Daniel 2:1-23 ~ O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked

In London’s British Museum, there is a baked clay tablet (just under 3¼ inches) with cuneiform writing (wedge-shaped characters) recording important activities of king Nebuchadnezzar between the years 605-594 B.C. 91 times Nebuchadnezzar is mentioned in the Scriptures. Amazingly, this is a Scriptural calendar.

"And Jehoichin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he and his mother[!]... And the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his [Nebuchadnezzar's] reign." 2 Kings 24:12

"In the entry which deals with the 7th year of the king (598-7 B.C.), in the month of Kislimu, the king of Nebuchadnezzar] marched his army the capital city of Judah. On the second day of the month Addaru [the capture of Jerusalem, dated precisely to March 16, 597 BC.], he captured Jerusalem and its king. He appointed a new ruler [Zedekiah— 2 Kings 24:17] and took heavy tribute and sent it to Babylon [2 Kings 24:13]. Another remarkable archaeological confirmation of biblical record in the last 60 years.

Other archaeological discoveries relating to the fall of Jerusalem. Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon are well known. His palace has been excavated in Babylon and many of his records recovered (Wiseman 1985; Klengel-Brandt 1997: 252–54). One such record, the Babylonian Chronicle for the years 605–595 BC, describes the fall of Jerusalem to Nebuchadnezzar in 597 BC, the so-called “second deportation,” the first being in 605 BC when Daniel and his companions were taken to Babylon (Dan 1:1–5). The tablet was found in Babylon and purchased by the British Museum in the 19th century.

Daniel 2:1-23

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1 In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him. 2 Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. 3 And the king said to them, “I had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.” 4 Then the Chaldeans said to the king in Aramaic, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.” 5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “The word from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be torn limb from limb, and your houses shall be laid in ruins. 6 But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation.” 7 They answered a second time and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show its interpretation.” 8 The king answered and said, “I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see that the word from me is firm— 9 if you do not make the dream known to me, there is but one sentence for you. You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the times change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.” 10 The Chaldeans answered the king and said, “There is not a man on earth who can meet the king's demand, for no great and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean. 11 The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”

12 Because of this the king was angry and very furious, and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed. 13 So the decree went out, and the wise men were about to be killed; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them. 14 Then Daniel replied with prudence and discretion to Arioch, the captain of the king's guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon. 15 He declared to Arioch, the king's captain, “Why is the decree of the king so urgent?” Then Arioch made the matter known to Daniel. 16 And Daniel went in and requested the king to appoint him a time, that he might show the interpretation to the king.

17 Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, 18 and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 20 Daniel answered and said:

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
to whom belong wisdom and might.
21 He changes times and seasons;
he removes kings and sets up kings;
he gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to those who have understanding;
22 he reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what is in the darkness,
and the light dwells with him.
23 To you, O God of my fathers,
I give thanks and praise,
for you have given me wisdom and might,
and have now made known to me what we asked of you,
for you have made known to us the king's matter.


Luke 18:26
18 And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” 21 And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. 24 Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 But he said, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”

How was Daniel saved? The gift of wisdom. It was an impossible task; a miracle given to a heathen king. God was after the soul of someone He had gifted tremendously. Not just the righteous Daniel, but Nebuchadnezzar.

36 “This was the dream. Now we will tell the king its interpretation. 37 You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory, 38 and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the children of man, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule over them all—you are the head of gold. 39 Another kingdom inferior to you shall arise after you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. 40 And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these. 41 And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay. 44 And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, 45 just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.”

Why the secrecy of the dream? Surely King Nebuchadnezzar was afraid. A dream were kingdoms topple would be frightening to a king. God Almighty allowed Nebuchadnezzar the power to conquer the Children of Israel, He wasn't going to let Nebuchadnezzar get by with being a self-impressed, powerful, heathen.


46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him. 47 The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.”

Nebuchadnezzar had many distractions from his spiritual life. Pride was his downfall. After building an idol, sacrificing Daniel's friends to the fiery furnace, God gives them salvation. Nebuchadnezzar proclaims again in Daniel 3:

8 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king's command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.”

Nebuchadnezzar is so impressed, his salvation and devotion continues to the next chapter, Daniel 4:

King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! 2 It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.

3 How great are his signs,
how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and his dominion endures from generation to generation.

Nebuchadnezzar has another dream given to him by God and a gift of wisdom interpretation by Daniel, Daniel says, "Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.”

Nebuchadnezzar is too content and impressed with himself to remember.

28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” 31 While the words were still in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, 32 and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.”

Nebuchadnezzar is finally healed, in the Lord's time.

34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever,

for his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;
35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
and he does according to his will among the host of heaven
and among the inhabitants of the earth;
and none can stay his hand
or say to him, “What have you done?”

36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

Nebuchadnezzar now had something in common with the remnant slaves returned in freedom to a country he razed. They understood enduring God's righteous judgment, understood He corrects those whom He loves and know the tender mercy of Almighty God the Father's forgiveness.

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Isaiah 50:1-11 ~ Behold, the Lord God helps me; who will declare me guilty?

Isaiah 50:1-11

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1 Thus says the Lord:
“Where is your mother's certificate of divorce,
with which I sent her away?
Or which of my creditors is it
to whom I have sold you?
Behold, for your iniquities you were sold,
and for your transgressions your mother was sent away.
2 Why, when I came, was there no man;
why, when I called, was there no one to answer?
Is my hand shortened, that it cannot redeem?
Or have I no power to deliver?
Behold, by my rebuke I dry up the sea,
I make the rivers a desert;
their fish stink for lack of water
and die of thirst.
3 I clothe the heavens with blackness
and make sackcloth their covering.”

4 The Lord God has given me
the tongue of those who are taught,
that I may know how to sustain with a word
him who is weary.
Morning by morning he awakens;
he awakens my ear
to hear as those who are taught.
5 The Lord God has opened my ear,
and I was not rebellious;
I turned not backward.
6 I gave my back to those who strike,
and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard;
I hid not my face
from disgrace and spitting.

7 But the Lord God helps me;
therefore I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like a flint,
and I know that I shall not be put to shame.
8 He who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me?
Let us stand up together.
Who is my adversary?
Let him come near to me.
9 Behold, the Lord God helps me;
who will declare me guilty?
Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment;
the moth will eat them up.

10 Who among you fears the Lord
and obeys the voice of his servant?
Let him who walks in darkness
and has no light
trust in the name of the Lord
and rely on his God.
11 Behold, all you who kindle a fire,
who equip yourselves with burning torches!
Walk by the light of your fire,
and by the torches that you have kindled!
This you have from my hand:
you shall lie down in torment.

It is a beautiful thing when the Scriptures speak together:

Psalm 139
9 If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.

To awaken each morning, like Paul, looking for the LORD during the day:

~ The Lord God has given me
the tongue of those who are taught,
that I may know how to sustain with a word
him who is weary.
Morning by morning he awakens;
he awakens my ear
to hear as those who are taught.

The Lord God has opened my ear,
and I was not rebellious;
I turned not backward.

To have Pentecost, Jesus' gift of the Holy Spirit each day, together:

~ Let us stand up together.

Why?

John 8:7-11
“Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones.

And Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.

10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”


~ trust in the name of the Lord
and rely on his God.


Ephesians 2:8.9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast.

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1 Peter 3:8-12 ~ Do not repay evil for evil, but on the contrary, bless, for this you were called, you may obtain a blessing

1 Peter 3:8-12

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8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For

“Whoever desires to love life
and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking deceit;
11 let him turn away from evil and do good;
let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Difficult words to remember in the middle of conflict. The Lord doesn't ask us to do the impossible.

Today was a pressure-cooker day. It is soothing to remember yesterday's message of Zechariah. A priest who didn't react with love and act correctly to the Angel of the LORD. The Angel's response to Zechariah wasn't a pat on the back, a warm/fuzzy hug. The Angel told Zechariah he would be made silent, until the Lord's words were fulfilled.

The Lord did not abandon Zechariah, who was righteous before Him. When God, our Father, makes a judgment, He has made the correct judgment.

When we are hard-pressed to make a wrong judgement to make "our lives smoother", a harsh reply is sometimes needed. Today I raised my voice in anger, for a long time, to an attorney who wanted me to sign an incomplete list, false in my opinion, to make a deadline. My mother has told me she was embarrassed, & she asked me never to raise my voice again. Words were exchanged about the possibility of continued employment for the attorneys for this Estate.

My husband & I spoke about emotion, later. Emotion isn't bad in and of itself, when truth is discussed. Anger and false words, exaggeration to make a point - lying to make an argument easier - that's wrong. Vengeance is wrong. Going out of the way to criticize or belittle someone.


Ephesians 4:26
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger


Mark 3:4-6
4 Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.

5 He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.

Tomorrow is an opportunity for a new start. Not compromised principles, not being led to lie. An opportunity to speak calmly, to listen, to decide. Father God is filled with mercy for us. Sometimes we may be called to leave situations and people behind us, but God is in control. He will sort out all of His creation, His children. We can only be in charge of our reactions, not others.

2 Chronicles 20:15
He said: "Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's.


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

I have worked as the Guardian for my elderly cousin Maxine for 11 years, she has gone to be with the Lord in April. Your prayers would be appreciated. For her family, the 58 cousins who receive her worldly goods, as a blessing. Thanksgiving and gratitude to have been helped from the family. Continued prayer for the work of my hands to be a blessing to them. For the Lord to lead the path!



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Luke 1:67-79 ~ Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied

Artistic representation of the tearing of the veil separating the people from the Holy of Holies. By A.L. Gardere
Close up of the Seraphim angel represented on the Temple Curtain

Temple view of Holy of Holies with the curtain open - not the usual view from the Altar of Incense.

The second altar was the Altar of Incense (mizbach haketoros) (Exodus 30:1-10), called also the Golden Altar (mizbach hazahav) (39:38; Numbers 4:11), and the Inner Altar (mizbach hap'nimi) stood near the Holy of Holies, before the Veil that covers the Ark of the Covenant.

The incense altar is chittim/acacia wood, covered in pure gold. It's a tall rectangular altar, measuring one cubit wide and deep, two cubits high, with a horn on each corner (grabbing the horns of the altar for salvation and refuge), and rings on two sides through which poles could be passed to carry it (Exodus 37:25-26). Moses consecrated the altar with the anointing oil when the Tabernacle was dedicated (Leviticus 40:9).

Incense was burned daily in the morning and evening prayers, and was very important. The incense used was made according to a specific formula (Exodus 30:34-35). Burning incense is symbolic of the peoples' prayer rising up to God. Revelation says God smells all of our prayers in the incense burned in His Heavenly Temple.

Luke 1:67-79

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67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,

68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people
69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,
70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71 that we should be saved from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us;
72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people
in the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us [dawn upon us] from on high
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

I went to a parochial school, we went to Morning Prayer. On Fridays, an Episcopal priest would come in to discuss some of the readings with us. I remember being interested in angels at an early age. I loved our Nativity angel, she looked like my grandmother. I always wanted to be the one Gabriel, Michael or Raphael came to speak with. Like Isaiah saying eagerly, "Send me!" I thought, "Send me one!"

Zechariah, an older priest, and his wife Elizabeth (a child of priests - descendant of Aaron) were barren. And righteous before God. An angel appears to Zechariah during his rotation of offering Incense at that Altar in the Temple of the Lord. In other words, Zechariah is not in the Temple every day. It is an important occasion and there are people praying for him in another part of the Temple.

Zechariah is filled with trouble and fear at the sight of Gabriel, but didn't grab the horns of the altar for refuge. Instead he asks for a sign. (Instead of believing his wife is expecting?!) Why is Zechariah able to prophesy after the birth of his son?

Zechariah is without fear. He is righteous, again, before God's eyes. Zechariah is living forgiveness in the tender mercy of God.
because of the tender mercy of our God,
the sunrise shall dawn upon us from on high
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace

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Mark 6:1-13 ~ they went out and proclaimed that people should repent

Mark 6:1-13


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1 He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2 And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4 And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” 5 And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And he marveled because of their unbelief.

And he went about among the villages teaching.

7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— 9 but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics [chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin]. 10 And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11 And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” 12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.


When we go to the movies, we can almost count on having the new homosexual agenda preached to us. Lately, we can count on the movies portraying Christians being portrayed as uptight, self-centered, angry & judgmental. Such portrayal is going to have the faint of heart run for cover.


Isn't it interesting God's book is different.

Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

What does God's book, the Holy Scriptures say: If we look at the people of the Old Testament, and into the New Testament, the relationship of the Churches.... we do not find paper saints, we find people struggling with faith. Not sexuality anywhere near as much. People in and of the "Bible" have times they disappoint the Holiness of God. God's reaction is different than most people would expect. God does not walk away.

What is unappealing to the unchurched, the people sort of afraid & a little lazy about discovering the Bible... we are asked to repent. "Repent" sounds grim. But most of us would throw open the front door, throw open our arms and jump for joy at the possibility of goodness & love wanting to come in and visit. Even the urbane and sophisticated want most of all to be loved.

So... this passage explains this exactly. We have the LORD, who has known us (mankind) since Genesis. If we'd been Sims (video game), we probably would have acted as creator by deleting us and created a better being. The LORD figured us out when He came to the garden of Eden to visit and we were hiding from Him. Why? Because we wanted to be Him. Instead the true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

So, we have the LORD in this passage..... how are we acting? We're following Him, but He offends us with His works and ideas. Jesus doesn't retaliate, He goes about doing the work of His Father. He is healing. He asks for repentance and He promises provisions. He will look out for us.

John 1:5
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not understood it.

John 5:17
Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working."

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Psalm 41 ~ set me in Your presence forever

Monique in Gray Robe by Henri Matisse


Matisse Chapel by Faith Ringgold

Psalm 41

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1 Blessed is the one who considers the poor [or weak]!
In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him;
2 the Lord protects him and keeps him alive;
he is called blessed in the land;
you do not give him up to the will of his enemies.
3 The Lord sustains him on his sickbed;
in his illness you restore him to full health.

4 As for me, I said, “O Lord, be gracious to me;
heal me [my soul], for I have sinned against you!”
5 My enemies say of me in malice,
“When will he die, and his name perish?”
6 And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words,
while his heart gathers iniquity;
when he goes out, he tells it abroad.
7 All who hate me whisper together about me;
they imagine the worst for me [they devise evil against me].

8 They say, “A deadly thing is poured out [has fastened] on him;
he will not rise again from where he lies.”
9 Even my close friend in whom I trusted,
who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.
10 But you, O Lord, be gracious to me,
and raise me up, that I may repay them!

11 By this I know that you delight in me:
my enemy will not shout in triumph over me.
12 But you have upheld me because of my integrity,
and set me in your presence forever.

13 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting!
Amen and Amen.

In 1942, Monique Bourgeois answered an ad for a "a young and pretty nurse." Her patient was wheel-chair bound and trying to recover from bowel cancer. Monique was a caring woman. She noticed she was "like his granddaughter or his muse, and she appreciated he was always a perfect gentleman."

Generous Christian care, honest fellowship, a need for a place of prayer in a rest home - Light created from a ramshackle garage.

She propped up his pillows, read to him and took walks with him; her wit and plainspoken, straightforward conversation concreted their friendship. Their friendship would culminate in the creation Henri Matisse considered his life’s greatest achievement: the Chapel of the Rosary in Vence, France.

When her assignment ended, he asked her to pose for him, and she reluctantly consented. Henri Matisse - master of the expressive language of color and drawing, displayed a body of work spanning over a half-century, recognized as a leading figure in modern art. "As a painter he loved the splendid mass of her dark hair and the way her neck rose from her shoulders like a white tower," Hilary Spurling, his biographer, wrote. “She learned a lot from him, and he found her stimulating, funny, and touching,” says Matisse biographer Hilary Spurling. On discovering that his nurse was an amateur artist, Matisse taught her about perspective. When he asked her opinion of his paintings and drawings, she replied, “Monsieur, I like the colors a lot, but the drawings not so much.” Matisse approved of her candid answer and repeated it several times.

"I was rather surprised, for I had never been considered a beauty," she wrote in a 1993 book about their friendship. "Monique in Gray Robe." "It was just lines and blobs of color," she said. She sat for three other oil paintings: "The Idol," "Green Dress and Oranges" and "Tabac Royal."

As Monique recovered from tuberculosis at a Dominican-run rest home her patient, Matisse, reappeared in her life. Henri Matisse moved in across the street. Around the same time, and disregarding Matisse's counsel, she entered a distant Dominican convent in 1943 as a novice, named Sister Jacques-Marie. “He was horrified,” says Spurling, adding that Matisse was “a completely secular person who tried hard to dissuade her.” In an impassioned exchange of letters on the subject, Matisse wrote to his former nurse: “I do not need any lectures about religious calling. I’ve not needed the sacraments to glorify the name of God throughout my life. I went as far as Tahiti to admire the beauty of the light He created so I might share it with others through my work.”

In 1946, Ms. Spurling's book, "Matisse the Master," said the lonely Matisse "found warmth and comfort in the uncomplicated affection" of the nun. In a letter to his friend Andre Rouveyre, Matisse likened his near-flirtation with Sister Jacques-Marie to a “fleur-tation,” because “what takes place between us is like a shower of flowers—rose petals that we throw at each other.” Sister Jacques-Marie sketched an Assumption for Matisse and he urged her to turn it into a stained-glass window. It happened that the rest home, Foyer Lacordaire, was hoping to convert a ramshackle garage used for prayer into a full-fledged chapel, and Matisse wondered if displaying the window could help raise money.

With help from a monk at the rest home, Matisse roughed out a sketch for a chapel, and Sister Jacques-Marie made the working model. Soon Matisse immersed himself in every aspect of the chapel, from the brushstroke sketches of a Stations of the Cross mural to the vestments and the slender Crucifixion altarpiece. The stained-glass windows, with one pair, "Tree of Life," suggestive of a flowering cactus, are regarded as particular triumphs; they allow lemon-yellow, bottle-green and blue light to play capriciously against white-tiled walls and the marble floor.

Sister Jacques-Marie did preliminary design work and offered candid evaluations. As important, she ran interference with her local superior, who disapproved of a chapel designed by an artist known for his nudes. In the end, Matisse described the chapel as "their shared project." Sister Jacques-Marie told Matisse she believed he was inspired by God Almighty. The Chapel of the Rosary is flooded with dazzling sunlight.

The Vatican displays Matisse created Stations of the Cross, wall decorations, furniture, stained-glass windows, even the vestments and altar cloths, for the Dominican chapel in Vence. Three large-scale drawings, all more than five meters high and drawn to scale, form the basis for the Tree of Life stained glass behind the altar and the Virgin and Child depiction created on ceramic panels in the chapel’s presbytery. The works are currently in conservation, as glue used to attach backing panels pre-1980 has seeped through to the surface of the drawings. Five silk chasubles (the outer vestments worn by clergy during Mass) in a variety of colors, and a bell-tower bronze cross, all made by Matisse, will also go on view at the Vatican in 2011.

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting!
Amen and Amen.

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Matthew 25 ~ Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?

Matthew 25

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1 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps [torches] and went to meet the bridegroom [and the bride]. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants [bondservants] and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents [talent was a monetary unit worth about twenty years' wages for a laborer], to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers [brothers and sisters], you did it to me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

There once was a man who went to an ivy league college and graduated with honors. Then a good law school, graduated with honors. He served his country, in the military for six years and rose to one of the highest positions in administration. He then founded a law firm and was joined by an SEC Chairman. Then they were joined by Counsel from a Fortune 500 Company. A marriage with three children ended in divorce.

The man then joined the President of the United States' Administration.

Charles "Chuck" Wendell Colson was appointed as Special Counsel to President Nixon. Known as the genius' of an evil administration, Colson has written he was "valuable to the President ... because I was willing ... to be ruthless in getting things done." A quip that "Colson would walk over his own grandmother if necessary" mutated into claims in news stories that Colson had boasted he would run over his own grandmother to re-elect Nixon. Plotz reports Colson sought to hire Teamsters thugs to beat up anti-war demonstrators. Colson proposed firebombing the Brookings Institution and stealing politically damaging documents while firefighters put the fire out.

Colson also became involved in the Committee to Re-elect the President (CRP or CREEP). At a CRP meeting on March 21, 1971, it was agreed to spend $250,000 on "intelligence gathering" on the Democratic Party.

Colson was indicted for conspiring to cover up the Watergate burglary. On June 21, 1974, Colson was given a one- to three-year sentence and fined $5,000. He was subsequently disbarred in the District of Columbia, with the expectation of his also being prohibited from using his licenses from Virginia and Massachusetts.

Colson served seven months in Maxwell Correctional Facility in Alabama. During his time in prison, Colson had become increasingly aware of what he saw as injustices done to prisoners and shortcomings in their rehabilitation. He called prison the "lock 'em and leave them system."

This is also the story about how God can change the life of a man caught up in the corrupting influence of political power and bring great good out of evil. Since he was not directly involved in the Watergate doings, Colson probably could have easily avoided being convicted and sent to prison. But his encounter with Jesus Christ and conversion to Christianity strengthened his conscience and led him to plead guilty to an unrelated crime that he did commit. He went to prison and saw a different side of the "law and order" society that the Nixon Administration sought to promote. Even through the fear and despair of those times, the power of God became even more evident to Chuck Colson while in prison.

Tom Phillips, a colleague, had been converted at a Billy Graham crusade. Phillips read Colson the Gospel and read him a portion from CS Lewis’ "Mere Christianity." "A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.”

"...while I sat alone staring at the sea I love, words I had not been certain I could understand or say fell from my lips: "Lord Jesus, I believe in You. I accept You. Please come into my life. I commit it to You." With these few words...came a sureness of mind that matched the depth of feeling in my heart. There came something more: strength and serenity, a wonderful new assurance about life, a fresh perception of myself in the world around me. In the process, I felt old fears, tensions and animosities training away. I was coming alive to things I'd never seen before; as if God was filling the barren void I'd known for so many months, filling it to its brim with a whole new kind of awareness.... I could not possibly in my wildest dreams have imagined what it would involve. How fortunate it is that God does not allow us to see into the future."

– Charles Colson

After Charles Colson's conversion, others had an initial disbelief in Colson's heart for Jesus Christ. He also had the opportunity, during a three-day furlough to attend his father's funeral, to pore over his father's papers and discover the two shared an interest in prison reform. Colson began to believe God called him to aid in prison reform.

After his release from prison, Colson founded Prison Fellowship. All of Colson's book royalties are donated to Prison Fellowship.

The faith-based initiative, InnerChange, at the Carol Vance Unit (originally named the Jester II Unit) prison facility of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in Fort Bend County, Texas. Colson led a small group that includes Dr. Byron Johnson of the University of Pennsylvania, who was the principal researcher of the InnerChange study, a few staff members of Prison Fellowship and three InnerChange graduates to the meeting. In the presentation, Dr. Johnson explained that 171 participants in the InnerChange program were compared to a matched group of 1,754 inmates from the prison's general population. The study found that only 8 percent of InnerChange graduates, as opposed to 20.3 percent of inmates in the matched comparison group, became offenders again in a two-year period. In other words, the recidivism rate was cut by almost two-thirds for those who complete the faith-based program. Those who are dismissed for disciplinary reasons or who drop out voluntarily, or those who are paroled before completion, have a comparable rate of rearrest and incarceration.

50,000 volunteers later, 88 countries, a changed heart for Jesus Christ has led a new, bright light.

Luke 15:10
In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

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