Hebrews 13:17-21 ~ keep watch

Below, the Glue Society created this overview image of Adam & Eve in the garden of paradise. Scripture says "The Bright Morning Star" is Jesus in Revelation 22. This Eden image would be the view of The Bright Morning Star. The Garden of Eden was given to Adam as a gift, until sin removed him from the Garden. Man then toiled in creation even today.

How is your Eden?



Hebrews 13:17-21 17

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.

18 Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. 19 I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.

20 May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.



Genesis 2: 15
The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."

18 The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."

Why would God tell mankind not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? Mankind has always, from Genesis on, wanted to replace God's wisdom with his own. Each of us seeks to place himself as God.

Genesis 3: 8
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"

The Lord God knew where they were and why they were hiding, but it is our question for today: "Where are you?"

I Corinthians 15: 45
So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being"; "the last Adam, a life-giving spirit."

To clarify the above question "Where are you?" It means - are you a life giving spirit or Adam - just being a salmon swimming upstream - doing the same old thing?

This term 'last Adam' is to point out the similarities & differences between Adam and Jesus.

Colossians 1: 15
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.

17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

This Biblical quote examines the question again...

Galations 1:10

Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

We all work with each other. And we are accountable to Him.

Colossians 3:24:
It is the Lord Christ you are serving.


Where would we begin to have this renewal of life-giving in our lives?

It begins with 3 steps.

Romans 10:9
Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

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?

And in all of our actions to allow Jesus to be part of them and most importantly -

Psalm 116:17
I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD.

Why would giving thanks be a sacrifice? We have to give up what our selfishness calls for and see the blessings God bestows, gives and packs into our lives. We have to be willing to look, search and be grateful each day.

The blessings are there - we have to be willing to look for them. In the way we are all selfish and self-centered, it requires some deliberate effort. Not just to make the choice to be happy, but to appreciate the real goodness God has placed in our lives. In turn, being the right person to bless each situation.

Ecclesiastes 11:1
Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.

Deuteronomy 15:10
Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.

Matthew 25:40
And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me."

Matthew 25:45
Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me."




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Psalm 28 ~ Blessed be the LORD! For He has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.

Shepherds in the Field, painted by Nicolaes Berchem. Detail of the angels below





Psalm 28

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

1 To you, O LORD, I call;
my rock, be not deaf to me,
lest, if you be silent to me,
I become like those who go down to the pit.
2 Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy,
when I cry to you for help,
when I lift up my hands
toward your most holy sanctuary.

3 Do not drag me off with the wicked,
with the workers of evil,
who speak peace with their neighbors
while evil is in their hearts.
4 Give to them according to their work
and according to the evil of their deeds;
give to them according to the work of their hands;
render them their due reward.
5 Because they do not regard the works of the LORD
or the work of his hands,
he will tear them down and build them up no more.

6 Blessed be the LORD!
For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
7 The LORD is my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
and with my song I give thanks to him.

8 The LORD is the strength of his people;
he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
9 Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!
Be their shepherd and carry them forever.


The Meek Were Kneeling
by Max Lucado
“Blessed are the meek,” Jesus explained. Blessed are the available.

That’s why the announcement went first to the shepherds. They didn’t ask God if he was sure he knew what he was doing. Had the angel gone to the theologians, they would have first consulted their commentaries. Had he gone to the elite, they would have looked around to see if anyone was watching. Had he gone to the successful, they would have first looked at their calendars.

So he went to the shepherds. Men who didn’t have a reputation to protect or an ax to grind or a ladder to climb. Men who didn’t know enough to tell God that angels don’t sing to sheep and that messiahs aren’t found wrapped in rags and sleeping in a feed trough.

A small cathedral outside Bethlehem marks the supposed birthplace of Jesus. Behind a high altar in the church is a cave, a little cavern lit by silver lamps.

You can enter the main edifice and admire the ancient church. You can also enter the quiet cave where a star embedded in the floor recognizes the birth of the King. There is one stipulation, however. You have to stoop. The door is so low you can’t go in standing up.

The same is true of the Christ. You can see the world standing tall, but to witness the Savior, you have to get on your knees.

So …

while the theologians were sleeping

and the elite were dreaming

and the successful were snoring,

the meek were kneeling.


Written by Bob Deffinbaugh -
One of the key words we must deal with is the word “blessed” because it occurs over and over and over again. You will find that in a number of translations, the word is rendered “happy,” and there is a sense in which that is probably true. But, I think you have to say that the word “happy,” just because of the meaning we give to it today, is probably not the best word.

But in the Sermon on the Mount, in fact, you would have to say that those who mourn are not really happy. It’s hard to be both, so I reject as a preference making the emphasis on happiness, although there certainly is that. You could say that there is a sense in which there is always joy and delight—that’s always there, and I would certainly be willing to see that in this text. Probably the primary sense of the word “blessed” here is the sense of approval. It is saying that God has expressed His approval on these people. To be blessed is to be approved by God, and I think that probably fits.



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Isaiah 40 ~ Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned

Christmas Wind, art by Andrew Singer


Isaiah 40:1-11

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible 1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins. 3 A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken." 6 A voice says, "Cry!" And I said, "What shall I cry?" All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it; surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. 9 Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, "Behold your God!" 10 Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. 11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. Such a good passage to listen to being read. I recommend the listen button at the top of the Scripture. 'Pardoned' is a word we can all appreciate. Having our weaknesses, the things that shame us, our iniquities taken from us. As a gift. Israel was being called Judea. Some Roman officials wanting a start welcomed a post in the Roman Empire of Judea, but the men placed there with some standing felt Judea was a demotion. Not the post a ranking officer would want. Judean Roman Officials had to answer to Syria as a superior part of the Roman Empire. Judea was a 2nd class province. A Senatorial Province, not an Imperial Province, just a suburb of Syria. Judea was governed by a Prefect who was a Knight of the Equestrian Order, not a Former Consul or Praetor of Senatorial rank. The capital was no longer Jerusalem, but Caesarea. The Davidic line was replaced by the Hasmonean Kingdom, and the Herods weren't even really kings, but Roman puppet/client kings. Israel had received double for her sins. The Client Kings had the most say in the appointment of Priests to the Temple; Roman-reared and educated Herod picked the Priests appointed to the Temple. Pontius Pilate as Prefect had say-so as well. The Essenes had moved to the desert to write the Dead Sea Scrolls - they were convinced of the lack of holiness, the end of the world (it was for them and many in Jerusalem) and the destruction of their faith by corruption. Money, the Oxford Historians say, had poured into all corners of the Roman Empire. The fortunes made during the Roman Empire would not be seen in the world again until the beginning of the 16th Century A.D. Even in the outpost of Judea, Roman money was pouring in. High places were being created. Not just the pagan worship in the mountains that Israel had seen, but places of money and power. In the midst of this, the Judean people were going out into the desert to see John the Baptist, to repent of their sins and to be cleansed. Repentance and renewal in a spiritual desert. Into this time of trouble, so troubled the currency being used was sometimes 40 years old in Judea (still Greek printed coins and not Roman) when Jesus arrived. The widow placing her two pennies in the Temple treasury in Luke 21 had to use a Greek lepton - 40 years old. Pennies were not being printed - too much money in circulation for pennies. Greek and copper. Herod in 36 BC, didn't even produce a Lepton, considering it to be too poor. Notice the symbol of the star encircled by a royal diadem provides two emblems of the priestly and royal Messiahs (Balaam’s prophecy of the Scepter and the Star). The coin predicts the Messiah: The flowers have withered for the Roman Empire. The dust has settled so well, archaeology has discovered the forgotten Pontius Pilate. Found inscriptions (above) and Pilate printed coins. Until 1961 Pontius Pilate was considered to be part of fiction. And the Tax Joseph traveled to with Mary was considered to be a fable. Historians and Archaeologists have found the Tax was taken by the Roman Emperor Augustus, they have found the records for provinces as far as Judea. The Vatican holds the Scala Sancta, the Holy Stairs, transferred from the archaeological ruins of Pilate's Palace to the Vatican. The stairs are the stone seen through the wood. Jesus stood on these stairs. Sanhedrin Council, Talmud, records still record the gossip the Pharisees printed regarding Jesus' trial, Jesus' birth, slurs against Mary and Joseph. Non of the gossip holds up to Scripture, most importantly, or the histories written by Josephus. Even if the flowers have faded for the Roman Empire, the Word of God stands strong. "At this the multitude had great indignation; and when Pilate was come to Jerusalem, they came about his tribunal, and made a clamor at it. Now the Jews were so badly beaten, that many of them perished by the stripes they received, and many of them perished as trodden to death, by which means the multitude was astonished at the calamity of those that were slain, and held their peace." Josephus - The Wars of the Jews- Book 2 Chapter 9 In the middle of all of the trade, fortunes, injustices, and government displays of power came Jesus. Matthew 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!" Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Luke 23:34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him. And He is with us. + Other Scripture for Today Blogspot passages on Isaiah 40: January 10, 2010 November 22, 2010 <><

Isaiah 26:7-15 ~ You have increased the nation; You are glorified

Isaiah 26:7-15

⁷ The path of the righteous is level; you make level the way of the righteous. ⁸ In the path of your judgments, O LORD, we wait for you; your name and remembrance are the desire of our soul. ⁹ My soul yearns for you in the night; my spirit within me earnestly seeks you. For when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness. ¹⁰ If favor is shown to the wicked, he does not learn righteousness; in the land of uprightness he deals corruptly and does not see the majesty of the LORD. ¹¹ O LORD, your hand is lifted up, but they do not see it. Let them see your zeal for your people, and be ashamed. Let the fire for your adversaries consume them. ¹² O LORD, you will ordain peace for us, for you have indeed done for us all our works. ¹³ O LORD our God, other lords besides you have ruled over us, but your name alone we bring to remembrance. ¹⁴ They are dead, they will not live; they are shades, they will not arise; to that end you have visited them with destruction and wiped out all remembrance of them. ¹⁵ But you have increased the nation, O LORD, you have increased the nation; you are glorified; you have enlarged all the borders of the land.

Yesterday Edward & I traveled into Houston to see my brother John's family, decorate their tree and look at Christmas lights in their neighborhood. My brother has the most amazing collections of Christmas music (some are redneck, some are Hollywood undertaker (they sound like Lurch singing the old Christmas hymns), but we all like the Willy Nelson). 

He swings his truck around to go back and show his 6 year old daughter her choices & re-see Christmas lights. My brother is quirky, but he's a good man and funny too. John spent his day on his roof in the rain attaching his beloved Christmas lights to his Christmas music - he loved it. Their stockings are attached to John's last Elk hunt antlers over the fireplace. He filled our freezer with wonderful meat. (In Texas we believe, if you hunt to eat - it's the same as going to the Grocery.) Well, we passed a Church and the front sign had an arrow pointing to the Church and it said, "Start Early for Christmas, begin Here."

  Good point. Start with the Church Family. Beginning at the beginning is a good place to start - I'm not one of the people blessed to hear the Lord aloud, but I would be so remiss not to say at the top of my lungs -

Read the Scriptures. They are written for you. They are telling you over and over. God loves you. As you read them, the uncomfortable parts, the hard to believe parts, the good parts - they are nurturing you and growing you. You read what God is saying. As Christians we believe Jesus died for us personally. He did. Because of God's love, we have promises of hope and eternity. God wants you to know more. He wants you to understand His steadfast love and the blessings He willingly bestows, gives, packs and blesses us with. It is important not to be lukewarm. The Bible tells us so. If you don't know where that verse is - - go to Biblegateway.com look for the key word search and SEARCH to your heart's content. God is not ever going to give us a test on biblical knowledge, but the Scriptures are God's letter written to you. It is God's road map to the tests, trials, the wild winds of life and all of the glories of life. Written for you. Because You are God's Child. Be blessed as you prepare your heart for God's Child's Choice to Live Among Us dwelling as Grace and Truth. We Celebrate the birth of Jesus each year, because He lives among us each day. <><

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Christ Follower!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Matthew 17:1-8 ~ transfigured

Matthew 17:1-8

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio

¹ And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. ²And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. ³ And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.

⁴ And Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah." ⁵ He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him."

⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and have no fear." ⁸ And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. ⁹ And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead."


One of my best things is conversation. Which means ~ I am a talker. And I can Really appreciate Peter being faced with God's Glory and .... talking. And I have to say, this is one of the reasons I adore the Lord.....

It will be very interesting to know what God will say to me when I get to Heaven. Like the movies.... all that dialog and what did the LORD get out of it. Of one thing I am sure. My next reply to Him after He tells me is... not going to be - "For Sure. "

So.... faced with the supreme majesty and overwhelming Glory of God Almighty, Maker of the Heavens and the Universe - how did the disciples do?

Well, let's face it - what Peter said was a bit humorous. If I were God, I think I would have had a hard time not smothering a laugh.

What might have God have thought, in His God VOICE -

Acts 7:48
Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says, “‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? Did not my hand make all these things?’

Remember, God is a Father to all of us. He has to get a kick out of all of these out-takes. It's a family reunion and there are the funny moments.

And John - how did John do with the Supreme Glory of God.... Picture John not saying a word and as they go down the mountain - Jesus tells John not to say anything about it (v. 9). At that point, John must have just nodded with that glazed Deer in the headlights look - because - John took Jesus quit literally and all of the Gospel of John, John 1,2,3 and Revelation ..... John is not Telling. But John doesn't stop thinking about it and 18 Times Referring to God's Overwhelming Glory in his Gospel alone. John 1 is my favorite passage in the Bible and it goes a little like this:

John One - Notice, here, this is how John ... Begins
¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. ⁴ In him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

⁶There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. ⁸ He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

⁹ The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. ¹⁰He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. ¹¹He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. ¹²But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, ¹³who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

¹⁴And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. ¹⁵( John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'") ¹⁶And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. ¹⁷For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side he has made him known.

Wow. Wow. And more wow.

And how did James do with the overwhelming vision of God's glory? James did like the Magi and brought Jesus a valuable gift - James thought so much of what he saw - he gave his life to God when cruel men asked him to recant his faith.

And how did Peter, the talker, do with the overwhelming vision of God's glory?

Peter later wrote of it:

2 Peter 1:16-21
16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, [Or my Son, my Beloved] with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.


I feel blessed to read Peter go on to describe the vision as a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

You know that you know. In your heart. It is difficult to put the assurance into words, but I remember the first hour I believed and it was exactly a light shining from within in my soul.


1 John 4:16
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.



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1 Peter 5:1-3 ~ willingly

1 Peter 5:1-3
1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

We all want our Christmas gifts to be willingly given. Not given from fear or obligation.

How does the Lord do in willingly giving?

Matthew 14:28-29
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

²⁹ “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

.....It was Jesus' great opportunity, you know.... Jesus could have smiled and waived, laughed with the others, as Peter sank. "Bye Peter!" What a laugh, impossible to resist. Many people turn their backs on others when it is inconvenient to know them.

Jesus could have thundered, "Sinner. You are a stiff-necked, faithless man, convinced of your own goodness, eager for your own safety and glory!" And pointed at Peter until the water removed him from sight.

Not our Jesus. Our Jesus is our mediator, our advocate. Our Jesus saves. Our Jesus does not break a bruised reed, nor put out a faintly burning wick. How long did Jesus wait....

³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” ³² And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. ³³ Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.

Peter was discovering he was not so righteous in faith as he hoped. Yet Peter jumped into the water, he was done trusting in his own righteousness, and swam to see Jesus to seek forgiveness.

Jesus was still willing to trust Peter again.

John 21:15-19
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love (Greek word - agape - complete love) me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love (philo -brothery love) you.”

He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love (agape) me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love (philo) you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”

17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love (agape) me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love (agape) you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

Father God, in You real forgiveness exists. Thank You for all of the many times Your forgiveness is given so willingly. In Your Son, Jesus, life is abundant.


Psalm 86:5
You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.


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Psalm 130 ~ my soul waits

World-Class Christmas Lights in Medellin, Colombia

Psalm 130

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio

A Song of Ascents. Physically people moved up and down the Temple steps to sing this Psalm. It represents God the Almighty moving us from place to place in physicality, spiritually, mentally and all aspects of our lives.

¹ Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD!
²O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

³ If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
⁴ But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared.

⁵ I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
⁶ my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.

⁷ O Israel, hope in the LORD!
For with the LORD there is steadfast love,
and with him is plentiful redemption.
⁸ And he will redeem Israel
from all his iniquities.

Christmas is a time of waiting. Advent is preparation for a baby who would be King Forever.

We become so used to our lives. And we forget to Look Up. What God plans for our lives... the places we haven't been, the people we have not met. The weddings yet to happen. The family yet to be born. Opportunities to come. Blessings. Not because we are so deserving; God in His willingness to bless.

The Scriptures record people to be self-centered. We believe we can corner life, put it within our boundaries. Manage everything. Easier to take the Mississippi River and believe man is in charge. Far better to be like Isaiah who cried out -

Isaiah 6:8
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

I read one of the most popular and thought about verses in the Bible is:

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

How many of us believe it? Best to wait upon the LORD.

Luke 13:19
It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.

Hebrews 12:12
Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

Matthew 6:27
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Luke 2:13-14
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”


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John 1:22-41 ~ Who are you?

John 1:22-41

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio

²² So they said to him, "Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" ²³ He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said."

²⁴ (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) ²⁵ They asked him, "Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?" ²⁶ John answered them, "I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, ²⁷ even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie." ²⁸ These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

²⁹ The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! ³⁰ This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.' ³¹ I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel." ³² And John bore witness: "I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. ³³ I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' ³⁴ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."

³⁵ The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, ³⁶ and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" ³⁷ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. ³⁸ Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, "What are you seeking?" And they said to him, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?" ³⁹ He said to them, "Come and you will see." So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 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).


Preparation for Christmas involves mystery. When we are very young, the mystery is What Are You Going to Receive. And as we get a bit older... the mystery is .... find where it is hidden. Major Santa tip - avoid closets, attics and anywhere in your house. Go for the car trunk of the spouse who does the least amount of grocery store shopping in front of the kids. Lock + key = trunk. That way your 7 year old doesn't see the boxes in the attic and you don't have to drive around with your child endlessly, endlessly, endlessly asking if Santa is real. Even the 5 year old is bored. (I must have been brain damaged to hide it in the attic, I should have remembered at his age I was seek until It is found.)

(Yes. No, he isn't I saw the boxes. Yes. No, he isn't I saw the boxes. Santa doesn't need boxes. He isn't real is he? Yes. No. I saw the boxes. Yes. Santa is the Spirit of Giving. He is alive. What? What does that mean. Just repeat cycle in monotonous voice. In just a few weeks, Will they give up? As needed - for variety - for growth - begin explaining St. Nicholas. When more details are pressed, Repeat Cycle! It's good to look glazed and uninterested until the meaning is deeper because this is going to continue.) (Santa gifts at our house were the cheaper one - after all why should Santa have all the gift giving glam.)

At 7 years or older, the TV version of Santa sounds too fruit-loops to be true. And this isn't bad, it leads to discussions of giving. Deeper meaning of Christmas.

The deeper mystery of Christmas is who Jesus is. The Gospels agree that men - grown men - with families and jobs suddenly decided to go and walk, learn from Jesus. From the 1st Chapter, men meeting Jesus realize this man, this human man, is something extraordinary. And they were willing to give Jesus something - like the Magi did - something of extraordinary value. They were willing to give Him.... their lives. So much so, these men who walked with Jesus and hid after His death were willing to give up not just their way of lives but go to other unknown adventures and risk their hail and hearty lives for HIM.

Peter, archaeology tells us, had a magnificent home in Capernaum overlooking the Sea of Galilee. The reason Jesus told Peter several times where to cast the nets, was because Peter was the owner of a fleet of fishing vessels. (Gives some food for thought when next you hear that the disciples where ignorant men, huh? And the illiterate label - an Aramaic inscription on one of the broken Syagogue columns records the name of the donor, "Halfu, son of Zebida". These names in the Greek form (Alphaeus and Zebedee) are mentioned in the New Testament. Jesus Christ's Disciples, James and John, were sons of Zebedee. The New Testament calls them "sons of Thunder".)

Circa 1960 photo of Peter's house in Capernaum before the now existing Church was built to protect it. Synagogue in the Background
I think of St Nicholas giving gifts and we give gifts. In reality, Jesus gave us life. Men were willing to give Him their lives as well, just upon meeting Jesus. Christmas isn't a season. Christmas is having Christ live within us.

The answer to the question, "Who are you" is - I am a Child of God. Not worthy to tie the strap of His sandal. But I have found the Messiah.

Glory to You, Oh God.

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



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Matthew 21:14-17, 21, 22 ~ have faith

Extraordinarily Beautiful - Silent Night (Stille Nacht) Sung by The Vienna Boys Choir

Matthew 21:14-17, 21, 22

The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. ¹⁵ But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.

¹⁶ “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.

“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,

“‘From the lips of children and infants
you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”

¹⁷ And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

²¹ Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. ²² If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

There are hundreds and hundreds of prophesies fulfilled in Jesus Christ. One of them is
Psalm 8.


¹O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
² Out of the mouth of babies and infants,
you have established strength because of your foes,
to still the enemy and the avenger.

³When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
⁴ what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?

⁵Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.
⁶You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under his feet,
⁷all sheep and oxen,
and also the beasts of the field,
⁸the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,
whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

⁹O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

This praise bursting forth from the children, babes and infants really follows along with what Jesus said about His praise will be sung out.

Luke 19:36-40
And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen,

38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

Makes all those Christmas Carols on the radio seem a bit warmer. Doesn't it? I have to admit, I like the old Christmas Carols better than the newer ones. Just a fuddy duddy that way.


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Psalm 1 ~ like a tree

Psalm 1

<sup>English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible


1</sup> Blessed is the man^[a]
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
² but his delight is in the law^[b] of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

³ He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

⁵ Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
⁶ for the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.

Footnotes:
a. Psalm 1:1 The singular Hebrew word for man (ish) is used here to portray a representative example of a godly person;
b. Psalm 1:2 Or instruction

We have had an incredible year for the trees here in the Houston area. Record drought. A stunning number of trees are still standing and dead as a doorbell. Being a gardener, a friend called me to show me her incredible composting skill. That couple can really make dirt. Anyway, they called me to show me their patio tree, one of 3, shading their patio, died in the middle of the drought. It had been fertilized, watered and it just keeled over. It was the 'one' they relied upon for shade. "Why?" They asked. I said my cousin worked for the Louisiana State Forestry Commission and when he visited he said record drought is not record drought. It is just an event that has occurred again and again over the millenniums we have no record of. It is nature's way of making the forest stronger.

But they said, "The tree had all the necessary things for life." I said," It's still the stress of the event of constant wind, constant heat and it got to the tree. "

And I have to add here, we lost a 120 year old Oak that I was passionately in love with during Hurricane Ike, 2008. That grand old lady had a tornado hit her and she politely leaned over and slowly did a whole lot of damage to the next door neighbor's home. An 18 wheeler crane had to come, from Colorado, to remove that beautiful, still green tree covered in acorns. Our area township building authority saw the 3 story crane appear and drove over to see what the crane, he could see over the housetops, was doing. We had just learned our daughter, at 33 weeks gestation, was not going to live.

And wouldn't you know, Psalm 1 was my reading that tornado/hurricane evening. I felt worse than worse. It set me on a journey. What did the book of Job mean and how did it relate to me...

Psalm 1 is about hope and believing we can trust God. The acorns left by the 120 year old Oak left a tree. We are the tree that survived this year's drought. Some day, we will be the real Christmas tree that will just be glorious for this particular season. But in God's promises - all those lights of Christmas - Jesus the Light - continue to shine.

John 1:

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. ¹¹ He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. ¹² But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, ¹³ who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.




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2 Chronicles 33:10-20 ~ God was moved

2 Chronicles 33:10-20

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio

¹⁰ The LORD spoke to Manasseh and to his people, but they paid no attention. ¹¹ Therefore the LORD brought upon them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria, who captured Manasseh with hooks and bound him with chains of bronze and brought him to Babylon. ¹² And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. ¹³ He prayed to him, and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God.

¹⁴ Afterward he built an outer wall for the city of David west of Gihon, in the valley, and for the entrance into the Fish Gate, and carried it around Ophel, and raised it to a very great height. He also put commanders of the army in all the fortified cities in Judah. ¹⁵ And he took away the foreign gods and the idol from the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built on the mountain of the house of the LORD and in Jerusalem, and he threw them outside of the city. ¹⁶ He also restored the altar of the LORD and offered on it sacrifices of peace offerings and of thanksgiving, and he commanded Judah to serve the LORD, the God of Israel. ¹⁷ Nevertheless, the people still sacrificed at the high places, but only to the LORD their God.

¹⁸ Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer to his God, and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, behold, they are in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. ¹⁹ And his prayer, and how God was moved by his entreaty, and all his sin and his faithlessness, and the sites on which he built high places and set up the Asherim and the images, before he humbled himself, behold, they are written in the Chronicles of the Seers. ²⁰ So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his house, and Amon his son reigned in his place.

Advent Conspiracy - Enter the Story

Manasseh, son of Hezekiah, moved God - just from a prayer offered in desperation.

What we are really all looking for in Christmas is to give something meaningful. To move the ones we love. The Advent Conspiracy is for the Biblical Churches who do not have Advent. And what they've done with it - is amazing.

About 12 years ago, we were moving into our second home and we threw out three 40 gallon trash bags from the boys' rooms with just bits of junk in them. It took about 2 days to sort out the junk from the still intact, working toys and as we carried it to the trash, my husband remarked "There goes about 2 Christmases." He was right. (Of course this is part of life! But we've worked hard to put one lasting gift into each Christmas.)

A meaningful gift - it prompts us - what 3 people do you know that you could do an act of kindness for and it would be meaningful. This is what our pastor, Clark Lowenfield asked us this Sunday - and it already starts to put new ideas in motion. Last year Clark challenged us to write a letter - to tell the ones you love - what you've shared with them. Why they are important to you. It's so much better than a warm sweater.

Christmas memories are made from more than a trip to the store. I think my college age sons Are going to enjoy the marshmallow air-rocket guns. I will too if they keep them outside... I'm still thinking on the memorable gift for the family. I do have an idea for a neighbor as one of the 3 people who need something.

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Mark 13:24-27 ~ send out the angels

Mark 13:24-27

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio

²⁴ "But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, ²⁵ and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. ²⁶And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. ²⁷ And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

Angels - with the return of '80's nostalgia, maybe you remember the Christmas Angel craze of the 80's. I have participated in it in a big way and continue today. I saw photos of the New York Met tree in the 80's and have endeavored to do my best with our Christmas tree.


Met tree photos....

And I've had help with my angel tree project from family, my mom (of course) and friends. Even Church parties where the ornament is wrapped and distributed without anyone knowing what the ornament was - mine turns out to be an angel. My great-aunt Eloise had beautiful lace she collected for decades and my cousin Maxine gave it to my mom and to me. So our store bought angels have additions of beautiful lace and gold trim and acrylic paint applied to their clothes.

Not to mention the baseball angel, the football angel, the '99 Spencer doggy went to heaven photo in angel frame, the paper dinner plate angel, the valentine doily angel, the mother's day out angel, musical and medieval mosaic angels, red and white checked art deco angel, renaissance metal angel, pastel- paper- mache WWII plump Shirley Temple musical angels found in the attic of our second home, and - you get the idea. My sons even to this day look for the two angels repainted to look like them at age 5. They enjoyed placing their angel higher than the sibling's and sometimes the tree began to sway as that angel climbed heaven wards to 'higher' glory.

But in the middle of beautiful art - there is one thing I really long to see - an angel on the tree not looking like she is dressed to have High Tea with Queen Victoria. What about the real angels that the heart- stopping reaction is - O.M.G.


Luke 2:8-14

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. ¹⁰ And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." ¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

¹⁴ "Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"


Christmas is not just a reminder of God choosing to become part of our lives, but Christmas is the joyous reminder - we are going Home. All of the Christmas joy and Christmas hassle - our Alpha and Omega are in Jesus Christ. This life is just part of the plan for eternity - beginning today.


2 Peter 1:17
For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

2 Corinthians 3:10
For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory.

2 Corinthians 1:22
and He has also set His seal upon us, and has put His Spirit into our hearts as a pledge and foretaste of future blessing.




Handel Messiah Hallelujah 1000 Choir Chorus
70th BPMC of Anniversary 7th Church Choir Festival.
John Hong, Organist (Hyun Il Hong : 홍현일)
Graduate Juilliard



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