Jude ~ judgment of the great day

Jude 1

Listen - click for new tab

1 Jude, a servant [bondservant] of Jesus Christ and brother of James,

To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for [by] Jesus Christ:

2 May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.

3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

5 Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— 7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, [other flesh] serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

8 Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones. 9 But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.” 10 But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively. 11 Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error and perished in Korah's rebellion. 12 These are hidden reefs [are blemishes] at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; 13 wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.

14 It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, 15 to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 16 These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.

17 But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18 They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” 19 It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment [chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin] stained by the flesh.

24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

I'm not inclined to be a sycophant, overt/apparent/sinner by nature, so for much of my younger years, I've always viewed this passage with a certain amount of complacency, if not downright self-satisfaction. Yaa-yaa, it's you and not me. Yet really.... aren't we all somewhat sycophants to Father God. We are so interested in blessings, we are sure adversity has slipped under His radar net. We think with a groan and a sigh, "He doesn't see. Or He doesn't care." And then, when we get very discouraged, we think "He is far away and doesn't even care for this planet." We are unreasoning animals, grumblers, malcontents, following our own sinful desires; loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.

Our faith becomes - false love feasts, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.....

HOW are YOUR "HOliday" Parties??

Who else gets this deep profound dissatisfaction? The angels! Felt salvation was wasted on human beings. Angels do not see the heart, soul of mankind, God sees. Angels, without faith in God's greater plan, felt sure we, mankind, are all unworthy. Angels were so displeased, they were willing to flee Heaven.

What is your situation with your Christmas holiday? Are you surrounded by the goodness God does see in mankind, offering them His only Son - having a great Christmas - with the best of mankind?

Yes, we forget sometimes - while this passage deals with false, easy grace. God Loves us.

Or are you like me - favoritism shown to me is only going to be rewarded by good will. It seems I am the most likely to encounter the brash, rude comments of those who are hurting themselves. Perhaps you will join me, I am new at praying for people to, receive with joy, God's complete love. God is the One Who is Good. My prayers are sometimes offered with "Sound of Music" innocence and joy, sometimes tiredly, sometimes crossly, and sometimes with a downright lie and gritted teeth.

In these Holy Days:

Beloved in God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ! May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. Remember, remember, remember our common salvation in God's grace. I appeal to you to contend for the faith - the hope of what is unseen. While we can never rely upon our own righteousness to save (ourselves, our family, our friends), we cannot live lives with words and actions taking advantage of God's mercy - as if God was our servant.

As Christians, we are not to become part of the hurt-you, eye-for-an-eye fray. Even if we are bothered, warm, itchy, irritated and down-right malcontent.

24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

<><

Psalm 98 ~ sing for joy together

Psalm 98

Listen - click for new tab

Oh sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
2 The Lord has made known his salvation;
he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.

4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
5 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody!
6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!

7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
the world and those who dwell in it!
8 Let the rivers clap their hands;
let the hills sing for joy together
9 before the Lord, for he comes
to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity.


Sing to the Lord a new song.

Lots of Christmases past have no permanent marker. My husband remarked to me as I cleaned our 3rd grader son's room for days and bagged up the remnants, "There goes at least 3 Christmases."

Our Pastor's, Clark Lowenfield's, last sermon was about Re-Shaping Christmas. He made a good point. The thrill of material gain lasts for less than a week. More than we need a shirt, a sweater - we need to be loved. What would be lasting - a letter of love. No one needs an enumerated list of good qualities, but even a few lines of gratitude for treasured time. Wouldn't we keep a message of love? We could all do with more joyful noise.

The Littlest Angel and the Drummer Boy have the similar themes, what pleases the Lord ? John described God as Love; what pleases Him most? Our gifts of talent, gratitude and love.




Sharing the "Littlest Angel" with young kids, a movie to watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpRUBu2tyIA


<><

Daniel 9 ~ He has confirmed his words, which he spoke

Angel Gabriel, painted by Francesco De Mura c. 1782.

And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. Luke 1:19

Daniel 9

Listen - click for new tab

1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans— 2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years. 

3 Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.  

4 I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 5 we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. 6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. 7 To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you. 

8 To us, O Lord, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you.  

9 To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him 10 and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.  

11 All Israel has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice. And the curse and oath that are written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out upon us, because we have sinned against him. 12 He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us and against our rulers who ruled us, [our judges who judged us] by bringing upon us a great calamity. For under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what has been done against Jerusalem.  

13 As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this calamity has come upon us; yet we have not entreated the favor of the Lord our God, turning from our iniquities and gaining insight by your truth. 14 Therefore the Lord has kept ready the calamity and has brought it upon us, for the Lord our God is righteous in all the works that he has done, and we have not obeyed his voice.  

15 And now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day, we have sinned, we have done wickedly.

16 “O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy hill, because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a byword among all who are around us. 17 Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, [for the Lord's sake] make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. 

18 O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy.

 19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.”

20 While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my plea before the Lord my God for the holy hill of my God, 21 while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice. 22 He made me understand, speaking with me and saying, “O Daniel, I have now come out to give you insight and understanding. 23 At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved. Therefore consider the word and understand the vision.

24 “Seventy weeks [sevens] are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. 25 Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. 

Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. 26 And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. 

And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its [His] end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. 27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.”

Awesome prayer from a soul greatly loved by God. Written for you.

“O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him and keep His commandments

We have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from Your commandments

We have not listened to Your servants, the prophets

To You, O Lord, belongs righteousness

To us, open shame, because we have sinned against You

To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness

We have rebelled against Him and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by walking in His laws, which He set before us by His servants the prophets.

Yet we have not entreated the favor of the Lord our God, turning from our iniquities and gaining insight by Your truth.

O Lord, according to all Your righteous acts, let Your anger and Your wrath turn away

O our God, listen to the prayer of Your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for Your Own Sake, O Lord, make Your face to shine

O my God, incline Your ear and hear. Open Your eyes

For we do not present our pleas before You because of our righteousness, but because of Your great mercy.

O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for Your own sake, O my God"

~ At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

<><

Matthew 22:23-33 ~ after them

Nativity Angels by Brian Kershirsnik

Matthew 22:23-33

23 The same day Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection, and they asked him a question, 24 saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies having no children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up children for his brother.’ 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died, and having no children left his wife to his brother. 26 So too the second and third, down to the seventh. 27 After them all, the woman died. 28 In the resurrection, therefore, of the seven, whose wife will she be? For they all had her.”

29 But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 31 And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God: 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.” 33 And when the crowd heard it, they were astonished at his teaching.

Today, we don't spend a lot of time wondering what happens to a woman married to 7 brothers. Perhaps we don't even spend time wondering if the people around us will be given Heaven. We, fortunately, live in an age of increasing medical knowledge and antibiotics. More & more people wonder if God would be so cruel as to have a Hell and place His creation in Hell if we don't believe Jesus Christ is His Son. I've had two people say this to me just recently.

The Sadducees believed in no resurrection. The Pharisees believed in religious appearances, and all were told by Jesus daily - He believed more in mercy than sacrifice.

We, this generation, are more like Genesis 2 & 3.

We are vastly different from God - God looked upon emptiness and -

God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

God called the expanse Heaven. God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.

And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. And God saw that it was good.

God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.

So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

And God blessed them.

God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.

And God blessed them.

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.

At least the Sadducees were astonished at His teaching... God sees emptiness and gives, gives, gives and creates. He sees His Creation with gratitude. He blesses His creation. We - look upon our Spiritual ingratitude - and feel full.

The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Can mankind really feel comfortable judging the LORD? In our ease, we de-bunk the validity of Scriptures, usually without being informed. Relying instead on our own limited time and intuition on earth. The conversation continues today:

3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “ 'Did God actually say', ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”

(Emphasis color change added to represent the seed of doubt sown prolifically.)

But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

We invite the LORD into our conversations about Jesus being the only way into Heaven. We invite Him to be part of the "how can God be so unjust"... conversations.

But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God."

Romans 11:15-23
For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?

16 If the dough offered as first fruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. 19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear.

21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. 23 And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again.

Notice this passage!! The saved are not to be arrogant or proud. We cannot judge God's plan of salvation for the unsaved. We shine as lights, not as wet blankets. We do not allow Jesus to be pulled from His Divinity, but we are not placed to judge God's plan of salvation for the weak.

Romans 15:1
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.

What do we say to the lost, the wondering, the pensive? .... Ask them if they don't limit God by the limitations of human weakness.... they will find answers for themselves if they will seek, knock, but the first step should begin.

God has the power to graft them in again.

Jesus spoke on salvation - Who gives us salvation?

Matthew 19:25-26
25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Luke 18:1b
they ought always to pray and not lose heart

<><

Ezekiel 47 ~ where the River flows everything will live

For $18, you can remember a loved one by planting a tree in Israel. http://www.jnf.org/support/tree-planting-center/
http://www.jnf.org/get-involved/ Jewish National Fund

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.

<><

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.

<><

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.

<><

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

O Jerusalem, by Greg Olsen


John 1:35-42

Listen - click for new tab

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!

<><

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



<><

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

<><

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.

<><

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

<><

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.

<><

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

<><

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

1 Peter 1

Listen - click for new tab

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.

<><

Luke 21:1-4 ~ contributed

Listen - click for new tab

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.

<><