Psalm 136 ~ His steadfast love endures forever

Psalm 136

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

¹ Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
² Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
³ Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever;

⁴ to him who alone does great wonders,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
⁵ to him who by understanding made the heavens,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
⁶ to him who spread out the earth above the waters,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
⁷ to him who made the great lights,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
⁸ the sun to rule over the day,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
⁹ the moon and stars to rule over the night,
for his steadfast love endures forever;

¹⁰ to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
¹¹ and brought Israel out from among them,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
¹² with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
¹³ to him who divided the Red Sea in two,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
¹⁴ and made Israel pass through the midst of it,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
¹⁵ but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
¹⁶ to him who led his people through the wilderness,
for his steadfast love endures forever;

¹⁷ to him who struck down great kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
¹⁸ and killed mighty kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
¹⁹ Sihon, king of the Amorites,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
²⁰ and Og, king of Bashan,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
²¹ and gave their land as a heritage,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
²² a heritage to Israel his servant,
for his steadfast love endures forever.

²³ It is he who remembered us in our low estate,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
²⁴ and rescued us from our foes,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
²⁵ he who gives food to all flesh,
for his steadfast love endures forever.

²⁶ Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his steadfast love endures forever.

Psalm 136 is one of my favorite Bible Remembrances. We were on a Padre Island beach vacation with our sons when they were small. On our vacation Sunday, we were not going to Church and so we decided to read Psalm 136 with them responding "His steadfast love endures forever". Being very young, this just struck them as hysterical. They laughed all the way through and created a Moment. A life moment held within me forever. Overwhelming, Strong Love for them. How great to have these people as my children. Flaws, perfection, youth, innocence and their Joy. That emotion that wells up of profound, momentous love is how much God our Father loves us.



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Matthew 16:13-20 ~ keys to the Kingdom of Heave

Matthew 16:13-20


English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it [the Greek words for Peter and rock sound similar ]. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

Scriptures are multifaceted. They are historical, for today; also important in mere verses and the way the parables are structured together. We've already thought about Jesus' important decision to bring the disciples to Caesarea Philippi for this important declaration.

Let's think about Peter. The man Jesus chose to walk His journey with Him.


John 1:40-42 40
One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).

Peter is Not chosen because he had the good spiritual eyes to see Jesus for all that He is. And point out Jesus first.

We are God's family and we will embarrass Peter, for a moment, with all of our funny remembrances of him. (Like your mom telling your Jr High Prom date how cute you were in the bathtub as a baby.)

Matthew 14:28-30 The Message
Peter, suddenly bold, said, "Master, if it's really you, call me to come to you on the water." 29-30 He said, "Come ahead." Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, "Master, save me!"



Matthew 15:14-16 New International Version
Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” 15 Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.” 16 “Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them.


Matthew 16:22-23 The Message
Then Jesus made it clear to his disciples that it was now necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, submit to an ordeal of suffering at the hands of the religious leaders, be killed, and then on the third day be raised up alive. Peter took him in hand, protesting, "Impossible, Master! That can never be!" 23But Jesus didn't swerve. "Peter, get out of my way. Satan, get lost. You have no idea how God works."


Matthew 19:27
Then Peter chimed in, "We left everything and followed you. What do we get out of it?"



What did our Jesus see in our Peter?

Mark 5:37
He permitted no one to go in with him except Peter, James, and John. They entered the leader's house and pushed their way through the gossips looking for a story and neighbors bringing in casseroles. Jesus was abrupt: "Why all this busybody grief and gossip? This child isn't dead; she's sleeping."

Mark 9:2-4
Six days later, three of them did see it. Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain. His appearance changed from the inside out, right before their eyes. His clothes shimmered, glistening white, whiter than any bleach could make them. Elijah, along with Moses, came into view, in deep conversation with Jesus.


Mark 8:29
He then asked, "And you—what are you saying about me? Who am I?" Peter gave the answer: "You are the Christ, the Messiah."


John 6:67-69
After this a lot of his disciples left. They no longer wanted to be associated with him. Then Jesus gave the Twelve their chance: "Do you also want to leave?"

68-69 Peter replied, "Master, to whom would we go? You have the words of real life, eternal life. We've already committed ourselves, confident that you are the Holy One of God."


We know God can see into our souls and see us at our best - perhaps Peter was chosen for the spiritual growth ahead. Being such a perfect leader....

Acts 2:14
That's when Peter stood up and, backed by the other eleven, spoke out with bold urgency: "Fellow Jews, all of you who are visiting Jerusalem, listen carefully and get this story straight."

Acts 2:37
Cut to the quick, those who were there listening asked Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers! Brothers! So now what do we do?"


Acts 2:38
Peter said, "Change your life. Turn to God and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, so your sins are forgiven. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 4:13
They couldn't take their eyes off them—Peter and John standing there so confident, so sure of themselves! Their fascination deepened when they realized these two were laymen with no training in Scripture or formal education. They recognized them as companions of Jesus, but with the man right before them, seeing him standing there so upright—so healed!—what could they say against that?

So what are we learning about Peter - with spiritual growth we are made perfect to face the lion's den??? So ... perfect we are God's mirror image?

Acts 12:9
And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.

Acts 10
And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven. 17 Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean

Paul said about Peter...


Galatians 2:11-14
But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

So what does Peter do with the Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven and what can we learn from Peter's life?

Acts 10:26
But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.”

Peter was never perfect. He could not build a Church of God's to last 2,000 years. I was talking to a woman, today at Church, weeping because she has need for more tests for re-occurring cancer. Ashamed of crying for her fear, because it would not please Jesus. Jesus never loved Peter because he was perfect. Not once.

Hezekiah sure cried and cried & God wasn't upset with him for that.

Did Jesus love Peter? Yes - ! He died for Peter. Jesus always loved Peter for who God created him to be. Jesus tells us over and over. We do not save ourselves. Peter was like David - willing to walk on water for God, but when Peter got over his own self-righteousness - he still was willing to get into the water and swim to Jesus. Jesus thought eternity of David and Peter because they looked to Him, asked Him, loved Him. He loved them first.

What does God say about the Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven???? I am sure it pleases the living man named Peter, Keeper of the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. God says the 12 Gates of Heaven are always open.

Revelation 21:21-27
And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, transparent as glass.

22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, 25 and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. 26 They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Blessed are You. Lord God Almighty. Lord God of Hosts. Blessed be Your Son, Jesus. Amen.

Isaiah 22:22
And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.

1 Peter 5:7
casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you






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Psalm 118 ~ This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it

East Gate or called Beautiful Gate, today called Gate of Mercy

Psalm 118

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!

2 Let Israel say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”
3 Let the house of Aaron say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the Lord say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”

5 Out of my distress I called on the Lord;
the Lord answered me and set me free.
6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
7 The Lord is on my side as my helper;
I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.

8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes.

10 All nations surrounded me;
in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
11 They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side;
in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
12 They surrounded me like bees;
they went out like a fire among thorns;
in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
13 I was pushed hard, so that I was falling,
but the Lord helped me.

14 The Lord is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
15 Glad songs of salvation
are in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of the Lord does valiantly,
16 the right hand of the Lord exalts,
the right hand of the Lord does valiantly!”

17 I shall not die, but I shall live,
and recount the deeds of the Lord.
18 The Lord has disciplined me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.

19 Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord;
the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
22 The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord's doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.

25 Save us, we pray, O Lord!
O Lord, we pray, give us success!

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
We bless you from the house of the Lord.
27 The Lord is God,
and he has made his light to shine upon us.
Bind the festal sacrifice with cords,
up to the horns of the altar!

28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
you are my God; I will extol you.
29 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!

Where will we begin today.... Gates... Jesus' Gate in the Temple.... the pearly heavenly gate.... the 12 gates of the new Jerusalem.... the archeological discovery of the 2nd Temple Gates... this year's archeological dig; The Israel Antiquities Authority recently completed an archaeological dig of a tunnel enabling visitors under the walls of Jerusalem's Old City, not far from the Temple Mount. The tunnel, uncovered during excavations over the past months, formerly used for drainage - dates back to the Second Temple.

Why were gates important? 182 times the Bible speaks of gates. A city gatekeeper was a prominent citizen. Someone you wanted to judge the trustworthiness of the traveler and someone to speak wisely. In both the Old and New Testament a lot of towns were built to keep out invaders - the unrighteous. So many gates because the people were unsure. Only in the days of St. Paul's Basilica were they beginning to come out of the fortified cities. The Church open for evening prayer led to a greater trust. The full name of St. Paul's Basilica is St. Paul's Basilica Outside the Walls.

Photo of the Western Tunnel towards the Temple Mount

We could consider all the exciting discoveries in 1867-70 by Sir Charles Warren who dug all around the Temple Mount. But no one has found the original East Gate, the Gate called Beautiful Gate. Today, built in 6th century A.D, is called Gate of Mercy. Why is the original gate missing or not found? A really good reason would be:

Ezekiel 44:1-3
Then he brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, which faces east. And it was shut. 2 And the Lord said to me, “This gate shall remain shut; it shall not be opened, and no one shall enter by it, for the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered by it. Therefore it shall remain shut. 3 Only the prince may sit in it to eat bread before the Lord. He shall enter by way of the vestibule of the gate, and shall go out by the same way.”

Herod killed infant sons in Bethlehem, but he rebuild the Eastern Golden Gate and opened it. For the King of the Jews, the true King of the Davidic line. Luke 19 tells us Jesus entered from the East, from the Mount of Olives.

So what shall we say of St. Peter by the pearly gate? Not much. Because the Scriptures don't tell of one pearly gate. Revelation 21 tells us Heaven has 12 gates named after the Tribes of Israel. And each gate is one large pearl.

If we dwell on the knowledge, the "proof", we miss the greater point. Jesus entered into the Beautiful Gate. It was open for Him. How does God keep His gates for us?

Revelation 21:25-27
On no day will its gates ever be shut

For there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Father God, when we ask Jesus the Christ, Your only Son, to live in us and be part of us. When we believe in our heart and confess with our mouth You are Lord; You stretch out Your arms again for us. Amen.


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Amos 9:5-15 ~ I have given them

Amos 9:5-15

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible


The Lord God of hosts,
he who touches the earth and it melts,
and all who dwell in it mourn,
and all of it rises like the Nile,
and sinks again, like the Nile of Egypt;
6 who builds his upper chambers in the heavens
and founds his vault upon the earth;
who calls for the waters of the sea
and pours them out upon the surface of the earth—
the Lord is his name.

7 “Are you not like the Cushites to me,
O people of Israel?” declares the Lord.
“Did I not bring up Israel from the land of Egypt,
and the Philistines from Caphtor and the Syrians from Kir?
8 Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are upon the sinful kingdom,
and I will destroy it from the surface of the ground,
except that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,”
declares the Lord.

9 “For behold, I will command,
and shake the house of Israel among all the nations
as one shakes with a sieve,
but no pebble shall fall to the earth.
10 All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword,
who say, ‘Disaster shall not overtake or meet us.’

11 “In that day I will raise up
the booth of David that is fallen
and repair its breaches,
and raise up its ruins
and rebuild it as in the days of old,
12 that they may possess the remnant of Edom
and all the nations who are called by my name,” [1]
declares the Lord who does this.

13 “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord,
“when the plowman shall overtake the reaper
and the treader of grapes him who sows the seed;
the mountains shall drip sweet wine,
and all the hills shall flow with it.
14 I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel,
and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine,
and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit.
15 I will plant them on their land,
and they shall never again be uprooted
out of the land that I have given them,”
says the Lord your God.

Footnotes
[1] 9:12 Hebrew; Septuagint (compare Acts 15:17) that the remnant of mankind and all the nations who are called by my name may seek the Lord.

I love Matthew Henry. Any day of the week, he is beautiful and eloquent - loving and tender as God. The English language has changed in the 250+ years he had his Bible Commentary and needs a little loving added to the words we seldom used. So here we go:

Matthew Henry’s commentary on Amos: GOD employed a shepherd, a herdsman, to reprove and warn the people. Those to whom God gives abilities for his services, ought not to be despised for their origin, or their employment. Like the advice of Gamaliel - what comes from God should not be tampered with. God places His Holy Spirit in all who believe. Good news.

This is the restoration of the Jews and the Gospel Blessing.

Christ died to gather together the children of God who were scattered abroad- called by his name. The Lord said this (Who does this! Who can do it! Who has determined to do it!) the Power of Whose Grace is engaged for doing it! Verses 13 to 15- when are these days? - In the awakening of the Holy Spirit within us. Possible in each day.

Let us continue earnest in prayer for the fulfillment of these prophecies, in the peace, purity, and the beauty of the Church! God marvelously preserves his elect amidst the most fearful confusions and miseries. When all seems desperate, He wonderfully revives His Church, and blesses her with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus. And great shall be the glory of that period, in which not one good thing promised shall remain unfulfilled.

Alleluia.

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Psalm 31:3-8,17-21 ~ Thou hast redeemed me

Psalm 31:3-8,17-21

3 Yea, thou art my rock and my fortress; for thy name's sake lead me and guide me,
4 take me out of the net which is hidden for me, for thou art my refuge.
5 Into thy hand I commit my spirit; thou hast redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.

6 Thou hatest those who pay regard to vain idols; but I trust in the LORD.
7 I will rejoice and be glad for thy steadfast love, because thou hast seen my affliction, thou hast taken heed of my adversities,
8 and hast not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; thou hast set my feet in a broad place.

17 Let me not be put to shame, O LORD, for I call on thee; let the wicked be put to shame, let them go dumbfounded to Sheol.
18 Let the lying lips be dumb, which speak insolently against the righteous in pride and contempt.
19 O how abundant is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for those who fear thee, and wrought for those who take refuge in thee, in the sight of the sons of men!
20 In the covert of thy presence thou hidest them from the plots of men; thou holdest them safe under thy shelter from the strife of tongues.
21 Blessed be the LORD, for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me when I was beset as in a besieged city.

~

Exodus 15:13
"In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.

Nehemiah 1:10
They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand.

Job 33:28
He redeemed my soul from going down to the pit, and I will live to enjoy the light.

Luke 1:68
Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people.

Peter 1:18
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers

Redemption is different from life. Life has triumphant times & difficulty. Life rarely rests in one angle, but redemption is constant victory. God has paided the price for our redemption. Redemption doesn't guarantee happiness, but redemption requires gratitude. Finding gratitude is one of the best highways to peace, serving others & finding kindness in a tight corner.

Remember 10 lepers were healed, but always pray to be the one who returned to Praise God!



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Ezekiel 13 ~ The word of the Lord

Ezekiel 13

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

¹The word of the LORD came to me: ² "Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel, who are prophesying, and say to those who prophesy from their own hearts: 'Hear the word of the LORD!' ³Thus says the Lord GOD, Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! ⁴Your prophets have been like jackals among ruins, O Israel. ⁵ You have not gone up into the breaches, or built up a wall for the house of Israel, that it might stand in battle in the day of the LORD. ⁶ They have seen false visions and lying divinations. They say, 'Declares the LORD,' when the LORD has not sent them, and yet they expect him to fulfill their word. ⁷Have you not seen a false vision and uttered a lying divination, whenever you have said, 'Declares the LORD,' although I have not spoken?"

⁸Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Because you have uttered falsehood and seen lying visions, therefore behold, I am against you, declares the Lord GOD. ⁹My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and who give lying divinations. They shall not be in the council of my people, nor be enrolled in the register of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord GOD. ¹⁰Precisely because they have misled my people, saying, 'Peace,' when there is no peace, and because, when the people build a wall, these prophets smear it with whitewash, ¹¹say to those who smear it with whitewash that it shall fall! There will be a deluge of rain, and you, O great hailstones, will fall, and a stormy wind break out. ¹²And when the wall falls, will it not be said to you, 'Where is the coating with which you smeared it?' ¹³Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: I will make a stormy wind break out in my wrath, and there shall be a deluge of rain in my anger, and great hailstones in wrath to make a full end. ¹⁴And I will break down the wall that you have smeared with whitewash, and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation will be laid bare. When it falls, you shall perish in the midst of it, and you shall know that I am the LORD. ¹⁵Thus will I spend my wrath upon the wall and upon those who have smeared it with whitewash, and I will say to you, The wall is no more, nor those who smeared it, ¹⁶the prophets of Israel who prophesied concerning Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for her, when there was no peace, declares the Lord GOD.

¹⁷"And you, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own minds. Prophesy against them ¹⁸and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the women who sew magic bands upon all wrists, and make veils for the heads of persons of every stature, in the hunt for souls! Will you hunt down souls belonging to my people and keep your own souls alive? ¹⁹You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, putting to death souls who should not die and keeping alive souls who should not live, by your lying to my people, who listen to lies.

²⁰"Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against your magic bands with which you hunt the souls like birds, and I will tear them from your arms, and I will let the souls whom you hunt go free, the souls like birds. ²¹Your veils also I will tear off and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand as prey, and you shall know that I am the LORD. ²² Because you have disheartened the righteous falsely, although I have not grieved him, and you have encouraged the wicked, that he should not turn from his evil way to save his life, ²³ therefore you shall no more see false visions nor practice divination. I will deliver my people out of your hand. And you shall know that I am the LORD."

Ezekiel, like Jeremiah, was telling about the holiness of God, in His judgement. At the time, they seemed like doomsayers. Their message, while truthful, was unwelcome. A popular set of circumstances in the Scriptures. Man always wants the messages of God to be hopeful. In the middle of all the pending circumstances - Jeremiah at first said - he was an island and therefore exempt. At that point the Lord told Jeremiah then he would share in the judgement of all the people. It was only when Jeremiah would be uncomfortable and be of help to others, that God was willing to promise Jeremiah protection.

To the people of Judah, the falling of a wall was a terrible thing. They took a lot of comfort from the wall around Jerusalem and around the Temple.

For us today, we have the luxury of looking forward to walls of lies being destroyed.

No one goes through life without experiencing a wall. Unemployment. Lack of change. Constant Change. Illness. End of friendship. Time spent apart from a loved one. - You name it - any circumstance that limits us and we feel it will not change soon or there is not much we can do about it.

God says to preach peace when no blessing is in sight is wrong. Yet the whole passage is about the righteousness of God. In adversity or blessing, the correct answer is to trust Him with our prayers, our hopes and to find blessings. He reigns.

Father God, let us always put our trust in You. When life is all we hope, let us praise You. When we have adversity, let us look to You. You reign. Help us to look to you in expectation and in hope. In gratitude in all circumstances. In Scriptures, You tell us not to be surprised and dismayed at fiery trials, You are there with us. And to always remember You chose to walk this life where wild winds sometimes howl. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Psalm 63 ~ my soul will be satisfied

Psalm 63

¹ O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
² So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
³ Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
⁴ So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.

⁵ My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
⁶ when I remember you upon my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
⁷ for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
⁸ My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.

⁹ But those who seek to destroy my life
shall go down into the depths of the earth;
¹⁰ they shall be given over to the power of the sword;
they shall be a portion for jackals.
¹¹ But the king shall rejoice in God;
all who swear by him shall exult,
for the mouths of liars will be stopped.

On Saturday, my Church family and the next town over combined Anglican Churches & 70 women gathered to hear our deacons and women of the Church give talks about issues that are of concern to women. We heard about Abundant Life in Him, Living in Community, and Finding Our Anchor in times of sadness.

I've been a believing Christian for 32 years, and after you've been to a lot of Christian growth classes, you begin to hear more specifically - in the talks- how the message affects you in the journey of your Christian walk. It was in one of these classes, I began at age 16 to read the Bible daily. This time I heard to be more forgiving. To let my actions be goodness and mercy. Not to be so willing to enter into judgment for other's actions.

From what I learned  - We can become so focused on ourselves, we miss the Abundant Goodness God would provide for us. In Texas, we have had the worst recorded drought in history this year. We can add to it by not looking for the Living Water. Not allowing God to replenish us.

in a dry and weary land where there is no water

or or you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy

In the same way, when we read the Scriptures, we can remember what we read - the portion we remember is giving us a message - for today - as the Holy Spirit is a living and active part of our lives.

What did you hear in Psalm 63? It is important what we remember. Not just the same old Psalm, but verses are suddenly more clear. It is a gift of the Spirit to let millenniums of Scripture speak to our lives. In what stuck out to us is our message.

Blessed be the Lord God Almighty. Who daily lifts us up and loads us with benefits. In the Highest Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.


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Matthew 13:31-32 ~ the birds of the air come and perch in its branches

Matthew 13:31-32

Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."

Almighty God, Abba, Heavenly Father, we live in Thee. We put out our hands to do the good works You've already planned for us. Lead us in Your paths; encourage us, let the words of our mouths and the thoughts of our heart be always pleasing to You. Grow the seed of our faith, to become a mighty tree. Put out Your growing branches, to give us shelter & we will share in Your goodness, fellowship and rest.

Give us eyes of faith, to see the hope of Your promises; the eagerness, like a child, to see them brought forth. Strengthen our souls, let our lives reflect Your Light and Your Love. In the Highest name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.




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Psalm 106:19-48 ~ He raised His hand to them and swore to them

Psalm 106:19-48

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

¹⁹ They made a calf in Horeb
and worshiped a metal image.
²⁰ They exchanged the glory of God
for the image of an ox that eats grass.
²¹ They forgot God, their Savior,
who had done great things in Egypt,
²² wondrous works in the land of Ham,
and awesome deeds by the Red Sea.
²³ Therefore he said he would destroy them—
had not Moses, his chosen one,
stood in the breach before him,
to turn away his wrath from destroying them.

²⁴ Then they despised the pleasant land,
having no faith in his promise.
²⁵ They murmured in their tents,
and did not obey the voice of the LORD.
²⁶ Therefore he raised his hand and swore to them
that he would make them fall in the wilderness,
²⁷ and would make their offspring fall among the nations,
scattering them among the lands.

²⁸ Then they yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor,
and ate sacrifices offered to the dead;
²⁹ they provoked the LORD to anger with their deeds,
and a plague broke out among them.
³⁰ Then Phinehas stood up and intervened,
and the plague was stayed.
³¹ And that was counted to him as righteousness
from generation to generation forever.

³² They angered him at the waters of Meribah,
and it went ill with Moses on their account,
³³ for they made his spirit bitter,^[Or they rebelled against God’s Spirit]
and he spoke rashly with his lips.

³⁴ They did not destroy the peoples,
as the LORD commanded them,
³⁵ but they mixed with the nations
and learned to do as they did.
³⁶ They served their idols,
which became a snare to them.
³⁷ They sacrificed their sons
and their daughters to the demons;
³⁸ they poured out innocent blood,
the blood of their sons and daughters,
whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan,
and the land was polluted with blood.
³⁹ Thus they became unclean by their acts,
and played the whore in their deeds.

⁴⁰ Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against his people,
and he abhorred his heritage;
⁴¹ he gave them into the hand of the nations,
so that those who hated them ruled over them.
⁴² Their enemies oppressed them,
and they were brought into subjection under their power.
⁴³ Many times he delivered them,
but they were rebellious in their purposes
and were brought low through their iniquity.

⁴⁴ Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress,
when he heard their cry.
⁴⁵ For their sake he remembered his covenant,
and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love.
⁴⁶ He caused them to be pitied
by all those who held them captive.

⁴⁷ Save us, O LORD our God,
and gather us from among the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name
and glory in your praise.

⁴⁸ Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting!
And let all the people say, "Amen!"
Praise the LORD!

Who never becomes angry. Is always optimistic and constantly cheerful. Not the LORD. The God of Heaven and Earth. The Almighty.

People talk about the God of Wrath in the Old Testament. What if ... your neighbors were given your used vehicle because they needed it from you (to have opportunities to prosper) and you gave them the car because you felt it was the right thing to do. (Events from the Exodus). And they took it and beat it with hammers and made a statue of an ox and parked it in their front yard.

Bet you'd smile and wave.

Then assuming you could recover from your grand conniption fit; you find that they are about to lose their home because they cannot pay their rent and you feel so bad for their young children. So you take it upon yourself to talk to their powerful landlord. He seems agreeable to help them and you return home to find your efforts have made your neighbors bitterly angry. So angry you can hear them talking about you in their homes - saying you should have left them alone. They had it figured out. You hear them say you are just a bully. They had a plan all along. Matter of fact -they've heard there is a good black market for the littlest one to donate a lung or a kidney in the marketplace of Baal. And if Baal wouldn't take them, why the youngest daughter could certainly be placed on the street corner to earn it in the oldest profession.

Who could endure such people? Only a parent.

He would intervene.

A Loving Father would looked upon their distress,
even when He heard their cry.
For the deep Love He has, He would relented according
to the abundance of His steadfast Love.

He would pity and have empathy for them. It would be by teaching them. Not just allowing them to continue in a way to kill and prostitute themselves. He might use the time out system. Certainly not allow them to go immediately to a place where they could continue their plans.

He would spend more time with them. From His time spent - the light would begin to shine in the darkness. From this grace upon grace, giving them time to see glory and truth dwelling with them. From His fullness they would receive. Redemption.


1 Corinthians 3:16
Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

He would give them understanding by allowing His Holy Spirit to dwell in their hearts to have more understanding. To write His Love in their Hearts. To have holiness to understand the extent of the needs of others and their children.

He would Save us, O LORD our God,
and gather us from among the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name
and glory in your praise.

Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting!
And let all the people say, "Amen!"
Praise the LORD!

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Psalm 117 ~ Praise the Lord

Psalm 117

1 Praise the Lord, all nations!
Extol him, all peoples!
2 For great is his steadfast love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord!

Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter in the Bible. Condensed, this is the nature of the Lord Most High. He is for everyone. He is worthy to be praised.

He isn't about Black-eyed Peas, don't step on a crack, wear a little bracelet with knots tied in it so many days, pray in this exact fashion, eat this diet, or wear your hair like this.

He does not ask you to sit up straight. He does not ask you to refrain from alcohol. He does not ask you not to dance. He does not ask you not to chew gum. He is not partial to one skin type or one color. He is not partial to one class over another. He does not say cleanliness is next to Him. He does not say that if you pay attention to Him at least once a week, He is pleased. He does not ask you to seek wealth. He is more fond of wisdom and kindness.

Father God seeks you. Father God does not expect you to save yourself. He doesn't just put you off until eternity, He is part of this life. He wants your love and trust. He is for you. He chose to create you. He is about love, wisdom, loyalty, forgiveness and eternity. He loves you.


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Titus 2 ~ bringing salvation for all people

Titus 2

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

¹ But as for you, teach what accords with sound ^[healthy] doctrine. ² Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. ³ Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, ⁴ and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, ⁵ to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. ⁶ Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. ⁷ Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, ⁸ and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. ⁹ Slaves ^{[bondservants]} are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, ¹⁰ not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

¹¹ For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, ¹² training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, ¹³ for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

¹⁵ Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

Sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Reverent in behavior, not slanderers. Show integrity, dignity, and sound speech. Teach what is good. That the word of God may not be reviled.

Be zealous for good works.

And yet. And yet. The bottom line is this - We are waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us and to purify us for Himself.

God loves us first.

1 John 4:19
We love because he first loved us.

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 a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Happy All Saints Day, to All of the Beloved!



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Luke 12:49-59 ~ Division

Luke 12:49-59

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

⁴⁹ "I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! ⁵⁰ I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! ⁵¹ Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. ⁵²For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. ⁵³They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."

⁵⁴He also said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, 'A shower is coming.' And so it happens. ⁵⁵And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, 'There will be scorching heat,' and it happens. ⁵⁶You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

⁵⁷"And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? ⁵⁸ As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. ⁵⁹I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny."

Bible notes author: Susan Johnson, The Methodist Church in Britain

These verses are part of the teachings of Jesus to the disciples and to the crowds who have followed him. In Luke 10:1-12, 70 were sent out into the towns and villages to let people know that the kingdom of God had come near in the person of Jesus who would show them the way to live. Some of the 70 experienced peace and were welcomed, while others were rejected and had to leave. This leads Jesus to reflect on how his mission, his life and death will bring judgement and division as people are faced with a choice and a challenge about Jesus.

Today, 2,000 years later the question is still before us when we come face to face with Jesus and the influence of his teachings. Am I willing to try and follow his ways or will I follow someone or something else? And then there's the second question; what sort of kingdom, or community, will my actions bring out?

When we look around at communities in England, as we have done so much this summer, we can clearly see the division between those who seek peace and justice by showing love and compassion and those who are intent on destruction and damage. Although it did not receive much media coverage after the recent riots in London and other cities, communities came together, united, to move beyond the destruction and rebuild. Perhaps those people had had a glimpse of the kingdom of God being present in a small way. Many would not call themselves Christian or people of any faith but some would.

The simple fact is that when knowledge of Jesus is there, decisions have to be made every minute of the day as to how we will live. We always have a choice: to do good or to do harm.

To Ponder

When you need to make a decision about the way to behave, what guides you?

'It puzzles me that I am surrounded by people, who in their very humanity, show signs of living the Jesus way but do not know anything about him.' How do you think that can be?

Is division always something to be avoided? Why?




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Psalm 143 ~ Your steadfast love

Psalm 143

1 Hear my prayer, O Lord;
give ear to my pleas for mercy!
In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!
2 Enter not into judgment with your servant,
for no one living is righteous before you.

3 For the enemy has pursued my soul;
he has crushed my life to the ground;
he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.
4 Therefore my spirit faints within me;
my heart within me is appalled.

5 I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all that you have done;
I ponder the work of your hands.
6 I stretch out my hands to you;
my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah

7 Answer me quickly, O Lord!
My spirit fails!
Hide not your face from me,
lest I be like those who go down to the pit.
8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.

9 Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord!
I have fled to you for refuge!
10 Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God!
Let your good Spirit lead me
on level ground!

11 For your name's sake, O Lord, preserve my life!
In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!
12 And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies,
and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,
for I am your servant.


This Psalm reminds me of one a father would pray. It would have been the type of prayer Joseph might have prayed.

Did Jesus look like Joseph? God did promise David Jesus would be his son.

What do we know about Joseph, the Foster Father of Jesus, who by the blessing of the Holy Spirit linked Jesus to the house of David? It would be difficult to know if Jesus and Joseph looked alike, but what type of Father was Joseph? Jesus' hometown was given a biblical say:

Matthew 13:55-56
"Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren't all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?"

Mark records this somewhat differently & implies Jesus learned Joseph's trade.

Mark 6:3
"Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.

Joseph has been given a tradition of being the old duffer who was passed over, but c'mon this Child was/is precious to God. There are a lot of blended families today, God's Child heads the list.

Was Joseph thrilled to find out about the blessed event.... we know he wasn't. Joseph was an innocent, good man who saw wickedness (initial voices told him) ruining his life plans forever. Joseph was being called to have his betrothed stoned to death. Joseph instead, because of his compassion to Mary, received Divine Guidance. Joseph's actions are of a man who left his own plans behind and moved for the sake of his child & his wife. He left his town of Nazareth, for the years they went into hiding in Egypt, returning only when it was safe. God gave Jesus a family in Matthew 1, but in Matthew 13, we can tell Joseph gave Jesus his family.

Did Jesus look like Joseph? It is important. Yes, we see in Matthew 13:55, Joseph looked like Jesus.



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