Scripture for Today

Psalm 81 ~ Raise a song; sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp

2012-02-10T00:01:00.000-08:00

Views from the Palace of David outside the old city walls of Jerusalem.

"The discovery of the location of the palace of King David is of extreme importance to our understanding of ancient Jerusalem," says Dr. Mazar, in an exclusive interview with the Jerusalem Christian Review. "We now have tangible remains of the place where the most famous king in history once lived."

"In fact," says Dr. Eilat Mazar, "we know quite a bit about this palace from the Bible." It was "a house of cedars" (1 Chronicles 17:1), built by Phoenician builders (2 Samuel 5:11 & 1 Chronicles 14:1) who used the cedars of Lebanon and developed a distinct style of stone masonry.

King Hiram of the Phoenicians offered King David to build him a palace fit for an emperor (2 Samuel 5:11; 1 Chronicles 14:1): "Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs and carpenters and stone masons, and they built a palace for David." (2 Samuel 5:11, NIV)

"One of the reasons researchers were at a loss in finding this important place was that they assumed that King David, as logic would dictate, built his home in the safest, best protected part of the city, inside the Jebusite city walls," says Mazar. However, this was not the case.

The Jebusite city, while almost impregnable, was also very small, approximately 9 acres in size. Nevertheless, scholars continued to search for King David's residence within the city walls. No remains were found that pointed to the existence of a great palace like that which the Bible describes, and scholars began to doubt biblical claims that such a grand structure ever really existed.

"But one of the main clues in finding King David's palace," says Mazar, "was surprisingly from the Bible itself." 2Samuel 5:17 states that: "When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went DOWN [from his palace] to the [citadel]." (NIV, capitalization added for emphases)

Psalm 81

A Psalm for the Choir from Asaph. On the Gittith.

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio

¹ Sing aloud to God our strength;
shout for joy to the God of Jacob!
² Raise a song; sound the tambourine,
the sweet lyre with the harp.
³ Blow the trumpet at the new moon,
at the full moon, on our feast day.

⁴ For it is a statute for Israel,
a rule^{[just decree]} of the God of Jacob.
⁵ He made it a decree in Joseph
when he went out over ^[against] the land of Egypt.
I hear a language I had not known:
⁶ “I relieved your^[his] shoulder of the burden;
your hands were freed from the basket.
⁷ In distress you called, and I delivered you;
I answered you in the secret place of thunder;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah.
Selah

⁸ Hear, O my people, while I admonish you!
O Israel, if you would but listen to me!
⁹ There shall be no strange god among you;
you shall not bow down to a foreign god.
¹⁰ I am the LORD your God,
who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

¹¹ “But my people did not listen to my voice;
Israel would not submit to me.
¹² So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,
to follow their own counsels.
¹³ Oh, that my people would listen to me,
that Israel would walk in my ways!
¹⁴ I would soon subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes.
¹⁵ Those who hate the LORD would cringe toward him,
and their fate would last forever.
¹⁶ But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat,
and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

"May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart - be acceptable in Your sight, Oh Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."

Psalm 81 - to me - is the most mercurial of the Psalms. Some days I read it and it seems to me all possibilities open to God are there for me. Yay!!!!! And other days.... I'm not so sure. And that is faith. God knows exactly where we are in our faith - better than we know it ourselves. We do not hide from Him. God is for us. In days of sunshine and plenty. The days where just one more thing happens and ... it is ALL terrible. A song for each day.

Asaph wrote this one (song) & saw David go from living in a caves and just ditches as a fugitive, for 22 years, David was anointed without being King. And Asaph saw David dance as His Ark came in.

Consider Mark 7:31-37

³¹ Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. ³² And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. ³³ And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. ³⁴ And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” ³⁵ And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. ³⁶ And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. ³⁷ And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

Sure the dead are raised, the deaf hear, speak and the blind see - I have the faith to believe this. Yet no matter where we are in faith - this is the One - Jesus - Whom we place our trust upon. Now the way that Jesus healed the deaf man - that is Someone. Our hero. Jesus. Look up. The LORD. God the Almighty.

And a song for Him.

<><

Matthew 25:1-30 ~ And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

2012-02-09T00:01:00.000-08:00

Matthew 25:1-30

¹ “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. ² Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. ³ For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, ⁴ but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. ⁵ As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. ⁶ But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ ⁷ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ ⁹ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ ¹⁰ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. ¹¹ Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ ¹² But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ ¹³ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

¹⁴ “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. ¹⁵ To one he gave five talents,^{[ a talent, a monetary unit worth about twenty years' wages]} to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

¹⁶ He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. ¹⁷ So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. ¹⁸ But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. ¹⁹ Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. ²⁰ And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ ²¹ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ ²² And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ ²³ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

²⁴ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, ²⁵ so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ ²⁶ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? ²⁷ Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. ²⁸ So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. ²⁹ For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. ³⁰ And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

I heard an excellent news cast this week talking about what I've experienced with my kids when they were younger. Christmas and New Year are over - the new is worn off the 'new year' and here we are in pre-Valentine's, winter-gray-day, less sunshine weather. My sons typically did not get the best grades, of the entire year, about now.

But..... now we will recall my neighbor Carol's advice one winter day. I enjoyed my long-moved- away neighbor. She was Louisianan drawl sharp, sharp spoken, opinionated, fast talking, smooth decorating, good old-fashioned Southern Charm. A smile, a beverage and some saucy talk with spicy opinions. Always good for a conversation. The phone rang one day and Carol invited me across the street to have some good advice. Tedium lifted, interest sparked, I did as asked.

Carol said, "Honey, I've got good advice for you and it will change your life." I told her I was ready, willing and able to hear it. I happen to like good advice. Especially from people willing and able to leave their good advice in your own hands to decide where to place the advice. Carol laughed and she said, " I have 4 sons. When they are on your payroll, your college dime and your health insurance - they should return the calls, make the grades and sit up straight if you say so. And then the time changes. They marry sweet young things and have children you want to see. You no longer give any advice. No opinions. When their children come to your house, jump on your white sofas with chocolate fudge cicles running down their arms on your white sofa - you look over at your formerly sweet young thing daughter-in-law and you say, "Aren't they cute. Love her new hair ribbon. And you mean it."

;) Enter into the joy of the master.

So, about this news cast .... it said for this time of year - momentum is important. Exercise. Determination not to slump into nothingness and inaction. Deliberation. And when you find your self staring into the gray, cloudy sky - give yourself encouragement to get going again.

Remember our efforts are for the LORD.

Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men

Besides. Who wants to have a pristine white sofa no one ever jumps on - left in utter darkness....

Nehemiah 8:10
Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

<><

Mark 3:1-19 ~ He went up on the mountain

2012-02-08T00:01:00.000-08:00

Breakfast with Jesus, painted by James Tissot.

Mark 3:1-19

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio

¹ Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. ² And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. ³ And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” ⁴ And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. ⁵ And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. ⁶ The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.

⁷ Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great crowd followed, from Galilee and Judea ⁸ and Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the Jordan and from around Tyre and Sidon. When the great crowd heard all that he was doing, they came to him. ⁹ And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, lest they crush him, ¹⁰ for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed around him to touch him. ¹¹ And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” ¹² And he strictly ordered them not to make him known.

¹³ And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. ¹⁴ And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach ¹⁵ and have authority to cast out demons. ¹⁶ He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); ¹⁷ James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); ¹⁸ Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, ¹⁹ and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. ²⁰ Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat.

When John the Baptist began his ministry, he cried out for people to clear a straight path in their lives for the truth. He drew people into the wilderness and asked them to repent. You wouldn't think John the Baptist would have drawn a crowd. And yet John did. John's ministry was about personal repentance and improvement. John worried the Temple officials with his words of personal redemption. Church/Temple officials worried over redemption? It just doesn't sound right.

Here we have Mark 3 - Jesus has just begun His ministry, not even really leaving Capernaum - and acts of God are being seen. Israel has been recorded for looking for just these healings and these miracles and now officials want them to stop.

We've heard the Gospel all of our lives and it becomes routine - why - why would Temple of God officials ever be worried about redemption and acts of God?

It was a completing and a re-awakening of a message - God's love was proving again - God does not dwell in human buildings - but in the up-building of mankind.

1 Kings 8:27-30
“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built! ²⁸ Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O LORD my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you this day, ²⁹ that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you have said, ‘My name shall be there,’ that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place. ³⁰ And listen to the plea of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. And listen in heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.

In the beginning of Jesus' ministry - it is like Genesis. God is about His creation.

Genesis 3:8
And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day

Revelation 21:3
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God."

At the end of Jesus' earthly life ministry - it is like Revelation.

John 21
⁹ When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. ¹⁰ Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” ¹¹ So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. ¹² Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.”

God was never about the up-building of anything man made, He was about the up-building of us.

<><

Psalm 71 ~ Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent

2012-02-07T00:01:00.000-08:00

King David playing the harp, painted by Sir Peter Paul Rubens

Psalm 71

Listen - click for new tab

1 In you, O Lord, do I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame!
2 In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
incline your ear to me, and save me!
3 Be to me a rock of refuge,
to which I may continually come;
you have given the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.

4 Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man.
5 For you, O Lord, are my hope,
my trust, O Lord, from my youth.
6 Upon you I have leaned from before my birth;
you are he who took me from my mother's womb.
My praise is continually of you.

7 I have been as a portent to many,
but you are my strong refuge.
8 My mouth is filled with your praise,
and with your glory all the day.
9 Do not cast me off in the time of old age;
forsake me not when my strength is spent.
10 For my enemies speak concerning me;
those who watch for my life consult together
11 and say, “God has forsaken him;
pursue and seize him,
for there is none to deliver him.”

12 O God, be not far from me;
O my God, make haste to help me!
13 May my accusers be put to shame and consumed;
with scorn and disgrace may they be covered
who seek my hurt.
14 But I will hope continually
and will praise you yet more and more.
15 My mouth will tell of your righteous acts,
of your deeds of salvation all the day,
for their number is past my knowledge.
16 With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come;
I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.

17 O God, from my youth you have taught me,
and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.
18 So even to old age and gray hairs,
O God, do not forsake me,
until I proclaim your might to another generation,
your power to all those to come.
19 Your righteousness, O God,
reaches the high heavens.
You who have done great things,
O God, who is like you?
20 You who have made me see many troubles and calamities
will revive me again;
from the depths of the earth
you will bring me up again.
21 You will increase my greatness
and comfort me again.

22 I will also praise you with the harp
for your faithfulness, O my God;
I will sing praises to you with the lyre,
O Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips will shout for joy,
when I sing praises to you;
my soul also, which you have redeemed.
24 And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long,
for they have been put to shame and disappointed
who sought to do me hurt.

David left his father, Jesse's, flock as a boy deciding to answer King Saul's call for someone to defeat Goliath.

Archaeologists digging at the biblical hometown of Goliath have unearthed a shard of pottery bearing an inscription of the Philistine's name, "Goliath" lending historical credence to the Bible's tale of David's battle. This supports biblical depiction of life at the time of the battle. It dates to about 950 B.C. within the correct time span.

In 1902 archaelogist Robert Macalister found several large skeletons of women, 2 meters tall, at Gezer, 6 km south of Gath, 30 km west of Jerusalem. Gezer was Philistine territory. Goliath was about 9 feet tall in Biblical measurements.

Numbers 13:29 describes the sons of Anak are described as being huge. An Egyptian papyrus, written by Hori, in 1200 BC warned traveler about giants south of Megiddo, the hills of lower Galilee.

1 Kings 2:1-4
When David's time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, 2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, 3 and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, 4 that the Lord may establish his word

In our marriage class, we thought of the television programs like "Bachelor" celebrating the youthful human body. When I was younger, most of the movie stars were John Wayne, David Niven, Jimmy Stewart. Dean Martin. Most of these men were in their 60s. Few of the 'stars' were young. Now, the lines at the grocery stores, magazines are filled with young faces - I have no idea who they are. Isn't it a complex world where we live in a country we are all aging, the median age is increasing, and yet.... we glamorize youth more than when we did when I was younger.

Consider David killing Goliath at a young age. Living for 22 years after being anointed King of Israel before he was King. Goliath was at his top game and physical condition. Yet it didn't work the way Goliath wanted.

And that leads to the next charge of David to Solomon to "be a man." What did David mean about being a man?

For today's example, Sir Peter Paul Rubens led a colorful, long life. "My passion comes from the heavens, not from earthly musings." (28 June 1577 – 30 May 1640) Rubens was at the top of the list during the Jesuit reformation, an art awakening - becoming the leader of the art era - painting a tremendous number of Biblical portraits, altarpieces and then later surprising many by moving into landscapes. Rubens also celebrated women.

Rubens came into his own style of painting in 1615, being different from the other painters. His style was bold and not full of details. He didn't outlive the popularity of his art. He traveled to many countries, and had a diplomatic career while many other artists never rose beyond a trades' man status.

Rubens married in 1609, Isabella Brant Rubens, his letters wrote of her liveliness, honor, respect - the dedication they had to their 3 children and her help in his efforts.

Rubens was shaped by life experiences and had been raised after his family experienced some serious trouble. One of the reasons, perhaps, for this marriage dedication, Rubens was born after his father had been imprisoned for his affair with Anna of Saxony, Princess of Orange. Wife of ruler William I of Orange. His family returned to Cologne, Germany the next year. In 1589, two years after his father's death, Rubens moved with his mother to Antwerp, where he was raised as a Catholic.

53 year old Rubens married again 2 years after his wife's death, to 16 year old Hélène Fourment. They had five children. The fifth child being born 8 months after Rubens' death.

Most of the world would applaud Rubens for his good sense to marry again to a much younger woman and have 5 more children. And yet - Hélène acquired fame as the subject of many Rubens' works. Many women bless Rubens' for the recorded beauty of larger women and middle-aged beauty.

In life, a lot of happiness is the gratitude for what we are and who we are - today.

Psalm 68:19
Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.

Isaiah 46:4
Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.

Proverbs 16:31
Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.

Proverbs 16:32
Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

<><

John 15:1-17 ~ abide in His love

2012-02-06T00:01:00.000-08:00

Botanically very improbable - St. Rita's 600 year old grapevine still producing wine sent to the Vatican. The vine was thought to be a dead stick and cared for by St. Rita (b. May 22, 1382) in Umbria, Italy.

John 15:1-17

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. ² Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. ³ Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. ⁴ Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

⁵ I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. ⁷ If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. ⁹ As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. ¹¹ These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

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,^{[bondservant]} for the servant^{[bondservant]}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.

Abiding in love, the Scriptures tell us will produce benefits the Scriptures call fruit. Not gifts, but fruit - waiting in gentle seasons of rain and soft temperatures. Resting in seasons of longer nights and colder temperatures. Blooming in warmer temperatures and days of beautiful weather. Growing in warm temperature, looking for provision of water and care - in the most necessary season.

Fruit can just happen .... in long forgotten gardens and in the wild - it still is a gift of God. Truly an abundance of this godly blessing needs some constant care and willing hands. Even with willing hands, we still need the provision of weather safety and good weather. Even an analogy of fruit requires the blessing of events from God. And this has a warm, reassuring feel to it. Jesus' analogy works for us today as it did in the days Jesus walked among us being God's blessings of grace upon grace and truth.

Genesis 1:12
The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

As a gardener, the idea of God Himself having gratitude is something I can very much appreciate. How can we do less than to be cultivators of gratitude. Realizing our lives are gifts.

Genesis 3:8
And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day

Revelations tells us God's plan, from beginning to end.

Revelation 21:3
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God."

Acts 17:28
For “‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’

Psalm 23:6
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

<><

Jeremiah 9:23-24 ~ delight

2012-02-05T00:01:00.000-08:00

Jeremiah 9:23-24

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio

Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.”

The LORD does not need to use many words to make His point. How shall we delight our Father God?

<><

Exodus 35 ~ all the congregation of the people of Israel departed from the presence of Moses

2012-02-03T20:22:00.000-08:00

Exodus 35

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio

¹ Moses assembled all the congregation of the people of Israel and said to them, “These are the things that the LORD has commanded you to do. ² Six days work shall be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death. ³ You shall kindle no fire in all your dwelling places on the Sabbath day.”

⁴ Moses said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, “This is the thing that the LORD has commanded. ⁵ Take from among you a contribution to the LORD. Whoever is of a generous heart, let him bring the LORD's contribution: gold, silver, and bronze; ⁶ blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen; goats' hair, ⁷ tanned rams' skins, and goatskins; acacia wood, ⁸ oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, ⁹ and onyx stones and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece.

¹⁰ “Let every skillful craftsman among you come and make all that the LORD has commanded: ¹¹ the tabernacle, its tent and its covering, its hooks and its frames, its bars, its pillars, and its bases; ¹² the ark with its poles, the mercy seat, and the veil of the screen; ¹³ the table with its poles and all its utensils, and the bread of the Presence; ¹⁴ the lampstand also for the light, with its utensils and its lamps, and the oil for the light; ¹⁵ and the altar of incense, with its poles, and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense, and the screen for the door, at the door of the tabernacle; ¹⁶ the altar of burnt offering, with its grating of bronze, its poles, and all its utensils, the basin and its stand; ¹⁷ the hangings of the court, its pillars and its bases, and the screen for the gate of the court; ¹⁸ the pegs of the tabernacle and the pegs of the court, and their cords; ¹⁹ the finely worked garments for ministering in the Holy Place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, for their service as priests.”

²⁰ Then all the congregation of the people of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. ²¹ And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the LORD's contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments. ²² So they came, both men and women. All who were of a willing heart brought brooches and earrings and signet rings and armlets, all sorts of gold objects, every man dedicating an offering of gold to the LORD. ²³ And every one who possessed blue or purple or scarlet yarns or fine linen or goats' hair or tanned rams' skins or goatskins brought them. ²⁴ Everyone who could make a contribution of silver or bronze brought it as the LORD's contribution. And every one who possessed acacia wood of any use in the work brought it. ²⁵ And every skillful woman spun with her hands, and they all brought what they had spun in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. ²⁶ All the women whose hearts stirred them to use their skill spun the goats' hair. ²⁷ And the leaders brought onyx stones and stones to be set, for the ephod and for the breastpiece, ²⁸ and spices and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense. ²⁹ All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the LORD had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the LORD.

³⁰ Then Moses said to the people of Israel, “See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; ³¹ and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, ³² to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze, ³³ in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every skilled craft. ³⁴ And he has inspired him to teach, both him and Oholiab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan. ³⁵ He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work done by an engraver or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, or by a weaver—by any sort of workman or skilled designer.

Yes. This is my Church family at HopePointe Anglican. Kicking it all off is my son Alexander looking like Jeddi Warrior Acolyte. I'm almost sure it wasn't the look he was aiming for.... I'm the hooligan in the black t-shirt. Catch me if you can. I wish I could find the photo of Edward as part of the Silent Monks.

So...... how is Exodus 35 going to make a memorable difference in your life of Scripture reading??? It is pretty easy. If you compare Exodus 32 - the building of the gold calf - people gave.... gold. In Exodus 35 people gave of..... themselves. Why? Celebrating Jesus as Lord. And became a community going through all kinds of things for 40 years.... or there abouts. (Not meaning to imply that we won't enter God's rest! Rather an analogy of 40 years of soujourning together in life's wilderness!)

blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen - that is great for the Jubilee Dinner and VBS. And the Redeemed Ministry gift bags for women seeking to leave the sex trade. Plus Hobby Lobby is having a buy one get one free sale. Don't forget to buy more yarn for needlepoint kneelers.

goats' hair - Scott will look good in it with his overalls and watering can leading the kids out to Sunday School. (Tell me again why Deacon Lisa married him...)

tanned rams' skins - well - they taste good on the BBQ and we can put them over our heads and use them for the June Picnic as shade.

acacia wood - yes, Jim Ferrell, age 82, made our kneelers at the altar rail.

oil for the light - if I didn't have Cindy Beaumont (glowing in photo 32 (above the angel photo) with the Holy Spirit - married to Kirk Beaumont- supreme chef and a/c Texas Savior) as my Table Care partner - we never would have oil in the torches, because I have a habit of making a greasy mess with the oil.

spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense - fragrance - yes the Sanctuary has a beautiful vanilla fragrance from the candles - but not really - it is the Holy Spirit making community grow and love one another. Suffering through the hard knocks, rejoicing in the glory of living in community but knowing as we grow, we love with deeper roots.

skillful craftsman - oh - just a few. And if you want to learn a new talent - just volunteer. We have gardening, carpentry, needlepoint, teaching, copying, cutting paper, computer, photography, moving furniture back and forth, kitchen cleaners, garbage collectors - thank God, painters, vacuumers. Bakers, shoppers, mowers.... we've even painted stained glass. Banner makers, acolyte trainers, clothes washers, singers, pie eaters, and greeters. And many more.

the mercy seat, and the veil of the screen - we have street ministers, homeless helpers, apartment ministries, Redeemed ministry and PACN. Pregnancy Assistance Centers. Food Ministries. The list goes on. Pastor ministries.

And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the LORD's contribution

~ Here I am Lord. Send me!

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

Isaiah 40:1-11 ~ His reward is with Him

2012-02-03T07:28:00.001-08:00

Isaiah 40:1-11

1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and cry to her
that her warfare [time of service] is ended,
that her iniquity is pardoned,
that she has received from the Lord's hand
double for all her sins.

3 A voice cries: [A voice of one crying]
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

6 A voice says, “Cry!”
And I said, [And someone says] “What shall I cry?”
All flesh is grass,
and all its beauty [all its constancy] is like the flower of the field.
7 The grass withers, the flower fades
when the breath of the Lord blows on it;
surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever.

9 Get you up to a high mountain,
O Zion, herald of good news; [O herald of good news to Zion]
lift up your voice with strength,
O Jerusalem, herald of good news; [O herald of good news to Jerusalem]
lift it up, fear not;
say to the cities of Judah,
“Behold your God!”
10 Behold, the Lord God comes with might,
and his arm rules for him;
behold, his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.
11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms;
he will carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead those that are with young.

Isaiah was a prophet in the 8th-century BC Kingdom of Judah. He prophesied 44 years during the reigns of Uzziah (or Azariah), Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. Isaiah saw at least two invasions and by the 4th king, Hezekiah trusted Isaiah's Word from the Lord, to repell the Assyrians and ended with a peaceful reign.

Isaiah's words move between past - 8th Century BC - present - what we hope for today- & future - what will be God's will, Judah/Israel & God's eternal heaven. And all three, God's word is constant.

Matthew Henry sees this passage as "And may the Lord prepare our hearts by the teaching of his word and the convictions of his Spirit, that high and proud thoughts may be brought down, good desires planted, crooked and rugged tempers made straight and softened, and every hindrance removed, that we may be ready for his will on earth, and prepared for his heavenly kingdom." ( ~ Very beautifully written.)

Geneva Study Bible says that man's life is short, frail, but the magnificence of God and His miracle gives us all of His Promises for always. ( ~ Interesting to see the comparison between the greatness of God and humans.)

Wesley's Notes on the Bible, very wise, see the passage about John the Baptist as also applying to the return of exiles from Babylon. Pointing out God's will and God's word continues and repeats through the generations. (~ I am always so encouraged when we see things repeat in the bible, knowing it repeats today as well.)

Scofield Reference Notes see this passage as prophesy for Israel "Since Israel is to be regathered, converted, and made the centre of the new social order when the kingdom is set up, this part of Isaiah appropriately contains glowing prophecies concerning these events. The full view of the redemptive sufferings of Christ." Israel will be a center for these things on earth. ( ~ Revelation agrees Israel will be something the world looks towards, even in the end days.)

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary says biblical prophecy stopped in the 39th chapter of Isaiah and, "The latter part was written in the old age of Isaiah, as appears from the greater mellowness of style and tone which pervades it; it is less fiery and more tender and gentle than the former part." It says this is the redemption of Christ.

~ Personally, it irritates me when Scripture is taken apart and given different narratives. Even if we sit down to write a letter to someone to explain a lengthy situation or idea, our handwriting and tone will be somewhat different on each page with different emotions coming from the letter writing. For example, this commentary says the difference between Isaiah 39 and 40 is Isaiah's age. This just cannot be known, instead we must see the communication between Isaiah 39 & 40 as the vastness of the Creator of the Universe telling us of different situations and times.

Which one is right? They all are. (I would disagree with anyone who looks at Isaiah & says we can pinpoint when Isaiah's prophecy from the Lord stops.) The Bible is living and active.

The Lord lives within us when we accept Jesus Christ. For each season of our lives, God is for us. In trouble, God is our salvation daily - a wilderness still in God's care. In good times, God in His Glory prevails. We don't need to read the Bible just as history. Or we recognize that portion as the old John the Baptist portion. Not just looking at biblical stories with nostalgia of great times, we can look ahead in hope. God is for us in this time and in this generation. His reward is with Him and He is with us.

<><

Psalm 91 ~ He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty

2012-02-02T00:01:00.000-08:00

Psalm 91

Max McLean Audio Bible, English Standard Version

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only look with your eyes
and see the recompense of the wicked.

9 Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—
the Most High, who is my refuge —
10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
no plague come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
12 On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the adder;
the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

14 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
15 When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”

Philippians 2:9-10
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

God is Love - 1 John 4:8

Father Almighty, Abba, I Am, Wonderful Counselor, Might God, Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace, God hath made that same Jesus… both Lord & Christ, Lamb of God, servant of God, Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Bright & Morning Star, Word of Life, Jesus Christ The Righteous, Dayspring, Son of God, Shepherd and Bishop of your souls, Messiah, Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life. Savior Jesus Christ, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Light of the World. The true light, which enlightens everyone. I am the true vine and my Father is the Gardener. I am the door.

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

Listen – "Blessed Be Your Name" by Beth and Matt Redman.
Blessed be your name
in the land that is plentiful,
Where your streams
of abundance flow,
blessed be your name.
Blessed be your name
when I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord still I will say ...

Blessed be the name of the Lord,
blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord,
blessed be your glorious name.

Blessed be your name when
the sun's shining down on me,
When the world's
"all as it should be,"
blessed be your name.
Blessed be your name on the
road marked with suffering.
Though there's pain in the offering,
blessed be your name.

Every blessing you pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in,
Lord, still I will say . . .

Blessed be the name of the Lord,
blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord,
blessed be your glorious name.
(repeat)

You give and take away. (Job 1:21)
You give and take away.
My heart will choose to say,
Lord, blessed be your name.
You give and take away.
You give and take away.
My heart will choose to say,
Lord, blessed be your name.

Blessed be THE NAME OF THE LORD,
blessed be YOUR NAME
Blessed be THE NAME OF THE LORD,
blessed be YOUR GLORIOUS NAME.

<><

Shelter, refuge, expectant prayer, letting God's will be done , Christianity, Bible, Scripture, Jesus is Lord, Messiah, Anglican, Prayer, Faith, Hope, Love, Miracles, God for us, day of blessing, day of adversity, praise, dwelling in Him

<><

Numbers 22:22-28 ~ you have struck me these three times

2012-02-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

Numbers 22:22-28

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio

²² But God's anger was kindled because he ^{[the prophet Balaam went to curse the Children of Israel against God's desire to bless]} went , and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as his adversary.

Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him. ²³ And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the road. ²⁴ Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side. ²⁵ And when the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pushed against the wall and pressed Balaam's foot against the wall. So he struck her again. ²⁶ Then the angel of the LORD went ahead and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left. ²⁷ When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam's anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff. ²⁸ Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”

Scripture for Today Blogspot would love to show you, at this point, an archaeological tombstone, or pottery shard with the story of the wonderful donkey. We will have to take it on faith. God's glory unseen. Unfortunately, all archaeology only confirms Balaam was not a child of Israel, & did worship other gods and was a prophet intent on other gods.

In 1967, at Deir Alla, Jordan, archaeologists found 119 pieces of inked plaster containing an unknown prophecy by Balaam written in a previously unattested dialect with Aramaic and South Canaanite characteristics and employing an idiosyncratic script. The inscription is datable to circa 840–760 B.C. . Painted in red and black inks, apparently to emphasize the text, on fragments of a plastered wall.

Agreeing with the Balaam testimony is John, Jesus' beloved disciple, Balaam as not part of the Children of Israel, instead working against them.

Revelation 2:14
But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.

Balaam held the interest of Jude, brother of Jesus:

Jude 1:11
What sorrow awaits them! For they follow in the footsteps of Cain, who killed his brother. Like Balaam, they deceive people for money. And like Korah, they perish in their rebellion.

Peter was also interested in Balaam.

2 Peter 2:15
Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing,

What is remarkable of Balaam.... his defiance, bold resistance to opposing God or an angel of the Lord's authority.... to continue to do the wrong thing.

Numbers 22
²⁹ And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you.” ³⁰ And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?” And he said, “No.” ³¹ Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face. ³² And the angel of the LORD said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse before me. ³³ The donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let her live.”

³⁴ Then Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you stood in the road against me. Now therefore, if it is evil in your sight, I will turn back.” ³⁵ And the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only the word that I tell you.”

Numbers 24

When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go, as at other times, to look for omens, but set his face toward the wilderness. ² And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him, ³ and he took up his discourse and said,

“The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,
the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,
⁴ the oracle of him who hears the words of God,
who sees the vision of the Almighty,
falling down with his eyes uncovered:
⁵ How lovely are your tents, O Jacob,
your encampments, O Israel!
⁶ Like palm groves that stretch afar,
like gardens beside a river,
like aloes that the LORD has planted,
like cedar trees beside the waters.
⁷ Water shall flow from his buckets,
and his seed shall be in many waters;
his king shall be higher than Agag,
and his kingdom shall be exalted.
⁸ God brings him out of Egypt
and is for him like the horns of the wild ox;
he shall eat up the nations, his adversaries,
and shall break their bones in pieces
and pierce them through with his arrows.
⁹ He crouched, he lay down like a lion
and like a lioness; who will rouse him up?
Blessed are those who bless you,
and cursed are those who curse you.”

¹⁰ And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them these three times. ¹¹ Therefore now flee to your own place. I said, ‘I will certainly honor you,’ but the LORD has held you back from honor.” ¹² And Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not tell your messengers whom you sent to me, ¹³ ‘If Balak should give me his house full of silver and gold, I would not be able to go beyond the word of the LORD, to do either good or bad of my own will. What the LORD speaks, that will I speak’? ¹⁴ And now, behold, I am going to my people. Come, I will let you know what this people will do to your people in the latter days.”

It is up to each of us not turn from what we know is right. With the grace of God. God speaks to us in our hearts, we believe & He tells us this in the New Testament. God is good, forgiving and gracious in the way He records Balaam in the Book of Numbers; the New Testament says Balaam continued to work against God's anointed people.

Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

<><

Matthew 20:1-16 ~ So the last will be first, and the first last

2012-01-31T00:01:00.000-08:00

Shine - Collective Soul

Matthew 20:1-16

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio

¹ “For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. ² After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius^{[a day's wages for a laborer}} a day, he sent them into his vineyard. ³ And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, ⁴ and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ ⁵ So they went.

Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. ⁶ And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ ⁷ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’

⁸ And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ ⁹ And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. ¹⁰ Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. ¹¹ And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, ¹² saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ ¹³ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? ¹⁴ Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. ¹⁵ Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ ¹⁶ So the last will be first, and the first last.”

So the last will be first, and the first last.

Jesus told us the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. He didn't mean just for that moment. Jesus was telling us when we confess with our mouths and believe with our hearts - we have eternal life. Beginning ..... stop watch click...... at believing. All of God's promises are for us - now.

I had the pleasure and sadness to spend time with family I dearly love this weekend - someone when the joy of Jesus Christ and His love opened in my soul - he was the first person I thought of. Today he has it all - the wife he loves - the children he adores - the departed architect's own designed home - and the career he has & was never going to have because he has/had a learning disability. The only reason this dear one has this career after 2 major Universities & a very established High School wished him well and not to let the back door knock him down too hard - he has some real skill. With problem solving and humor.

Life is really hard. It is tough to get out there each day and bust a gut. My loved one was saying that he plans to leave this life of old age in his 60s. Not really our genetic pattern, when the ticket-to-ride departure date seems to be age 94. His young eyes looked weary.

Yesterday we looked at Jacob having the full weight of God's blessings behind him - yet a lot of Jacob's life looked pretty similar to Job. It was within Jacob's soul that God's blessings lived, multiplied and were given out. Jacob lived His promises.

Who else would be first and last in God's blessings? Jesus' own brothers. Jesus knew they would shine. Just as God knew Gideon would shine as well. It is fairly, understatement, important to treat people like they have it within them to Shine. Pray hard - with hope. God is still at work today. An uncle of mine found the Lord at age 78. Dancing in Heaven for my grandmother.

John 7:1-5, Jesus' brothers want Him to see some trouble.
After this, Jesus went around in Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews there were waiting to take his life. But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near, Jesus' brothers said to him, "You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world." For even his own brothers did not believe in him.

Matthew 12:46-50, after Jesus declared the ruling people of the temple to be vile and evil, His brothers want the trouble to die down.
While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you."He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."

Mark 6:3, Jesus records how his brothers think of Him; Jesus' family is seen by others as a very loving, all of a kind, family.
"Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor."

This is Jesus loving His brother in clear light. He understands the situation, not whitewashing it. So 1 Corinthians 13 tells us love conquers all.

1 Corinthians 9:5, Paul tells us of Jesus' brothers.

Don't we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord's brothers and Cephas [Peter]?

The Books of the Bible, James and Jude are Jesus' brothers that their Nazareth home town saw them as a seamless family. In the time of the early Church:

Acts 1:14
They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

Hebrews 2:10-12, Jesus speaks of us as His brothers, but also His own brothers.
In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. He says,
"I will declare your name to my brothers;
in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises."

I pray the Psalms. I'm not spending time fretting. I am placing the one I love in His hands.

Psalm 87

¹ On the holy mount stands the city he founded;

² the LORD loves the gates of Zion
more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
³ Glorious things of you are spoken,
O city of God.
Selah

⁴ Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon;
behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush—
“This one was born there,” they say.
⁵ And of Zion it shall be said,
“This one and that one were born in her”;
for the Most High himself will establish her.
⁶ The LORD records as he registers the peoples,
“This one was born there.”
Selah

⁷ Singers and dancers alike say,
“All my springs are in you.”

1 Corinthians 13:13
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

<><

Hebrews 11:8-16 ~ people who speak thus

2012-01-30T00:01:00.000-08:00

Hebrews 11:8-16

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio

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.

Body of Jacob Returning to Israel for Burial. Painted by James Tissot

Jacob left a land in famine. A land where his grandfather, grandmother, mother, father and his beloved wife Rachel were buried. The place where he had long mourned the death of a favorite child. Land purchased for him. For an old man who had once fled his comfortable home after stealing a paternal blessing, how could this have seemed like a blessing?

Yet Jacob did not die in the journey. Did not die rounding up all of his children and grandchildren to leave. Jacob made the journey. One step in front of the next. This incredible man still believed in the blessing of God and made sure all of his children and even 2 grandchildren were all rounded up and blessed. Jacob was not going to leave this life giving only one paternal blessing. Jacob was going to leave his life with more giving than what had been given to him.

Psalm 23:6
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

Goodness and mercy were the blossoms of Jacob's life.

In plain view, Jacob was not living a blessed life. Rather more like Job. But most importantly Jacob lived with joy in his heart of Faith, Hope and Love. With the greatest of these being Love. Jacob's children hardly deserved a blessing, yet Jacob made sure all of them were blessed. Scriptures never record his children asking for forgiveness for letting Jacob believe for years Joseph had died.

The road was bumpy, sometimes harsh. Famine, theft, blessing and curses. Yet Jacob is Israel and the blessing - is - his.

Father God, help us each day in our comfortable lives to have our gratitude renewed and our cups overflow to bring goodness and mercy. That we may always be people who give You thanks. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

<><

Ezekiel 26:1-14 ~ your walls will shake

2012-01-29T00:01:00.000-08:00

The Bible promised Tyre would not be rebuilt.

Tyre - important Phoenician settlement on the coast of Lebanon. It was an offshore island and had a double harbor linked by a canal which allowed sheltered anchorage and a safe outlet whatever the wind direction. It wasn't until Alexander the Great that Tyre ceased to be an island. In ancient documents it was powerful and important,a famous trading center for purple dye made from murex shells, known as Tyrian Purple. Carthage inherited the leadership of the western Phoenician cities after Tyre fell to Nebuchadnezzar in 572 BC. On this occasion the city withstood a 13 year siege before it fell. The island was heavily fortified with defensive walls 150 feet(46m)high. In 332 BC there was another remarkable siege by Alexander the Great who finally succeeded by building a causeway permanently linking the island to the mainland.

Ezekiel 26 announces the destruction of Tyre (Ezekiel was the prophet who announced a head of time what Nebuchadnezzar would do) , Ezekiel 27 asks for a prayer for the beautiful Tyre. Combine the two chapters, you have a wonderful example of God's mercy.

Ezekiel 27:1-4

1 The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,
2 Now, thou son of man, take up a lamentation for Tyrus;
3 And say unto Tyrus, O thou that art situate at the entry of the sea, which art a merchant of the people for many isles, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O Tyrus, thou hast said, I am of perfect beauty. 4 Thy borders are in the midst of the seas, thy builders have perfected thy beauty.

Tyre, Lebanon today - the coast and southern half are devoid of population and are in ruins.

Ezekiel 26:1-14 ~ (Revised Standard Version)

In the eleventh year, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me:

"Son of man, because Tyre said concerning Jerusalem, `Aha, the gate of the peoples is broken, it has swung open to me; I shall be replenished, now that she is laid waste,' therefore thus says the Lord GOD:

Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and will bring up many nations against you, as the sea brings up its waves. They shall destroy the walls of Tyre, and break down her towers; and I will scrape her soil from her, and make her a bare rock.
She shall be in the midst of the sea a place for the spreading of nets; for I have spoken, says the Lord GOD; and she shall become a spoil to the nations;
and her daughters on the mainland shall be slain by the sword. Then they will know that I am the LORD.

"For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will bring upon Tyre from the north Nebuchadrez'zar king of Babylon, king of kings, with horses and chariots, and with horsemen and a host of many soldiers.

He will slay with the sword your daughters on the mainland; he will set up a siege wall against you, and throw up a mound against you, and raise a roof of shields against you. He will direct the shock of his battering rams against your walls, and with his axes he will break down your towers. His horses will be so many that their dust will cover you; your walls will shake at the noise of the horsemen and wagons and chariots, when he enters your gates as one enters a city which has been breached. With the hoofs of his horses he will trample all your streets; he will slay your people with the sword; and your mighty pillars will fall to the ground.
They will make a spoil of your riches and a prey of your merchandise; they will break down your walls and destroy your pleasant houses; your stones and timber and soil they will cast into the midst of the waters.

And I will stop the music of your songs, and the sound of your lyres shall be heard no more.

I will make you a bare rock; you shall be a place for the spreading of nets; you shall never be rebuilt; for I the LORD have spoken, says the Lord GOD.

There are several cities in the Bible that were never to be rebuilt according to the Lord's Word like Sodom, Gomorrah, Nineveh and Ai. Some have suggested the Hittite Empire, Nineveh, Sodom, Gomorrah never even existed, in my lifetime, until archaeology dug them back up. Portions of Tyre are desolate ruins today. We looked at Ezekiel 20, this week, where the promises of the Lord to protect Israel came to an end because they had been practicing child sacrifice for financial gain to the false god Baal. The Lord swore in Ezekiel 20 He would scatter the children of Israel.

So many claim the "god of the Old Testament" was filled with wrath. This is uninformed. Judgment when God gives it is deserved. Jesus visited Tyre:

Matthew 15:21-28
21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”

23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

25 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.

26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

27 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

28 Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

Then we read Zechariah 7 telling us the thoughts of our heart matter. Tyre provided David with trade, Solomon built God's Temple with Phoenician wood. They were probably more frenemy than enemy to Israel.

Lamentations 1:21
People have heard my groaning, but there is no one to comfort me. All my enemies have heard of my distress; they rejoice at what you have done. May you bring the day you have announced so they may become like me.

Proverbs 24:17
Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice

Job 31:29
"If I have rejoiced at my enemy's misfortune or gloated over the trouble that came to him--

Why would the Lord have changed His plans for Tyre?

Isaiah 38:1-6
¹ In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.”

² Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, ³ “Remember, LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

⁴ Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah: ⁵ “Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life. ⁶ And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city.

Jesus had something to say about prayer and hope:

Luke 18:1-8
1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”

6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly

Jesus was known to be open to appeal:

John 2:3-7
3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
4 “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

God loves us.

Luke 18:1
1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

Reprint Scripture for Today Blogspot - November 3, 2010

<><

Psalm 107 ~ The upright see it and are glad

2012-01-28T00:01:00.000-08:00

Where The River Flows - Collective Soul

Psalm 107

¹ Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever!
² Let the redeemed of the LORD say so,
whom he has redeemed from trouble^{[from the hand of the foe]}
³ and gathered in from the lands,
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.

⁴ Some wandered in desert wastes,
finding no way to a city to dwell in;
⁵ hungry and thirsty,
their soul fainted within them.
⁶ Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
⁷ He led them by a straight way
till they reached a city to dwell in.
⁸ Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
⁹ For he satisfies the longing soul,
and the hungry soul he fills with good things.

¹⁰ Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,
prisoners in affliction and in irons,
¹¹ for they had rebelled against the words of God,
and spurned the counsel of the Most High.
¹² So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor;
they fell down, with none to help.
¹³ Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
¹⁴ He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
and burst their bonds apart.
¹⁵ Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
¹⁶ For he shatters the doors of bronze
and cuts in two the bars of iron.

¹⁷ Some were fools through their sinful ways,
and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;
¹⁸ they loathed any kind of food,
and they drew near to the gates of death.
¹⁹ Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
²⁰ He sent out his word and healed them,
and delivered them from their destruction.
²¹ Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
²² And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,
and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!

²³ Some went down to the sea in ships,
doing business on the great waters;
²⁴ they saw the deeds of the LORD,
his wondrous works in the deep.
²⁵ For he commanded and raised the stormy wind,
which lifted up the waves of the sea.
²⁶ They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths;
their courage melted away in their evil plight;
²⁷ they reeled and staggered like drunken men
and were at their wits' end.
²⁸ Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
²⁹ He made the storm be still,
and the waves of the sea were hushed.
³⁰ Then they were glad that the waters were quiet,
and he brought them to their desired haven.
³¹ Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
³² Let them extol him in the congregation of the people,
and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

³³ He turns rivers into a desert,
springs of water into thirsty ground,
³⁴ a fruitful land into a salty waste,
because of the evil of its inhabitants.
³⁵ He turns a desert into pools of water,
a parched land into springs of water.
³⁶ And there he lets the hungry dwell,
and they establish a city to live in;
³⁷ they sow fields and plant vineyards
and get a fruitful yield.
³⁸ By his blessing they multiply greatly,
and he does not let their livestock diminish.

³⁹ When they are diminished and brought low
through oppression, evil, and sorrow,
⁴⁰ he pours contempt on princes
and makes them wander in trackless wastes;
⁴¹ but he raises up the needy out of affliction
and makes their families like flocks.
⁴² The upright see it and are glad,
and all wickedness shuts its mouth.

⁴³ Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things;
let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD.

Past events + life experiences + current day-to-day events = the snap shot of where we exist today.

So what's new? Spotify. Arranging the music we listen and like the most into our own collection. Thinking about being in the world and not of the world.

And. Edward & I started a new 6 Friday nights Bible/Book Study taught by our Pastor Clark Lowenfield on the book "The Meaning of Marriage" written by Timothey Keller with Kathy Keller. Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God.

John 17:11 In the world, but not of the world
I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name--the name you gave me--so that they may be one as we are one.

The Lord created the world and when we look we see Him in our every day life. The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof.

God's world is orderly. Jesus is Prince of Peace.
God designed the world to turn and created ecological systems to renew, nourish and replenish us. Marriage is one of the systems God gave us. God says to seek Him first and His Kingdom.

And God has always told us - there is a profound bond between marriage and the Body of Christ. - His Church and His Bride.

My great-uncle was the Reverend Tate Young. In the early 1970s, Tate told us the Church would begin to see tremendous problems. He wasn't talking about the homosexual agenda. He was talking about the beginning of trouble. He was seeing the Bible being discarded with man's wisdom. Tate said that when the denominations begin to discard the vows, - of say for example -, a marriage that took place in the Methodist Church and now the Episcopal Church doesn't recognize the relevance of the Methodist Church vows because a divorce took place and the Episcopal Church offers a re-marriage without due prayer and contemplation - then the Church would have it's bedrock shaken.

We live in a country where just few years ago, almost 90% of all newborns were born in wedlock. Today 60% are. Without the bedrock commitment - how is the pendulum going to swing in ways the world sees up building, trust and hope? The Church, as the Body of Christ, should provide for marriage and nourishment. Our foundation should be Jesus. The river should flow to the Lord.

We bought our book on Amazon and the 2 day shipping was free. Our Pastor says this book is very worthwhile. Join us if you feel led by the Holy Spirit.

Mark 1:17
"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."

Ezekiel 47:9
Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live.

Revelation 22:1
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb

<><

John 5:30-47 ~ the love of God within you

2012-01-26T21:21:00.000-08:00

John 5:30-47

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio

³⁰ “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. ³¹ If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true.

³² There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. ³³ You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. ³⁴ Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. ³⁵ He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.

³⁶ But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. ³⁷ And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, ³⁸ and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent.

³⁹ You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, ⁴⁰ yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. ⁴¹ I do not receive glory from people.

⁴² But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. ⁴³ I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. ⁴⁴ How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? ⁴⁵ Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. ⁴⁶ For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. ⁴⁷ But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

Jesus Meek and Mild. I once heard a Bishop in full Bishop regalia describe Jesus thusly as he stepped to the altar to say this greeting. I immediately wondered if he was a fop - this when I was an unbelieving, but raised in parochial school, teenager. But he wasn't. This Pennsylvania Bishop went on to say, we love Jesus for loving us. Yet Jesus is a parent. A shining and burning lamp, we may rejoice in His Light.

Worldly glory is fleeting. Everyone loves you one day and ... not so much the next. Jesus love tells us to get over ourselves with a loving caress, a hug and a pat.

All we have is a gift of God. Knowledge is fleeting. Jesus could quote Scripture, He is the Word of God. A favorite saying of Jesus' was, "It is written." Jesus was never so concerned with the immediate details of added chapter and verse. Jesus was interested in His Father's ideals. Much more important than the words themselves - the Light of God and His Love - the Glory of God.

<><

Acts 9:1-20 ~ And for three days

2012-01-26T00:01:00.000-08:00

Acts 9:1-20

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio

1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.

4 And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened.

For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”

The passage of Saul/Paul's conversion is of a godly man, upwardly mobile in his top drawer Temple career discovering Jesus. Saul was godly and became a follower of God's Son. But godly and Christ follower are two different situations.

Recently, we looked at John the Baptist – in the 3rd and first chapters of John’s Gospel – it reveals John the Baptist did not know Jesus as Lord for years. John the Baptist spent considerable time looking, observing the workings of God and the lack of response from man.

Yet the Spirit of God, breathing out truth, has the same salvation, miracle of God component:

John 3:34-35
34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.

With both men, their lives were transformed. The disciples were amazed, astonished, afraid, watchful, bickering over their places, but still able to run away and hide. God wasn't brain washing them. After Thomas had declared he would go with Jesus to see what He would do for Lazarus, Thomas said he would die with Jesus - yet push comes to shove and fear did reign.

Did Jesus condemn the disciples. No.

I recently saw a Facebook photo someone published - it was of a mournful woman looking over a beautiful pink sunset. The quote said, "Every day I disappoint Him. Yet I know His overwhelming love forgives and carries me. I will focus on His mercy." Come on. That sounds like an abusive relationship. Sorrow is not about Christianity. Jesus Christ is a Gift. He gives the Spirit without measure.

These Scripture passages are about SEEKING Him. Not perfect people - how many times have you been in such spiritual distress you fasted for 3 days. Not me. I've fasted, certainly. But thank God Almighty, my spiritual dilemmas come away much better. I know I am not worthy, but I know - I AM God's child.

To me to be God's child means - I am covered. Not the most deserving person in this life, but by the grace of God - I can strive for the compassion God gives to me to give to others. I know God loves me and I know everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required. I am bought with a price. I will honor God. When I fail, and I will, I know I am saved and loved and go forward to try again. The steadfast love of God, higher than the clouds, the overwhelming love of God is for me.

Being God's child is comfort. Being God's child is resting after giving Him my concerns.

Jesus didn't leave people in fear. Jesus doesn't let them stay in fasting. Jesus asks for us to seek Him first, pray continually. And be grateful. Love your neighbor.

Jesus gave them more of what they needed for Salvation. The gift of the Holy Spirit. After Jesus was gone, they were marched through the Temple, right up to the people who they had been raised to respect as the God authority on earth, the people who had condemned Jesus and still preach and praise for Jesus.

Salvation comes at all different times for people. Salvation is a gift of God and occurs in God’s time. Consider the 10 lepers Jesus healed. Only one returned to give thanks and praise.

Father God, when You healed, You told mankind to get up and get going. Help the people who are already called as Children of God to be empowered to be Your Light, each day. Help the people like Peter, who are falling down and feeling fearful, to remember You lifted Peter and did not let Peter go. When we feel uncertain or afraid, help us to remember You are the Son of God. And we will cast our cares, upon You. You Love us. In Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.

<><

Exodus 11 ~ I will

2012-01-25T00:01:00.000-08:00

The Moses carved by Michelangelo Buonarroti in 1513-1515, was to be part of the tomb of Pope Julius II. Michelangelo wants to convey the posture is of a prophet, posed on a marble chair, between two decorated marble columns. His long beard descends to his lap and is set aside by his right hand, which also leans on the plates of the 10 Commandments. This posture of the seated prophet also appears in Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel frescoes from a year earlier. It is a rare example of Michelangelo as the painter of the Sistine Chapel.

Exodus 11

David Cochran, English Standard

¹ The LORD said to Moses, “Yet one plague more I will bring upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will drive you away completely. 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.

⁴ So Moses said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘About midnight I will go out in the midst of Egypt, ⁵ and every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the cattle. ⁶ There shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there has never been, nor ever will be again.

⁷ But not a dog shall growl against any of the people of Israel, either man or beast, that you may know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.’ ⁸ And all these your servants shall come down to me and bow down to me, saying, ‘Get out, you and all the people who follow you.’ And after that I will go out.” And he went out from Pharaoh in hot anger. ⁹ Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not listen to you, that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.”

¹⁰ Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh, and the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the people of Israel go out of his land.

Moses was different than your average Child of Israel. He had not suffered slavery. Moses had not even momentarily sought to disregard the tremendous acts of God. He was a murderer. An old man who knew Pharaoh. And lived the power surrounding Pharaoh.

If you've lived long enough, you will experience the death of one you'd just rather not experience. Knowing what is about to occur isn't wanting the next step. This would be a passage causing people to really feel strongly and negatively about the Old Testament. Even arguing the God of the Old Testament cannot be the God of the New Covenant.

God tells us about Himself.

Mark 12:26-27
Now about the dead rising--have you not read in the book of Moses, in the account of the bush, how God said to him, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not God of the dead, but of the living."

David was quite angry with the LORD about Uzzah, 2 Samuel 6, reaching out to steady the Ark. Uzzah died instantly for touching the Ark. Yet... Uzzah surely met the LORD and I doubt God, known for His steadfast love and mercy, would remain angry with Uzzah, trying to do a service for Him. God does not see the issues of life and death as death.

Jesus was never a King who stayed within the boundaries of Judaism. Jesus provided for all of God's children. Wouldn't Moses want provision made even for the Egyptians?

Exodus 12:43-49
And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the statute of the Passover: no foreigner shall eat of it, ⁴⁴ but every slave that is bought for money may eat of it after you have circumcised him. ⁴⁵ No foreigner or hired worker may eat of it. ⁴⁶ It shall be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the flesh outside the house, and you shall not break any of its bones. ⁴⁷ All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. ⁴⁸ If a stranger shall sojourn with you and would keep the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised. Then he may come near and keep it; he shall be as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. ⁴⁹ There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who sojourns among you.”

1 Chronicles 4:17,18 What happened to Moses' adopted Mother, daughter of Pharoah? She is listed in the descendants of Jesus' tribe, Judah.

The sons of Ezrah: Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon. These are the sons of Bithiah, the daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered married; and she conceived and bore Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah, the father of Eshtemoa.

The real conflict isn't if God is cruel, it is God being God. God who does make provision for all of us. It is repeat and repeat of the human condition, today, since Adam and Eve. We want to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil - and be God . Do away with His holiness.

God's provisions, plan and way forward is always within the boundaries of His holiness. God making a way forward for all who call upon His name.

Romans 10:9
if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved

Archaeology and Articles from Scripture for Today Blogspot on the Exodus:

Psalm 105:23-45 ~ Egypt was glad when they departed, for dread of them had fallen upon it.

Psalm 78: 1- 39 ~ Things from of old

<><

Psalm 90 ~ teach us to number our days

2012-01-24T00:01:00.000-08:00

Psalm 90 ~ A Prayer of Moses

David Cochran, English Standard Version

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

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

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

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

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

¹² So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom.

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

Psalm 90 - failure and success, work with, without blessing and the passage of time. - Sometimes success can be empty. When we sit down to do a job, a career, do we picture ourselves leaving decades later - wondering if this is all there is.

Ebenezer Scrooge is an unusual name. Ebenezer is a Hebrew male given name meaning "Stone of the Help." Meaning Helper, another name of the Holy Spirit.

The tone of Psalm 90 would fit "A Christmas Carol" very well. Yet it is a prayer of Moses. Moses who saw Great Worldly Success and had it swept away in spiritual questioning of his own identity. Moses saw World Class Miracles and saw the entire nation of Israel witness all of these amazing acts of God - and saw them disregarded in the day-to-day ingratitude and selfish concerns.

The highs of life - don't remain good without gratitude. The Midas touch, where all turned to gold, was actually a burden - a curse. The people surrounding Midas were all about the gold.

If Charles Dickens had written "Christmas Carol" from the Bob Cratchit viewpoint, it might make another movie. Mrs. Cratchit would have angst for giving up her career to look after a special needs child. Bob Cratchit would have angst being the TV dad of his family - like Homer Simpson. Tiny Tim would have bullying. The Siblings - the angst of not being at the top of the heap financially. The answer is the same.

Lows of life overpower us without the gratitude for the promises of God. Without the faith to believe our lives have meaning. The hope God's promises are for this life. The Love we have to draw from ourselves instead of sinking into the "winning' mentality of taking, taking, taking.

Father God, renew us each day - let us, in hope, see the blessings you give us each day. Let us be mindful of the blessings you provide. Like My Aunt Eloise's Old English Prayer - Lord - I will be veree busy this day. Do not forget me. As I am likely to forget thee.

Psalm 68:19
Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.

Help us not to be the Children of Israel - disregarding the blessings of our lives for profit, for idle boredom, with small results instead of the glories You've given us each day. In the Highest Name of all. Jesus. Amen.

"Many laughed to see this alteration in him, but he let them laugh and little heeded them, for he knew that no good thing in this world ever happened, at which some did not have their fill of laughter. His own heart laughed and that was quite enough for him. And it was always said of him that he knew how to keep Christmas well if any man alive possessed the knowledge."

<><

Mark 1:14-20 ~ the Kingdom of God is at hand

2012-01-23T00:01:00.000-08:00

Mark 1:14-20

David Cochran, English Standard Version

¹⁴ Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, ¹⁵ and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

¹⁶ Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” ¹⁸ And immediately they left their nets and followed him. ¹⁹ And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. ²⁰ And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.

Circa 1960 photos of Peter's House in Capernaum, then the Synagogue and Sea of Galilee

Peter, Andrew, James and John did not have lives of poverty and misery. They had reasons to stay where they were. Peter's house is the largest by far in Capernaum. He was well provided for. James and John, Sons of Zebedee are shown in archaeology to have given a pillar in the Synagogue. It is recorded in 1 Samuel, the followers of David, during his pre-kingdom years were the malcontents. Jesus did Not draw the malcontents.

1 Samuel 22:1-2
David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. 2 And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became commander over them. And there were with him about four hundred men.

Capernaum was so prosperous, so removed from Jerusalem - it was to remain intact for another 13 centuries. An amazing blessing for the town Jesus chose as an adult hometown. The Three Jewish Revolts and the destruction of Jerusalem did not touch Capernaum.

Matthew 4:19
19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Jesus wasn't promising them something like exotic travel or better ... anything. Jesus was acknowledging they Liked their lives, it would be rewarding work, for eternal rewards. Rewards the disciples were already understanding - soul deep.

Peter, Andrew, James and John left a virtual paradise for Jesus. Without much or any... persuasion. Why? They felt something more important in Jesus.

Matthew 13
"The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 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.”

Peter, Andrew, James, John and the 72 disciples wanted to rest in the shade of Jesus and nestle in His branches.

33 He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”

Peter, Andrew, James, John, the 72 disciples, and the thousands who followed Jesus, even unto the cross (not the disciples) saw and experienced Jesus' ministry of healing, love grow and become leavened. They recognized the Bread of Heaven.

44 The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, ⁴⁶ who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it."

We see in these photos, these men already had worldly treasure of temperate climate, beautiful blue skies, soft breezes and prosperous life style, yet they saw in Jesus as an abiding treasure and went with Jesus the LORD.

Isaiah 32:18
My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.

John 15:7-8
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

John 15:10
If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.

1 John 2:17
And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Each day, we invite the LORD to live in our hearts, souls, lives - for reasons of peace and reasons of trouble. In times of peace, give thanks. The disciples lived peaceful lives and still chose, upon meeting Jesus that He is above all else.

John 1:4-5
In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

<><

Isaiah 46 ~ I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me

2012-01-22T00:01:00.000-08:00

Isaiah 46

David Cochran, English Standard Version

¹ Bel bows down; Nebo stoops;
their idols are on beasts and livestock;
these things you carry are borne
as burdens on weary beasts.
² They stoop; they bow down together;
they cannot save the burden,
but themselves go into captivity.

³ “Listen to me, O house of Jacob,
all the remnant of the house of Israel,
who have been borne by me from before your birth,
carried from the womb;
⁴ even to your old age I am he,
and to gray hairs I will carry you.
I have made, and I will bear;
I will carry and will save.

⁵ “To whom will you liken me and make me equal,
and compare me, that we may be alike?
⁶ Those who lavish gold from the purse,
and weigh out silver in the scales,
hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god;
then they fall down and worship!
⁷ They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it,
they set it in its place, and it stands there;
it cannot move from its place.
If one cries to it, it does not answer
or save him from his trouble.

⁸ “Remember this and stand firm,
recall it to mind, you transgressors,
⁹ remember the former things of old;
for I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me,
¹⁰ declaring the end from the beginning
and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,
and I will accomplish all my purpose,’
¹¹ calling a bird of prey from the east,
the man of my counsel from a far country.
I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass;
I have purposed, and I will do it.

¹² “Listen to me, you stubborn of heart,
you who are far from righteousness:
¹³ I bring near my righteousness; it is not far off,
and my salvation will not delay;
I will put salvation in Zion,
for Israel my glory.”

An amazing Scripture passage. In Jesus Christ, this is your passage.

You were borne by Me from before your birth,
carried from the womb;
⁴ even to your old age I am He,
and to gray hairs I will carry you.
I have made, and I will bear;
I will carry and will save.

Call it to mind
⁹ remember the former things of old;
for I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like Me,
¹⁰ declaring the end from the beginning
and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,
and I will accomplish all My purpose,’
¹¹ calling a bird of prey from the east,
the man of my counsel from a far country.
I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass;
I have purposed, and I will do it.

Of course, now would be an obvious time to talk about idols we make of things we own and how they come to own us. And it is true. But more important are the depths of those burdens. My dad was born in Greenville, Mississippi. In the early 1930s, he was in a parade because on his father's side - he was 6th generation Mississippian.

He often told in incident happening to him as a child - a 40 something African American man plowing a field when the voodoo priest came along, took the plow from him and placed the man in a 12 foot diameter circle. The voodoo priest told the man, he had a choice - he could stay in the circle and die at sundown, or he could cross the circle line and die immediately. Apparently there was an unpaid debt. My dad, a boy at the time, saw many people visiting the man during that day, lots of loud and whaling voices were heard - but he never knew if it was vendetta or a money debt. The man was very vocal during the day, but as the sun set, the man grew quiet and died. True story. It was said the attending doctor, there that day, said his heart had failed.

Bird Type Idols from the Israel Museum. These date back to 1000 B.C. - the time of King David.

If you aren't from the Southern United States, you might not know voodoo believes God is God Almighty. But He gets busy and ignores our prayers. A Deist Theory. Then voodoo acknowledges lesser gods and goddesses and they somehow are more interested and intervene in prayer. Whereas God is not interested in our negative prayers to get someone in evil intention prayer, the lesser gods help out in that area. Unfortunately, there is payback. And sadly, people resort to voodoo because they feel like sinners or second rate. Things like astrology and psychic readings, go along with this.

So the man in the story was killed by his burdens. It is Interesting ... all the idols are usually ugly. Bone deep ugly. And yes, the Israel Museum is filled with ugly idols archaeology has found in Israel. Lessing Photo Archives. There is still a higher point to this story.

This man died in the ugliness of idol worship. Yet, that day, so many years ago, God is still God of that day. And His purposes prevail. The man was a child of God and falls into God's hand.

Three things to keep in mind. 1. Idol worship is ugly and it goes deeper than we are aware on a daily basis. 2. Negative thought can kill you. 3. God is God. No point in fear over the spiritual battle - it is already won.

There is a spiritual battle. However the Good News in Jesus Christ is better still. We have a God who is never too busy. God's purposes will prevail. Jesus Christ did not remain in the grave after an entire government and the Temple government sought to kill Him. The disciples did not stay, locked in fear, and in doubt. These men were in the Temple, itself, within a very small amount of time, proclaiming Jesus as God, with the government and Temple unable to get them to stop. God was willing to meet them in their sins, in their doubt, in their fear. They knew it and they ran to the Possibility of their Jesus. The Goodness of the Lord is beyond compare. It is still up to us to know all prayer Is answered, in our faith. We just don't always get the yes answer. God is Love.

The Disciples Peter and John Running to the Sepulcher on the Morning of the Resurrection, painted by Eugene Burnand in 1898

You were borne by Me from before your birth,
carried from the womb;
⁴ even to your old age I am He,
and to gray hairs I will carry you.
I have made, and I will bear;
I will carry and will save.

<><

John 21:6-14 ~ it is the Lord

2012-01-21T00:01:00.000-08:00

Painting of Jesus Christ adapted from the Shroud of Turin. The Shroud should only cast a two dimensional image, but a 3 dimensional image is created, giving depth to the images and the painting was created from the shades and elevations in the 3rd dimension.
Painting of Jesus adapted from the Shroud
Negative photographic image from the Shroud of Turin. Scientists are completely divided on the tests for age on the Shroud. There is unexplained radioactivity from the cloth and edges were sewn on the Middle ages repairs.
Volto Santo or Holy Face. The image is made of byssus, which is linen woven from a fine, yellowish flax referred to as sea silk; a silky filament by which certain mollusks attach themselves to hard surfaces. It is impossible to paint on the material, it may only be dyed one shade as it is woven. No one understands how this image came to be. The image is transparent, with an image on the reverse.

I've seen this with the Vatican treasures displayed in the Houston Museum of Science, the Dead Sea Scroll tour. It was explained as being the Cloth of Veronica; the image appeared when a woman gave Jesus a cloth to wipe his face, during Jesus' carrying His cross.

John 21:6-14

6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.

9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

People have interesting reactions. Put Morgan Freeman, or George Burns, in a movie as God in a white suit, people generally love it. "The Shack" had a parable of God as a black woman and there was controversy.

John 7:24
Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.

Having a visual image is something people like to have. We live in this world by making decisions based upon our own judgment. Time Magazine ran a cover of an image of Jesus far from our usual image. The story of Adam & Eve was confirmed with evidence of Mitochondrial Eve DNA, the Human MRCA. All humans alive today share a surprisingly recent common ancestor, perhaps even within the last 5000 years, even for people born on different continents. This man was made in the image of God. No mention is made of color.

Moses asked God for the ability to be able to see Him. Moses was rewarded with a glimpse of God.

Exodus 33:20-23
20 But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live."

21 Then the LORD said, "There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen."

What are we told about Jesus' appearance?

Isaiah 53:2
He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

and

Isaiah 52:14
Just as there were many who were appalled at him — his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness—

Luke 9:28-29
About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning

The Romans had taken over Judea at the time of Jesus. Time Magazine's image of Christ was of a similar to today haircut. Why is Jesus different, with "Jesus hair"? Jesus was from Nazareth and may have considered His appearance to be that of a Nazirite, one set apart in holiness from sin, no razor would have touched His hair. Numbers 6:1-27 Yet Jesus, did not follow the rules of the Nazirite in His life.

When we picture Father God in our minds in Love, we can do no wrong. Whatever we picture, we picture a parable. We have never been given the ability to see the vast attributes of God.

We know Jesus told us He did not have a possessions like a home, but He did have one fine garment, not the flowing Sheik robes we are shown all the time. And that garment was woven from top to bottom. I like to think it was made by someone loving Jesus.

We do not see Jesus' physical face, but we do know how people felt looking at Jesus.

Matthew 9:20-29
20 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, 21 for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.”

Matthew 14:35-36
35 And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent around to all that region and brought to him all who were sick 36 and implored him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.

And how did Jesus react to the people who sought Him?

Matthew 9:22
22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well.

Even if we do not have Jesus' face or Father God's face perfectly know to us, more importantly, Jesus, God, knows us.

Luke 19:1-6
He entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.

Father God, we know and love You by Your actions of mercy. Help us each day to see You more clearly and for You to see Yourself in our love. In Jesus' mercy. Amen.

<><

Reprint Scripture for Today Blogspot July 15, 2010

Psalm 26 ~ in the great assembly I will bless the LORD

2012-01-20T00:01:00.000-08:00

Psalm 26 ~ of David

David Cochran, English Standard Version

¹ Vindicate me, O LORD,
for I have walked in my integrity,
and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.
² Prove me, O LORD, and try me;
test my heart and my mind.
³ For your steadfast love is before my eyes,
and I walk in your faithfulness.

⁴ I do not sit with men of falsehood,
nor do I consort with hypocrites.
⁵ I hate the assembly of evildoers,
and I will not sit with the wicked.

⁶ I wash my hands in innocence
and go around your altar, O LORD,
⁷ proclaiming thanksgiving aloud,
and telling all your wondrous deeds.

⁸ O LORD, I love the habitation of your house
and the place where your glory dwells.
⁹ Do not sweep my soul away with sinners,
nor my life with bloodthirsty men,
¹⁰ in whose hands are evil devices,
and whose right hands are full of bribes.

¹¹ But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity;
redeem me, and be gracious to me.
¹² My foot stands on level ground;
in the great assembly I will bless the LORD.

The 30 Churches, different denominations, praying and fasting for 21 days met at our HopePointe Anglican Church on Wednesday. Last year we had 700 people for our final 21st day, this year we had 300 for Wednesday night leading up to the event. No spiffy slogan, no cool agenda. Like the first Pastor said, who spoke and didn't really introduce himself, when 30 Pastors meet - you'd think there would be at least a cool slogan. And it was pretty nice he didn't jump up and identify himself. Just praise and honor for Jesus.

Psalm 115:9-18
⁹ O Israel, trust in the LORD!
He is their help and their shield.
¹⁰ O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD!
He is their help and their shield.
¹¹ You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD!
He is their help and their shield.

¹² The LORD has remembered us; he will bless us;
he will bless the house of Israel;
he will bless the house of Aaron;
¹³ he will bless those who fear the LORD,
both the small and the great.

¹⁴ May the LORD give you increase,
you and your children!
¹⁵ May you be blessed by the LORD,
who made heaven and earth!

¹⁶ The heavens are the LORD's heavens,
but the earth he has given to the children of man.
¹⁷ The dead do not praise the LORD,
nor do any who go down into silence.
¹⁸ But we will bless the LORD
from this time forth and forevermore.
Praise the LORD!

<><

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

2012-01-19T00:01:00.001-08:00

Genesis 46

David Cochran, English Standard Version

¹ So Israel took his journey with all that he had and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. ² And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” ³ Then he said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. ⁴ I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again, and Joseph's hand shall close your eyes.”

⁵ Then Jacob set out from Beersheba. The sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons that Pharaoh had sent to carry him. ⁶ They also took their livestock and their goods, which they had gained in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob and all his offspring with him, ⁷ his sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters. All his offspring he brought with him into Egypt.

⁸ Now these are the names of the descendants of Israel, who came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons. Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, ⁹ and the sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. ¹⁰ The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman. ¹¹ The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. ¹² The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan); and the sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul. ¹³ The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puvah, Yob, and Shimron. ¹⁴ The sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. ¹⁵ These are the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Paddan-aram, together with his daughter Dinah; altogether his sons and his daughters numbered thirty-three.

¹⁶ The sons of Gad: Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli. ¹⁷ The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, with Serah their sister. And the sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel. ¹⁸ These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter; and these she bore to Jacob—sixteen persons.

¹⁹ The sons of Rachel, Jacob's wife: Joseph and Benjamin. ²⁰ And to Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera the priest of On, bore to him. ²¹ And the sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard. ²² These are the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob—fourteen persons in all.

²³ The son of Dan: Hushim. ²⁴ The sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem. ²⁵ These are the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, and these she bore to Jacob—seven persons in all.

²⁶ All the persons belonging to Jacob who came into Egypt, who were his own descendants, not including Jacob's sons' wives, were sixty-six persons in all. ²⁷ And the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two. All the persons of the house of Jacob who came into Egypt were seventy.

Painted by James Tissot

²⁸ He had sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to show the way before him in Goshen, and they came into the land of Goshen. ²⁹ Then Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to meet Israel his father in Goshen. He presented himself to him and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while. ³⁰ Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive.”

³¹ Joseph said to his brothers and to his father's household, “I will go up and tell Pharaoh and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my father's household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. ³² And the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock, and they have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.’ ³³ When Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’ ³⁴ you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,’ in order that you may dwell in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”

Egyptian Topographical Lists of Cities and Records

Names	Tuthmosis III (1481 BC)	Amenhotep II (1440)	Amenhotep III (1386)	Seti I (1291)	Ramses II (1275)
Jacob-El	yes				yes
Joseph-El	yes		yes
Asher			yes	yes	yes
Yahweh			yes		yes
Shasu		yes	yes	yes	yes
Hapiru		yes		yes

See ANET, 242-3.

In Ramses II's topographical list (ca.1275 BC) the place-name "Jacob-El" (#9) appears again (ANET 1969, 242; Simons 1937). The first appearance was in Thutmose III's list. This means that this city of Jacob has been around for two hundred years. Another interesting name that was found is yhw which is "Yahweh" in Hebrew (Horn 1953, 201; Giveon 1964, 244).
It seems abundantly clear from all these topographical lists concerning Canaan that the Hebrews were in Canaan at this time, but they did not use the name "Israel" until there league of tribes was well formed by the time of Merneptah.

On a statue-base of Amenhotep III at Kom el Hetan which is the funerary temple of Amenhotep III there is a topographical list with the place-name Yspir (Series a:1; Kitchen 1965, 2). This is the same name translated "Joseph-El" in Thutmose III's Topographical list (ANET 1969, 242). After Yspir in both lists the place-name Rkd appears (Series a:2 in Amenhotep III's list, and #79 in Thutmose III's list; Simons 1937, 112). Rkd is the same place-name as Ruhizzi in the El Amarna letters (EA 53:36, 56; EA 5426; EA 56:26; EA 191:2; Rainey 1982, 354). The ruler of Ruhizzi is Arsawuya who seems to be located in northern Palestine or southern Syria (EA 53:36, 56; Moran, 125)

Jacob knew he'd inherited the blessings of Abraham, they were not given a foot of Israel, but had purchased what they lived upon. Jacob was being called to leave the land of promise. Like Paul. Going forth to accomplish the work of God. In faith. Israel took his journey with all that he had -

2 Timothy 4:6-8
⁶ For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

Paul continues in his race and says:

¹⁷ But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. ¹⁸ The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

²² The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.

Jacob is determined to be a shepherd to his people - to bring everyone to the land of peace and comfort away from famine. Paul is shepherding Timothy, even as he knows it is the end of his time on earth. It is the work God has given them.

Isaiah 40:11
He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.

<><

Hebrews 6:1-12 ~ tasted the heavenly gift

2012-01-18T00:01:00.000-08:00

Hebrews 6:1-12

David Cochran, English Standard Version

¹ Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, ² and of instruction about washings,^[baptisms] the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. ³ And this we will do if God permits. ⁴ For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, ⁵ and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, ⁶ and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.

***

⁷ For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. ⁸ But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.

⁹ Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. ¹⁰ For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. ¹¹ And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, ¹² so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

In life, we all want love, appreciation, and all the blessings. In spirituality, we want all of the hope and the promises. The holiness of God has always been an issue, yet mature faith does examine and long for all the aspects of God's nature.

We've thought about the joy and expectation of believing God's promises. It is part of the fruit of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Self-control in our words, actions and consumption does NOT ever occur without some discernment of the effect of our words, the effort we put into action, overcoming of sluggishness and love of pleasure in consumption. It is not a stretch to say self-control is also thought - thinking - awareness. Awareness comes from wisdom & observation.

For instance, a friend sat many days with her father, a cancer patient, who'd been out of her life for many years - who had divorced her mother and left her and her sisters to pursue his career and 2nd marriage. She wondered, as a Christian, what her dad's beliefs were and where they would lead him. She was pleased to discover her dad had a faith that had grown like the Prodigal Son. He knew His Father was running to meet him, an undeserving child of God.

At one point, my friend talked to the Hospice nurse about the joy - for the peace - her dad was experiencing. Her Hospice nurse said she had been at her job for a long time and there is a very definite end to all life. It is either peaceful or there is a fear of fire and hell. I've known two people who did die speaking of fire and pain and fear.

How to tie this passage to these thoughts and bring in verses - we know of the fallen angels.

2 Peter 2:4
For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment

Jude 1:6
And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness to the judgment of the great day.

Matthew 25:41
Then shall he say also to them on the left hand, Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels

Revelation 12:9
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Revelation 20:2-5
And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years

yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the Love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises!!!!

*** 1 Corinthians 6:20
for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

<><

Psalm 145 ~ They shall speak of the might of Your awesome deeds, and I will declare Your greatness.

2012-01-17T00:01:00.000-08:00

My mom with our dog, Merit. Merit is smiling. And Merit is gonna live.

Psalm 145

A Song of Praise. Of David.
David Cochran, English Standard Version

¹ I will extol you, my God and King,
and bless your name forever and ever.
² Every day I will bless you
and praise your name forever and ever.
³ Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised,
and his greatness is unsearchable.

⁴ One generation shall commend your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts.
⁵ On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
⁶ They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,
and I will declare your greatness.
⁷ They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness
and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

⁸ The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
⁹ The LORD is good to all,
and his mercy is over all that he has made.

¹⁰ All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD,
and all your saints shall bless you!
¹¹ They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom
and tell of your power,
¹² to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds,
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
¹³ Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

[The LORD is faithful in all his words
and kind in all his works.]
¹⁴ The LORD upholds all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
¹⁵ The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food in due season.
¹⁶ You open your hand;
you satisfy the desire of every living thing.
¹⁷ The LORD is righteous in all his ways
and kind in all his works.
¹⁸ The LORD is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
¹⁹ He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;
he also hears their cry and saves them.
²⁰ The LORD preserves all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.

²¹ My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD,
and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.

After two months seeing our regular Vet, she became concerned and sent our dog to a Veterinarian School Specialist.

The very kind Dermatologist Vet specialist was skeptical when she asked us how many steroid tablets we wanted for our dog, Springer Spaniel, Merit. I told her a 100 tablets. She had just done skin samples of Merit and the results showed Cutaneous Lymphoma. The Vet told us Merit had between 3 weeks and a few months. She didn't think with the biting and terrible, terrible itching that Merit would live for the 100 tablets. She reminded us again he could only have 6 tablets a day and he'd let us know when he was so uncomfortable, we should bring him in to mercifully put him to sleep. I asked if we could have days were Merit would only need 1 capsule or 1/2 capsule and she said she doubted it.

That was in October. Now Merit's steroid canister is more than half full. The tumors she told us would happen - did. They shrunk and are gone. The biting has stopped. She told us the lymph node armpit area would be one of the worst and wouldn't heal. There wouldn't be any healing - it was cancer. And I asked everyone to pray.

Saturday I groomed Merit and he does not have any more scabs, tumors, open wounds from his tearing his own flesh from the intense itching (some were 12" x 4"). His strength has returned. He hasn't had medication since early, early November. One of his shoulders was the worst spot - there is no wound.

13 year old Springer Spaniel Merit has experienced a healing. He spent Christmas keeping up with our "grand-dog" an active 5 year old Siberian Husky. Why? Many prayed to Lord. Prayers to the Lord, in the name of Jesus, Who has been merciful. I am so very grateful.

Yesterday we read that the Lord proclaims He is God. Today David tells us about God's nature -

His greatness is unsearchable.
God's mighty acts.
Awesome deeds.
Abundant goodness.
Righteousness, graciousness, mercy.
Good to all.
His mercy is over all that He has made.
The Lord is faithful and kind.
The LORD is near to all who call on Him.
My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD,
and let all flesh bless His holy name forever and ever.

<><