Ezekiel 13 ~ The word of the Lord

Ezekiel 13

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

¹The word of the LORD came to me: ² "Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel, who are prophesying, and say to those who prophesy from their own hearts: 'Hear the word of the LORD!' ³Thus says the Lord GOD, Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! ⁴Your prophets have been like jackals among ruins, O Israel. ⁵ You have not gone up into the breaches, or built up a wall for the house of Israel, that it might stand in battle in the day of the LORD. ⁶ They have seen false visions and lying divinations. They say, 'Declares the LORD,' when the LORD has not sent them, and yet they expect him to fulfill their word. ⁷Have you not seen a false vision and uttered a lying divination, whenever you have said, 'Declares the LORD,' although I have not spoken?"

⁸Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Because you have uttered falsehood and seen lying visions, therefore behold, I am against you, declares the Lord GOD. ⁹My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and who give lying divinations. They shall not be in the council of my people, nor be enrolled in the register of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord GOD. ¹⁰Precisely because they have misled my people, saying, 'Peace,' when there is no peace, and because, when the people build a wall, these prophets smear it with whitewash, ¹¹say to those who smear it with whitewash that it shall fall! There will be a deluge of rain, and you, O great hailstones, will fall, and a stormy wind break out. ¹²And when the wall falls, will it not be said to you, 'Where is the coating with which you smeared it?' ¹³Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: I will make a stormy wind break out in my wrath, and there shall be a deluge of rain in my anger, and great hailstones in wrath to make a full end. ¹⁴And I will break down the wall that you have smeared with whitewash, and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation will be laid bare. When it falls, you shall perish in the midst of it, and you shall know that I am the LORD. ¹⁵Thus will I spend my wrath upon the wall and upon those who have smeared it with whitewash, and I will say to you, The wall is no more, nor those who smeared it, ¹⁶the prophets of Israel who prophesied concerning Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for her, when there was no peace, declares the Lord GOD.

¹⁷"And you, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own minds. Prophesy against them ¹⁸and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the women who sew magic bands upon all wrists, and make veils for the heads of persons of every stature, in the hunt for souls! Will you hunt down souls belonging to my people and keep your own souls alive? ¹⁹You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, putting to death souls who should not die and keeping alive souls who should not live, by your lying to my people, who listen to lies.

²⁰"Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against your magic bands with which you hunt the souls like birds, and I will tear them from your arms, and I will let the souls whom you hunt go free, the souls like birds. ²¹Your veils also I will tear off and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand as prey, and you shall know that I am the LORD. ²² Because you have disheartened the righteous falsely, although I have not grieved him, and you have encouraged the wicked, that he should not turn from his evil way to save his life, ²³ therefore you shall no more see false visions nor practice divination. I will deliver my people out of your hand. And you shall know that I am the LORD."

Ezekiel, like Jeremiah, was telling about the holiness of God, in His judgement. At the time, they seemed like doomsayers. Their message, while truthful, was unwelcome. A popular set of circumstances in the Scriptures. Man always wants the messages of God to be hopeful. In the middle of all the pending circumstances - Jeremiah at first said - he was an island and therefore exempt. At that point the Lord told Jeremiah then he would share in the judgement of all the people. It was only when Jeremiah would be uncomfortable and be of help to others, that God was willing to promise Jeremiah protection.

To the people of Judah, the falling of a wall was a terrible thing. They took a lot of comfort from the wall around Jerusalem and around the Temple.

For us today, we have the luxury of looking forward to walls of lies being destroyed.

No one goes through life without experiencing a wall. Unemployment. Lack of change. Constant Change. Illness. End of friendship. Time spent apart from a loved one. - You name it - any circumstance that limits us and we feel it will not change soon or there is not much we can do about it.

God says to preach peace when no blessing is in sight is wrong. Yet the whole passage is about the righteousness of God. In adversity or blessing, the correct answer is to trust Him with our prayers, our hopes and to find blessings. He reigns.

Father God, let us always put our trust in You. When life is all we hope, let us praise You. When we have adversity, let us look to You. You reign. Help us to look to you in expectation and in hope. In gratitude in all circumstances. In Scriptures, You tell us not to be surprised and dismayed at fiery trials, You are there with us. And to always remember You chose to walk this life where wild winds sometimes howl. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Psalm 63 ~ my soul will be satisfied

Psalm 63

¹ O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
² So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
³ Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
⁴ So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.

⁵ My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
⁶ when I remember you upon my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
⁷ for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
⁸ My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.

⁹ But those who seek to destroy my life
shall go down into the depths of the earth;
¹⁰ they shall be given over to the power of the sword;
they shall be a portion for jackals.
¹¹ But the king shall rejoice in God;
all who swear by him shall exult,
for the mouths of liars will be stopped.

On Saturday, my Church family and the next town over combined Anglican Churches & 70 women gathered to hear our deacons and women of the Church give talks about issues that are of concern to women. We heard about Abundant Life in Him, Living in Community, and Finding Our Anchor in times of sadness.

I've been a believing Christian for 32 years, and after you've been to a lot of Christian growth classes, you begin to hear more specifically - in the talks- how the message affects you in the journey of your Christian walk. It was in one of these classes, I began at age 16 to read the Bible daily. This time I heard to be more forgiving. To let my actions be goodness and mercy. Not to be so willing to enter into judgment for other's actions.

From what I learned  - We can become so focused on ourselves, we miss the Abundant Goodness God would provide for us. In Texas, we have had the worst recorded drought in history this year. We can add to it by not looking for the Living Water. Not allowing God to replenish us.

in a dry and weary land where there is no water

or or you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy

In the same way, when we read the Scriptures, we can remember what we read - the portion we remember is giving us a message - for today - as the Holy Spirit is a living and active part of our lives.

What did you hear in Psalm 63? It is important what we remember. Not just the same old Psalm, but verses are suddenly more clear. It is a gift of the Spirit to let millenniums of Scripture speak to our lives. In what stuck out to us is our message.

Blessed be the Lord God Almighty. Who daily lifts us up and loads us with benefits. In the Highest Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.


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Matthew 13:31-32 ~ the birds of the air come and perch in its branches

Matthew 13:31-32

Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."

Almighty God, Abba, Heavenly Father, we live in Thee. We put out our hands to do the good works You've already planned for us. Lead us in Your paths; encourage us, let the words of our mouths and the thoughts of our heart be always pleasing to You. Grow the seed of our faith, to become a mighty tree. Put out Your growing branches, to give us shelter & we will share in Your goodness, fellowship and rest.

Give us eyes of faith, to see the hope of Your promises; the eagerness, like a child, to see them brought forth. Strengthen our souls, let our lives reflect Your Light and Your Love. In the Highest name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.




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Psalm 106:19-48 ~ He raised His hand to them and swore to them

Psalm 106:19-48

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

¹⁹ They made a calf in Horeb
and worshiped a metal image.
²⁰ They exchanged the glory of God
for the image of an ox that eats grass.
²¹ They forgot God, their Savior,
who had done great things in Egypt,
²² wondrous works in the land of Ham,
and awesome deeds by the Red Sea.
²³ Therefore he said he would destroy them—
had not Moses, his chosen one,
stood in the breach before him,
to turn away his wrath from destroying them.

²⁴ Then they despised the pleasant land,
having no faith in his promise.
²⁵ They murmured in their tents,
and did not obey the voice of the LORD.
²⁶ Therefore he raised his hand and swore to them
that he would make them fall in the wilderness,
²⁷ and would make their offspring fall among the nations,
scattering them among the lands.

²⁸ Then they yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor,
and ate sacrifices offered to the dead;
²⁹ they provoked the LORD to anger with their deeds,
and a plague broke out among them.
³⁰ Then Phinehas stood up and intervened,
and the plague was stayed.
³¹ And that was counted to him as righteousness
from generation to generation forever.

³² They angered him at the waters of Meribah,
and it went ill with Moses on their account,
³³ for they made his spirit bitter,^[Or they rebelled against God’s Spirit]
and he spoke rashly with his lips.

³⁴ They did not destroy the peoples,
as the LORD commanded them,
³⁵ but they mixed with the nations
and learned to do as they did.
³⁶ They served their idols,
which became a snare to them.
³⁷ They sacrificed their sons
and their daughters to the demons;
³⁸ they poured out innocent blood,
the blood of their sons and daughters,
whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan,
and the land was polluted with blood.
³⁹ Thus they became unclean by their acts,
and played the whore in their deeds.

⁴⁰ Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against his people,
and he abhorred his heritage;
⁴¹ he gave them into the hand of the nations,
so that those who hated them ruled over them.
⁴² Their enemies oppressed them,
and they were brought into subjection under their power.
⁴³ Many times he delivered them,
but they were rebellious in their purposes
and were brought low through their iniquity.

⁴⁴ Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress,
when he heard their cry.
⁴⁵ For their sake he remembered his covenant,
and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love.
⁴⁶ He caused them to be pitied
by all those who held them captive.

⁴⁷ Save us, O LORD our God,
and gather us from among the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name
and glory in your praise.

⁴⁸ Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting!
And let all the people say, "Amen!"
Praise the LORD!

Who never becomes angry. Is always optimistic and constantly cheerful. Not the LORD. The God of Heaven and Earth. The Almighty.

People talk about the God of Wrath in the Old Testament. What if ... your neighbors were given your used vehicle because they needed it from you (to have opportunities to prosper) and you gave them the car because you felt it was the right thing to do. (Events from the Exodus). And they took it and beat it with hammers and made a statue of an ox and parked it in their front yard.

Bet you'd smile and wave.

Then assuming you could recover from your grand conniption fit; you find that they are about to lose their home because they cannot pay their rent and you feel so bad for their young children. So you take it upon yourself to talk to their powerful landlord. He seems agreeable to help them and you return home to find your efforts have made your neighbors bitterly angry. So angry you can hear them talking about you in their homes - saying you should have left them alone. They had it figured out. You hear them say you are just a bully. They had a plan all along. Matter of fact -they've heard there is a good black market for the littlest one to donate a lung or a kidney in the marketplace of Baal. And if Baal wouldn't take them, why the youngest daughter could certainly be placed on the street corner to earn it in the oldest profession.

Who could endure such people? Only a parent.

He would intervene.

A Loving Father would looked upon their distress,
even when He heard their cry.
For the deep Love He has, He would relented according
to the abundance of His steadfast Love.

He would pity and have empathy for them. It would be by teaching them. Not just allowing them to continue in a way to kill and prostitute themselves. He might use the time out system. Certainly not allow them to go immediately to a place where they could continue their plans.

He would spend more time with them. From His time spent - the light would begin to shine in the darkness. From this grace upon grace, giving them time to see glory and truth dwelling with them. From His fullness they would receive. Redemption.


1 Corinthians 3:16
Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

He would give them understanding by allowing His Holy Spirit to dwell in their hearts to have more understanding. To write His Love in their Hearts. To have holiness to understand the extent of the needs of others and their children.

He would Save us, O LORD our God,
and gather us from among the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name
and glory in your praise.

Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting!
And let all the people say, "Amen!"
Praise the LORD!

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Psalm 117 ~ Praise the Lord

Psalm 117

1 Praise the Lord, all nations!
Extol him, all peoples!
2 For great is his steadfast love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord!

Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter in the Bible. Condensed, this is the nature of the Lord Most High. He is for everyone. He is worthy to be praised.

He isn't about Black-eyed Peas, don't step on a crack, wear a little bracelet with knots tied in it so many days, pray in this exact fashion, eat this diet, or wear your hair like this.

He does not ask you to sit up straight. He does not ask you to refrain from alcohol. He does not ask you not to dance. He does not ask you not to chew gum. He is not partial to one skin type or one color. He is not partial to one class over another. He does not say cleanliness is next to Him. He does not say that if you pay attention to Him at least once a week, He is pleased. He does not ask you to seek wealth. He is more fond of wisdom and kindness.

Father God seeks you. Father God does not expect you to save yourself. He doesn't just put you off until eternity, He is part of this life. He wants your love and trust. He is for you. He chose to create you. He is about love, wisdom, loyalty, forgiveness and eternity. He loves you.


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Titus 2 ~ bringing salvation for all people

Titus 2

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

¹ But as for you, teach what accords with sound ^[healthy] doctrine. ² Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. ³ Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, ⁴ and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, ⁵ to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. ⁶ Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. ⁷ Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, ⁸ and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. ⁹ Slaves ^{[bondservants]} are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, ¹⁰ not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

¹¹ For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, ¹² training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, ¹³ for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

¹⁵ Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

Sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Reverent in behavior, not slanderers. Show integrity, dignity, and sound speech. Teach what is good. That the word of God may not be reviled.

Be zealous for good works.

And yet. And yet. The bottom line is this - We are waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us and to purify us for Himself.

God loves us first.

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

Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Happy All Saints Day, to All of the Beloved!



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Luke 12:49-59 ~ Division

Luke 12:49-59

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

⁴⁹ "I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! ⁵⁰ I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! ⁵¹ Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. ⁵²For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. ⁵³They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."

⁵⁴He also said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, 'A shower is coming.' And so it happens. ⁵⁵And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, 'There will be scorching heat,' and it happens. ⁵⁶You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

⁵⁷"And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? ⁵⁸ As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. ⁵⁹I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny."

Bible notes author: Susan Johnson, The Methodist Church in Britain

These verses are part of the teachings of Jesus to the disciples and to the crowds who have followed him. In Luke 10:1-12, 70 were sent out into the towns and villages to let people know that the kingdom of God had come near in the person of Jesus who would show them the way to live. Some of the 70 experienced peace and were welcomed, while others were rejected and had to leave. This leads Jesus to reflect on how his mission, his life and death will bring judgement and division as people are faced with a choice and a challenge about Jesus.

Today, 2,000 years later the question is still before us when we come face to face with Jesus and the influence of his teachings. Am I willing to try and follow his ways or will I follow someone or something else? And then there's the second question; what sort of kingdom, or community, will my actions bring out?

When we look around at communities in England, as we have done so much this summer, we can clearly see the division between those who seek peace and justice by showing love and compassion and those who are intent on destruction and damage. Although it did not receive much media coverage after the recent riots in London and other cities, communities came together, united, to move beyond the destruction and rebuild. Perhaps those people had had a glimpse of the kingdom of God being present in a small way. Many would not call themselves Christian or people of any faith but some would.

The simple fact is that when knowledge of Jesus is there, decisions have to be made every minute of the day as to how we will live. We always have a choice: to do good or to do harm.

To Ponder

When you need to make a decision about the way to behave, what guides you?

'It puzzles me that I am surrounded by people, who in their very humanity, show signs of living the Jesus way but do not know anything about him.' How do you think that can be?

Is division always something to be avoided? Why?




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Psalm 143 ~ Your steadfast love

Psalm 143

1 Hear my prayer, O Lord;
give ear to my pleas for mercy!
In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!
2 Enter not into judgment with your servant,
for no one living is righteous before you.

3 For the enemy has pursued my soul;
he has crushed my life to the ground;
he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.
4 Therefore my spirit faints within me;
my heart within me is appalled.

5 I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all that you have done;
I ponder the work of your hands.
6 I stretch out my hands to you;
my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah

7 Answer me quickly, O Lord!
My spirit fails!
Hide not your face from me,
lest I be like those who go down to the pit.
8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.

9 Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord!
I have fled to you for refuge!
10 Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God!
Let your good Spirit lead me
on level ground!

11 For your name's sake, O Lord, preserve my life!
In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!
12 And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies,
and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,
for I am your servant.


This Psalm reminds me of one a father would pray. It would have been the type of prayer Joseph might have prayed.

Did Jesus look like Joseph? God did promise David Jesus would be his son.

What do we know about Joseph, the Foster Father of Jesus, who by the blessing of the Holy Spirit linked Jesus to the house of David? It would be difficult to know if Jesus and Joseph looked alike, but what type of Father was Joseph? Jesus' hometown was given a biblical say:

Matthew 13:55-56
"Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren't all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?"

Mark records this somewhat differently & implies Jesus learned Joseph's trade.

Mark 6:3
"Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.

Joseph has been given a tradition of being the old duffer who was passed over, but c'mon this Child was/is precious to God. There are a lot of blended families today, God's Child heads the list.

Was Joseph thrilled to find out about the blessed event.... we know he wasn't. Joseph was an innocent, good man who saw wickedness (initial voices told him) ruining his life plans forever. Joseph was being called to have his betrothed stoned to death. Joseph instead, because of his compassion to Mary, received Divine Guidance. Joseph's actions are of a man who left his own plans behind and moved for the sake of his child & his wife. He left his town of Nazareth, for the years they went into hiding in Egypt, returning only when it was safe. God gave Jesus a family in Matthew 1, but in Matthew 13, we can tell Joseph gave Jesus his family.

Did Jesus look like Joseph? It is important. Yes, we see in Matthew 13:55, Joseph looked like Jesus.



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Acts 5 ~ speak in the name of Jesus

Acts 5

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

¹ But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, ² and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. ³ But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? ⁴ While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." ⁵ When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. ⁶ The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.

⁷ After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸ And Peter said to her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much." And she said, "Yes, for so much." ⁹ But Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out." ¹⁰ Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

¹² Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. ¹³ None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. ¹⁴ And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, ¹⁵ so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. ¹⁶ The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.




¹⁷ But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy ¹⁸ they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. ¹⁹ But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, ²⁰ "Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life." ²¹ And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.

Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council and all the senate of the people of Israel and sent to the prison to have them brought. ²² But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, ²³ "We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside." ²⁴ Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. ²⁵ And someone came and told them, "Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people." ²⁶ Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

²⁷ And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, ²⁸ saying, "We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us." ²⁹ But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men. ³⁰ The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. ³¹ God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. ³² And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."

³³ When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. ³⁴ But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. ³⁵ And he said to them, "Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. ³⁶ For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. ³⁷ After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. ³⁸ So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; ³⁹ but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!" So they took his advice, ⁴⁰ and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. ⁴¹ Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. ⁴² And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

Why were the events of the early Church so much more astonishing than the everyday Church of today. To non-believers, this is just fairy tales - as believers we know the witnesses of Jesus and these days died for their Lord and belief in Him. Josephus was astonished and wrote his words of amazement that Jesus must be the Christ, His followers continue to follow Him and call themselves Christians "to this day." The Roman Historian Josephus goes on to record James as the physical brother of Christ. Perhaps Jewish Josephus, General in the Judean Army, heard the words of Gamaliel.

Going back to the question - Why were the events of the early Church so much more astonishing than the everyday Church of today? For most of my younger life I would have said the Holy Spirit was new. Yet this is profoundly wrong. Genesis records the Holy Spirit in the first chapter. The Spirit of God hovers over the waters. Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Many, many actions and words attest to the Spirit of God's works in the Old Testament. Next I would have answered, the sacrifice of Jesus was so new, the Holy Spirit was renewed. Meh. No. God tells us...

Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Jesus knew why and He told us.

Luke 10:23-24
Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

What are we to do, living so many physical years from the beginning of a New Covenant, a new Heaven and the brand new opportunity to have the Holy Spirit living inside of us when we believe in Jesus and call upon His name in faith?

1 Peter 1:10-11
Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.

An important question to follow - did Jesus say the glories would end?

Far from it.

John 20:29
Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Matthew 13:16
But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.

Today!

1 Peter 1:8
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

The years have rolled by... 2,000 of them !....

Romans 8:39
neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

And what about this passage as the reason for all the slow down in GLORY?

1 Corinthians 13:8
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

Jesus would have said - what did HE say First - LOVE NEVER FAILS

For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.

How. How will we reawaken these glories. Beloved, the truth is they have not ended. I have witnessed 5 absolute miracles of the God Almighty in my 48 years. Miracles of health, in others, the doctors could not accept without saying it is a miracle. And the complete truth is that many more miracles and answered prayers have occurred without being aware of them. Gratitude and awe lead to awareness.

Where is the Awakening? Within you. We must live it.

Luke 12:31
But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 6:33
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 17:20
Jesus replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

LOVE NEVER FAILS

Matthew 28:20
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age

The end of the age - we will see...

Matthew 24:31
And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

1 Peter 4:11
If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever.
Amen.




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John 1:1-5, 9-13, 14-17 ~ grace and truth

Surely I Am with You, painted by Greg Olsen

Pray for a commitment to God, to family, to each class, to a job, to their college goal, to friends and to service.

Pray for the knowledge that accountability starts with God and that the commitment to Him demands faithfulness.

Pray for spiritual growth.

Today, our Baylor 1st Call to Prayer meets for parents of adult children. A prayer for a prayer group is a good thing...

We all have choices. Sometimes the choices, made when we are young, begin to define our lives. Jesus, being a man had choices as well.


John 7:35
The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we will not find him? Does he intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks?

Because Jesus was man, God gave Jesus choices in the beginning, the middle and even the end....

Matthew 26:53
Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?
Jesus, being God, made His choice to offer us salvation, unearned. He provided a way forward for us in His Hope and His Promises.

What did the life of Jesus offer us as a way for our own lives?

John 1:1-5, 9-13, 14-17

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'") 16 And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.


Jeremiah 35 - Living in Jerusalem

1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: 2 "Go to the house of the Rechabites and speak with them and bring them to the house of the LORD, into one of the chambers; then offer them wine to drink."

3 So I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, son of Habazziniah and his brothers and all his sons and the whole house of the Rechabites. 4 I brought them to the house of the LORD into the chamber of the sons of Hanan the son of Igdaliah, the man of God, which was near the chamber of the officials, above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, keeper of the threshold. 5 Then I set before the Rechabites pitchers full of wine, and cups, and I said to them, "Drink wine." 6 But they answered, "We will drink no wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, 'You shall not drink wine, neither you nor your sons forever. 7 You shall not build a house; you shall not sow seed; you shall not plant or have a vineyard; but you shall live in tents all your days, that you may live many days in the land where you sojourn.' 8 We have obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he commanded us, to drink no wine all our days, ourselves, our wives, our sons, or our daughters, 9 and not to build houses to dwell in. We have no vineyard or field or seed, 10 but we have lived in tents and have obeyed and done all that Jonadab our father commanded us. 11 But when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against the land, we said, 'Come, and let us go to Jerusalem for fear of the army of the Chaldeans and the army of the Syrians.' So we are living in Jerusalem."

12 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: 13 "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Go and say to the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will you not receive instruction and listen to my words? declares the LORD. 14 The command that Jonadab the son of Rechab gave to his sons, to drink no wine, has been kept, and they drink none to this day, for they have obeyed their father’s command. I have spoken to you persistently, but you have not listened to me. 15 I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, sending them persistently, saying, 'Turn now every one of you from his evil way, and amend your deeds, and do not go after other gods to serve them, and then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to you and your fathers.' But you did not incline your ear or listen to me. 

16 The sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have kept the command that their father gave them, but this people has not obeyed me. 17 Therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing upon Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the disaster that I have pronounced against them, because I have spoken to them and they have not listened, I have called to them and they have not answered."

18 But to the house of the Rechabites Jeremiah said, "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Because you have obeyed the command of Jonadab your father and kept all his precepts and done all that he commanded you, 19 therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Jonadab the son of Rechab shall never lack a man to stand before me."

How would the house of Rechabites know whether to listen to Jeremiah in the house of God telling them blessed to not drink wine or to remember their oath. It would be confusing living during those moments. Coming war had driven them from a nomadic state to the city. The oath to the father, to be pure, is more important than the invitation to live for the moment or to sympathize with a prophet of God in the Lord's house.

Adversity is as defining as blessing. Solomon wrote the day of adversity is as from the Lord as well.

The way wasn't clearly cut, but the Rechabites listened not to the moment or the political environment or an unpopular prophet or to merely dismissed his offer for political gain. They didn't curry favor with a man of God and they did not work against him by declining his offer to appeal more to the king - who disfavored Jeremiah. God weighted the hearts and minds of the Rechabites and found their motives to be to His liking.

I like this passage. It is not always easy to determine what is the best path in given circumstance swiftly moving. But prayer for guidance and relying upon the Lord directs one to the next step.
Matthew 25:23
"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

2 Timothy 4:7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Luke 13:18-19
He said therefore, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches."
Father God, be with us in the choices and commitments we make, even when no decision is made consciously. Help us as we walk the path You've given us to be grace and truth. To do justice, give truth with mercy and walk humbly with You. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.




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Psalm 126 ~ shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves

Sheaves of Wheat, 1890, painted by Vincent Van Gogh



Psalm 126

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible


1 When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then they said among the nations,
"The LORD has done great things for them."
3 The LORD has done great things for us;
we are glad.

4 Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like streams in the Negeb!
5 Those who sow in tears
shall reap with shouts of joy!
6 He who goes out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him.

Planting. All work involving hope.

Growth. Effort to move, cultivate, nourish.

Prayer. Sunshine, rain, warmth, cold. Elements beyond our control. Co-workers, pests, efficiency, accidents, reliability.

Time. Each day - routine or stressful.

Expectation. God hears, cares, acts.

Harvest. Shouts of joy. Gratitude. Rest.


Luke 13:18-19
He said therefore, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches."

Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.


Psalm 138:8
The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.



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Psalm 44 ~ we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered

Psalm 44

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

To the choirmaster. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah.

O God, we have heard with our ears,
our fathers have told us,
what deeds you performed in their days,
in the days of old:
² you with your own hand drove out the nations,
but them you planted;
you afflicted the peoples,
but them you set free;
³ for not by their own sword did they win the land,
nor did their own arm save them,
but your right hand and your arm,
and the light of your face,
for you delighted in them.

⁴ You are my King, O God;
ordain salvation for Jacob!
⁵ Through you we push down our foes;
through your name we tread down those who rise up against us.
⁶ For not in my bow do I trust,
nor can my sword save me.
⁷ But you have saved us from our foes
and have put to shame those who hate us.
⁸ In God we have boasted continually,
and we will give thanks to your name forever.
Selah

⁹ But you have rejected us and disgraced us
and have not gone out with our armies.
¹⁰ You have made us turn back from the foe,
and those who hate us have gotten spoil.
¹¹ You have made us like sheep for slaughter
and have scattered us among the nations.
¹² You have sold your people for a trifle,
demanding no high price for them.
¹³ You have made us the taunt of our neighbors,
the derision and scorn of those around us.
¹⁴ You have made us a byword among the nations,
a laughingstock among the peoples.
¹⁵ All day long my disgrace is before me,
and shame has covered my face
¹⁶ at the sound of the taunter and reviler,
at the sight of the enemy and the avenger.

¹⁷ All this has come upon us,
though we have not forgotten you,
and we have not been false to your covenant.
¹⁸ Our heart has not turned back,
nor have our steps departed from your way;
¹⁹ yet you have broken us in the place of jackals
and covered us with the shadow of death.
²⁰ If we had forgotten the name of our God
or spread out our hands to a foreign god,
²¹ would not God discover this?
For he knows the secrets of the heart.
²² Yet for your sake we are killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.

²³ Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord?
Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever!
²⁴ Why do you hide your face?
Why do you forget our affliction and oppression?
²⁵ For our soul is bowed down to the dust;
our belly clings to the ground.
²⁶ Rise up; come to our help!
Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!

We don't live in a world where we dress for our worship, arrive early, to pick out the animal who will have their throat slit for our sins. Evidently ~ our Psalmist felt some concern for the animals doomed to die. Interesting since the Sons of Korah were Priests at the Temple.

This Psalm echoes Job (the Psalms written in 1,000 B.C., Job in 600 B.C.). People wonder if God hears them. Is God sleeping?

Psalm 44 begins with the acknowledgement all we have is God's. And continues that thought as we, with the Psalmist, wonder about the fairness of life.

We are not so different from David who cried out to the Lord and this Psalmist - who lived 3,000 years ago. (Or Job living 2,400 years ago.)

According to Mark 12:27
He is not God of the dead, but of the living.

Even the people who give justice with mercy, walking humbly with the Lord ~ Wonder. This isn't new to the LORD. David faced days he had justice issues and his own ideas of victory.

What would set David, & these writers - the Sons of Korah, David saw had the Spirit of God, apart? Even in frustration, David would look to Father God. People of faith look for God to care when they ask Him.

Proverbs 24:14
Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Isaiah 55:12
For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Psalm 96:12
let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy

Isaiah 40:9
You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, "Here is your God!"


We know of Job's misery. David's worries. We know our own doubts. God triumphs.




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2 Chronicles 30 ~ Feast of Unleavened Bread

Passover in Israel - 50,000 people attend at the Western Wall

2 Chronicles 30

Listen - click to open in new tab

1 Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem to keep the Passover to the Lord, the God of Israel. 2 For the king and his princes and all the assembly in Jerusalem had taken counsel to keep the Passover in the second month— 3 for they could not keep it at that time because the priests had not consecrated themselves in sufficient number, nor had the people assembled in Jerusalem— 4 and the plan seemed right to the king and all the assembly. 5 So they decreed to make a proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, that the people should come and keep the Passover to the Lord, the God of Israel, at Jerusalem, for they had not kept it as often as prescribed. 6 So couriers went throughout all Israel and Judah with letters from the king and his princes, as the king had commanded, saying, “O people of Israel, return to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, that he may turn again to the remnant of you who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria. 7 Do not be like your fathers and your brothers, who were faithless to the Lord God of their fathers, so that he made them a desolation, as you see. 8 Do not now be stiff-necked as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the Lord and come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever, and serve the Lord your God, that his fierce anger may turn away from you. 9 For if you return to the Lord, your brothers and your children will find compassion with their captors and return to this land. For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him.”

10 So the couriers went from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun, but they laughed them to scorn and mocked them. 11 However, some men of Asher, of Manasseh, and of Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. 12 The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of the Lord.

13 And many people came together in Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month, a very great assembly. 14 They set to work and removed the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for burning incense they took away and threw into the Kidron Valley. 15 And they slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the second month. And the priests and the Levites were ashamed, so that they consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings into the house of the Lord. 16 They took their accustomed posts according to the Law of Moses the man of God. The priests threw the blood that they received from the hand of the Levites. 17 For there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves. Therefore the Levites had to slaughter the Passover lamb for everyone who was not clean, to consecrate it to the Lord. 18 For a majority of the people, many of them from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover otherwise than as prescribed. For Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, “May the good Lord pardon everyone 19 who sets his heart to seek God, the Lord, the God of his fathers, even though not according to the sanctuary's rules of cleanness.” [not according to the cleanness of holiness] 20 And the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people. 21 And the people of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with great gladness, and the Levites and the priests praised the Lord day by day, singing with all their might [with instruments of might] to the Lord. 22 And Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who showed good skill in the service of the Lord. So they ate the food of the festival for seven days, sacrificing peace offerings and giving thanks to the Lord, the God of their fathers.

23 Then the whole assembly agreed together to keep the feast for another seven days. So they kept it for another seven days with gladness. 24 For Hezekiah king of Judah gave the assembly 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep for offerings, and the princes gave the assembly 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep. And the priests consecrated themselves in great numbers. 25 The whole assembly of Judah, and the priests and the Levites, and the whole assembly that came out of Israel, and the sojourners who came out of the land of Israel, and the sojourners who lived in Judah, rejoiced. 26 So there was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem. 27 Then the priests and the Levites arose and blessed the people, and their voice was heard, and their prayer came to his holy habitation in heaven.

Passover in the country of Israel, in Jerusalem, at the Wailing Wall.


Deuteronomy 6:4-6
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.

Imagine your parents, grandparents or great-grandparents being told the country of Israel was to be reformed after World War II. They would be incredulous. We live in an amazing time.

Ecclesiastes 1:9
What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.

Even Israel has been reformed from exiles flung all around the world before.

We are told in Jesus Christ we are grafted into God's family by adoption. Israel fought the countries surrounding them for generations:


Moab – child of Lot's daughter

Edom - Essau - Jacob's brother who gave up his blessing for red stew.

Philistia – Philistines - Canaan - Noah's son

Cush - Babylon - Noah's son

Perhaps if we were to honor and love the Lord more, we would have more of the peace Hezekiah miraculously found even as the Assyrian Empire chose not to enter into Judea. Peace in the face of danger.



I had no idea so much Christian art was in the Capital Building. Nor did I know that the building was used for Church services for over 100 years.



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




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