Matthew 23:23-26 ~ clean

Jesus Teaching in the Temple, painted by James Tissot

Matthew 23:23-26

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible 

23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!

25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.

We've talked a lot about Jesus versus the religious elect. And John, the beloved disciple, reflected in his writings, with the Holy Spirit, especially in his later Biblical books. & that John believed evil had been allowed the power to destroy Jesus.

How do the actions of the religious elect persecuting Jesus act like the evil one? In Scriptures, twice, Satan goes to God for permission to harm Job. The evil one does not lie, but uses truth against Job as weapon. The evil one is perhaps jealous of the blessings spoken of - comfort - given by God. The devil used God's comforts and said they were self-indulgent. The evil one didn't have business with Job, the evil one made it his business.

Truth - sounds great. But what the devil lacked was mercy.

When we lack mercy in our words, in our actions. Then we err. Mercy is God's guide to a new and right Spirit within us.

Micah 6:8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.





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Psalm 107 ~ cried to the Lord in their trouble

Psalm 107

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever!
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
whom he has redeemed from trouble
3 and gathered in from the lands,
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.

4 Some wandered in desert wastes,
finding no way to a city to dwell in;
5 hungry and thirsty,
their soul fainted within them.
6 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
7 He led them by a straight way
till they reached a city to dwell in.
8 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
9 For he satisfies the longing soul,
and the hungry soul he fills with good things.

10 Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,
prisoners in affliction and in irons,
11 for they had rebelled against the words of God,
and spurned the counsel of the Most High.
12 So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor;
they fell down, with none to help.
13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
and burst their bonds apart.
15 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
16 For he shatters the doors of bronze
and cuts in two the bars of iron.

17 Some were fools through their sinful ways,
and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;
18 they loathed any kind of food,
and they drew near to the gates of death.
19 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
20 He sent out his word and healed them,
and delivered them from their destruction.
21 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
22 And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,
and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!

23 Some went down to the sea in ships,
doing business on the great waters;
24 they saw the deeds of the Lord,
his wondrous works in the deep.
25 For he commanded and raised the stormy wind,
which lifted up the waves of the sea.
26 They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths;
their courage melted away in their evil plight;
27 they reeled and staggered like drunken men
and were at their wits' end.
28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
29 He made the storm be still,
and the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 Then they were glad that the waters were quiet,
and he brought them to their desired haven.
31 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
32 Let them extol him in the congregation of the people,
and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

33 He turns rivers into a desert,
springs of water into thirsty ground,
34 a fruitful land into a salty waste,
because of the evil of its inhabitants.
35 He turns a desert into pools of water,
a parched land into springs of water.
36 And there he lets the hungry dwell,
and they establish a city to live in;
37 they sow fields and plant vineyards
and get a fruitful yield.
38 By his blessing they multiply greatly,
and he does not let their livestock diminish.

39 When they are diminished and brought low
through oppression, evil, and sorrow,
40 he pours contempt on princes
and makes them wander in trackless wastes;
41 but he raises up the needy out of affliction
and makes their families like flocks.
42 The upright see it and are glad,
and all wickedness shuts its mouth.

43 Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things;
let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.

(This passage is great to hear it read to you. Let the Word pour over you.)

The secret to long life is lack of worry. False. The root of all worry is money. False. Success is guaranteed with hard work. False.

My grandmother was the world's worst for worrying. "No, no, no don't go sailing - you'll get a brain amoeba." She had her brain with her until her death at age 94. One of the most vigorous prayer warriors in the world. She took her natural tendency to worry and changed it into prayer.

I was 25 years old when our first child was born. Cal was born prematurely weighing in at 5 lbs and a hourly tendency to forget to breathe. I had to learn infant CPR before he could come home. Scared? I was terrified. He came home with an infant breathing monitor, a box about the size of a Direct TV box and wires attached to his chest with a patch of rubber cement.

Terrified. Petrified. I wondered if my Edward would come home to find me sitting with our beautiful, beautiful son dead and if he'd forgive me. Add to that hernia surgery at 6 pounds and the hospital giving him to a volunteer and not retrieving us from the waiting room. They left us in the waiting room so long that when I ran to the recovery room the volunteer greeted me by saying she'd held him for so many hours she hoped he was abandoned. The nurse said she thought the volunteer was the mom. Then a chest cold that was one step from pneumonia setting off the alarms constantly. His heart was at tachycardia for trying to keep up. The home visiting nurse saying the next 24 hours would be telling. I wondered if Cal wasn't so beautiful if he wasn't for this world. Then the episode of the special nipple for preemies collapsed and filled Cal with so much milk when I looked down - he was blue - the CPR did come in handy. I didn't stand up for the rest of the day.

We were so stressed, we told visitors about our stress level and asked them to stay for only 30 minutes. It didn't help when people gasped and said he was the smallest baby they'd ever seen and how did we stand seeing the poor thing with wires all over him. Some people were better with it. Cal had looked like an NFL quarterback when placed in the hospital with the rest of the preemies.

How did the home nurse visiting with the infant monitor deal with us? Like Professor Snape. (I apologize to the people who are offended by the Harry Potter quote. I see it as the equivalent as eating meat sacrificed to idols - I know who my Lord is and the rest is fiction.) I knew several people through the home monitor system and they all had the same experience.

Professor Snape:
"Fools who wear their hearts proudly on their sleeves, who cannot control their emotions, who wallow in sad memories and allow themselves to be provoked this easily -- weak people, in other words -- they stand no chance against his powers! He will penetrate your mind with absurd ease, Potter!"

We were told to get over our wimpy emotions - the other families were brave..... it wasn't true, but it got the home monitoring service out of the need for sympathy for the families.

Then later after our infant daughter Isabelle did pass on, I thought about fear.

Most people want you to put your chin up and not be fearful or emotional because it is uncomfortable for them.

The Scriptures tell us many, many things about worry and circumstance. If you are ever in grief or trauma worry, you can look at almost all of the Old Testament and see people walking a particular journey in life they don't want to do. They learn like Job, you have to walk that walk yourself. And trust God.

The Scriptures have something fortifying about worry. And what we are to do with people in distress. Now, I could show you the passage of Solomon being clothed in all his glory and the lilies of the field, but you've probably got that one. Don't worry. I think this has two meanings - don't be fretful and put your trust in God. God doesn't mean put away the cause for real emotion in real need and hair shirt it through your problem. But don't let it consume you.

What about this one? Cast your cares upon Him, He cares for you. (A rock! A Scripture worth hanging on to!)

But how are you going to deal with your "stop signs" and your "speed bumps" in life??? Let's look at Claude Monet. He didn't have a particularly tragic life for his time. But he had some set backs and some tragedies that he had no qualms saying - he was virtually unproductive for 2 years. At least 5 times in his adult life he experienced love one's death. That is a lot of Monet paintings the world is missing.

God does not put stop signs and speed bumps in our lives for us to continue to go 80 mph through them. We are supposed to cry. Search. Feel alone. Look for meaning. It is my take on life - the importance of life and its struggles - to grow up enough to go Home. Not just plowing down the highway going mach 1 with our hair on fire. Guaranteed to miss the narrow gate.

We had a friend who lost a twin in utero and the surviving twin was born with some intense swallowing trouble. The mom said she felt so angry at God. She said she was so mad, she wanted to call me and say why has God done this. Why did Cal suffer - his parents suffer and their family suffer. She didn't stop and she said, "What did you learn from THIS?" And the answer came to me - one I'd been probing like a tongue with a sore tooth - not verbalizing. "Because I know I wouldn't have appreciated the miracle my son is - just as a person - if I had not endured this." It wasn't necessarily her answer. But. it. was. mine.

Okay. Now back to the answers for all of us together.

Ephesians 4:14
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

The Bible tells us there are times to mourn. Times to built up.

We just aren't supposed to be the ones who will hold the hand of a friend and pretend it is okay for them to still be gasping and crying a week later because they almost had a car accident. We aren't supposed to say to the person with cancer news to be braver. We aren't supposed to say to the widow to buck up - for years. Or avoid them. Or pretend we can save them.

God says to us - when we recover from grief, trauma and small set-backs. We are to willingly give the same Jesus gave. Heal the sick, comfort the afflicted, cleanse the leper.

Matthew 10:39
Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

James 1:27
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Be the one who comforts, visits, forgives. This time in life is so troubled. So much bad news. Partially it is because we've made it so okay to be comfortable. Speak to the people you like. Ignore the rest. An email is delightfully ignorable. Manners are the beginning of opening the door for Jesus Christ. As I look down my street of 12 houses, I can tell you the truth - there is a 'situation' in all of them. Friends have lost jobs, children and relationships. I couldn't say the same for Church. I'd tend to think that people are just afraid to be transparent. In the place where Jesus would have us come for refuge. When all of our 30 area Churches met - the pastors said that when they gather to strengthen each other they say, "all is not right behind the trees."

Nothing is new in - the world has trouble. We can make it new. Being the Light of Jesus to others. Today. Renewal, redemption, hope. (Never be a sponge. Sit. Soak. Sour.)


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Matthew 16:13-20 ~ keys to the Kingdom of Heaven

Matthew 16:13-20


English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it [the Greek words for Peter and rock sound similar ]. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

Scriptures are multifaceted. They are historical, for today; also important in mere verses and the way the parables are structured together. We've already thought about Jesus' important decision to bring the disciples to Caesarea Philippi for this important declaration.

Let's think about Peter. The man Jesus chose to walk His journey with Him.


John 1:40-42 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).

Peter is Not chosen because he had the good spiritual eyes to see Jesus for all that He is. And point out Jesus first.

We are God's family and we will embarrass Peter, for a moment, with all of our funny remembrances of him. (Like your mom telling your Jr High Prom date how cute you were in the bathtub as a baby.)

Matthew 14:28-30 The Message
Peter, suddenly bold, said, "Master, if it's really you, call me to come to you on the water." 29-30 He said, "Come ahead." Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, "Master, save me!"



Matthew 15:14-16 New International Version
Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” 15 Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.” 16 “Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them.


Matthew 16:22-23 The Message
Then Jesus made it clear to his disciples that it was now necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, submit to an ordeal of suffering at the hands of the religious leaders, be killed, and then on the third day be raised up alive. Peter took him in hand, protesting, "Impossible, Master! That can never be!" 23But Jesus didn't swerve. "Peter, get out of my way. Satan, get lost. You have no idea how God works."


Matthew 19:27
Then Peter chimed in, "We left everything and followed you. What do we get out of it?"



What did our Jesus see in our Peter?

Mark 5:37
He permitted no one to go in with him except Peter, James, and John. They entered the leader's house and pushed their way through the gossips looking for a story and neighbors bringing in casseroles. Jesus was abrupt: "Why all this busybody grief and gossip? This child isn't dead; she's sleeping."

Mark 9:2-4
Six days later, three of them did see it. Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain. His appearance changed from the inside out, right before their eyes. His clothes shimmered, glistening white, whiter than any bleach could make them. Elijah, along with Moses, came into view, in deep conversation with Jesus.


Mark 8:29
He then asked, "And you—what are you saying about me? Who am I?" Peter gave the answer: "You are the Christ, the Messiah."


John 6:67-69
After this a lot of his disciples left. They no longer wanted to be associated with him. Then Jesus gave the Twelve their chance: "Do you also want to leave?"

68-69 Peter replied, "Master, to whom would we go? You have the words of real life, eternal life. We've already committed ourselves, confident that you are the Holy One of God."


We know God can see into our souls and see us at our best - perhaps Peter was chosen for the spiritual growth ahead. Being such a perfect leader....

Acts 2:14
That's when Peter stood up and, backed by the other eleven, spoke out with bold urgency: "Fellow Jews, all of you who are visiting Jerusalem, listen carefully and get this story straight."

Acts 2:37
Cut to the quick, those who were there listening asked Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers! Brothers! So now what do we do?"


Acts 2:38
Peter said, "Change your life. Turn to God and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, so your sins are forgiven. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 4:13
They couldn't take their eyes off them—Peter and John standing there so confident, so sure of themselves! Their fascination deepened when they realized these two were laymen with no training in Scripture or formal education. They recognized them as companions of Jesus, but with the man right before them, seeing him standing there so upright—so healed!—what could they say against that?

So what are we learning about Peter - with spiritual growth we are made perfect to face the lion's den??? So ... perfect we are God's mirror image?

Acts 12:9
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.

Acts 10
And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven. 17 Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean

Paul said about Peter...


Galatians 2:11-14
But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

So what does Peter do with the Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven and what can we learn from Peter's life?

Acts 10:26
But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.”

Peter was never perfect. He could not build a Church of God's to last 2,000 years. I was talking to a woman, today at Church, weeping because she has need for more tests for re-occurring cancer. Ashamed of crying for her fear, because it would not please Jesus. Jesus never loved Peter because he was perfect. Not once.

Hezekiah sure cried and cried & God wasn't upset with him for that.

Did Jesus love Peter? Yes - ! He died for Peter. Jesus always loved Peter for who God created him to be. Jesus tells us over and over. We do not save ourselves. Peter was like David - willing to walk on water for God, but when Peter got over his own self-righteousness - he still was willing to get into the water and swim to Jesus. Jesus thought eternity of David and Peter because they looked to Him, asked Him, loved Him. He loved them first.

What does God say about the Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven???? I am sure it pleases the living man named Peter, Keeper of the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. God says the 12 Gates of Heaven are always open.

Revelation 21:21-27
And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, transparent as glass.

22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, 25 and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. 26 They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Blessed are You. Lord God Almighty. Lord God of Hosts. Blessed be Your Son, Jesus. Amen.

Isaiah 22:22
And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.

1 Peter 5:7
casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you






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Psalm 138 ~ I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart

Heavens Declare by maryeandersen.com


Psalm 138

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;
before the gods I sing your praise;
2 I bow down toward your holy temple
and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things
your name and your word.
3 On the day I called, you answered me;
my strength of soul you increased.

4 All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord,
for they have heard the words of your mouth,
5 and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord,
for great is the glory of the Lord.
6 For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly,
but the haughty he knows from afar.

7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
and your right hand delivers me.
8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands.

Feel free to pray your prayer along with me:

Father God, I am grateful. I am grateful for my marriage and my husband, for the way we work things out together. I am thankful - thankful for the health of my two sons. I am so appreciative for their education. I am grateful for my garden. And my health.

My thanksgivings feel much more cheerful knowing summer temperatures will cool down. I am so appreciative of the coming October. Thank You for the rain for New Mexico and East Texas. Please be with the people struggling with drought and heat. The animals as well.

I am grateful this year to have left my sons at college, and not felt a terrible ache. I look forward to the future You will bring us.

Thank You, Father, for the comforts of home. Bless the men and women fighting for this country, away from their homes. We pray for peace. We pray You will guide our nation.

Thank You, Father, for the gifts You've given in my life. I thank You for the circumstances I am not really grateful for, but look forward to seeing what You will do with them. Help me always to be forgiving and to rejoice in the gift of Your forgiveness.

Father, thank You for the times I felt You lean into my prayers. For that gift, knowing You are there if I feel You or not. Thank You, Father, for the many blessings You willingly give. In the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son. Amen.


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Ruth 1 ~ Naomi

View of Al Kerak, Jordan. Fields of Moab

Ruth 1

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. 2 The name of the man was and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. 3 But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4 These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, 5 and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.

6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the Lord had visited his people and given them food. 7 So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.

8 But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother's house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9 The Lord grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. 10 And they said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.” 11 But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? 12 Turn back, my daughters; go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons, 13 would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me.”

14 Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.

15 And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” 16 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” 18 And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more.

19 So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, “Is this Naomi?” 20 She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi [pleasant] ; call me Mara [bitter], for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the Lord has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?”

22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.

Pleasant. We all want pleasant: Nation, lives, income, housing, neighborhoods, schools, work, friends and family.

Part of me always wonders if Ruth was from an abusive or needy family. So, would you go off to Israel - the Jews had dispelled the goys. Ruth was moving in as a goy. Hungry, poor, woman foreigner and with another woman. Today, we move for better jobs and a chance at improvement.

Judges (v.1) was time political scientists and Anarchy enthusiasts should love. Live, let live and self-govern. A product of the Exodus and the Covenant of God. This is a time when God was trying to let each person self-govern. Most of Judges is tragic.

But perhaps I am cynical. Maybe Naomi had demonstrated such love Ruth couldn't bear to see this woman trudge, by herself, through some very rough terrain to go back to Bethlehem where a lot of people had small farms with homes and stables carved into the hills of Bethlehem. Boaz had purchased Elimelech's land.

100 years ago, in this photo, this was how Bethlehem looked for millenniums. Naomi's choices were rather limited to being on the east or west side of the Dead Sea.

Naomi was in the same situation, roughly, as Job.

Job 2:9
Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.”

Naomi thought she would walk alone. And in higher regard for her daughter-in-laws' future lives, she was sending them on to a better life. I love the Scriptures for Naomi's honesty - this set of situations causes her to call herself bitter. Bethlehem, the town, greets her! She doesn't say with enthusiasm that she is back for more opportunities to help raise someone else's sheep. Or to help milk or sheer the animals. She says, I am bitter and God has laid this circumstance on me.

John 1:47
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”

I'm sure at Naomi's announcement of being bitter and forlorn, everyone wanted to have her as their house guest or house help. Remember, this is the (generations forward) crowd where they had no room in their homes or inn for a pregnant woman with her husband.

Naomi is worn out physically and emotionally. She is old. Is there hope?

God doesn't blast Naomi for her bitterness. He helps & sent someone to help them, with food, work and lodgings. Naomi is an adopted Grandmother. Boaz does such a Messiah type job of providing for this family, Solomon would name one of the two pillars in the front of the Temple - Boaz.

Naomi's family becomes the pillar of God's demonstration there is hope for us ahead in this life. Naomi's grandson was Obed, great-grandson is Jesse, and great-great-grandson is David.

David in the Holy Spirit would write:

Psalm 9:10
And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.

And Jesus would say about Solomon & trusting the Lord:

Matthew 6:
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.


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Psalm 134 ~ Thank you Father God

Psalm 134

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord,
who stand by night in the house of the Lord!
2 Lift up your hands to the holy place
and bless the Lord!

3 May the Lord bless you from Zion,
he who made heaven and earth!

We can make all the plans we want, but the plans of the Lord unfurl better than our concepts. Wednesday morning I woke up knowing we were returning my youngest son to Baylor to begin his sophomore year. What began as an early morning day trip became a lovely time to gather with our two sons for two days.

Although something did happen I will mention to you.

Shakespeare said, "Not all who wander are lost." And I love that, but really my son and I were having such a good time that I lost the highway and we were dead lost. And we wandered all over central Texas as the electronic map couldn't pick up a signal. What I saw was something I haven't seen in my four decades of being alive. In Texas, we call the man-made watering ponds tanks. I saw tanks and tanks and tanks were utterly barren and cracked earth. Brown fields like toast going very, very brown. The fields of cows looked plump enough, but they were standing in the 106' heat looking at the car going past.

That night, as we unloaded boxes at close to midnight - it was 98'. We have a very bona fide opportunity for prayer. My heart went out to the fields of cows trying to stand under drought stricken trees. But even more to the farmers/ranchers, who must feel more miserable than the placid cows. I pray for neighbors with some grazing land available to feel compelled to share and the man-power to keep the cows in the fields. And for the people and animals in the counties were everything looks so burned up. The dry, dry creek and river beds.

Father God, I've experienced hurricanes where neighbors have bbq's sharing all the food in the defrosting freezers. I've experienced seeing our neighbors and family out in those hurricane storms freeing homes up and down the street, for each other, of branches & trees. Father God, help the counties who can help each other do so - help one another. Father God, give aid to the farmers, crops and animals who need help soon. Father God, please speak the word to make this High pressure depart and send us some rain. Your will be done, we seek Your mercy and steadfast love.

Thank you for the opportunities You have given my sons for education. Bless them with the guidance of Your Holy Spirit as these young men become men. And for all the families to give assistance to each other as schools open all over the country. Let us be Your Light in the schools. Amen.

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Mark 12 ~ to God the things that are God's

Belgium Church Treasury Art and Lock(et)



Mark 12

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

And he began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a pit for the winepress and built a tower, and leased it to tenants and went into another country. 2 When the season came, he sent a servant to the tenants to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 4 Again he sent to them another servant, and they struck him on the head and treated him shamefully. 5 And he sent another, and him they killed. And so with many others: some they beat, and some they killed. 6 He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 7 But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 8 And they took him and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard. 9 What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others. 10 Have you not read this Scripture:

“‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
11 this was the Lord's doing,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”

12 And they were seeking to arrest him but feared the people, for they perceived that he had told the parable against them. So they left him and went away.


13 And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. 14 And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone's opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” 15 But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar's.” 17 Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” And they marveled at him.

18 And Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection. And they asked him a question, saying, 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 20 There were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and when he died left no offspring. 21 And the second took her, and died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise. 22 And the seven left no offspring. Last of all the woman also died. 23 In the resurrection, when they rise again, whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife.”

24 Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God? 25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26 And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27 He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite wrong.”


28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.

35 And as Jesus taught in the temple, he said, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? 36 David himself, in the Holy Spirit, declared,

“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
Sit at my right hand,
until I put your enemies under your feet.’

37 David himself calls him Lord. So how is he his son?” And the great throng heard him gladly.


38 And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces 39 and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 40 who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”


41 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

If you sat down and picked up a business journal - you would find an article on taxes and tax savings, the importance of various tax codes & the interpretation advice, maybe an RIT investment property rental opinion, what the future of the market looks like, maybe an article on prenuptial agreements and corporate philanthropy.

Which would, also, sum up the 12th Chapter of the Gospel of Mark. We've been looking at reading Scriptures- finding what resonates with you as you read it or listen- what the Holy Spirit is using Scriptures to convey to you: a meaning in life, a new direction, a new gratefulness, a new direction for problem solving or learning to be grateful with a specific situation.

The Parable of the Tenants
Paying Taxes to Caesar
The Sadducees Ask About the Resurrection
The Great Commandment
Whose Son Is the Christ?
Beware of the Scribes
The Widow's Offering

These are the descriptive titles given to the paragraphs. They have a purpose, to remember the moral of Jesus' subjects. As a tool for understanding, the titles make the answer so simple - we are never exploring for ourselves, why did Jesus put these subjects together.

And why did He put these seemingly different subjects together? It is about deciding what you want to do with your time. Looking at your temporal choices and making eternal choices out of them. It's about visiting the widows and orphans you know. Your livelihood & the people you will call friends.

Just as we will all have a different statement, verse or sentence stick with us today - the subjects blend together to become a certain type of salad, or landscape or interior design or building. The choices you make in life - to give your life a plan. The large and small decisions we make to create our own lives.

Each day we build our dreams, our plans, our actions and reactions. We have choice in everything. Sometimes small choices - like our reaction.

When God decided how to arrange Jesus' life, wouldn't it have been interesting if Jesus had been the returning king, heir of the Davidic line of Judah - like Prince Zerubbabel , a governor of the Persian Province of Judah (Haggai 1:1) and great-grandson of King Jeconiah of Judah. Zerubbabel led the first group of Jews, numbering 42,360, who returned from the Babylonian Captivity in the first year of Cyrus, King of Persia (Book of Ezra).

It would have been a time when the Empire of Babylon/Persian would have been vastly impressed with Jesus to sit on the throne, surrounded by a sympathetic Emperor, leaving Jesus to heal and love people. It would be the equivalent of us planning for our children, giving them the perfect zip code, perfect house and household and perfect private school education. Jesus could have been the King of Persia's perfect client/puppet state philanthropy.

God, of course, would have all the ability to do this for His Son. He could have been a perfect Santa Claus for Jesus' every whim.

Instead God chose Jesus would, live and, understand what it was like to have Scribes in charge of His Vineyard. He would show Jesus all the beautiful things the temporal joys of the world and He would say - is this it? To be the top of the heap? Moving this person around to achieve more fame, power or influence. Making the rules for personal glamor and admiration. What would God have Jesus rely upon Him for?

We are told, in faith, God gives us challenges or trouble in life. I think we all tend to think - right, right, right - God is designing the universe to teach me something. Sure. Chaos and circumstance with a purpose. Uh-huh.

Why not? If we believe God died for us, specifically, why wouldn't we see Jesus modelling struggling with some pretty tough, elbows out, religious and political leaders - as another way of saying - if you are going to plan your life - do it for meaningfulness and purpose and not because Armani has a nice ring to it.

Our triumphs can be called gifts. Our difficulties called things of God's. Our plans could be called contributions to God's glory. Every single day. Jesus reminds us in this passage to plan for the things that truly have meaning behind the image. In Mark 12, Jesus says we plan and our choices matter.

Jesus is saying you matter to Him. As if you were the only one.

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Proverbs 17:17-18:5 ~ a discerning man

Proverbs 17:17-18:5

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

17 A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity.
18 One who lacks sense gives a pledge
and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.
19 Whoever loves transgression loves strife;
he who makes his door high seeks destruction.
20 A man of crooked heart does not discover good,
and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.

21 He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow,
and the father of a fool has no joy.

22 A joyful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
23 The wicked accepts a bribe in secret
to pervert the ways of justice.
24 The discerning sets his face toward wisdom,
but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

25 A foolish son is a grief to his father
and bitterness to her who bore him.

26 To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good,
nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.

27 Whoever restrains his words has knowledge,
and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise;
when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

Proverbs 18

Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire;
he breaks out against all sound judgment.

2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
but only in expressing his opinion.
3 When wickedness comes, contempt comes also,
and with dishonor comes disgrace.

4 The words of a man's mouth are deep waters;
the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5 It is not good to be partial to the wicked
or to deprive the righteous of justice.

Did any of the verses resonate in you?

We are blessed ... when Scripture speaks to our lives, even when it is uncomfortable.

My husband & I did a Biblical word study on success being a gift of God, about 5 years ago. It annoyed a few people, because sometimes success is aloof from effort. Other times we like to feel as if we've done it by ourselves. Sometimes we have contempt for people who aren't trying hard enough, resting on faith alone.

Then there are the times we want to justify our indifference to suffering. We have all stood on different squares of life's checker board.

We went around the room and read out loud several verses. Sometimes the verses we read aloud were irritating to the person reading it. When we read Scripture that annoys us, it is the opportunity to see if there isn't higher wisdom we should put our hands out and ask for mercy, for wisdom. Sometimes we are stung because we feel it is unjust. Still time to ask for help and mercy.

A discerning man keeps wisdom in view,
but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth.

We are blessed when Scripture speaks to our lives, even when it is uncomfortable. The Scriptures don't just point out the ways others should be behave, but speak to us individually.

Hebrews 12:6
For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child. As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?


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Romans 8:1-14 ~ set their minds on the things of the Spirit

Romans 8:1-14

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.


My mother is about to be 78 years old; she works for a well-known, Horatio Alger Award Winner, lady in Real Estate who is 100 years old. In 1981, my parents divorced and my mother re-entered the work force as her boss' assistant. There is a cartoon Cathy put out years ago that my mom probably still has in her office - it is Cathy carrying two purses and she says, " I have a work out program, a social calendar, a low-fat diet program, a make-up program, a skin program, a business calendar, business ledger, a vitamin program, a budget system, a reimbursement program and tv program. And I carry it with me." Cathy is shown with 2 purses.

I have a mom who does carry two purses. This can be one of the Bible passages we wonder how we ever fit into the Bible passage. It is not easy, we become overwhelmed in life at times.

We can relate to it like this:

Mark 4:37-41
And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”

When we feel swept along in life - we all do - even the disciples felt confused walking beside the Lord - we have an Advocate.

1 Timothy 2:5
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus

James 1:27
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world

Jesus took time for others. Jesus visited the lepers. They were not going to be the people who increased His salary, His social standing, His reputation. He didn't visit them for the pat on the back.

Luke 17:11-19
On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

When we are confronted with a spiritual issue larger than we are. When we have a situation, we cannot fix. We have someone to rely upon - Jesus. He is our advocate, we cannot attain salvation in our own efforts. We remember He is in charge. We remember to appreciate and help others. We strive to think of what is good and be grateful.

My cousin Maxine and Aunt Elois had this framed by their front door: "Dear Lord, I shall be very busy this day. Do not forget me. As I am apt to forget You. " I read it as a young person and was shocked, but it is a humble admission of what we are.

Father God, when we ask, not because we are deserving. You create in us, your children, the ability to take up our mats and walk. In full view of all. You forgive our sins and we are grateful. In the name of Jesus. Amen.





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