Matthew 22:34-40 ~ The great and first commandment. And a second is like it

Matthew 22:34-40

<sup>English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible


34</sup> But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. ³⁵ And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. ³⁶ "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" ³⁷ And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ³⁸ This is the great and first commandment. ³⁹ And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ⁴⁰ On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."


Bells ~ Church bells announce the birth of Jesus.

Candles and Christmas Lights - Represent the Light Jesus brought to earth.

Candy Canes - A Shepherd's symbol, a Shepherd's Crozier, combined with the stripes given to Jesus by Pilate.

Christmas Cards ~ Private notes of good tidings were sent at Christmas time. In 1843, Sir Henry Cole had 1000 special designed cards printed. The custom of sending Christmas cards began.

Christmas Stocking ~ A legend associated with the origin of Christmas stockings. St. Nicholas, Bishop of Turkey, wanted to remain anonymous while helping a poor family, threw gold coins down their chimney. They fell into a stocking hanging to dry.

Evergreen Tree ~ Tree was decorated by the pagans at the feast of the winter solstice. Christians use evergreen tree as a sign of life unending.

Gifts ~ The first Christmas gifts were given by the Wise Men to Baby Jesus. More importantly, Jesus came to give us the gift of Life.

Holly ~ A play on the word for Holiness. Early Christians used Holly on their doors to symbolize a home in which Christ's birth is celebrated.

Icicles ~ A tree decoration. An old story, the Christ child took shelter for a night under a pine tree. When the tree realized it was caring for Jesus, tears of happiness fell from its branches. The tears froze into icicles.

Mince meat pie ~ Full of spices and fruits. Represents exotic treasures of the East the Wise Men brought to Jesus.

Poinsettia ~ Flower was brought to the U.S. by Dr. J.R. Poinsett in 1825. He was the first first United States ambassador to Mexico. Because of its flame leaf, the poinsettia is sometimes called the Christmas Star sending the Magi & Shepherds to see the Birth of Jesus the Christ.

Frankincense - A resin from a rare and sacred tree used as incense

Myrrh - A resin from a shrub used in making perfume.

..............¨♥*✫♥,
.........,•✯´.........´*✫
.......♥*................ __/\__
.......*♥............… ..*-:¦:-*
...¸.•✫.............……/.•*•.\
...~`,`~.................. |
¸....✫................... *•*
´¸...*♥..´¸...........*♥♫♥*
´¸¸♥*................✯•♫•♥•*
´¸.•✫ .............. *♥•♫•♫♥*
~`,`~............. ✯♥•♦♫♥•♥*.
`.✫`.............. *♥☺♥•♥•☺♥*.
●/................✯♥•♥♠♫♥#♥•♥*..
/▌................*♥♫•♥♫•♥♫♥•♫♥*
/ \....................... ╬╬╬╬

It seems to be a contradiction when Psalm 116 says boldly all men are liars. And Jesus continues that thought when He said:

John 2:25
He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.

Matthew 23:37
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.

Why would God tell us to love one another so well when He says we all have the taint of Adam - original sin - in us? Because we are All included in the condemnation of the innate sinfulness of mankind. When we talk about the first 2 commandments as being love and loving, we are really implying there is a 3rd Commandment - Forgive One Another.

When we forgive each other in earnest, we are forgiving ourselves. Forgiveness expands our lives.

Rick Warren and Tom Holladay examined forgiveness in the book "Relationship Principles of Jesus" and the book begins by saying Jesus places the highest priority on relationship between people. God would not have a relationship with us without forgiveness.

Tom Holladay looks in depth at turning the other cheek and giving your shirt or your coat talked about in the Gospels of Jesus. The meaning isn't literal. We are supposed to live with love in ourselves instead of bitterness and revenge. This isn't an example of a child at school willingly choosing to be beaten, again, by the school bully. It is not living in fear and not living for revenge. It is offering not to hate as a first step to peace and love.

As a sign: An early Church example of turning the other cheek would be the people's need to hide their belief in Christianity and all the letters being copied of the new Gospel and New Testament. Nero collected the Bible from them and imprisoned them for the games. When the Christians turned the other cheek and died bravely, it make the Coliseum crowd uneasy. Then the Christians knelt and prayed for their captors, Nero turned them into human torches for the night games, which was not a crowd pleaser either. The Christians went into hiding and/or fled back into the depths of Europe and Asia, continuing in their flight to take Christ's love and the New Testament with them. Both in flight/hiding and in standing and turning the other cheek - the full Love of the Lord spread all over as people were hungry to know this Love and Forgiveness.

Just as all the Christmas symbols are symbols of Jesus choosing to live in the muck we can all create out of life - Forgiveness is a symbol that we understand our anger, our hurt, our embarrassment isn't the most important thing on the planet. There are larger matters. And God chose not to label us "unworthy."

Acts 20:28
Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.

Isaiah 12:1
In that day you will say: "I will praise you, O LORD. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me."

Hezekiah and the Kingdom of Israel were saved by God by one of the largest and most brutal empires of world history - Assyria. They were not especially sin free, but blessed - they knew to be grateful. It was one of the few times Israel was grateful.


2 Chronicles 22:20-23

20 Then Hezekiah the king and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed because of this and cried to heaven. 21 And the Lord sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty warriors and commanders and officers in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he came into the house of his god, some of his own sons struck him down there with the sword. 22 So the Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib king of Assyria and from the hand of all his enemies, and he provided for them on every side. 23 And many brought gifts to the Lord to Jerusalem and precious things to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations from that time onward.

With this salvation from God, the Kingdom of Israel decided to act in selfishness and enslave the Kingdom of Judah:

2 Chronicles 28:8-15

The men of Israel took captive 200,000 of their relatives, women, sons, and daughters. They also took much spoil from them and brought the spoil to Samaria. 9 But a prophet of the Lord was there, whose name was Oded, and he went out to meet the army that came to Samaria and said to them, “Behold, because the Lord, the God of your fathers, was angry with Judah, he gave them into your hand, but you have killed them in a rage that has reached up to heaven. 10 And now you intend to subjugate the people of Judah and Jerusalem, male and female, as your slaves. Have you not sins of your own against the Lord your God? 11 Now hear me, and send back the captives from your relatives whom you have taken, for the fierce wrath of the Lord is upon you.”

12 Certain chiefs also of the men of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against those who were coming from the war 13 and said to them, “You shall not bring the captives in here, for you propose to bring upon us guilt against the Lord in addition to our present sins and guilt. For our guilt is already great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.” 14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the assembly. 15 And the men who have been mentioned by name rose and took the captives, and with the spoil they clothed all who were naked among them. They clothed them, gave them sandals, provided them with food and drink, and anointed them, and carrying all the feeble among them on donkeys, they brought them to their kinsfolk at Jericho, the city of palm trees. Then they returned to Samaria.

At least they were willing to be redeemed.

Isaiah lived 2,800 years ago and mankind has not changed much. Can we trust Isaiah to accurately have recorded the war with Assyria and the salvation of Israel from this mighty Empire. Yes. Implicitly.

Sennacheribs Prism Isaiah Bible Archaeology - A. Must. See....


\

The 2,000 year old Isaiah Scroll found with other Dead Sea Scrolls. One of the reasons the Dead Sea Scrolls were so important - it is so very, very old and matches the Biblical versions we have today.

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

<><

Psalm 116 ~ I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living

The Ultra Talanted BarlowGirl (s) sing a beautiful favorite, O Come Emmanuel



Psalm 116

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible


I love the LORD, because he has heard
my voice and my pleas for mercy.
2 Because he inclined his ear to me,
therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
3 The snares of death encompassed me;
the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
I suffered distress and anguish.
4 Then I called on the name of the LORD:
"O LORD, I pray, deliver my soul!"

5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous;
our God is merciful.
6 The LORD preserves the simple;
when I was brought low, he saved me.
7 Return, O my soul, to your rest;
for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.

8 For you have delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling;
9 I will walk before the LORD
in the land of the living.

10 I believed, even when I spoke,
"I am greatly afflicted";
11 I said in my alarm,
"All mankind are liars."

12 What shall I render to the LORD
for all his benefits to me?
13 I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the LORD,
14 I will pay my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all his people.

15 Precious in the sight of the LORD
is the death of his saints.
16 O LORD, I am your servant;
I am your servant, the son of your maidservant.
You have loosed my bonds.
17 I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving
and call on the name of the LORD.
18 I will pay my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all his people,
19 in the courts of the house of the LORD,
in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Praise the LORD!


God's mercy, preservation and blessing. Deliverance from trouble and answered prayer. You can say Psalm 116 has it all. Wonderful Matthew Henry says the Psalms are a warm place to be. And he is right as usual. All of the power and deliberate-ness of the Old Testament and the Love and Mercy of the New Covenant.

Psalm 116 is a favorite of mine. Why? Answered prayer. All the compassion of Love appealing to me in God. Assurance when I am low - He cares for me. The end of tears. Rest, as in a huge sigh. All of this available to me now, not far away. The return of fellowship and good company - my friends. The remembrance not to make friends into gods, for all people let each other down.

Psalm 116 is a happy, soothing Psalm. More joy in joyful times. A balm when there is trouble. My mother's mother used to say in great vexation, "I am greatly afflicted." This is a homecoming Psalm to me. I can remember her loosing something (like Chapstick) in the bathroom and hearing her say that. And rolling on the floor laughing, literally. And other times. My grandmother did have times of real tragedy in her life, but she was a woman who had tremendous joy. She knew where to turn, to her Father God.

I will be someone who's word is their bond. My vows will be honored. I want to be that person, who can be relied upon.

Precious to my Father is the end of my life. Not haphazard intention, but careful consideration. A hope and a future. Not a down spiraling. Going from this life like my grandmother used to pray - like a whole Camellia flower. Remembering again - thanksgiving - is the best and most basic guide to living, being and dwelling in blessing.


And again; 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.

I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice

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.


I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the LORD!




<><

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."




<><

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.



<><

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.



<>< !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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.


<><

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!”


<><

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.



<><