Matthew 21:33-46 ~ His parables

Vinography by Michael Regnier

Matthew 21:33-46

33 “Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country. 34 When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit. 35 And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them. 37 Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ 39 And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40 When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 41 They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.”

42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:

“‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
this was the Lord's doing,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. 44 And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”

45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them. 46 And although they were seeking to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet.




Matthew 13:44
The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.


Matthew 13:47
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea, and gathering fish of every kind


Luke 17:20-21
Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”


Mark 4:30-32
Again he said, "What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground, yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that the birds of the air can nest under its shade."

John 15:4
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.



Father God, we abide in You. Knowing apart from You we have no good. You are the Vine, we are the branches. Father, each day grow us to be the people dear to You. Each day, provide us the path You would have us to travel and journey along. You are the Light of the World. We ask this in the highest name You've given us; Jesus. Amen.

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Ephesians 1:3-4 ~ He chose us

Ephesians 1:3-4

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him in love

Lots of people have had unusual weather lately. Saint Valentine's Day with letters of Love is perfect for February. Warmth coming in from the cold.

Important words: chosen, planned, blessing. More important than instant gratification or seasonal want.

List the blessings!

~ We are chosen to praise His glorious grace

~ Blessed us to take part of being His Beloved

~ Redemption!

~ Forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace

~ His grace, which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight

~ a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth.

~ to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will

~ you received His Word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit

~ knowing the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

~ seeing the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might.

~ knowing the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us

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Mark 7:24-30 ~ let the children be fed first

Matthew 11:23
And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths

Archaeology has "depths"; this is Capernaum. Notice the houses are more like rooms. It gives new meaning to the phrase, clean your room. Capernaum is in a gorgeous part of Israel and sits beside the Sea of Galilee. No wonder Jesus chose to live here as an adult. This is where Peter lived and Jesus healed his mother-in-law.

Extended houses, rural or urban, were created for extended families. Like townhouses. A new house is built during a betrothal time. This is what Joseph was doing, building a house for them when Mary was found to be with child.

When Caiaphas' house was discovered in the 1960's, it wasn't large, but had beautiful mosaic floors like Arabic carpets and beautiful staircases.

The Biblical Antiquities Center in LaGrange, Georgia has put a lot of effort into showing us what a typical house would look like in Jesus' lifetime.

Houses become extended and have garden areas, when more room is available.

Below is food preparation.

They demonstrate people did lie at table then later used the table for a bed.


A typical meal. The goblet would be clay or wooden.
Tools

Storage and space inside.

A place of work, these are tools in a tent near a threshing floor for wheat. Well known to David's grandparents, Ruth and Boaz.

Mark 7:24-30

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24 And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. 25 But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” 28 But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.” 29 And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” 30 And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.

Jesus seeking a private moment, has a woman throw herself at His feet. Jesus acts as a merciful King. This portion of Scripture has us remember humility in our conversation with Jesus. And has another reminder. Israel is God's. The Children of Israel are His.

Romans 11:17-24
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. 24 For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.

Psalm 122

A Song of Ascents. Of David. (The music is for going up the stairs of God's Temple.)

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1 I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the Lord!”
2 Our feet have been standing
within your gates, O Jerusalem!

3 Jerusalem—built as a city
that is bound firmly together,
4 to which the tribes go up,
the tribes of the Lord,
as was decreed for [Or as a testimony for] Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the Lord.
5 There thrones for judgment were set,
the thrones of the house of David.

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
“May they be secure who love you!
7 Peace be within your walls
and security within your towers!”
8 For my brothers and companions' sake
I will say, “Peace be within you!”
9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will seek your good.

Father God, just as we pray for those we love, You've told us to pray for others as we pray for ourselves. Strengthen Your nation, You've chosen, we pray for the peace of Israel. We pray for the love of Jesus Christ to shine brightly. In the highest name of Jesus, we ask. Amen.

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Mark 5 ~ a great crowd gathered about Him

Mark 5

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1 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 2 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit.

3 He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4 for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. 6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. 7 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.”

8 For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, 12 and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” 13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out, and entered the pigs, and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and were drowned in the sea.

14 The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. 15 And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed [elsewhere rendered oppressed by demons] man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 16 And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. 17 And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. 18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.

21 And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. 22 Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet 23 and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.”

24 And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. 25 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” 29 And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 And he looked around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

35 While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36 But overhearing [ignoring] what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 37 And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 38 They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. 41 Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. 43 And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.


When you ride in an airplane at night seeing so many lights, representing so many people, it's difficult to understand how the LORD would care for so many.

The next chapter in Mark, Mark 6, contains the phrase "He healed them all." Yet today's passage, Jesus spent a lot of time going 8-13 miles, 13-21 km, in a sail/row fishing boat. Twice. It wasn't as if Jesus was going in search of crowds, or someone to teach. Jesus was going to Gerasenes. Just like Paul and the other disciples, in the Books of the Bible and early Church, listened to the Holy Spirit, Jesus had someone to see. Twice. And along the way, a woman reached out for Jesus - to touch just His garment.

Does it matter if we are the person Jesus planned to see today in our prayer life? No, Jesus would stop for the one reaching out to Him.

Luke 18:1
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

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 71 ~ I will also praise You, for Your faithfulness, O my God

King David playing the harp.

Sir Peter Paul Rubens led a colorful, long life. "My passion comes from the heavens, not from earthly musings." (28 June 1577 – 30 May 1640) was a prolific seventeenth-century Flemish, Baroque painter and rode the Jesuit reformation, an art awakening - becoming the leader of the art era - painting a tremendous number of biblical portraits, altarpieces and then later surprising many by moving into landscapes.

Rubens came into his own style of painting in 1615, being different from the other painters. His style was bold and not full of details. He didn't outlive the popularity of his art. He traveled to many countries, and had a diplomatic career while many other artists never rose beyond a trades' man status.

Rubens loved Italy and frequently signed himself as Pietro Paolo Rubens. He married in 1609, Isabella Brant Rubens, his letters wrote of her liveliness, honor, respect - the dedication they had to their 3 children and her help in his efforts. One of the reasons, perhaps, for this marriage dedication, Rubens was born after his father had been imprisoned for his affair with Anna of Saxony, Princess of Orange. His family returned to Cologne, Germany the next year. In 1589, two years after his father's death, Rubens moved with his mother to Antwerp, where he was raised as a Catholic.

53 year old Rubens married again 2 years after his wife's death, to 16 year old Hélène Fourment. They had five children. The fifth child being born 8 months after Rubens' death. Hélène acquired fame as the subject of many Rubens' works. Many women bless Rubens' for the recorded beauty of larger women and middle-aged beauty.

Psalm 71

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1 In you, O Lord, do I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame!
2 In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
incline your ear to me, and save me!
3 Be to me a rock of refuge,
to which I may continually come;
you have given the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.

4 Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man.
5 For you, O Lord, are my hope,
my trust, O Lord, from my youth.
6 Upon you I have leaned from before my birth;
you are he who took me from my mother's womb.
My praise is continually of you.

7 I have been as a portent to many,
but you are my strong refuge.
8 My mouth is filled with your praise,
and with your glory all the day.
9 Do not cast me off in the time of old age;
forsake me not when my strength is spent.
10 For my enemies speak concerning me;
those who watch for my life consult together
11 and say, “God has forsaken him;
pursue and seize him,
for there is none to deliver him.”

12 O God, be not far from me;
O my God, make haste to help me!
13 May my accusers be put to shame and consumed;
with scorn and disgrace may they be covered
who seek my hurt.
14 But I will hope continually
and will praise you yet more and more.
15 My mouth will tell of your righteous acts,
of your deeds of salvation all the day,
for their number is past my knowledge.
16 With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come;
I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.

17 O God, from my youth you have taught me,
and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.
18 So even to old age and gray hairs,
O God, do not forsake me,
until I proclaim your might to another generation,
your power to all those to come.
19 Your righteousness, O God,
reaches the high heavens.
You who have done great things,
O God, who is like you?
20 You who have made me see many troubles and calamities
will revive me again;
from the depths of the earth
you will bring me up again.
21 You will increase my greatness
and comfort me again.

22 I will also praise you with the harp
for your faithfulness, O my God;
I will sing praises to you with the lyre,
O Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips will shout for joy,
when I sing praises to you;
my soul also, which you have redeemed.
24 And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long,
for they have been put to shame and disappointed
who sought to do me hurt.

David left his father, Jesse's, flock as a boy deciding to answer King Saul's call for someone to defeat Goliath.



Archaeologists digging at the biblical hometown of Goliath have unearthed a shard of pottery bearing an inscription of the Philistine's name, "Goliath" lending historical credence to the Bible's tale of David's battle. This supports biblical depiction of life at the time of the battle. It dates to about 950 B.C. within the correct time span.

In 1902 archaelogist Robert Macalister found several large skeletons of women, 2 meters tall, at Gezer, 6 km south of Gath, 30 km west of Jerusalem. Gezer was Philistine territory. Goliath was about 9 feet tall in Biblical measurements.

Numbers 13:29 describes the sons of Anak are described as being huge. An Egyptian papyrus, written by Hori, in 1200 BC warned traveler about giants south of Megiddo, the hills of lower Galilee.

17 O God, from my youth you have taught me,
and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.
18 So even to old age and gray hairs,
O God, do not forsake me,
until I proclaim your might to another generation,
your power to all those to come!

19 Your righteousness, O God,
reaches the high heavens.

You who have done great things,
O God, who is like you?

20 You who have made me see many troubles and calamities
will revive me again;
from the depths of the earth
you will bring me up again!

21 You will increase my greatness
and comfort me again!


1 Kings 2:1-4
When David's time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, 2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, 3 and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, 4 that the Lord may establish his word


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Psalm 132:6-10 ~ we found it in the fields of Jaar

Psalm 132:6-10

6 Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah;
we found it in the fields of Jaar.
7 “Let us go to his dwelling place;
let us worship at his footstool!”

8 Arise, O Lord, and go to your resting place,
you and the ark of your might.
9 Let your priests be clothed with righteousness,
and let your saints shout for joy.
10 For the sake of your servant David,
do not turn away the face of your anointed one


Bethlehem "house of bread" is a town, near which Jacob buried Rachel, then known as Ephrath (Gen 35:19; 48:7). It is also called Bethlehem, Ephrathah (Micah 5:2)


Micah 5:2
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days

Daniel 7:22
until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.


When my oldest son was in preschool, we sent him to a very expensive parochial school. They sent home letters saying children learn, not just from musical lessons, language lessons & sports, but from free time.

The Psalms are unique. It isn't just the history of the Scriptures, but David expressing how close he became to the Father. David spent his time looking out for his flocks in the fields of Bethlehem and Jaar. He became anointed of God.

1 Samuel 16: 7
But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart."

When we compare the First and Second Temple - we see important similarities, but vast differences.

There isn't a lot of archaeology left of the First Temple, but we have the descriptions of Solomon's Temple from the Bible. No description of a Temple mound.

Amazingly, the Temple Tools were the same built at the time of Moses. 3 different kings reigned over Babylon during the Babylonian captivity, but the Temple Tools returned with the now free slaves back to rebuild the Second Temple, for about 600 years.


Notice the walls around the First Temple are built on the level ground.



The Temple was always beautiful. Below - Court of Priests with Sacrificial Altar.
Look at the size of the Menorah. Built by the Temple Institute waiting for the 3rd Temple.

The Second Temple was almost always, for 600 years, in a state of improvement. See how the walls are now a complex mount.

Alec Gerrard, a 78 year old retired farmer, from the United Kingdom, spent 3 years researching his 1:100 scale model of the Bais Hamikdash, 33,000 hours to date and measures 20' x 12'. Mr Gerrard hand painted every clay brick and tile and sculpted all of the 4,000 half inch, correctly dressed figures to populate his creation.

'It's now recognised as the most authentic version of the temple in the world." His version is so impressive that some of the world's top archaeologists and experts from the British Museum have come to view it.

The Second Temple with 600 years of building, re-building, becomes a more impressive architectural building. The Second Temple always was missing the Ark of the Covenant. Probably because God's sorrow over people who'd lost their genealogy were excluded and the Samaritans, the remnant keeping the services worshiping God, were excluded. DNA studies later proved the Samaritans were 3 of the 12 tribes of Israel. The Ark of the Covenant was hidden by Jeremiah, recorded in 2 Maccabees 2:4-9.

Yet God's Son only visits the Temple during His lifetime to worship and teach. God could have chosen His child to be born anywhere, He chose the tiny town of Bethlehem. Israel had the same formidable enemies during the reign of David as the problems ending the 1st Temple and the 2nd Temple. The same problems facing Israel today with the revolt in Egypt.

We can see Jesus' point that we are God's Temple.

Isn't it interesting to our faith - God chose the Shepherd boy with faith. Over the Temple. The boy who grew in the Lord. Same problems with different variations for each generation; with faith there was - and is - a different result.

Isaiah 7:9
If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.


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Genesis 19 ~ Have you anyone else here?

Genesis 19

1 The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth 2 and said, “My lords, please turn aside to your servant's house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way.” They said, “No; we will spend the night in the town square.” 3 But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. 5 And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.” 6 Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him, 7 and said, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. 8 Behold, I have two daughters who have not known any man. Let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please. Only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof.” 9 But they said, “Stand back!” And they said, “This fellow came to sojourn, and he has become the judge! Now we will deal worse with you than with them.” Then they pressed hard against the man Lot, and drew near to break the door down. 10 But the men reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them and shut the door. 11 And they struck with blindness the men who were at the entrance of the house, both small and great, so that they wore themselves out groping for the door.

12 Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone you have in the city, bring them out of the place. 13 For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.” 14 So Lot went out and said to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, “Up! Get out of this place, for the Lord is about to destroy the city.” But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting.

15 As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.” 16 But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. 17 And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.” 18 And Lot said to them, “Oh, no, my lords. 19 Behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have shown me great kindness in saving my life. But I cannot escape to the hills, lest the disaster overtake me and I die. 20 Behold, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one. Let me escape there—is it not a little one?—and my life will be saved!” 21 He said to him, “Behold, I grant you this favor also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken. 22 Escape there quickly, for I can do nothing till you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar [little city].

23 The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar. 24 Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the Lord out of heaven. 25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. 26 But Lot's wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.

27 And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the Lord. 28 And he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the valley, and he looked and, behold, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a furnace.

29 So it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the cities in which Lot had lived.

30 Now Lot went up out of Zoar and lived in the hills with his two daughters, for he was afraid to live in Zoar. So he lived in a cave with his two daughters. 31 And the firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth to come in to us after the manner of all the earth. 32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve offspring from our father.” 33 So they made their father drink wine that night. And the firstborn went in and lay with her father. He did not know when she lay down or when she arose.

34 The next day, the firstborn said to the younger, “Behold, I lay last night with my father. Let us make him drink wine tonight also. Then you go in and lie with him, that we may preserve offspring from our father.” 35 So they made their father drink wine that night also. And the younger arose and lay with him, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. 36 Thus both the daughters of Lot became pregnant by their father. 37 The firstborn bore a son and called his name Moab [from father] . He is the father of the Moabites to this day. 38 The younger also bore a son and called his name Ben-ammi [son of my people]. He is the father of the Ammonites to this day.

WHAT IS "WRONG" WITH LOT? Let's get out the soap box and stand on it together.

I was watching television, the History Channel was running an archaeological show showing Sodom. The bitumen (petroleum based) started at a ruined building which thought to be the gate house where Lot was sitting.

What is the whole picture here:

Galatians 5:17-21
17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Lot has left Abram (friend of God) because of business conflicts. Their herdsmen couldn't get along. Lot has moved to a city were he is named a "councilman" or "elder" of the city. There seem to be a few problems there..... but Lot is pulling up his bootstraps... making the best of it.

The problem with being the frog in the increasingly warm to boiling water is... the boundaries move.... Lot believes he will throw his own daughters out into an orgy to prevent "sin."

So, what does this mean for you.. today.... this is the Good News! Look at the list in Galatians and, baby, pick up that stone and throw it with precision and speed.

John 8:7-9
And as they continued to ask Him, He stood up and said to them, “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

We live in Lot's culture. I can prove it to you with a box. In the 1950's we watched "Lassie." Now we have sitcoms not like "Our Friend, Flicka." The box's voice has changed. Even the shape of the box has changed. Lot is us. Not worthy. We watch the box. Why was Lot saved? “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? God saw Lot as being in a tangled up heap, but worthy of salvation.

Now consider the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Lot did not find a way back to God's friend. Lot goes his "own way." Lots daughters return evil for evil.

We had a great video in Church today with Mike Singletary. Mike said the divorce rate in the NFL is 80% and he chose to walk as God's friend. It's a great day for Super Bowl. Football sounds probably like the war of that day:




A life filled with it all... is empty without the Lord God Almighty, Abba, Father.



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Ecclesiastes 7:13-14 ~ consider the work of God

Ecclesiastes 7:13-14

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13 Consider the work of God:
who can make straight what he has made crooked?

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

Each day I look at the Feedjit tool at the bottom of our blog to see what needs to be corrected by seeing what Google, Yahoo, Bing and Ask lead people to in their search. Yesterday was the search for, "Scriptures on seeking a job?" In human nature, if you are with a job and your family is employed, we've forgotten on a daily basis the world is hungry and the unemployment is 9%, high in the USA, and all over the world. Pray for them. Daily. (Note to self!)

Consider the phrase at the end of the readings - so that man may not find out anything that will be after him. Man likes to record winning and families like to remember winning. The Word says adversity is something also to learn from. When we seek God, we seek His wisdom.

If you are unemployed, it's all you think about. I remember from experience. It's like being in prison, and the bars hold you back.

I have a dear friend unemployed in the North Eastern part of the USA. It's terribly cold and her furnace went out. The repair people lied to her and put her off, charged her for a part they "ordered" and left her in the cold for 5 working days. (Another company fixed it in a day with local parts.) She sat down and asked why her life was such a dark comedy. She decided watching "Snowapocalypse", she remembered being the traveler in the airport, trapped in the wrong city, angry and frustrated with a complete "me" attitude - there was a Reason for this season in her life. It's part of His plan. To have her grow, in His direction.

Solomon was celebrated for his desire for Wisdom. Where? God was so pleased, God records it in His Word. Solomon said to reach out and realize, even if circumstances are not to your desire, you are still part of His Plan. You still have your two hands, put them out and ask. Ask for gratitude, ask for opportunity.

Do you still feel like the Plan of God is off-center, like a painting on the wall?

Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked?

Gen. 18:14
Is anything too hard for the Lord?

The simple truth is that joblessness is adversity. The LORD did give us words about adversity:

Job 36:15
He delivers the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ear by adversity.

2 Samuel 4:9
But David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, "As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life out of every adversity."

Consider David was out of job, and left his life behind, when he chose to leave Saul in God's plan. God's anointed one - David - was out of work. It was part of God's plan.

Proverbs 24:10
If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.

Ecclesiastes 7:14
In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other

Isaiah 30:20
And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher.


Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times,and a brother is born for adversity.

Who is your brother?

Matthew 12:50
For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.

You are not alone, find your brothers & sisters in Christ.

Matthew 18:20
For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.

Psalm 105:1-3

1 Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples!
2 Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wondrous works!
3 Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!

Our Church occasionally forms prayer groups for people needing prayer. We start as 12 and sometimes end as 3. The prayer before God is equally heard. We just bring Scripture and for an hour, prayer is given out loud. The Scriptures do tell us when 2 or more are gathered, He is there. To be in constant prayer. Our Bible Classes and my service group - they all keep an email list handy to email each other for prayer. And I use that email list. Many Christ based Churches offer Wednesday night services. And always feel free to use the comment section below for prayer requests. God wants us to be lifted in prayer.

God can direct our needs for prayer to bring us into a real caring and sharing Christian community. People to hold hands, to love and lift our burdens to God for His redemption.




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Psalm 69 ~ the talk

Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni created his David statue when he was 26 years old. It took him 2 years. Commissioned as one of a series of statues positioned along the roof line of the east end of the Florence Cathedral, the statue was instead placed in public, outside the Palazzo della Signoria, the seat of government for Florence. David symbolized to them the defense of their civil liberties, a city-state threatened on all sides by more powerful rival states.

What spirit is so empty and blind, that it cannot recognize the fact that the foot is more noble than the shoe, and skin more beautiful than the garment with which it is clothed? ~ Michelangelo

Do you know that women who are chaste remain much fresher than those who are not? ~ Michelangelo

Psalm 69

Listen - click for new tab, this is a good Scripture to listen to.

1 Save me, O God!
For the waters have come up to my neck [Or waters threaten my life ].
2 I sink in deep mire,
where there is no foothold;
I have come into deep waters,
and the flood sweeps over me.
3 I am weary with my crying out;
my throat is parched.
My eyes grow dim
with waiting for my God.

4 More in number than the hairs of my head
are those who hate me without cause;
mighty are those who would destroy me,
those who attack me with lies.
What I did not steal
must I now restore?
5 O God, you know my folly;
the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.

6 Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me,
O Lord God of hosts;
let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me,
O God of Israel.
7 For it is for your sake that I have borne reproach,
that dishonor has covered my face.
8 I have become a stranger to my brothers,
an alien to my mother's sons.

9 For zeal for your house has consumed me,
and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.
10 When I wept and humbled [Hebrew lacks and humbled ] my soul with fasting,
it became my reproach.
11 When I made sackcloth my clothing,
I became a byword to them.
12 I am the talk of those who sit in the gate,
and the drunkards make songs about me.

13 But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord.
At an acceptable time, O God,
in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.
14 Deliver me
from sinking in the mire;
let me be delivered from my enemies
and from the deep waters.
15 Let not the flood sweep over me,
or the deep swallow me up,
or the pit close its mouth over me.

16 Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good;
according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.
17 Hide not your face from your servant;
for I am in distress; make haste to answer me.
18 Draw near to my soul, redeem me;
ransom me because of my enemies!

19 You know my reproach,
and my shame and my dishonor;
my foes are all known to you.
20 Reproaches have broken my heart,
so that I am in despair.
I looked for pity, but there was none,
and for comforters, but I found none.
21 They gave me poison for food,
and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.

22 Let their own table before them become a snare;
and when they are at peace, let it become a trap .
23 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see,
and make their loins tremble continually.
24 Pour out your indignation upon them,
and let your burning anger overtake them.
25 May their camp be a desolation;
let no one dwell in their tents.
26 For they persecute him whom you have struck down,
and they recount the pain of those you have wounded.
27 Add to them punishment upon punishment;
may they have no acquittal from you [may they not come into your righteousness].
28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living;
let them not be enrolled among the righteous.

29 But I am afflicted and in pain;
let your salvation, O God, set me on high!

30 I will praise the name of God with a song;
I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
31 This will please the Lord more than an ox
or a bull with horns and hoofs.
32 When the humble see it they will be glad;
you who seek God, let your hearts revive.
33 For the Lord hears the needy
and does not despise his own people who are prisoners.

34 Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves in them. 35 For God will save Zion and build up the cities of Judah, and people shall dwell there and possess it; 36 the offspring of his servants shall inherit it, and those who love his name shall dwell in it.

When David spoke with the Lord, what did the Lord God Almighty see?

1 Samuel 16:12-14
And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him, for this is he."


1 Samuel 17:42
And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance.


David didn't pretend to be holier than he actually was. One of the qualities the LORD loved about David.

1 Samuel 16: 7
But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart."

David sounds like we all do in the midst of bitterness. David was a warrior and completely capable of damage done in revenge. Instead David doesn't hide from the Lord, as Adam and Eve did in the garden of Eden; David believes His Father has a plan and His Father will deal with evil and evil doers as He sees fit.

David releases his bitterness to God so completely, David then moves into Praise. I believe if we were to see David head into our worship services on Sunday, as an analogy, he wouldn't be consumed throughout the whole service with David: David's problems, David's anger, David's bitterness. We would see David come into the Sanctuary a few minutes early. See him in intense prayer and then he would release his difficulties to God, just like Noah released the dove. Like Paul, who said he became content to see what God would do to bring events to glorify Him.

1 Samuel 18:5-7
And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.

As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments. And the women sang to one another as they celebrated,

"Saul has struck down his thousands,
and David his ten thousands."

1 Samuel 18:14
And David had success in all his undertakings, for the LORD was with him.

1 Samuel 19:5
For he took his life in his hand and he struck down the Philistine, and the LORD worked a great salvation for all Israel.

1 Samuel 27:12
And Achish trusted David, thinking, "He has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel; therefore he shall always be my servant."

(The Lord was in charge of giving David a path, when David was excluded from Israel.)

1 Samuel 30:6
And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.


1 Samuel 28:16-18
And Samuel said, "Why then do you ask me, since the LORD has turned from you and become your enemy? 17The LORD has done to you as he spoke by me, for the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. 18 Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the LORD has done this thing to you this day.


Psalm 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.

¹⁵ O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
¹⁶ For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;


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1 John 5:1-5 ~ Who is it that overcomes the world

1 John 5:1-5

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1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

What should cause us to tremble?

Psalm 96:9
Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!


Isaiah 7:9
If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.


2 Chronicles 20:20
20 And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.”


Matthew 6:30
If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?

Matthew 8:
8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.

Matthew 9:2
Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”

Matthew 15:28
Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

Mark 11:22
“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered.

Acts 15:9
He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.

Romans 1:5
Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for His name’s sake.

Romans 1:17
For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Romans 3:28
For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

Romans 5:1
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ

1 Corinthians 13:13
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 John 4:8
Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.


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