Growing in Christ...

Hello, again!  I am so blessed to have you take the time to read my musings.  Thank you for being my friend.  It is a privilege.

We are already on day 27 of our reading the bible through in a year.  I can honestly say it is easier to keep up with the reading than writing on what I've read!  Can I get a witness? :-)  

I've learned about the Israelites seeing God's miracles and then questioning God after seeing Him deliver them... After all the things that God miraculously did to take care of the Israelites and then the "back to Egypt" committee loudly proclaims that they should never have left Egypt to die in the wilderness!  They sang songs of deliverance with the same mouth that complained about God and His choice of leadership...  they were called a stiff-necked people... I question myself... how can I avoid the "back to Egypt" committee mentality?  Am I a stiff-necked person?  The answers to those questions are simple... DO I TRUST? 

We saw God giving His ten commandments to the people first and they did not want to hear it from God... they wanted God to speak to Moses.  Then he could repeat what God says... They apparently did not want the relationship that God offered.  So I ask myself... How is your relationship going with Jesus? Is He my "go to" first?  As a young Christian I used to go around asking others to pray for me about this or that without ever going to The Father myself.  As a maturing Christian I know it is my privilege to go My Father first, before asking others to pray for me.  It sounds like a small step... but it is a HUGE step!  The relationship between Father and Child is a binding one! 

In today's reading I noticed something I never noticed before... Chapter 20 verse 24 of Exodus... (NLT) "...Build altars in the places where I remind you who I AM, and I will come and bless you there."  I think we can do this today... when I read something that reminds me of who God is in my life I can stop right there and give Him a sacrifice of praise on the altar of my heart.  He blesses me right then and there!  I hope God is stirring your heart toward building that altar daily! ♥

In the reading in Acts 2 from yesterday, I have to share with you that I've seen this type of "speaking in tongues".  Once in Fort Worth, David was leading a bible study class.  A couple joined us one Sunday.  The husband was American.  The wife was from Rio de Janeiro and could not speak or even understand but a little of the English language.  David taught and after class the husband came up to us as we were leaving for worship... he said that they had visited many classes, but she could not understand what any of the teachers were saying,... but she understood David... in her own language!  God is still doing miracles and all we have to do is listen and watch with a heart tuned to God!

I love the church coming together as it did in chapter 2.  The new believers were convicted of sin, turned from their sins, turned to God, they were baptized in the name of Jesus for forgiveness of sin, and then they joined with the other believers, devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, they joined in fellowship, and shared in the Lord's Supper, and prayed! 

For a long time I have felt a sadness.  The only new believers I would see (outside of mission trips) were children of believers.  Things have been different in the last year.  Many have come to know Jesus as their Savior.  They are hungry for the Word of the Lord, for understanding, for that relationship with God and with man.  They are telling others of the change in their lives.  The mature believers are sharing the foundations of the faith while the newcomers are sharing their excitement about what they are learning.  As I've said before... things are changing!  It is exciting to be a member in a church that is not self-absorbed, but is actually reaching the community!  At this point I want to share a picture... This picture is a picture of a painter that shared with us last Christmas Eve of his new love of Jesus and how Jesus picked him up and loved on his heart... I think you will enjoy seeing what he painted...

 Here is the picture of his baptism...

Yes, it brings tears of joy when you see God at work in your midst!

And I will end today's talk with a quote from today's reading, as a child of the King... "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you; In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene - ..."  AMEN

Blessings, friends!

Changes...

I love Jesus.  There.  That is the core of my heart. Things are changing for me in subtle ways.  Change is hard, but I love the growth that comes from it.  It makes me stretch in ways I may never have stretched before.  It may not feel "right" at first, but once on the road of change you cannot go back to the way things were.  You must move forward! 

Our church is changing.  I miss the people that used to be here.  I don't know many of the new faces.  But I see new believers everywhere!  It is exciting! I want to see the smiles of new believers and the questions they have and the overflowing joy at knowing their new found Savior.  I love this with every fiber of my being!  Asking questions like... I thought the "ark" was a boat? when we discuss the Ark of the Covenant.  LOVE IT!!!!!  Mixing new believers with the more mature Christians brings a sweetness to the church.  Solid foundations from the mature Christians help the new believers grow and new believers give excitement back in to the matured Christian.  Awesome!

We are changing schedules too and some don't like it.  But I believe that God put our leaders in place and the bible says we are to follow their lead unless they try to depart from the bible.  Period.  So... a change of schedule is where we are headed.  February 13th.  I am excited! There will be some time between services to visit.  Fellowship if you want to use "Christianese".  I will feel more comfortable myself if I can meet new people without being in a rush to get to "wherever" between services.  Name tags and visiting will solidify our church family.  It is the perfect solution.  I am behind our leaders 100 percent.  

My life is changing also.  I will be a "working outside the home" wife and mother again next week.  God dropped the position into my lap.  I wasn't even looking.  I LOVE what the job will entail... secretarial work and ministry work.  Of course, I am anxious... will I be good enough?  I haven't worked in a long time!  What will I wear?  :-)  Who will pick my son up from school? Will I have the energy to do all that I need to do?  What will my house look like without me being here to keep it tidy?  Ahhhh.... I hear the Lord saying all kinds of things to calm my spirit...

• "Cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you"....  
• "Do not be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, and beautiful clothes.  You should clothe yourself instead with the beauty that comes from the inside.  The unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God." 
• "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." 
• "... whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things"...   

It is funny... God tells me things that make me cry or makes me smile or something... There is always a response when you hear from God!  I cried reading about the Passover and the Last Supper in our reading the bible through in one year.  I cried when the folks on the road to Emmaus finally recognized the risen Christ.  Sweet!  And NO, I don't hear an audible voice from God... But I hear Him speak to me just the same.  Last Sunday in church the pastor had us bow our heads and take a moment to listen to what God would say to us.  We asked Him what He wants to say to us and listened (it only lasted for probably just a minute and we continued).  Now I've heard from God many a time, so I was waiting... What did God want to say to me?  In the quiet of the sanctuary... I got... nothing.  The time passed without a word from God.  HOWEVER just after that short time of quiet listening one of the praise team members passed by me and dropped my car keys onto my purse I did not even know they were missing... And I heard loud and clear... "I take care of you even when you don't know you need taking care of!"  I about laughed out loud during the last part of the service.  Jesus is so sweet.  He brings tears to my eyes.  I hope you know Him, my friend!  He is the love of my life.

Now, one more thing I need to tell you.  I probably won't be writing to you daily as I was before.  I tend to take a long time really studying the passages that we are reading and finding something I never noticed before, and then sharing it with you... however, I will not be doing the blog on all I find out.  my blog will not be quite as in depth as it has been.  You are probably saying, thank you, Jesus!  :-)  As I am new at blogging eventually I will find my way as to what works and what doesn't work with my time.  I do know I will be talking to you about Jesus.  I do know I will try to be encouraging for your day.  I do know this is a privilege and I don't want to abuse the privilege.

May God make Himself known to you and draw you closer daily!  Blessings 2 U!

Onward with Luke!

Hi, friends!  Before I start the bible reading for day 21, here is my update on the blog... The last post I posted on 1/19 was considered "offensive" by facebook.  It would not take the post.  I replied to fb with why I thought they were wrong.  They did post my blog the next day.  I think it was probably a "friend" who did not particularly want to see my updates and went to "hide" my posts and wound up accidentally marking it as "spam", so I don't believe I have a Debbi or a Christ hater person on my hands... I believe we have a Christ-hater evil being that is not human, but we do not see his face, only his deeds... but he's there stalking all the time!  Wow!  Over something as simple as my bible musing daily!  I feel complimented!  :-)

So... on we go!  When last we left off we were in the middle of Luke 19... The Triumphal Entry... Jesus continued on His way from Jericho toward Jerusalem.  On the Mount of Olives Jesus sent two of His disciples to a small village just ahead of Him to find a colt (donkey) that had never been ridden for Him to ride.  He knew God would provide it, all He had to do was ask something in God's will... and there was no question to that!" This would fulfill the prophecy from Zechariah 9:9.  "Don't be afraid, people of Israel.  Look, your King is coming sitting on a donkey's colt." So, as the NLT says, "sure enough" they found the colt.  Do you think they were from southern Galilee?  :-)  As they descended from the Mount of Olives His followers started to shout and sing and praise God for all the miracles they had seen... Hmmm... that wording is a bit telling... for all the wonders they had seen?  I know there probably aren't many "Southern Gospel Music" followers out there, but there is a song that I love and it says "He'd have still been God even if..."  Take a listen...   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a8DeyFQJMU
Nice!  :-)  Anyway, this was the event which we remember as we celebrate "Palm Sunday". I got into a nice little rabbit trail trying to find ONE gospel writer to say "palm branches were laid on the ground in front of Him" though.  One says palm branches waving at Him, one says branches from nearby trees, etc... Doesn't change the facts.  Just an interesting tidbit.  The followers threw down their coats and branches (Matthew 21:8) in praise for what they hoped would be their King.  Funny what a few hours changes.  People are sure fickle!  And then came the Pharisees.  But even they could not change the joyful spirit!  "If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!" Luke 19:40 (NLT)  Makes you want to shout "hallelujah" don't it?  :-)
I was in a Beth Moore study and we studied this next passage.  I don't remember which one, so I'll try to sum it up, finding the exact word for "cry" for you. The Greek word used is "eklausen" the Greek dictionary describes it this way... a) weeping as the sign of pain and grief for the thing signified b) to weep for, mourn for, bewail.  As I understand it this type of crying was loud and it showed grief... such as tearing of one's clothing, wailing, throwing oneself down, etc... Jesus doesn't just drop a tear or two over Jerusalem.  He is hurting for those who reject Him and what they will suffer.  He is so tender.
And yet He is fierce.  Let's read the next verses!  You know the story... the money changers came in to the temple.  They were selling lesser animals at marked up prices filling the need for Passover and lining their pockets thickly.  Jesus again fulfills scripture...Psalm 69:9  "Passion for God's house burns within me..."  At that time the leaders began planning how to kill Jesus, but they were afraid of the followers because His followers hung on to every word Jesus said.  I wanna be like that... hanging on to every word!

Chapter 20
Continually Jesus was challenged and it really stumped the leaders as to how they could trip Jesus up. What a parable Jesus shared about the evil farmers.  A Vineyard Owner (God) sent his servants (Prophets) to collect his share of the crop, but the evil farmers kept killing them. So the vineyard owner sent His Cherished Son (Jesus). They murdered Him too. What will the owner of the vineyard do then? So the people protested... (No, God forbid that such a thing should ever happen!)... I recall a story from Mark Lowry about how when he was a child at the movies to see the movie "Jesus" they got to the part about Jesus being crucified and he started yelling "NO!  DON'T HURT HIM!!!!", but his brother hushed him up... "Mark, he said, they HAVE TO or we won't be able to get into heaven!" ... The stone rejected by the builder has now become the cornerstone!  Hallelujah!  Guess what?  The leaders "got" what Jesus said!  That parable was directed at the leaders "farmers" themselves and they wanted to take Jesus right then, but they feared a riot, so they waited. Again they tried to trick Jesus into getting Himself in trouble with Caesar, but it backfired again.  And don't let the discussion about resurrection trip you up... it was another shot in the dark to try and trap Jesus.  I liked the way the New Living Translation translates Jesus' answer.  It broke it down more clearly to me.  We will not be married in heaven and we will never die again.  In that way we are like angels. Then Jesus asks them a question about how the Messiah could be the Son of David when David himself said that God was his Lord?  Then Jesus went on to warn  everyone about the teachers of the law and how they liked the attention that they got, but  they shamelessly cheat and cover up their sinfulness and that their punishment will be the greatest.  Wow!  Not a way to win friends and influence enemies! 

Chapter 21
Next we see the wealthy walking up to the offering box and giving their gifts, (probably with quite the big dramatic ta-da!), and a lowly widow offering all that she had in embarrassment.   In context this was probably very sad for Jesus.  He had just finished talking about how people should beware of the teachers of the law and that they would rob the poor widows.  Makes you wonder if Jesus was not just remarking on the love of the widow but of the theft of the teachers of the law.  Just a thought! When the disciples started talking about all the fine stonework of the temple, Jesus tells them that the time is coming when not one stone will be left on top of another.  Still sounds to me like Jesus was disgusted with the teachers of the law enough to demolish what they thought was holy and replace it with His version of a holy temple!  Let’s read on…

Of  course the disciples wanted to know when.  Wouldn’t you?  Don’t you?  By the way… this could be a full year long bible study in these few verses!  We are going through this W-A-Y to fast!  Let’s get started!  

·        Don’t let anyone mislead you (referring to anti-Christ and they are in every generation!  Satan doesn’t know any more than we do about “when” so he has to have someone prepared at all times!  Hitler, Mussolini, etc…)

·        Wars, earthquakes, famines, epidemics, terrifying things, miraculous signs in the heavens, and GREAT PERSECUTION.  You will be arrested, accused, etc…

·        Give your accusers the “Gospel”… For GOD so loved the world that He gave His ONLY begotten SON that whosoever believeth in Him should not PERISH but have EVERLASTING LIFE!   Don’t worry about what you will say; God will give you the right words!

·        Family will betray you.  Some will be killed. Everyone will hate you because of your allegiance to God.

·        By standing firm you will win your souls!

·        Jerusalem will be surrounded by armies.  Then you will know the time has arrived. 

 Let me stop for a moment.  Whew!  We are leading up to talking about the Second Coming again.  People distressed, Jerusalem conquered and trampled down by the Gentiles, strange events in the sky, and signs in then sun, moon, and stars.  Nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the seas and strange tides.  The very stability of the heavens breaks up.  Sounds like scary stuff?  Look up, then, for your salvation is near! 

 … Note that all who are Gentiles means the non-Jewish with (let me add) the non-believers (because the bible says that believers are grafted into the Jewish family).     
…Note the words… UNTIL THE AGE OF THE GENTILES COMES TO AN END. Do you know when that is?  It is the Second Coming.  No more chances.  Done.  Finished.  No mas!
In verse 31 we see Jesus mention that if you see the events He has described you can be sure that the Kingdom of God is near.  Then he says that THIS generation will not pass from the scene until all these events have taken place.  I always took it that He was talking about the generation He was speaking to… which of course has passed.  Only now do I see that He is talking about the generation who sees the events described.  Funny how things pop out at you that you never noticed before.  He goes on to say that Heaven and earth will disappear, but His words will remain forever.  Amen!
So now to verses 34 through verse 36.  It ends with “and pray that, if possible, you may escape these horrors and stand before the Son of Man.”  Rapture perhaps?

And every day Jesus went to the Temple to teach, and each evening He returned to the Mount of Olives.  The crowds gathered each morning to hear Him.  What is my practice?  Do I have a pattern of being with Jesus each day?  Could someone count on me like clockwork to be with the Lord each day?  Something to think about!

Well, Luke is caught up.  I’ve left Jacob and Joseph… for another sitting.  Just a note to my friends… I did get the job I applied for!  I will be a church secretary at a nearby church.  I am excited, but I know I won’t be able to spend as much time with my rabbit trails in the Word.  I will still be reading daily as I hope you will be too.  I will try to write something on my day off… Fridays.  May you be blessed! d

Saying Goodbyes Slows Me Down...

Day 19 of the bible reading plan...

I read this morning and am just now getting to the computer.  I know what is coming in Genesis and I want to slow down.... savor it because I'm going to have to say goodbye to some much loved friends.  Interesting how in reading about the lives of people you are drawn to them and don't want to say goodbye. 

We start today out by seeing our much loved Jacob blessing the Pharaoh.  Twice.  :-)  That makes me smile.  Pharaoh trusted Joseph so completely that he entrusted his own livestock to the family.  I love the Pharaoh's blunt question to Jacob... "HOW OLD ARE YOU?"  Heehee!  He must have looked his 130 hard years! 

Joseph was a wise and shrewd businessman.  He basically "taxed" the people so that there would be enough grain in the storehouses to survive the famine.  The people lost everything but their lives, but had it not been for Joseph they would have lost that too.  Joseph's leadership not only saved the people and prospered the kingdom, but the people did not receive "unemployment" so to speak... they worked for their living, just as before the famine.  Interesting how God maneuvered things so that His beloved creation (man) would survive. 

At this point we are close to losing Jacob.  Jacob basically "adopts" Joseph's two sons.  They will inherit, just as the other brothers. So there should be 14 brothers to inherit now, right?  Not exactly.  Joseph got the birthright... two portions, which went to his two sons instead of him.  So minus Joseph, well that leaves 13 right? Not exactly. Levi did not inherit property as his descendants wound up being the priests and they did not own land.  That leaves us the 12 sons who inherited. 

Back to Jacob blessing Joseph's boys... The younger one had the better blessing.  I wonder if Jacob was looking back on how he got the blessing from Isaac as he was the younger of he and his brother?  Or I wonder if because of the boys names (the meanings of the boys names, that is) he chose the one who was called "God has made me fruitful in the land of my sufferings" over the one called "God has made me forget all my troubles and the family of my father".  Just a thought.  The point is, Jacob made that decision and knew what he was doing, despite confusing Joseph! 

Note... I dread tomorrow's reading. We are gonna have to say goodbye to two incredible men!

In reading Luke today I got so sidetracked that I never read the end of the chapter.  I thought I was finished and came back to the passage and realized that I was only half through reading! 

We were on the road to Jericho when we last left Jesus.  He was on his way to Jerusalem for the passover and for all things to be made new.  Jericho... when was it rebuilt?  A rabbit trail I will follow some other time!  Anyway, who doesn't know the story of Zacchaeus?  Who didn't sing the children's song in church... "Zacchaeus was a wee little man and wee little man was he..."?  Love it!  In going over the story I noticed that Zach was a Jew.  Yet he was in the Roman tax collecting business.  Not just a tax collector, but a CHIEF tax collector.  No wonder he was influential, rich, and unloved by the crowds!  But I did have questions...

• How did Jesus know Zacchaeus' name? We will have to ask Zach about this in heaven, but one possible reason Jesus knew his name was that Zach was a short, possibly rotund, well dressed fellow whose short little legs ran past many gawking people and climbed a tree.  People were probably laughing at him, by name, and saying bad things about this chief tax collector who cheated his own people of taxes for the Roman government. 
• How did Zach know who Jesus was?  He could have heard the reputation of the man who brought good news wherever he went, who had a disciple that was a tax collector, a man who associated and ate with the sinners.  Whatever the reason, no one comes to the Father unless drawn by the Spirit of God.
• Why did Zach's heart immediately change?  Simple. He met Jesus.  On the side he probably heard the criticism that he was bringing on Jesus. But seeing Jesus he had the immediate need to repent and turn from his ways.  Wasn't that a part of your testimony?  It was a part of mine, even though I wasn't old enough to build up too much of a testimony!  :-)  When you see Jesus, you also see yourself more clearly.
• Jesus came to Jericho... just passing through... doing what He was sent to do... save that which is lost.  A gift to Jesus by His Father... Jesus came to Jericho for the purpose of seeking Zacchaeus. You see, Zacchaeus was one of those whom the Father had given as a gift to Jesus Christ to save. As per John 17:2, 6 "For you granted him authority over all people, that he might give eternal life to all those you have given Him. . ." and "I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me, and they have obeyed your word."

The story of the ten servants was where I got sidetracked... I got stuck on "The Kingdom of God" part.  Apparently as He neared Jerusalem, his followers expected "The Kingdom of God".  A King who would dethrone the rulers of their day and start a new Kingdom... He wanted to correct their impression of what was to follow...
In this parable Jesus would represent the nobleman who would be crowned King. The servants are those who belong to Him.  The money was the gifts He left them to add to His "numbers".  Those who added to their number were righteous and trusted with more gifts.  Those who were unfaithful and did nothing with the gifts He had left them had all their gifts taken away from them.  And the enemies of the King were executed.

That is where I got sidetracked and did not even read the Triumphal entry or the weeping over Jerusalem, or the clearing of the Temple!  I think I'll continue those passages tomorrow.  They are too important to leave out!  And we will be dealing with Jesus' crucifixion soon.  I'm hanging on to every word from the Word.  See you tomorrow. d

Catching up on Luke!

Catching up on the blog...

Luke 16: "The Shrewd Manager"  Okay,,, who read this and was totally confused?  My hand is up!  Was Jesus commending the stealing, cheating manager?  Hmmm... I had to dig into this more!

I found this information, which helped me to understand...

"The point Jesus is trying to make is this... We live in a material world surrounded by material resources. While these things are temporal and have limited value, they can be used in a way that produces eternal value. We should first recognize that God is the owner of all, and we are therefore His stewards. He has entrusted His resources to us, not only to provide for our needs and for those of our dependents, but also to allow us the opportunity to invest in eternal things. We should be carefully looking for ways in which we can use temporal, material things to invest in eternity. (This is done by considering ways in which we can impact people--eternal souls--for Christ.)  It wasn't the deceit that He was commending, but rather the wisdom and resourcefulness. (In other words, if even worldly, deceitful sinners have enough wisdom to be so resourceful, certainly you, my disciples, can learn a lesson and be resourceful and wise, as well.)  Imagine the shame of a Christian who wastes the immense potential that wealth and material things contain--the potential to impact others for good, the potential to effect people in a positive way. If even non-believers understand this principal, how much more should we!"
Okay... I feel better... do you?  :-)

The Rich Man and Lazarus... As another parable I do not believe this is a real person, nor a real situation, but a parable to make a point... and the point is...?
Well, there is the lesson that where your heart is there you will be in the end.  And, of course, God is justice. My favorite line in this parable is from Abraham... "If they won't listen to Moses and the prophets they won't listen EVEN IF SOMEONE RISES FROM THE DEAD."  I put the all caps and wonder why my bible doesn't have at least an exclamation point at the end of that sentence!  Can anyone say, "Jesus!" 

Chapter 17:
This chapter starts with one of the most healing set of verses for me in the entire bible... as a little one terribly hurt by my stepfather and not ready to forgive (many years ago) I read... it is better for a millstone to be wrapped around his neck and thrown into the sea than to face the punishment in store for harming one of these little ones..(me?).  And then God says I am to forgive.  Hard fact.  Not forgiving to let someone off of their responsibility.  Never to say, I forgive you... it was nothing.  No, it says to rebuke him, but forgive him.  Say... you have hurt me beyond measure, but God is good.  He tells me to forgive and I will be forgiven.  It is His to judge.  He loves me and has taught me not to hold on to unforgiveness.  It is not good for me or for those around me.  He wants my best and He says to forgive so with my mouth I forgive you, my heart will follow.  And it did.  Amen!

Faith of a mustard seed... So many people misuse this set of verses!  It doesn't say go around and demand God to do things to test Him or to make yourself look better!  It doesn't say that if what you ask for does not come to be then you have no faith!  What it does say is that you may ask the impossible in His name and know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is in His power to do as you requested.  And don't look for praise when you ask and it comes to be (like the television head boppers!).  It is not about YOU it is about the power of the Lord! Keep the faith folks!  I HAVE SEEN MIRACLES HAPPEN IN THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT TOOK TO PRAY A PRAYER! Trust me, God hasn't pulled out of the miracle business!  Thank you, Lord!

Next the ten lepers... it is sad to see that 1/10th of them was healed both on the outside and the inside.  9/10th of them missed the bigger miracle...a saving faith in Jesus!

The Coming of the Kingdom... I believe that when Jesus was saying "the kingdom of God is among you" He was saying that as long as believers are here we are experiencing the kingdom of God.  You can't see it with your human eyes, it is the Spirit of God in each of His own children.  But the time is coming that the Spirit of God will be removed from the earth (we will talk further in this paragraph about that).  First the Son of Man (Jesus) will suffer and be rejected.  After that Jesus won't be physically with us in body form, but His Spirit will be here and there will be false prophets... (Satan is always ready with a false prophet!  He  doesn't know when the time will be either!)  Be very careful.  Jesus said that when He comes again everyone will know it, it won't be talked about and passed on... EVERYONE will know it beyond any doubt! (Still talking about the Second Coming).  Then I believe He changes gears and describes the "rapture"... as in Noah's day, and as in Lot's day, be prepared for the gathering to Himself.  ("That night two people will be asleep in one bed; one will be taken away, and the other will be left.  Two women will be grinding flour together at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.")  I am not dogmatic about this, but I believe with all my heart that He has shown us mercy in the past (Noah and Lot are examples). I believe He will allow destruction only after His own are removed.  Then shifting back into Second Coming mode the Pharisees ask... "When will this (The Second Coming of Jesus) happen?" Jesus' answer... When you see the signs (the rapture) the end is near and no one will miss seeing Jesus at the Second Coming.  Again, I am not dogmatic, but this is what I believe the passage to be saying.  Hope that makes sense to you. 

And Luke 18
 I find...

• Persistence pays off!  Don't give up praying! 
• When He returns how many will he find faithful?
• The Pharisee and the tax collector parable makes me think of the song by Amy Grant... "Better Than A Hallelujah!" (The honest cries of a breaking heart are better than a hallelujah) Getting right with God means having a humble spirit, coming to Him sorrowful for our sins and with reverence to Him in our heart. 
• Children coming to Jesus always gets to me!  I came to Him as a child.  I was being discouraged by the adults in my life not to go to church.  Jesus sent a bus ministry to me.  The ministering hearts of a loving church brought me to Jesus as a child, that is where my faith blossomed!  I will forever be thankful!

• The rich man breaks my heart!  He put money over a relationship with Jesus.  Jesus knew the need in this man's heart and went straight to the problem.  If Jesus looked at someone else He may not have said get rid of the money... remember He knows the heart... He might have said "Get rid of the food", "Get rid of the alcohol", "Get rid of the ..."  you name it!  Whatever stops full devotion to God is the problem!  But verse 25 clarifies... "What is impossible from a human perspective is possible with God"... I hope this means that the rich young man figured it out! :-)
• Jesus predicts His death... and they did not get it!  They must not have remembered it even after the crucifixion!  Hard to grasp, I know.  Seems that would be something to really be watchful for!  In this case I say... if we are no better than His disciples we will not be prepared for the rapture!  He told us about it.  I hope I have the sense to pay heed!
• And lastly Jesus heard the blind beggar and saw his faith.  He can hear me and He sees my faith too.  That is comforting!

Sorry for the length of the post!  Have a great day!  And many blessings 2 you! d

People CAN Change...

Hi!  Hope you all had a great Sunday and a great MLK Day!  We picked up my son and his new wife at the airport last evening.  They are home safely after a great honeymoon.  God is good!

I did not post on Sunday's reading, nor on yesterday's.  I'm catching up on the writing today.  Hope you are keeping up.  It is a lot, but it is such a blessing.  I finally found a map that had all the locations on it so I could trace Jacob's travels and now Joseph's.  By the way, my heart goes out to Joseph.  When I get to heaven I'll be looking him up!  :-) 

Things I found interesting about Joseph's ordeal...

• Potiphar... An officer of Pharaoh: The ancient Hebrew word officer may be translated “eunuch.” It was a common practice in ancient times to make those highest in the royal courts eunuchs, to ensure they would be wholly devoted to their king. Because this practice was common, the term came to be used for all who served in important positions in a king’s court, whether they were eunuchs or not. So we really don’t know if Potiphar was a eunuch.  Kind of makes the thought of the wife being attracted to Joseph a little more understandable... but only a little!  :-)
• Potiphar had the chance to put Joseph to death for the crime of trying to rape his wife.  He chose prison for Joseph.  The prison was located in his basement as he was Captain of the Palace Guard. Note... it said that after hearing his wife's story Potiphar was furious... with whom I wonder?
• The "jailer" put Joseph in charge of the other prisoners.  Whether it be Potiphar himself, or one of his underlings that got permission from Potiphar, Joseph was once again promoted because God was with him and blessed all he did.
• God opened Joseph's eyes with regards to dreams.  He rightly told what the cup bearer and the baker's dreams meant.  Joseph asked the cup bearer to remember him to Pharaoh.  He promptly forgot about Joseph when he was released.
• Two years later... God's timing!  Joseph was ready, the Pharaoh was ready, the land was ready,... God sees the big picture!
• I noticed when the cup bearer finally remember Joseph he referred to Joseph as "he was a servant of the captain of the guard".  Captain of the Guard was Potiphar.  Still makes me wonder whether Joseph was really "imprisoned" or whether his job position just changed to below the home of Potiphar.
• Note that Judah was back with his dad and brothers when the famine hit... He was one of the 10 brothers that went to Egypt to buy grain.
• Another thing I noticed... maturity on Joseph's part... as a youth he bragged about his dreams and his brothers bowing down to him. He just could not keep it to himself.  Now, his brothers came and bowed down before him and he did not even tell them who he was.  
• Interesting enough... when Joseph encountered his brothers and put them in  prison for three days his brothers discussion among themselves did not go like this .. "It is because we sinned at Shechem and killed so many, we are looked on as spies here!"  No... it was "This has all happened because of what we did to Joseph long ago.  We saw his terror and anguish and heard his pleadings, but we wouldn't listen. That's why this trouble has come upon us."
• Jacob still suffered over the loss of Joseph.  He had lost Rachel too.  His words to the brothers showed us how he felt about Benjamin too.  He did not seem overly concerned with Simeon not coming home though.  Yes, Jacob had his favorites.  Jacob's entire family suffered for his favoritism.
• On a lighter note... Benjamin strikes me as a youngest child, much loved.  He is oblivious to the brother's guilt.  He takes things as they come.  Five times more food for him... no problem!  :-)
• Note the reaction of Jacob's sons over Benjamin's arrest. They tore their garments in despair and headed back to get their brother out of this mess and send him home to their father.  Judah led the pack of brothers.  He had personally sold one brother into slavery, this would not happen again!  Judah's heartbreaking offer of taking Benjamin's place led me to remember the "Lion of Judah" who died in my place.  Tears fill my eyes as I read that passage.
• I wasn't the only one who is trying to hold back the tears.  Joseph breaks down and tells the brothers who he is.  God has matured Joseph so much that he does not blame the brothers for his ordeal, but explains to them that God had a plan that was bigger than any of them!  
• Pharaoh was pleased with Joseph and knew that God had his hand on him and blessed all that he did.  When he heard the news of Joseph's family he invited them to come to Egypt, gave them land, clothing, silver, etc... when Egyptians as a whole despised shepherds. 
• So how would I feel if I had sold off my brother as a slave, told my father he was dead, watched my father suffer, been reunited with the brother I sold as a slave, and was told to go tell my father that that "dead" brother was alive and well and wanted to see him?  I can only imagine! 
• Jacob was stunned at the news.  It finally sank in so Jacob set off for Egypt, but the first stop was to offer sacrifices to the God who saved his son.  God spoke to him there and assured him that he was to go to Egypt.  All of Jacob's descendants went with him.  
• Next is the father/son  reunion.  That is private.  I'll let you savor that scene for yourselves.  Next is a list of all the relatives. And that is where we stopped in Genesis.  Wow!  I'm exhausted from emotions!

Blessings! d

Lost and Found

Day 15:

Lost... there were a lot of "lost" passages today.  Joseph lost his brother's love and then his home.  Jacob lost his favorite son.  Judah lost his peace and moved away from his family.  Judah lost his two older sons. Judah lost his wife and then lost his belongings to a "prostitute".  Judah lost his pride also. Then in the passage in Luke, Jesus speaks of a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son. 

Then we can look at what was "found"... Joseph was found in a position serving the captain of the palace guard... and as we will see in later passages there will be rejoicing over "finding" Joseph again for the entire family as they heal and find their new family relationships. Judah found a new family arose in the ashes of his son's and wife's death. The sheep, the coin, and the son were found and rejoiced over.  When something/someone is lost it is painful.  Our response at "finding" should be full of joy!

In Luke's story of the son that was lost in chapter 15 verses 11-32 the joy of the Father at finding His child that was lost to Him is understandable.  Of course it is a parable for the joy that our Lord has in bringing the sinner to salvation.  He always searches for His loved ones and rejoices when a sinner repents and turns to Him. 

Let us not forget the reaction of the older brother.  If you read my blog a few days ago I explained about inheritance.  Usually the older son got an extra portion of the inheritance.  With two boys the inheritance would have been divided three ways and the older boy would have been given two portions, the younger only one portion.  The Father divided his inheritance before the younger son left with his portion.  All that the Father had belonged to the older son at that point.  The younger son left with his inheritance and was lost to the family. 

Apparently the root of jealousy started growing in the older son's heart before the younger son came home.  "All these years I've worked hard for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends.  Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the finest calf we have." 

Even today in reading the passage my heart goes out to the older brother.  He worked so hard with no time for smiles and fun with the Father just to make the Father proud of him and then the younger brother come home.  Hmmm...

How many times do we see someone working for the Lord with no joy? Wanting acceptance from the Father by what they do.  Complaining that no one else is helping. Doing things they were never called to do.  Hoping for the day when the Father says "I am proud of you!  You are the hardest worker I've ever had... shame on the slackers!!!" 

The Father will say to them... "Look, dear son, you and I are very close, and everything I have is yours.  We had to celebrate this happy day.  For your brother was dead and has come back to life!! He was lost, but now he is found!"
Amen!

You know, I never know where this blog will take me when I start writing.  This was not where I was heading with "Lost and Found", but it was were God was going... I love that about God!  Don't you?

Blessings! d

Little Eyes Are Watching!

Day 14...

The more I dig into God's Word, the more I realize I don't know as much as I thought I did!  This morning's readings in Genesis took me hours of digging, looking at maps that never included all the locations mentioned, reading what others thought of the passages, etc... I am worn out!  :-)

I was stopped by some things that I just can't understand, but each made me ponder... what should I learn from this passage?

• Was Dinah innocent?  Did she go out alone in a foreign place unguarded?  In that day young virgin women stayed at home unless they were with family.
• Shechem was very wrong in what he did.  Dinah did not agree to his taking of her.  Yet Shechem, unlike David's son who raped his sister, truly adored Dinah, so he went to his father for help.
• His father did not apparently correct his son for his behaviour, but indeed wanted to make things right with Jacob and his family, willingly allowing themselves to be circumcised.  But Jacob's family knew just because you are circumcised on the outside you are not a follower of Yahweh unless your heart has been circumcised on the inside.  Why make them go through a ritual that truly would not change them on the inside?  Why didn't Jacob speak up and explain why that was not the problem?
• In this set of passages the father, Hamor, and son, Shechem, truly wanted to make amends and make things right by their foreign way of thinking.
• Why did Jacob's sons speak for their father?  Laban spoke for his... I tried looking this up, but could find nothing on the culture saying that the sons spoke for the father.  I don't believe that to be the case in general, but it was in these two instances.
• How did Jacob's sons become so deceiving?  Well, even after Jacob became Israel he lied and told Esau he would meet up with him in Sier and then moved on to Shechem. Some habits are hard to break, even when you are a changed man.
• In chapter 34, Dinah's rape could have been the worst thing that happened, but unfortunately her brothers made matters worse.  Innocent people were killed due to one man's sin and the revenge of her brothers.  Jacob's family had become a "stench" to the surrounding areas and he had reason to fear that his family would be attacked and killed for their evil deed.
• But in Jacob's correction of his two older boys, they of course took no blame.  Just like in the Garden of Eden.  The boys blamed the entire town for corrupting their sister.  The sister that went out alone when in their own culture she should not have.  There was enough sin here to go around to all.   
• God told Jacob to move to Bethel and build an altar for Him there. Jacob did as God told him.
• I noticed in Chapter 35 that Jacob knew his household had idols.  What?
• Did God tell Jacob to leave Bethel?
• Rachel still mystifies me... in ch. 30:1 she told Jacob to give her children or she would die.  So God gave her children. She died in childbirth with Benjamin.
• Why would a mother put an anchor on a baby by naming him "Benoni" son of my sorrow?  Did she want to leave him with that name?
• Thank you, Jacob for changing his name to "Benjamin"... son of my right hand.
• After reading about Rachel dying I remembered a NT passage... Matthew 2:18... Rachel weeps for her children refusing to be comforted... guess where Rachel dies... Bethlehem. Note: Sometimes we don't realize how many children we have. The ones who we are examples for, who look up to us for guidance are also our children.  You don't have to have a child to be a mother. You possibly have more affect on children when you are not a biological mother.  You have more time and love to share without children of your own.  Just a thought.
• Levi and Simeon were the two boys of Jacob who killed the men of the town of Shechem. Reubin slept with his father's concubine, Bilhah, Rachel's maid.  Well, that is the oldest three of Jacob's boys.  That is how the decision to give the blessing to Judah came about. 
• Esau and Jacob buried their dad together. 
• The remainder of our OT passage today tells of Esau's family. 

What did I get our of the OT passages today.  A lot to ponder.  I come away from reading with possibly more questions than answers, BUT one thing I know for sure... MY BEHAVIOR AFFECTS OTHERS WHETHER I REALIZE IT OR NOT!  Little eyes are watching!  Something to chew on for today! 

Blessings!

A Changed Life

Day 13

I am still following Jacob.  I've known him in our reading as a boy.  I get to see him as a man now.  We are privileged.  We get to see the whole picture, at least as much as God allows...

Things that came to my attention today...

• Laban was an idol worshipper and apparently his daughter, Rachel, was into idols also.  And she had a bit of her father in her... stealing.
• Even an idol worshipper (Laban) knows when he hears from God!
• Jacob tells Laban the truth about how he was treated by Laban with no embellishment!
• Laban, on the other hand, when confronted with the truth, feigned being wronged, and changed the facts to his way of thinking.  (I don't want to be like Laban! When truth confronts me I want to be humble and repent!)
• I've not seen Rachel in a good light in the readings from past few days. Jealousy and one upmanship with her sister, selling Jacob's affections for a mandrake... and then her latest stunt was to steal her father's idols and hide them in her camel's saddle and sit on it using the "monthly" excuse not to get up. She was beautiful, but a handful!
• Jacob was afraid of Esau.  I would be too in that scenario.  He sent a notice to his brother that he was coming with his family and livestock and that he hoped his brother would be friendly to them.  Jacob wanted to go home really badly knowing he would probably face his brother's wrath!
• Now Jacob sends his entire family over the river in front of him.  Doesn't that seem strange? He is fearful of Esau... so he sends his wives and kiddos ahead and stays on the other side of the river for the night? Hmmm...
• Jacob was all alone in the camp and "a man" came and wrestled with him until dawn. When the "man" saw He could not win the match He struck Jacob's hip and knocked it out of joint at the socket.  The "man" then asked to be released for it was dawn... and Jacob told him not until He blessed him.  So the "man" asked Jacob his name and then changed his name to Israel. Then Jacob asked what His name was.  He was not answered.  He just blessed Israel. Then Israel named the place "face of God" and then limped on to his family on the other side of the river.  That is the facts.
• But lets delve into the  facts... we know from Jacob's past that he is strong!  He moved the heavy stone away from the well so Rachel could water her father's flocks, he worked hard for years for Laban, and now he fights ALL night long with this "man". We also know that Jacob was scared of meeting up with his brother.  Apparently just before dawn Jacob knew that the "man" was not a "man" as he asked for God's blessing. The "man" asked Jacob's name.  Yes, He knew Jacob's name, but He wanted Jacob to realize what his name meant. "Trickster"!  Then the "man" changed Jacob's name to Israel, which I just found out means "one who struggles with God".  Interesting information. Anyway, Jacob asks this "man's" name and was not answered.  He already knew. The "man" was God!  God blessed Israel and Israel limped back to his family a new man... the physically strong man was gone... the spiritually strong man came to life!
• He was in front when he met up with his brother.  He humbled himself before Esau.  He was Israel... the man who fought God and man and was spared.   The man who built an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel... "God, the God of Israel".
• From now on we will see Israel. 

That is all for today.  Hey, by the way, the interview went extremely well.  I believe I will get the job!  I think it starts in February!  Woohoo! It is a secretarial and ministry position rolled into one!  I am excited!  Thank you, Lord!

There was a lot in our reading today... OT and NT! How to choose?

Day 12...

Two things stopped me today.  Okay, maybe more than two.  One thing I'm still chewing on.  Difficult to understand.  Maybe I'll get to that verse another day when God clarifies it for me... but until then...

In Genesis 29:13 & 14 ... I had never noticed before and it gave me a chuckle... verse 13 states that as soon as Laban heard about Jacob's arrival, he rushed out to meet him and greeted him warmly.  Laban then brought him home, and Jacob told him his story... (you know... the story about how he tricked his brother and dad and how his mom sent him to his uncle in fear for his life... that story?  or the one where his brother married those horrid women and his dad sent him to marry someone from his own people?  Either way... verse 14 is quite telling...) "Just think, my very own flesh and blood!" Laban exclaimed... do you think he was talking about "it takes one to know one" trickster in his nephew that reminded him of himself?  One never knows... just a thought!

By the way... Jacob had entirely too many women to keep up with!  I bet he was an exhausted man! He not only had to keep up with two wives and two concubines, but he also had to deal with cheating Laban, and a whole slew of kids to keep happy.  I think he had his hands full juggling his responsibilities!  Poor man. But again I digress!  :-)

On to Luke 12!  My, oh, my was there a LOT in these verses.  But of course I stopped in the first verses!  They were good!  I dedicate these verses 1-3... to a dear friend... or two...
"Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees - beware of their hypocrisy.  The time is coming when everything will be revealed; all that is secret will be made public.  Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear!
Hmmm... no matter what the gossiper says... no matter how good the slanderer speaks their lies, the day will come when all will be made public.  When sin is hidden it will eventually be exposed.  Until that great day focus on Jesus, the rescuer of our souls.  He will always see you through.  He will be your salvation.  Don't fall into the pit of despair.  Don't fight fire with fire.  Trust Him.  Stay on the straight and narrow and follow Christ and make sure that yeast does not get in your life too.  One day He will right every wrong!  I love that about God!  Don't you? 

There is so much in Luke 12!  Not fair to only choose a few verses... and I am only supposed to choose ONE verse.  I guess it will be a theme in my musings... ONE VERSE?  Uugh!  :-)  You know how I like to talk!  Later, my friends!  I have a job interview tomorrow!  Blessings!  d

Jacob, the trickster, gives me HOPE!

Day 11 of reading plan...

Again it was hard for me to pick ONE verse to write about.  I really got stuck on Esau selling his birthright vs Jacob stealing Esau's blessing.  I spent a lot of time there pondering the character of each individual in Isaac's immediate family.  So this was what I found out...

• A birthright is decided by taking the number of children you have, add one, then dividing up the inheritance and giving the oldest son two portions... therefore in Jacob and Esau's case... 2 children plus one equals three portions, Esau sold his extra portion for a bowl of stew.  The inheritance would have been divided up 2 portions for Esau, one portion for Jacob, but because of Esau's disregard for his birthright he chose to sell it for a bowl of stew.  That was an expensive stew!
• A blessing was usually given to the oldest son. The father would ask God for "Abrahamic" blessings to pour down from heaven on that particular son, make him a godly man, fruitful, prosperous, etc... That son would then lead the family. Usually both the birthright and the blessing went to the oldest son. There are exceptions, such as with Jacob's children, where the birthright went to one son (Joseph) and the blessing went to the other (Judah), neither of which were the oldest.  In this case the blessing normally would have been given to Esau, the oldest.  Because of Rebekah getting involved and helping Jacob to fool Isaac, Jacob received the blessing, making him the one who received both the birthright and the blessing.
• Okay, so Esau and Isaac were tricked.  True.  But think about this possibility (I believe it to be a probability)... Rebekah prayed back in 25:22 and God answered her in 25:23 "The sons in your womb will become two rival nations.  One nation will be stronger than the other; the descendants of your older son will serve the descendants of your younger son." Tell me, what God-fearing wife would not tell her husband that the Lord spoke to her and tell him what He said?  In verse 21 Isaac pleaded with the Lord for Rebekah to have a child. I believe that when she became pregnant they praised God for answered prayer... what makes me think that God speaking to Rebekah would not be discussed between these two followers of Yahweh?  Just a thought... Rebekah gets blamed for switching the blessing to Jacob... but what if Rebekah was trying to supply God with a way that His Word would become truth... like say Sarah did by giving her maid to Abraham so God's Word would be true and she could have a son in her old age?  Makes you think... hmmmm.... she apparently did not think God could handle it on His own and was willing to give Him a hand getting her fave son the blessing.  What about Isaac?  Hmmmm... If he knew Jacob was supposed to get the blessing but was purposefully planning to give the blessing to his fave son, Esau... And Isaac, by the way, would only give the blessing AFTER Esau made him some stew... hmmm.... :-)
• Jacob... trickster from the beginning!  Had a hold on his brother's heal trying to get out first! Blackmailed his hungry brother for the birthright. Did not argue with Mom about tricking his father, just worried about getting caught.  And yet, he was the chosen one. God uses all kinds doesn't He?
• And lastly, Esau... the big old tough guy.  So hungry he sold his birthright for a bowl of stew.  A real "man's man".  Papa loved him more.  His brother was a "sissy" to him.  His blessing stolen from under his nose.  Left with nothing.  Pleaded for a blessing.  Broken and weeping.  It makes you sad for him.  For a while anyway.  But what was that blessing that Isaac passed on to Jacob? (v.29b) "All who curse you are cursed, and all who bless you are blessed." So... what about verse 41... "Esau hated Jacob because he had stolen his blessing, and he said to himself, "My father will soon be dead and gone.  Then I will kill Jacob."  Sounds like he was looking forward to the death of the father he claimed to love.  Hate is ugly.  Unforgiveness takes over.  Love disappears.
• None of the family came off good in this text.  They put the "d" in dysfunctional no matter how you read the text (or in my case... read into the text).  However, God was in their lives.  God used their weaknesses to grow them.  God did not hide their weaknesses or sins from our eyes.  Why?  Because God wants us to learn from them.  God wants us to know He will work with flawed, sinful people... which, by the way, includes yours truly.  That gives me hope!

How privileged!

Today I have chosen one verse to write about!  Miracle of miracles! I have chosen Luke 10:23

Today a very special man went to be with His Lord.  Here is his story that I witnessed... About 2 years ago one of the senior ladies from church asked my husband (her associate pastor) and me to her home for dinner.  She wanted us to meet a man in her life and make sure he was right with God.  They were already talking marriage.  That is not the proper order of things, but that is what it was. We arrived to find a very kind man who was brought up Catholic.  He was a believer of Christ, but did not really understand much else.  We talked to him and in the end he wanted to seal his relationship with Jesus.  We all wound up crying.  My husband baptised him.  My husband presided 

at their wedding.  They have been married for two years.  He succumbed to cancer this morning.  I saw him Saturday.  He was in and out of consciousness.  He did recognize me and smile and even kissed me.  :-)  I loved this man.  From this side of heaven it hurts to lose him.  From the other side of heaven he was ready to meet his Jesus.  I am full of joy for him. So this is the verse I picked today for me and for my dear friend in Jesus' arms, Tom...

Then when they were alone, He turned to the disciples and said, "How privileged you are to see what you have seen."

No further comment on my part needed.  Good bye, my friend.  See you on the other side!

Blessed People

Reading plan for January 9th...

I stopped short in two places in Genesis 24, first I wonder about Laban... in verse 50 we realize that Bethuel (Rebekah and Laban's father) is alive and well.  For the life of me I cannot figure out why Laban was speaking for his parents.  He apparently was a meddler and aggravating even when he was younger!  I get no spiritual information about him that is worth pondering, so I move forward in Genesis 24...!  :-)

THEN... REBEKAH AND ISAAC... now that is a beautiful love scene when they met.  Makes my girl-giggles flow! In verse 63 Isaac was "meditating" out in his fields.  (I bet he was lonely with just his old papa.  His Mom was gone.  The tenderness was missed.  He was probably spilling his thoughts out to God.  By the way... this is only my version... I just imagined that part.) When Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac, the bible says that she quickly dismounted the camel, asked who that (good looking) man was... again "good looking" was not in the text.  :-) When she was told who he was she quickly covered her face with her veil.  That part has to be understood from their customs. It was a symbol of betrothal in that era.  Nowadays if women did that they would be thought to be hiding a bad complexion. Anyway, I digress... again! After the servant told Isaac the whole story in verse 66, verse 67 tells us that Isaac took Rebekah into his mother's tent and she became his wife.  He loved her very much, and she was a special comfort to him after the death of his mother.  Who says God doesn't do romance?  God cares for the lonely.  God provides.  He has a plan.  When you lean on Him for your everything, he gives you the desires of your heart.  After all... He put the desires there in your heart!  God is awesome, isn't He?

But then I was to read Luke 9.  Why, oh why, are we to write on ONE verse a day?  There is so much meat to chew on!  So I allowed myself one more thing to write about today... Luke 9:13  But Jesus said, "You feed them."
And the disciples, of course, replied "impossible"! We all reply 'impossible' at one time or another in our Christian walk.  Moses did it.  I've done it.  You've done it.  In this case, as in all cases, Jesus tells us the "how". ..."Just tell them to sit down on the ground in groups of about 50 each." Jesus replied. (verse 14b)  Let Him be in charge of the outcome.  Just take it one step at a time.  One foot in front of the other.  And when you look back you realize the truth in "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". 
Blessings friends! We are a blessed people!

Trust and Obey

Let me just say that blogging on the weekend is tough!  I read the readings, but getting to the computer on the weekend is going to be a challenge!  Also, I may be getting a job as a church secretary this week.  I am not trying to make excuses, and I will stick to it... but this will definitely be a challenge... changing everything at once.  Oh, well... I'm up for it!  Here we go, Lord!  :-)

From January 8th...

From Luke 8:38-39
The man who had been demon possessed begged to go, too, but Jesus said, "No, go back to your family and tell them all the wonderful things God has done for you." So he went all through the city telling about the great thing Jesus had done for him. (NLT)

I understand how grateful the man was.  I understand why he wanted to be physically with Jesus and watch what He would do.  Experience Him.  But if everyone did this, this watching, then where would the gospel be?  Jesus' response... first I must be an ambassador in my own home.  I need to tell my family and show them what He means to me, not just by my talk, but by my actions.  Also, in not traveling, but staying in his hometown, this man was a visual witness to all who knew of him!  Talk about sharing the good news!  This man was a walking billboard of a major changed life!  This, of course, is not to say that missions are not necessary.  It is something Jesus told us to do in the great commission.  From one who likes to talk to others all about what Jesus means to me... and what He could mean to them... well, I get mission big time!  But lest we forget... our desire should be whatever His will is for us. He is the only one who sees the big picture!  Trust and obey! 

Go Where He Sends You!

I have started a "read the bible through in a year" from Youversion.com.  I am reading from the Life Journal Reading Plan... As I cannot get the site to accept all of my post I will be posting on this site instead.  Each day I am to post something that stuck out to me from His Word...It is a  LOT of information for only choosing ONE thing to write on, but I'm game.... Here goes....


Yesterday's reading was from Genesis 18 & 19, Psalm 3, and Luke 7


Did you notice that the angels sent Lot to the mountains, but allowed Lot his own way and let him go to the small town of Zoar? That is God's permissive will.  Guess what town did not suit Lot? In verse 30 it says that Lot was afraid of the people there, and he went to live in a cave in the mountains with his two daughters.  Hmmm... He might have been there sooner and possibly with his wife by his side in a nicer abode than a cave.  Who knows?  All we know is that God's will is the best for us.  Period.