Scripture for Today

Matthew 14:13-21 ~ he had compassion on them and healed their sick

2013-06-17T20:16:00.004-07:00

Matthew 14:13-21

Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

15 Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” 17 They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” 18 And he said, “Bring them here to me.”

19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

In the midst of His day, a day filled with requests, endless ideas of what they perceive God to be, ideas of what He should be, their joy, their pain, their trouble, Jesus acted lovingly.

So much need. So many requests. With God, He will find a way.

Matthew 9:36
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Who are these people peppering Jesus with their prayer requests? It is us. Jesus as the Son of God can speak a blessing over God's provision. How can we do less?

John 5:17
Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”

1 Thessalonians 2:13
And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.

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Mark 6:14-29 ~ Ask me

2013-06-16T00:01:00.000-07:00

Herod Antipas was known as a builder. Tiberus, the city was built to let Caesar know - Herod was his man. Herod Antipas lived on a stage, where he liked to create images; fittingly this ruin survives the best of all he built.

This coin of Herod Antipas was carefully created without images to please his
Jewish Kingdom, who, biblically, did not like images.

Mark 6:14-29 (English Standard Version)

14 King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” 15 But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” 16 But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” 17 For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because he had married her. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.” 19 And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.

21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 For when Herodias's daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” 23 And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” 24 And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25 And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26 And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. 27 And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison 28 and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

~ And he vowed to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom."

Herod was unwise. He had divorced his wife and married his brother's wife. He was worried Jesus was John's reincarnation and he hoped Jesus would perform for him - a miracle. Herod Antipas, was what is known as a "poser". A Jewish King, leading God's chosen people, while twisting or ignoring the rules to suit himself or Caesar.

Jesus called Herod a fox. Unlike "poser", Jesus meant fox as in the traditional cunning animal. A fox - typically live in small family groups, opportunistic feeders that hunt live prey. Jesus loved and forgave all of us. Herod the Great had killed his father-in-law's family in order to rule. Like a fox in a chicken house. Jesus could see into our hearts and Jesus sees straight into Herod. Unless a fox is killing your livestock, it's a great pleasure to see a fox. Splendid apparel with a shrewd face. Jesus loved Herod and could appreciate him, even for his flaws.

Herod is offering half his kingdom in exchange for the life of a man of God. He has posed so long as so many different roles - even to himself - he has forgotten...

Isaiah 7:9
If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.

Herod Antipas did forfeit ....his whole kingdom; his small family group included Herodias' brother. Herodias' brother convinced Caesar, after 42 years, Herod Antipas was a failure. Herod Antipas and Herodias were cut off and exiled from Israel.

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Ruth 3:1-18 ~ I do

2013-06-15T00:01:00.000-07:00

"Marty" - this movie about a man seeking love, won Best Picture and three other award from the Academy Awards. Ernest Borgnine, is Marty, pictured here with his on-screen Mother.

Ruth 3:1-18 American Standard Version

1 And Naomi her mother-in-law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee? 2 And now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to-night in the threshing-floor. 3 Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the threshing-floor, but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking. 4 And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do. 5 And she said unto her, All that thou sayest I will do.

6 And she went down unto the threshing-floor, and did according to all that her mother-in-law bade her. 7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down. 8 And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself; and, behold, a woman lay at his feet. 9 And he said, who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thy handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thy handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman. 10 And he said, Blessed be thou of Jehovah, my daughter: thou hast showed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followest not young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou sayest; for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a worthy woman. 12 And now it is true that I am a near kinsman; howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I. 13 Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as Jehovah liveth: lie down until the morning.

14 And she lay at his feet until the morning. And she rose up before one could discern another. For he said, Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing-floor. 15 And he said, Bring the mantle that is upon thee, and hold it; and she held it; and he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and he went into the city. 16 And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her. 17 And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said, Go not empty unto thy mother-in-law. 18 Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall; for the man will not rest, until he have finished the thing this day.

1 John 4:8
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Coincidences. Ruth married into the family of Naomi. Naomi takes a moabite with her to become an ancestor of Jesus the Lord. That was one fine moabite, but this is the family of God and if you look at the descriptions you find many different physical attributes. David was described as ruddy and handsome. God chose for Jesus to have a blended family.

And then you go many, many years ahead to Thomas Jefferson. A man people debate, rudely actually, if he was a Christian. Jefferson answered this for himself, Thomas Jefferson took a Bible and he began to read HIS Word looking for his heart to grow warm, looking to see what resonated in Thomas Jefferson for truth. Jefferson felt so strongly, he took the Word and began to assemble his warm heart parts, the ones Thomas Jefferson said, "The truth rings and eminates from these Words." Coincidence. John Adams eventually worked for years upon a project. His political career had been hurt by his former friend Thomas Jefferson. Adams began to work and work to restore a bridge of meaning and warmth again. And as John Adams died, he was a sinner. And John Adams, according to several eye witness accounts, cried out to the effect of this, "Thomas Jefferson lives!" Adams knew full well Thomas Jefferson had been ill. The coincidence - both men required a Savior to live. And had found that savior.

Who will we account worthy to say, I've done the works of Salvation? God says Salvation is a Gift only from Him. No one may boast of works done for Salvation.

And how very touching that the work of the heart, to repair a bridge of friendship, was honored by the Lord in John Adams' first glimpse of His Kingdom.

God does not give us works to create Salvation, but how pleased He is with those who preserve the way, the truth and the life in Him. These men established a freedom atheists have been unable to stamp upon and diminish. The Supreme Court has marble upon the walls proclaiming Old Testament ethics come from the Law given to us through Moses. Until fifty years ago, the Congress was used by a congregation as a Church on Sundays. These rights are given to us, in our Constitution. Visit the Memorial to Abraham Lincoln. Both speeches engraved into the walls tell us of Lincoln's spiritual life and considerations. My family and I visited this two days ago, tears were on our cheeks for the efforts Lincoln went to, living his convictions. Surely his photographs of his tenure, in the Office of the President of the United States, tell of his personal growth and his determination to heal the nation.

Lincoln also had a coincidence. Three days before Good Friday, April 14th 1865, Abraham Lincoln had a dream where he felt he left his bed, traveled down the hallways of the White House, to see a corpse. People were weeping everyone. Lincoln turned and asked, "Who has died in the White House?" The President has been assassinated, he was told. Would Abraham Lincoln be enough of a saint to die on Good Friday? Why should we act as his jury. This man made his life's work to say men are created equal. A union so fought for, should be preserved, and Abraham Lincoln prepared his efforts, in his last speech, to tell a weary nation - work on forgiveness.

Coincidences. How delicate is God's Hand. Let us each day place ourselves in His Hand, asking for the nation conceived in liberty and justice for all, should pray and engrave upon its walls - HE is our faith, our hope, our love. In HIM shall nations look to provide justice with mercy. Allowing us to walk humbly with HIM. He asks our country to provide one another with freedom. How shall we discern this freedom - give unto others what you would have them give to you.

Never forget the freedoms so many people have fought for in Arlington Cemetery - are not a politically correct freedom which assumes only the current politics and philosophies, - is the enduring bread Jesus gave us. See the crosses each would want upon their tomb. Always be one who is incouraged by wonders, acts of love, leaning upon HIS judgments not our own, and never fail to be generous, and gracious in honoring and encouraging others. We build our lives, our families, our nation in these truths and kindnesses. Let me, Father GOD, each day and put out my hands - who will be built up by me today? In the name of Jesus Christ, give me the opportunity to show Your Kingdom on earth is at hand. Amen.

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2 Samuel 1 ~ I have escaped

2013-06-14T00:01:00.000-07:00

The Triumph of King David painted by Raphael Sanzio

2 Samuel 1

1 After the death of Saul, when David had returned from striking down the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. 2 And on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul's camp, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the ground and paid homage. 3 David said to him, “Where do you come from?” And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.” 4 And David said to him, “How did it go? Tell me.” And he answered, “The people fled from the battle, and also many of the people have fallen and are dead, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.” 5 Then David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?” 6 And the young man who told him said, “By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on his spear, and behold, the chariots and the horsemen were close upon him. 7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’ 8 And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ 9 And he said to me ‘Stand beside me and kill me, for anguish has seized me, and yet my life still lingers.’ 10 So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and the armlet that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”

11 Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. 12 And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. 13 And David said to the young man who told him, “Where do you come from?” And he answered, “I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite.” 14 David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the Lord's anointed?” 15 Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him.” And he struck him down so that he died. 16 And David said to him, “Your blood be on your head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the Lord's anointed.’”

17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son, 18 and he said it [1] should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar. [2] He said:

19 “Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places!
How the mighty have fallen!
20 Tell it not in Gath,
publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon,
lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,
lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.

21 “You mountains of Gilboa,
let there be no dew or rain upon you,
nor fields of offerings! [3]
For there the shield of the mighty was defiled,
the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.

22 “From the blood of the slain,
from the fat of the mighty,
the bow of Jonathan turned not back,
and the sword of Saul returned not empty.

23 “Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely!
In life and in death they were not divided;
they were swifter than eagles;
they were stronger than lions.

24 “You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet,
who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.

25 “How the mighty have fallen
in the midst of the battle!

“Jonathan lies slain on your high places.
26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;
very pleasant have you been to me;
your love to me was extraordinary,
surpassing the love of women.

27 “How the mighty have fallen,
and the weapons of war perished!”

Footnotes
[1] 1:18 Septuagint; Hebrew the Bow, which may be the name of the lament's tune
[2] 1:18 Or of the upright
[3] 1:21 Septuagint firstfruits

Matthew Henry's commentary:

Kasheth probably was the title of this mournful, funeral song. David does not commend Saul for what he was not; and says nothing of his piety or goodness. Jonathan was a dutiful son, Saul an affectionate father, therefore dear to each other. David had reason to say, that Jonathan's love to him was wonderful. Next to the love between Christ and his people, that affection which springs form it, produces the strongest friendship. The trouble of the Lord's people, and triumphs of his enemies, will always grieve true believers, whatever advantages they may obtain by them.

Today, my family and I walked from Ford's Theater on 10 Ave in Washington D.C. and walked another 1.6 miles through the areas of investigation of President Lincoln's murder. It was a surprise to me to learn Sec. of State, William Seward, survived an assasination attempt on his life during the same 10 p.m. fatal attack on Pres. Lincoln. Vice-President Johnson also had a 10 p.m. assassin waiting to attack him, in his affluent boarding house, but the assassin became fearful and intoxicated. The police and the army were in panic the day after the shooting, thinking the forces of the southern armn would rise again. Later it was determined, not to be so, one of the sure signs the telegraph office continued to receive incoming messages, therefore our nation was not under attack.

Mu father-in-law said the same thing for September 11th. If real war was to be pursuited, all banking-electronic data would have been erased, as well as utility plants nation wide.

In this life, we have trouble. God does not ever abandon those calling upon HIM.

Tonight, we sat in Lafayette Park, across from the porte cachen from the White House, just several hundred feet from the window where Lincoln gave his last speech about putting the country back together again in bonds of peace. And this evening, as the light faded, hundreds of fireflies lighted the evening deep green, verdant grass. Memories of summers long ago, and the knowledge we have miles to go.

As Paul said, life is an adventure of expectation and joy in revealing the sons of men.

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Matthew 1-2 ~ My people Israel

2013-06-13T09:37:00.000-07:00

Pomegranate in Mishmarot, (Hebrew: משמרות‎) Israel. Exodus 28:33–34 directed that images of pomegranates be woven onto the borders of Hebrew priestly robes. 1 Kings 7:13–22 describes pomegranates depicted in the temple King Solomon built in Jerusalem. Jewish tradition teaches that the pomegranate is a symbol for righteousness. The pomegranate is one of the few images which appear on ancient coins of Judea as a holy symbol, and today many Torah scrolls are stored while not in use with a pair of decorative hollow silver "pomegranates" (rimmonim) slid down over the two upper scroll handles.

For the same reason, pomegranates are a motif found in Christian religious decoration. They are often woven into the fabric on vestments and liturgical hangings or wrought in metalwork.

Matthew 1
1 A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham:
2 Abraham was the father of Isaac,
Isaac the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar,
Perez the father of Hezron,
Hezron the father of Ram,
4 Ram the father of Amminadab,
Amminadab the father of Nahshon,
Nahshon the father of Salmon,
5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab,
Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,
Obed the father of Jesse,
6 and Jesse the father of King David.
David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife,
7 Solomon the father of Rehoboam,
Rehoboam the father of Abijah,
Abijah the father of Asa,
8 Asa the father of Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram,
Jehoram the father of Uzziah,
9 Uzziah the father of Jotham,
Jotham the father of Ahaz,
Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,
10 Hezekiah the father of Manasseh,
Manasseh the father of Amon,
Amon the father of Josiah,
11 and Josiah the father of Jeconiah
and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.
12 After the exile to Babylon:
Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel,
Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,
13 Zerubbabel the father of Abiud,
Abiud the father of Eliakim,
Eliakim the father of Azor,
14 Azor the father of Zadok,
Zadok the father of Akim,
Akim the father of Eliud,
15 Eliud the father of Eleazar,
Eleazar the father of Matthan,
Matthan the father of Jacob,
16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

17 Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ.

18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Pomegranites are also a symbol of being fruitful. In Jesus Christ, we hope our lives are fruitful for Him. So much of progression in the Lord - is mercy. Looking at the tree of Jesus' forebearers, we see a noted lack of perfection. God, not including His Son, is noted for working around the imperfect, using people who obvoiously need Him to be accounted as righteous.

We live in interesting times, I'm currently in Washington D.C. I used to visit this city quite a bit in my teens. And most recently in 2006. The walk way up to the Lincoln Memorial needs some significant yard work. The concrete, war type barricades, of 2006 are gone. The Smithsonian underwent vast improvements in 2006, unfortunately the Museums, in our Nation's capital, aren't wired for audio or interact with the internet. Finding wireless in Washington D.C. seems difficult. And yet to see the buildings laid out by Thomas Jefferson and see the Capital at night is still amazing. Walking into the crowded Lincoln Memorial and reading Lincoln, the largest appellate lawyer in Illinois, even today, writing his own speeches about freedom and overcoming war brought us to tears. He noted both sides called upon the same God, but one side fought for equality and both sides would continue until freedom was won. Fight the good fight. Seeing the 3D photos of the civil war, as clear as any nightly news broadcast, the proud beginnings of Fort Sumpter launching the new flag - to the devestation station of Charleston - were sobering. Freedom is not free. In this nation and for Christians calling upon the promises of GOD.

Let us continue to pray daily to be fruitful for HIM, both individually and for a nation so proudly proclaiming their devotion to Him engraved upon their marble, hallowed walls. In Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

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Ezra 7:27-28, 8:21-36 ~ blessed be the LORD

2013-06-12T20:10:00.000-07:00

Ezra 7:27-28

27 Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem, 28 and who extended to me his steadfast love before the king and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty officers. I took courage, for the hand of the Lord my God was on me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.

Ezra 8:21-36

21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods. 22 For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, “The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.” 23 So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.

24 Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests: Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their kinsmen with them. 25 And I weighed out to them the silver and the gold and the vessels, the offering for the house of our God that the king and his counselors and his lords and all Israel there present had offered. 26 I weighed out into their hand 650 talents [75 pounds or 34 kilograms] of silver, and silver vessels worth 200 talents, and 100 talents of gold, 27 20 bowls of gold worth 1,000 darics, [coin weighing about 1/4 ounce or 8.5 grams] and two vessels of fine bright bronze as precious as gold. 28 And I said to them, “You are holy to the Lord, and the vessels are holy, and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the Lord, the God of your fathers. 29 Guard them and keep them until you weigh them before the chief priests and the Levites and the heads of fathers' houses in Israel at Jerusalem, within the chambers of the house of the Lord.” 30 So the priests and the Levites took over the weight of the silver and the gold and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem, to the house of our God.

31 Then we departed from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambushes by the way. 32 We came to Jerusalem, and there we remained three days. 33 On the fourth day, within the house of our God, the silver and the gold and the vessels were weighed into the hands of Meremoth the priest, son of Uriah, and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas, and with them were the Levites, Jozabad the son of Jeshua and Noadiah the son of Binnui. 34 The whole was counted and weighed, and the weight of everything was recorded.

35 At that time those who had come from captivity, the returned exiles, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel, twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and as a sin offering twelve male goats. All this was a burnt offering to the Lord. 36 They also delivered the king's commissions to the king's satraps [Persian official] and to the governors of the province Beyond the River, and they aided the people and the house of God.

You have to applaud the truth in the Scriptures. Not a golden fable where everything is always clear to people trying to live God's will. God's favored people have been freed from slavery, an amazing, rare thing. Not easy grace; God's children have experienced slavery first hand. Like Egypt, the children of Israel are leaving not just with the clothes on their backs, but laden with all types of riches. An amazing king, giving treasure and working God's plan. For the King, which came first? God's blessings to him, or his willingness to bless God?

This band of newly freed men don't rush to ask for Darius' willing protection, but immediately wonder, worry, if God will protect them. They worry for themselves, they worry for God's honor in their words, they worry about their witness. This anxiety is far from displeasing God.

In this glorious time, is it any wonder the Temple of the Living God would be built?

God says:

“The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.”

Isaiah 49:23b
you will know that I am the Lord;
those who wait for me shall not be put to shame

John 5:24
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

John 2:19
Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."

John 14:13-18
Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. 15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

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Nehemiah 7 ~ Then my God put it into my heart to assemble

2013-06-11T19:33:00.002-07:00

Tablet of many Babylonian Chronicles

Nehemiah 7

Now when the wall had been built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, 2 I gave my brother Hanani and Hananiah the governor of the castle charge over Jerusalem, for he was a more faithful and God-fearing man than many. 3 And I said to them, “Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot. And while they are still standing guard, let them shut and bar the doors. Appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, some at their guard posts and some in front of their own homes.” 4 The city was wide and large, but the people within it were few, and no houses had been rebuilt.
Lists of Returned Exiles

5 Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles and the officials and the people to be enrolled by genealogy. And I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and I found written in it:

6 These were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried into exile. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his town. 7 They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah.

The number of the men of the people of Israel: 8 the sons of Parosh, 2,172. 9 The sons of Shephatiah, 372. 10 The sons of Arah, 652. 11 The sons of Pahath-moab, namely the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,818. 12 The sons of Elam, 1,254. 13 The sons of Zattu, 845. 14 The sons of Zaccai, 760. 15 The sons of Binnui, 648. 16 The sons of Bebai, 628. 17 The sons of Azgad, 2,322. 18 The sons of Adonikam, 667. 19 The sons of Bigvai, 2,067. 20 The sons of Adin, 655. 21 The sons of Ater, namely of Hezekiah, 98. 22 The sons of Hashum, 328. 23 The sons of Bezai, 324. 24 The sons of Hariph, 112. 25 The sons of Gibeon, 95. 26 The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, 188. 27 The men of Anathoth, 128. 28 The men of Beth-azmaveth, 42. 29 The men of Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, 743. 30 The men of Ramah and Geba, 621. 31 The men of Michmas, 122. 32 The men of Bethel and Ai, 123. 33 The men of the other Nebo, 52. 34 The sons of the other Elam, 1,254. 35 The sons of Harim, 320. 36 The sons of Jericho, 345. 37 The sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 721. 38 The sons of Senaah, 3,930.

39 The priests: the sons of Jedaiah, namely the house of Jeshua, 973. 40 The sons of Immer, 1,052. 41 The sons of Pashhur, 1,247. 42 The sons of Harim, 1,017.

43 The Levites: the sons of Jeshua, namely of Kadmiel of the sons of Hodevah, 74. 44 The singers: the sons of Asaph, 148. 45 The gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, the sons of Shobai, 138.

46 The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth, 47 the sons of Keros, the sons of Sia, the sons of Padon, 48 the sons of Lebana, the sons of Hagaba, the sons of Shalmai, 49 the sons of Hanan, the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, 50 the sons of Reaiah, the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, 51 the sons of Gazzam, the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, 52 the sons of Besai, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephushesim, 53 the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur, 54 the sons of Bazlith, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha, 55 the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah, 56 the sons of Neziah, the sons of Hatipha.

57 The sons of Solomon's servants: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Sophereth, the sons of Perida, 58 the sons of Jaala, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel, 59 the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the sons of Amon.

60 All the temple servants and the sons of Solomon's servants were 392.

61 The following were those who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but they could not prove their fathers' houses nor their descent, whether they belonged to Israel: 62 the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda, 642. 63 Also, of the priests: the sons of Hobaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Barzillai (who had taken a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by their name). 64 These sought their registration among those enrolled in the genealogies, but it was not found there, so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. 65 The governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy food until a priest with Urim and Thummim should arise.

Totals of People and Gifts

66 The whole assembly together was 42,360, 67 besides their male and female servants, of whom there were 7,337. And they had 245 singers, male and female. 68 Their horses were 736, their mules 245,[a] 69 their camels 435, and their donkeys 6,720.

70 Now some of the heads of fathers' houses gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics[b] of gold, 50 basins, 30 priests' garments and 500 minas[c] of silver.[d] 71 And some of the heads of fathers' houses gave into the treasury of the work 20,000 darics of gold and 2,200 minas of silver. 72 And what the rest of the people gave was 20,000 darics of gold, 2,000 minas of silver, and 67 priests' garments.

73 So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all Israel, lived in their towns.

And when the seventh month had come, the people of Israel were in their towns.

What is the difference between the return of Jacob's sons and the children of Judea.

Exodus 12:37
And the people of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children.

In the Exodus, God created tremendous and might acts. The Children of Israel were afraid and unworthy. The strength of God Almighty was revealed. People just could not obtain His Holiness.

In the return from Babylon, the Children of Abraham are again enslaved, yet this time the Holiness of God works upon the 3 generations of kings in the Persian Empire. Three different kings promised to return slaves to a country in utter ruin. Why would we see this much detail in 500 B.C. Why would the details be so recorded for people to see millenniums later.... maybe to show us we don't like Biblical detail but find the Babylonian Chronicles completely fascinating even in the details of feeding a descendant of King David.

List of Assyrian and Babylonian Chronicles Dynastic Chronicle (ABC 18) (translation ) (another version of Column 5 ) Weidner Chronicle (ABC 19) (translation ) Chronicle of the Kassite and Isin Dynasties, also known as Walker's Chronicle (called "Chronicle 25", but not available in ABC) (translation ) Chronicle of Early Kings (ABC 20) (translation ) Synchronistic History (ABC 21) (one translation and another translation ) Chronicle P (ABC 22) (translation and another translation ) Chronicle of the Market Prices (ABC 23) (translation ) Eclectic Chronicle (ABC 24) (translation ) Religious Chronicle (ABC 17) (translation ) Nabonassar to Shamash-shum-ukin Chronicle (ABC 1) (translation ) Esarhaddon Chronicle (ABC 14) (translation ) Shamash-shuma-ukin Chronicle (ABC 15) (translation ) (another translation ) Akitu Chronicle (ABC 16) (translation ) Early Years of Nabopolassar Chronicle (ABC 2) (translation ) Fall of Nineveh Chronicle (ABC 3) (translation ) Late Reign of Nabopolassar Chronicle (ABC 4) (translation ) First years of Nebuchadnezzar Chronicle, also known as Jerusalem Chronicle (ABC 5) (translation ) Third year of Neriglissar Chronicle (ABC 6) (translation ) Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7) (text and translation ) Artaxerxes III Chronicle (ABC 9) (translation ) Alexander Chronicle (ABC 8 = BCHP 1) (text and translation ) Alexander and Arabia Chronicle (BCHP 2) (text and translation ) Diadochi Chronicle (ABC 10 = BCHP 3) (text and translation ) Arses and Alexander fragment (BCHP 4) (translation ) Antiochus and Sin Temple Chronicle (ABC 11 = BCHP 5) (text and translation ) Ruin of Esagila Chronicle (BCHP 6) (text and translation ) Antiochus, Bactria, and India Chronicle (ABC 13A = BCHP 7) (text and translation ) Juniper garden Chronicle (BCHP 8) (text and translation ) End of Seleucus I Chronicle (ABC 12 = BCHP 9) (text and translation ) Seleucid Accessions Chronicle (ABC 13 = BCHP 10) (text and translation ) Invasion of Ptolemy III Chronicle (BCHP 11) (text and translation ) Seleucus III Chronicle (ABC 13B = BCHP 12) (text and translation ) Politai Chronicle (BCHP 13) (text and translation ) Greek Community Chronicle (BCHP 14) (text and translation ) Gold Theft Chronicle (BCHP 15) (text and translation ) Document on land and tithes (BCHP 16) (text and translation ) Judicial Chronicle (BCHP 17) (text and translation ) Bagayasha Chronicle (BCHP 18) Chronicle Concerning an Arsacid King (BCHP 19) (text and translation ) Euphrates Chronicle (BCHP 20) (text and translation

Dry dusty tomes later, we discover historical accuracy is to be cheered and marveled over. We have so many movies over the Exodus, why not 2 ades march 16 597 B.C?

The date no one disputes was the end of the country of Judea. God took all of the details of utterly ruined and forsaken land and raised Israel up from the dead.

Acts 1:6-11

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. ⁸But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” ⁹And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. ¹⁰And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, ¹¹and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

We could say the 2nd Exodus, called the Exile is the Gospel truth.

1 Corinthians 15

15 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, ²and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

³For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, ⁴that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, ⁵and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. ⁶Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. ⁷Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. ⁸Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. ⁹For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. ¹¹Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

¹²Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. ¹⁴And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.

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

1 Corinthians 6:14
By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.

Isaiah 63:7
I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for us--yes, the many good things he has done for the house of Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses.

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Ezra 1 ~ the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled

2013-06-10T20:55:00.003-07:00

Cyrus's Cylinder

1995 Dr. Bryant Wood found Cyrus's Cylinder, declaring freedom for captives in Babylon to return to Israel and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and the temple. Ezra 1:2-4

Ezra 1

1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:

2 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel—he is the God who is in Jerusalem. 4 And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.”

5 Then rose up the heads of the fathers' houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up to rebuild the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem. 6 And all who were about them aided them with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, with beasts, and with costly wares, besides all that was freely offered. 7 Cyrus the king also brought out the vessels of the house of the Lord that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and placed in the house of his gods. 8 Cyrus king of Persia brought these out in the charge of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah. 9 And this was the number of them: 30 basins of gold, 1,000 basins of silver, 29 censers, 10 30 bowls of gold, 410 bowls of silver, and 1,000 other vessels; 11 all the vessels of gold and of silver were 5,400. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up, when the exiles were brought up from Babylonia to Jerusalem.

How amazing the archaeology is supporting what we, as Christians know to be, the Word of God. Understanding Israel was demolished. Three separate kings of Persia offered the slaves freedom. Not only freedom, but help rebuilding their Temple to God and the nation. Returning the Temple Tools built under the instruction of Moses. Nebuchadnezzar had heard of the Lord because Jonah, unwillingly, had gone into the Assyrian Empire to declare the LORD is God Almighty. The Assyrian Empire never attacked Israel and fell becoming the Persian Empire.

The Holy Spirit in Acts 1 displays the power of the Holy Spirit as fire. And with the capacity for one light brightening the world and starting another light, Nebuchadnezzar preserved a ruined nation's heritage, their Tools of the Temple, instead of melting them down. And allows the Light of God to flourish; bringing a dead nation back into His Grace.

Yesterday we spoke of the LORD eagerly waiting as our Father for us to live our journey and return to HIM. Like the prodigal son's father running to Him. Israel was not returning to life as a nation. The Assyrian Empire was Gone. So many Empires were gone, how could one tiny nation ever reform with the scattered children of Israel. Only because of HIS Word. His faithfulness to a people undeserving. And each amazing time in Scripture - He comes through.

Romans 8:19
For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.

God created all of what is visible to our eyes and beyond with His Word. Jesus is the fulfilling of Gos's Word. God waits with eager longing to see us revealed as the children of God. His Word fulfilled and the promise of us and who we are to HIM being part of the Kingdom of Heaven. Remembering something very, very, very uniquely important in this.

Matthew 10:7
And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'

This is why Acts 1 exists, the Holy Spirit has been set free. All we have to do is invite HIM to live, move and have HIS dwelling within us.

Matthew 10:7
And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'

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2 Corinthians 11:1-21 ~ For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ

2013-06-10T00:41:00.001-07:00

2 Corinthians 11:1-21

I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me! 2 For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough. 5 Indeed, I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles. 6 Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; indeed, in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.

7 Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached God's gospel to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you. 9 And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way. 10 As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia. 11 And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!

12 And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

16 I repeat, let no one think me foolish. But even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little. 17 What I am saying with this boastful confidence, I say not as the Lord would[a] but as a fool. 18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast. 19 For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves! 20 For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face. 21 To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that!

But whatever anyone else dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that.

A well-know celebrity once famously remarked she used to be a Christian, until she was taught God - is a jealous God.

Jesus spent His life bringing us His and, because of Jesus, our Father. Let's look at Jealousy.

Matthew 22

And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, 2 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, 3 and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. 4 Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”’ 5 But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, 6 while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. 7 The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9 Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ 10 And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.

11 “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. 12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Jesus was telling us a story. All good stories start with a Father. And this Father was throwing a huge event, so big it was called wedding. Now, in this parable, this was the Father starting His child (you) out into the wide world. And He fretted. And fussed. There was emotion. And trepidation.

Because even as the Father set his child (you), into the world (life), He was really hoping that eventually you'd join Him. Actually because this is GOD, He's hoping life won't carry us too far, along the path, take away joy, have us fall away, get sown into thorns, be deceived by riches, desires for other things, become unfruitful. But to return to being fruitful and accepting. So, that as He sees you coming back, from far away, He runs to you.

Is God a jealous God? You betcha. The best parents are.

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2 Chronicles 30 ~ pardon everyone who sets their heart on seeking God—the Lord, the God

2013-06-08T21:21:00.002-07:00

on the fourteenth day of the second month

2 Chronicles 30

Hezekiah sent word to all Israel and Judah and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, inviting them to come to the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover to the Lord, the God of Israel. 2 The king and his officials and the whole assembly in Jerusalem decided to celebrate the Passover in the second month. 3 They had not been able to celebrate it at the regular time because not enough priests had consecrated themselves and the people had not assembled in Jerusalem. 4 The plan seemed right both to the king and to the whole assembly. 5 They decided to send a proclamation throughout Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, calling the people to come to Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover to the Lord, the God of Israel. It had not been celebrated in large numbers according to what was written.

6 At the king’s command, couriers went throughout Israel and Judah with letters from the king and from his officials, which read:

“People of Israel, return to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, that he may return to you who are left, who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria. 7 Do not be like your parents and your fellow Israelites, who were unfaithful to the Lord, the God of their ancestors, so that he made them an object of horror, as you see. 8 Do not be stiff-necked, as your ancestors were; submit to the Lord. Come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever. Serve the Lord your God, so that his fierce anger will turn away from you. 9 If you return to the Lord, then your fellow Israelites and your children will be shown compassion by their captors and will return to this land, for the Lord your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return to him.”

10 The couriers went from town to town in Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as Zebulun, but people scorned and ridiculed them. 11 Nevertheless, some from Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves and went to Jerusalem. 12 Also in Judah the hand of God was on the people to give them unity of mind to carry out what the king and his officials had ordered, following the word of the Lord.

13 A very large crowd of people assembled in Jerusalem to celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread in the second month. 14 They removed the altars in Jerusalem and cleared away the incense altars and threw them into the Kidron Valley.

They slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the second month. The priests and the Levites were ashamed and consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the temple of the Lord. 16 Then they took up their regular positions as prescribed in the Law of Moses the man of God. The priests splashed against the altar the blood handed to them by the Levites. 17 Since many in the crowd had not consecrated themselves, the Levites had to kill the Passover lambs for all those who were not ceremonially clean and could not consecrate their lambs[a] to the Lord. 18 Although most of the many people who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover, contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May the Lord, who is good, pardon everyone 19 who sets their heart on seeking God—the Lord, the God of their ancestors—even if they are not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary.” 20 And the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people.

21 The Israelites who were present in Jerusalem celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great rejoicing, while the Levites and priests praised the Lord every day with resounding instruments dedicated to the Lord.

22 Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites, who showed good understanding of the service of the Lord. For the seven days they ate their assigned portion and offered fellowship offerings and praised the Lord, the God of their ancestors.

23 The whole assembly then agreed to celebrate the festival seven more days; so for another seven days they celebrated joyfully. 24 Hezekiah king of Judah provided a thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep and goats for the assembly, and the officials provided them with a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep and goats. A great number of priests consecrated themselves. 25 The entire assembly of Judah rejoiced, along with the priests and Levites and all who had assembled from Israel, including the foreigners who had come from Israel and also those who resided in Judah. 26 There was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the days of Solomon son of David king of Israel there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem. 27 The priests and the Levites stood to bless the people, and God heard them, for their prayer reached heaven, his holy dwelling place.

A celebration -

Stood to bless the people, and God heard them, for their prayer reached heaven, his holy dwelling place.

The following is not Linus explaining to Charlie Brown, but this is simple, clean and concise - pleasing to the LORD, God, The Almighty - our Father God.

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Luke 2:41-51 ~ Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.

2013-06-07T22:01:00.001-07:00

Luke 2:41-51

Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.

If Mary and Joseph did not understand what Jesus was about, having seen Gabriel - who stands in the presence of God - and lived hearing the shepherds arrive to tell of the multitude of angels singing about the Peace of God - how could we expect the disciples to understand the ministry of Jesus.

We do not fully understand our own ministries. We all have these questions. Jonah ran from his ministry. Life is the road we walk with Jesus. The disciples could not tell you what their ministry was. Jesus said tell people the Good News about Him.

This is spiritual growth - being urged to speak of His Love.

Mark 16:15
And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation."

Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Jesus opened His arms willingly to all of Father God's Children. With open arms.
What brought the world to know Jesus? In sixteen years, the abundance of His Love for you. Personal Love.

Mary may not have understood Jesus' ministry, but she treasured to the marrow of her being - Jesus sought to honor the Love of Father God.

Spiritual Growth?

Ephesians 4:15-16
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Colossians 1:9-10
And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

Notice with me a component in the walk... the journey....prayer.

Bearing fruit is a sign of growth.

Increasing in the knowledge of God - learning His ways in His Word.

Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Hebrews 10:24
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works

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

It's not surprising to find Jesus' Church pulled in His mother, brother and sisters. What pulled them together - the love of the Lord and the united effort of gathering, each would pray.

Love pulled the Church together and each voice was heard praying to the Father.

The basis of the Church is Jesus Christ - His Love. Worship is each voice being heard before Him.

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Psalm 6 ~ For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise?

2013-06-06T16:19:00.002-07:00

Psalm 6

O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger,
nor discipline me in your wrath.
2 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing;
heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled.
3 My soul also is greatly troubled.
But you, O Lord—how long?

4 Turn, O Lord, deliver my life;
save me for the sake of your steadfast love.
5 For in death there is no remembrance of you;
in Sheol who will give you praise?

6 I am weary with my moaning;
every night I flood my bed with tears;
I drench my couch with my weeping.
7 My eye wastes away because of grief;
it grows weak because of all my foes.

8 Depart from me, all you workers of evil,
for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.
9 The Lord has heard my plea;
the Lord accepts my prayer.
10 All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled;
they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment

Two millenniums ago, people expected the blessings of God meant blessings of God. Illness and accident, in the Gospels and in Job, were considered to be signs of His disfavor. Today do we even stop to pause to ask what is the relationship to attitude, sin, behavior, and His Plan?

Jesus was personally asked this-favor-disfavor-question by people who were perpetually dismayed, confused and in fear. The people? The people who walked right beside the Son of God.

Luke 13 Easy enough to remember luck with thirteen.
There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2And Jesus answering said to them, Suppose you that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? 3I tell you, No: but, except you repent, you shall all likewise perish. 4Or those eighteen, on whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think you that they were sinners above all men that dwelled in Jerusalem? 5I tell you, No: but, except you repent, you shall all likewise perish.

Lamentations 2:20
Behold, O LORD, and consider to whom you have done this. Shall the women eat their fruit, and children of a span long?

1 Peter 4:17,18
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us...

And the blind man, who was healed -

John 9:3
Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.

And in these lives and times - I passed an ad for exercise and vitamins with nutrition - it was declaring 99% of illness is stress related. I guess we don't have dna issues, ever. And we were meant to stay forever on this planet. Madeline L'Engle said we all have an invitation to leave the planet.

Let's add this in with :

1 Thessalonians 5:17
Pray without ceasing

I have to disagree with the top photo of white knuckled prayer. I had a premature infant who was failing to breathe for the first year of his life. His prematurity revealed apnea occurred frequently. The sheer, raw horror of seeing that perfect infant struggle for life was combined with CPR instructions on keeping him alive. Then, about a month later, he had pnemonia so badly he had Bradycardia - slow heart beat. Not forgetting the emergency hernia operation where the hospital sleep monitor failed to function, after several false positives. Hernia operation? After bathing the most beautiful of infant sons to discover something horribly wrong with his testicles. Let's discuss the emergency CPR used upon a blue infant at home. Or the distress of failing to breathe multiple times in the night. Alarms ring and the infant fails, still, to breathe. The year was... perilous.

One of the first steps of discovering illness and the hope of a healing is this:

1 Peter 4:12
Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you

Jesus told us there would be days like these:

John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

Why disagree with white knuckled prayer?

Luke 18:
18 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Faith on earth is the key to prayer. Father God wants us to expect Him. To expect HIM with hope and love. To touch His heart the way the know-how-authority-really-works-in-Him Centurion who believed if Father God merely spoke HIS Word - then prayers are answered. This faith changes lives.

Sometimes we will not be able to attain peace. God makes us transparent to Him for good reason. Express to HIM your heart, He surely never despises a broken or a contrite heart. Nonetheless:

1 Thessalonians 5:13-25
Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.

23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

25 Brothers, pray for us.

Prayer from the community of believers, is corporate community prayer, which is, of course, the prayer of the communion of the saints. Always ask for prayer and attend prayer services.

Philemon 1:20
Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.

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2 Corinthians 8:1-16 ~ thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you.

2013-06-05T18:55:00.004-07:00

2 Corinthians 8:1-16

We want you to know, brothers,^[^{brothers and sisters]} about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor^[^{charis is grace, favor or thanks]} of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6 Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you,^[^{in your love for us]} —see that you excel in this act of grace also.

8 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 10 And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. 11 So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. 12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14 your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 15 As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”

16 But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you.

Paul was a man who had plans. Famous plans. Saul sat at the feet of Gamaliel -

Acts 22:3
Then Paul said, "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, and I was brought up and educated here in Jerusalem under Gamaliel. As his student, I was carefully trained in our Jewish laws and customs. I became very zealous to honor God in everything I did, just like all of you today."

One day, on the road to killing people for God's honor, He met the Light of the World. The Son of God. Chalice of Him, bringing us the Words of Life.

Jesus dealt with the people of Israel, teaching, until the day when He was taken up, after He had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 15:8
Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

Gamaliel taught Paul something, Words carried for millenniums.

Acts 5:34
When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!”

And in the spirit of round-about, getting to the point - theology-
Eusebius, the Bishop of Caesarea in 314 A.D. is regarded as an extremely well learned Christian of his time. Eusebius was a Roman historian, well known Christian polemicist, declaring Josephus to be the one saying Jesus' followers did not scatter.

Book 18, Chapter 3, 3 of the Antiquities - Josephus describes the condemnation and crucifixion of Jesus. The Testimonium is likely the most discussed passage in Josephus and perhaps in all ancient literature.

Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man; for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day; as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day.

Eusebius, Saul and those who met Jesus, said 'with their lives', what the centurion said of Jesus:

Matthew 27:54
When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

I'm not Jesus. I'm not going to be the Savior of the world. I do not possess His Wisdom and the vastness of His Love. The world has shown me two things about mankind.

John 2:25
He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in man.

Jesus came to us knowing about us. And He is the Hero. God's Son. Created by Words of GOD. God looked at mankind and He saw good.

Most of us have plans for our lives. And mostly those plans are different than Paul - who was going to devote his life to the Temple, under Herod's authority. (Paul considered the Temple to be the home of God, not reasoning out the Temple catered to the authorities, who were not following Him). Before meeting Jesus, he was very much an unmovable man. We want to marry, have children, have a life. YET we are like Paul, like the disciples, I want to be on His Road. Considering this life - the journey to get Home to HIM. The word road is used 41 times ( in the 80 Books, chosen by the people willing to risk their lives for God's Son in the first Ecumenical conference in 325 A.D.); Half of the times 'road' is used, are the Gospels of His disciples proclaiming His Word and the Book of Acts.

Let these BE the words, work and desire of my life, Father God:

Mark 10:32
And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed

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2 Chronicles 24 ~ the Spirit of God clothed

2013-06-04T20:42:00.002-07:00

2 Chronicles 24

Joash [spelled Jehoash in 2 Kings 12:1] was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba. 2 And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest. 3 Jehoiada got for him two wives, and he had sons and daughters.

4 After this Joash decided to restore the house of the Lord. 5 And he gathered the priests and the Levites and said to them, “Go out to the cities of Judah and gather from all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year, and see that you act quickly.” But the Levites did not act quickly. 6 So the king summoned Jehoiada the chief and said to him, “Why have you not required the Levites to bring in from Judah and Jerusalem the tax levied by Moses, the servant of the Lord, and the congregation of Israel for the tent of testimony?” 7 For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken into the house of God, and had also used all the dedicated things of the house of the Lord for the Baals.

8 So the king commanded, and they made a chest and set it outside the gate of the house of the Lord. 9 And proclamation was made throughout Judah and Jerusalem to bring in for the Lord the tax that Moses the servant of God laid on Israel in the wilderness. 10 And all the princes and all the people rejoiced and brought their tax and dropped it into the chest until they had finished [or until it was full]. 11 And whenever the chest was brought to the king's officers by the Levites, when they saw that there was much money in it, the king's secretary and the officer of the chief priest would come and empty the chest and take it and return it to its place. Thus they did day after day, and collected money in abundance. 12 And the king and Jehoiada gave it to those who had charge of the work of the house of the Lord, and they hired masons and carpenters to restore the house of the Lord, and also workers in iron and bronze to repair the house of the Lord. 13 So those who were engaged in the work labored, and the repairing went forward in their hands, and they restored the house of God to its proper condition and strengthened it. 14 And when they had finished, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, and with it were made utensils for the house of the Lord, both for the service and for the burnt offerings, and dishes for incense and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the Lord regularly all the days of Jehoiada.

15 But Jehoiada grew old and full of days, and died. He was 130 years old at his death. 16 And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, and toward God and his house.

17 Now after the death of Jehoiada the princes of Judah came and paid homage to the king. Then the king listened to them. 18 And they abandoned the house of the Lord, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols. And wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs. 19 Yet he sent prophets among them to bring them back to the Lord. These testified against them, but they would not pay attention.

20 Then the Spirit of God clothed Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, and he stood above the people, and said to them, “Thus says God, ‘Why do you break the commandments of the Lord, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has forsaken you.’” 21 But they conspired against him, and by command of the king they stoned him with stones in the court of the house of the Lord. 22 Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness that Jehoiada, Zechariah's father, had shown him, but killed his son. And when he was dying, he said, “May the Lord see and avenge!”

23 At the end of the year the army of the Syrians came up against Joash. They came to Judah and Jerusalem and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus. 24 Though the army of the Syrians had come with few men, the Lord delivered into their hand a very great army, because Judah had forsaken the Lord, the God of their fathers. Thus they executed judgment on Joash.

25 When they had departed from him, leaving him severely wounded, his servants conspired against him because of the blood of the son of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed. So he died, and they buried him in the city of David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings. 26 Those who conspired against him were Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonite, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabite. 27 Accounts of his sons and of the many oracles against him and of the rebuilding of the house of God are written in the Story of the Book of the Kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his place.

When we learn about Scripture, one important point we learn about is - our relationship with the Lord. Joash is the only king with the steadfast love and righteousness of the priest Jehoiada (his great-uncle) during the reigns of Ahaziah, Athaliah, and Joash.

Jehoiada proclaimed "only a son of David should be King." Jehoiada's wife had hidden the baby Joash from the bloody coup by the terrible queen. And Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and all the people and the king that they should be the Lord's people. Our passage continues to show Joash didn't rule the priest and this wasn't a regency taken over by the priest.

Joash has a personal failure with grown children. He becomes lax, listening to the way his beloved children see the Kingdom of God being shaped by served the Asherim and the idols, usually worshiped in nature upon the high hills. It sounds lovely and picturesque, but Joash sents prophets to the children / princes instead of leading. Disaster occurs and they are publicly offended requiring of their father to STONE Zechariah, Johoada's King Joash's personal physical savior.

You have to love the Lord for pointing out grown children require direction all their lives as well. Even the authority figure children. Doesn't that seem very New Testament? It would be very our generation to blame Jehoiada for sheltering King Joash. Unfortunately, in this passage, most middle age people can understand relating to having grown children.

People of God work to support and bring forward other people of God. This is the way God wants His Kingdom to be established. Considering all of Jehoiada's works, isn't it amazing his great righteousness and actions of courage do not rank him in the same esteem as Jonathan? We rarely hear of Jehoiada.

When do we, in Scriptures, have we such a mighty man of the LORD? We've read of Samuel, Nathan, Asaph during the times of the Kings and, later, Isaiah. Yet, Jehoiada is a mighty man of God. 2 Chronicles 23 is well worth reading about the priest who took courage.

Of Joash? And his fallen behavior we can only say -

Matthew 19:23-26
23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Let us remember the great deeds of Jehoiada!

Hebrews 12:32-35
And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life.

We rarely do hear of Jehoiada. However Jehoiada, this heroic man of God, is heard of in the History beyond Scriptures.

Titus Flavius Josephus (37 – c. A.D. 100), a 1st-century Romano-Jewish historian and hagiographer of priestly and royal ancestry who recorded Jewish history. Credited by many as recording some of the earliest history of Jesus Christ, outside of the gospels. His most important works were The Jewish War (c. 75 AD) and Antiquities of the Jews (c. 94 AD). Jehoiada is in his Jewish Antiquites Book 9, Chapter 7. .

See the photo of the book below.

Father God, let Your Holy Spirit come upon us in power. Help us to be clothed in the Spirit of God. Help Your child keep Your sheep. Lord, please send forth Your word to declare and establish a way for this. Help us to be strong and let us fight bravely for people of Yours. LORD do what is good in Your sight and sent Your angels. Let us be found innocent in Your sight and our prayers to be granted. We will rejoice and be glad, because great is Your reward in heaven. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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2 Chronicles 21-22 ~ And the Lord stirred up against

2013-06-03T22:14:00.007-07:00

The Merneptah Stele currently resides in the Cairo Museum, Egypt.

tel dan stele, house of david, inscription, bible, archaeology, israel, israeli, history, goliath, gath, ... 8'. king of Israel, and I killed [Achaz]yahu son of [Joram kin]g ...

2 Chronicles 21-22

2 Chronicles 21

Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David, and Jehoram his son reigned in his place. 2 He had brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael, and Shephatiah; all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.[a] 3 Their father gave them great gifts of silver, gold, and valuable possessions, together with fortified cities in Judah, but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram, because he was the firstborn. 4 When Jehoram had ascended the throne of his father and was established, he killed all his brothers with the sword, and also some of the princes of Israel. 5 Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. 6 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife. And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. 7 Yet the Lord was not willing to destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and since he had promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons forever.

8 In his days Edom revolted from the rule of Judah and set up a king of their own. 9 Then Jehoram passed over with his commanders and all his chariots, and he rose by night and struck the Edomites who had surrounded him and his chariot commanders. 10 So Edom revolted from the rule of Judah to this day. At that time Libnah also revolted from his rule, because he had forsaken the Lord, the God of his fathers.

11 Moreover, he made high places in the hill country of Judah and led the inhabitants of Jerusalem into whoredom and made Judah go astray. 12 And a letter came to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, “Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father, ‘Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, or in the ways of Asa king of Judah, 13 but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel and have enticed Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem into whoredom, as the house of Ahab led Israel into whoredom, and also you have killed your brothers, of your father's house, who were better than you, 14 behold, the Lord will bring a great plague on your people, your children, your wives, and all your possessions, 15 and you yourself will have a severe sickness with a disease of your bowels, until your bowels come out because of the disease, day by day.’”

16 And the Lord stirred up against Jehoram the anger of the Philistines and of the Arabians who are near the Ethiopians. 17 And they came up against Judah and invaded it and carried away all the possessions they found that belonged to the king's house, and also his sons and his wives, so that no son was left to him except Jehoahaz, his youngest son.

18 And after all this the Lord struck him in his bowels with an incurable disease. 19 In the course of time, at the end of two years, his bowels came out because of the disease, and he died in great agony. His people made no fire in his honor, like the fires made for his fathers. 20 He was thirty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he departed with no one's regret. They buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.

2 Chronicles 22

22 And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, his youngest son, king in his place, for the band of men that came with the Arabians to the camp had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned. 2 Ahaziah was twenty-two[c] years old when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri. 3 He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor in doing wickedly. 4 He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, as the house of Ahab had done. For after the death of his father they were his counselors, to his undoing. 5 He even followed their counsel and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to make war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-gilead. And the Syrians wounded Joram, 6 and he returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds that he had received at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was wounded.

7 But it was ordained by God that the downfall of Ahaziah should come about through his going to visit Joram. For when he came there, he went out with Jehoram to meet Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the Lord had anointed to destroy the house of Ahab. 8 And when Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab, he met the princes of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah's brothers, who attended Ahaziah, and he killed them. 9 He searched for Ahaziah, and he was captured while hiding in Samaria, and he was brought to Jehu and put to death. They buried him, for they said, “He is the grandson of Jehoshaphat, who sought the Lord with all his heart.” And the house of Ahaziah had no one able to rule the kingdom.
Athaliah Reigns in Judah

10 Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal family of the house of Judah. 11 But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the king's sons who were about to be put to death, and she put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Thus Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram and wife of Jehoiada the priest, because she was a sister of Ahaziah, hid him^[Joash] from Athaliah, so that she did not put him to death. 12 And he remained with them six years, hidden in the house of God, while Athaliah reigned over the land.

Footnotes:
Jehoram was a king of the Kingdom of Israel. (2 Kings 8:16, 8:25-28) He was the son of Ahab and Jezebel. According to 2 Kings 8:16, in the fifth year of Joram of Israel, (another) Jehoram became king of Judah, when his father Jehoshaphat was (still) king of Judah, indicating a co-regency. The author of Kings also speaks of both Jehoram of Israel and Jehoram of Judah in the same passage, which can be confusing.

We wonder about the sins of the father being carried to the next generation. The passages are confusing. As we wonder on sins of the father.

What is not confusing - these people are indeed part of 'His Story.' Their lives recorded for us to see, what would be carried along, for us to hear His message to us - today.

For millenniums, when David's Kingdom was split by Solomon's son, for taking bad advice, we hope even today for Israel to be united. It would seem ideal to have the Kingdoms of Judah and Isreal united by Jehoram. However, these kings were not even being mourned, for their lack of honor. Confusion resulted with surrounding wars - why - because the Lord did not see goodness in their hearts. Not Good News. Just continued wars, with more unsettling news. We see this in our news today, our newspapers.

Yet, in Scripture, there is always an arrow pointing at something good. “He is the grandson of Jehoshaphat, who sought the Lord with all his heart.”

If you were to condense the passages, with sons, and arranged marriages of nefarious kings related to Ahab, you would see peace came with seeking the Lord.

While this post is not a history lesson explaining the ins and outs of genealogy, one would see a road map to confusing times. Not a time a Kingdom would hope for, the sheer lack of stability.

The Scriptures tell us what to do when we are suddenly in a commotion, I've seen my loved ones do this:

Jeremiah 9:23
This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches"

Proverbs 3:25-26
Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes,
for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.

Psalm 37:,6
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.

Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding

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Holy Week, before Easter, is not a time that I look forward to. There are years as I plan for Easter that Palm Sunday takes me by surprise. What to wear for Easter and throw in the progression of Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday, we as a Church Family, wave the branches for Jesus to be King. But Palm Sunday quickly becomes hearing all Jesus suffered for me.

The Old Testament, did not have Jesus proclaiming that He saw Satan fall from God's Kingdom like a bolt of lightning.

However, God has been with us since His Spirit hovered over the water's of creation in Genesis. Good people struggling against adversity to avoid evil.

Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram and wife of Jehoiada the priest, because she was a sister of Ahaziah, hid him [Joash] from Athaliah, so that she did not put him to death.

Jesus did not chunk out the people who forget that Palm Sunday isn't about your shoes. Jesus sat with the woman at the well. He reached into the waters, getting His Hands wet, for Peter immediately. And while it is so very painful to hear all Jesus did suffer, we have people like Jehoshabeath, who act and give justice because of His Holy Spirit, released into the world by all Jesus did for us.

Making this entirely possible:

Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding

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Luke 1:46-55 ~ He has filled

2013-06-02T21:59:00.000-07:00

Road to Bethlehem by Joseph Brickey

Luke 1:46-55

⁴⁶And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
⁴⁷     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
⁴⁸for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
    For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
⁴⁹for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
    and holy is his name.
⁵⁰And his mercy is for those who fear him
    from generation to generation.
⁵¹ He has shown strength with his arm;
     he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
⁵² he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
     and exalted those of humble estate;
⁵³he has filled the hungry with good things,
    and the rich he has sent away empty.
⁵⁴He has helped his servant Israel,
     in remembrance of his mercy,
⁵⁵ as he spoke to our fathers,
     to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

  
 Luke 1:38  

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." 

Mary believed God. Mary, the teenage girl, a virgin, dragged around the country, heavily  pregnant. For a census she probably did not care much about, by a new  husband - who considered having her stoned to death. A quick marriage ceremony and learning to live with the 500 to 1,500  people in Nazareth. (Where the 3rd century Church reports the Romans asked his nephews to denounce Jesus & Jesus' great, great nephews were put to death in an attempt to kill off  the spread of Christianity, for 400 years).  After the holy family had flight to Egypt, they returned years later to Nazareth, Mary and Joseph had a seamless family; they were seen as  good parents in the small town. A hard thing to do, not to favor or  disfavor the Son of God.

Mary had a very difficult thing to do, returning to Nazareth to  raise kids - the lady who was pregnant during the betrothal.  Mary even had to live down the Sanhedrin Council gossip still available in the 1st Century Talmud, upon the Sanhedrin discovering to their discomfort the miracles of Jesus. The Talmud ponders the problem of a living Jesus and denounces his mother. The Sanhedrin later try to cover up the quick, night trial without all the council present and again denounce Mary. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Still she lived in peace. And her family is recorded as being a  seamless family, although blended.  Jesus would agree with their  parenting in the Scriptures.

Mark 6:2-4  

When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.      “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this  wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is  performing? 3 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.

Why would Jesus adopt John as his family. Perhaps partly, not to send Mary empty away even after she and His brothers had called for Him to leave with them.

Luke 8:21  

And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you." But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”

John 19:26

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!”and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

Acts 1:14
These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

1 Corinthians 9:5
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?

We do Mary a disservice when we fail to recognize her role as a mother and a wife. A mother who tried to rescue her Son. A mother the Scriptures record as not repeating her mistake. Jesus honored Mary and He limited her role.

Luke 11:27

As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed! But he said, Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

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Genesis 27 ~ He said, “Are you really my son Esau?” He answered, “I am.”

2013-06-01T20:00:00.000-07:00

Jacob Deceives Isaac, painted by James Tissot

Genesis 27

When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son”; and he answered, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Behold, I am old; I do not know the day of my death. 3 Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me, 4 and prepare for me delicious food, such as I love, and bring it to me so that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.”

5 Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to his son Esau. So when Esau went to the field to hunt for game and bring it, 6 Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “I heard your father speak to your brother Esau, 7 ‘Bring me game and prepare for me delicious food, that I may eat it and bless you before the Lord before I die.’ 8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice as I command you. 9 Go to the flock and bring me two good young goats, so that I may prepare from them delicious food for your father, such as he loves. 10 And you shall bring it to your father to eat, so that he may bless you before he dies.” 11 But Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “Behold, my brother Esau is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man. 12 Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be mocking him and bring a curse upon myself and not a blessing.” 13 His mother said to him, “Let your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice, and go, bring them to me.”

14 So he went and took them and brought them to his mother, and his mother prepared delicious food, such as his father loved. 15 Then Rebekah took the best garments of Esau her older son, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son. 16 And the skins of the young goats she put on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. 17 And she put the delicious food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.

18 So he went in to his father and said, “My father.” And he said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?” 19 Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me; now sit up and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me.” 20 But Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?” He answered, “Because the Lord your God granted me success.” 21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, to know whether you are really my son Esau or not.” 22 So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, who felt him and said, “The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” 23 And he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau's hands. So he blessed him. 24 He said, “Are you really my son Esau?” He answered, “I am.” 25 Then he said, “Bring it near to me, that I may eat of my son's game and bless you.” So he brought it near to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank.

26 Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come near and kiss me, my son.” 27 So he came near and kissed him. And Isaac smelled the smell of his garments and blessed him and said,

“See, the smell of my son
is as the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed!
28 May God give you of the dew of heaven
and of the fatness of the earth
and plenty of grain and wine.
29 Let peoples serve you,
and nations bow down to you.
Be lord over your brothers,
and may your mother's sons bow down to you.
Cursed be everyone who curses you,
and blessed be everyone who blesses you!”

30 As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, when Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, Esau his brother came in from his hunting. 31 He also prepared delicious food and brought it to his father. And he said to his father, “Let my father arise and eat of his son's game, that you may bless me.” 32 His father Isaac said to him, “Who are you?” He answered, “I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.” 33 Then Isaac trembled very violently and said, “Who was it then that hunted game and brought it to me, and I ate it all before you came, and I have blessed him? Yes, and he shall be blessed.” 34 As soon as Esau heard the words of his father, he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me, even me also, O my father!” 35 But he said, “Your brother came deceitfully, and he has taken away your blessing.” 36 Esau said, “Is he not rightly named Jacob?[a] For he has cheated me these two times. He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing.” Then he said, “Have you not reserved a blessing for me?” 37 Isaac answered and said to Esau, “Behold, I have made him lord over you, and all his brothers I have given to him for servants, and with grain and wine I have sustained him. What then can I do for you, my son?” 38 Esau said to his father, “Have you but one blessing, my father? Bless me, even me also, O my father.” And Esau lifted up his voice and wept.

39 Then Isaac his father answered and said to him:

“Behold, away from the fatness of the earth shall your dwelling be,
and away from the dew of heaven on high.
40 By your sword you shall live,
and you shall serve your brother;
but when you grow restless
you shall break his yoke from your neck.”

41 Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” 42 But the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah. So she sent and called Jacob her younger son and said to him, “Behold, your brother Esau comforts himself about you by planning to kill you. 43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice. Arise, flee to Laban my brother in Haran 44 and stay with him a while, until your brother's fury turns away— 45 until your brother's anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send and bring you from there. Why should I be bereft of you both in one day?”

46 Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I loathe my life because of the Hittite women.^[^{daughters of Heth]}If Jacob marries one of the Hittite women like these, one of the women of the land, what good will my life be to me?”

The Shadow Knows. If you are old enough, you remember this was a radio broadcast.

John 2:25
He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.

Yin and yang, a Chinese philosophical idea explaining opposite forces are interconnected and interdependent of each other. In other words, good follows evil.

Psalm 23
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life

David says in the presence of his enemies, he is determined his life will still give goodness and mercy.

If life is problem solving, Isaac is having a heck of a time. He knows and believes he is the Keeper of Abraham's Blessing "Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you." And he knows he is surrounded by Rebecca, who is his love, yet is a self-interested, chess player. And Jacob, the shifty son who already has Esau's birthright for a bowl of stew. You'd think Isaac would have put a caveat saying if you're Jacob, no dice on the blessing. However, Isaac did think he was dying, but held on for Jacob to grow up and return with his 12 sons. And Rebecca did herself in, that daughter in law was a long time in coming and then, oi vay, the bickering of two of them. More sibling rivalry.

We know from the Scriptures Rebekah and Isaac will have troubles in life; the Scriptures tell us are part of life. In the midst of signs, births, prosperity, betrayal, all trouble and stages of life; we learn from Isaac’s life, forgiveness allows the Holy Spirit to help Isaac to end well. We can almost hear Father God say to Isaac, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Is this a love story? Yes, we know it. We all root for Rebekah to complete the sign and become Isaac’s wife. We all want the signs of God’s approval in our life. We know Rebekah will place her son’s prosperity over her husband’s peaceful illness and anticipated death. We know Isaac will still have Rebekah as his wife when a life-time of years pass before the family is reunited in forgiveness. We know this miracle only can come from God.

Just as we know what Rebekah’s human nature will cause and allow, God knew what was in Rebekah’s heart and chose her to be part of His plan in fulfilling His promise to Abraham. In Jesus, we are heirs of Abraham, we are grafted into God’s tree of life. God chose Rebekah and God chooses us, asks us, wants us to be part of His plan in this life and heirs to His eternal kingdom.

I once heard a very interesting sermon by a Catholic Priest (he'd been a married Episcopal Priest, but brought his wife and the entire congregation to the Catholic faith) on yin and yang in Christianity. Every time there is great good, evil is going to show up, because evil is, by nature, jealous of goodness. Isaac has a great blessing and he wants to decide God's will. Rebekah wants to decide God's will and improve her own life by controlling Jacob's. Jacob wants all the goods all the time and is smart enough to take a blessing of God's. Esau is going to get tired of everybody.

You would think the Scriptures would be more like Dick and Jane go to summer camp, meet and marry. Instead you see life does strange things to families trying to get by. The one thing you can say for this Biblical family, they are still together after Lamon gets finished decades later working out his own issues on his son-in-law.

Romans 8:38
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us

Ephesians 3:19
and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

1 Corinthians 15:58
So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

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Psalm 117 ~ Praise the Lord

2013-05-31T19:22:00.001-07:00

Psalm 117

1 Praise the Lord, all nations!
Extol him, all peoples!
2 For great is his steadfast love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord!

Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter in the bible. Condensed, this is the nature of the Lord Most High. He is for everyone. He is worthy to be praised.

He isn't about Black-eyed Peas, don't step on a crack, wear a little bracelet with knots tied in it so many days, pray in this exact fashion, eat this diet, or wear your hair like this.

He does not ask you to sit up straight. He does not ask you to refrain from alcohol. He does not ask you not to dance. He does not ask you not to chew gum. He is not partial to one skin type or one color. He is not partial to one class over another. He does not say cleanliness is next to Him. He does not say that if you pay attention to Him at least once a week, He is pleased. He does not ask you to seek wealth. He is more fond of wisdom and kindness.

Father God seeks you. Father God does not expect you to save yourself. He doesn't just put you off until eternity, He is part of this life. He wants your love and trust. He is for you. He chose to create you. He is about love, wisdom, loyalty, forgiveness and eternity. He loves you.

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John 11:30-57 ~ He was deeply moved in His spirit and greatly troubled.

2013-05-30T16:33:00.000-07:00

Jairus' Daughter, painted by Wilson Jay Ong

John 11:30-57

Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 32 Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. 34 And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept. 36 So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”

38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, 46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” 49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 50 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53 So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.

54 Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples.

55 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. 56 They were looking for[b] Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?” 57 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him.

Why would the Lord be deeply moved in His Holy Spirit and greatly troubled?

1 Chronicles 13:10
And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark, and he died there before God.

I don't think any of us see death as an enemy, in all situations.

Hebrews 2:14
Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil

Jesus did not come to earth uninformed. Proverbs tells us He delighted in Creation. Jesus knew about death. Jesus wasn't troubled Lazarus had died, remember:

John 11:12-15
The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, 15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

Jesus was purely reacting to the people and the way they did look at the passing of Lazarus.

When you think about Uzzah, do you really believe Uzzah was thundered at when he arrived in Sheol? Heaven was created upon the death of Jesus. I think God, our Father, is this :

Ephesians 2:4
God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us

Paul Burrell was a footman for Queen Elizabeth II and later butler to Diana, Princess of Wales. Burrell was awarded the Royal Victorian Medal in November 1997 for services to the Royal Family. In the first few weeks of his service, he was told if he touched the Queen for any reason, he would be fired. The Queen became tangled in her dog, Corgi, leashes and started to fall down a flight of stairs. Paul rushed forward to grab her arm and shoulder. He was immediately fired. Queen Elizabeth then hired him to be her personal servant, where he had daily access to the Queen almost constantly. Paul's initial supervisor was chastised.

Going back to the fate of Uzzah:

Ephesians 2:5-10
even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

If you recall your 1 Chronicles 13, the LORD was miffed with David for his reaction to death.

And look further at the passage,
Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”

Jesus had work to do with death, combating another tomb, another stone. Jesus stone was hard to move with Roman guard and a seal from Pilate.

Jesus had work to do, in this life with death:

Luke 7:11-17
Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. 12 As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. 16 Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” 17 And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.

And Jesus raised this child as well:

Matthew 9:18-19, continued in Luke 8
these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples.

Luke 8:49-56
49 While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler's house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” 50 But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” 51 And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. 52 And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” 53 And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” 55 And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. 56 And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.

Why is Jesus so acclaimed for Lazarus and not the Widow in Nain's Son and Jairus' daughter? Jesus was in the beginning of his ministry and He was not ringing out orders as Moses had done.

Jesus timed His miracles well. Knowing this about the way miracles are delivered:

Matthew 13:10-15
Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:

“‘“You will indeed hear but never understand,
and you will indeed see but never perceive.”
15 For this people's heart has grown dull,
and with their ears they can barely hear,
and their eyes they have closed,
lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, and I would heal them.’

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2 Corinthians 1:23-2:11 ~ so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow

2013-05-29T13:13:00.003-07:00

2 Corinthians 1:23-2:11

But I call God to witness against me—it was to spare you that I refrained from coming again to Corinth. 24 Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith.

2 For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you. 2 For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? 3 And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. 4 For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.

5 Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. 6 For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, 7 so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. 9 For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything. 10 Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, 11 so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.

Judgement. Let's all be less judgmental. I find that to be true like faith is blind - so be blindfolded. We get through life learning from seeing our sibling get popped for doing something incorrectly. We learn family drama and high emotion over seeing report cards. We see rewards for good work. Life is about learning from the people around us.

We are saddened to see someone diminished by age. Saddened to see people diminished by hate.

Life is about learning what gifts we have been given, propelling us forward. And some friends lift us up and others bring us down. Sometimes we take ourselves far too seriously.

And that nasty Paul - he is at it again. Being that Christian Overlord telling us suffering is good.

Romans 5:3-5
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

This almost sounds as if we want to suffer. No Paul is saying - look to what purpose can be taken from the trouble. Solomon said blessing and trouble are from His Hand. You need Character to stand - instead of fall - for anything or something.

so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice

1 Thessalonians 2:13
And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.

Matthew 19:17
And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.”

At this point we all want to know - suffering - rejoicing - rather like Janet Jackson - what have you done for me lately?

And the correct response, because we are transparent to HIM is this -
"Father God, I have a few things I sure could use Your help with. And if You'd help I'd be mighty pleased and grateful. But I would like to build my life and my days to have meaning. To be meaningful to me and to You. I open my hands, my heart. Today let us build Your kingdom on earth with goodness and mercy from Psalm 23 being the wake I leave in this life. In the name of Jesus. Amen."

Back to the passage today:

Paul does not want to push power on someone to establish their faith or HIS. He is refraining from the visit saying you are doing fine.

Paul says we need to push people to do better - no - should rather turn to forgive and comfort.

Paul acts upon this principle - from Father God - know the abundant love that I have for you.

Forgiveness is given for such an odd reason - that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs. Surely we do not believe in evil. If you don't, you are probably one of the people who make fun of walking by faith - blindfolded. You have to be blindfolded not to know there is evil.

Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. That's right. Our Paul gets only the second slot in the Christendom Kingdom on Earth. His Basilica had endurance and you have to look at that as a sign of God. 5 July 1823 a fire, started through the negligence of a workman who was repairing the lead of the roof, resulted in the almost total destruction of the basilica which, alone of all the churches of Rome, had preserved its primitive character for 1435 years. It was re-opened in 1840, and reconsecrated 1855.

Can you imagine - Peter went to the Jews - that small town, captain of industry and built His Church not to be prevailed against by the forces of what....

Matthew 16:18
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

So outsiders would say - look at the Church rewarding Paul by shoving his Basilica outside the walls of the city. Paul went to the Gentiles. Paul was all in - the Temple - upwardly mobile - Paul decided that mercy overcomes the rules. And the Lord took care of that Basilica for years and years. God feels forgiveness brings us into HIS path. And darkness is not where He wants our hearts, faith, love - to be. Paul stayed outside the walls to bring more people in.

We work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith.

Why?

To let you know the abundant love that God has for you.

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Psalm 98:1-4 ~ Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!

2013-05-28T21:42:00.001-07:00

Psalm 98:1-4

Oh sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
2 The Lord has made known his salvation;
he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.

4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises!

David was called apple in the eye of God. He was very unique in the ability to continue to serve God as he lived in ditches, evading authority and later dancing, with all his might, for God.

Psalm 17:8
Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings,

Proverbs 7:2
keep my commandments and live;
keep my teaching as the apple of your eye;

Zechariah 2:8
For thus said the Lord of hosts, after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye:

It is a common misconception David was uniquely the only apple of God's eye.

1 Chronicles 29:10-13
Therefore David blessed the Lord in the presence of all the assembly. And David said: “Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. 11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. 12 Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. 13 And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.

We are so apt to praise Him and cling to Him when our lives are not as we hope. How much more was David living HIS Praise for wanting to build His Father God a dwelling. And praise Him even when turned down. Naming his next child after Nathan, simply for Nathan's willingness to tell David the Lord's Truth.

David, I'm pretty sure, on God's behalf, was giving us a lesson on how loving an open heart finds those Thundering Old Testament Prophets. The person acting on God's behalf should want to love the people he delivers Father God's love towards.

David included the men unwilling to help him during his two decades of knowing himself to be anointed of the Lord. When Saul died and his concubine's son placed on the throne, David continued to believe. David - did well. He was indeed the anointed of God - seeking His Glory.

Let us pray as David, each day asking Father God to build our life and use our lives for His purposes. For the glory of Jesus Christ. Never, never, never forgetting to give Thanks for our blessings. Amen.

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Psalm 124 ~ the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us

2013-05-27T20:28:00.002-07:00

Psalm 124

A song of ascents. Of David.

1 If the Lord had not been on our side—
let Israel say—
2 if the Lord had not been on our side
when people attacked us,
3 they would have swallowed us alive
when their anger flared against us;
4 the flood would have engulfed us,
the torrent would have swept over us,
5 the raging waters
would have swept us away.

6 Praise be to the Lord,
who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
7 We have escaped like a bird
from the fowler’s snare;
the snare has been broken,
and we have escaped.
8 Our help is in the name of the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

A younger man who has not wept is a savage, and the older man who will not laugh is a fool.

Religion in its humility restores man to his only dignity, the courage to live by grace.

- Both quotes are from George Santayana

Jesus, is quoted by the dear physician Luke, with a phrase that sticks in my mind - "And days shall come upon you."

Days come upon all of us. Monet was known to have suffered the death of his first wife. Monet painted her body changing color. Grief effects all of us differently. And for each of these deaths, like the death of a step-daughter, Monet ceased to paint. He virtually was unable to do what was his greatest joy.

We all exist at a different emotional temperature. John Boehner, current Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, is someone who cries easily, like I do. I've noticed something about tears. People in our generation are embarrassed by emotion. Tears are a natural product of the body expressing genuine emotion. God tells us He enjoys the depths of our heart and has created us to be transparent to Him.

One of the benefits of a good cry, your body accepts the emotion, your spirit recognizes the truth and with prayer, healing begins.

However
the raging waters
would have swept us away.

We all have times we say to the LORD, not this emotion - not right now. What will we do with the emotion. And frankly, we can accept self-pity for so long, we become like Psalm 2 - rather evil.

When, I've learned through experience, we earnestly pray The Lord's Prayer. we can have strength. A renewal of hope surging through us. Therefore strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees, Does saying The Lord's Prayer work each time? Absolutely. Sound too good to be true? Well. However, at the beginning of the prayer, you ask Father God, "Your will be done." Therefore, like the Centurion, who pleased Jesus so much, we expect HIM to show up just by His Word. Telling us He will never leave or forsake us. And He will be with us.

Embarrassment. Because there are certainly times when our emotions must be discussed. And displayed. Never let the moment of need be dismissed as being over the top - unless this is a terrible pattern.

Let's not be the generation freaking out over emotion.

We should give encouragement to emotion as gently listening. The emotion, crying, does not need to be discussed until the person weeping wants to mention that. An open expression and care is the needed response. I see people cry, all the time, at the Pregnancy Assistant Center, where I volunteer. They usually remark, eventually on their own emotion. I just say, "Tears Are only Emotion. Here is a kleenex. I've seen tears before and cried myself." Usually a matter of fact reaction, with understanding, helps a lot. The Scriptures tell us to weep with those who weep and rejoice with the rejoicing. I do believe in weeping with someone in something like a huge announcement is appropriate, but usually people just, and Scripture, expresses, walk with them in their conversation.

1 Timothy 4:12
Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

Jesus recognized small children are more apt to speak the thoughts of their heart and put faith first.

Ezekiel 36:26
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

Jeremiah 17:10
“I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”

Matthew 5:8
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Psalm 112:7
He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.

Our help is in the name of the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

A song of ascents! Alleluia!

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Genesis 17:5-7 ~ the Father of a multitude of nations

2013-05-26T23:12:00.001-07:00

Does the LORD consider nations?

Genesis 17:5-7
No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. 7 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.

Isaiah 11:12-13
12 He will raise a signal for the nations
and will assemble the banished of Israel,
and gather the dispersed of Judah
from the four corners of the earth.
13 The jealousy of Ephraim shall depart,
and those who harass Judah shall be cut off;
Ephraim shall not be jealous of Judah,
and Judah shall not harass Ephraim.

Many have been called to a fight, not entirely their own.

Jonah 2:1-3
Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, 2 saying,

“I called out to the Lord, out of my distress,
and he answered me;
out of the belly of Sheol I cried,
and you heard my voice.
3 For you cast me into the deep,
into the heart of the seas,
and the flood surrounded me;
all your waves and your billows
passed over me

Jonah 4
But it displeased Jonah exceedingly,and he was angry. 2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. 3 Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” 4 And the Lord said, “Do you do well to be angry?”

5 Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city.

10 And the Lord said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. 11 And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?”

Matthew 12:41
The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

Johan was called to a fight not his own, and people were saved.

Psalm 80
17 But let your hand be on the man of your right hand,
the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself!
18 Then we shall not turn back from you;
give us life, and we will call upon your name!

19 Restore us, O Lord God of hosts!
Let your face shine, that we may be saved!

How can all the countries in battle declare God is far them?

The policy is still the same.

Acts 2:39 T
The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call.

And what do we celebrate today?

John 15:13
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

And how is Heaven formed in HIS Eternal Kingdom?

Revelation 2:25-27
Only hold fast what you have until I come. 26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, 27 and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.

Revelation 22:2
through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Leading, of course, to our Memorial Day and a prayer:

2 Chronicles 7:14
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Praying together: I'm in my fifth decade of life and I actually only know one young man who volunteered to defend our nation at the cost of his life. I'm remembering that promising young man today.

Philippians 1
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,

To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:

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

3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

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Psalm 9 ~ Sing praises to the Lord, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds!

2013-05-25T23:53:00.000-07:00

Psalm 9

A Psalm of David.

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
2 I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

3 When my enemies turn back,
they stumble and perish before your presence.
4 For you have maintained my just cause;
you have sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment.

5 You have rebuked the nations; you have made the wicked perish;
you have blotted out their name forever and ever.
6 The enemy came to an end in everlasting ruins;
their cities you rooted out;
the very memory of them has perished.

7 But the Lord sits enthroned forever;
he has established his throne for justice,
8 and he judges the world with righteousness;
he judges the peoples with uprightness.

9 The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
10 And those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.

11 Sing praises to the Lord, who sits enthroned in Zion!
Tell among the peoples his deeds!
12 For he who avenges blood is mindful of them;
he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.

13 Be gracious to me, O Lord!
See my affliction from those who hate me,
O you who lift me up from the gates of death,
14 that I may recount all your praises,
that in the gates of the daughter of Zion
I may rejoice in your salvation.

15 The nations have sunk in the pit that they made;
in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught.
16 The Lord has made himself known; he has executed judgment;
the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands. Higgaion. Selah

17 The wicked shall return to Sheol,
all the nations that forget God.

18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten,
and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever.

19 Arise, O Lord! Let not man prevail;
let the nations be judged before you!
20 Put them in fear, O Lord!
Let the nations know that they are but men! Selah

Psalm Nine reminds me the day of judgement comes for all of us. The Book of Revelation is not all about the end of the world - rather the beginning of the next stage to eternity. This last verse of Joel 3 reminds us a far different life awaits us - no stranger in a large city.

Joel 3:14-17
14 Multitudes, multitudes,
in the valley of decision!
For the day of the Lord is near
in the valley of decision.
15 The sun and the moon are darkened,
and the stars withdraw their shining.

16 The Lord roars from Zion,
and utters his voice from Jerusalem,
and the heavens and the earth quake.
But the Lord is a refuge to his people,
a stronghold to the people of Israel.

17 “So you shall know that I am the Lord your God,
who dwells in Zion, my holy mountain.
And Jerusalem shall be holy,
and strangers shall never again pass through it.

Matthew Henry's quote about the Psalms is "This is a Warm Place in which to Dwell." The Psalms are written about life. As are all the Scriptures, but David so richly lived all aspects of life. The Psalms will comfort you, when comfort is scarce. Will give you words of praise when the glories of His blessings, life and world give you joy and gratitude. Freely acknowledge no one is universally loved. We tend to live in cellophane wrappers, and hope evil stays well away, the Scriptures remind us to name evil. To avoid the pit denial can be.

You really should find your Daily Psalm. The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand and the Psalms find us recognizing the beginning of this - today. Read the Psalms!!! They were written for you!!!! How can you tell - your heart will grow warm with the recognition. This is written in Jesus meeting the disciples upon the road and In Joshua 2 Rahab knew the men who were spies were sent from the Lord.

Matthew 12:14-21
14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

15 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all 16 and ordered them not to make him known. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah [42:1-3]:

18 “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
19 He will not quarrel or cry aloud,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
20 a bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory;
21 and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

I'd been a Christian for more than two decades when it was pointed out to me how many times the Scriptures said, "He healed them all." I remembered a lot of healings, the ones written about in more than a few sentences. Yet that small phrase "healed them all." Sometimes Scripture says they sought to touch Him & not just Jesus reaching out. Sometimes He physically touched them, and it also says merely, "He healed them all."

Psalm Nine blends into this well with He wipes away every tear.

Surely in the day of Jesus walking our lives on this earth, a lot of people were ill. When you think about the age: slavery, war, destruction, highway robbery, people born blind & the parable of the Good Samaritan - this was a difficult time. Not just the people who were deaf, blind, ill, but the sorrow of the people who had seen difficult things happen to loved ones. Children who died, loved ones who died in child birth, people who were well and suddenly died of fever. There are a lot of stipulations in the Bible for the fatherless and the widow.

What does it mean, "He healed them all?" The Word of God, proclaimed in love. The hopeless, the fearful, the lonely & the cut to the quick. The ones who had heard the Word of God in their youth - life had stamped on their seed of hope. The fruit of circumstance and the weed of bitterness, the joy found in life, had robbed them of their greatest need - the need of God.

These people who found Jesus had put aside the every day of life, they sought Him. Jesus didn't stay to quarrel, debate the Pharisees, shock, anger, and create a stir - Jesus wasn't a sidewalk hack or a temperamental star.

No, Jesus repaired the bruised reed. Jesus rekindled the flickering flame, the light became a torch. Jesus gave hope & mercy to the word - justice. Jesus didn't select a few, the light of Jesus Christ is for all. Not just to the eyes blessed to see Him, but those who look to Him in faith, after He died, and today.

“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
19 He will not quarrel or cry aloud,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
20 a bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory;
21 and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

Matthew 18:21-19:2 ~ forgive your brother from your heart

Matthew 18:21-19:2
Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.[a monetary unit worth 20 years' salary] 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.

28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii,[a day wage] and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.

31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers,[torturers] until he should pay all his debt.

35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

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

And He healed them there

The true feeling of forgiveness is exactly the same as the one we all experienced as a child, when we would swim underwater and come up gasping for air.

Even thinking of forgiveness has aspects of renewal. Jesus said we will be with Him in Paradise. He renews and heals us, sometimes in this life, but His promises are for us.

Thank You, Father God.

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Today has three passages, this appears to be Trinity Sunday.

Clark said people think Christians are crazy to believe in the Trinity. Three people in one. I, personally, have no problem with the concept of the Trinity. God created the Universe with His Word and if HE feels like being three aspects, or people, then I don't see the problem.

I once heard the Trinity explained as this: God the Father sent out His Holy Spirit to move people along in His Plan. And sent His Word incarnate, as His Son, accomplishing His promises for us. That to me is an analogy Jesus used explaining His Father as King. A King is needed to sit upon His mercy seat, throne. However a King needs to be among the people to ascertain the condition of His people. He sends out someone He implicitly trusts. Later, when His Heir arrives, the King sends His Son.

Mark 12:6
He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’

God comforts us by telling us how closely the Trinity is part of HIM.

Matthew 3:17
and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased."

With all aspects of Father God showing up for the Transfiguration.

Mark 12
“Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

This is the tandem in which the Holy Trinity of God works.

Matthew 19:17
"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good."

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Psalm 34 ~ those who seek the Lord lack no good thing

2013-05-24T12:43:00.002-07:00

Psalm 34

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

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

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

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

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

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

Language alert-

The gratitude of the woman who recovered her dog and gave thanks to her Father. Father God, let her humility, in having two prayers answered, follow my heart - all the days of my life. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

Oklahoma Woman Who Found Dog in Tornado Rubble Could Get New Home
Internet Rallies Funds for Barbara Garcia, Bazzie After Heartwarming Reunion Caught on Tape
By Nicola Menzie , Christian Post Reporter

Oklahoma tornado survivor Barbara Garcia touched the hearts of many when her on-camera interview with a news network was interrupted by the discovery of her mini schnauzer, whom she thought had been lost in the tornado that had leveled her home and those of her neighbors. Now, Internet users are rallying together to try to pay for a new home for Garcia and her dog.

"Well I thought God just answered one prayer to let me be okay. He answered both of them, because this was my second prayer," Garcia told CBS News correspondent.

Garcia had been explaining how she and the dog, Bazzie, had taken refuge in the bathroom when the powerful tornado smashed through their neighborhood in Moore, Okla., on Monday. While she got knocked around but remained conscious, Garcia found that she was alone once she emerged from the pile of sticks that minutes before had been her home — her mini schnauzer was nowhere to be found. Or so Garcia thought.

The video on the CBS News website of Garcia and Bazzie's unexpected reunion has been shared nearly 500,000 times on Facebook and a link to the video tweeted by more than 20,000 people, many of whom describe Garcia's story as "heartwarming," "touching" and one that brought them to tears.

One Minneapolis woman, Erin DeRuggiero, was so moved that she has launched a crowdfunding campaign to help Garcia get a new home.

"I do not know Barbara Garcia personally, but was incredibly moved by her story and of her reunion with her dog, captured on live TV after the Moore, Oklahoma tornado on May 20th. I was so deeply moved, that I had to DO something for her, immediately, so that we can impact her life directly as quickly as possible," DeRuggiero explains on the "Build Barbara Garcia a House" campaign page at GoFundMe.com.

"My goal is to show her that 'life in the big city' also means helping strangers, and reaching out to make a difference in their time of need. ... I live far away from Moore, Oklahoma, but want the residents there to know that we will stand by them, and lend support in any way possible. If I can inspire you to donate $1, $5, $10 to help Barbara build a new house (complete with a dog house for her canine companion) please share with friends and together maybe we can help her heal."

The goal of the crowdfunding campaign is to raise $25,000, and a little over $1,400 had been raised on Thursday. DeRuggiero managed to locate Garcia after being contacted by another Moore, Okla., resident who shared that Garcia is 74 years old and has a son. In addition, DeRuggiero was contacted Thursday by CBS News apparently for a follow-up piece on Garcia and the crowdfunding campaign that has been launched on her behalf.

Let's not forget the many, many people who were interviewed and told of answered prayer.

And the story of other storms to remember:

In Wadena, Minnesota in July of last year where they had multiple tornadoes in 2010. (Tornadoes in Minnesota in July?) Some were F-4. After the tornadoes went by, the Churches were packed and overflowing. Why? Incredible devastation, but so many destroyed places had one thing still standing - the cross. Where a cross had been placed, the tornado left the place where the cross stood. So many places were utterly ruined, but no lives were lost.

I spoke with a man from the shores of Louisiana after he had lost every material possession in Hurricane Katrina. Two members of his family had weakened hearts. One was his sister-in-law in her forties. His family lost two family members just days after Katrina and they died here in The Woodlands, Texas. They were unable to return the bodies to their hometown for burial. The water destroyed more than the 20 foot crest over their house. And the man told me how much he would miss his family in tears and sorrow. He said this about his tragedy, "I've had the love in my life. Love from people, but this comes from Him. And because of the love I have I can know next year will be better. Faith, Hope and Love. Faith that next year will be better. Hope because I've overcome before and Love will carry me to the Faith. Each day."

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