8 Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked. 9 He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well,10 said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he sprang up and began walking. 11 And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.
14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, 15 “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. 16 In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” 18 Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them.
19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. 20 But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.
A hard day of work for the disciples. Out of the frying pan and into the fire. Fortunately for the disciples, the power of life and death is out of the crowd's control.
Psalm 127:1-3 Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. 2 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.
Jacob sees Esau Coming to Meet Him, painted by James Tissot (Genesis 33)
Psalm 99
English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio
The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! 2 The Lord is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples. 3 Let them praise your great and awesome name! Holy is he! 4 The King in his might loves justice. You have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. 5 Exalt the Lord our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he!
6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called upon his name. They called to the Lord, and he answered them. 7 In the pillar of the cloud he spoke to them; they kept his testimonies and the statute that he gave them.
8 O Lord our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings. 9 Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the Lord our God is holy!
Isaiah 6:5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!”
Not everyone who stays away from Church is unbelieving. Some people stay away because they realize they shouldn't stand too close to the Holy mountain of God Almighty. Going to Church makes them feel second rate and guilty.
The disciples were frankly terrified during the Transfiguration. The Glory of God was overwhelming to them. Moses and Elijah - to stand in their midst made them utter weak comments that they must have cringed over later.
Much easier to stay on the most traveled, well worn paths of the work a day world. A resume comes to you, someone knows someone and they are looking for work. A personal email/letter to you is accompanying the resume. Yes, the applicant has had a rough path. He has cheated his dying father. But he was young & his mother helped him. Sure, he was a run away during his father's dying, but he went to work for a relative for years. Years. And he did great work. The relative/boss cheated him. Then he stayed with the cheating employer for years. Sure, he has his way with women and ... women servants. And yes, he did put the women servants in harm's way when his dangerous brother came to call. Oh, yeah. He does have an angry, violent brother who terrifies him.
This man needs work. He has 12 sons and a daughter. He's a great father. Except he favors two of the children. One son, slightly more than the second. The kids are angry, but come on - the man needs work. One of his sons was killed in a wilderness trip. He is willing to leave his beloved promised land and relocate. He is the kind of man to wrestle with great difficulties. Look at the years of work record - this man is even willing to change his name if you promise him eternal loyalty and steadfast love.
So please, make Jacob your banner. He will make a great CEO.
Our God is might to save. And forgiving, seeing the intentions of the heart in difficult situations, forgiving the intentions of the heart in difficult matters.
If God had a name what would it be? I AM, ABBA, FATHER, DADDY And would you call it to his face? Jacob was known to wrestle God If you were faced with him in all his glory - Like Jacob what would you ask if you had just one question? Bless me?!
Yeah, Yeah, God is great Yeah, Yeah, God is good Yeah Yeah yeah yeah yeah
What if God was one of us? This has been known to happen. With angels, star and shepherds Just a slob like one of us - Like Jacob Just a stranger on the bus - "I am a stranger, in a strange land" Trying to make his way home - Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me
If God had a face What would it look like? Early Christian art of Jesus, before the 5th century, looks like the Shroud of Turin - Jesus' face And would you want to see it - Usually there is a crowd at the Shroud If seeing meant that you would have to believe In things like heaven and Jesus and the saints and all the Prophets - So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Yeah Yeah God is great Yeah Yeah God is good Yeah Yeah yeah yeah yeah Yeah!
What if God was one of us? Jesus of Nazareth sending His Holy Spirit to dwell in who All who believe
Just a slob like one of us- He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water. And there he lets the hungry dwell
Just a stranger on the bus Trying to make his way home Just trying to make his way home Back up to Heaven all alone - Nations shall dwell with Him! Nobody callin' on the phone - As long as there are tests there will be prayer in school!
cept for the Pope maybe in Rome - Whenever 2 or more gather in His name....
Yeah Yeah God is great Yeah Yeah God is good Yeah Yeah yeah yeah
Exodus 34:7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”
Numbers 14:18 ‘The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.’
Nehemiah 9:17 They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them
Psalm 86:5 You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.
Psalm 99:8 LORD our God, you answered them; you were to Israel a forgiving God, though you punished their misdeeds.
Daniel 9:9 The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him
Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
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Christianity, Bible, Scripture, Jesus is Lord, Messiah, Anglican, Prayer, Faith, Hope, Love, Miracles, God sees more than others, God sees you. Forgiveness, encouragement. Holiness.
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannotlove God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
Love is an subject interesting everyone. Some people might pretend to be more interested in the ice tea, or the ice cubes swirling in their glass, than appear to be interested in love. Yet love captivates.
Lately Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged was made outside of Hollywood because it is too interested in laissez faire for the left agenda of Hollywood. The party on the left has become the party on the right. I was a business major at Texas A&M and read several of Ayn Rand's books as required reading, at least twice in separate classes. I always was reminded of Taylor Caldwell's Captains and Kings and Testimony of Two Men. Ayn Rand's heroes are schemed against by angry, jealous, powerful people in tortuous, inescapable plots and it is the same for Taylor Caldwell's characters.
Ayn Rand successfully captured the attention of readers, gaining in popularity for 20 years and having a second resurgence, lately. Taylor Caldwell has great little vignettes where the Senator doesn't merely do dastardly deeds and is generally condemned by Ayn Rand's characters for being "a miserable child." Taylor Calwell's Senator will be explained to be generally loved by all, a hero to his constituents; who secretly nagged, bullied and verbally abused his family into 'decline', suicide, alcoholism and destruction while riding a wave of public sympathy for having 'every man' type troubles.
I went to see the beautifully done movie, I finally get to say, 25 years later, - okay Ayn Rand is interesting, but no - she is not an incentive for me to jump on the band wagon of "greed is good." Her characters are dynamic, bold, glamorous, inventive and privileged, self-centered and shallow.
Why has Any Rand hung on while Taylor Caldwell has waned? Taylor Calwell's stories capture much more interesting detail, but Taylor Caldwell philosophy says man's nature does not change.
"There can be help. There's always God," said Amy. "I'm ashamed. I'd forgotten about Him.” She was quiet for a time. When she lifted her head she looked older and resolute. “Don’t blame yourself too much, Cousin Caroline,” she said. “That’s as bad as taking no blame at all. I’m not going to blame everything on Ames; I was a little fool myself. I was old enough to know that things aren’t simple.” - A Prologue to Love
Ayn Rand explains her philosophy:
"You have heard no concepts of morality but the mystical or the social. ... For centuries, the battle of morality was fought between those who claimed that your life belongs to God and those who claimed that it belongs to your neighbors–between those who preached that the good is self-sacrifice for the sake of ghosts in heaven and those who preached that the good is self-sacrifice for the sake of incompetents on earth. And no one came to say that your life belongs to you and that the good is to live it. John Galt - Atlas Shrugged
Well.... so Ayn Rand's protagonist is to claim this life is mine and I will live it for myself - isn't that what her villains are already doing? And doing it to the hero. Novels are just philosophy written to be interesting. People are so willing to listen. Did they listen to the end of Niccolo Machiavelli and Friedrich Nietzsche - where their ideas led them?
So what does Jesus' beloved disciple, Ayn Rand and Taylor Caldwell have to do with the reading? Life is about who you love.
With all these ideas on really how to have a good life - How will we reach a higher level of contentment in this earthly life? I have a good example for you.
My grandmother's next door neighbor had a good married life. Virgina was married to the Ole Miss Football Coach for many years. One day, fairly young, her husband died of a heart attack. She wasn't left with a great deal of money. She'd raised her children and they'd moved away to get good jobs.
Virginia looked every day for a way to help people. When we visited my grandmother, she'd bring us homemade fudge, we'd sit, visit and eat her homemade treat. My grandmother had a headache and Virginia took us to see the fireworks. Virginia - when she was 70 - spent a lot of time driving people from her Church, "the elderly" to Church or to the doctor. She played the piano for 30 years at her Presbyterian Church. She volunteered for Meals on Wheels. I wrote to Virginia after my grandmother had passed on, for about a decade, and told her she always made our visits more fun. Virginia wrote me back and sent newspaper clippings of a parade in Oxford, Mississippi. They had a parade, made Virginia the MC and dedicated the parade to her. Why? She had worked for so many decades, just being helpful to people. Virginia said she'd been tickled to ride on the float in her honor, but really she'd had a good life and a good life was it's own reward.
whoever loves God must also love his brother
The Scriptures don't promise a good life from loving our brother. Virginia found it to be so. I know Virgina faced loneliness when she was a widow. She felt abandoned at times. She wasn't part of the affluent society who loved them when she was part of a football loving community. She didn't have a fancy car. To be frank, all her enthusiasm intimidated my grandmother and as next door neighbors for 40 years, sometimes they gently sniped at each other. Once we were discussing my grandmother's total bereavement after her second husband had passed on and Virginia made such an interesting comment. She said my grandmother's affluent childhood had been so idyllic, it had spoiled the bumps and bruises of adult life for her. Interesting that affluence and ease doesn't necessarily equate to pervasive happiness. Virginia was persistently good to my grandmother; she just never got over loving other people.
Psalm 34:19 A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all
Micah 7:8 Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.
2 Corinthians 4:9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
My friend, SueJen, who is Buddhist, is currently visiting her family in Taiwan. She emailed this to me saying this it is shocking to her, but so touching. Enjoy!
Salvation offered to us in Jesus Christ. The cross is a representation of mankind intersecting God's salvation in the holiness of God; transforming lives in faith, hope and love
Acts 1:6-8
English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Matthew 28:16-20 16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Mark 16:14-16 14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. 15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
The Good News does not always reach the headlines. You might remember April 2009 (Easter) Newsweek Headlines': "The End of Christian America". The quote in the magazine was, "There it was, an old term with new urgency: post-Christian. This is not to say that the Christian God is dead, but that He is less of a force in American politics and culture than at any other time in recent memory." Some of the data was skewed. And the fall in numbers was attributed, although not announced in the article, to the decline of Catholicism in the North East USA. It never was reported the people who fell away from Catholicism over priest sexual abuses, returned and forgave the Church. Pope Benedict comforted the victims by saying it was as painful as Jesus Christ dying, wrongly labeled a sinner, on the cross. The people of Jesus Christ know about forgiveness.
The larger error is believing the Christian Church is struck down by numbers. The Light of Jesus Christ continues to shine.
We live in interesting times. The faithful believe more strongly. The unbelieving are more vocal and upset with topics like the exclusivity of Christian religion being the Only way into the Kingdom of Heaven. Religion is not ever the way into God's Salvation. It is Jesus Christ opening His arms willingly on the cross for all of mankind. Everyone. Jesus is the door, the gate, the way, the truth, the life to eternal salvation. Jesus Christ, as the Son of God, isn't religion, He is relationship.
People love to debate and get angry over Salvation. It is God's work. Salvation is a gift of God. Man can discuss it; God's salvation won't change.
Every 500 years there is a real shift in Christianity. 500 A.D. - 100 years after the 400 year persecution of Christians - Jesus Christ was readily accepted, loved in Europe. Mankind found new grace to allow room for slaves, women and all of mankind at the Communion Table. The Gospel's love and up-building was pouring into Africa. New Empires grew and spread the Gospel into Syria, Russia, and Scandinavia.
1000 A.D - the last holdouts for Hellenic Christianity disappeared. England becomes united under Christianity. Ireland establishes the Church and monasteries as the Emperor of Ireland is established. Russia, Vladimir the Great converts and the Russian Orthodox Church is founded. At the same time, the Latin speaking world was electrified with a renewed interest - studying the scriptures in their Greek version. Paving the way for 1500 A.D - mankind pursued the printing of the Bible and Martin Luther opened the path of Jesus Christ to breakaway from man's abuses of Jesus' Church.
We live in interesting times. For 2,000 years the Light of Christ has shone from His Church - and the gates of hell have not prevailed against it.
In our country, we see growth in Churches believing in Jesus Christ and proclaiming the Scriptures as God's Word. InEurope, countries that have seen Church attendance fall are seeing an up-building of 3% in just a few years. No one saw the European Churches coming back. Except the Lord.
The Pew Forum found: By 2050, Christian Africans will grow another 25%. African Christians believe tremendously in the works of Jesus Christ for today. They believe in Jesus and witness life transforming miracles.
In the 1960's, the Christian Korean Church saw the Holy Spirit awaken the Korean people. Today the Christians in Korea are about 45% of the total population. Once again we see up-building of the Christian soul leads to optimism in the culture. Tremendous growth.
Fox News reports according to China Aid, a Texas-based human rights group, the number of Christians in China has increased 100-fold since 1949. Current estimates range from 80 million to 130 million active members. And one startling estimate from a Chinese Christian businessman has that number doubling or even tripling in the next generation. Christianity could become one of the macro forces shaping Chinese culture, say experts like Dr. David Aikman, author of "Jesus in Beijing."
The Good News does not always reach the headlines.
John 5:17 Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”
Who is called to witness to Jesus Christ. As salt. As flavoring, using the opportunities God gives us. We are called. Live your faith.
Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise up against me; 2 deliver me from those who work evil, and save me from bloodthirsty men.
3 For behold, they lie in wait for my life; fierce men stir up strife against me. For no transgression or sin of mine, O Lord, 4 for no fault of mine, they run and make ready. Awake, come to meet me, and see! 5 You, Lord God of hosts, are God of Israel. Rouse yourself to punish all the nations; spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. Selah
6 Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city. 7 There they are, bellowing with their mouths with swords in their lips— for “Who,” they think, “will hear us?”
8 But you, O Lord, laugh at them; you hold all the nations in derision. 9 O my Strength, I will watch for you, for you, O God, are my fortress. 10 My God in his steadfast love [The God who shows me steadfast love] will meet me; God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.
11 Kill them not, lest my people forget; make them totter [wander]by your power and bring them down, O Lord, our shield! 12 For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips, let them be trapped in their pride. For the cursing and lies that they utter, 13 consume them in wrath; consume them till they are no more, that they may know that God rules over Jacob to the ends of the earth. Selah
14 Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city. 15 They wander about for food and growl if they do not get their fill.
16 But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress. 17 O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.
I love the idea of God as our refuge, and thought of a beautiful fortress. This fortress was founded in the early days of the Christians still loving the Lord even when their lives were in danger. Not all the Christians stayed to become burning lights for the night games at the coliseum. Some carried their love of the Lord to new territories. This refuge exists 1700 years later.
Guaita fortress San Marino Italy, Most Serene Republic of San Marino - is a country in the Apennine Mountains. It is a landlocked enclave, completely surrounded by Italy. One of the European microstates, San Marino has the smallest population of all the members of the Council of Europe.
According to tradition, San Marino is the oldest constitutional republic in the world still existing: it was founded on September 3 in the year 301 by Marinus of Rab, a Christian stonemason fleeing the religious persecution of Roman Emperor Diocletian. San Marino has the oldest written constitution still in effect dating back to 1600.
1 It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, 3 to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. 4 For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.
5 How great are your works, O Lord! Your thoughts are very deep! 6 The stupid man cannot know; the fool cannot understand this: 7 that though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish, they are doomed to destruction forever; 8 but you, O Lord, are on high forever. 9 For behold, your enemies, O Lord, for behold, your enemies shall perish; all evildoers shall be scattered.
10 But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox; you have poured over mefresh oil. 11 My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies; my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants.
12 The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, 15 to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
In the Church, this is still Easter season. Without Jesus Christ, we would not have a New Covenant. I love John Paul II's quote:
We are the Easter people and Hallelujah is our song!
So, we are with the Church still celebrating Jesus Christ rising and overcoming this world. The Son of God, giving us a new Heaven and new earth. This is the fifth time in 5 years of Scripture for Today Blogspot has looked at Psalm 92. Every day regardless of the season, we declare God's overwhelming Love for you.
The Word of God is living and active, there really isn't one true meaning for any chapter of Scripture. When we read God's Word, we have an opportunity to see God's meaning for His Word for us - each day. Just as we continue to see Scripture as the outpouring of the Holy Spirit celebrating Jesus Christ as Lord, in each chapter, in each phrase.
How will you discover, today, Psalm 92 written by the Love God has for you?
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre.
Father God, You put a song in my heart and I remember the song "Shout to the Lord" (I sing for Joy at the Work of Your Hands!). This is a beautiful, soothing instrumental.
For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.
Bring to Your Father, the joy His blessings have given you. Gratitude.
How great are your works, O Lord! Your thoughts are very deep! 6 The stupid man cannot know; the fool cannot understand this: 7 that though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish, they are doomed to destruction forever;
We've had a very rough decade as a nation. The world has seen a troubled year. For too long we have honored self-serving attitudes as winning attitudes - individually - we have all been touched by the great pollutant of sin. It has caused us worry and unhappiness. Then we feed these attitudes to ourselves, our children, our conversations.
but you, O Lord, are on high forever. 9 For behold, your enemies, O Lord, for behold, your enemies shall perish; all evildoers shall be scattered.
Look up. We have God to look up to in hope.
Psalm 89:14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.
God is for you in this life.
But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox; you have poured over me fresh oil. 11 My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies; my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants.
answered as well in Psalm 3: 3 But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. 4 I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill.
God is always open to hear us talk with Him.
The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, 15 to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
John 6:35
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst."
Father God, we claim Your promises to us in Your Word. When we read Your words of hope, of love, of promise for today and eternity; You are filling our souls in the strength and encouragement in You. In the highest name You have given us, Jesus Christ! Amen.
Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord, give praise, O servants of the Lord, 2 who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God! 3 Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing to his name, for it is pleasant! [He is beautiful] 4 For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel as his own possession.
5 For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. 6 Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. 7 He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind from his storehouses.
8 He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and of beast; 9 who in your midst, O Egypt, sent signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants; 10 who struck down many nations and killed mighty kings, 11 Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan, 12 and gave their land as a heritage, a heritage to his people Israel.
13 Your name, O Lord, endures forever, your renown, O Lord, throughout all ages. 14 For the Lord will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants.
15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands. 16 They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see; 17 they have ears, but do not hear, nor is there any breath in their mouths. 18 Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them!
19 O house of Israel, bless the Lord! O house of Aaron, bless the Lord! 20 O house of Levi, bless the Lord! You who fear the Lord, bless the Lord! 21 Blessed be the Lord from Zion, he who dwells in Jerusalem! Praise the Lord!
~ For I know that the LORD is great And that our Lord is above all gods.
How Great Is Our God, sung by Chris Tomlin
Exodus 33:19 And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Exodus 34:6,7 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.
Psalm 16:2 I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing."
Psalm 104:31 May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works -
James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Psalm 145:9 The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.
Psalm 8
1 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2 From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.
3 When I consider 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, the son of man that you care for him?
Romans 8:20,21 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
Luke 2:12-14
This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
This is our Scripture passage for today. It sort of stumped me at first. So going back to look at the John's 3rd Gospel Chapter I read:
22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 (for John had not yet been put in prison).
25 Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” 27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”
31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
And upon reading it in context - I realized we are very fortunate today to have the opportunity to read John the Baptist's thoughts on humanity, the Holy Spirit and the affects and effects of holiness on us. All this insight given to us at the end of years - John the Baptist's contemplations.
I feel I understand John the Baptist so much more when we look at him with the details God gives us about John.
John leaped with joy as a baby in his mother's womb at Jesus' mother's greeting. Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God as His messenger tells us about John the Baptist:
Luke 1:14-17 "you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
So what pattern are we seeing develop here:
John understands the Way, the Truth and the Life are not the vast highways humans travel in their day-to-day existence. John has spent some considerable time in what Jesus called "lonely places" to pray. God has given John the Baptist the ability to understand, communicate and draw people into their own wilderness seeking. John draws people away from the grandeur of the Temple, into getting dusty, waiting in line (upon the Lord), and anticipation of redemption. Redemption drawing a crowd? This must be Elijah!!!
What does John's insight tell us - deliberate choice. John says it is the choices we make that help us discover if God is true. In John the Baptist's famous quotes saying twice he didn't know Jesus, John the Baptist is telling us a). he wasn't born with insight he knew of and was aware of. b). this is not a nepotism job where John the Baptist accepted Jesus as Savior without years of personal growth.
Our Redemption Baptizer is also telling us - God puts people in our lives preparing us and others to know God. God says through John the Baptist - God's efforts will largely go unheard and unheeded. We are not waiting upon the pat on the back for our lives and service for the LORD.
God does not give up on mankind. Why should we? 1. Deliberate choice to find out if God is real. Not the opinions of culture or others. 2. Time spent in quietness to think and pray. 3. Reading the Scripture for yourself. And thinking. 4. An attitude of gratitude to notice..... 5. Seeing the things of God unfold as true. God speaking to you of your life and your choices. Leaning on Him in love. Learning every part of Scripture has meaning for you, each day.
John 1:46-51 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
John 1:10-1610
He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.
He came to his own,and his own peopledid not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
And 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. (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.’”) And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered; and those who hate him shall flee before him! 2 As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away; as wax melts before fire, so the wicked shall perish before God! 3 But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with joy!
4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts; his name is the Lord; exult before him! 5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. 6 God settles the solitary in a home; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.
7 O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, Selah 8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel. 9 Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad; you restored your inheritance as it languished; 10 your flock [your congregation] found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.
11 The Lord gives the word; the women who announce the news are a great host: 12 “The kings of the armies—they flee, they flee!” The women at home divide the spoil— 13 though you men lie among the sheepfolds— the wings of a dove covered with silver, its pinions with shimmering gold. 14 When the Almighty scatters kings there, let snow fall on Zalmon.
15 O mountain of God, mountain of Bashan; O many-peakedmountain, mountain of Bashan! 16 Why do you look with hatred, O many-peaked mountain, at the mount that God desired for his abode, yes, where the Lord will dwell forever? 17 The chariots of God are twice ten thousand, thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary. 18 You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there.
19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah 20 Our God is a God of salvation, and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death. 21 But God will strike the heads of his enemies, the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways. 22 The Lord said, “I will bring them back from Bashan, I will bring them back from the depths of the sea, 23 that you may strike your feet in their blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from the foe.”
24 Your procession is seen, O God, the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary— 25 the singers in front, the musicians last, between them virgins playing tambourines: 26 “Bless God in the great congregation, the Lord, O youwho are of Israel's fountain!” 27 There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead, the princes of Judah in their throng, the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.
28 Summon your power, O God, the power, O God, by which you have worked for us. 29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings shall bear gifts to you. 30 Rebuke the beasts that dwell among the reeds, the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples. Trample underfoot those who lust after tribute; scatter the peoples who delight in war. 31 Nobles shall come from Egypt; Cush shall hasten to stretch out her hands to God.
32 O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; sing praises to the Lord, Selah 33 to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens; behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice. 34 Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, and whose power is in the skies. 35 Awesome is God from his sanctuary; the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!
Here in the Piney woods of Texas, near Houston, we had a slight drought last summer. This year, I'm not sure I remember but one good rain. We've had a wildfire within about 15 miles of our house and one in Huntsville, Texas. Last year the Major of Conroe put an article in The Conroe Courier saying if you believe in the Almighty, please pray for rain. We got rain that week! So, I am asking you to pray for rain in our area of Texas. Like a friend said, at least we aren't having tornadoes. Okay, I'm very willing to be grateful for lack of tornadoes, but still the prayer for rain would be appreciated.
It's weather with a twist - I've never experienced drought with pleasant winds and very nice, cool temperatures in May. I love to garden and I was outside today caring for some of my potted plants - like Imperial Delight, Bougainvillea - and I started thinking about all the usual events in weather. I wondered if I should let Father God know I am concerned about the month of pleasant breezes we've had drying out the natural vegetation. At Church, we discussed that a hurricane would surely snap the dried out trees. We've also discussed irrigation needed for the forested part of our campus, located right off the busy 6 lane Woodlands Parkway.
I decided in prayer - I am going to thank Father God for the beautiful blue skies, the cool breezes we don't usually have, the pleasant temperatures. The great weather. Rejoice in what is before you. Rejoice! And I will let Father God know I am asking for several good soaking rains, for His great mercy in hearing our prayers. Only from time to time do I remind Him - we'd love to be protected from Hurricanes.
Now that I've shared some of my prayer requests with you and with our Father, I'm going to go see what I can do in my yard. Then I'm going to thrill my dog with a walk on this beautiful day. I am going to look for that rain! If the Lord should decide to withhold rain, I am going to wait for His plan. I know I can rest easily because I've asked and I will rest in His will.
~ Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, and whose power is in the skies. Awesome is God from his sanctuary; the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!
Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Hebrews 13:20-21 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god. 3 Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family [of the seed of the kingdom] and of the nobility, 4 youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king's palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. 5 The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. 6 Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. 7 And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.
8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. 9 And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, 10 and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king.” 11 Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king's food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see.” 14 So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king's food. 16 So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.
17 As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 18 At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And the king spoke with them, and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king. 20 And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom. 21 And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus.
When we read Scripture, we let our mind, our soul wander. Within the context of the passage, if we don't we are left with memorization - a tool, certainly, but not everything.
This year Rick Warren started a Daniel Diet and that started a controversy about Rick Warren being all things to all people - not even a Christian. How I dislike that. We all seek to know God and to please Him. How can we please Him, if we are so busy sorting out the errors of others? Jesus said here is the stone, cast the first stone, if...... And if someone feels compelled to criticize a brother in Christ, the Scripture give a framework.
Luke 12:57-58 “And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?58 As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison.
I've read a lot of people putting Rick Warren down for using a non-Christian nutritionist doctor. And I'm not sure I would start a Nazorite life style change called the Daniel Diet with the opposite of Daniel's idea of wisdom. Daniel looked for wisdom beyond the culture. But before I jumped up and down, and declared Rick Warren to be of no value Spiritually - I sure would think about Luke 12. Do you think God would be pleased to have a man of God debunked as of no value publicly?
Or do you think that if you felt strongly enough to cast a first stone publicly - it would work better between two people of God to write Rick Warren a private letter. Even the Queen of England says she likes to learn about what people are thinking. (Can you tell it is Royal Wedding week?)
It's a lot like the Apple and "the other guy" commercials. The Apple guy is relaxed and confident. The other guy looks up-tight and a little angry. The non-Christian world perceives us not as the Apple guy, but the other guy. Priggish, petty quarrels are exactly what did Not bring Daniel before the King and before the Chaldean culture bringing about a Victory for God Almighty. Culture, smulture an angry protester might say.
Mark 16:15 And then he told them, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone."
2 Corinthians 5:20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
Ambassadors for Christ is what a follower of Christ is supposed to be. Not the grocery store rag paper finding a reason to harp.
Versus:
Matthew 11:12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.
It is good to stay away from verbal violence of debunking people trying to say - God is Love.
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.
Daniel dealt with a foreign culture with kind words, prayer and self-control. How can the Kingdom of God do less with its own?
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We believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He has saved all who call upon His name and rely on Him for His Grace. The Scriptures are living & active and are for understanding the Lord Almighty. Biblical readings are chosen from the Ecumenical Christian Church and the Nicene Council, 325 A.D., approved Apocrypha. People remember not just from reading, but by sight and orally- an image has been added as well as audio readings. God tends to link the passages together with fascinates - this blogger, Anne-Laurel Gardere
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Email registry at bottom.! “All Scripture is inspired by God” (2 Timothy 3:16). Men “moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:21). The Holy Spirit carried men along, moving and guiding them as they wrote in their own words what God wanted them to say.
The Bible is unique; comprised of 80 separate books, & written over a period of thousands of years by more than 40 writers with one Author, spanning the centuries, different states of peace & war & different situations in life. The Bible answers the question: of who is God, who is man & what can their relationship can be. Although the Bible was written on perishable material and copied by hand for many centuries, its accuracy is not in doubt, proven by Dead Sea Scrolls and papyrus from 2,000 years. The Bible has survived persecution & criticism to be read with great interest in each generation.
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