Acts 6 ~ obedient to the faith

"No foreigner is to enter within the balustrade and embankment around the sanctuary. Whoever is caught will have himself to blame for his death which follows." Both Greek (above and there are 2 Greek signs discovered) and Latin versions of this warning were posted at regular intervals around the balustrade).The engraved block of limestone is about 22 inches high by 33 inches long. Each letter was nearly 1 1/2 inches high and originally painted with red ink against the white limestone. Part of another sign was unearthed in 1936. Currently locatated in the Archaeological Museum of Istanbul, Turkey. It is a fairly well-known and understood archaeological find, labeled CIJ 2.1400

Rather more obscure is CIJ 2.1404 The Theodotus Inscription. Not all of the Second (or First) Temple is completely understood. 75 centimeters long.
The Theodotus inscription (CIJ 2.1404) was discovered in a Jerusalem cistern by R. Weill in 1913. It dates to the first century AD prior to the Temple's destruction. Significantly, the inscription reveals that three generations of priests served as the "rulers of the synagogue" (archisynagôgoi - the Greek word) mentioned in the dedication. Translation:

Theodotus, (son) of Vettenus, priest and
archisynagôgos, son of an archisynagôgos,
grandson of an archisynagôgos, built
the synagogue for the reading of the law and
the teaching of the commandments, and
the guest-chamber and the rooms and the
water installations for lodging for those needing them
from abroad, which his fathers, the elders
and Simonides founded

The area, above, is the larger map with the area pointing to the pool where the stone was found. The area C2 is where the stone was located, below in the larger map.
1913 photo of the discovery. Along with the inscription, additional artifacts were found in the cistern. They had been deliberately deposited there. Perhaps one of the members of the congregation, or someone who had received from their hospitality, planned to return to the site after the destruction of Jerusalem and buried the remains of the building, hoping to reconstruct it someday.


Acts 6

Max McLean Audio Bible, English Standard Version

1 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists [Greek-speaking Jews] arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, [brothers and sisters] pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.

7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. 8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.

9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. 10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, 13 and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.”

15 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.



All of these people being obedient to the faith - until it comes to power, jealousy, and seeking to kill Stephen. Preceding the lies and the plots to kill, we saw in Acts 5 multitudes have come to the Temple. The Theodotus Inscription describes itself as a Synagogue having a worship place and lodging place for foreigners. Acts 5 had the disciples moving directly into Solomon's Porch, part of the Temple Mount. Acts 6 describes them in the Foreigners Freedman Synagogue.

This is overlooked. Not only did the disciples convert like a rocket - from hiding while the women go to anoint Jesus' body, but they are so bold, they are holding religious services openly as part of the Synagogue place reserved for Gentiles and doing service for Christ in the actual Temple. How did they have this boldness.... incredible.... priests were being converted.

Doesn't the statue say something about this? This is Glenna Goodacre's statue, not of Stephen, but the joy these men had to carry on Jesus' words and works. Jesus was tried at night by the High Priests, stripped, beaten almost to death, paraded, yet not destroyed. Even Josephus, the Judean General who switched sides to Rome to become the historian to 3 Emperors, wrote the Christians didn't disband after their Christ was killed. " After the Crucifixion of Jesus, James the brother of Jesus became the leader of the Jewish sect that would become known as Jewish Christianity. James "the Just", remained its leader until he was martyred c.62 AD."

Paul was the last of the men referred to as disciples to see the Resurrected Jesus. He proclaimed. John wrote 16 times of the Glory of Jesus. Peter wrote of the Glory. Sometimes today, we forget how the obscure death of one Man, who died for our sins, rocked the planet in just a few years. In less than 16 years, Emperors of the Roman Empire were bent on destroying all the people they could lay hands on for worshiping the Son of God.

1 Timothy 3:16
Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great:
He appeared in a body,
was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory!

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Psalm 57 ~ for the 5th Largest Earthquake in the world. Largest Tsunami for Japan. Then Fires.

Psalm 57

1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
till the storms of destruction pass by.
2 I cry out to God Most High,
to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
3 He will send from heaven and save me;
he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah
God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!

4 My soul is in the midst of lions;
I lie down amid fiery beasts—
the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows,
whose tongues are sharp swords.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!

6 They set a net for my steps;
my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my way,
but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah
7 My heart is steadfast, O God,
my heart is steadfast!
I will sing and make melody!
8 Awake, my glory!
Awake, O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn!
9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds.

11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!


Cataclysmic events in Japan. We have a good friend who has spent years with us at our home stationed in the Japanese island of Okinawa as an EMT. Everyone there is accounted for. Many in Japan are far from this fortunate.

Houston experienced Hurricane Katrina as the evacuees poured in to the Stadium and the hotels were full. 2nd Baptist Church called a meeting with every Christian pastor to attend and the hotels and areas were divided into a grid. The stadium evacuees and the hotel evacuees were fed by the Churches for over 3 months every night. Churches from hundreds of miles away donated time, food, clothing. Our Church collected furniture and household goods as well as moving our evacuees into apartments. At the end of the 3 months, the evacuees held a BBQ buffet for us. During their stay with us, babies were born (2) and one family experienced the death of 2 family members due to the overwhelming stress of being completely homeless. The man of that family said only hope, faith and love where getting him through it. Hope - he knew God would help him through, Faith - God is still at work, Love- all the love given to him for a lifetime. We both stood in the parking lot and cried as he told me this.

So, what is the Google world doing with this information? A whole lot of people are looking to see if this is the end times.

Matthew 24:3-14
3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
 

9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

My honest, prayerful opinion is that this Is a taste of the end times. But Not the End for some great amount of time. Why? The huge amount of people going to seek the LORD. The history of how bad humanity has been is.... so long. Notre Dame was defiled during the French Revolution; 30,000 priests were harmed. It wasn't the end of Christ in France.

The end of Jesus Christ.... that is what the end is seeking to be. People seeking to do away with Scripture. To establish whatever man decides is just. How frightening. Yes. We have a taste of this in the way life is portrayed in the media. But people still really believe in God, go to Church and seek Him.

We look for the life of the world to come. The Dallas Park Cities Baptist Church steeple and clock says "Night Comes."

John 9:4
We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.

This is not new. Too often we are observers. Really believing Christians hunker down. No. This isn't what we should do. We need to remember - Christians have always believed Jesus is coming back for them. Mostly we are going to experience this at our own, God-planned for, natural death. But it is day, and we need to find the blessings in each day He provides for us. To help those in need. Yes, of course to the Christian relief efforts in areas with tragedy, but we Know we all have people in our lives with the tragedy of no hope or belief in the redemption of Jesus Christ. We are called to be salt and light. Not ram our faith down the throat of people. Not hunker down believing this is the drain and so scary. No, the love and care of Jesus given. Continual prayer offered. Help given. Encouragement given. Acts of kindness and compassion.

Not rushing off to another country to do God's work. Of course we need to do this as well. But to realize God has given - each of us - a corner of this earth to do for Him what we can. At Church. At work. In our neighborhoods. In our families.

If we sit back and observe - the love of many will grow cold. How will this be the Light of Jesus Christ?
 

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Psalm 81 ~ open your mouth wide

 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. ~ Mark 10:15

Psalm 81


1 Sing aloud to God our strength;
shout for joy to the God of Jacob!
2 Raise a song; sound the tambourine,
the sweet lyre with the harp.
3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon,
at the full moon, on our feast day.

4 For it is a statute for Israel,
a rule [just decree] of the God of Jacob.
5 He made it a decree in Joseph
when he went out over [against] the land of Egypt.
I hear a language I had not known:
6 “I relieved your [his; also next line] shoulder of the burden;
your hands were freed from the basket.
7 In distress you called, and I delivered you;
I answered you in the secret place of thunder;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah [quarreling]. Selah
8 Hear, O my people, while I admonish you!
O Israel, if you would but listen to me!
9 There shall be no strange god among you;
you shall not bow down to a foreign god.
10 I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

11 “But my people did not listen to my voice;
Israel would not submit to me.
12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,
to follow their own counsels.
13 Oh, that my people would listen to me,
that Israel would walk in my ways!
14 I would soon subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes.
15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe toward him,
and their fate would last forever.
16 But he would feed you [Israel; Hebrew him] with the finest of the wheat,
and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”


Is the glass 1/2 full or empty? In this Psalm we are given a statute, a rule, a just decree and seemingly just the hope to just open our mouths to God's blessings. It is both a Psalm of hope and an appeal to us to have more faith in our souls and actions.
The Scriptures are neither 1/2 full or 1/2 empty. They are the Word of the Lord. A statute is a formal written enactment of a legislative authority that governs a state, city, or county. Except in the Scriptures it is much more vital, living and important! The law isn't the 10 commandments every word coming from His mouth, it is:

2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

More important than empty or full. It's the LORD who doesn't change. Times are difficult during this intense year. Even in Deuteronomy - Christians don't find very exciting, Deuteronomy 5 is about Father God wanting to willingly bless. Just like this Psalm. Prayer isn't the dry need to cultivate a needy Deity.

What we usually pray to God is not that His will be done, but that He approves ours.

~Helga Bergold Gross

Prayer is about opening ourselves to the willingness of God. Just as the LORD tested the Children of Israel at Meribah As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in schools. Prayer is a conversation!

What is the factor of variation seeming to exist in this Psalm? It is within your soul and my soul. It is the expectation God hears our prayer conversations. That this life is meaningful and the works and words accomplished in them matter to Him. Greatly.

Psalm 126 is a great example of this. It tells us of great blessings to come and the desire for more blessings. And ends with:

He who goes out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him.

Shouts of joy are required!

Father God, each day help us to cultivate the garden you've given us for our lives. Help us to work in Your Light. Help us to weed out what is not holy in Your eyes, even when we cherish that weed. Help us to see, diligently, Your blessings even when it is rain. Let us be children of Light even when we work with fertilizer. And in the reading of Your Word, help us also to be do-ers, let our lives reflect Your work in our garden. Bless our garden, like a mustard seed, which we took and planted in the garden You've give us. Let it grow and became a tree, so the birds of the air perched in its branches may sing to Your glory. Help us not to cultivate the garden for our use alone, but to be blessings to others with a generous heart.

Father God, teach us to let our words, our time, our talent be the meditation of the heart You hope for. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. In the holiest name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

Genesis 45:1-15 ~ he wept

Jesus Wept, painted by Mark Spears



Genesis 45:1-15
Audio for all of Genesis 45

¹ Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, "Have everyone leave my presence!" So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. ² And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh's household heard about it.

³ Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still living?" But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.

⁴ Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! ⁵ And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. ⁶ For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. ⁷ But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

⁸ "So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. ⁹ Now hurry back to my father and say to him, 'This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don't delay. ¹⁰ You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. ¹¹ I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.'

¹² "You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you. ¹³ Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly."

¹⁴ Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. ¹⁵ And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him.

John 11:35
Jesus wept.

By Dr. George C. Anderson

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

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

Repeat Scripture for Today Blogspot.com from 3/9/09

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Ephesians 4 ~ speaking the truth in Love

After a life of 30 years being Protestant (with years of parochial schools), with an Episcopalian Great-Uncle Priest always sitting at the head of the table for Holidays and lots of Sunday dinners, we were Catholic for 5 years before moving, and joining the Anglican Church for the last 11 years. When I used to tell our priest how I liked his sermon, he used to reply, "I'm just teaching myself." After having a spate of grumpiness, this one is another one for "I'm just teaching myself."

My friend Dee sat next to me today at Needlepoint and said she hadn't enjoyed her last Ray Vander Laan bible study because it made her unhappy. A most unusual response. Why? Ray (we all like) said the Children of Israel were grumpy. And Dee said she could understand why. The video showed the well in the desert where the Israelis were tired of wandering in the dry and the heat, without shelter, without food, and without water. Dee said she Knew she'd be Grumpy. And she felt bad.

I didn't feel bad. No, not the one having the "cross your path and I'll be speaking to you week." After wanting to chew out 6 people in 3 days, I realized I am grumpy. Bone Deep Grumpy. Spring Break / College Students who Whine, Stay-cation versus Slump-cation Grumpy. I'll give you - Israel in the Desert - Week.

So.... here is the passage I looked up on anger. 113 times angry is mentioned and 268 for anger. 1200 pages in the King James Version.

Ephesians 4

Max McLean Audio Bible, English Standard Version

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore it says,

“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men.”

9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? [the lower parts of the earth?] 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds [pastors] and teachers, [the shepherd-teachers] 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, [to a full-grown man] to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.


17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

I rather like the earnest way this passage is read. Sort of like the way I speak to my sons before I really wind up, but they should know I am ... serious. Rather like the black and white billboards that are messages.


Anger is an emotion. Emotion finds it difficult to sit still and learn. What did you hear (regardless of your emotions right this minute, you are probably not even irritated)?

Without looking back, I heard: I am a new creation in Jesus Christ. Not allowed to be tossed to and fro with emotions. To remember I have been forgiven for a multitude of little petty selfishnesses and for the things that embarrass me. For the things that shame me. I am called to listen to God. Speaking the truth in Love will be the phrase that will carry me through.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He didn't slap hands away and tell them to leave Him alone for a moment to think. He did not put a noose of truth around someone and tell them it was for their own good. Jesus never did learn how to lasso.

Just maybe, I am called to remember the Children of Israel were seriously thirsty, hungry, bewildered in the Exodus. I am not even at that point. And remember life does not circle me. Precious, chosen, special, planned for, name in the book of life does not mean... me, me, me and more me. God is for me. I need to remember it is for Him.

One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

He calls us to be part of His one body.

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

What am I called to do?

2 Peter 3:18
Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

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Psalm 5 ~ for You bless the righteous, O Lord

Psalm 5

Max McLean Audio Bible, English Standard Version


1 Give ear to my words, O Lord;
consider my groaning.
2 Give attention to the sound of my cry,
my King and my God,
for to you do I pray.
3 O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice;
in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you [I direct my prayer to you] and watch.

4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;
evil may not dwell with you.
5 The boastful shall not stand before your eyes;
you hate all evildoers.
6 You destroy those who speak lies;
the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

7 But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
will enter your house.
I will bow down toward your holy temple
in the fear of you.
8 Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness
because of my enemies;
make your way straight before me.

9 For there is no truth in their mouth;
their inmost self is destruction;
their throat is an open grave;
they flatter with their tongue.
10 Make them bear their guilt, O God;
let them fall by their own counsels;
because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out,
for they have rebelled against you.

11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
let them ever sing for joy,
and spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may exult in you.
12 For you bless the righteous, O Lord;
you cover him with favor as with a shield.

Had a morning start out where the tea kettle wasn't on the stove - where it lives.... What. Asked my spring break college student son - Alexander if he knew about it, after throwing a prize fit. Yes, it was in the garage, he used the steam to un-bend my fender. And it un-bent. Guess I will too.

Some words are filled with faith (I believe!), hope (He means me!), and Love (All there ever was and could be directed to the soul God created to be - special, chosen, precious - you).

Behold is one of the phrases. In this Psalm, watch is the key word. Watch for answered pray, watch for favor as with a shield. Sing for Joy. I will exult in You. God hears our voice in prayer.

Psalm 28:2
Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.

Psalm 63:4
I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.

Psalm 77:2
When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands, and I would not be comforted.

Psalm 134:2
Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD.

Psalm 141:2
May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.

Psalm 143:6
I spread out my hands to you; I thirst for you like a parched land.

Father God, You know me. You know my Spirit, You formed my inward parts;
You knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was being made in secret. How well You know me, You know I am a frozen chosen when it comes to lifting my hands in public. How You laugh. Father, but You know my Spirit. Your face Lord, do I seek. The joy to know You hear our prayers and they Delight You. Blessed be the Lord God forever. Blessed be Your Son, Jesus. Amen.

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Matthew 17:1-9 ~ the disciples heard this

Transfiguration, painted by Sarah Boys


Matthew 17:1-9

Max McLean Audio Bible, English Standard Version


1 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.

2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, [my Son, my Beloved] with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” 8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. 9 And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.”


Not everything written in the Scriptures is available to us, with our transient knowledge, to completely understand. How often would today's Christian say they went on a walk with the Son of God and ... saw Moses, Elijah and then fell to their faces in fear, hearing the voice of God.

And how would we respond going back down the mountain when Jesus commands not to tell anyone.... I would imagine it would be a dumb, but emphatic nod. And relief... and questions. Maybe questions only because of the relief in being told not to tell. Anything that knocks you off of your feet and on to your face is fairly overwhelming. The only time in my life I've prayed on my face, it wasn't immediate but with a decision to get down on the floor.

Peter later wrote of it:

2 Peter 1:16-21
16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, [Or my Son, my Beloved] with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.


I feel blessed to hear Peter go on to describe the vision as a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

It reminds me of Christians talking about the knowledge we have in our hearts of our salvation from Jesus Christ. You know that you know. In your heart. It is difficult to put the assurance into words, but I remember the first hour I believed and it was exactly a light shining from within in my soul.

John was so overcome with what we call the Transfiguration, he didn't include it his Gospel, he only alluded to it. John called this Glory and referred to the Glory of God 16 times to signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

So, when something is majesty; For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to Him by the Majestic Glory we want to know more more. And God, our Father, does not disappoint us.

We learn more in Acts 12. James, John's brother, never had the chance to write about seeing this Majesty.

Acts 12:
1 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword, 3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4 And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

Peter is about to encounter a second vision and he tells how it felt to him:

6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9 And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. 11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

Peter tells us a vision feels unreal, it is difficult for a human brain to completely process a mighty work of God.

12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. 13 And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 Recognizing Peter's voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. 15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” 16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. 17 But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James (Peter obviously did not know what had happened to James) and to the brothers [brothers and sisters].” Then he departed and went to another place.

A vision has real consequences:

18 Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. 19 And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.

John wrote for us many of his thoughts after seeing the Glory and Majesty given to Him by the LORD.

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

1 John 4:16
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

2 Peter 3:18
Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.



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Isaiah 40 ~ the way of the Lord

Deuteronomy 5 - “Return to your tents.” But you, stand here by me, and I will tell you the whole commandment and the statutes and the rules that you shall teach them, that they may do them in the land that I am giving them to possess.’ You shall be careful therefore to do as the Lord your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.

The tent is a great analogy of life being transient, all walks of life, one direction.

Isaiah 40

Max McLean Audio Bible, English Standard Version


1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and cry to her
that her warfare [time of service] is ended,
that her iniquity is pardoned,
that she has received from the Lord's hand
double for all her sins.

3 A voice cries: [A voice of one crying]
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

6 A voice says, “Cry!”
And I said, [And someone says] “What shall I cry?”
All flesh is grass,
and all its beauty [all its constancy] is like the flower of the field.
7 The grass withers, the flower fades
when the breath of the Lord blows on it;
surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever.

9 Get you up to a high mountain,
O Zion, herald of good news; [O herald of good news to Zion]
lift up your voice with strength,
O Jerusalem, herald of good news; [O herald of good news to Jerusalem]
lift it up, fear not;
say to the cities of Judah,
“Behold your God!”
10 Behold, the Lord God comes with might,
and his arm rules for him;
behold, his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.
11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms;
he will carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead those that are with young.

12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand
and marked off the heavens with a span,
enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure
and weighed the mountains in scales
and the hills in a balance?
13 Who has measured [Or has directed] the Spirit of the Lord,
or what man shows him his counsel?
14 Whom did he consult,
and who made him understand?
Who taught him the path of justice,
and taught him knowledge,
and showed him the way of understanding?
15 Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket,
and are accounted as the dust on the scales;
behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust.
16 Lebanon would not suffice for fuel,
nor are its beasts enough for a burnt offering.
17 All the nations are as nothing before him,
they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness.

18 To whom then will you liken God,
or what likeness compare with him?
19 An idol! A craftsman casts it,
and a goldsmith overlays it with gold
and casts for it silver chains.
20 He who is too impoverished for an offering
chooses wood [He chooses valuable wood] that will not rot;
he seeks out a skillful craftsman
to set up an idol that will not move.

21 Do you not know? Do you not hear?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
22 It is he who sits above the circle of the earth,
and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers;
who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;
23 who brings princes to nothing,
and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness.

24 Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown,
scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth,
when he blows on them, and they wither,
and the tempest carries them off like stubble.

25 To whom then will you compare me,
that I should be like him? says the Holy One.
26 Lift up your eyes on high and see:
who created these?
He who brings out their host by number,
calling them all by name,
by the greatness of his might,
and because he is strong in power
not one is missing.

27 Why do you say, O Jacob,
and speak, O Israel,
“My way is hidden from the Lord,
and my right is disregarded by my God”?
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength.
30 Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.

A God's eye view point of flight from the "eagles'" wings ~ BBC Video. An analogy of the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles

Recently, in the news was a story of well-known television and movie actor who has periods of all out violence, rage and bouts of drugs and promiscuous sex. His work was canceled. This poor man looks dreadful. He has entertained America with his ego rants, and, formerly, his talent. Yet, he was graceful in the exchange of his sons to the police. Providing car seats and comforting his toddlers. Publicly acknowledging his parents have tried and admitting he has tied their hands. His father has made himself busy doing charitable work and is a praying Christian. It was the roar of a wounded lion, the way he spoke of his ex-wife calling him each day to give him support.

Why bring this up today under Isaiah 40? We all deserve some prayer instead of just curiosity.

What does this spectacle remind us in our daily lives? You can have all of your dreams come true; every remote wish of home, spouse, career, family comfort, and still have a deep craving for deeper meaning. Most of the world feels if they could just have one more blessing, or just plain more, they would be happy.

And the success ratio of Alcoholics Anonymous has been debated. Just like people don't want to believe in something not seen, it would be difficult to prove the success record of an anonymous 12 step program asking the seekers to read the Book, put their lives each day in the Higher Power. Research suggests this success 35 percent of people involved in Alcoholics Anonymous achieve sobriety for more than 5 years. Another 34 percent see their sobriety last anywhere from 1 to 5 years.

This is the common denominator. The leveling of the playing field. We all are a drop from a bucket, fine dust - on the scales, like grasshoppers. Yet because he is strong in power ...not one is missing. We all are forced by the circumstances He created, to reckon with our own mortality. Isn't it interesting the differences mankind has always used to deal with the inevitable.

God tells us of His attributes, His personality.

“Behold your God!”
Behold, the Lord God comes with might,
and his arm rules for him;
behold, his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.
He will tend his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms;
he will carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead those that are with young.

Are we to judge God, to daily act as Adam and Eve - who wanted to be God and attain His wisdom -

To whom then will you liken God,
or what likeness compare with him?

It is he who sits above the circle of the earth,
and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers;
who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;
who brings princes to nothing,
and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness.

Lift up your eyes on high and see:
who created these?
He who brings out their host by number,
calling them all by name,
by the greatness of his might,
and because he is strong in power
not one is missing.

Who has measured [Or has directed] the Spirit of the Lord,
or what man shows him his counsel?
Whom did he consult,
and who made him understand?
Who taught him the path of justice,
and taught him knowledge,
and showed him the way of understanding?

We shall all go the way of all flesh. The promise of believing we are saved in Jesus Christ is this: we believe every day He directs us, guides us, leads us. We are now eternal. The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand when we believe with our hearts and proclaim Him with our mouths. Each day we trust Him with our lives.

The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength.
Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.

One of the analogies of death would be leveling the playing field:

Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Yet when we Believe in Jesus Christ saving us, we are pulled out of the meaningless, the dull, the boring - the salmon effect of the daily grind and we are to be the Light of the World. Death will level the playing field, yet God raises us up. His reward is with Him, and He is with us. Each day. We are Asked to see the promises of God unfold:

Get you up to a high mountain,
O Zion, herald of good news; [O herald of good news to Zion]
lift up your voice with strength,
O Jerusalem, herald of good news; [O herald of good news to Jerusalem]
lift it up, fear not;
say to the cities of Judah,
“Behold your God!”
Behold, the Lord God comes with might!!!

This is the way of the Lord. All glory to You, Lord God Almighty. You are the Shepherd willing and able to gather us into Your arms. Blessed be You, Oh Lord, Who gives us salvation in Jesus Christ.






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Deuteronomy 5:22-33 ~ that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever!

Deuteronomy 5:22-33

Max McLean Audio Bible, English Standard Version


“These words the Lord spoke to all your assembly at the mountain out of the midst of the fire, the cloud, and the thick darkness, with a loud voice; and he added no more. And he wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me. And as soon as you heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, you came near to me, all the heads of your tribes, and your elders. And you said, ‘Behold, the Lord our God has shown us his glory and greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire. This day we have seen God speak with man, and man still live. Now therefore why should we die? For this great fire will consume us. If we hear the voice of the Lord our God any more, we shall die. For who is there of all flesh, that has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of fire as we have, and has still lived? Go near and hear all that the Lord our God will say and speak to us all that the Lord our God will speak to you, and we will hear and do it.’

“And the Lord heard your words, when you spoke to me. And the Lord said to me, ‘I have heard the words of this people, which they have spoken to you. They are right in all that they have spoken. Oh that they had such a mind as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever! Go and say to them, “Return to your tents.” But you, stand here by me, and I will tell you the whole commandment and the statutes and the rules that you shall teach them, that they may do them in the land that I am giving them to possess.’ You shall be careful therefore to do as the Lord your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.

Deutoronomy! A great time of reunion and hope. May we all have such a time with the LORD, who loves us so.

Matthew 19:14
But Jesus said, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children. And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left.

Matthew 18:3
Then he said, "I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Romans 11:19-20
You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in." Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith

In Jesus Christ, God says to you:
Mark 1:11
And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved child; with you I am well pleased.”


Help us each day, and our families, Father God; walk neither to the right nor the left, but to make straight our paths for You, the LORD! In Jesus name. Amen.


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