Ezekiel 47 ~ where the River flows everything will live

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Ezekiel 47
Max McLean Audio Bible, English Standard Version

¹ The man brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar. ² He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was flowing from the south side.

³ As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits [1,500 feet about 450 meters] and then led me through water that was ankle-deep. ⁴ He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist. ⁵ He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—a river that no one could cross. ⁶ He asked me, “Son of man, do you see this?”

Then he led me back to the bank of the river. ⁷ When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river. ⁸ He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah [Jordan Valley], where it enters the [Dead] Sea. When it empties into the [Dead] Sea, the water there becomes fresh. ⁹ Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. ¹⁰ Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds—like the fish of the Great Sea [Mediterranean; also in verses 15, 19 and 20 ]. ¹¹ But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt. ¹² Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.”

¹³ This is what the Sovereign LORD says: “These are the boundaries by which you are to divide the land for an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel, with two portions for Joseph. ¹⁴ You are to divide it equally among them. Because I swore with uplifted hand to give it to your forefathers, this land will become your inheritance.

¹⁵ “This is to be the boundary of the land:

“On the north side it will run from the Great Sea by the Hethlon road past Lebo [past the entrance to] Hamath to Zedad, ¹⁶ Berothah [Hebrew road to go into Zedad, Hamath, Berothah] and Sibraim (which lies on the border between Damascus and Hamath), as far as Hazer Hatticon, which is on the border of Hauran. ¹⁷ The boundary will extend from the sea to Hazar [Enan], along the northern border of Damascus, with the border of Hamath to the north. This will be the north boundary.

¹⁸ “On the east side the boundary will run between Hauran and Damascus, along the Jordan between Gilead and the land of Israel, to the eastern sea and as far as Tamar [Hebrew Israel, You will measure to the eastern sea]. This will be the east boundary.

¹⁹ “On the south side it will run from Tamar as far as the waters of Meribah Kadesh, then along the Wadi of Egypt to the Great Sea. This will be the south boundary.

²⁰ “On the west side, the Great Sea will be the boundary to a point opposite Lebo [opposite the entrance to] Hamath. This will be the west boundary.

²¹ “You are to distribute this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. ²² You are to allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the aliens who have settled among you and who have children. You are to consider them as native-born Israelites; along with you they are to be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. ²³ In whatever tribe the alien settles, there you are to give him his inheritance,” declares the Sovereign LORD.

Ezekiel is a large book, in the Scriptures, with 48 Chapters. God's vision of hope for people in bondage. The bondage of sin. It written for us. This does not describe the state of Israel during the 2nd Temple.

Notice verse 22. It is not Exodus 33:3
Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.

God intends His Holy Land to encompass His favored people & the people living in the land. In a land flowing with milk and honey.

What is the significance of the Water?

John 7:38-39
38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Let these words breathe hope into our souls.

Psalm 122

A song of ascents. Of David. A climb or walk to the summit of a mountain or hill.

¹ I rejoiced with those who said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the LORD.”
² Our feet are standing
in your gates, Jerusalem.

³ Jerusalem is built like a city
that is closely compacted together.
⁴ That is where the tribes go up—
the tribes of the LORD—
to praise the name of the LORD
according to the statute given to Israel.
⁵ There stand the thrones for judgment,
the thrones of the house of David.

⁶ Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May those who love you be secure.
⁷ May there be peace within your walls
and security within your citadels.”
⁸ For the sake of my family and friends,
I will say, “Peace be within you.”
⁹ For the sake of the house of the LORD our God,
I will seek your prosperity.

Father God, we See!! The land flowing with milk and honey You've proclaimed! Your Word is always accomplished! Receive us into your household. In our lifetime, we are privileged to live while Israel exists as a Nation. We confess the faith - Jesus Christ crucified, Jesus Christ Raised! His resurrection is eternal, and we share with Jesus in His eternal priesthood.

May the peace of God Almighty reign in our hearts always. Amen.

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Matthew 7:21, 24-27 ~ build His house

Matthew 7:21

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 7:24-27

24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

It's odd the things we remember clearly, like a conversation between my godmother, my mom and me long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away. :) My mother and godmother were grousing about putting up Christmas decorations. Momma paused, looked at my godmother to say, the children had really helped and wanted to help. My godmother laughed - all the ornaments go on waist high until the kids grow up and then they don't want to help. I said well at least we wanted to help. My godmother suggested next year I could help her. I retorted next year I planned to be so grownup, I wouldn't want to help. It was light-hearted, so everyone laughed.

It's that time of year.... the first time in 10 years I've had to build our artificial tree without the help of my sons, who are now in college. Yes... that project took me 3 days... I was calm the first 5 hours. By the 6th hour, I was like Moses, saying some pretty rash things; I even took a hammer to the metal inserts.

So...thinking back, back.... there were some years the Christmas gear went on happily and easily. First there was music planned to play in the background. There was part of the Christmas story read from Matthew 2. The time taken to say these decorations are to honor the Lord, not just to put up fuss. The focus is determined.

Houses are built with plans. First the Foundation - the rock of Jesus Christ. Even David, mighty King David told the Lord, His Father, in trust - I need Your help. And Solomon asked for help. Build His house. When You believe the Lord's promises to You, that open door allows God's Holy Spirit to dwell in You. You are His House, walking His plan.



Charles Schultz knew what he was writing about. I loved this program when it ran each year. Take it from me (sinner!), plan ahead, build your Christmas with Jesus as your rock. Reward your efforts with a planned relaxation to enjoy the fruit of your labors with your loved ones, in the true Spirit of Christmas.

Be Blessed.

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John 1:1-14,17,29-35 ~ the Light shines

12/23/09

A country Church Christmas

The Church of the Nativity celebrates Christmas Day in Bethlehem - Link


John 1:1-14,17,29-35 ~ (Today's New International Version)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

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

17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel."

32 Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God's Chosen One."

35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"


This is is my favorite chapter of the Bible, John 1. The gospels written by Mark and John are sometimes compared without kindness, at Christmas, to the narrative of Jesus Christ's birth written beautifully in Luke and Matthew. But actually Mark speaks of a wilderness wanting to be tamed and John speaks of light coming out of darkness. Isn't this the deepest desire for Jesus Christ?

Christmas can bring forth all of our deepest longings. Matthew begins with an engagement, the most important choice in life. Luke begins with a barren priest. God addresses all of these concerns by reaching out to hear, to heal, to love and to care. For all of our seasons in life, God is part of them. Just as God watched, with love, each day of Jesus' life on earth, the Light continues to shine for us.

The Peace of God always be with you.

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John 1:35-42 ~ we have found the Messiah

O Jerusalem, by Greg Olsen


John 1:35-42

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35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”

37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. [4 p.m]

40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter [Greek word πέτρος (petros) meaning "stone" or "rock". Cephas is a transliteration of the Aramaic word for rock]).

When you consider all the things the disciples saw drawing them to Jesus - to call a man - Messiah....

John 2:25
He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.

Matthew 12:25a
Knowing their thoughts, he said to them

Luke 6:8a
But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said

Luke 11:17a
Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them

Deuteronomy 18:15-18
15 The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. 16 For this is what you asked of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the LORD our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die.”

17 The LORD said to me: “What they say is good. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him.


Isaiah 49:6
6 he says:
“It is too small a thing for you to be my servant
to restore the tribes of Jacob
and bring back those of Israel I have kept.
I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,
that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.

Psalm 29

1 Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,

ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.

3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the Lord, over many waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,
and Sirion like a young wild ox.

7 The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
8 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

9 The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth
and strips the forests bare,
and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”

10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.
11 May the Lord give strength to his people!
May the Lord bless his people with peace!

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Keeping Christ in Christmas ~ Flash Mob

Keeping Christ in Christmas! The teenage idea of flash mob reaches Celestial
New Heights. And the faces in the crowd....!!!! GLORY!

He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person. ~ John 2:25



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Matthew 24:36-44 ~ one will be taken and the other left

Matthew 24:36-44 ~ (New International Version 2010)

36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

When I pray for my neighborhood and my Church for God's blessings, I always picture people as lights -similar- to the art today. Why lights? God's Love is like Light. The reason we use lights as Christmas decorations.

John 1:4-5
In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Is the art today a little freaky, weird? Yeah, a bit. Will the rapture happen just like the photo? There isn't a clear answer for this question. The rapture will occur; God has been telling us about it since Daniel (600 B.C.), Zechariah and Ezekiel. The disciples knew of it from the Old Testament and asked Jesus about it - in this passage. Paul explains events the Lord has planned far better than the image above.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

So, does the end of the world affect me, and you, personally even if Jesus does not arrive in our lifetime for the Second Coming? Of course it does. We are all going to leave this life. The Rapture isn't just about a cataclysmic end of the planet, it is the end of your life. When we read the Book of Revelation, we read about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, sure. We also read about us; every single one of us will have a time of reckoning.

Advent is about preparation; the preparation for God's Son entering the world. His birthday, rejoicing and anticipation through the millenniums - Jesus Christ chose to be born and be part of the tough things life offers. To be part of the joy life brings.

We expect a frail baby coming into the world, as God, knowing He would die for us. Preparation - us knowing someday Christmas will come to earth and we will not be part of this life. As a free gift of Jesus Christ, we will be included when we accept Him in our hearts, with our loved ones in Heaven. Our greatest Homecoming.

Advent acknowledges Father God comes to us, then we are going to God. Christmas lights represent something transient becoming eternal. An Advent wreath is filled with light as the big day approaches. We head into the Light.






"Here I am to Worship (Light of the World), by Tim Hughes

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Judges 19 ~ where are you going

Judges 19 ~ (Today's New International Version)


1 In those days Israel had no king.
Now a Levite who lived in a remote area in the hill country of Ephraim took a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah. 2 But she was unfaithful to him. She left him and went back to her parents' home in Bethlehem, Judah. After she had been there four months, 3 her husband went to her to persuade her to return. He had with him his servant and two donkeys. She took him into her parents' home, and when her father saw him, he gladly welcomed him. 4 His father-in-law, the woman's father, prevailed on him to stay; so he remained with him three days, eating and drinking, and sleeping there.

5 On the fourth day they got up early and he prepared to leave, but the woman's father said to his son-in-law, "Refresh yourself with something to eat; then you can go." 6 So the two of them sat down to eat and drink together. Afterward the woman's father said, "Please stay tonight and enjoy yourself." 7 And when the man got up to go, his father-in-law persuaded him, so he stayed there that night. 8 On the morning of the fifth day, when he rose to go, the woman's father said, "Refresh yourself. Wait till afternoon!" So the two of them ate together.

9 Then when the man, with his concubine and his servant, got up to leave, his father-in-law, the woman's father, said, "Now look, it's almost evening. Spend the night here; the day is nearly over. Stay and enjoy yourself. Early tomorrow morning you can get up and be on your way home." 10 But, unwilling to stay another night, the man left and went toward Jebus (that is, Jerusalem), with his two saddled donkeys and his concubine.

11 When they were near Jebus and the day was almost gone, the servant said to his master, "Come, let's stop at this city of the Jebusites and spend the night."

12 His master replied, "No. We won't go into any city whose people are not Israelites. We will go on to Gibeah." 13 He added, "Come, let's try to reach Gibeah or Ramah and spend the night in one of those places." 14 So they went on, and the sun set as they neared Gibeah in Benjamin. 15 There they stopped to spend the night. They went and sat in the city square, but no one took them in for the night.

16 That evening an old man from the hill country of Ephraim, who was living in Gibeah (the inhabitants of the place were Benjamites), came in from his work in the fields. 17 When he looked and saw the traveler in the city square, the old man asked, "Where are you going? Where did you come from?"

18 He answered, "We are on our way from Bethlehem in Judah to a remote area in the hill country of Ephraim where I live. I have been to Bethlehem in Judah and now I am going to the house of the LORD. No one has taken me in for the night. 19 We have both straw and fodder for our donkeys and bread and wine for ourselves your servants—me, the woman and the young man with us. We don't need anything."

20 "You are welcome at my house," the old man said. "Let me supply whatever you need. Only don't spend the night in the square." 21 So he took him into his house and fed his donkeys. After they had washed their feet, they had something to eat and drink.

22 While they were enjoying themselves, some of the wicked men of the city surrounded the house. Pounding on the door, they shouted to the old man who owned the house, "Bring out the man who came to your house so we can have sex with him."

23 The owner of the house went outside and said to them, "No, my friends, don't be so vile. Since this man is my guest, don't do this outrageous thing. 24 Look, here is my virgin daughter, and his concubine. I will bring them out to you now, and you can use them and do to them whatever you wish. But as for this man, don't do such an outrageous thing."

25 But the men would not listen to him. So the man took his concubine and sent her outside to them, and they raped her and abused her throughout the night, and at dawn they let her go. 26 At daybreak the woman went back to the house where her master was staying, fell down at the door and lay there until daylight.

27 When her master got up in the morning and opened the door of the house and stepped out to continue on his way, there lay his concubine, fallen in the doorway of the house, with her hands on the threshold. 28 He said to her, "Get up; let's go." But there was no answer. Then he put her on his donkey and set out for home.

29 When he reached home, he took a knife and cut up his concubine, limb by limb, into twelve parts and sent them into all the areas of Israel. 30 Everyone who saw it said, "Such a thing has never been seen or done, not since the day the Israelites came up out of Egypt. Think about it! Consider it! Tell us what to do!"

Concubine was what a second class wife was called. The Romans had several forms of marriage: for love, for position, for money, for convenience. The forms established the goal of the marriage. Remember Jacob & King David had wives and had concubines. David's son made sure to dishonor David by publicly sleeping with the concubines. David made sure to never have the concubines around him again, but he didn't let them go free either. It would be odd to us, because we live in a monogamous society (polluted by easy divorce). This was the way polygamous society worked.

The concubine in the story knew something about "the husband" because at the beginning of the story, she is running away – the man treats his concubine terribly and she is killed by the tribe of Benjamin. My son asked me why this terrible passage in the Bible occurs. Just what you want to be asked out of the blue. But the Lord gave me a good answer for my child, my college student. I said it is like finding out your dad raped a 12 year old. It is like finding out your child tortured and killed a small animal, you are supposed to put aside the consequences of your pain and do the right thing for the Lord.

Abraham had good intentions to create for himself a son, but he divided his inheritance. And God told Abraham not to share. God was begged to bless Ishmael. And out of the havoc created by one man, God's plan still worked. Not without some feeling as seeds cast among thorns.

It was a mess.

How was man to continue? The children of Ishmael and the children of Noah, cast aside. Once God gave us His Son, we were to look to the Son of God to know we are all adopted into the Family of God. No matter if the generations and the situations of life cast you into slavery of sin. You are worthy in the Holy Spirit.

You are not a child under law, you are blessed to be a child of the Holy Spirit. You are chosen, special, loved. Because you are a child of God, you rise above the circumstances of your family sin. Like Paul, you find your joy instead of any other emotion. You rise above our personal limitations and sin. When you are a child of the new covenant, the story of Abraham, Isaac, and all the saints is your story. You are a child of Promise, you are a child of the Most High God.

Luke 12:32

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

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Psalm 75 ~ it is God

Psalm 75

1 We give thanks to you, O God;
we give thanks, for your name is near.
We recount your wondrous deeds.

2 “At the set time that I appoint
I will judge with equity.
3 When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants,
it is I who keep steady its pillars. Selah
4 I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’
and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn;
5 do not lift up your horn on high,
or speak with haughty neck.’”

6 For not from the east or from the west
and not from the wilderness comes lifting up,
7 but it is God who executes judgment,
putting down one and lifting up another.
8 For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup
with foaming wine, well mixed,
and he pours out from it,
and all the wicked of the earth
shall drain it down to the dregs.

9 But I will declare it forever;
I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
10 All the horns of the wicked I will cut off,
but the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up.

When Psalms are thought of, don't we usually think of David & maybe Solomon? This Psalm, like other Scripture has God as the Author. God not just inspiring, but God breathing Scripture out. 2 Timothy 3:16 The writer is Asaph.

Asaph has lived through an amazing time. God is as near as His Name. Asaph is given the job by David, to be chief in charge of praising God. This is a celebration! God dwells with them as David becomes King of Israel. Asaph has seen a wonderful work of the Lord.

King David, the movie, has a scene David promises to find a place for the Ark. Link

Father God, we look to You, for all the blessings You plan to give us and give You great thanks for the blessings You have already provided. In the name of Jesus. Amen.


1 Chronicles 16:1-12
1 They brought the ark of God and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and they presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before God. 2 After David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD. 3 Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each Israelite man and woman.

4 He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to make petition, to give thanks, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel: 5 Asaph was the chief, Zechariah second, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel. They were to play the lyres and harps, Asaph was to sound the cymbals, 6 and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.

7 That day David first committed to Asaph and his associates this psalm of thanks to the LORD :

8 Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name;
make known among the nations what he has done.

9 Sing to him, sing praise to him;
tell of all his wonderful acts.

10 Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.

11 Look to the LORD and his strength;
seek his face always.

12 Remember the wonders he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced

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Romans 11:33-36 ~ who has given a gift to Him

Romans 11:33-36


Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

“For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?”
“Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?”

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.


What would we give the LORD, that He has not given to us - we can only give Him thanks with a grateful heart....

Thank You, Father, our Abba.

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Isaiah 9:1-7 ~ abundant joy and great rejoicing

Isaiah 9:1-7

But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

2 The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shined.

3 You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.

4 For the yoke of his burden,
and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.

5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.

6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.




Handel's Messiah



A Song of Bethlehem at Christmas - well worth seeing & listening to

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1 Peter 1 ~ You shall be holy, for I am holy

1 Peter 1

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Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:

May grace and peace be multiplied to you.


3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.


13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, [girding up the loins of your mind] and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for

“All flesh is like grass
and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
and the flower falls,
25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.”

And this word is the good news that was preached to you.





Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.


The Scriptures speak to us. Today. We are the exiles, we are outside of the Kingdom of God and look through a mirror dimly to know the height, the riches, the depth of His love for us. These are the plans of salvation Angels long to participate in.

There have been Angels who have chosen to step away from the LORD; not to serve Him as messengers, jealousy and self-centeredness led to bitterness. We should not become part of that, life will test us with fire and trials, but we should not conform to what isn't right. Love with a pure heart. Untangle what is difficult by seeing with gratitude God's blessings in our lives.

Obtain the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your soul - love one another sincerely, earnestly from a pure heart. Love Jesus, believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory.

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Luke 21:1-4 ~ contributed

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1 Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. [*] 3 And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

[*] 21:2 Greek two lepta; a lepton was a Jewish bronze or copper coin worth about 1/128 of a denarius (which was a day's wage for a laborer).

After searching for Lepton pictures, none of them fit the parable descriptions of Greek and copper. Herod in 36 BC, didn't even produce a Lepton, considering it to be too poor. So the coin in the parable, was actually old, about 40 years old, when the widow added it to the offering box.

Six years of civil war (93–87 BC) between Alexander Jannaeus (grandson of Simon Maccabaeus and the great, great nephew of Judas Maccabaeus (Maccabees Apocrypha & Hanukkah) between Sadducees against the Pharisees; Alexander asserted his position as King by crucifying 800 Pharisees, who invited the Greeks to come to take Jerusalem. The coin proclaimed him King, when people - not of the Davidic line - were not allowed to call themselves king. Kingship was again signified by minting coins “King Alexander” in Greek and “Yehonatan, the king” in Hebrew.

Trouble everywhere - We think of the Middle East as being complicated now - her coin is in Greek, and it was Greeks who fueled a civil war, as needed, between priests in the Temple of the Living God. A Greek coin used by a Judean, in a Roman puppet state. The trouble is human beings using their need for meaning to propel themselves forward in self-centered and destructive ways.

The King who cannot be a King because he is not of the Davidic line; the Herods look like they are here to stay, the coin suggests change and power shifting as a sign from God.

Notice the symbol of the star encircled by a royal diadem provides two emblems of the priestly and royal Messiahs (Balaam’s prophecy of the Scepter and the Star).
The coin predicts the Messiah:

Numbers 24:15-17

15 And he took up his discourse and said,

“The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,
the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,
16 the oracle of him who hears the words of God,
and knows the knowledge of the Most High,
who sees the vision of the Almighty,
falling down with his eyes uncovered:
17 I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near:
a star shall come out of Jacob,
and a scepter shall rise out of Israel


We all wonder if we're doing life the way God wants us, after all, we are dust in the wind. Does God really mean it when He says we are important to Him. More important than a sparrow, does He .... really .... know about a sparrow? .... Or me?

Look at the widow in 1st century A.D. - she is a woman. Strike one. She is a widow - without a husband to speak for her or care for her. Strike two. In the middle of the most fortunes to be made in ancient history, Roman conquest, her contribution is small. It is all a strike out.



So... Jesus sees her as worthy - her action - she is generous to God. This video emphasizes good works, even all we have to offer will not be our salvation.


What does Jesus see?
Jesus sees - not the vast Temple, not the many priests, but sweeps away the vast & the temporal - sees this woman. The woman living a life pleasing to God. Much more important to Jesus than the wealth of the Empire. More important than the interesting coin. More important than the title of King to Jesus. Her generosity lived on far longer than the Temple. She matters to the LORD and she will come into His promises.


Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

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Prayer of Azariah

Imagine turning on your personal entertainment center in Heaven. What's on today? An interview with King David - he is going to talk about rising from a shepherd to slaying Goliath. What it felt like to be finally crowed King of Israel. Surely, we would watch that.

Is there bad press in Heaven? No. But speaking of bad press, let's talk about the Apocrypha. Who decided the Apocrypha would be in the Bible for Christians? All of these books were declared part of the Scriptures by the first Christian Council, the Ecumenical Church, by the 300 bishops around the world who had faced persecution by proclaiming Jesus as Lord. They further risked their lives to travel to the council in 325 A.D. (Are you going to quarrel with St. Nicholas?? The Bishop of (now) Turkey, after he rescued the 3 young maidens from prostitution, was imprisoned by Emperor Diocletian. Nicholas was only released from prison when Constantine called him to attend the Council of Nicaea. This is the Early Church and these were the men who risked their lives, highly educated men, chosen by the Holy Spirit to preach Jesus as Lord.)

Okay, maybe you are committed to not liking the Apocrypha... you might feel differently knowing because it was written in Greek instead of Hebrew or Aramaic, they were not accepted into the Old Testament. Well, the New Testament is written in Greek.

Give it a thought.... everyone rushed to read the Gospel of Thomas in the last century and people couldn't wait to read the Lost Books of the Bible. Let me tell you, the Scriptures ring of truth... many lost books of the Bible do not have truth, this has truth.

This is an exciting passage - this is the interview of Hananiah (Schadrach -Babylonian name), Mishael (Meshach) and Azariah (Abednego) in the midst of the fire of the furnace. The Prayer of Azariah and the Song of the Three Holy Children appears after Daniel 3:23 in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Bibles. And it's in the ancient Greek Septuagint. This is used by the Anglican Churches and the Lutheran Churches.

Why is this a good thing? We will all have a firestorm of trouble in our lives at some time:


Prayer of Azariah ~ (Revised Standard Version)

1-13 Then Azariah stood and offered this prayer; in the midst of the fire he opened his mouth and said:
"Blessed art thou, O Lord, God of our fathers,
and worthy of praise;
and thy name is glorified for ever.
For thou art just in all that thou hast done to us,
and all thy works are true and thy ways right,
and all thy judgments are truth.
Thou hast executed true judgments in all that
thou hast brought upon us
and upon Jerusalem, the holy city of our fathers,
for in truth and justice thou hast brought
all this upon us because of our sins.
For we have sinfully and lawlessly departed from thee,
and have sinned in all things and have not
obeyed thy commandments;
we have not observed them or done them,
as thou hast commanded us that it might go well with us.
So all that thou hast brought upon us,
and all that thou hast done to us,
thou hast done in true judgment.

9-14 Thou hast given us into the hands of lawless
enemies, most hateful rebels,
and to an unjust king, the most wicked in all the world.
And now we cannot open our mouths;
shame and disgrace have befallen thy servants and worshipers.
For thy name's sake do not give us up utterly,
and do not break thy covenant,
and do not withdraw thy mercy from us,
for the sake of Abraham thy beloved
and for the sake of Isaac thy servant
and Israel thy holy one,
to whom thou didst promise
to make their descendants as many as the stars of heaven
and as the sand on the shore of the sea.
For we, O Lord, have become fewer than any nation,
and are brought low this day in all the world
because of our sins.

15 - 18 And at this time there is no prince, or prophet, or leader,
no burnt offering, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense,
no place to make an offering before thee or to find mercy.
Yet with a contrite heart and a humble spirit
may we be accepted,
as though it were with burnt offerings of rams and bulls,
and with tens of thousands of fat lambs;
such may our sacrifice be in thy sight this day,
and may we wholly follow thee,
for there will be no shame for those who trust in thee.
And now with all our heart we follow thee,
we fear thee and seek thy face.


19-22 Do not put us to shame,
but deal with us in thy forbearance
and in thy abundant mercy.
Deliver us in accordance with thy marvelous works,
and give glory to thy name, O Lord!
Let all who do harm to thy servants be put to shame;
let them be disgraced and deprived of all power and dominion,
and let their strength be broken.
Let them know that thou art the Lord, the only God,
glorious over the whole world."


23 Now the king's servants who threw them in did not cease feeding the furnace fires with naphtha, pitch, tow, and brush.

24-27 And the flame streamed out above the furnace forty-nine cubits,
and it broke through and burned those of the Chaldeans whom it caught about the furnace. But the angel of the Lord came down into the furnace to be with Azariah and his companions, and drove the fiery flame out of the furnace, and made the midst of the furnace like a moist whistling wind, so that the fire did not touch them at all or hurt or trouble them.


28-34
Then the three, as with one mouth, praised and glorified and blessed God in the furnace, saying:

"Blessed art thou, O Lord, God of our fathers,
and to be praised and highly exalted for ever;
And blessed is thy glorious, holy name
and to be highly praised and highly exalted for ever;
Blessed art thou in the temple of thy holy glory
and to be extolled and highly glorified for ever.
Blessed art thou, who sittest upon cherubim
and lookest upon the deeps,
and to be praised and highly exalted for ever.
Blessed art thou upon the throne of thy kingdom
and to be extolled and highly exalted for ever.
Blessed art thou in the firmament of heaven
and to be sung and glorified for ever.

35-68 "Bless the Lord, all works of the Lord,
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord, you heavens,
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord, you angels of the Lord,
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord, all waters above the heaven,
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord, all powers,
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord, sun and moon,
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord, stars of heaven,
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord, all rain and dew,
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord, all winds,
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord, fire and heat,
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord, winter cold and summer heat,
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord, dews and snows,
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord, nights and days,
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord, light and darkness,
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord, ice and cold,
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord, frosts and snows,
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord, lightnings and clouds,
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
Let the earth bless the Lord;
let it sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord, mountains and hills,
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord, all things that grow on the earth,
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord, you springs,
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord, seas and rivers,
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord, you whales and all creatures
that move in the waters,
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord, all birds of the air,
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord, all beasts and cattle,
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord, you sons of men,
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord, O Israel,
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord, you priests of the Lord,
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord, you servants of the Lord,
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
Bless the Lord, spirits and souls of the righteous,
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.

Bless the Lord, you who are holy and humble in heart,
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.

Bless the Lord, Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael,
sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever;
for he has rescued us from Hades and saved
us from the hand of death,
and delivered us from the midst of the burning fiery furnace;
from the midst of the fire he has delivered us.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his mercy endures for ever.
Bless him, all who worship the Lord, the God of gods,
sing praise to him and give thanks to him,
for his mercy endures for ever."


The prayer is a faithful prayer, believing God will show up; it echoes Psalm 51 - David's penitent Psalm. Azariah's humility of assuring the correct judgment of God is similar to the Canaanite woman who asked Jesus to heal her daughter in Matthew 15. The Blessings Azariah showers on the Lord remind of the praises the Children of Israel offered to God after walking through the Red Sea and being saved from Pharaoh's army, or Psalm 136.

This passage has the attitudes we need when we require the Lord's attention in prayer. It is a blessing to read it and learn from it.

Blessed be You, O Lord God our Father. You are mindful of us. You offer us salvation in Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Matthew 12:14-21 ~ Jesus healed them all

Matthew 12:14-21

14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

15 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all 16 and ordered them not to make him known. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah [42:1-3]:

18 “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
19 He will not quarrel or cry aloud,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
20 a bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory;
21 and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

I'd been a Christian for more than two decades when it was pointed out to me how many times the Scriptures said "He healed them all." I remembered a lot of healings, the ones written about in more than a few sentences. Yet that small phrase "healed them all". Sometimes Scripture says they sought to touch Him & not just Jesus reaching out. Sometimes He physically touched them, and it also says merely, "He healed them all."

Sure, a lot of people were ill. When you think about the age: slavery, war, destruction, highway robbery, people born blind & the parable of the Good Samaritan - this was a difficult time. Not just the people who were deaf, blind, ill, but the sorrow of the people who had seen difficult things happen to loved ones. Children who died, loved ones who died in child birth, people who were well and suddenly died of fever. There are a lot of stipulations in the Bible for the fatherless and the widow.

What does it mean, "He healed them all?" The Word of God, proclaimed in love. The hopeless, the fearful, the lonely & the cut to the quick. The ones who had heard the Word of God in their youth - life had stamped on their seed of hope. The fruit of circumstance and the weed of bitterness, the joy found in life, had robbed them of their greatest need - the need of God. Jesus fulfilled their blindness - physically & spiritually. The deaf were healed. The poor had hope, God cares for them. He healed them all.

These people who found Jesus had put aside the every day of life, they sought Him. Jesus didn't stay to quarrel, debate the Pharisees, shock, anger, and create a stir - Jesus wasn't a sidewalk hack or a temperamental star.

No, Jesus repaired the bruised reed. Jesus rekindled the flickering flame, the light became a torch. Jesus gave hope & mercy to the word - justice. Jesus didn't select a few, the light of Jesus Christ is for all. Not just to the eyes blessed to see Him, but those who look to Him in faith, after He died, and today.

“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
19 He will not quarrel or cry aloud,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
20 a bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory;
21 and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

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Luke 19:45-48 ~ He entered the Temple

The Shepherd, by Greg Olson

Luke 19:45-48

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45 And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, 46 saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers.”

47 And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him, 48 but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words.

In the book "They Like Jesus but Not the Church: Insights from Emerging Generations" by Dan Kimball. It has a good basis- 70% of Church-going college students quit going to Church after 2 years, with a large percentage of 20-30 year olds having nothing to do with the Church & don't think it's relevant.

This passage speaks to us in the Church and those just loving Jesus without the Church. Many people, like the Essenes, had fled from the 2nd Temple due to the climate - it was being politically correct as a tool of the government/establishment. So, Jesus came from an era finding the Temple insufficient.

Jesus said that we, in our bodies, are the Temple, yet it came with a caveat:

1 Corinthians 6:19
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own

Jesus went into the Temple (not just His Body, but the physical location) at least 26 times, recorded in the Gospels; And Jesus entered Synagogues at least 12 times. Every day, Jesus acknowledged a problem with the system and with the "religious" but He didn't feel as He was above the difficulties.

To us, already part of the Bride of Christ, this passage brings up other situations, the religious are using God's House for their own interests:

We ignore the regulars in order to get more people in the door. Robbing the richness of community. We become a business and not a house of prayer.

We are known, today - this generation, to speak down to Non-Christians. Or to make sweeping generalities as judgment. We act as the judges seeking to destroy.

We ignore everyone who isn't already a friend. We act as the Principal Men - too important and comfortable to reach out.

We work the crowd to increase our business. We rob God of our worship.

We work the crowd to increase our friendships. We rob God of our love.

We worship control over contribution. We seek to become chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people.

After some harsh words, it is good to remember - the Un-Churched are waiting for the Light of Christ. The Non-Church-Going shouldn't throw stones. The Church should not act as the world. And know this - we all have earned God's judgement, but Jesus never threw the first stone.

It would seem to be impossible to move the Non-Church-Going into part of the solution. It would seem impossible to move the Church into being the Body of Christ. And then, in our goal-orientedness, we have forgotten. We do not worship the Temple, we worship the LORD. When all seems without hope, it is because we have focused on man being the solution. We need to hang on His Words.

Mark 10:27
Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."

Matthew 5:14
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.

Philippians 2:1-11
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of JESUS every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that ..... Jesus Christ is Lord! To the glory of God the Father!

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Genesis 18:16-33 ~ Oh do not let the Lord be angry if I speak

Abraham (in the front left) entertains 3 Angels. Painted by Aert de Gelder, 1645-1727, was one of Rembrandt's last pupils and considered the best.

Genesis 18:16-33

Then the men set out from there, and they looked towards Sodom; and Abraham went with them to set them on their way. 17 The Lord said, ‘Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18 seeing that Abraham shall become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19 No, for I have chosen him, that he may charge his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice; so that the Lord may bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.’ 20 Then the Lord said, ‘How great is the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah and how very grave their sin! 21 I must go down and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me; and if not, I will know.’

22 So the men turned from there, and went towards Sodom, while Abraham remained standing before the Lord. 23Then Abraham came near and said, ‘Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will you then sweep away the place and not forgive it for the fifty righteous who are in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?’ 26 And the Lord said, ‘If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will forgive the whole place for their sake.’ 27 Abraham answered, ‘Let me take it upon myself to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. 28 Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?’ And he said, ‘I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.’ 29 Again he spoke to him, ‘Suppose forty are found there.’ He answered, ‘For the sake of forty I will not do it.’ 30 Then he said, ‘Oh do not let the Lord be angry if I speak. Suppose thirty are found there.’ He answered, ‘I will not do it, if I find thirty there.’ 31 He said, ‘Let me take it upon myself to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.’ He answered, ‘For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.’ 32 Then he said, ‘Oh do not let the Lord be angry if I speak just once more. Suppose ten are found there.’ He answered, ‘For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.’ 33 And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place.

~ 23Then Abraham came near and said, ‘Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

Why wasn't Abraham turned into a pillar of salt for questioning the Lord?

Father God tells us. The Lord’s plan for Abraham is to keep the way of the Lord. If Abraham had kept his mouth shut and let God Almighty go forward, his nephew Lot would have died.

My niece is being trained as a paramedic. She was in a large crowd of people at a rodeo and the bull gorded the rider. She could tell from the stands the accident was extremely serious. Brooke became alarmed because in the huge crowd, no one was going to help the rider. She ran down through the stands, asking for someone to help him. No one replied. The people hired to be the medical attendants had not shown up for the evening.

Brooke jumped over the rails, spoke with the man to stay conscious, not to look down and pressed her shirt into the gaping wound in his abdomen. At that point, Brooke had to direct a bystander to call 911. No one in the auditorium had called and the 911 operator said help was 10 to 15 minutes away.

Much later at the hospital, the man found out from the hospital staff, who’d heard from the paramedics arriving from the 911 call, that without Brooke’s help, he would have surely died.

For the crowd, they’d paid for rodeo entertainment and no one even lifted their cell phone to help the injured man. Not everyone speaks up. Not everyone speaks up.

Abraham was willing to speak up to the Lord for his nephew. The Lord was teaching Abraham about loving his neighbor as himself. This is only the 18th Chapter of Genesis, the beginning of the Scriptures and God as Father is teaching us to care for others as ourselves.

Galatians 3:6
Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

James 2: 22-24
22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. 24You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

Romans 4: 1.18-21
1What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter?
18Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." 19Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah's womb was also dead. 20Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.

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