Psalm 149 ~ sing to the LORD a new song

Psalm 149

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible


Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song,
his praise in the assembly of the godly!
2 Let Israel be glad in his Maker;
let the children of Zion rejoice in their King!
3 Let them praise his name with dancing,
making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!
4 For the LORD takes pleasure in his people;
he adorns the humble with salvation.
5 Let the godly exult in glory;
let them sing for joy on their beds.
6 Let the high praises of God be in their throats
and two-edged swords in their hands,
7 to execute vengeance on the nations
and punishments on the peoples,
8 to bind their kings with chains
and their nobles with fetters of iron,
9 to execute on them the judgment written!
This is honor for all his godly ones.
Praise the LORD!


Being in a Rut. Doing the same things and having the same thoughts. I've heard a female marriage counselor friend say the most challenging thing to making permanent and good changes to any situation, is the short cuts we take in communication with each other.

We develop our own paths and they are understood.

Father God, we open our hands to You, to guide us. Let us each day fill our day with being helpful, being cheerful, being honest with each other. In the name of Jesus. Amen.



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Psalm 10 ~ the innocent

Psalm 10

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible


1 Why, O LORD, do you stand far away?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

2 In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor;
let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised.
3 For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul,
and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the LORD.
4 In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him;
all his thoughts are, "There is no God."
5 His ways prosper at all times;
your judgments are on high, out of his sight;
as for all his foes, he puffs at them.
6 He says in his heart, "I shall not be moved;
throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity."
7 His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression;
under his tongue are mischief and iniquity.
8 He sits in ambush in the villages;
in hiding places he murders the innocent.
His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless;
9 he lurks in ambush like a lion in his thicket;
he lurks that he may seize the poor;
he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net.
10 The helpless are crushed, sink down,
and fall by his might.
11 He says in his heart, "God has forgotten,
he has hidden his face, he will never see it."

12 Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand;
forget not the afflicted.
13 Why does the wicked renounce God
and say in his heart, "You will not call to account"?
14 But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation,
that you may take it into your hands;
to you the helpless commits himself;
you have been the helper of the fatherless.
15 Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer;
call his wickedness to account till you find none.

16 The LORD is king forever and ever;
the nations perish from his land.
17 O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted;
you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear
18 to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed,
so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.


Recently I read Ezekiel 5. I felt it was too gloomy to want to write about it. Ezekiel discovers how deep and how extensive God's judgement will be for Jerusalem. For Judah. In the 5th chapter of Ezekiel, the Lord says He has spoken several times.

So, today, I am freely writing of Psalm 10. A Psalm of oppression and seemingly unending opposition.

Why not be a blog, a person, a faith only looking at the Psalms with amazing depths of goodwill? Blessings from a Willing LORD, unending. With God all things are possible. God is a God of Love.

We look at these passages, because we do experience set backs. This Scripture is written from your Father to you. I had a friend long ago who took her spirited 2-3 year old to the pediatrician. The tests run at the doctors office had results showing an ear infection and malnutrition. Overall her son looked like a good looking boy. The pediatrician sat down next to my friend on the examining table and said, "What do you think about your son's condition? His blood tests..." Like one friend to another. My friend confessed her son wouldn't eat anything but formula and Oreo cookies. She said she wasn't going to confess this but the pediatrician was taking his time with her. The pediatrician said, if he had his choice he might live on Oreos and milk, but he'd have trouble getting to work and walking and eventually tying his shoes. The reason he didn't live on cookies and milk - really the doctor had enough grown sense to know not to do this.

So, the doctor concluded, it wasn't fun to endure the tantrums but being placed in a position of guidance, she needed to guide. She needed to let him be hungry enough to eat real food. (No, I hear you thinking it was my son, but not this time!)

The Scriptures tell us we should realize we have troubles in this life. Look Up.

O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted;
you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear
to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed,
so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.

We believe in God. God is Love. God hears us. Jesus, our advocate says He prays for us in signs to deep for words. Not to take us out of the world. To keep us from evil.

Psalm 138

Of David.

I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart;
before the gods I sing your praise;
² I bow down toward your holy temple
and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things
your name and your word.
³ On the day I called, you answered me;
my strength of soul you increased.

⁴ All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O LORD,
for they have heard the words of your mouth,
⁵ and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD,
for great is the glory of the LORD.
⁶ For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly,
but the haughty he knows from afar.

⁷ Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
and your right hand delivers me.
⁸ The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands.

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Romans 1 ~ First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world

Romans 1

1 Paul, a servant [slave or bondservant ] of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David [ who came from the offspring of David] according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, 6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you 10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine. 13 I want you to know, brothers, [brothers and sisters] that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, [non-Greeks] both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, [beginning and ending in faith ] as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” [The one who by faith is righteous shall live]

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

16 Years, 16 Years, 16 Years 16 Years, 16 Years, 16 Years 16 Years, 16 Years, 16 Years

The Book of Romans is something we, as Christians, toss into the category of another Book in the New Testament. In Proclaiming ~ Jesus as Lord ~ the foundations of the world order were Changing! It begins to tell us of the Impact of God's Son Choosing to come into the world as Truth and Grace.

The Book of Romans must have been written prior to 49 A.D, at that time, Jews were expelled by the Roman Emperor from Rome. Much of the Book of Romans is proclaiming to the Jews that the Grace of God is to all of mankind. Already Paul was telling Christians to submit to authorities, in Chapter 13. Claudius did not want his power questioned, he wanted a pure strain of Eleusinian Greek mysteries deifying the Roman Emperor. Claudius was stirred to action when Jews and Christians argued to the point of uproar over claims Jesus was, and still is, today, the Messiah. The druids were also removed from Rome, for good measure.

Short work for a little known religion springing out of the outskirts of provincial Judea! Not really a surprising amount of time or attention for the Son of God. Jesus working miracles in bringing the hearts of His people to know and love Him. Imagine, in just about 16 YEARS after Jesus took his disciples to talk about the power in the world in Caesarea, Matthew 16:16-28 , Jesus' predictions about Rome, the Empire of the whole world, are already happening.

No media, no newspaper, no internet. The Slow Boat. A man died in a provincial province of the Roman Empire. His cross read - "King of the Jews" - killed for claiming to be God's Son.

Paul says in the Book of Romans, the Good News of Jesus Christ is being proclaimed in all the world. Jesus Christ is receiving vast attention in the heart of the Roman Empire, Rome itself and the Emperor.

John 1:1-5, 9-14
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 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 people did 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.

Father God, we thank You for Your Son. How often we accept without wonder Your words. We give You thanks, You are the light of the world. Amen.



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Psalm 147 ~ the LORD takes pleasure

Psalm 147

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

¹ Praise the LORD!For it is good to sing praises to our God;
for it is pleasant [for He is beautiful],
and a song of praise is fitting.
² The LORD builds up Jerusalem;
he gathers the outcasts of Israel.
³ He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
⁴ He determines the number of the stars;
he gives to all of them their names.
⁵ Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;
his understanding is beyond measure.
⁶ The LORD lifts up the humble [afflicted];
he casts the wicked to the ground.

⁷ Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving;
make melody to our God on the lyre!
⁸ He covers the heavens with clouds;
he prepares rain for the earth;
he makes grass grow on the hills.
⁹ He gives to the beasts their food,
and to the young ravens that cry.
¹⁰ His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,
¹¹ but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love.

¹² Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem!
Praise your God, O Zion!
¹³ For he strengthens the bars of your gates;
he blesses your children within you.
¹⁴ He makes peace in your borders;
he fills you with the finest of the wheat.
¹⁵ He sends out his command to the earth;
his word runs swiftly.
¹⁶ He gives snow like wool;
he scatters hoarfrost like ashes.
¹⁷ He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs;
who can stand before his cold?
¹⁸ He sends out his word, and melts them;
he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.
¹⁹ He declares his word to Jacob,
his statutes and rules to Israel.
²⁰ He has not dealt thus with any other nation;
they do not know his rules.
Praise the LORD!

The people of God praise Him for His mercies and care. Praising God is not work, but is the only gift given to the creator, the Most High God, our Father. Thanksgiving is the only sacrifice that is pleasing wholly to God. We cannot give Him gifts He gave us. It becomes us as reasonable creatures, much more as people in covenant with God! Salvation only comes from God, with Him all things are possible. God sent His son, not to condemn the world, but to save the world. He gathers outcast sinners by His grace, and will bring them into His holy habitation. To those whom God heals with the consolations of his Spirit, He speaks peace, assures them their sins are pardoned. And for this, let us praise Him also! Man's knowledge is soon ended; but God's knowledge is so deep that can never be fathomed. And while He tells the number of the stars, He hears the broken-hearted sinner.

While He feeds the young ravens, He will not leave his praying people destitute. Clouds look dull and melancholy, yet without them we could have no rain, and no fruit. Thus afflictions look black and unpleasant; but from clouds of affliction come showers that make the soul to yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness. The psalmist does not delight where sinners trust and glory; but a serious and suitable regard to God is: faith. We are not to be in doubt between hope and fear, but to act under the gracious influences of knowing faith, hope and love in a gracious Father. ~ Paraphrase, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

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Other Scripture for Today Blogspot readings on Psalm 147:
July 1, 2011
December 31, 2010
February 12, 2010
November 21, 2010


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Colossians 1:9-14 ~ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins

Colossians 1:9-14

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

⁹ And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, ¹⁰ so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

¹¹ May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, ¹² giving thanks [patience, with joy giving thanks] to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. ¹³ He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.


One of the striking things about the New Testament is the fervor the disciples prayed for the people they met in their travels. Of course, Jesus tells us that He is working and His Father is working today. The Holy Spirit bares witness that the sighs of our spirit are the unceasing prayer of our advocate, God's Spirit.

Pray for family and friends. Usually it is one word will do and an image. Jesus holding the person. Really God understands this prayer. The name of Jesus is better than all words put together.

- to know God’s will (verse 9)
- to do God’s will (verse 10)
- grow in the knowledge of God (verse 10)
- experience God’s power (verse 11)
- persevere as Christians (verse 11)
- thankful for all that God has done for them (verse 12)

This is also the parable of the seeds Jesus gave us. That we might be the good seeds falling on good soil. Not judging others in their journey, but offering the prayer of encouragement. The Steadfast Love of Jesus. Holding us. Let us always be the one of the 10, cleansed, healed and ready to give thanks to our Father.


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Luke 4:38-44 ~ He arose and left the synagogue

Jesus, In the Synagogue. Painted by Greg Olson.

Luke 4:38-44

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

³⁸ And he arose and left the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they appealed to him on her behalf. ³⁹ And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them.

⁴⁰ Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. ⁴¹ And demons also came out of many, crying, "You are the Son of God!" But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.

⁴² And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, ⁴³ but he said to them, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose." ⁴⁴ And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea [Galilee].

Jesus wasn't one who lived in the Temple. Anna lived in the Temple, waiting to see the Messiah.

Luke 2:36-38
³⁶And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, ³⁷and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. ³⁸And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Simeon as well.

Luke 2:25-32
Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. ²⁶And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. ²⁷And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, ²⁸he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
²⁹"Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
³⁰for my eyes have seen your salvation
³¹ that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
³² a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel."

Simeon and Anna were godly people, living their lives, in God's plan for them. Luke's 2nd chapter, shows again when Jesus stays behind to debate the teachers of the law, practically living in the Temple - God's Son does not live in the Temple.

Many portions of Scripture tell us to plan for our lives, make our choices wisely. Anna and Simeon chose, in God's plan to live in His Temple. While Jesus never said He wanted to live in the Temple, the Scriptures do record Jesus saying his adult hometown was Capernaum, off of the Sea of Galilee.

Matthew 4:13
And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali



We see in today's passage a glimpse of Jesus. Always God's Son. Always a Teacher. Always willing to Heal. Yet in this passage, Jesus the Son of God sent to be fully human, fully divine tells us about leaving Capernaum. He must. He was sent. To send the Good News.

Jesus. Our Savior. A man with choices.

Matthew 8:20
And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”


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Other Scripture for Today Blogspot passages on Capernaum.

July 10, 2011


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Mattew 12:1-12 ~ hope

Matthew 12:1-12


English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible


1 At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, "Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath." 3 He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? 5 Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? 6 I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. 7 And if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath."

9 He went on from there and entered their synagogue. 10 And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"— so that they might accuse him. 11 He said to them, "Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." 13 Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

15 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all 16 and ordered them not to make him known. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:
18 "Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
19 He will not quarrel or cry aloud,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
20 a bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory;
21 and in his name the Gentiles will hope."


Sunday, I had the great fortune to sit with the rest of my Church family (plus my mom, her wonderful boyfriend Jack and my husband) and hear a wonderful sermon partially on the do not be anxious Scripture. We were God's wheat sitting in His wheat field! Growing on that warm Sunday to be fruitful for God.

Matthew 6:25-34
English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? ²⁸And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, ²⁹yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ³²For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. ³³But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

³⁴ "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Last week, we talked about a woman who was weeping over more testing needed for re-occurring cancer and was letting me know how she was feeling guilt-stricken that Jesus would not want her to be fearful. And our sermon was about not dwelling on the hurts of the past to grab the peace God would give us as a gift. A supernatural gift.

My mom turned to me - glowing - and said it was the best sermon she'd heard in a long time.

God does not want us to suffer in worry over what He is willing to do for us. God is willing to become man, living as truth and grace among us. Understanding our sufferings. Weeping with Lazarus' sisters, freeing people from their illnesses and hurts. Dancing with David in victory.

When we look at today's passage, we see wheat - a harvest of fruitfulness in progress. We see Jesus commenting on getting sheep out of a pit. We have an incredible gift - a miracle of a restored hand from Father God. We are all talking about the same thing. Acts of God. Jesus is telling us His is merciful. Fruit must have time to grow. Supernatural gifts must have room to be celebrated. The man with the restored hand was that sheep in a pit.

The woman who was afraid, about cancer testing, wanted to be strengthened. Jesus is that kind of Savior. He is the Savior willing to be merciful to us as we grow in Him. The lady who was weeping last week, looks forward in hope this week.

Jesus tells us over and over about God's willingness. This is why in all circumstances, in good times, in difficulty, Jesus is our Hope.



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Acts 6 ~ full of faith

Acts 6

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible



In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."

This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. These men began to argue with Stephen, but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.

Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, "We have heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God."

So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. They produced false witnesses, who testified, "This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us."

All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.


~ They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.


Recently, I was again thinking about prayer; the Bible is full of prayer, and last night two passages were brought to my attention and here they are:

Psalm 8
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?
5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings [or God]
and crowned him with glory and honor.

Psalm 115
3 Our God is in heaven;
he does whatever pleases him.

and then:

9 O house of Israel, trust in the LORD—
he is their help and shield.
10 O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD—
he is their help and shield.
11 You who fear him, trust in the LORD—
he is their help and shield.
12 The LORD remembers us and will bless us:
He will bless the house of Israel,
he will bless the house of Aaron,
13 he will bless those who fear the LORD—
small and great alike.
14 May the LORD make you increase,
both you and your children.
15 May you be blessed by the LORD,the Maker of heaven and earth.

Prayer is the conversation we have with Father God. He asks us to be constant in prayer; He wants communication, our thoughts. Father God always wants you to remember He is here for you, a loving Father. He is not far away and condemning, but loving and wanting, willing to bless us.

Recently, I was thinking of nothing in particular and I thought of the very last scene of the movie, The Passion of the Christ. Jesus is walking from the tomb; renewed, new, still willing, moving forward, in victory, willing. And then the scene where Jesus is enjoying talking with His mother about carpentry and tables. They were laughing. Jesus was willing to do what His Father asked of Him. Either scene, Jesus is doing the will of His Father. Because of our Jesus, the Good News spread to us. Beyond the boundaries of Israel, beyond the last two millenniums. Jesus, our hero. Our Brother, who adopts us. Our Savior.

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Psalm 90 ~ For a thousand years in Your sight are but as yesterday when it is past

Remains of Tabernacle Dwelling
First Temple built by Solomon

Wall closest, Archaeological ruin of First Temple Wall.
Models of Second Temple






Night at Golgotha, Vasily Vereshchagin

Arch of Titus, Conquering Jerusalem, relief on the wall. The Ark of the Covenant is missing. The gold from the Temple was used to build the Colosseum. Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD, the time of the natural death of Jesus, if He'd lived to be old.













Way of the Cross, Good Friday Service at the Colosseum

4th Century Church of St. Peter's built by Constantine. Built to look like the Royal Stoa of the 2nd Temple in Jerusalem.
4th Century Church of St. Peter's built by Constantine
St. Peter's Interior Today.
Stained Glass Cathedral Rheims
Lyon Cathedral
Wells Cathedral


Country Church painted by Dzvinka Stifel
Beautiful altars




Psalm 90


A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.


English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible


1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place [our refuge]
in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

3 You return man to dust
and say, “Return, O children of man [of Adam] !”
4 For a thousand years in your sight
are but as yesterday when it is past,
or as a watch in the night.

5 You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,
like grass that is renewed in the morning:
6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
in the evening it fades and withers.

7 For we are brought to an end by your anger;
by your wrath we are dismayed.
8 You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence.

9 For all our days pass away under your wrath;
we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
10 The years of our life are seventy,
or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span [or pride] is but toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away.
11 Who considers the power of your anger,
and your wrath according to the fear of you?

12 So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom.
13 Return, O Lord! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
and for as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let your work be shown to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.
17 Let the favor [beauty] of the Lord our God be upon us,
and establish the work of our hands upon us;
yes, establish the work of our hands!


Psalm 90:4
For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.

2 Peter 3:8
But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

Two days ago, Jesus Christ offered Himself as our sacrifice. Death was abolished and a new Heaven was written of by the apostle John, breathed out by the Holy Spirit ~ in the eyes of our Father God.

When we stand in our sanctuary, Church, praising God, we are - in His eyes - a mere breath away from the events we see posted today.

We are just dust, but Precious in the eyes of God. God is God of the Living. Many generations Living with Him; He is our refuge!



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Psalm 67 ~ may God bless us still

The Nativity painted by Federico Barocci, 1553

Saint Bridget, a Swedish noblewoman, died in 1373, was well known for her visions, recognized to this day as given from the Lord. While on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Birgitta experienced visions of the Virgin and Christ. Her vision of the Birth of Christ enormously influenced Nativity depictions. She saw the Virgin birth, Mary with her long hair flowing, knelt to adore Him, glowing with supernatural light.

Psalm 67

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible


May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us,
Selah

2that your way may be known on earth,
your saving power among all nations.
3 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!

4Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth.
Selah

5 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!

6The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, shall bless us.
7God shall bless us;
let all the ends of the earth fear him!



Numbers 6:22
22 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying,
‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them:
24 “May the LORD bless you and keep you;
25 May the LORD make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
26 May the LORD lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.”’


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

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

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

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

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

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

So …

while the theologians were sleeping

and the elite were dreaming

and the successful were snoring,

the meek were kneeling.


Written by Bob Deffinbaugh -
One of the key words we must deal with is the word “blessed” because it occurs over and over and over again. You will find that in a number of translations, the word is rendered “happy,” and there is a sense in which that is probably true. But, I think you have to say that the word “happy,” just because of the meaning we give to it today, is probably not the best word. But in the Sermon on the Mount, in fact, you would have to say that those who mourn are not really happy. It’s hard to be both, so I reject as a preference making the emphasis on happiness, although there certainly is that. You could say that there is a sense in which there is always joy and delight—that’s always there, and I would certainly be willing to see that in this text. Probably the primary sense of the word “blessed” here is the sense of approval. It is saying that God has expressed His approval on these people. To be blessed is to be approved by God, and I think that probably fits.



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Hebrews 12:28-29 ~ grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken

Hebrews 12:28-29

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible


Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.


Sometimes my gratitude levels are just limp like overcooked sphaghetti. Other days, like today, gratitude bursts from me like the sun. I once heard a sermon on my minister's favorite minister - who continued to be fruitful well into old age. He believed having gratitude was the key to being open to God.

Our blog is a bit late to publish post - I've been clearing out the dregs of my college sons home leftovers. Cleaning like a tornado. Most people have spring cleaning, but if you have sons college aged, you understand fall cleaning. So clean, clean, clean and we are hosting one of the Baylor Parents League prayer groups yesterday. Please give us the favor of your prayers, it seems our area has been trying to put together a prayer group like this with limited success.

And... the revised seasonal forecasts for Texas, LA, OK, NM looks very bad for drought. We discussed this last night at prayer group. Central Texas looks like the desert now. We didn't understand why news casters aren't standing in the fields showing the pictures. One lady at our Church is 78 years old and she says she has never seen the like.

Back to the gratitude.... Heaven is the unshakable kingdom. What a great God we serve.

I received an email from a loved one, family member, who has recently been starting to examine his faith. He's found an part of Scripture:

Mark 8:22-26
And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, "Do you see anything?" 24 And he looked up and said, "I see men, but they look like trees, walking." 25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26And he sent him to his home, saying, "Do not even enter the village."

He is very excited about this. Because the men of Jesus' day wouldn't know about the brain needing to be healed as well as the eyes and my loved one is touched by this. So... he sent an email for an answer to prayer that promised if you forward this email prayer about needing God... to 12 people.... it is a sure thing. Guaranteed. So he did. Of course he was joking. Of course he was hoping that the door was opening.

And my loved one can be pretty brusque. So I, a little tentatively, explained to him, that prayer really does matter. All the studies prove it. Especially in prayer groups where people care for one another and God's love flows freely where He is called. I wrote of the no-doubt miracles I've seen 5 of in all my life. But I told him. If your wife backed out of the driveway and ran over his 2 dogs and his best rifle, he'd be angry. But I know how much he loves his wife and he would still love her.

You cannot put your faith in one prayer and ask God for one answer, as a test. Edward and I lost our daughter, Isabelle, at birth. I couldn't answer why it happened, but I can say, I believe in God - who is Love. I know we are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken. I will love God and be grateful for His steadfast love. In death. In drought. But really, in His goodness, mercy and love and His eternal, steadfast love and promises.

Blessed be the Lord God Almighty. Who was and is and is to come. Amen.





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