Matthew 10:16-17 Lord help me to recognize evil but to combat it with the love of the Lamb!

 Luke 10:3

Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. 

These are perilous times that we live in. We need the protection  of God to keep our faith in the midst of them. We need to see the evil and not hide our head in the sand but combat it with the love and peace of God. Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Be still and know that Jesus is God. In the name of the Father, in the name of the Son, in the name of the Spirit we abide. Greater is Holy Spirit in us than  the evil that is in this world . We overcome hatred with the love of the Lamb. Carla

Matthew 10:16-17

“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. 17 But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. NKJV

Snakes are commonly thought of as wise, perhaps because they are silent and dangerous, or because of the way they move (Genesis 3:1). In the midst of wolves meant that the apostles would be exposed to hatred and violence from men. Harmless literally means “unmixed,” which may also indicate purity and innocence. The NKJV Study Bible

Jesus Himself faced persecution; so too will His disciples. Here, He warns them of their fate and assures them that the Spirit will give them the appropriate words in times of trial. Faithlife Study Bible

Mark 13:9–13

“But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations…

Luke 12:11–12

“Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

Matthew 23:34

Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, 

Acts 5:40

And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go

What will I choose to care for—to be loving and kind in today’s world?
In what ways can I say No to apathy and indifference and resignation?
In what ways can I say Yes to, “I do my best to lift others up.”

And if you ask me, “Where were you lifted up?”
“Where did you learn about—where were you embraced by—the gentle healing arms and hands of grace?” I would tell you—and re-tell you over and over again—the story of my Grandmother, Gladys Andrews.
My grandmother—Southern Baptist born and bred—didn't cotton to folks in her church who played the judgmental-eternal-damnation-card just to feel good about themselves, or for the sake of proving a point. She understood that in her church's "theology," there were many kinds of people "on the outside." (Truth be told, in her church, "most" people were "on the outside.")
But my grandmother lived by an overriding imperative: "Anybody is welcome at my dinner table, no questions asked, no matter what."
My grandmother understood the power of presence—the power of lifting people up.
In the latter years of her life, in the back yard of her home in northern Florida, my grandmother had a porch swing. She liked to sit, and swing, and hum old church hymns, like Rock of Ages Cleft for Me. I can still see her there, wearing a white scarf over her head, a concession to chemotherapy's unrelenting march. When I visited her, as a young adult, she would always ask me to sit with her on the swing, for a spell. She would pat my leg, and she called me “darlin'.”
As long as my grandmother lived—and in spite of her pain—there was always a place for me on the swing. If I were asked to explain Grace, I would paint the picture of my grandmother's swing. There, I never had to deliberate or explain or worry regardless of the weight I carried. The swing—my grandmother's presence—existed without conditions.
And I am here today, because of that swing.
I can “hear” the invitation of grace.
I can “hear my song”—and the dance (empowered by grace) that unlocks my heart, and the extraordinary gift of being restored to myself.
The arms and hands of grace, that...
...remind us we are beautiful, when we feel ugly.
...tell us we are whole, when we feel broken.
...give us the power to dance, even when we feel shattered.
...allow us to take a step, even when we feel stuck, or shut down.
…that arms of grace that “lift us up”…
And yes, I have used this before in a Sabbath Moment... and realized the blessed gift of remembering the arms of grace, so decided one more time wouldn’t hurt (and my confession, it’s kinda nice to see pictures that remind us we were young once).

Around us, my friends, a lot of people are struggling. The world for so many, feels upside down. A kind word, a gentle touch, a seat on a porch swing, is a gift that makes all the difference. Let us be on the lookout for those who need that gift, and a seat at the table. And, I hope you find the permission and invitation to hear the song of grace.

“Dear God, soften our hearts and help us pull up a chair for one another. May we view one another with compassion and remember that we all have a seat at the table. Amen.” (Maria Shriver)

And the porch swing is a reminder of the necessity of “grace” rituals.
Rituals (porch swings) remind us to pay attention. They can be places of sanctuary where we are able to receive. And places from which we give; realizing that our salvation lies not in changing the world’s orientation to us, but in changing our own orientation to our brokenness, which in turn changes our interchange with the world, where our brokenness (the torn fabric) can be used to heal and redeem, and not wound or diminish or fuel hate.

I know that when I lose sight or touch with that grounding, I live as a wounded dog, lashing out, castigating and labeling and dismissing, (because you’re out to get me), finding solace only in an assumed place of power which always needs to diminish someone.
This week, where’s your porch swing?
Sabbath Moments

Isaiah 12:2 God will keep in perfect peace those who trust in Him alone.

 Exodus 15:2

The LORD is my strength and song,

And He has become my salvation;

He is my God, and I will praise Him;

My father’s God, and I will exalt Him.

We have nothing to fear. With prayer and supplication we put our lives into God’s hands. He is good, merciful and gracious. He will turn all that is meant to destroy us into our good. We are the Body of Christ, as believers, we are the temple of God and evil cannot prevail where He is. If we choose fear in our lives let it be fear of the Lord not of man. God is above all and in all of His creation. We choose Him as guardian of our life. In His perfect love fear is cast out. Joy in our salvation is our strength. Carla

Isaiah 12:2

Behold, God is my salvation,

I will trust and not be afraid;

‘For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song;

He also has become my salvation.’ ” NKJV

God is my salvation. This psalm of redemption is based on the first psalm of redemption in Exodus (Exodus 15:2; Psalm 118:14).Yah, the Lord, by its repetition, emphasizes that Israel’s covenant-keeping God—and not the nations—brings salvation (26:4). My strength and song may be rephrased as “my strong song” or “my song of strength” (Exodus15:2). The NKJV Study Bible

Look! God is my salvation. Chapter 12 praises God for the salvation promised through the Messiah in chapter 11. The hymn in Exodus 15:1–18 similarly focuses on salvation brought about by Yahweh. Similar to thanksgiving songs, Exodus 15 reflects Israel’s grateful response for Yahweh’s deliverance from the Egyptians—recounting Yahweh’s greatness and the reasons He is deserving of praise.

The poetic parallels of Isaiah 12 and Exodus 15 suggest a connection between the deliverance promised in Isaiah, and the deliverance already accomplished through the exodus. The exodus motif appears prominently in Isaiah 40–55 where the return of the exiles from Babylon is envisioned as a second miraculous redemption—like the exodus.

The Hebrew name for God here—literally Yah Yahweh—is unusual. The shortened form “Yah” is common in poetry and is used in Exodus 15:2 in addition to numerous psalms. Psalm 68:18 uses Yah Elohim. My strength and might a similar  phrasing appears in Exodus 15:2 and Psalm 118:14. Faithlife Study Bible

Psalm 118:14

The LORD is my strength and song,

And He has become my salvation.

Isaiah 26:3–4

You will keep him in perfect peace,

Whose mind is stayed on You,

Because he trusts in You.

Trust in the LORD forever,

For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.

Isaiah 45:17

But Israel shall be saved by the LORD

With an everlasting salvation;

You shall not be ashamed or disgraced

Forever and ever.

Isaiah 62:11

Indeed the LORD has proclaimed

To the end of the world:

“Say to the daughter of Zion,

“Surely your salvation is coming;

Behold, His reward is with Him,

And His work before Him.’ ”

Here’s the deal: There is nothing small about compassion. It is the thread of life woven through each day.

When the world feels small and dark and frightful, at the mercy of cruelty and revenge, it is not surprising we choose to protect our hearts. We do not easily give it away. This happens when we live from the notion that we carry only so much emotional capital—you know, that precious commodity which allows us to pay attention, to focus, to contribute, to care, to forgive, to set free.
Or, drawing from Luke’s Gospel. “To stand up for the neglected, to invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind.”
And when we live as if there is a scarcity in our “caring commodity”, it goes without saying that conservation is called for. And it becomes our default. Meaning, there is no need to spend empathy on just anybody. We need to pick and choose. To be blunt, “there are those who deserve care, and those who don’t.”
Bottom line: we lose track of the values that sustain us.
And sometimes, we need an experience, to rock our world. Or, to invite us to hit the reset button. You know, back to what makes us human.
I think I needed it this week.
So. What will I choose to care for—to be loving and kind in today’s world?
What will I choose to say matters?
In what ways can I say No to apathy and indifference and resignation?
In what ways can I say Yes to, “I do my best to lift others up.”
There is nothing small about making a difference in the life of one human being. As humans—in the image of God—we touch, love, give, lift up, heal and redeem. Sabbath Moments

Proverbs 14:3 With God nothing is impossible..without Him we are left on our own.

 Proverbs 12:6

The words of the wicked are, “Lie in wait for blood,

“But the mouth of the upright will deliver them.

Pride is present in the  foolish thinking of man that he can do all things without God. God hates two things…pride and arrogance.  In placing God first in our lives nothing is impossible. Without His wisdom behind our actions we open our lives to the ruler of this world who only seeks to kill, steal and destroy us. Ask God for wisdom and Holy Spirit will guide and protect us. Carla

Proverbs 14:3

In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride,

But the lips of the wise will preserve them. NKJV

This proverb addresses the dangers of foolish speech and the rewards of sensible speech. The words of the fool shape themselves into a rod that is ready for his enemies to use on him. This proverb calls to mind that many people are their own worst enemy; given enough rope, they prepare a noose for their own hanging. 

foolish (Heb. ʾivvelet) (14:1; 16:22; 17:12; 26:4, 5) Strong’s #200: This Hebrew word signifies an absence of wisdom. Except for two occurrences in the Psalms, this term occurs only in Proverbs, where the foolishness of fools is frequently contrasted with the wisdom of the wise and prudent. Foolishness characterizes the speech of fools and the reactions of the impulsive person. Foolishness affects the lifestyle of a person, causing his or her heart to fret against God. Indeed, foolishness is often identified with iniquity and sin. The NKJV Study Bible

A fool gets into trouble by speaking impulsively (29:11) and argumentatively (20:3). By contrast, the restrained (10:19; 17:27) and careful speech of the wise acts as a type of protection.  Faithlife Study Bible

Proverbs 10:13–14

Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding,

But a rod is for the back of him who is devoid of understanding.

Wise people store up knowledge,

But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

Ecclesiastes 10:12

The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious,

But the lips of a fool shall swallow him up;

Isaiah 11:1

There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse,

And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.

There is nothing small about compassion. There is nothing small about making a difference in the life of one human being.
But sometimes, we need an experience…to rock our world. Or, to invite us to hit the reset button. You know, back to what makes us human.
To say Yes, to whatever connects us, as humans,
as children of God,
as people who need compassion and mercy for sustenance,
as people who cannot walk this journey alone.
And to say No, to whatever divides or demeans or belittles
or degrades or incites hate and exclusion.
And I must speak that Yes, and speak that No,
not only with my voice, but with my hands and my feet.
Lord, hear my prayer.

What will I choose to care for—to be loving and kind in today’s world?
What will I choose to say matters?
In what ways can I say No to apathy and indifference and resignation?
In what ways can I say Yes to, “I do my best to lift others up.” Sabbath Moments

Romans 10:8-13 Jesus is near us, in our hearts and the words we speak

 Israel 28:16

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:

“Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation,

A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation;

Whoever believes will not act hastily.

Jesus, the word of God arrived as a human. All man but all God  He gave up His life so that we could have life eternally with Him. We need to share His truth with the world that in Him the world can be saved. (John 3:16-17) Peace, peace to the men of good will.Carla

Romans 10:8-13

But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between •Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 •For “•whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  NKJV

Paul cites Deuteronomy 30:14 to affirm the accessibility of the word of faith. Just as Moses announced the accessible nature of the law, Paul announces the accessible nature of the gospel. This word is especially near because the Spirit wrote it upon the hearts and minds of believers (Jeremiah  31:33; 2 Corinthians  3:3).

Confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord” describes an outward expression of inward trust. Paul does not regard believing in the heart and confessing with the mouth as separate activities, but as parts of a singular expression of faith in Jesus’ lordship.

Paul presented God’s resurrection of Christ as the basis of the believer’s justification before God (Romans 4:25; 5:1). Therefore, faith in the resurrection is essential. The resurrection also shows that God vindicated Christ from the shame of the cross. Elsewhere in his letters, Paul associates Christ’s resurrection with His lordship (Ephesians  1:19–22; Philippians 2:9).

Righteousness refers to a right relationship with God that has been restored after placing faith in Jesus as Lord (Romans 5:1, 10; 8:1). Here the term is close in meaning to salvation.

Everyone who believes in him, here Paul again quotes from Isaiah 28:16, adding the Greek word pas, meaning “everyone” or “all,” to demonstrate that this promise applies to both Jewish and non-Jewish people (Romans 9:33). Both Jews and Gentiles are under God’s judgment because of sin (3:9–20), yet both are eligible for righteousness through faith in Christ.

To call upon him In the Old Testament, referred to prayer directed toward Yahweh (Genesis 4:26; 12:8; 13:4). The Greek word kyrios, translated “Lord,” refers to Jesus Christ. Thus, Paul identifies Jesus Christ with Yahweh of the Old Testament. Faithlife Study Bible.

Confess comes before believe in this verse because “mouth” precedes “heart” in Deuteronomy (verse 8). The order is reversed in the next verse. One has to confess with the mouth to be saved.For indicates that this verse explains verse 9. The condition for righteousness, that is for being justified, is internal faith. The condition of salvation, meaning deliverance from wrath and from the power of sin, is external confession, which is calling on the Lord for help (verses 12, 13). The NKJV Study Bible

Deuteronomy 30:12–14

It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’…

Joel 2:32

And it shall come to pass

That whoever calls on the name of the LORD

Shall be saved.

For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance,

As the LORD has said,

Among the remnant whom the LORD calls.

Romans 3:29

Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, 

Matthew10:32

“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.

What will I choose to care for—to be loving and kind in today’s world?

What will I choose to say matters?

In what ways can I say No to apathy and indifference and resignation?

To say No to anything that demeans or belittles another child of God?

In what ways can I say Yes to, “I do my best to lift others up.”"If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way." Martin Luther King, Jr. reminds us.

Receiving his induction into TV’s Hall of Fame, Fred Rogers tells the audience, “We are chosen to be servants, it doesn’t matter what our particular job.”

Yes. And Amen. The small things matter. Onward my friends. Sabbath Moments

When the world feels hopeless and heartless,

take a moment to look around.

There are beautiful humans everywhere,

often hiding in plain sight in cabs,

on buses, in cafes, on trains, in libraries,

on park benches, in laundromats, on subways.

They may not be rich or well-educated.

They may be broken and hurting themselves.

They may not have much to offer

in terms of worldly goods.

But they are the comforters, encouragers, sharers,

teachers, servers, healers, mentors, connecters,

helpers, and counselors who keep

the random hurting humans,

the weary and the lost,

the invisible sufferers who walk among us every day,

going just long enough

to find their hope and strength again.

It doesn't take a degree or wealth

or a grand gesture to make a

difference in this world.

It just takes a human who cares.

L.R. Knost