the collars that were around the necks of their camels.

27 And Gideon made an ephod of it and put it in his city, in Ophrah. And all Israel whored after it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and to his family. 28 So Midian was subdued before the people of Israel, and they raised their heads no more. And the land had rest forty years in the days of Gideon.

29 Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and lived in his own house. 30 Now Gideon had seventy sons, his own offspring, for he had many wives. 31 And his concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, and he called his name Abimelech. 32 And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father, at Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

33 As soon as Gideon died, the people of Israel turned again and whored after the Baals and made Baal-berith their god. 34 And the people of Israel did not remember the Lord their God, who had delivered them from the hand of all their enemies on every side, 35 and they did not show steadfast love to the family of Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) in return for all the good that he had done to Israel.

Since December, we've looked at a phrase in Luke 1:66
For the Lord’s hand was with him.

The Scriptures are written for you. You are:

Luke 2:14
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Read the passage again, place yourself in Gideon's position. We all love Gideon, he was the one whom God saw past current circumstances and saw Potential. In God's grace ... Gideon was worthy!!

Gideon was like Abraham and this quality exists in the people living to be octogenarians. People believe God is in control, He does as He promises. Refusing to let circumstance pull one down. Believing there is a plan and it is God's.

There is a phrase - my father had it in artwork and framed in his office, given to him by our priest's wife - "If you are up to your rear in alligators, it's hard to remember the objective is to drain the swamp!" We all have time and situation were every little thing becomes complicated and like a tar pit. It sucks you down, into it. Gideon is in the midst of ... politics & war. Horror.

Gideon has a major advantage. He believes the Victory is God's and Gideon is part of it. He trusts God using the eyes of faith. Even when circumstance looks very bleak. Remember the words ... exhaustion had set in.

While the Children of Israel were not helpful; the foreign kings realized Gideon's brothers, least of all the tribes, looked like sons of kings. It didn't prevent Zebah and Zalmunna from killing them, but they had the discernment of their worth. We sometimes don't see ourselves and others around us for our true souls.

Matthew 13:57
57 And they took offense at him.

But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”

Gideon kept the faith. He remembered the LORD is the King.


1 Corinthians 9:21b-25

I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

<><

Genesis 45 ~ the best will be yours

Today we are thinking of the balance between loving God with our whole heart first, loving our neighbor as loving ourself. It's easy for the balance to be misplaced. When Jesus died giving us the opportunity to have His Holy Spirit, we are baptized & believe Jesus died for our sins to forgive us; we believe that Holy Spirit dwells in others around us. Joseph is a God given example of this balance.

Genesis 45 ~ (The Message)

1 -2 Joseph couldn't hold himself in any longer, keeping up a front before all his attendants. He cried out, "Leave! Clear out—everyone leave!" So there was no one with Joseph when he identified himself to his brothers. But his sobbing was so violent that the Egyptians couldn't help but hear him. The news was soon reported to Pharaoh's palace.

3 Joseph spoke to his brothers: "I am Joseph. Is my father really still alive?" But his brothers couldn't say a word. They were speechless—they couldn't believe what they were hearing and seeing.

4 -8 "Come closer to me," Joseph said to his brothers. They came closer. "I am Joseph your brother whom you sold into Egypt. But don't feel badly, don't blame yourselves for selling me. God was behind it. God sent me here ahead of you to save lives. There has been a famine in the land now for two years; the famine will continue for five more years—neither plowing nor harvesting. God sent me on ahead to pave the way and make sure there was a remnant in the land, to save your lives in an amazing act of deliverance. So you see, it wasn't you who sent me here but God. He set me in place as a father to Pharaoh, put me in charge of his personal affairs, and made me ruler of all Egypt.

9 -11 "Hurry back to my father. Tell him, 'Your son Joseph says: I'm master of all of Egypt. Come as fast as you can and join me here. I'll give you a place to live in Goshen where you'll be close to me—you, your children, your grandchildren, your flocks, your herds, and anything else you can think of. I'll take care of you there completely. There are still five more years of famine ahead; I'll make sure all your needs are taken care of, you and everyone connected with you—you won't want for a thing.'

12 -13 "Look at me. You can see for yourselves, and my brother Benjamin can see for himself, that it's me, my own mouth, telling you all this. Tell my father all about the high position I hold in Egypt, tell him everything you've seen here, but don't take all day—hurry up and get my father down here."

14 -15 Then Joseph threw himself on his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. He then kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Only then were his brothers able to talk with him.

16 The story was reported in Pharaoh's palace: "Joseph's brothers have come." It was good news to Pharaoh and all who worked with him.

17 -18 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Tell your brothers, 'This is the plan: Load up your pack animals; go to Canaan, get your father and your families and bring them back here. I'll settle you on the best land in Egypt—you'll live off the fat of the land.'

19 -20 "Also tell them this: 'Here's what I want you to do: Take wagons from Egypt to carry your little ones and your wives and load up your father and come back. Don't worry about having to leave things behind; the best in all of Egypt will be yours.'"

21 -23 And they did just that, the sons of Israel. Joseph gave them the wagons that Pharaoh had promised and food for the trip. He outfitted all the brothers in brand-new clothes, but he gave Benjamin three hundred pieces of silver and several suits of clothes. He sent his father these gifts: ten donkeys loaded with Egypt's best products and another ten donkeys loaded with grain and bread, provisions for his father's journey back.

24 Then he sent his brothers off. As they left he told them, "Take it easy on the journey; try to get along with each other."

25 -28 They left Egypt and went back to their father Jacob in Canaan. When they told him, "Joseph is still alive—and he's the ruler over the whole land of Egypt!" he went numb; he couldn't believe his ears. But the more they talked, telling him everything that Joseph had told them and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him back, the blood started to flow again—their father Jacob's spirit revived. Israel said, "I've heard enough—my son Joseph is still alive. I've got to go and see him before I die."

<><