Matthew 13:1-16 ~ fulfilled

Christ and Wealthy Young Man, Painting by Heinrich Hoffman

Matthew 13:1-16

1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears, [to hear] let him hear.”

10 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah [6:9,10] is fulfilled that says:

“‘You will indeed hear but never understand,
and you will indeed see but never perceive.
15 For this people's heart has grown dull,
and with their ears they can barely hear,
and their eyes they have closed,
lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, and I would heal them.’

16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.

~ fufilled

The human meaning is earthly happiness brought about by capability. Abundant living to God, the cup that runs over in Psalm 23. Gratitude for all God has brought about, having goodness and mercy being the fruit of our actions.

I once had a dream about my paternal grandmother, about 10 years after she had passed on, about 1995. It was one of the dreams people have that make an impact on the rest of your life. In my first nativity set when I was four years old, a beautiful clay set, I pointed out to my mother that the angel in the set looked like my (living) grandmother. We got out photos of my grandmother in her 50s, and the angel did look like her.

I had really been wanting to tell Grandmother new things in my life, both hard and good. In my dream, I was on vacation in the South Western portion of the USA. I looked over and my Grandmother was in our house looking just like the angel of my nativity set. I got to speak with her and the impact of my dream - the same comfort, the same love, but my wonderful Grandmother had so much, so very much of something I did not know she lacked - she was completely and utterly fulfilled. Grandmother was the cup that runneth over in Psalm 23. My wonderful dream made me realize and set my mind on Heaven being all the things promised to us in Scripture.

Jesus Christ, John 1 tells us, is God's Word made flesh. Imagine the joy in Jesus' daily life, at the age of 12 the Scriptures record Jesus loved to talk about His Father and His Word. Each day of Jesus' ministry, Jesus understood, loved and enjoyed His ministry fulfilling God's plan. Jesus living in in His Father's plan had the eyes to see, the ears to hear God's will being fulfilled.

Father God, thank you for Your love always with us. Each day help us to be the children of God. Help us to be like Jesus, the ones who see with gratitude the work of God You are doing in our lives. Open our eyes, our ears and our heart to see with the faith You give us. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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Jeremiah 40 ~ then all the Judeans returned

Matthew 18:15a,16
If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.'

Michael Jursa, associate professor at the University of Vienna, made the discovery in 1991. Nebo-Sarsekim is found in a perfectly preserved Babylonian Tablet. The tablet reads "the property of Nabu-sharrussu-ukin, the chief eunuch, which he sent via Arad-Banitu the eunuch to [the temple] Esangila: Arad-Banitu has delivered [it] to Esangila. In the presence of Bel-usat, son of Alpaya, the royal bodyguard, [and of ] Nadin, son of Marduk-zer-ibni, Month XI, day 18, year 10 [of] Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon (Reynolds 2007).

The Hebrew spelling of the name is slightly different from the cuneiform, but there is no question that it is the same person. Although the NIV translates Nebo-Sarsekim’s title as “chief officer,” the literal translation is “chief eunuch,” exactly the same as in the tablet.

Reflecting on his discovery, Jursa commented, “It is very exciting and very surprising. Finding something like this tablet, where we see a person named in the Bible making an everyday payment to the temple in Babylon and quoting the exact date is quite extraordinary.”

In "Antiquities of the Jews", renowned historian Josephus says it is Ναβωσαρις. Interpreted by by Christopher T. Begg and Paul Spilsbury as Nabosaris.

Jeremiah 40 Listen

1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord after Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he took him bound in chains along with all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were being exiled to Babylon. 2 The captain of the guard took Jeremiah and said to him, “The Lord your God pronounced this disaster against this place. 3 The Lord has brought it about, and has done as he said. Because you sinned against the Lord and did not obey his voice, this thing has come upon you. 4 Now, behold, I release you today from the chains on your hands. If it seems good to you to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look after you well, but if it seems wrong to you to come with me to Babylon, do not come. See, the whole land is before you; go wherever you think it good and right to go. 5 If you remain, then return to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon appointed governor of the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people. Or go wherever you think it right to go.” So the captain of the guard gave him an allowance of food and a present, and let him go. 6 Then Jeremiah went to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, at Mizpah, and lived with him among the people who were left in the land.

7 When all the captains of the forces in the open country and their men heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land and had committed to him men, women, and children, those of the poorest of the land who had not been taken into exile to Babylon, 8 they went to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, Johanan the son of Kareah, Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, Jezaniah the son of the Maacathite, they and their men. 9 Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, swore to them and their men, saying, “Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Dwell in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you. 10 As for me, I will dwell at Mizpah, to represent you before the Chaldeans who will come to us. But as for you, gather wine and summer fruits and oil, and store them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that you have taken.” 11 Likewise, when all the Judeans who were in Moab and among the Ammonites and in Edom and in other lands heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judah and had appointed Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, as governor over them, 12 then all the Judeans returned from all the places to which they had been driven and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah. And they gathered wine and summer fruits in great abundance.

13 Now Johanan the son of Kareah and all the leaders of the forces in the open country came to Gedaliah at Mizpah 14 and said to him, “Do you know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam would not believe them. 15 Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke secretly to Gedaliah at Mizpah, “Please let me go and strike down Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no one will know it. Why should he take your life, so that all the Judeans who are gathered about you would be scattered, and the remnant of Judah would perish?” 16 But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah, “You shall not do this thing, for you are speaking falsely of Ishmael.”

Jeremiah speaks to us in a troubled time. We can relate to the words: "release, chains, if it seems good to you, thinking it is right, afraid, not believing, let me go". It would seem Mizpah, 4 miles northwest of Jerusalem, situated on the loftiest hill, is the same place Levite's concubine was killed by the men of Benjamin. This led to civil war and destruction of the tribe of Benjamin, leading to more kidnapping and injustice because people began "thinking it is right".

The Scriptures have many situations repeat, why does trouble repeat? It is the human condition, people become self-sufficient, proud and begin to rely upon themselves as guide. The Lord shows mercy, again, by allowing the remnant to gather a harvest in great abundance. He honors His promise to Jeremiah providing the "hope and the future" in the midst of chains and capture.

We have a message today from Jeremiah 40. If we are in trouble, we look for the Lord to make a way and not carve out disaster upon disaster by relying on ourselves to provide solutions in the midst of a whirlwind. If we are in abundant harvest, we need to remember gratitude and look to the Lord to provide His way. We hear Christians not providing an immediate answer, but saying they will pray about it; prayer leads to solutions. Many times Jeremiah prayed and he is the one released in the midst of disaster, not by himself, but by the Lord.

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Joshua 1 ~ be strong and courageous

Joshua's Tomb

Joshua 1

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. 5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success [act wisely] wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

10 And Joshua commanded the officers of the people, 11 “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, ‘Prepare your provisions, for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving you to possess.’”

12 And to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh Joshua said, 13 “Remember the word that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, ‘The Lord your God is providing you a place of rest and will give you this land.’ 14 Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land that Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but all the men of valor among you shall pass over armed before your brothers and shall help them, 15 until the Lord gives rest to your brothers as he has to you, and they also take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession and shall possess it, the land that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.”

16 And they answered Joshua, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you, as he was with Moses! 18 Whoever rebels against your commandment and disobeys your words, whatever you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and courageous.”

Ultimately, the important thing is never one individual in the ministry; it's the divine Master who controls and guides and directs.

"God buries His workmen, but His work goes on." Monument of John Wesley and Charles Wesley in Westminster Abbey and a representation of John Wesley preaching on his father’s tombstone in Epworth churchyard .

Questions:
1. How well did God explain?
2. What 3 things did God commission Joshua to do? What were the 3 promises?
3. Why is Moses mentioned 57 times in the book of Joshua?
4. What 4 ways does God encourage Joshua in this passage?
5. How is Joshua, personally, to live it?

God commissioned Joshua to do three things: to lead the people into the land; to defeat the enemies they would face in all the fortified cities, all the Canaanite tribes in the land; and to claim the inheritance of the land. God could have chosen some supernatural means to accomplish these things, such as sending an angel. But he chose a person just like us, and he promised to give that person the power he would need to get the job done.

Deuteronomy 31 talks about Moses' completing the book and of his committing it to the care of the priests, but it wasn't enough that the priests carried it around and protected it. No, Joshua had to take the time to read it every single day, to make it a part of his inner person by meditating on it. I love the words of the angel Gabriel to Mary when he appeared to her and told her about how God wanted her to give birth to the Savior of the world, and she asked the very logical question, "How can an unwed teenage girl get pregnant?" Gabriel's response was this (American Standard Version, 1901): "For no word from God shall be void of power." The very word that God speaks has in it the power of fulfillment. Our call is to trust God's word and walk in obedience to it.

Wise leadership does not abandon the past. You work at maintaining continuity, building on the past while moving into the future. I said in the last message that Moses is mentioned fifty-seven times in the book of Joshua. That is evidence of Joshua's deep respect for Moses and his gratitude for what Moses had done for Israel. Joshua worshiped the same God that Moses worshiped and obeyed the same word of God that Moses had given to the nation. But that doesn't mean that there has to be personal conformity from one leader to the next, because every leader is different in gifts, temperament, style, and personality; and we really are free to maintain our individuality as men and women of God.

In this message we're going to identify with Joshua in the opening section of this book as he is called to step into Moses' sandals. The word courage, which is the root of the word encouragement, is found three times in this section and is the heart of the passage. In Joshua 1:6, God says to Joshua, "Be strong and of good courage...." In the next verse as well he says, "Only be strong and very courageous...." And then in verse 9 he says, "... Be strong and of good courage...." What a new leader needs is not advice from the old-timers but encouragement more than anything else. The New Testament verb to encourage literally means "to put heart into," or to help put courage into someone's heart so that they'll have a brave, strong, fearless heart.

The 4 encouraging steps of God are: First, in 1:1,2 God encourages Joshua in his personal calling or commissioning. Second, in 1:3-6 he encourages Joshua in his promises for the future, which are absolute guarantees of how things will turn out. Third, in 1:7,8 he encourages Joshua with his written word that he gave to Moses. And fourth, in 1:9 he encourages Joshua, strangely enough, through a direct command.


A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW
Joshua - The Adventure and Victory of Faith
by Doug Goins

There is an important lesson for us today in all of this. God has given us all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus (see Ephesians 1), and we must step out by faith to claim those blessings. The apostle John was writing to the first-century Christians in the city of Philadelphia in Turkey about stepping out, about walking into the land: "I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door [a door of opportunity to walk through], a door which no one can shut. You have little power, but you have kept my word, you have not denied my name" (Revelation 3:8). Jesus, speaking through John, is saying, "I know you're not that great. You can't smash doors open and force your way in anywhere. And you shouldn't. But when God opens doors before you, choose to walk through them."

Best of all, God has made the identical promise to us as his people today. Remember, the gospel of Matthew opens with the promise of Emmanuel, "God with us." And it concludes with the Lord Jesus' saying to us, "...Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Hebrews 13:5, as we saw in the last message, quotes this verse in Joshua; that New Testament writer applies this truth to us as Christians today in very practical areas of our lives. What all of this means for us as God's people is that we can keep moving forward into God's will. We can be absolutely assured of God's presence and power. We can claim the great news of Romans 8:31: "If God is for us, who is against us?" There is no opposition that God can't or won't take us through.

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John 15:9-11 ~ abide in His love

Dead Sea Scroll, Book of Isaiah
John 15:9-11

9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.

10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.

11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

For thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory.

It's a beautiful part of the Lord's prayer. Most kingdoms want power and glory. Some kingdoms can be grim with power and glory. But God's Kingdom is to be loved, living in love. God's Kingdom is having God's joy within us.

Remember the words of Jesus:

Matthew 10:7
As you go, make this announcement: 'The kingdom of heaven is near!'


Philippians 4:7-10
⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Our Father, which art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done,
in earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
[For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.]
Amen.

I don't read Greek, but it is beautiful to see in the original language:

Πάτερ ἡμῶν ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς·
ἁγιασθήτω τὸ ὄνομά σου·
ἐλθέτω ἡ βασιλεία σου·
γενηθήτω τὸ θέλημά σου, ὡς ἐν οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς·
τὸν ἄρτον ἡμῶν τὸν ἐπιούσιον δὸς ἡμῖν σήμερον·
καὶ ἄφες ἡμῖν τὰ ὀφειλήματα ἡμῶν,
ὡς καὶ ἡμεῖς ἀφίεμεν τοῖς ὀφειλέταις ἡμῶν·
καὶ μὴ εἰσενέγκῃς ἡμᾶς εἰς πειρασμόν,
ἀλλὰ ῥῦσαι ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τοῦ πονηροῦ.
[Ὅτι σοῦ ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία καὶ ἡ δύναμις καὶ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. ἀμήν.]

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Psalm 119:49-72 ~ is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces

Photo of the Sea of Galilee and Fishermen circa 1900. Very similar to the boat found dating to the time of Jesus. Jesus Boat Video. A drought, less work, then history is discovered, made and a rainbow filled with God's promises.

Psalm 119:49-72

49 Remember your word to your servant,

in which you have made me hope.
50 This is my comfort in my affliction,
that your promise gives me life.
51 The insolent utterly deride me,
but I do not turn away from your law.
52 When I think of your rules from of old,
I take comfort, O Lord.
53 Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked,
who forsake your law.
54 Your statutes have been my songs
in the house of my sojourning.
55 I remember your name in the night, O Lord,
and keep your law.
56 This blessing has fallen to me,
that I have kept your precepts.

57 The Lord is my portion;
I promise to keep your words.
58 I entreat your favor with all my heart;
be gracious to me according to your promise.
59 When I think on my ways,
I turn my feet to your testimonies;
60 I hasten and do not delay
to keep your commandments.
61 Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me,
I do not forget your law.
62 At midnight I rise to praise you,
because of your righteous rules.
63 I am a companion of all who fear you,
of those who keep your precepts.
64 The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love;
teach me your statutes!

65 You have dealt well with your servant,
O Lord, according to your word.
66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge,
for I believe in your commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I keep your word.
68 You are good and do good;
teach me your statutes.
69 The insolent smear me with lies,
but with my whole heart I keep your precepts;
70 their heart is unfeeling like fat,
but I delight in your law.
71 It is good for me that I was afflicted,
that I might learn your statutes.
72 The law of your mouth is better to me
than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Yesterday we talked about the peace of God.

1 Corinthians 14:33
For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the congregations of the saints

Psalm 119 uses the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet in a very orderly fashion. Yet the Psalm has conflicting subjects: hope, affliction, life, law, wicked etc. The prayer has thanksgiving for blessings and also urgent need.

God has given us some advice for conflict:

Ephesians 4:11-16
11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds [pastors] and teachers, [shepherd - teachers] 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, [full-grown man] to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

The chapter of Ephesians 4 is a good one to think about when life's wild winds kick up. Love is the greatest hope. Maturity becomes hope.

Remember Jesus' peace.

Mark 4:37-40
³⁷A 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?"

Jesus loved to teach in the Aramaic picture language, it fits together perfectly:
tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes

Not Jesus:
Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!"

Philippians 4:6,7,23
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus.

²³ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

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John 14:27-31 ~ Peace

John 14:27-31

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

If you Google peace images, wow, so many of the symbols look like violence is going to happen next; sort of a militant peace. Like my dad used to say on car vacations, " Oh, Yes, You are Having A Good Time." Worldly images of peace, look a little bit like half-time between events.

When we think about Jesus before His death, we remember He really prayed for the cup to pass from Him. This sacrifice was terribly difficult for Him. What Jesus said at the Last Supper, before His death, was John 14 to chapter 18, & Jesus had a lot to say. When Jesus tells us about peace, He isn't speaking from a peaceful place in His own life, the night before his betrayal & death. Jesus is telling us God's peace isn't temporary and it doesn't have to do with happy events. Jesus is telling us, regardless of events, He has a place for us. Regardless of events, we are loved. Regardless of events, God has not forgotten, His will is being accomplished.

I think God's peace can present the Christian with guilt. No.... Guilt. If we aren't in our happy place, then we aren't letting God's Holy Spirit work in us. That isn't it. Jesus was in relationship with His Father; He didn't pretend to grit his teeth, look supreme & aloof, and march to His death. Jesus was able to live His life with Joy. Jesus could have dinner with the people Jesus declared were his mother, brother & sisters doing God's will and let the New Covenant be a celebration. Sure, the disciples were confused, but Jesus knew exactly what He was saying about Peace, then telling Peter about desertion and the rooster crowing 3 times.

Imagine the joyful celebration of the new covenant. Jesus is telling them a supreme message of hope. He tells them... He will never leave them orphaned. Jesus would cry out to God in just hours that He felt forsaken. Peace isn't about the stiff upper lip, peace is being rescued by God even when it is faith - the substance of the unseen.

My maternal grandmother lived a hard life with a lot of gratitude. She had God's Peace. She used to say," You have to rise above it." Not the grit your teeth, look supreme and aloof, and march forward type. The Rise, let us go from here variety Jesus lived.

May God bless and comfort the people we have all seen in these difficult days looking careworn. Let the Peace of God give them times of rest and assurance. To find a blessing in each day, to be assured of God's love. That the Helper might lift them and guide them. In Jesus' name. Amen.



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Psalm 63 ~ shall

Hills around Bethlehem

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.

David had a lot of time on his hands being the shepherd, youngest of 8 sons to his father, Jesse. Bethlehem has only 26" of rain, a bit more than California. David was already in a relationship with God before the prophet Samuel anointed David. As a young boy, he'd had to rely on God to help him defend the sheep against a lion and bear, taking the sheep out of the mouth of the enemy. David used his shepherding time thirsting for the Lord.

The Museum of Israel has a pottery shard, correct time dating, with the name Goliath found in his home town. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9997587/

1 Samuel 17:28
When Eliab, David's oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, "Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle."

Samuel asked the Lord, in fear, not to send him to anoint another king. Samuel went on, to his credit. When Samuel arrived in Bethlehem, the elders of the town asked Samuel fearfully if he came in peace. Samuel was looking for a man and the Lord said to him,

1 Samuel 16:7, 12
But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

¹² So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features.
Then the LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one."

Father God, help us to give the nurturing you would have us give, direct us when we should be bold in our work. Guide us and lead us, Father, for You care for us. We place our cares with You. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 ~ to the place where the streams flow

We live in a unique place in history; not only to we have tremendous advances not predicted by our grandparents (my grandmother b. 1898 rode as a small child in a covered wagon before cars were invented), but there hasn't been an Israel in 2,000 years. Imagine your grandparents learning Israel was to be re-formed after 2,000 years.

Until 1981 the Hittite Empire was thought to be fable. Until an archaeological find, much like the Indiana Jones movies, where the archaeologist fell into the Hittite library and that library not only confirmed the Hittite Empire, but all of the Biblical history of their battles.

This interactive map shows the Middle East has been under many different influences over the course of history. Egyptians, Turks, Jews, Romans, Arabs, Persians, Europeans...the list goes on. This is a unique time and this map is well worth the time. Are we today like 800 B.C.? Hit the red play button and think about it.

Ecclesiastes 1:1-11

1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

2 Vanity [Vapor] of vanities, says the Preacher,
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
3 What does man gain by all the toil
at which he toils under the sun?
4 A generation goes, and a generation comes,
but the earth remains forever.
5 The sun rises, and the sun goes down,
and hastens [and returns panting] to the place where it rises.
6 The wind blows to the south
and goes around to the north;
around and around goes the wind,
and on its circuits the wind returns.
7 All streams run to the sea,
but the sea is not full;
to the place where the streams flow,
there they flow again.
8 All things are full of weariness;
a man cannot utter it;
the eye is not satisfied with seeing,
nor the ear filled with hearing.
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.
10 Is there a thing of which it is said,
“See, this is new”?
It has been already
in the ages before us.
11 There is no remembrance of former things, [former people]
nor will there be any remembrance
of later things [later people] yet to be
among those who come after.

We see in the maps: war, peace. Or injustice, violence, peace, injustice, violence. Change.

One of our admirable components, as human beings, is our ability not to conform, but to see outside the box. If you adopt the accepted norms of your generation, you're just another salmon swimming in the same old direction.

We rightly condemn the crusades - (the Crusader Empire on the video) these occurred not for the duration of the dark ages, but for 200 years. (During an age of bear-bating for entertainment, not holding or even naming one's child before the age of 3 to 7 because of infant mortality rates, a very brutal era of serfdom and starvation. The most common cause of death was starvation. They believed crusades would, inaccurately, stop plagues, as well as bring riches.) These are not the same values of the people we are, who buy chicken in cellophane from the grocery. We have to remember we live in a different cultural world.

What happened directly after the crusades? The Great Schism. (2 popes, dilution of the power.) And after that? Martin Luther. Justice trying to prevail when might is trying to suppress it.

We rightly condemn the Spanish Inquisition, but this was limited to Spain. It sprang from civil war. Of all the European countries, the personality of Spain is civil war, even today. The Inquisition caused Spain to loose their vast holdings in the New World. No one wanted to be under Spanish rule. They were posed in the beginning to sweep over all of our hemisphere. People fought and died not to be under a Spanish Flag.

2 historical atrocities bringing condemnation to the Church happened a.) for a short time in history and had drastic consequences for the Church. b.) were isolated and had consequences for that nation and the world.

Newsweek, June 2009, did a tremendous article on Church attendance plummeted all over the USA. Horrors. We are now a nation who doesn't got to Church, except for 80% of the USA. Really down from a decade ago. The article was basically un-true. When you really read the statistics, from the Pew Research Center and the article, the North East is off 18% in Church attendance - that is the Catholic portion of the country and the statistics pointed out it was only a Catholic drop in the North East. Why? Sick men molested children. This Pope has faced an enormous amount of libel and slander, but his one concern is making the Church face and correct real Sin.

And Newsweek did not do another article saying in one year, Catholic Church attendance is rising again. It has to do with forgiveness, justice is being sought, and people realize forgiveness is the business of faith - the way to true happiness.

We live in the world and see the consequences of inhumanity, it seems unfair to blame so much of it on the Church.

Psalm 145:4-9
4 One generation shall commend your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts.
5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
6 They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,
and I will declare your greatness.
7 They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness
and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

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



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John 14 ~ the Father who dwells in me

John 14

1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; [You believe in God] believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? [ In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you ] 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” [Where I am going you know, and the way you know ] 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. [If you have known me, you will know my Father also]. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, [Advocate, or Counselor] to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.

25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

Because the Scriptures are so vast, I use readings from Biblegateway.com, Cri/Voice Institute, a man who is a devote Roman Catholic, Christadelphians daily readings, Evangelical Lutheran's daily reading, Methodist readings & Presbyterian. I pray about it and the Scripture is chosen before I know what it will be. The last 3 days of Scripture reading fit together so very well, it is a blessing.

3 days ago we read Ecclesiastes 7, Solomon's circular opinions on seeking wisdom, where he is paraphrasing the parable Jesus told of the dishonest manager - the children of this world are more shrewd than children of God. The main lesson of Ecclesiastes 7 tells us all people, in all situations in life, have more difficulties than we know. We are told to practice compassion and seek to avoid being wasteful or foolish. It is a unique viewpoint of a king giving his honest opinion of a lifetime of judging all situations.

Yesterday, Ecclesiastes 8 tells us life isn't fair, circumstances do not reveal if we are evil or good. Solomon after years of judging Israel, seeing the suffering of life, is not without hope God's plan is for good. He could have become very distant or bitter, but Solomon wants us to know what he has observed in life and is hopeful.

To hear today we get to read John 14.... is the Father speaking on life through His Son. I love John 14. So full of the joy of the Spirit. Let's look at this as a love letter:

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in me, I am preparing a place for you. You know. You know me and you know my Father. Because you believe in me, allow the Counselor, the Helper to dwell in you to do the works of our Father. Look for, allow and rejoice in the peace God gives us.

You are not alone, you are not orphaned, the world does not see me, but you know and believe. Keep the word of God, do His commandments, let goodness and mercy flow from you.

In John 14, Jesus isn't saying the world is a rough place, just accept it. No, the opposite. Jesus says how much He loves us and we should be prayerful. Jesus asks us to pray with expectant hearts and souls. John 14 tells us how much God can accomplish with expectant prayer. This is an amazing chapter filled with the power of God and the understanding of Scripture.

Thank you, Father God, for the works you have shown us in the Scriptures. Open our eyes to the possibilities you would give us. Help us to see and know Your word and work for each day. Let us be the goodness and mercy you would have us show. To the Glory of Your name, which You willing bestow on us, Your children. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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Ecclesiastes 8 ~ it will be well with those

A Jew at the Wall of the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem, by Jean-Leon Gerome, 1877, The Israel Museum

Ecclesiastes 8

1 Who is like the wise?
And who knows the interpretation of a thing?
A man's wisdom makes his face shine,
and the hardness of his face is changed.

2 I say: Keep the king's command, because of God's oath to him. [Your oath to God]. 3 Be not hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases. 4 For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, “What are you doing?” 5 Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way. 6 For there is a time and a way for everything, although man's trouble [evil] lies heavy on him. 7 For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be? 8 No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death. There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it. 9 All this I observed while applying my heart to all that is done under the sun, when man had power over man to his hurt.

10 Then I saw the wicked buried. They used to go in and out of the holy place and were praised [forgotten] in the city where they had done such things. This also is vanity. 11 Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil. 12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him. 13 But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God.

14 There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are righteous people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, and there are wicked people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity. 15 And I commend joy, for man has no good thing under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun.

16 When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on earth, how neither day nor night do one's eyes see sleep, 17 then I saw all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. However much man may toil in seeking, he will not find it out. Even though a wise man claims to know, he cannot find it out.

God knew what He was doing when He.... Where was God when my loved one became ill and died....

Israel was just a few decades from the time of judges during the reign of Solomon. Just as a Doctor in charge of the Emergency Room decides never to have children because of the suffering seen in the E.R., Solomon has lived days of supreme command; he has spent days making judgments over evil and suffering. Jesus agrees with Solomon & says in the New Testament He knows what is in the heart of man. Solomon has not been left on his throne on high, he has compassion and wonder over the events in life.

He comments evil might go on for years unchecked, and has seen the vanity of expecting good things to come to the good and evil things come to the evil. This portion of the Scriptures is overlooked in Judea during the time of Jesus. Jesus is asked what sin brought about the blindness of a man and what sin was punished when men were crushed by a falling wall. Solomon's wisdom has largely gone unheeded in a country priding itself upon Solomon.

Solomon never declares people with evil events are under the judgment of God. After years of hearing trouble and trauma, Solomon is not embittered and will still proclaim joy in the goodness of God's judgments for eternity. Solomon sees the joy in looking for blessings and understands this gratitude to be the secret of happiness.

He reminds us we will not understand God's plans, because we are not God.

Abba, we thank you for the blessing of prayer. We give You thanks, You are the hope in difficult circumstance, You have promised to hear our prayers. We ask forgiveness for turning away with a judgmental spirit from the trouble of others. We seek Your help to look for the joy and to be a bringer of joy. We give You praise for Your goodness in times of blessing and we look forward in anticipation. We pray for Your will to be done in Heaven and on earth. Put the light of Jesus Christ in us, that our words, and our work may bring goodness and mercy. Amen.

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Ecclesiastes 7 ~ an advantage to those under the sun

Study of an Old Man in Profile — Rembrandt van Rijn


Study of the head of an old man, Peter Paul Rubens

Ecclesiastes 7

1 A good name is better than precious ointment,
and the day of death than the day of birth.
2 It is better to go to the house of mourning
than to go to the house of feasting,
for this is the end of all mankind,
and the living will lay it to heart.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter,
for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
5 It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise
than to hear the song of fools.
6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot,
so is the laughter of the fools;
this also is vanity.
7 Surely oppression drives the wise into madness,
and a bribe corrupts the heart.
8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning,
and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
9 Be not quick in your spirit to become angry,
for anger lodges in the bosom of fools.
10 Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?”
For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.
11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance,
an advantage to those who see the sun.
12 For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money,
and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.
13 Consider the work of God:
who can make straight what he has made crooked?

14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.

15 In my vain life I have seen everything. There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evildoing. 16 Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? 17 Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time? 18 It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your hand, for the one who fears God shall come out from both of them.

19 Wisdom gives strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.

20 Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.

21 Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you. 22 Your heart knows that many times you yourself have cursed others.

23 All this I have tested by wisdom. I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me. 24 That which has been is far off, and deep, very deep; who can find it out?

25 I turned my heart to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the foolishness that is madness. 26 And I find something more bitter than death: the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and whose hands are fetters. He who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is taken by her. 27 Behold, this is what I found, says the Preacher, while adding one thing to another to find the scheme of things— 28 which my soul has sought repeatedly, but I have not found. One man among a thousand I found, but a woman among all these I have not found. 29 See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.

Ecclesiastes is written by a son of David, King over Israel. One wouldn't think a king over Israel would sit at the end of his life to think of his vain life.

Catherine II, the Great, of Russia was woman who died with regrets; one of her earliest and more important goals was to improve the life, of most of her subjects, out of the terrible serfdom they experienced. She was unable, the nobility supporting her reign didn't want their serfs to have advantages. Her life was one of cruelty under her predecessor Empress Elizabeth. Her husband Peter III was a fool, he was deposed and later murdered. In legality, Catherine's reign was illegitimate. Her life became centered on fearsome politics and self-indulgence. Her country had terrible rumors about her children and her morality still circulating about her today. A lot of her accomplishments are unknown, although the Empire's administration became improved as land accumulation continued.

What would the writter of Ecclesiastes have as an advantage? Solomon began his reign with the blessing of God. His mistakes came from his own choosing, circumstances did not push Solomon. We see from Solomon's words, he had his own problems. And his advice is sometimes circular. Solomon had too many wives to care deeply for them and dismisses women, surely this is blaming his own problems on someone else.

In the midst of all of the advice to seek wisdom and to back away from wisdom, we see that everyone under the sun has circumstances they would like to better control and improve.

So, the advantage available to us? The study of life and its situations from the Holy Spirit. People around us have their own issues. No one is perfect. Fear God, be compassionate. Use the deliberation of wisdom to make choices. The portraits, above, were used as an example of decisions made during our lives leading to the fulfillment of life. Choices made to strengthen life and the application of the Holy Spirit to have the compassion, self-examination to lead and guide us.

FatherGod, let us each day put out our hands to do the work and have the choices You would have us make. Strengthen us each day to have the gratitude of a life well lived and not the bitterness of self-indulgence. Continue to bless Your children, not for self-righteousness, but for the honor and glory of Your name. We pray in the highest name of Jesus. Amen.

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Psalm 87 ~ this one was born there

Aerial Photo of Jerusalem

Psalm 87

1 On the holy mount stands the city he founded;

2 the Lord loves the gates of Zion
more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
3 Glorious things of you are spoken,
O city of God. Selah

4 Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon;
behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush —
“This one was born there,” they say.
5 And of Zion it shall be said,
“This one and that one were born in her”;
for the Most High himself will establish her.
6 The Lord records as he registers the peoples,
“This one was born there.” Selah

7 Singers and dancers alike say,
“All my springs are in you.”

In Texas we have bumper stickers that say "I wasn't born here, but I got here as fast as I could." I miss the old black & white license plates, people used to say meant Texas was just plain friendly. I'm not that old, not even 50, but I remember growing up in Dallas, we had 320,000 people in the city limits. There used to be lots of fields between Dallas and Fort Worth. The drive, as a child, was boring to me. It took forever to get to Six Flags Over Texas Park and you'd see cattle and barbed wire.

I've seen a Dallas phone book, or telephone directory, from before my mother was born. It seems Dallas had about 2 or 3 thousand phones in the early 1930s.

Time as we know it is a cage; God created time, but He does not dwell in it. Revelation is the end of the books of the Bible, but speaks of God's new creation. His creation is vast in this universe and, also, in His Heavenly Kingdom. Like all of us, God has a city He considers His. Isn't it great that we have a God who defies the little halos of stereotypical God? No, God is not a little club, or old school, God's Zion is vast. Like John's definition of God is vast:

I John 4:8b
God is Love

We see in Revelation 21 there is a new Heaven, a new earth & new Jerusalem. Jerusalem has measurements to tell us it is not infinite, but the Kingdom of Heaven contains Jerusalem.

Today, Psalm 87 writes the Lord Himself registering the birth of His people in the Book of Life. Even in Revelation, the last book of the bible, God speaks of new creation:

Revelation 3:5
He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.

Revelation 7:9
After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

Thank You, FatherGod, You are vast. What is man that You are mindful of Him? Thank You, FatherGod, for the care and love You have given us in giving us Your Son. Thank You for the Scriptures pointing to Your Steadfast Love through all the generations.

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Psalm 43 ~ Your light and Your truth

Psalm 43

1 Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause
against an ungodly people,
from the deceitful and unjust man
deliver me!
2 For you are the God in whom I take refuge;
why have you rejected me?
Why do I go about mourning
because of the oppression of the enemy?

3 Send out your light and your truth;
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill
and to your dwelling!
4 Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God my exceeding joy,
and I will praise you with the lyre,
O God, my God.

5 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.

The Houston Chronicle had a great Easter article last year. It's good to read it again:

Anne Rice's Easter Story

Anne Rice, author of dark novels such as Interview With The Vampire, has a message for her readers:

I can't go back to the vampires. I can't bring them into this world where I now live, where the...light of Christ shines...I'm somebody different now...and I won't be going back.

Anne Rice, aka Howard Allen O'Brien (& several other author names), grew up in the garden district of New Orleans. She came of years amid the gnarled oaks dripping with Spanish moss that stood guard over crumbling mansions like the one in which she lived. Decay mingled with beauty; darkness subdued light.

As a child, Anne remembers visiting Lafayette Cemetery with its signature above-ground tombs where she traced her fingertips across the tombstones of those who died of yellow fever. In her impressionable mind, stories formed...dark stories.

Her fanciful trip into darkness paralleled her own life. Anne's mother died when she was 15 and shortly thereafter she abandoned her Catholic faith. While at Texas Women's University, she wandered through the writings of existentialists and philosophers like Kirkegaard, Satre, Camus and others.

A spiritual eclipse was complete when her daughter, aged 4, died of leukemia. Writing and alcohol - the spirits for the dispirited - became Rice's coping mechanisms. In this deep malaise, Interview With The Vampire was born. In this and other books, Anne wrestled with the meaning of life, the existence of God, and the pervasiveness of evil. Looking back, Anne saw that she was expressing the "...feelings of despair of a person who does not have faith in God."

Her writings were noticed and her fame secured with combined sales of nearly 100 million books. Yet, Rice remained preoccupied with darkness. In 1998, she walked through death's shadows when she fell into a diabetic coma. Once she recovered, a ruptured appendix drew her back to death's door.

Granted two reprieves on life, Anne felt that someone was watching over her. She picked up the Bible and began to read the story of Jesus. From that point, Rice applied her formidable research and writing skills to the task of penning the greatest story ever told. In the Christ The Lord series, her first book was called Out Of Egypt. It may well have been called Out of Darkness.

Nearly 2,000 years ago, a handful of women came to visit Christ's tomb. An angel asked these women, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?" (Luke 24:5). Had they searched on Friday, they would have found Jesus in the graveyard...but not on Sunday. For Jesus arose triumphant over the grave.

Anne Rice made her pilgrimage from darkness into the light. And, she's determined to never go back.

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