Matthew 19:1-15 ~ your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so

Matthew 19:1-15



¹ Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. ² And large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.

³ And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, "Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?" ⁴ He answered, "Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, ⁵ and said, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? ⁶ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate." ⁷ They said to him, "Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?" ⁸ He said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. ⁹ And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery." [Some manuscripts add and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery; other manuscripts except for sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.]

¹⁰ The disciples said to him, "If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry."

^{Last Supper, painted by Jappo Bassano (b. 1515, Italian, d. 1592)}

¹¹ But he said to them, "Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. ¹² For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it."

¹³ Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, ¹⁴ but Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." ¹⁵ And he laid his hands on them and went away.


Latin traditor, from tradere to hand over, deliver, betray. The Roman Emperor Valerian (his photo on the his coin below, c. 253–260 A.D.) did the best he could to destroy all New Testament Scripture. The early traditions of the Church say the word traitor originated with the clergy and lay people tortured to hand over any Scripture to the Emperor and worship him. It became one of the first heresies of the Church saying the traitors were not to be forgiven, the clergy and Church worked on forgiveness during a time of death for worshiping Jesus Christ.

Still... isn't it interesting how the disciples weren't meek Sunday School lambs accepting all of Jesus' words with halos and earnest expressions. And add more interesting to it, the next words from Jesus are Him spending time with loving children. Perhaps Jesus felt a need for fresh air when He went to the Children. It is a fascinating combination of parables.

Consider - Jesus is indeed preaching to the Choir. If the DISCIPLES are not thrilled with hearing divorce isn't Las Vegas style, then who today will cheer about the commitment of marriage. In Europe and in the United States, there are many, many marriages never made because children are increasingly born out of wedlock.

What Jesus is saying is something we should practice as Children of God. When we say to our spouse, we are saying to our children and our family - you matter to me in more ways than my moment to moment happiness. When I ask myself, "How am I?" I have a very satisfying answer - I am building the futures of my children that will effect my grandchildren and, very possibly, my great-grandchildren. I am building up my spouse. And the good news goes further to say - I am building up myself.

I know this from living it - my dad chose to be happy and left us. And I mean left us. We did not know where he lived as the divorce proceedings took place. We knew where he worked and his attorney had contact, but we were not supposed to contact him. It has effected the way my mother values my children and my brother's children. It has effected the way we value my mom and she values us. One of the consequences of being a divorced family, the married families' traditions are much more important than the split family divorced one's from the past. My mom went to the funeral of an old, old friend yesterday to find the married families still remain close. Not the single spouse.

But the old friend had many job losses. Many failed business adventures. People joked about the old friend and said he had some ways that were foolish and feeble almost all his life. But the old friend had many, many old friends arrive - not to applaud his worldly success. But people cried. For their friend and the loss of his kindness. For the husband. For their dad. For their father-in-law. He was a man who built others up. I am today comparing this funeral to the one I went to where the man was a 90 year old business success without one tear for him.

So... again.... it is very interesting Jesus chose to go to the Children next.

Our minister   says in his sermons - that people come up to him to say - but you don't know my spouse. The troubled marriages who agree they are to remain together for life - find in 5 years they report - it is a good marriage again. Stick with it. God knows.




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Proverbs 17:17-18:5 ~ a discerning man

Proverbs 17:17-18:5

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

17 A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity.
18 One who lacks sense gives a pledge
and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.
19 Whoever loves transgression loves strife;
he who makes his door high seeks destruction.
20 A man of crooked heart does not discover good,
and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.

21 He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow,
and the father of a fool has no joy.

22 A joyful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
23 The wicked accepts a bribe in secret
to pervert the ways of justice.
24 The discerning sets his face toward wisdom,
but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

25 A foolish son is a grief to his father
and bitterness to her who bore him.

26 To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good,
nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.

27 Whoever restrains his words has knowledge,
and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise;
when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

Proverbs 18

Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire;
he breaks out against all sound judgment.

2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
but only in expressing his opinion.
3 When wickedness comes, contempt comes also,
and with dishonor comes disgrace.

4 The words of a man's mouth are deep waters;
the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5 It is not good to be partial to the wicked
or to deprive the righteous of justice.

Did any of the verses resonate in you?

We are blessed ... when Scripture speaks to our lives, even when it is uncomfortable.

My husband & I did a Biblical word study on success being a gift of God, about 5 years ago. It annoyed a few people, because sometimes success is aloof from effort. Other times we like to feel as if we've done it by ourselves. Sometimes we have contempt for people who aren't trying hard enough, resting on faith alone.

Then there are the times we want to justify our indifference to suffering. We have all stood on different squares of life's checker board.

We went around the room and read out loud several verses. Sometimes the verses we read aloud were irritating to the person reading it. When we read Scripture that annoys us, it is the opportunity to see if there isn't higher wisdom we should put our hands out and ask for mercy, for wisdom. Sometimes we are stung because we feel it is unjust. Still time to ask for help and mercy.

A discerning man keeps wisdom in view,
but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth.

We are blessed when Scripture speaks to our lives, even when it is uncomfortable. The Scriptures don't just point out the ways others should be behave, but speak to us individually.

Hebrews 12:6
For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child. As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?


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John 15:12-27 ~ The Spirit of Truth

John 15:12-27

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’

26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.

Genesis 1:

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.


Acts 2:
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. They persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.

This lists the fate of the formerly fearful apostles of Jesus:

SIMON, GIVEN THE NAME PETER ~ Peter worked among the Jews before he eventually reached Rome, where he was the first bishop. Along with the Apostle Paul, he may have been executed around AD64 during the persecutions of Emperor Nero, or later in AD67. Apparently he was crucified, head-down, at his own request. Later church archaeology found that St. Peter's in Rome was built over his grave. This article is complete with photographs.

JAMES, SON OF ZEBEDEE - A FISHERMAN ~ During the persecutions of Herod Agrippa I, King of the Jews, in c AD44, the apostle James was beheaded - Before his death, James the Greater as he is known to distinguish him from James, son of Alphaeus, preached in Jerusalem and Judea, modern Israel. A later Spanish tradition is that James preached the Gospel there sometime before his death.

The Synagogue of Capernaum has pillar with the name Zebedee and his son's James and John - disciples of Jesus.

Acts 12:1-2 - "It was at this time (of great famine, possibly around AD44) that King Herod laid violent hands on some of the Church members. James, John's brother, he executed with the sword ....."

JOHN, BROTHER OF JAMES and SON OF ZEBEDEE - A FISHERMAN ~ According to John's Gospel (19:26-27), it was John who took Mary, the mother of Jesus, as his adopted mother. He preached in Jerusalem, and later, as bishop of Ephesus, south of Izmir in western Turkey, worked among the churches of Asia Minor. During the reigns of either Emperor Nero (AD54-68) or Domitian (AD81-96), he was banished to the nearby island of Patmos, now one of the Greek islands in the Aegean Sea. He was subsequently freed and died a natural death at Ephesus c. AD 100.

PHILIP ~ Philip preached the Gospel in Phrygia (west central Turkey) before dying or being martyred there at Hieropolis.

BARTHOLOMEW, also NATHANAEL ~ The missionary work of Bartholomew is linked with Armenia (present day Armenia, eastern Turkey, northern Iraq, north western Iran) and India. Other locations include Egypt, Arabia, Ethiopia and Persia (Iran). Traditionally he met his death by being flayed or skinned alive, and then beheaded. Derbent, north of present day Baku on the Caspian Sea may have been his place of martyrdom. Recent archaeological findings, Scripture written by Bartholomew, in India place 2nd century gospel carried in by Bartholomew.

THOMAS DIDYMUS - 'DOUBTING THOMAS' ~ Thomas may have labored for the Gospel in Parthia (including modern Iraq and Iran), but stronger traditions link him with southern India. Indian Christians from the west coast Kerala area claim they were evangelized by Thomas, who was later speared to death near Madras on the east coast. Mount St. Thomas, close to Madras is associated with his name.

MATTHEW, also LEVI - TAX-COLLECTOR/PUBLICAN ~ Nothing definite is known of Matthew's career. After preaching in Judea, different traditions place his missionary work and possible martyrdom in Ethiopia or Persia. The first Gospel of the New Testament from the earliest times been attributed to Matthew.

JAMES, SON OF ALPHAEUS ~ Known as James the Less, to distinguish him from James the Greater, son of Zebedee, but more likely because of his smaller stature than his relative importance. He, and Jude, should not be confused with James and Jude (or Judas), the brothers of Jesus. Most commentators treat them as separate sets of brothers. Tradition claims he first worked in Israel before preaching and martyrdom in Egypt.

JUDE, also THADDAEUS ~ Jude is also confused in some sources with Jude, one of the brothers of Jesus. He may have preached in Assyria (eastern Iraq) and Persia (Iran), before joining with Simon the Zealot and being killed with him in Persia.

SIMON THE ZEALOT or PATRIOT ~ Simon is referred to both as the "Cananaean" and the "Zealot". The titles may refer to him being "zealous", or to his membership of one of the Jewish revolutionary movements known as Zealots. One tradition is that he first preached in Egypt, before joining Jude and traveling to Persia, where both were martyred. Simon may have been crucified or hacked to death.

MATTHIAS ~ As a disciple from the time of Jesus' baptism through to his death and resurrection, and possibly one of the 72 sent out to preach and heal, Matthias was chosen by prayer and the drawing of lots to replace Judas Iscariot as the twelfth apostle, Acts 1:15-26. No more is heard of him in the New Testament, and the various traditions are made more confusing because of the similarity of his name to Matthew's. He may have preached and been martyred in Ethiopia, Other traditions place him in Judea, and later Cappadocia (eastern Turkey) and the Caspian Sea area.

PAUL OR SAUL OF TARSUS ~ Paul traveled widely, made at least three major missionary journeys, wrote many letters of which thirteen still exist, and his life and work is touched upon in a variety of ways in his letters. On returning to Jerusalem after his third journey, he was arrested and during his subsequent trials, as a Roman citizen "appealed to Caesar" for judgement - all covered by Acts 21-26. Chapters 27 and 28 then describe Paul's voyage and journey to Rome in fascinating nautical detail. The Catholic Church researched for 20 years the stumbled upon bones in St. Paul's . After careful research, the bones St. Paul in the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, were declared to be Paul's.

For some two years after his arrival in Rome, he was under house-arrest, before possibly being executed in the persecutions of Emperor Nero that followed the burning of Rome in AD64.

However, there are strong traditions that on appeal to the Emperor on what was a Jewish religious charge, he was acquitted. He remained free for perhaps three years, revisiting Ephesus and other churches, and even going as far as Spain, before being re-arrested and sentenced to death. In his cell, he wrote his last letter - the Second Letter to Timothy - before execution around the year AD67.

Archaeologists say he was beheaded at a place now called Tre Fontane in Rome, and that the church of St. Paul stands over his grave.

The apocryphal "Acts of Paul" describe Paul as "a man small of stature, with a bald head and crooked legs, in a good state of body, with eyebrows meeting and nose somewhat hooked, full of friendliness; for now he appeared like a man, and now he had the face of an angel!"

These people walked with Jesus, our Christ. The Scriptures report that some left all behind them and followed Him, merely from meeting Him one afternoon. While they coward behind locked doors upon the arrest & death of Jesus, they came out and taught in the Temple itself after Jesus returned from death to them. They carried on after beating and imprisonment. Even Roman historians record amazement the followers still proclaimed Jesus as Messiah after His resurrection. It's interesting to remember Luke, Timothy, Mark, Lazarus, Mary Magdalene, Martha and John all lived to be very old. They were not among the disciples who fled from Jesus during His Sacrifice. Peter was told he would die a martyr, by Jesus, but continued to feed to love Him and feed His sheep. Peter counted the cost and cast it aside in the great joy of walking with Jesus.






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Romans 15:4-13 ~ Rejoice! Again and again!

Romans 15:4-13

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

⁴ For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. ⁵ May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, ⁶ that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁷ Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

⁸ For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, ⁹ and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, "Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name."

¹⁰ And again it is said,

"Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people."

¹¹ And again,

"Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
and let all the peoples extol him."

¹² And again Isaiah says,

"The root of Jesse will come,
even he who arises to rule the Gentiles;
in him will the Gentiles hope."

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.

Hello Father God,
Thank you for gathering together new and old friends. When we forgive each other, we broaden our horizons. When we gather together to know each other's cares and put the effort into fellowship - we enrich all the lives we touch. Thank You for the opportunity to fellowship with others who love You.

Thank You for the blessings that are sunshine on our backs, warming us. To know in this season of change we all are touched by our children as we hope for them to have the best new opportunities. To be comforted to know we all miss them. As we trust You with our lives and the lives of our children. To wonder with expectation and hope at the future.

Bless the children with many opportunities. Bless the parents who are both glad and sad. Comfort the lonely, calm the stressed, strengthen what is wobbly, empower the good, subdue what is doubtful, light the path and help us to walk it. With joy and expectation, we call on You, Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit. Amen.

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John 1:47-51 ~ you will see greater things than these

John 1:47-51

 English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible 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." 1 Corinthians 2:9 As it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him” — Mark 14:62 "I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."

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Matthew 6:25-34 ~ do not be anxious

Change

Matthew 6:25-34

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible


25 “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? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

30 But 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? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But 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.


My husband & I traveled last week to Augusta, Georgia for the National Championship for the Professional Disc Golf Association. We were up very early and fog was coming up, with a little rain as we traveled down the rural highway to Wildwood Park. As we traveled, we notice some dead pine trees. I asked my husband if Georgia had some drought like the record drought and wildfires of our area of Houston. We noticed some yellowing in the trees. I cried out - "Oh no, they've had drought too!" Thankfully no, Georgia was experiencing the beginning of fall, the trees barely touched with red and gold.

Change - Life is a lot like being in the Mississippi River, we are pushed by tremendous forces we cannot see or control. We have eddies and resting places, we convince ourselves that now we in control. We have life in our own boundaries. But the people we love - move, they age, they change - we change. The things, the places, the people we love are not within our grasp, our vision… forever.

Change cause us to grow. Like faith.

Matthew 13:32
It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.

Rick Warren points out in the book he co-authored called "40 Days of Love" that permanent change requires changing beliefs first. "Trying to change behavior without changing beliefs is a waste of time. Say I have a boat on auto pilot headed north. If I want it to head south, I have two options: I could wrestle the steering wheel or (the better way) change the auto pilot. Change always starts in the mind. "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Rom. 12:2). The Bible teaches clearly that the way we think affects the way we feel, and the way we feel affects the way we act."

It's difficult to achieve the peace Matthew 6 tells us we can have. Jesus summed in up in
John 14:1
Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

Father God, be with us as life changes. Prepare us to do the good works You have planned for us. Help us to rely upon You in courage and in the hope Your plans always involve a working towards good. We ask in the highest name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Judges 16:1-22 ~ told me

Samson Breaking his Bands (1784), painted by John Francis Rigaud. On 10 February, 1784 Rigaud was formally elected to the Royal Society, with Samson Breaking his Bands as his diploma work. In 1795, he was appointed historical painter to Gustavus IV of Sweden and was made a member of the Royal Academy of Stockholm. Perhaps this passage is about diplomacy as well.



Judges 16:1-22

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible


¹ Samson went to Gaza, and there he saw a prostitute, and he went in to her. ² The Gazites were told, "Samson has come here." And they surrounded the place and set an ambush for him all night at the gate of the city. They kept quiet all night, saying, "Let us wait till the light of the morning; then we will kill him." ³ But Samson lay till midnight, and at midnight he arose and took hold of the doors of the gate of the city and the two posts, and pulled them up, bar and all, and put them on his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that is in front of Hebron.

⁴ After this he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. ⁵ And the lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, "Seduce him, and see where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to humble him. And we will each give you 1,100 pieces of silver." ⁶ So Delilah said to Samson, "Please tell me where your great strength lies, and how you might be bound, that one could subdue you."

⁷ Samson said to her, "If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, then I shall become weak and be like any other man." ⁸ Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she bound him with them. ⁹ Now she had men lying in ambush in an inner chamber. And she said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" But he snapped the bowstrings, as a thread of flax snaps when it touches the fire. So the secret of his strength was not known.

¹⁰ Then Delilah said to Samson, "Behold, you have mocked me and told me lies. Please tell me how you might be bound." ¹¹ And he said to her, "If they bind me with new ropes that have not been used, then I shall become weak and be like any other man." ¹² So Delilah took new ropes and bound him with them and said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" And the men lying in ambush were in an inner chamber. But he snapped the ropes off his arms like a thread.

¹³ Then Delilah said to Samson, "Until now you have mocked me and told me lies. Tell me how you might be bound." And he said to her, "If you weave the seven locks of my head with the web and fasten it tight with the pin, then I shall become weak and be like any other man." ¹⁴ So while he slept, Delilah took the seven locks of his head and wove them into the web. And she made them tight with the pin and said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" But he awoke from his sleep and pulled away the pin, the loom, and the web.

¹⁵ And she said to him, "How can you say, 'I love you,' when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and you have not told me where your great strength lies." ¹⁶ And when she pressed him hard with her words day after day, and urged him, his soul was vexed to death. ¹⁷ And he told her all his heart, and said to her, "A razor has never come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If my head is shaved, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak and be like any other man."

¹⁸ When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called the lords of the Philistines, saying, "Come up again, for he has told me all his heart." Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hands. ¹⁹ She made him sleep on her knees. And she called a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him. ²⁰ And she said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" And he awoke from his sleep and said, "I will go out as at other times and shake myself free." But he did not know that the LORD had left him. ²¹ And the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles. And he ground at the mill in the prison. ²² But the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.

Samson is a great story for the children in Sunday School but not so for adults. Prostitution, desire, holy man, bondage, an emotionally crippled prostitute, desire for intimacy and God. Why would God still be with Samson for his cavorting, or catting around, and not with him after a hair cut?

Judges is a difficult time. One that our generation would understand, with all the media and society concern on individual rights. Judges was supposed to be a time when God was Israel's Governor. The Covenant and the Exodus was supposed to bring the Children of Israel to an understanding of self-government. In the middle of this free love governmental environment - God was looking for the best of free love. God was truly waiting and hoping for each person to communicate with Him and be upright, righteous, conscientious, noble and pure.

Why was God with Samson through experiments in bondage (I am very much supposing Samson never saw the men hiding in wait for him) and not after truly revealing his inner self to a prostitute? Samson expected God to be with him in prostitution just as he expected God to be with him after attacking the men at his self-interested marriage to a foreigner.

God was honoring Samson's expectations. We could say Samson crossed the line by betraying his Nazorite appearance, yet everything we learn about God says He isn't interested in appearance but the inner person we are. During this time, God hoped to personally communicate with the Children of Israel. This must have been an inner conversation where God felt Samson had betrayed the whole Spirit of the trust God had placed in Samson. In the New Testament and Old Testament we read God takes sexual sin quite seriously, yet here there is an inner conversation we are not completely privileged to understand - the betrayal God alone could judge.

For example, I had a dear friend during my early salad days who had a chief goal, next to being a Christian, of being a completely perfect home owner and cleanliness buff. She vacuumed her furniture each day as well as the house. Each day. Her yard was perfect. You could have eaten from her bathroom tiles. And then she became a SPCA volunteer. And then she had her first first host dog -a hydrocephalus damaged Chihuahua. How my friend loved this dog. Tiny. Unbalanced with a huge head. And completely untrainable to be house broken. My friend and I went for a walk and she cried. She was torn to be able to take care of this little dog and her carpets. And grout in the tile. She told me she thought God was giving her a test - to love His messy creation or just a house. I was 23 years old and I said, she needed to put the dog in the kitchen during her work. She gave reasons she couldn't. I suggested the yard and found heat would kill the tiny dog. I mistakenly told her, God was not a lover of chaos and the dog was creating chaos. No way was the LORD giving her a lesson in grace. My friend found a Chihuahua rescue home for the dog, the rescuer would be at home all day and lots of dogs. Problem solved.

The tiny little dog died the first full day it was with Chihuahua rescue. An accident in the house. My friend was relieved. I suddenly wondered if I had been non-help. I still wonder. My friend became more interested in her home and later she and her husband divorced over home maintenance perfection. He became more perfect and she became less interested.

God communicates with us in ways that are personal. Samson knew when he had crossed the line. God gave him grace and Samson took it and created personal disaster. How can we understand God allowing sin until a Nazirite haircut. Samson knew. His God communicated with Samson.

The Good News in this story is God - God is not a Spirit of abandonment for wrong doing. God is the Spirit of forgiveness.

It is far and away an unusual story. Life offers us unusual circumstance. It is up to us to take the High Road, which can only be done in His grace.

Father God, today help me to take the High Road and dwell in Your Grace. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.




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Luke 9:51-56 ~ His face was set toward Jerusalem

Jesus Ministered to by Angels, painted by James Tissot.


Luke 9:51-56

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. 53 But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54 And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them [as Elijah did] ?" 55 But he turned and rebuked them [“You do not know what manner of spirit you are of; for the Son of Man came not to destroy people’s lives but to save them”] 56 And they went on to another village.


Rejection is part of life. Yet God works all things towards good.

Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

There wasn't a Scripture reading yesterday, we were coming home from Augusta, Georgia. My husband is having what he would probably like to be referred to as a "big" birthday. To celebrate we went to see a client of his and he did play in the National Championship for PDGA (disc golf) at their headquarters, in the amateur division. Edward says with the talent there, he was glad not to place last! We had fun.

So excuses aside...

The passage is really about not getting the reward or recognition we hope for for our efforts for God. Even Jesus faced this. Jesus set His face to do what was right, didn't receive kindness for His good intentions, but still He was grace and truth dwelling among us. Another time Jesus, our hero, set a higher path for us.

Father God, help us each day to reach the goals You have for us. In the name of Jesus. Amen.


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Titus 2:1-10 ~ in love and in endurance

Titus 2:1-10 ~ (New International Version)


1 You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. 2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.
3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

9 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.

They say a lot of life is just showing up. Endurance. How to be self-controlled, how to be good? The answer is here. Before we can pull up our boot straps and do better, we must know we cannot permanently pull up our boot straps, grit our teeth and go forward - using our own steam.

The first step is first believing our actions, our words are significant. So many times, we feel we cannot make any difference in life. When God promises us eternal blessings, like in Matthew 25, He also says our actions and words matter. We must be convinced God loves us enough, we matter. Sure we are all self-centered, but to actually matter is a much more important, earnest and sincere concept.

Notice the subject matter; Feel so encouraged in your belief your life is important to God, you are called to teach. “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.” - St. Francis of Assisi. When God says we are salt, we remember salt isn't poured down throats. Instead salt is a flavoring.

This would be a passage misconstrued to say slavery is upheld by the Scriptures. This would be a mistake to assume - we will all experience situations where there isn't a change in the foreseeable future. A situation between personalities - an illness - a needed job, that isn't a career - time spent apart from a loved one - or actual slavery that exists today. This is acknowledging we are lights of God. Set forth to shine when it is dark. Believe God has a plan and we act each day knowing He holds us.

John 1:5
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

1 Timothy 6:11-13a
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God


Paul's Titus letter, filled with the Holy Spirit, continues in his pastoral counsel for us today:

11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.





John 1:5
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.



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Luke 9:43-45 ~ the Majesty of God

Luke 9:43-45

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

⁴³ And all were astonished at the majesty of God.

But while they were all marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, ⁴⁴ "Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men." ⁴⁵ But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, so that they might not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.


My first thought was what did Jesus do in Luke 9 to cause astonished at His Majesty. The answer is always choosing to live and dwell among us as grace and truth knowing what He would do for us. Each one of us. Even for the ones who do not open their heart to Him.

Thank You, Jesus, Father God, Holy Spirit - for valuing me so much, You offer me Your promises and died for my sins. Amen.

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Zechariah 10:6-10 ~ gather them in

Zechariah 10:6-10


English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible


⁶ "I will strengthen the house of Judah,
and I will save the house of Joseph.
I will bring them back because I have compassion on them,
and they shall be as though I had not rejected them,
for I am the LORD their God and I will answer them.
⁷Then Ephraim shall become like a mighty warrior,
and their hearts shall be glad as with wine.
Their children shall see it and be glad;
their hearts shall rejoice in the LORD.


⁸ "I will whistle for them and gather them in,
for I have redeemed them,
and they shall be as many as they were before.
⁹ Though I scattered them among the nations,
yet in far countries they shall remember me,
and with their children they shall live and return.
¹⁰ I will bring them home from the land of Egypt,
and gather them from Assyria,
and I will bring them to the land of Gilead and to Lebanon,
till there is no room for them.


Today is my daughter Isabelle's 3rd birthday on earth and in heaven. I decided Isabelle is remembered at our house with putting out harvest decorations, she was to be a girl who always had a September or October birthday. Nothing has been more difficult during my life. Yet God is good and I dwell in hope of continued healing. Most days are happy. Some days bring some grief. Occasionally her parents remember her with tears.

And then I will see a photo of a girl in a meadow. Joy and sorrow are about equal. To think of Isaiah 49. Isabelle loves Jesus and knows the highways and hills of God's heaven. Someday we will hear her voice. Until then, we wait upon the Lord.


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Psalm 78 ~ we will not hide them from their children

Psalm 78

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
incline your ears to the words of my mouth!
² I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings from of old,
³ things that we have heard and known,
that our fathers have told us.
⁴ We will not hide them from their children,
but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might,
and the wonders that he has done.

⁵ He established a testimony in Jacob
and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers
to teach to their children,
⁶ that the next generation might know them,
the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,
⁷ so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
but keep his commandments;
⁸ and that they should not be like their fathers,
a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation whose heart was not steadfast,
whose spirit was not faithful to God.

⁹ The Ephraimites, armed with the bow,
turned back on the day of battle.
¹⁰ They did not keep God’s covenant,
but refused to walk according to his law.
¹¹ They forgot his works
and the wonders that he had shown them.
¹² In the sight of their fathers he performed wonders
in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan.
¹³ He divided the sea and let them pass through it,
and made the waters stand like a heap.
¹⁴ In the daytime he led them with a cloud,
and all the night with a fiery light.
¹⁵ He split rocks in the wilderness
and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep.
¹⁶ He made streams come out of the rock
and caused waters to flow down like rivers.

¹⁷ Yet they sinned still more against him,
rebelling against the Most High in the desert.
¹⁸ They tested God in their heart
by demanding the food they craved.
¹⁹ They spoke against God, saying,
"Can God spread a table in the wilderness?
²⁰ He struck the rock so that water gushed out
and streams overflowed.
Can he also give bread
or provide meat for his people?"

²¹ Therefore, when the LORD heard, he was full of wrath;
a fire was kindled against Jacob;
his anger rose against Israel,
²² because they did not believe in God
and did not trust his saving power.
²³ Yet he commanded the skies above
and opened the doors of heaven,
²⁴ and he rained down on them manna to eat
and gave them the grain of heaven.
²⁵ Man ate of the bread of the angels;
he sent them food in abundance.
²⁶ He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens,
and by his power he led out the south wind;
²⁷ he rained meat on them like dust,
winged birds like the sand of the seas;
²⁸ he let them fall in the midst of their camp,
all around their dwellings.
²⁹ And they ate and were well filled,
for he gave them what they craved.
³⁰ But before they had satisfied their craving,
while the food was still in their mouths,
³¹ the anger of God rose against them,
and he killed the strongest of them
and laid low the young men of Israel.

³² In spite of all this, they still sinned;
despite his wonders, they did not believe.
³³ So he made their days vanish like a breath,
and their years in terror.
³⁴ When he killed them, they sought him;
they repented and sought God earnestly.
³⁵ They remembered that God was their rock,
the Most High God their redeemer.
³⁶ But they flattered him with their mouths;
they lied to him with their tongues.
³⁷ Their heart was not steadfast toward him;
they were not faithful to his covenant.
³⁸ Yet he, being compassionate,
atoned for their iniquity
and did not destroy them;
he restrained his anger often
and did not stir up all his wrath.
³⁹ He remembered that they were but flesh,
a wind that passes and comes not again.



What do we learn from this portion of Psalm 78? We learn to trust God with our journey.


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Matthew 5:27-37 ~ you have heard

Jesus Teaches from a Ship, painted by James Tissot

Matthew 5:27-37

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible


²⁷ "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' ²⁸ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ²⁹ If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. ³⁰ And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

³¹ "It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' ³² But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

³³ "Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.' ³⁴ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, ³⁵ or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ³⁶ And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. ³⁷ Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil.

There are many ways of looking at the Scriptures. We are so fortunate to have the Gospels with the effort Emperor Vespasian put in burning the copies he could find. The early Christian Church created the word "traitor" for the people who gave up copies of Scripture or other Christian followers under torture. Then the Church had to administer grace to the cries of heresy over forgiveness issues.

Matthew was a tax collector/thug who wanted to write to the Jews to explain Jesus as the Messiah, bringing in his friends to the grace Jesus brought to his own life. Mark is John Mark determined to be too much of a light-weight follower of Jesus to be allowed to go with Paul and his missionary worker, Barnabas. Barnabas, John Mark's cousin, believed John Mark (Colossians 4:10), or Mark, would deepen in his faith to become reliable. Mark's gospel is to reach out to the gentiles explaining to them of Jesus' faith, His Jewishness.

Luke (Colossians 4:14, Phil 1:24) is the wonderful physician called to be a worker of Jesus Christ with Paul. It is wonderful to imagine the joy Luke would have seen the healings taking place in the name of Jesus. Luke brought an accurate, thorough, historical documentation to his Savior's life.

John, the beloved disciple, was constantly astonished at the glory of God and wrote of his experiences in awe at the Love and power of God. John had given his word to Jesus not to tell of the transfiguration, and never did write of the experience, yet even his first chapter of his Gospel declares the glory of God.

Not John, Luke, Mark or Matthew would be a fan of cheap grace - living the way we want to and depending on the mercy of God at convenient intervals. The men who knew Jesus and those who encountered the Holy Spirit in the early Church really believed the reaction to God's grace is deliberate and changed behavior. We witness in the Scriptures that all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God, but all did extend themselves to please God.

The Scriptures, being real, give a very real discussion of the disciples learning how seriously their Savior, Jesus Christ, took sin.


Matthew 19:10
The disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.”

As a child I wondered why oaths were so important to be discussed. Jesus wants us to act as the Lights of the world. He expects our yes to remain yes and our no to remain no. The Savior of the World, our Hero, said He did not come to abolish the law, but to fufill the law.

Matthew 5:17
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.


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Ecclesiastes 6 ~ whatever has come to be has already been named

Ecclesiastes 6

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

1 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind: 2 a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous evil. 3 If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with life’s good things, and he also has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. 4 For it comes in vanity and goes in darkness, and in darkness its name is covered. 5 Moreover, it has not seen the sun or known anything, yet it finds rest rather than he. 6 Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy [see] no good—do not all go to the one place?

7 All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied. 8 For what advantage has the wise man over the fool? And what does the poor man have who knows how to conduct himself before the living? 9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

10 Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he. 11 The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man? 12 For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?


The movies love the humanitarian belief saying man makes his own life. The Scriptures disagree, saying God has a plan and the plan is for good. Not all of life is good, but God's plans work towards good. Ecclesiastes continues this thought saying gratitude is the key of a good life.

Of all the histories, events, times of the Bible passing over millenniums - only when the nation of Judah, under Hezekiah, was saved from Assyria did the people voluntarily and with generous hearts give to God. It was a time of great goodness.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-22
Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰Do not despise prophecies, ²¹but test everything; hold fast what is good. ²²Abstain from every form of evil.

Colossians 3:15
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.


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Psalm 96 ~ declare His glory among the nations

Thorncrown Chapel Eureka Springs, Arkansas





Psalm 96

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

¹ Oh sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth!
² Sing to the LORD, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.
³ Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
⁴ For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be feared above all gods.
⁵ For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
but the LORD made the heavens.
⁶ Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

⁷ Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!
⁸ Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
bring an offering, and come into his courts!
⁹ Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness [holy attire];
tremble before him, all the earth!

¹⁰ Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns!
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity."

¹¹ Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
let the sea roar, and all that fills it;

¹² let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
¹³ before the LORD, for he comes,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness,
and the peoples in his faithfulness.

~ Declare his glory among the nations


1 Timothy 3:16

He appeared in a body,
was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory.



~ Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!


Ephesians 3:14-19
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, ¹⁶ that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of 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.


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1 Timothy 3:16 ~ believed on in the world

Saint Joseph with infant Jesus. Painted by Guido Reni in 1635.

Jesus Christ is celebrated, Today!

1 Timothy 3:16

He appeared in a body,
was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory.


When Jesus was born, angels and a great company of heavenly hosts proclaimed and rejoiced over Him. Father God used all manners and ways to proclaim His Son. Even as an infant, Jesus had danger in His life. Joseph was chosen and special in Father God’s heart. A descendant of David, Joseph would have been high on the list of available bachelors in little Nazareth. But Joseph determined to show mercy to his pregnant betrothed. Joseph had wisdom to listen to his dreams. Joseph helped Jesus to grow in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.


Psalm 49

1 Hear this, all peoples!
Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
2 both low and high,
rich and poor together!
3 My mouth shall speak wisdom;
the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
4 I will incline my ear to a proverb;
I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre.

5 Why should I fear in times of trouble,
when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me,
6 those who trust in their wealth
and boast of the abundance of their riches?
7 Truly no man can ransom another,
or give to God the price of his life,
8 for the ransom of their life is costly
and can never suffice,
9 that he should live on forever
and never see the pit.

10 For he sees that even the wise die;
the fool and the stupid alike must perish
and leave their wealth to others.
11 Their graves are their homes forever,
their dwelling places to all generations,
though they called lands by their own names.
12 Man in his pomp will not remain;
he is like the beasts that perish.

13 This is the path of those who have foolish confidence;
yet after them people approve of their boasts. Selah
14 Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol;
death shall be their shepherd,
and the upright shall rule over them in the morning.
Their form shall be consumed in Sheol, with no place to dwell.
15 But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol,
for he will receive me. Selah

16 Be not afraid when a man becomes rich,
when the glory of his house increases.
17 For when he dies he will carry nothing away;
his glory will not go down after him.
18 For though, while he lives, he counts himself blessed
—and though you get praise when you do well for yourself—
19 his soul will go to the generation of his fathers,
who will never again see light.
20 Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish.





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