Perfect Nativity, Christmas Cloud

Matthew 11:16,25-30 

  

  "To what can I compare this generation? 

They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: 17" 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge and you did not mourn.' 

18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." 

'But wisdom is proved right by her actions."

  

25 At that time Jesus said, 

"I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 

26 Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. 

27 "All things have been committed to me by my Father. 

No one knows the Son except the Father, 

and no one knows the Father except the Son 

and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 

28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 

and I will give you rest. 

29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 

30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Wrestle with the Grinch that stole peace?

Philippians 4:4-7

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

How are we going to deal with 

"The Peace that Passes All Understanding" 

Today? 

And I took a class on Evangelism. Telling us only tell about Jesus for the pure Joy to tell about Loving Jesus. Effectively.

So... Then I wanted to kick this out there and do this and... I met a young woman who told me she had been raised with Religion and wanted none of this. Her best friend is a Pastor's wife. She smiles. The light of her face is pure. I just found I liked her and I wanted to tell her about Jesus.

And Baby, I rammed Jesus right down her throat and wiggled on her tonsils. I told my friend, who said, "Man, that one is not coming back." Well. She is. She was really gracious and said that made sense.


This is the True Challenge to what our culture is seeing.
Not something exactly new, but our younger people do not see a reason
to follow the Faith of the Fathers.

Surely, not a new concept even to the last generation, which had in the aftermath of World War II simply quit Church.

We have to have empathy, people find the possibility of Peace as positively frightening. As if we would all be preparing to die grinning like hyenas.

Really... we need to think upon this...


If Scripture is going to follow us around and bother us - and you are faithful - this one about "The Peace that passes all understanding" might do that. I've seen a woman with serious cancer cry because she is worried and Jesus would be so disappointed with her. When Reverend Francis MacNutt discussed the miraculous healing of people he has witnessed, he tells us Father God is so gentle when we are healed, and in this Father God is like the mother of a foal trying out new legs. Reverend Francis MacNutt was a Harvard man.

The person who is healed becomes tender and gingerly and gangling, trying to see if the miracle is permanent. Finding Father God delights with them in their amazement and joy in His Generous, Loving Miracle.

This is what the group walking with Jesus saw in the Jesus they threw down their lives to follow:

Mark 10:32

They were now on the way up to Jerusalem, and 

Jesus was walking ahead of them. 

The disciples were 

filled with awe

Christian radio has a song proclaiming we really believe Jesus has a gavel in His Hand. Many times in Scripture the word "Yar" is used, which actually means  "reverence" and not fear

We know the Disciples became, grew, matured and died. We are pretty convinced, this might be God's plan for our lives and worry. The Disciple John had perfect peace and did not worry before being handed to the Emperor and what to say to Emperor Domitian. Who promptly threw John, not to the lions, that might elevate John, but to the dogs to tear him apart? Which didn't work. The dogs wouldn't attack. So bring out the smoking oil.

... Phenomenal Event of Peace Passing ALL Understanding, leading to a Blessing of
Life Abundant.

Tertullian in the 36th chapter of "The Prescription of the Heretics". Also, John Foxe, 1583 'Book of Martyrs' in the early Church martyrs section. And early Church Father Jerome referenced Tertullian and the Eusebius.

Emperor Domitian had John brought to him, and proposed to make a spectacle of John murdered. Other sources say it occurred at the Latin Gate, and not in the Coliseum. Domitian decided to have a vat of oil heated up to boiling or smoking. Christian persecution were not going as well as planned, and were not a crowd pleaser back in those days of the not yet very converted Roman Empire. We all have the meek to die knowledge, as Christians were painted as cannibalistic villains and 'disrespecters' of the various Roman gods. And supposedly the paranoid Caesars.

But, when introduced into the boiling vat of oil, John did not react as expected to the torturous heat. He was preaching as he was introduced to the oi and went on preaching about Jesus. And as the seconds became more seconds and I suppose minutes, it became clear that John was not in agony....or pain....or discomfort. He just preached.

Many converted to Christianity because of what they saw.

Saint John in Oils Chapel.

***A chapel named 'San Giovanni in Oleo' stands in Rome. The Saint John in Oils Chapel standing today is not so ancient, but is definitely the Latin Gate. Yet, it is unlikely that a chapel could have been built within the Coliseum.

As for John, he was removed unharmed from the oil at some point, and Domitian's plan 'B' was to have John sent to the isle of Patmos to work at hard labor. There John eventually was given the visions, becoming the Book of Revelation. And Different from all other Bible books, specifically stating a blessing to whichever Churches read it aloud together.

Scripture loves to repeat! Very similar to the miracle experienced by Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in Daniel 3, when King Nebuchadnezzar threw them into the furnace for refusing to worship him. Domitian had the lion idea nixed, for the lions looked grand. And really surviving dogs in the Coliseum was not a huge, spectacular deal. However, surviving oil and twice - That - was a Huge Event.

Now, today, IF we want to tell about Jesus'
Love, Joy, Comfort and Plan
WHY? To encourage us to come home, and to tell the NEXT Generation to make them 

WANT To Know Jesus.

We have to understand that basic knowledge of Christianity says this:

We meet people who sincerely do not want to smile all the time, like Homer Simpson's Neighbor. They would like to look as if they have a clue. And they surely do not want to die and not think in advance of what to say.

This concept is frightening. And really inside our Nation, the highest martyrdom event I know is Cassie Bernall (November 6, 1981 – April 20, 1999) the girl killed in the Columbine High School massacre at age 17. The shooter asked if Cassie believed in God moments before she was fatally shot. She answered, "Yes"

WE HAVE A SALIENT POINT WE FORGET HERE.

81% of our Culture does Pray. 

BELIEVING IN GOD.

But Most To the Point in Our Culture Today:
Father God does not need us to give people the smile of the frozen chosen, who well understand that these doubters are doomed and uninformed. Because we are one step up on the Ladder to Heaven today.

Yes. WE HAVE A SALIENT POINT WE FORGET HERE.
81% of our Culture does Pray. BELIEVING IN GOD.

It's the don't grow me - I'm gonna get there of WHY WOULD WE WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS JESUS.


Remember with me
Tell about Our First Love for the Lord. 


What is the Point of Scripture...

To choose what is good. Building up ourselves to a life of meaning and creating a culture wanting the more difficult path - choosing what is Good. Believing God will help us. God will reward us and Heaven and earth will see the difference.

John's Patmos Dwelling. The view is still very much the same! 

God is still working and He is still caring for us.

The astonishing thing about "Peace that Passes All Understanding is" This valid and necessary tool happens again and again and again because, when we see our loved ones who love Jesus passing to the Heaven of God's Kingdom, we see this Peace. And it's needed!

Now, for the most part, Peace is not going to grow us.

And Father God sent us on this quest, this adventure, to bring our soul home and show Father God what we have made of this place called Soul.

All these people experienced this Life, this ongoing River of Life, that pushes and perplexes and asks us to twist or go the straightened paths where clear thinking and good choices can remain to make the framework for our soul to keep the Fruits of the Spirit = Love, Joy, Laughter, Peace, Comfort, Rules of Conduct, Patience and endurance with characters of Faith, Hope, Love.

These Scripture people did not walk around with Peace alllllllll the time. 

Scripture IS ALL ABOUT THE MESS OF LIFE AND HOW TO OVERCOME !!!

HEBREWS 11

17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”[c] 19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.

21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.

23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.

24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.

31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again.

Seek God and we will find... GOD. Simply prayer and reading Scripture is going to place us as Children of Willing, Loving, Able Father God.

And when we have that Comfort, the Holy Spirit says this is COMFORT. We are going to want to get the kids to Church to experience what is Love and Nourishment to Our Souls.

If we throw out part of the Scripture that draws discomfort, we have missed a rounding out, necessary point, we have failed to see the ripple effect of Truth.

God's Word is Living and Active. 

God loves Wisdom and asks us to use our gifts and talents to find the Word of God that applies to this situation. GOD's Word is far from a glorified and sweet journey of life. God tells us of all the hair-pin curves, the horror, the violence, the sweetness, the ups and perpetual downs of getting used to even our blessings.

When we dig to discover the Word of God, we are going to be given wisdom, sometimes. 

The Bible goes on to tell us Wisdom is not always happiness. 

And Yet, Wisdom is Truth. And Truth provides the framework where GOD will dwell. And what we learn dwelling with GOD, we learn, we can go places, do things and be confident of God dwelling in us - that whatever Tomorrow brings - God is going to be with us Today and in Today - We can DO what GOD would like us to Do with Today.

This Framework is a balance Joshua and Romans 8 bring us. 

This is the Balance of Truth and Spirit and Worship in John 4. And in displaying God's Mercy we find God's Framework is where we want to always Dwell - Bringing Glory to GOD - where gratitude is fruitful.

We are not bringing out one single hair shirt 

       - the Bible does not even own one hair shirt - we are bringing out the tools that God would place in our hands - to make Life Meaningful - not missing out on HIS GLORY.

This is the Balance, the goodness, the wonder of GOD we want People to Quest for.

Joy. And His Highest Name is - Jesus the Lord.

Abba, Father God,

Your Scriptures are alive and active. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Jesus appeared in the flesh,

was vindicated by the Spirit,

was seen by angels,

was preached among the nations,

was believed on in the world,

was taken up in glory.

Jesus will one day say to us all, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. We will join Him in the Holy City of God.

And in that day, let me be in the Numbers of The Saints Come Marching In.

Knowing All our prayers have been heard, listened to with care, with Love and Decisions. Lifting up prayer again in gratitude, David knew God would put forth the Blessing merely because this delights Our Father. For those who are ill, and worried, for those in new circumstances and for those with prayers to be fulfilled in His Time.

And Father God, let the family live together in beauty and peace of the generations. The people we love, and are given. We pray for our work places, Churches honoring Jesus and believing Scripture, our States and Nation. 

We lift up mankind to You, knowing Your Mercy is to draw all to You.

A God sized work. For His Glory. 

Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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2 Corinthians 10:12-18 ~ within the field

2 Corinthians 10:12-18 (New Revised Standard Version)


We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another, and compare themselves with one another, they do not show good sense. We, however, will not boast beyond limits, but will keep within the field that God has assigned to us, to reach out even as far as you. For we were not overstepping our limits when we reached you; we were the first to come all the way to you with the good news of Christ. We do not boast beyond limits, that is, in the labors of others; but our hope is that, as your faith increases, our sphere of action among you may be greatly enlarged, so that we may proclaim the good news in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in someone else's sphere of action. "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord." For it is not those who commend themselves that are approved, but those whom the Lord commends.

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Zechariah 12 ~ a spirit of grace and supplication

Jerusalem, Damascus Gate. Rebuilt in 1542, presumably based upon archaeology, it is the 3rd Damascus Gate.

Zechariah 12 (New International Version)

1 This is the word of the LORD concerning Israel. The LORD, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the spirit of man within him, declares: 2 "I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. 3 On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves. 4 On that day I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness," declares the LORD. "I will keep a watchful eye over the house of Judah, but I will blind all the horses of the nations. 5 Then the leaders of Judah will say in their hearts, 'The people of Jerusalem are strong, because the LORD Almighty is their God.'

6 "On that day I will make the leaders of Judah like a firepot in a woodpile, like a flaming torch among sheaves. They will consume right and left all the surrounding peoples, but Jerusalem will remain intact in her place.

7 "The LORD will save the dwellings of Judah first, so that the honor of the house of David and of Jerusalem's inhabitants may not be greater than that of Judah. 8 On that day the LORD will shield those who live in Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the Angel of the LORD going before them. 9 On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that attack Jerusalem.

10 "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. 11 On that day the weeping in Jerusalem will be great, like the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. 12 The land will mourn, each clan by itself, with their wives by themselves: the clan of the house of David and their wives, the clan of the house of Nathan and their wives, 13 the clan of the house of Levi and their wives, the clan of Shimei and their wives, 14 and all the rest of the clans and their wives.


An impossible miracle of God's. God is a fortress, a shield to .... an entire nation. Only God could bring about a miracle to a country so attacked.

Did you know the family of David have kept their lineage and they come together, from all over the world to have family reunions. According to God, David's line continues today.

In the middle of such a great victory, the people do not dance a dance of victory, instead they know only God can have done this and they are far from worthy. God knows how poorly we really listen and learn. So many things in the Scriptures repeat and repeat. The water parted in front of the Children of Israel several times. Jesus was called upon to heal and was met with small faith, many times.

Zechariah tells us about Jesus being killed, how multitudes came not to the rural areas, but to God's Temple to learn more about Jesus. It says so in Acts 5.

Because the Word of God is living and active, this is a story which will repeat when the world is facing the rebuilding of the Temple, when we are coming to the end days the Lord has told us about since the time of Daniel in 600 B.C.

This impossible story occurred to the people of God during the reign of Hezekiah when the Assyrian Empire didn't destroy Judah. The new country of Israel has almost been wiped from the face of the earth, surrounded by enemies in impossible odds. Israel exists today. The miracle will come again. Rejoice.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.


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John 5:19-29 ~ will rise to live

Mount of Olives cemetery, East of the Temple Mount.

In this chapter of John, we learn God intends to amaze us with the dead rising to life. He doesn’t intend to stop there, but to give us, who hear the word of God, eternal life. God says He will show us even greater things to see than just the resurrection of His son, Jesus Christ.

God has been telling us since before the time of Christ about His gift and His Son. Zechariah lived 500 years before Christ and was part of the returning Jewish exiles from Babylon. Zechariah looked far into the future and saw Jews would again be scattered, but God does not abandon his people. Zechariah gave prophecies from the Lord saying Jerusalem would become the center of attention for the world. Zechariah's prophecies accurately describe the worldwide dispersion and persecution of Jews taken place during the past 1,900 years. Zechariah gave hope that the true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world again.

Zechariah 14: 6-9

6 On that day there will be no light, no cold or frost. 7 It will be a unique day, without daytime or nighttime—a day known to the LORD. When evening comes, there will be light.

8 On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea and half to the western sea, in summer and in winter.

9 The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.

John 5:19-29

19 Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.

24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. 25 I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.

28 "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.

John 4:13

Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.

Father God, so many times in life we ask ourselves is this all there is. Sometimes we call them, waiting upon the Lord times. Take our thoughts each day, take our words, our hands and help us each day to see the blessings. Let us in faith, by our prayer conversations with you, know we are building a way forward, with the Light of the Lord. Each day let us build our reputation for our strength, our joy, our love being from You. You came to give us life abundantly. In You and in Your salvation, we are eternal beings - today! You are the Light of the World, in You we place our trust and love. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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Mark 12 ~ Jesus asked

Mark 12

1 Jesus then began to speak to them in parables: "A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. 2 At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 But they seized him, beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 4 Then he sent another servant to them; they struck this man on the head and treated him shamefully. 5 He sent still another, and that one they killed. He sent many others; some of them they beat, others they killed.

6 "He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, 'They will respect my son.'

7 "But the tenants said to one another, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' 8 So they took him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.

9 "What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others. 10 Haven't you read this passage of Scripture:
" 'The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;

11 the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes' ?"

12 Then the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders looked for a way to arrest him because they knew he had spoken the parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd; so they left him and went away.

13 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. 14 They came to him and said, "Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren't swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay or shouldn't we?"

But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. "Why are you trying to trap me?" he asked. "Bring me a denarius and let me look at it." 16 They brought the coin, and he asked them, "Whose image is this? And whose inscription?"
"Caesar's," they replied.

17 Then Jesus said to them, "Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's."
And they were amazed at him.

18 Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. 19 "Teacher," they said, "Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 20 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died without leaving any children. 21 The second one married the widow, but he also died, leaving no child. It was the same with the third. 22 In fact, none of the seven left any children. Last of all, the woman died too. 23 At the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?"

24 Jesus replied, "Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? 25 When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. 26 Now about the dead rising—have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the account of the burning bush, how God said to him, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob' ? 27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!"

28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"

29 "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 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: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

32 "Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."

34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.

35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, "Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the son of David? 36 David himself, speaking by 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.' How then can he be his son?"
The large crowd listened to him with delight.

38 As he taught, Jesus said, "Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely."

41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.

43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on."

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1 Kings 9 ~ I have heard your prayer and your plea

The House of Yahweh Ostracon (a writing on pottery also known as the “House of God Ostracon”) discovered in Arad, an ancient Judean city. Now located in the Israel Museum. The Ostracon is written in ancient Hebrew and dated to the early 6th century BC, it is considered to be one of the earliest references to the Temple Solomon built in Jerusalem outside of the biblical accounts. The House of Yahweh Ostracon reads, in part, as follows: "To my lord Elyashib, may the Lord seek your welfare…and as to the matter which you command me-it is well; he is in the House of Yahweh [God]."

1 Kings 9

1 As soon as Solomon had finished building the house of the Lord and the king's house and all that Solomon desired to build, 2 the Lord appeared to Solomon a second time, as he had appeared to him at Gibeon. 3 And the Lord said to him, “I have heard your prayer and your plea, which you have made before me. I have consecrated this house that you have built, by putting my name there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time. 4 And as for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you, and keeping my statutes and my rules, 5 then I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’ 6 But if you turn aside from following me, you or your children, and do not keep my commandments and my statutes that I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them, 7 then I will cut off Israel from the land that I have given them, and the house that I have consecrated for my name I will cast out of my sight, and Israel will become a proverb and a byword among all peoples. 8 And this house will become a heap of ruins. [1] Everyone passing by it will be astonished and will hiss, and they will say, ‘Why has the Lord done thus to this land and to this house?’ 9 Then they will say, ‘Because they abandoned the Lord their God who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt and laid hold on other gods and worshiped them and served them. Therefore the Lord has brought all this disaster on them.’”

10 At the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the Lord and the king's house, 11 and Hiram king of Tyre had supplied Solomon with cedar and cypress timber and gold, as much as he desired, King Solomon gave to Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee. 12 But when Hiram came from Tyre to see the cities that Solomon had given him, they did not please him. 13 Therefore he said, “What kind of cities are these that you have given me, my brother?” So they are called the land of Cabul to this day. 14 Hiram had sent to the king 120 talents [2] of gold.

15 And this is the account of the forced labor that King Solomon drafted to build the house of the Lord and his own house and the Millo and the wall of Jerusalem and Hazor and Megiddo and Gezer 16 (Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up and captured Gezer and burned it with fire, and had killed the Canaanites who lived in the city, and had given it as dowry to his daughter, Solomon's wife; 17 so Solomon rebuilt Gezer) and Lower Beth-horon 18 and Baalath and Tamar in the wilderness, in the land of Judah, [3] 19 and all the store cities that Solomon had, and the cities for his chariots, and the cities for his horsemen, and whatever Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion. 20 All the people who were left of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of the people of Israel— 21 their descendants who were left after them in the land, whom the people of Israel were unable to devote to destruction [4]—these Solomon drafted to be slaves, and so they are to this day. 22 But of the people of Israel Solomon made no slaves. They were the soldiers, they were his officials, his commanders, his captains, his chariot commanders and his horsemen.

23 These were the chief officers who were over Solomon's work: 550 who had charge of the people who carried on the work.

24 But Pharaoh's daughter went up from the city of David to her own house that Solomon had built for her. Then he built the Millo.

25 Three times a year Solomon used to offer up burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar that he built to the Lord, making offerings with it [5] before the Lord. So he finished the house.

26 King Solomon built a fleet of ships at Ezion-geber, which is near Eloth on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom. 27 And Hiram sent with the fleet his servants, seamen who were familiar with the sea, together with the servants of Solomon. 28 And they went to Ophir and brought from there gold, 420 talents, and they brought it to King Solomon.

Footnotes
[1] 9:8 Syriac, Old Latin; Hebrew will become high
[2] 9:14 A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms
[3] 9:18 Hebrew lacks of Judah
[4] 9:21 That is, set apart (devote) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction)
[5] 9:25 Septuagint lacks with it


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Acts 5 ~ teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ

Acts 5 (Revised Standard Version)

[1]
But a man named Anani'as with his wife Sapphi'ra sold a piece of property,


[2] and with his wife's knowledge he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles' feet.
[3] But Peter said, "Anani'as, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back 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? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."
[5] When Anani'as heard these words, he fell down and died. 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 tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Hark, the feet of those that have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out."
[10] Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. 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 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 honor.
[14] And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women,
[15] so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and pallets, 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 Sad'ducees, and filled with jealousy


[18] they arrested the apostles and put them in the common prison.
[19] But at 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 taught.
Now the high priest came and those who were with him and called together the council and all the senate 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, and they returned and reported,
[23] "We found the prison securely locked and the sentries standing at the doors, but when we opened it we found no one inside."
[24] Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were much perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to.
[25] And some one came and told them, "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 without violence, 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 Gama'li-el, a teacher of the law, held in honor by all the people, stood up and ordered the men to be put outside for a while.
[35] And he said to them, "Men of Israel, take care what you do with these men.
[36] For before these days Theu'das arose, giving himself out to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him; but he was slain and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.
[37] After him Judas the Galilean arose in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him; he also 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 men, 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!"
[40]
So they took his advice, 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 at home they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.


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Mark 4 ~ the harvest has come

Mark 4

1 Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water's edge. 2 He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: 3 "Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times."
9 Then Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

10 When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. 11 He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables 12 so that,
" 'they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,
and ever hearing but never understanding;
otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!"

13 Then Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? 14 The farmer sows the word. 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown."

21 He said to them, "Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don't you put it on its stand? 22 For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."

24 "Consider carefully what you hear," he continued. "With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. 25 Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him."

26 He also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come."

30 Again he said, "What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade."
33 With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. 34 He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

40 He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

41 They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"


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Deuteronomy 26:1-15 ~ set it down in front of the altar of the Lord your God

"Thou art Peter and upon this rock, I will build my Church..." Matthew 16: 18

Deuteronomy 26:1-15 (Today's New International Version)

1 When you have entered the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance and have taken possession of it and settled in it, 2 take some of the first fruits of all that you produce from the soil of the land the LORD your God is giving you and put them in a basket. Then go to the place the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name 3 and say to the priest in office at the time, "I declare today to the LORD your God that I have come to the land the LORD swore to our ancestors to give us." 4 The priest shall take the basket from your hands and set it down in front of the altar of the LORD your God. 5 Then you shall declare before the LORD your God: "My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down into Egypt with a few people and lived there and became a great nation, powerful and numerous. 6 But the Egyptians mistreated us and made us suffer, subjecting us to harsh labor. 7 Then we cried out to the LORD, the God of our ancestors, and the LORD heard our voice and saw our misery, toil and oppression. 8 So the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with signs and wonders. 9 He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey; 10 and now I bring the first fruits of the soil that you, LORD, have given me." Place the basket before the LORD your God and bow down before him. 11 Then you and the Levites and the foreigners residing among you shall rejoice in all the good things the LORD your God has given to you and your household.

12 When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. 13 Then say to the LORD your God: "I have removed from my house the sacred portion and have given it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, according to all you commanded. I have not turned aside from your commands nor have I forgotten any of them. 14 I have not eaten any of the sacred portion while I was in mourning, nor have I removed any of it while I was unclean, nor have I offered any of it to the dead. I have obeyed the LORD my God; I have done everything you commanded me. 15 Look down from heaven, your holy dwelling place, and bless your people Israel and the land you have given us as you promised on oath to our ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey."

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Psalm 77 ~ You strode right through the Ocean

Psalm 77 (The Message)

1 I yell out to my God, I yell with all my might, I yell at the top of my lungs. He listens.

2-6 I found myself in trouble and went looking for my Lord;
my life was an open wound that wouldn't heal.
When friends said, "Everything will turn out all right,"
I didn't believe a word they said.
I remember God—and shake my head.
I bow my head—then wring my hands.
I'm awake all night—not a wink of sleep;
I can't even say what's bothering me.
I go over the days one by one,
I ponder the years gone by.
I strum my lute all through the night,
wondering how to get my life together.

7-10 Will the Lord walk off and leave us for good?
Will he never smile again?
Is his love worn threadbare?
Has his salvation promise burned out?
Has God forgotten his manners?
Has he angrily stalked off and left us?
"Just my luck," I said. "The High God goes out of business
just the moment I need him."

11-12 Once again I'll go over what God has done,
lay out on the table the ancient wonders;
I'll ponder all the things you've accomplished,
and give a long, loving look at your acts.

13-15 O God! Your way is holy!
No god is great like God!
You're the God who makes things happen;
you showed everyone what you can do—
You pulled your people out of the worst kind of trouble,
rescued the children of Jacob and Joseph.

16-19 Ocean saw you in action, God,
saw you and trembled with fear;
Deep Ocean was scared to death.
Clouds belched buckets of rain,
Sky exploded with thunder,
your arrows flashing this way and that.
From Whirlwind came your thundering voice,
Lightning exposed the world,
Earth reeled and rocked.
You strode right through Ocean,
walked straight through roaring Ocean,
but nobody saw you come or go.

20 Hidden in the hands of Moses and Aaron,
You led your people like a flock of sheep.



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Other Scripture for Today Blogspot passages on God and the Ocean:
August 6, 2011
August 5, 2011

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Mark 3:20-30 ~ a house divided against itself

Mark 3:20-30
Max McLean Audio Bible, English Standard Version

20 Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. 21 And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”

22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” 23 And he called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. 27 But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house.

28 “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30 for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”

John 14:7
If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”



Philippians 2:9-10
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.

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Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21 ~ The Lord is good to all

Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21 (New Revised Standard Version)

You open wide your hand

The Lord is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
The Lord is good to all,
and his compassion is over all that he has made. ...

The Lord upholds all who are falling,
and raises up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food in due season.
You open your hand,
satisfying the desire of every living thing.
The Lord is just in all his ways,
and kind in all his doings.
The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
He fulfills the desire of all who fear him;
he also hears their cry, and saves them.
The Lord watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.

My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
and all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever.


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Romans 9 ~ even us, whom He also called

Romans 9

1 I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit— 2I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, 4 the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. 5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised![a] Amen.

6 It is not as though God's word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 7 Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham's children. On the contrary, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned."[b] 8 In other words, it is not the natural children who are God's children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham's offspring. 9 For this was how the promise was stated: "At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son."[c]

10 Not only that, but Rebekah's children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. 11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God's purpose in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls—she was told, "The older will serve the younger."[d] 13 Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."[e]

14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 15 For he says to Moses,
"I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."[f]

16 It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."[g] 18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.

19 One of you will say to me: "Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?" 20 But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?' "[h] 21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?

22 What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? 23 What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory— 24 even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?

25 As he says in Hosea:
"I will call them 'my people' who are not my people;
and I will call her 'my loved one' who is not my loved one,"[i] 26 and,
"It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them,
'You are not my people,'
they will be called 'sons of the living God.' "[j]

27 Isaiah cries out concerning Israel:
"Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea,
only the remnant will be saved.
28 For the Lord will carry out
his sentence on earth with speed and finality."[k]

29 It is just as Isaiah said previously:
"Unless the Lord Almighty
had left us descendants,
we would have become like Sodom,
we would have been like Gomorrah."[l]

30 What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the "stumbling stone."

33As it is written:
"See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall,
and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."[m]


a. Romans 9:5 Or Christ, who is over all. God be forever praised! Or Christ. God who is over all be forever praised!
b. Romans 9:7 Gen. 21:12
c. Romans 9:9 Gen. 18:10,14 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord?
d. Romans 9:12 Gen. 25:23
e. Romans 9:13 Mal. 1:2,3
f. Romans 9:15 Exodus 33:19
g. Romans 9:17 Exodus 9:16
h. Romans 9:20 Isaiah 29:16; 45:9
i. Romans 9:25 Hosea 2:23
j. Romans 9:26 Hosea 1:10
k. Romans 9:28 Isaiah 10:22,23
l. Romans 9:29 Isaiah 1:9
m. Romans 9:33 Isaiah 8:14; 28:16

Romans 9 - (English Standard Version)

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My neighbor I went to college with, and met in college, said of her mother and her mother-in-law. "I loved my mother, but she pretended to let me grow up. If my son was ill with strep-throat, my mom would say she'd help - by taking him back to the doctor tomorrow, so she could understand the seriousness of his illness. And my mother-in-law, if you told her of a weighty problem on your mind, she would listen and say the most valuable thing, she'd say," I know you and your husband will work it out, you have a good head on your shoulders."

One of the easiest ways to offend someone is to give them advice about their own life. Sometimes it is human stubbornness to listen to wisdom, but mostly it is because the Potter has called the clay to His plan. 80 percent of Americans declare themselves to be Christians, with 50 percent changing denominations to help them to be closer in relationship to Jesus Christ.

When Paul wrote this chapter, in the first translation, you can easily see he was educated at the feet of Gamaliel. Paul knew what he was writing about, he knew the Old Testament well. Paul was living his life as a rising part of the Temple administration. Paul well understood Moses' call to a new life. Paul saw, intimately, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. The law of righteousness called him. This fulfillment calling them, calling us, to a way of life - wasn't their plan - Love.

1 John 4:8

God is Love.

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Matthew 15:12-21 ~ leaving that place

Matthew 15:12-21 (Today's New International Version)

12 Then the disciples came to him and asked, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?"

13 He replied, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. 14 Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit."

15 Peter said, "Explain the parable to us."

16 "Are you still so dull?" Jesus asked them. 17 "Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? 18 But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these defile you. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20 These are what defile you; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile you."

21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.

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Mark 4:30-34 ~ can make nests in its shade

Mark 4:30-34

30 And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? 31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. 34 He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.

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