Psalm 34 ~ Those who look to Him are radiant

Psalm 19 ~ the heavens declare the glory of God

Psalm 34

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio

I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together!

4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,
for those who fear him have no lack!
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger;
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

11 Come, O children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 What man is there who desires life
and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Turn away from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous
and his ears toward their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones;
not one of them is broken.
21 Affliction will slay the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord redeems the life of his servants;
none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.


Footnotes:
Psalm 34:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.


In Jesus Christ, the victory is ours. We will not be put to shame.

1 Corinthians 15:57
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ


Romans 9:33
as it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”


Each Scripture verse gives us God's Word of Life. Peter knew it and had the joy, the privilege of telling Jesus Praise.

John 6:68
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."

Let's look - each verse - proclaims the Eternal Promises of GOD.


1. Psalm 103:2
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits


2. 1 Corinthians 1:31
Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

3. Psalm 34:3
Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!




4. Hebrews 2:3
How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard

5. Hebrews 6:5
who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age

6. Jeremiah 20:13
Sing to the LORD! Give praise to the LORD! He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked.

7. Hebrews 1:6
And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”



8. Psalm 23:1
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

9. Psalm 84:11
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.

10. Psalm 32:8
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.



11. Isaiah 65:20
"Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; he who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere youth; he who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed."

12. Psalm 97:10
Let those who love the LORD hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

13. 1 Peter 2:22
"He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth."

14. Romans 14:19
Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.



15. Hebrews 12:14
Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

16. 1 Peter 3:12
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.

17. Psalm 145:19
He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them

18. Psalm 85:9
Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.



19. 2 Timothy 3:11
persecutions, sufferings--what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.

20. John 19:33
But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.

21. Deuteronomy 4:7
What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him?

22. Psalm 11:5
The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked and those who love violence his soul hates.


John 19:35
He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe.


Father God, Let us give thanks the LORD for His righteousness.
We sing praises to the name of the Lord, the Most High! Jesus. Amen.


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Exodus 15:1-21 ~ You stretched out your right hand; the earth swallowed them.

The Ipuwer Papyrus is papyrus also called The Admonitions of Ipuwer. Its official designation is Papyrus Leiden I 344 recto. Currently in the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden, Netherlands, after being purchased from Giovanni Anastasi, the Swedish consul to Egypt, in 1828. The sole surviving manuscript dates to the later 13th century B.C. (no earlier than the 19th dynasty in the New Kingdom).

Exodus 15:1-21

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio

Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord, saying,

“I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;
the horse and his rider ^[chariot] he has thrown into the sea.
² The Lord is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation;
this is my God, and I will praise him,
my father's God, and I will exalt him.
³ The Lord is a man of war;
the Lord is his name.

⁴ “Pharaoh's chariots and his host he cast into the sea,
and his chosen officers were sunk in the Red Sea.
⁵ The floods covered them;
they went down into the depths like a stone.
⁶ Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power,
your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy.
⁷ In the greatness of your majesty you overthrow your adversaries;
you send out your fury; it consumes them like stubble.
⁸ At the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up;
the floods stood up in a heap;
the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea.
⁹ The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake,
I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them.
I will draw my sword; my hand shall destroy them.’
¹⁰ You blew with your wind; the sea covered them;
they sank like lead in the mighty waters.

¹¹ “Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods?
Who is like you, majestic in holiness,
awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?
¹² You stretched out your right hand;
the earth swallowed them.

¹³ “You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed;
you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode.
¹⁴ The peoples have heard; they tremble;
pangs have seized the inhabitants of Philistia.
¹⁵ Now are the chiefs of Edom dismayed;
trembling seizes the leaders of Moab;
all the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away.
¹⁶ Terror and dread fall upon them;
because of the greatness of your arm, they are still as a stone,
till your people, O Lord, pass by,
till the people pass by whom you have purchased.
¹⁷ You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain,
the place, O Lord, which you have made for your abode,
the sanctuary, O Lord, which your hands have established.
¹⁸ The Lord will reign forever and ever.”

¹⁹ For when the horses of Pharaoh with his chariots and his horsemen went into the sea, the Lord brought back the waters of the sea upon them, but the people of Israel walked on dry ground in the midst of the sea. ²⁰ Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and dancing. ²¹ And Miriam sang to them:

“Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;
the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.”

If they remade this movie today, would they delete this Chapter? The thing about God; He is GOD. His Ways and Plans are His Own. The site I took this reading from was telling of Rabbinic Literature to discount Miriam and her tambourine. I'd say, I'm backing away from that. God tells His Story the way He wants it told. God never has to be politically correct.

And my response to that is. My LORD and my God. You have the Words of Life. In Jesus Christ as LORD.

If you have never seen "The Ten Commandments" - (Paramount Pictures released this on October 5, 1956 Directed by Cecil B. DeMille and starred Charlton Heston) it is well worth the time. We always think of the Movie industry as being profit related, but Mr. DeMille approached this film thinking of it's significance. He would probably be very grateful each year his work is shown on television. And saddened at the lack of Easter representation of Jesus at Easter. It was enormously well done for 1956, but could use some revamping today.

Cecil B. deMille was persuaded to cast Charlton Heston as Moses in his movie-epic, The Ten Commandments, based on Heston's purported physical resemblance to Michelangelo's Moses.

Michelangelo's Moses located in a small Church called St. Peter's in Chains, Italy. Visitors can look for the chip on Moses' knee which was, according to one story, the result of Michelangelo's hurling his chisel at the statue. The artist, in awe of the life-like qualities that emerged from the marble as he worked, is said to have thrown the chisel and screamed at the statue, "Perché non parli? (Why don't you talk?)

This is, of course, about Jesus as God.

… Thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins.
Matthew 1: 21

…His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, The Might God,
…The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace Isaiah 9:6

… God hath made that same Jesus… both Lord & Christ Acts 2:36

…Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world! John 1:29

…they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, the song of The Lamb Revelation 15:3


…Behold, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah Revelation 5:5


..and the Bright & Morning Star Revelation 22:16


..and our hands have handled, of the Word of Life 1 John 1:1


…we have and advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ The Righteous 1 John 2:1


…whereby the Dayspring from on high hath visited us. Luke 1:78


…Before Abraham, I Am. John 8:58


…And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. John 1: 34

…are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. 1 Peter 2:25


…We have found the Messiah which, is being interpreted, the Christ. John 1:41


…I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6


…through the knowledge of the Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. II Peter 2: 20

..a name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Revelation 19:16

…I am the Light of the World. John 8:12

…The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world… John 1:9

…I am Alpha & Omega the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come

The Almighty Revelation 1:8

Luke 2:10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.


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+ Other Scripture for Today Blogspot readings on the archeological papyrus - Ipuwer.

(An important reminder would be archeological evidence is grand, but it isn't the Word of God. The Ipuwer, is to be noted, it was found at the base of a pyramid by a reputable source and the pages listing Pharoah's name are missing. As it is missing from Scripture as well. There are other documents listing the arrival of the Children of Israel as taxable records. Interesting and thought provoking.)

Psalm 78:1-39 ~ forgot His works and the wonders that He had shown them

Genesis 46 ~ Israel took his journey with all that he had

Exodus 17:1-16 ~ Moses held up his hand

Psalm 78: 1- 39 ~ Things from of old

Isaiah 12:4
And you will say in that day: “Give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted.

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Psalm 118 ~ Open to me the gates of righteousness

Moving Forward. Defy the sneer, despise the shame, look to the LIGHT OF JESUS.

Psalm 118


English Standard Version, David Cochran Audi


Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!

2 Let Israel say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”
3 Let the house of Aaron say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the Lord say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”

5 Out of my distress I called on the Lord;
the Lord answered me and set me free.
6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
7 The Lord is on my side as my helper;
I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.

8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes.

10 All nations surrounded me;
in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
11 They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side;
in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
12 They surrounded me like bees;
they went out like a fire among thorns;
in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
13 I was pushed hard, so that I was falling,
but the Lord helped me.

14 The Lord is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
15 Glad songs of salvation
are in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of the Lord does valiantly,
16 the right hand of the Lord exalts,
the right hand of the Lord does valiantly!”

17 I shall not die, but I shall live,
and recount the deeds of the Lord.
18 The Lord has disciplined me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.

19 Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord;
the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
22 The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord's doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.

25 Save us, we pray, O Lord!
O Lord, we pray, give us success!

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
We bless you from the house of the Lord.
27 The Lord is God,
and he has made his light to shine upon us.
Bind the festal sacrifice with cords,
up to the horns of the altar!

28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
you are my God; I will extol you.
29 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!

Moving Forward. Defy the sneer, despise the shame, look to the LIGHT OF JESUS.

One family was pushed hard this Easter. A college son laughed to hurt a parent. An uncle left the mainland to be away from family conflict. A mom left by grown kids for Easter weekend to suffer an empty nester house. And yet. An Easter Victory for this one family.

A son treated to the gossiping cruelties of a Church volunteer in parochial school. Gossip spread like a match thrown into a dry hay barn. That same child thrown down a stair case, a recess of sexual inappropriate touching. A real gladness to leave that place.

An uncle going to Youth Group to avoid being a latch key child. The fellowship of teens who laugh and date. No real growth. A busy man, a busy father. The idea that God had passed him by for choices made and hasty words. Surely Moses spoke hasty words, surely God had left him behind. His searching would be done in airport book stores. To be touched by a book on exorcism. Jesus heals a blind man, who cries out, "I see trees walking." Jesus to touch the man's head again. His eyes were healed with the first touch. His brain to adapt to the new images. That man reading in an airport lobby has hope.

A woman takes her youngest son to a new Bible Church for Mother's Day Out. Barely able to afford it - the older son is in parochial school. They offer the Mom a job. She doesn't move fast enough to save a young boy's finger from being pinched. The other teachers begin to pinch at the young mom at every opportunity. Heresy is given as a joke to further alienate the Mom. A child's book given to the Mom to read to small children doubting Jesus' paternity. No apologies are ever offered, the Mom prays to shake the dust from her feet as she leaves.

Was this a victorious Easter for this family. In an oddly touching way. Yes. The son returned, from another city, to the Parochial School bringing his new female friend. His first time to choose Church all for himself. Not to remain in that Church forever, but to enjoy the beauty of the building, to remember the liturgy. To be able to say. I forgive you. It's Easter.

The uncle flees from a city busy with careers. Taking his young family. It could have been just a weekend at the beach. Instead: To Church. It's Easter. The four attend to God's House. It's Easter.

The Mom. Wants to attend Saturday. She finds a Service. Sings the Songs. Rejoices. It's Easter. Never even dawns on her. It's the same Church. It has long been forgiven, the aroma of forgiveness. It's Easter.

Was this easy. No. It did take the world pushing and shoving. It took forgiving the Religious. Yes. Many Sisters in prayer. Many Brothers the same. It's Jesus. Still at work with the Father.

This family is mine.

This is the Lord's doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Save us, we pray, O Lord!
O Lord, we pray, give us success!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
We bless you from the house of the Lord.

Blessed are You, ABBA Father. Blessed be Your Son, JESUS. Blessed be the HOLY SPIRIT. Now and always. Amen.




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Job 33 ~ Surely you have spoken in my ears, and I have heard the sound of your words.

Job 33

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio

“But now, hear my speech, O Job,
and listen to all my words.
² Behold, I open my mouth;
the tongue in my mouth speaks.
³ My words declare the uprightness of my heart,
and what my lips know they speak sincerely.
⁴ The Spirit of God has made me,
and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
⁵ Answer me, if you can;
set your words in order before me; take your stand.
⁶ Behold, I am toward God as you are;
I too was pinched off from a piece of clay.
⁷ Behold, no fear of me need terrify you;
my pressure will not be heavy upon you.

⁸ “Surely you have spoken in my ears,
and I have heard the sound of your words.
⁹ You say, ‘I am pure, without transgression;
I am clean, and there is no iniquity in me.
¹⁰ Behold, he finds occasions against me,
he counts me as his enemy,
¹¹ he puts my feet in the stocks
and watches all my paths.’

¹² “Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you,
for God is greater than man.
¹³ Why do you contend against him,
saying, ‘He will answer none of man's words’?
¹⁴ For God speaks in one way,
and in two, though man does not perceive it.
¹⁵ In a dream, in a vision of the night,
when deep sleep falls on men,
while they slumber on their beds,
¹⁶ then he opens the ears of men
and terrifies them with warnings,
¹⁷ that he may turn man aside from his deed
and conceal pride from a man;
¹⁸ he keeps back his soul from the pit,
his life from perishing by the sword.

¹⁹ “Man is also rebuked with pain on his bed
and with continual strife in his bones,
²⁰ so that his life loathes bread,
and his appetite the choicest food.
²¹ His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen,
and his bones that were not seen stick out.
²² His soul draws near the pit,
and his life to those who bring death.
²³ If there be for him an angel,
a mediator, one of the thousand,
to declare to man what is right for him,
²⁴ and he is merciful to him, and says,
‘Deliver him from going down into the pit;
I have found a ransom;
²⁵ let his flesh become fresh with youth;
let him return to the days of his youthful vigor’;
²⁶ then man ^[he] prays to God, and he accepts him;
he sees his face with a shout of joy,
and he restores to man his righteousness.
²⁷ He sings before men and says:
‘I sinned and perverted what was right,
and it was not repaid to me.
²⁸ He has redeemed my soul from going down into the pit,
and my life shall look upon the light.’

²⁹ “Behold, God does all these things,
twice, three times, with a man,
³⁰ to bring back his soul from the pit,
that he may be lighted with the light of life.
³¹ Pay attention, O Job, listen to me;
be silent, and I will speak.
³² If you have any words, answer me;
speak, for I desire to justify you.
³³ If not, listen to me;
be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”

In my reading tonight in God's Sanctuary, this was a companion piece to a chapter of Lamentations. To read God's Word is to always realize we are not righteous before His Holiness. It is not wise to merely cling to poor attitudes and continue down a path of self-righteousness. If Christians loose their saltiness, what will restore it. God tells us Lukewarm is not a good place to be.

Instead we serve a God who would live in the midst of our fray. Jesus would choose to go to the sinners and be pained debating the religious. Knowing we are sheep without a shepherd. When we know we are not pleasing Him. When we recognize the desire to come into His Love. He is always the Father who would run to us.


Luke 15:20
And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. ²¹ And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ ²² But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. ²³ And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. ²⁴ For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.


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Ephesians 3 ~ on behalf of you

Ephesians 3

For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— ² assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, ³ how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. ⁴ When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, ⁵ which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. ⁶ This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

⁷ Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. ⁸ To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, ⁹ and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, ¹⁰ so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. ¹¹ This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. ¹³ So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

Prayer for Spiritual Strength

¹⁴ 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.

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Such a beautiful passage. Being a Bible reading Christian means you know these verses. Some days they are Light. And some days we pass over them wishing they would Speak to us.

Recently, this passage opened up to me again. It is difficult for me to connect to What Would Jesus Do. Because. I read the old book the popular saying was from. For the life of me, I can't remember the title or the author, but I read it. The book isn't about:

Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

That WWJD book is about putting humbly into Action. It is about taking power. In the first few chapters, it is about doing the right thing. I tried to explain this to a few people and gave up. It seemed to me it was about becoming a vigilante. Motivation is important. An important part of growth in Father God.

We are an arrogant generation believing we can have it all and be it all. Life is about shifting priorities and being graceful and humble about it. I feely admit. I can't do it. I get mired in self-pity and prayer.

Yet that is the redeeming thing. Prayer is conversation with God. God wants us. He wants us to want Him. And you can't put on a tie to talk to God. You can take off your shoes and sit up a little straighter. And apologize. All those things in life that cause us to go.... why am I standing in line. Why do I have to sit at a red light. Opportunities. Opportunities to look Up.

God's Holy Spirit dwells in you.


Hebrews 11

English Standard Version (ESV)
By Faith

11 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. 11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. 20 By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. 21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

29 By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two,[a] they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy— wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.


None of the people listed above did this on their own. God's Holy Spirit was there.

This is what was amazing to me from all of this:

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.

God knows I am not Jesus. I'm His because He says so. Only in His Word. His Grace. His LOVE.
I am the unique, special, flawed, weird, funny, mean, pretty, ugly, kind, happy, fun, boring, lazy, determined, sad, joyful little child growing to be me - person.

He created me to be me. He gave me gifts and abilities. And all that goes into this. Come as you are -

Father God, dwell in my heart in faith. I am rooted and grounded to be Yours. You have the strength to comprehend all the saints. On earth and Heaven. And all the Love in the entire Universe - being the breadth, length, height, depth - is in Your hand. And is You. That amazing amount, reaching to the Heavens. You are that LOVE. The Love Jesus Christ lived and lives. Surpassing knowledge. In You we are filled with the fullness of God.

All for you. The unique human God made you. For always. In Jesus Christ the LORD.

Taking the big things and the little things and doing what is within your unique life and gifts to honor GOD. Because all this is a gift from Father God. It begins with prayer and grows into love. Prayer. Thanksgiving. Looking for gratitude. And what we can do. God wants us to do for Him. Cheerfully. Just like a parent wants to be treated, just like you'd do for your child. It is a great analogy - because we live it. Eternally.

Amen.





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Hosea 14 ~ return to the LORD

Hosea 14

Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.

2 Take with you words

and return to the Lord;

say to him,

“Take away all iniquity;

accept what is good,

and we will pay with bulls

the vows [the fruit] of our lips.

3 Assyria shall not save us;

we will not ride on horses;

and we will say no more, ‘Our God,’

to the work of our hands.

In you the orphan finds mercy.”

4 I will heal their apostasy;

I will love them freely,

for my anger has turned from them.

5 I will be like the dew to Israel;

he shall blossom like the lily;

he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon;

6 his shoots shall spread out;

his beauty shall be like the olive,

and his fragrance like Lebanon.

7 They shall return and dwell beneath my [his] shadow;

they shall flourish like the grain;

they shall blossom like the vine;

their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

8 O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols?

It is I who answer and look after you [him].

I am like an evergreen cypress; from me comes your fruit.

9 Whoever is wise, let him understand these things;

whoever is discerning,

let him know them;

for the ways of the Lord are right,

and the upright walk in them,

but transgressors stumble in them.

I once met two men, playing a part to make money and not very happy about it. Attorneys in a poor area of the country. Men who'd traveled down a path to honor their own father and felt the road had led them a path where their Dad had not gone. The older brother had responsibilities and teenagers who needed cars. He was business like and detached. Firm in his professionalism and cold as a man about to pull teeth. His brother was 15 years younger and dressed to look like my brother. He was remorseful. And at one point he tried to talk his older brother out of the play, or part, by almost becoming twelve years old and leaning over the table to talk about "Dad."

The absolute embarrassment of the older brother silenced the younger brother. Dad had been indeed invoked, but the sacred stiff upper lip rule of Dad had Been Broken. Forgotten was Dad's mercy, invoked was propriety. The day went forward as arranged. Actually, by the end of the day, the older brother was the more sorrowful. And much more fearful.

I wondered about them for almost two decades. I wondered if the younger brother had now seen too much. As Edward & I spent the day listening to the good natured, socially conscious, embarrassed racist, openly jealous of someone with the potential to own property, all the while trying to appear to be a young professional - I wondered what his first 'big client' story would tell him about himself. I could tell his older brother couldn't decide at the end of the day - should he bring his younger brother 'in the house like a good dog' or should he "let sleeping dogs lie to shake it off" - which would be more effective.

Over the next few weeks, the older brother let the younger brother be 'bad cop.' So. He let him hang.

It was explained to me that there just are too many rabbit holes.

And I know a former city attorney of El Paso who'd tell you that, sure, we can build a fence as a border between us and Mexico. But there is an endless supply of labor. And in reality - there are as many 50 mile tunnels between Mexico and El Paso as a good Swiss Cheese. Or a bad Swiss Cheese.

And of course - it is all an analogy for - seen too much, done to much to cope and exist and now - no one is good and no one is pure and it is all polluted.

Pollution. There never was a better analogy for sin. And what is sin, other than shame.

No one can forget or forgive.

One can. The Only One Who is Good.

We all have someone in our lives who has brought us that feeling of Home. Not the sentimental place. The real place. Similar to the way we liked George Burns as God. Or Morgan Freeman.

For me it was my Grandmother. It's called unconditional love.

Tonight Clark stood up there and it dawned on me. He is just a bit like John Wayne. A bit more like John Wayne with Princeton or Yale or Ole Miss - Woody Allen - twist. (Must be the Jewish portion, I have as well.) And Clark stood up to do what Jesus does. He said that is what Church is for, what ministry is for. It is to come in, be who you are. To be in God's House. To be able to fold your arms across your chest if you feel angry. To snort.

Next time, to feel really like you wish it was a better fit. To look at the floor with a troubled brow. To go home more frustrated because there was a glimmer of something, but it just stirred up the idea that it'll never be better. A heaviness, how is life gonna keep on pressing you.

Why, because this is what is needed:

Psalm 139:12
Even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.

I've had years where Church was more of a hope than a family. And I've had Sundays were it dawned on me, the trouble was the nature of man in me. And I see the reality Church can be used for a social vehicle for friendship only, or self promotion only, or dollar promotion only or status only.

Yet the real truth is this. It is an eternal truth:

John 6:68
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life

And what happens when the hard work is done. The unconditional love is there with faith:

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


2 Corinthians 1:3
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort


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Exodus 12:14-27 ~ soujourner or a native

Exodus 12:14-27

“This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast. ¹⁵ Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven out of your houses, for if anyone eats what is leavened, from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. ¹⁶ On the first day you shall hold a holy assembly, and on the seventh day a holy assembly. No work shall be done on those days. But what everyone needs to eat, that alone may be prepared by you. ¹⁷ And you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day, throughout your generations, as a statute forever. ¹⁸ In the first month, from the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread until the twenty-first day of the month at evening. ¹⁹ For seven days no leaven is to be found in your houses. If anyone eats what is leavened, that person will be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a sojourner or a native of the land. ²⁰ You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your dwelling places you shall eat unleavened bread.”

²¹ Then Moses called all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go and select lambs for yourselves according to your clans, and kill the Passover lamb. ²² Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. None of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. ²³ For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you. ²⁴ You shall observe this rite as a statute for you and for your sons forever. ²⁵ And when you come to the land that the Lord will give you, as he has promised, you shall keep this service. ²⁶ And when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ ²⁷ you shall say, ‘It is the sacrifice of the Lord's Passover, for he passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians but spared our houses.’” And the people bowed their heads and worshiped.

Ephesians 3:20
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us

The Children of Isael were worried about bread. And God told them to be concerned, so it is a viable and godly concern. Yet...

Exodus 11:2
Speak now in the hearing of the people, that they ask, every man of his neighbor and every woman of her neighbor, for silver and gold jewelry.” 3 And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants and in the sight of the people.

This is Easter Week. We are the Easter People and Hallelujah is our Song. God loves, loves, loves us and is always here for us in Jesus Christ our LORD. Amen.


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1 Samuel 10 ~ held his peace

1 Samuel 10

10 Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head and kissed him and said, “Has not the Lord anointed you to be prince over his people Israel? And you shall reign over the people of the Lord and you will save them from the hand of their surrounding enemies. And this shall be the sign to you that the Lord has anointed you to be prince over his heritage. ² When you depart from me today, you will meet two men by Rachel's tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah, and they will say to you, ‘The donkeys that you went to seek are found, and now your father has ceased to care about the donkeys and is anxious about you, saying, “What shall I do about my son?”’ ³ Then you shall go on from there farther and come to the oak of Tabor. Three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you there, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine. ⁴ And they will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you shall accept from their hand. ⁵ After that you shall come to Gibeath-elohim, where there is a garrison of the Philistines. And there, as soon as you come to the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with harp, tambourine, flute, and lyre before them, prophesying. ⁶ Then the Spirit of the Lord will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. ⁷ Now when these signs meet you, do what your hand finds to do, for God is with you. ⁸ Then go down before me to Gilgal. And behold, I am coming down to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings. Seven days you shall wait, until I come to you and show you what you shall do.”

⁹ When he turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart. And all these signs came to pass that day. ¹⁰ When they came to Gibeah, behold, a group of prophets met him, and the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he prophesied among them. ¹¹ And when all who knew him previously saw how he prophesied with the prophets, the people said to one another, “What has come over the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?” ¹² And a man of the place answered, “And who is their father?” Therefore it became a proverb, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” ¹³ When he had finished prophesying, he came to the high place.

¹⁴ Saul's uncle said to him and to his servant, “Where did you go?” And he said, “To seek the donkeys. And when we saw they were not to be found, we went to Samuel.” ¹⁵ And Saul's uncle said, “Please tell me what Samuel said to you.” ¹⁶ And Saul said to his uncle, “He told us plainly that the donkeys had been found.” But about the matter of the kingdom, of which Samuel had spoken, he did not tell him anything.

¹⁷ Now Samuel called the people together to the Lord at Mizpah. ¹⁸ And he said to the people of Israel, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.’ ¹⁹ But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your calamities and your distresses, and you have said to him, ‘Set a king over us.’ Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and by your thousands.”

²⁰ Then Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. ²¹ He brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its clans, and the clan of the Matrites was taken by lot; and Saul the son of Kish was taken by lot. But when they sought him, he could not be found. ²² So they inquired again of the Lord, “Is there a man still to come?” and the Lord said, “Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.” ²³ Then they ran and took him from there. And when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. ²⁴ And Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen? There is none like him among all the people.” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”

²⁵ Then Samuel told the people the rights and duties of the kingship, and he wrote them in a book and laid it up before the Lord. Then Samuel sent all the people away, each one to his home. ²⁶ Saul also went to his home at Gibeah, and with him went men of valor whose hearts God had touched. ²⁷ But some worthless fellows said, “How can this man save us?” And they despised him and brought him no present. But he held his peace.

Why Celebrate Easter each year? Well, one of the reasons is this Chapter of Samuel. We do not see the larger picture of our lives easily. We are like a small ant crawling along a stained glass. For a time everything is green. And we believe it will be green forever. Red - we are busy with children and all of the things moving at fast clip. Blue - we will all have these times.

God decided to live our existence. In God, His yes means yes and His word is Strong. It is our lives swinging like a pendulum. We Celebrate Again - Jesus is the Holiness. Jesus is the One to rely upon. Like Saul should have, we let Him decide.

2 Timothy 2:20
In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble.

Only Jesus has this figured out.

Saul was a bit like the famous actor who doesn't want the crowd to go home. He couldn't accept change. Couldn't be grateful.

Choice is an important part of life. The shooters of the Columbine High School were victims of brutal people themselves. Instead of doing the work to be grateful for each day, they instead became evil. Saul becomes someone completely different from the beginning.

Not only do we have the adventure of seeing the blessings of each day, we have the choice to not become what we are unaware of. Our choices each day matter.

It takes faith to believe what we do matters. We build our lives each day. God tells us in Scripture - the Creator of the whole universe - God and Father of All Things - believes you are important to Him.

Matthew 6:34
Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

1 Corinthians 9:24
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.

Father God, each day - guide us and lead us. Help us to be mindful of others - even the not particularly nice ones just passing through. Help us to treasure the people You've give us. Let us not accept what isn't right, just to please others. Let us have wisdom to speak up and kindness to be quiet. Each day let us have the right amount of Love to build this life as You'd have it done. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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