Mark 7

April 30^th, 2009

We all have been hypocrites at one time or another. Our only hope is to know that Christ within us is stronger than the indoctrination of the world. We must seek Him and ask Him to heal us. Vainly following the traditions of men will lead us directly to hell. We need to follow the narrow path of Jesus Christ. Compassion and understanding were the main characteristics of His life on earth…..we need to be doers of His words and His arms of compassion! The only peoples that He had major problems with were the self religious scribes and Pharisees!

Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem. 2 Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches.

5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, "Why do Your disciples not walk according to the
tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?"

6 He answered and said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:

'This people honors Me with their lips,

But their heart is far from Me.

7 And in vain they worship Me,

Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'

9 He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. 10 For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.' 11 But you say, 'If a man says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban"—' (that is, a gift to God), 12 then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, 13 making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do."

14 When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear Me, everyone, and understand: 15 There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. 16 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!"

17 When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. 18 So He said to them,  "Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, 19 because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?"20 And He said, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man."

The NKJV says this:

The breach between true spirituality and man-made tradition widens considerably. The Pharisees (see Matt. 5:20) and scribes (teachers of the law) were no doubt sent by the Jewish religious authorities to ascertain Jesus' position on the issues they counted important. The tradition of the elders (see Matt. 15:2) was a series of rules meant to bolster the ceremonial law of the Jews. Its authority was not supported by
Scripture. Jesus did not directly answer the question but instead addressed two more significant issues: (1) the superiority of God's law over man-made and (2) the difference between ceremonial and true moral defilement (vv. 14–23). Jesus enters into the argument by calling His adversaries hypocrites. Thus the Pharisees were not genuinely religious; they were merely playing a part for all to see. In earlier times the Hebrews held the written law of God, the Torah, in such esteem that they would not write down their reflections on it, lest they should tempt later generations to consider their words as important as God's law. But as time went on, written commentaries on the law, collected in the Talmud, assumed greater authority than the Torah itself. Jesus mercifully raised to life the only son of a widow.

 

 

 

2 Chronicles 20

The battle is not ours to fight, it is the Lord's. The battle whether it involves our life, our city, our nation or the world, is not fought in the physical realm but in the spiritual realm. The fight for our souls is fought by the Holy Spirit with the sword of faith. The greater our faith in Him, the swifter the battle can be won. In ANY situation, we must ask for His help in prayer, and then stand and watch Him work! Believe in
His power to do
that which we cannot do ourselves!
Praise His holy name.

20 It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites, came to battle against Jehoshaphat. 2 Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, "A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria; and they are in Hazazon Tamar" (which is En Gedi). 3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.

5 Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, 6 and said: "O Lord God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? 7 Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever? 8 And they dwell in it, and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your name, saying, 9 'If disaster comes upon us—sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine—we will stand before this temple and in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.' 10 And now, here are the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir—whom You would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and did not destroy them— 11 here they are, rewarding us by coming to throw us out of Your possession which You have given us to inherit. 12 O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You."

13 Now all Judah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children, stood before the Lord.

14 Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. 15 And he said, "Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: 'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's. 16 Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you."

20 So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper." 21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying:

"Praise the Lord,

For His mercy endures forever."

22 Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. 23 For the people of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. And when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.

24 So when Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude; and there were their dead bodies, fallen on the earth. No one had escaped.

29 And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries when they heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 Then the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around.

The NKJV puts it this way: 32 And he walked in the way of his father Asa, and did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the Lord. 33 Nevertheless the high places were not taken away, for as yet the people had not directed their hearts to the God of their fathers. This situation would test Jehoshaphat's faith. As soon as he heard of bad news from the north, Jehoshaphat sought God and proclaimed a fast. He knew that success required God's favor. And if God was for them, they could not lose. Jehoshaphat recalled God's care for His people Israel in the past, when He had led them to victory over their Canaanite foes. The people would go into battle praising God with instruments and voices. The battle was the Lord's and its outcome was certain. The people celebrated God and His victory. Before Judah's armies could even reach the battlefield, the Ammonites and Moabites attacked their Edomite allies and destroyed them, then they turned against each other. As a result, Judah won without even having to fight. God had demonstrated that the battle was His (v. 15) and that He could accomplish His purposes without even using an army. No human army could prevail over God's omnipotence.

 

 

 

 

Romans 4

God's promises to us are true and sure. We can trust in Him to accomplish for us what He set out to do in Christ Jesus. If we believe, all things are possible.
We can know that
If God says it, it will happen. If we handle the trials of this life by trusting in God, our faith and trust in God increases. The Holy Spirit changes us precept upon precept. God allows things to happen in order for us to learn to trust in Him alone to accomplish that which we cannot accomplish, the character of Christ Jesus revealed in us. In this life we do not see clearly nor understand but in the next life we will see the experiences of our life meant to bring Him glory. This stays on my computer screen "God loves us just the way we are, but too much to leave us the way we are." To God be all the glory!

Abraham Justified by Faith

What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.

5 But to him who does not work
but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith
is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:

7 "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered;

8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin."

9 Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, 12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised.

13 For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void
and the promise made of no effect, 15 because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.

16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all 17 (as it is written, "I have made you a father of many nations") in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead
and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; 18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, "So shall your descendants be." 19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness."

5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

The NKJ Study Bible puts it this way: This chapter is pivotal in establishing that justification is by God's grace through faith alone. Justification is a gift and cannot be earned by works. Abraham was justified hundreds of years before the Mosaic Law, then justification cannot be based on the Law. God made a promise to Abraham, and Abraham trusted God to fulfill it. Because of Abraham's faith, God credited Abraham with righteousness. In gaining this righteousness from God, Abraham did not obey some law or perform some ritual like circumcision, he simply believed God. The person who does not work, who comes to God by faith alone without having performed rituals or followed Jewish laws—that person will be counted righteous. God provides a merciful expiation, or atonement, of the sins of believers through the death of Christ. John states that God demonstrated His love to us by sending His Son to become "the propitiation for our sins". God's grace. It is available to all people, both Jews and Gentiles. God declared His unconditional covenant with Abraham after declaring him righteous because of his belief. The promise to Abraham was not through circumcision nor through the law but through the righteousness of faith. Heir of the world means that Abraham and his seed, in particular Christ, will inherit the earth, a promise that will be fulfilled in the kingdom to be established when Christ returns. Paul concludes that God's promises to Abraham were founded on his faith so that it would be acknowledged that salvation was only through grace, that is, God's favor. Abraham is the forefather of all who believe. Glorifying God means declaring who God is. Abraham, by his faith, acknowledged that God was faithful and powerful enough to keep His promise. We follow Abraham's example when we have faith, when we believe that God raised Jesus from the dead and will grant us eternal life also. Jesus was delivered up to death, taking the penalty of our sin on Himself. Jesus' resurrection brought us justification before God because His resurrection proves that God accepted Jesus' sacrifice for us. ." Believers boast in the sure expectation of the glory of God. They are confident, for God Himself has placed the Holy Spirit in their hearts. Tribulations refers to physical hardship, suffering, and distress. Perseverance means "endurance." Trials and tribulation produce endurance when we exercise faith during those difficult times. Such faith produces its own reward. Perseverance produces character, the quality of being approved. As believers endure tribulation, God works in them to develop certain qualities and virtues that will strengthen them and draw them closer to Him. The result is fortified hope in God and His promises.
God loves us just the way we are, but He loves us too much to leave us the way we are.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ezekiel 27

We, as an individual or as a nation, must be very careful about who or what we base our decisions on. We are never above reproach or of failing. What can look like a perfect solution, the perfect path to take, may not be even close to the path we should take. God alone knows the way and He alone is perfect. If we base our decisions on outside appearances, without God in it, it will fall and everyone involved in it will fall with us. We may never know what goes on behind closed doors, but, we can trust that the Bible says that those things done in private will come out in public and those things done in secret will be heard on the rooftops. Keep in mind that the higher others put us, the easier it is to fall. Be very cautious of those who compliment too much and expect perfection, they are the ones, when finding us with human failings, will turn on us in an instant. Those closest to us have the most control over us, so we must pick our friends with Godly wisdom!

27 The word of the Lord came again to me, saying,  "Now, son of man, take up a lamentation for Tyre, 3 and say to Tyre, 'You who are situated at the entrance of the sea, merchant of the peoples on many coastlands, thus says the Lord God:

"O Tyre, you have said,

'I am perfect in beauty.'

12 "Tarshish was your merchant because of your many luxury goods. They gave you silver, iron, tin, and lead for your goods. 13 Javan, Tubal, and Meshech were your traders. They bartered human lives and vessels of bronze for your merchandise. 14 Those from the house of Togarmah traded for your wares with horses, steeds, and mules. 15 The men of Dedan were your traders; many isles were the market of your hand. They brought you ivory tusks and ebony as payment. 16 Syria was your merchant because of the abundance of goods you made. They gave you for your wares emeralds, purple, embroidery, fine linen, corals, and rubies. 17 Judah and the land of Israel were your traders. They traded for your merchandise wheat of Minnith, millet, honey, oil, and balm. 18 Damascus was your merchant because of the abundance of goods you made, because of your many luxury items, with the wine of Helbon and with white wool. 19 Dan and Javan paid for your wares, traversing back and forth. Wrought iron, cassia, and cane were among your merchandise. 20 Dedan was your merchant in saddlecloths for riding. 21 Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your regular merchants. They traded with you in lambs, rams, and goats. 22 The merchants of Sheba and Raamah were your merchants. They traded for your wares the choicest spices, all kinds of precious stones, and gold. 23 tHaran, Canneh, Eden, the merchants of  Sheba, Assyria, and Chilmad were your merchants. 24 These were your merchants in choice items—in purple clothes, in embroidered garments, in chests of multicolored apparel, in sturdy woven cords, which were in your marketplace.

27 "Your riches, wares, and merchandise,

Your mariners and pilots,

Your caulkers and merchandisers,

All your men of war who are in you,

And the entire company which is in your midst,

Will fall into the midst of the seas on the day of your ruin.

30 They will make their voice heard because of you;

They will cry bitterly and cast dust on their heads;

They will roll about in ashes;

31 They will shave themselves completely bald because of you,

Gird themselves with sackcloth,

And weep for you

With bitterness of heart and bitter wailing.

36 The merchants among the peoples will hiss at you;

You will become a horror, and be no more forever.' "

The NKJ Study Bible puts it this way:

The final verses of the chapter present a remorseful and revengeful lament to be chanted, perhaps over and over, by Tyre's trade partners. Tyre's nearest neighbors (see 26:16–18) would be greatly troubled by Tyre's defeat, but soon they would turn against Tyre themselves in the vain hope of escaping a similar fate at the hands of the Babylonians.

Words of Life

"When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
the moon and the stars you set in place—
what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
human beings that you should care for them?" (Psalm 8:3-4)

I look forward on Sunday mornings to reading the newsletter from Life International this week is no exception. Have a blessed Sunday.

God's "Crazy" Love

with Francis Chan

God's majesty tells us some very important things about Him.

God is eternal. Each of us had a beginning; everything in existence began on a particular day, at a specific time. Everything, that is, but God. God exists outside of time, but since we are within time, there is no way we will ever totally grasp that concept. It is ridiculous for us to think we have the right to limit God to something we are capable of comprehending.

God is all-powerful. Colossians 1:16 tells us that everything was created for God. Don't we live instead as though God is created for us, to do our bidding, to bless us, and to take care of our loved ones?

Psalm 115:3 reveals, "Our God is in heaven; He does whatever pleases Him." As much as we want God to explain Himself to us, His creation, we are in no place to demand that He give an account to us.

God is holy. A lot of people say that whatever you believe about God is fine, so long as you are sincere. But that is comparable to describing your friend in one sentence as a three-hundred-pound sumo wrestler and in another as a five-foot-two, ninety-pound gymnast. No matter how sincere your explanations, both descriptions cannot be true. We don't get to decide who God is. "God said to Moses, 'I Am who I Am.'" (Exodus 3:14) We don't change that.

To say that God is holy is to say that He is set apart, distinct from us. And because of His set apart-ness, there is no way we can ever fathom all of who He is. His perfect holiness, by definition, assures us that our words can't contain Him.

God is all-knowing. He knows each of us deeply and specifically. He knows our thoughts before we think them, our actions before we commit them, who we are and what we're about. Nothing we think, feel or do comes as a surprise to Him.

It is sobering to realize that this same God, who is holy, eternal and all-powerful, and who is the Maker of the billions of galaxies and thousands of species in the rainforest, takes the time to know all the little details about each of us.

God is good and just. God is the only Being who is good and the standards are set by Him. God is righteous and hates sin. This eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing, good God loves us. He wants us, chooses us, even considers us His inheritance. (Ephesians 1:18)

The greatest knowledge we can ever have is to know that God treasures us. Our love for Him always comes out of His love for us. The greatest good on this earth is God. God's one goal for us is Himself, because His love for us is crazy and unfathomable.

Zephaniah 3

God is and He lives in the heart of those who believe in Him and place their trust in Him. God's children do not always do what is right and just. There are those who are haughty and full of pride. There are those who oppress the poor and needy. There are those who feel they are entitled to all His blessings and above His correction. His ways are not ours. He cares for all people, all His creation. He will not always tolerate man's hatred for man. We will be humbled. As Christians we need to care about all people. As Christians we need to be His arms of peace and love to the innocent victims of the times that we live in. We need to seek His direction and obey His voice. We need to place our total trust in Him and His ability to change us. Let us pray that now, this day, we can hear His voice, stop the politics and work together to turn our nation, our families, our churches, and ourselves back to Him. If we have been forgiven so much, how can we not forgive others? If God sacrificed His Son for the likes of us, why can we not sacrifice our time and money for others? If God wants that no one perish why can we not be His hands to reach out to all peoples. There should be no prejudice or hatred in God's family. Do you honestly believe that He made a mistake in creation? He created ALL….think about it… all peoples and all nations were created by Him, who are you to question Him? Woe to us who make mammon our god.

3 Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted,

To the oppressing city!

2 She has not obeyed His voice,

She has not received correction;

She has not
trusted in the Lord,

She has not drawn near to her God.

5 The Lord is righteous in her midst,

He will do no unrighteousness.

Every morning He brings His justice to light;

He never fails,

But the unjust knows no shame.

7 I said, 'Surely you will fear Me,

You will receive instruction'—

So that her dwelling would not be cut off,

Despite everything for which I punished her.

But they rose early and corrupted all their deeds.

8 "Therefore wait for Me," says the Lord,

"Until the day I rise up for plunder;

My determination is to gather the nations

To My assembly of kingdoms,

To pour on them My indignation,

All My fierce anger;

All the earth shall be devoured

With the fire of My jealousy.

9 "For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language,

That they all may call on the name of the Lord,

To serve Him with one accord.

11 In that day you shall not be shamed for any of your deeds

In which you
transgress against Me;

For then I will take away from your midst

Those who rejoice in your pride,

And you shall no longer be haughty

In My holy mountain.

12 I will leave in your midst

A meek and humble people,

And they shall trust in the
name of the Lord.

13 The remnant of Israel shall do no unrighteousness

And speak no lies,

Nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth;

For they shall feed their flocks and lie down,

And no one shall make them afraid."

14 Sing, O daughter of Zion!

Shout, O Israel!

Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,

O daughter of Jerusalem!

15 The Lord has taken away your judgments,

16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:

"Do not fear;

Zion, let not your hands be weak.

17 The Lord your God in your midst,

The Mighty One, will save;

He will rejoice over you with gladness,

He will quiet you with His love,

He will rejoice over you with singing."

18 "I will gather those who sorrow over the appointed assembly,

Who are among you,

To whom its reproach is a burden.

19 Behold, at that time

I will deal with all who afflict you;

I will save the lame,

And gather those who were driven out;

I will appoint them for praise and fame

In every land where they were put to shame.

The NKJ study Bible puts it this way:

Jerusalem had become a center of oppression, rebellion, and apostasy. It would soon be marked by destruction. The expression of grief is reflective of God's own heart. The princes, judges, prophets, and priests, whom God had especially designated to work for righteousness, were more wicked than the "regular" citizens of Jerusalem. These leaders were destroying and defrauding the weak, the needy, and the helpless. God's punishment of Judah's neighbors should have brought the people to their senses. God's response to the wickedness of Jerusalem was to declare His judgment. He would use other nations to punish the city for its rebellion. The focus of the text moves to a time of national regeneration and restoration. . One day human language will become a unifying element in the true worship of God. God's people would come from all nations to worship Him. The people are first commanded to abstain from fear, to keep from hanging their arms in a posture of resignation. Instead, they were to take encouragement and strength from the new reality that their God lived among them. God is going to make all things right. Those who are enemies of God's truth will be gathered and removed; those who are disenfranchised, God will restore. God promised blessing, honor, and a renowned name, so here God promises fame and praise to each individual in His family. Says the Lord: This is a solemn vow of God to do what He has promised. The implication is clear: "Listen and live!"

Obahiah

God hates
pride and arrogance. He will destroy those nations or peoples who believe that they are above His reach. As a nation and a people we need to be humble and never think that we are better than others. This oracle is about brother against brother. God alone judges and His ways are not ours. In the end, those who humble themselves before Him will be corrected but saved and those who refuse to humble themselves will be destroyed. God protects those who put their trust in Him, not in man.

The Coming Judgment on Edom

1 The vision of Obadiah.

Thus says the Lord God concerning Edom

We have heard a report from the Lord,

And a messenger has been sent among the nations, saying,

"Arise, and let us rise up against her for battle"

2 "Behold, I will make you small among the nations;

You shall be greatly despised.     

3 The pride of your heart has deceived you,

You who dwell in the clefts of the rock,

Whose habitation is high;

You who say in your heart, 'Who will bring me down to the ground?'

4 Though you ascend as high as the eagle,

And though you set your nest among the stars,

From there I will bring you down," says the Lord.

7 All the men in your confederacy

Shall force you to the border;

The men at peace with you

Shall deceive you and prevail against you.

Those who eat your bread shall lay a trap for you.

No one is aware of it.

10 "For violence against your brother Jacob,

Shame shall cover you,

And you shall be cut off forever.

11 In the day that you stood on the other side—

In the day that strangers carried captive his forces,

When foreigners entered his gates

And cast lots for Jerusalem—

Even you were as one of them.

12 "But you should not have gazed on the day of your brother

In the day of his captivity;

Nor should you have rejoiced over the children of Judah

In the day of their destruction;

Nor should you have spoken proudly

In the day of distress.

13 You should not have entered the gate of My people

In the day of their calamity.

Indeed, you should not have gazed on their affliction

In the day of their calamity,

Nor laid hands on their substance

In the day of their calamity.

15 "For the day of the Lord upon all the nations is near;

As you have done, it shall be done to you;

Your reprisal shall return upon your own head.

17 "But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance,

And there shall be holiness;

The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.

18 The house of Jacob shall be a fire,

And the house of Joseph a flame;

But the house of Esau shall be stubble;

They shall kindle them and devour them,

And no survivor shall remain of the house of Esau,"

For the Lord has spoken.

21 Then saviors shall come to Mount Zion

To judge the mountains of Esau,

And the kingdom shall be the Lord's.

The NKJ puts it this way:

A national oracle is directed against Edom, a country east of the Dead Sea and south of Moab. God would bring about a reversal of Edom's inflated self-importance. Edom's presumed physical safety led the Edomites to become haughty; this would be their downfall. Edom's physical location became a metaphor for the proud and haughty spirit that the nation
had displayed at the time of Judah's distress. Trusting in its high places and mountainous strongholds, Edom reckoned that no one could bring it to account for its actions. The defining characteristic of the nation
of Edom was pride. Interestingly, Jeremiah uses the word pride symbolically as a synonym for Babylon (Jer. 50:31, 32). Pride incites insolence and rebellion toward God, and it brings shame (Prov. 11:2) and destruction (Ezek. 7:10–12). The "pride of your heart" of which Jeremiah speaks is "presumptuous godlessness," the arrogance of those who think that they can thrive without their Creator.
Rather than being robbed randomly, the nation would be systematically pillaged (see Jer. 49:7–10).In your confederacy referred to the nations who were allied with Edom in a covenant relationship, at peace and eating bread with them. Jacob: Esau and Jacob were brothers, the sons of Isaac and Rebekah. The Judeans who had been taken into captivity would come back as deliverers, and they would reign over the people of Edom. the kingdom shall be the Lord's: These were Obadiah's last words against all human arrogance, pride, and rebellion. Edom had thought itself indestructible; but the Lord humbled that nation and restored the fallen Judah. Many people are tempted to consider themselves beyond the reach of God. But God will bring them low, just as He will lift those who humble themselves before Him. And one great day, He will establish His just rule over all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark 9

There will be a last generation, the very people who will experience the end of times as we know them. Could it be this generation? There is life after death. And how we will spend it depends upon our acceptance or rejection of the Son Of God. There is no other way to be saved but in Him. He is our Redeemer. He is the only way to the Father and in Him is all that is good and true. No one but the Father knows the day but the signs are all around us. Now is the time to turn our life over to Jesus and be saved. We must place ourselves and those we love into the loving arms of the Father. Only He can heal our wounds, only He change us. In our human love we want to protect those we love, in the process, we can make them dependent upon us and not dependent upon Him. We are refined in affliction. We are sanctified through the Holy Spirit in ways that are beyond our understanding but necessary to transform us into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. We only need to ask Jesus to come into our life. He cares about us. He has always known you, always, from the womb He knew you. Now is the time to know HIM.
He wants that no one perish. He will help us with our unbelief if we only ask. It is not about our righteousness but His righteousness. It is not about our worthiness but His worthiness. Remember, ALL things are possible to him who believes. ALL THINGS!

14 And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. 15 Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. 16 And He asked the scribes, "What are you discussing with them?"

17 Then one of the crowd answered and said, "Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. 18 And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not."

19 He answered him and said, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me." 20 Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.

21 So He asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?"

And he said, "From childhood. 22 And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."

23 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."

24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"

25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!" 26 Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, "He is dead." 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.

30 Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it. 31 For He taught His disciples and said to them, "The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day." 32 But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him.

33 Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, "What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?" 34 But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. 35 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them,  "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all." 36 Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, 37 "Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me."

38 Now John answered Him, saying, "Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us."

39 But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. 40 For he who is not against us is on our side. 41 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.

42 "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea. 

49 "For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another."

 

 

 

John 9

Jesus is the light of the world. He was sent so that we who live in darkness can see spiritual truth. When we perceive that God is and that He sent His Son into the world to save us from our sins, our eyes are opened. In Jesus and through the Holy Spirit we see and understand those things that once were hidden. In Jesus we hear and understand His love and longing for all people to be saved. What we can perceive to be truth, what we can hear and see with understanding, we can receive. I have made so many mistakes that so many times I say nothing, so not to bring my shame upon Him. By not speaking have I allowed the darkness to overcome the light within me? Satan loves to kill, steal from and destroy God's children. We need to be as gentle as doves but as wise as serpents to see Satan's disguises. The very things that come into our life, and we consider good, can be the very things that were made to destroy us. Our only hope is in the power of God, (Father, Son and Holy Spirit,} to never leave or forsake us. God controls all things and nothing happens that He is not aware of. In our life are areas where we can help others. If we have overcome sexual abuse, mental or physical abuse, drug addiction, alcoholism, we can help others. We can be His loving arms. If we have been poor, homeless, have experienced adultery, or suffered the death of a child we can be His hope to others that in Him they will survive. Life happens, sometimes it is overwhelming. He can take the very things meant to destroy us and turn them for our good. We were made to reveal His glory. Now, His ways are beyond our understanding, but one day we will understand His perfect plan and our place that was in it.

9 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"

3 Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. 4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

6 When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. 7 And He said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.

8 Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, "Is not this he who sat and begged?"

9 Some said, "This is he." Others said, "He is like him."

He said, "I am he."

10 Therefore they said to him, "How were your eyes opened?"

11 He answered and said,  "A Man called Jesus
made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, 'Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.' So I went and washed, and I received sight."

18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight. 19 And they asked them, saying, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?"

20 His parents answered them and said, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself." 22 His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."

34 They answered and said to him, "You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?" And they cast him out.

35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, "Do you believe in the Son of God?"

36 He answered and said, "Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?"

37 And Jesus said to him, "You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you."

38 Then he said, "Lord, I believe!" And he worshiped Him.

39 And Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind."

 

 

 

 

Jeremiah 46

As Christians, we need to put on the full armor of God, without it we cannot stand. Fully protecting our mind with the helmet of salvation, our heart with the breastplate of righteousness, our vital organs, our loins girded with truth, going where He leads us, our feet shod with the gospel of peace and yielding our biggest weapon, The Holy Spirit, the sword of faith. We need to be His light to the world but we need to separate ourselves from the sin of this world. Unless, God be in it, it will not stand. If we try to do our own thing, even a good thing, outside of His will for us, it will fail. Oh Father, open our minds to perceive You, our eyes to see You, our ears to hear You, and our heart to receive You. If we don't take a stand against the injustice of this world, we, in our silence, have given sanction to it. What does the Lord require of your stay here on earth? He requires you to be fair to all people, love mercy and freely forgive as He has forgiven you in the sacrifice of His Son and walk
humbly, knowing that He is God. He made all and controls all. Nothing happens without His knowledge, nothing! Put your trust in Him, you will be corrected, but you will be saved! Fear not for God is with you.

3 "Order the buckler and shield,

And draw near to battle!

4 Harness the horses,

And mount up, you horsemen!

Stand forth with your helmets,

Polish the spears,

Put on the armor!

5 Why have I seen them dismayed and turned back?

Their mighty ones are beaten down;

They have speedily fled,

And did not look back,

For fear was all around," says the Lord.

7 "Who is this coming up ilike a flood,

Whose waters move like the rivers?

8 Egypt rises up like a flood,

And its waters move like the rivers;

And he says, 'I will go up and cover the earth,

I will destroy the city and its inhabitants.'

10 For this is the day of the Lord God of hosts,

A day of vengeance,

That He may avenge Himself
on His adversaries.

11 "Go up to Gilead and take balm,

O virgin, the daughter of Egypt;

In vain you will use many medicines;

You shall not be cured.

12 The nations have heard of your shame,

And your cry has filled the land;

For the mighty man has stumbled against the mighty;

They both have fallen together."

14 "Declare in Egypt, and proclaim in Migdol;

Proclaim in Noph and in Tahpanhes;

Say, 'Stand fast and prepare yourselves,

For the sword devours all around you.'

15 Why are your valiant men swept away?

They did not stand

Because the
Lord drove them away.

16 He made many fall;

Yes, one fell upon another.

And they said, 'Arise!

Let us go back to our own people

And to the land of our nativity

From the oppressing sword.'

25 The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, says: "Behold, I will bring punishment on Amon of No, and Pharaoh and Egypt, with their gods and their kings—Pharaoh and those who trust in him. 26 And I will deliver them into the hand of those who seek their lives, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the hand of his servants. Afterward it shall be inhabited as in the days of old," says the Lord. 27 "But do not fear, O My servant Jacob,

And do not be dismayed, O Israel!

For behold, I will save you from afar,

And your offspring from the land of their captivity;

Jacob shall return, have rest and be at ease;

No one shall make him afraid.

28 Do not fear, O Jacob My servant," says the Lord,

"For I am with you;

For I will make a complete end of all the nations

To which I have driven you,

But I will not make a complete end of you.

I will rightly correct you,

For I will not leave you wholly unpunished."

The NKJ study Bible puts it this way:

The main message of these oracles is the sovereignty of God over all the nations of the earth. God is the true and sovereign King over all the armies of heaven and earth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nana and Cait

Pictures of Easter

What a group and what fun!! Just click on the pics to enlarge.....I am off to church....have a blessed day!

The Rug Rats

Mommy and Me

John 7

It is harder for those closest to us,that know our failures, to give credence to our beliefs. We never totally know someone. The majority of Christians keep their beliefs hidden inside and rarely speak about them. We can never let the perceptions of others or even our own perceptions of ourselves to hinder us from speaking. The bottom line is that it is not about us, or our worthiness, but about Jesus and His worthiness. The very people in charge of God's temple were the very ones who sought to kill His Word. The religious right, the scribes and pharisees, out of fear of losing their power and authority over the common people, sought to kill Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. Many believed Jesus but were afraid to say it publicly for fear of being thrown out of the synagogue. How sad that man was willing to deny his only real hope for fear of being kicked out of the power group. Is it any different today?

7 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. 2 Now the Jews' Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. 3 His brothers therefore said to Him, "Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. 4 For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world." 5 For even His brothers did not believe in Him.

6 Then Jesus said to them, "My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. 8 You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come." 9 When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee.

10 But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. 11 Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, "Where is He?" 12 And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, "He is good"; others said, "No, on the contrary, He deceives the people." 13 However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews.

14 Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught. 15 And the Jews marveled, saying, "How does this Man know letters, having never studied?"

16 Jesus answered them and said, "My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. 18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him. 19 Did not Moses give you the law, yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill Me?"

20 The people answered and said, "You have a demon. Who is seeking to kill You?"

21 Jesus answered and said to them, "I did one work, and you all marvel. 22 Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 23 If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? 24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment."

28 Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, "You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. 29 But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me."

37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

40 Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, "Truly this is the Prophet." 41 Others said, "This is the Christ."

45 Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, "Why have you not brought Him?"

46 The officers answered, "No man ever spoke like this Man!"

47 Then the Pharisees answered them, "Are you also deceived? 48 Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him? 49 But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed."

50 Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus by night, being one of them) said to them, 51 "Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?"

The NKJ study Bible says this:

The Jews here means the religious authorities, not the people in general. Many common people had responded to Jesus with joy. The Feast of Tabernacles was one of the three great Jewish religious festivals. The feast commemorated the days when the Israelites wandered in the wilderness and lived in tents. The middle of the feast would have been the fourth day of the seven-day feast. During the first half of the festival Jesus remained in seclusion. During the second half He began to teach publicly. Jesus' statement indicates that He did not receive His teaching from the rabbis, nor did He fabricate it. Instead His teaching came directly from God. The test of a teacher is whether or not he delivers God's message. Jesus reminded the leaders that they knew His origin. Their problem was that they did not know God, who sent Jesus. He explained to them that He knew God, was from God, and was sent by God. God is sovereign and He alone sets the time. As with Jesus, so with us; no one can touch us without the Father's consent. In contrast to the leaders, many of the Jewish people believed because of the miracles Jesus performed. Jesus' time on earth was limited; soon He would be crucified and then ascend to the Father. His life was not determined by the Jewish religious leaders, but by the Father. There will be a river of water coming out of those who believe in Christ. Not only will they be satisfied themselves, but they will also become a river so that others may drink
and be satisfied. John explains that Jesus was speaking of the Holy Spirit who would satisfy personal thirst and produce a perennial fountain for the satisfaction of others. The Holy Spirit would come after Jesus' crucifixion and ascension. The Pharisees accused the people of being ignorant of the Law and thus under God's curse (see Deut. 28:15). The irony of the situation was that it was the Pharisees, not the crowds, who were under God's wrath because they had rejected His Son). Nicodemus made a plea for justice, but his plea was rejected.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Haggai 2

The coming glory of God's House

There will be a generation of believers that will rebuild and restore the House of God once last time. It will no longer be abused by some as a money maker. The little foxes of strive and jealousy will be taken out. In His House there will be peace. In His House all the fruit of the Spirit will be manifest. The Bride of Christ will be made ready to meet her Groom. We must be willing to stand up for what we hear God telling us. We must be His hands and His voice in a troubling and decaying world. We cannot fear what others think of us. We must be doers and not just hearers. The Holy Spirit is refining us in affliction. The dross, the waste, is being poured off and what is left will be pleasing to God and will benefit all His people. We will become One Body, with every part in place, to do His will. From the day that we ask Jesus into our life, the seed is planted, and is at work in us. In unity the Holy Trinity, the mind, body and spirit of the living God, take out the old, change us from within, and refine us to be used for the glory of God. God is all knowing, all seeing and all powerful. He knows who will or will not receive Him from the beginning of time. He chooses whom He wills, to do His will. He wants that no one perish but that all have everlasting life. Jesus is the plumb line that is set on the horizontal line of the cross of salvation where heaven meets earth, for life or death. God gives everyone the opportunity to choose life…..take it! It is offered in His mercy and shouts Grace, grace to those who choose to accept it. Those who believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, are sealed by the Holy Spirit. We are in the process of sanctification and we will be changed, precept upon precept.

2:1 In the seventh month, on the twenty-first of the month, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying: 2 "Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying: 3 'Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing? 4 Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,' says the Lord; 'and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land,' says the Lord, 'and work; for I am with you,' says the Lord of hosts. 5 'According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!'

6 "For thus says the Lord of hosts: 'Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; 7 and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,' says the Lord of hosts. 8 'The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,' says the Lord of hosts. 9 'The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,' says the Lord of hosts. 'And in this place I will give peace,' says the Lord of hosts."

17 I struck you with blight and mildew and hail in all the labors of your hands; yet you did not turn to Me,' says the Lord. 18 'Consider now from this day forward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day that the foundation of the Lord's temple was laid—consider it: 19 Is the seed still in the barn? As yet the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yielded fruit. But from this day I will bless.' "

20 And again the word of the Lord came to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, saying, 21 "Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying: 'I will shake heaven and earth.

23 'In that day,' says the Lord of hosts, 'I will take you, Zerubbabel My servant, the son of Shealtiel,' says the Lord, 'and will make you like a signet ring;
for I have chosen you,' says the Lord of hosts.

The NKJ study Bible puts it this way:

The twenty-first of the month by our calendar would be October 17, 520 b.c. In the ancient Jewish calendar this day was the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles. During this holiday the people of Israel lived in booths, or temporary shelters, commemorating their departure from Egypt when they lived in temporary shelters in the wilderness. I am with you: The Lord's words to the people (1:13) were the same as His great words to Moses. God brought the people back from Babylon as He had brought them back from Egypt. God would be present with them. Finally, the mission in the Promised Land was the same, to build a place for the true worship of God. The people's captivity in Babylon had not rescinded the covenant relationship that insured God's presence with His people. The purpose of the day of the Lord is to prepare the earth for the glorious reign of Jesus Christ on earth. God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, the gold in all coffers, and the wealth of all nations. Peace includes good health, well-being, and an abundant life. The term speaks of everything being as it ought to be. The people had worked hard to rebuild the temple, only to be told that their worship would be unacceptable in the new temple. The existence of the temple itself guaranteed nothing.
The hearts of the people had to be in harmony with the sacrifices being made. Despite God's acts of withholding His blessing, the people still had not turned fully back to Him. God determined to bring His blessing on His people, but He demanded that they recognize Him as the source of their great productivity. Haggai focused on the power of God to do as He wills among the nations. He institutes the rule of His Son as King of king. God used this imagery to indicate that Zerubbabel was in His hand, that he was highly valued, and that he represented God's authority in his leadership of the people. Even though the people had been told they were still unclean in God's eyes (see 2:10–14), their leader Zerubbabel was encouraged to guide them through those spiritually trying times. Signet ring is derived from a verbal root meaning "to affix a seal," "to seal up," or "to fasten by sealing." The signet in OT times was an engraved stone set in a gold or silver finger ring, bracelet, or armband (see Song 8:6). When pressed upon wax or soft clay, the ring left the impression of the personal insignia of the bearer .The signet ring was like an identification card or badge in the ancient world (Gen. 38:18). It symbolized status or position and the binding nature of the authority attached to items sealed by the ring (

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proverbs 22

Seek Him and you will find Him. Knock and the door will be open. Ask for knowledge and He will give you the Holy Spirit to open your eyes and ears to hear Him. The only thing that pleases God is faith. In the measure that we believe Him we receive Him. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross broke the veil that separated man from God. We who believe in Him can go directly before the throne of God to ask for help, guidance and forgiveness. What a glorious God we serve!! God loves the common ordinary man, rich or poor, male or female, black, white or pink, He loves us all. We need to care for those that cannot care for themselves. It is not a choice, it is a mission. In the measure that we give we receive. This is true in most things whether it be love, forgiveness or monetary help to those who need it. If God loved people enough to give His life for them what more do we need as an incentive to be loving, caring individuals. If we are always judging others, we will be judged in the same manner. Compassion and empathy go a long way in pleasing Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Fear of the Lord is a wise thing. He loves us the way we are but He loves us to much to leave us the way we are. We will be changed, the easy way or the hard way, but we will be changed. Strife and contention are the little foxes that stop the unity of the Spirit. We must remember we are mere men….and prone to sin. Forgive freely or give it to God and let Him make a way where there seems to be no way. Grace, grace amazing grace!! Fear of failure and the unknown stops us from being successful. My daughter, Marla gave me a framed saying for Christmas many years ago with the quote "What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?" How sadly true. It still sits on my desk to remind me to always push forward and never give up! God makes His truth known to us so that we can answer others who come to us for help. Without God there is no wisdom or understanding. The Father gives to each of us a measure of talent. Our job is to find those areas of talent and to use them for His glory. We must be thankful for His gifts and work hard to perfect them.

Proverbs 22

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,

Loving favor rather than silver and gold.

2 The rich and the poor have this in common,

The Lord is the maker of them all.

4 By humility and the fear of the Lord

Are riches and honor and life

8 He who sows iniquity will reap sorrow, 

And the rod of his anger will fail.

9 He who has a generous eye will be blessed,

For he gives of his bread to the poor.

10 Cast out the scoffer, and contention will leave;

Yes, strife and reproach will cease.

12 The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge,

But He overthrows the words of the faithless.

13 The lazy man says, "There is a lion outside!

I shall be slain in the streets!"

16 He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches,

And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty.

17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,

And apply your heart to my knowledge;

18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you;

Let them all be fixed upon your lips,

19 So that your trust may be in the Lord;

I have instructed you today, even you.

20 Have I not written to you excellent things

Of counsels and knowledge,

21 That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth,

That you may answer words of truth

To those who send to you?

22 Do not rob the poor because he is poor,

Nor oppress the afflicted at the gate;

23 For the Lord will plead their cause,

And plunder the soul of those who plunder them.

24 Make no friendship with an angry man,

And with a furious man do not go,

25 Lest you learn his ways

And set a snare for your soul.

29 Do you see a man who excels in his work?

He will stand before kings;

He will not stand before unknown men.

The NKJ study Bible puts it this way:

God makes both the rich and the poor. This means that those who favor the rich over the poor have not only missed the point of creation, they have insulted the Creator. There is no wisdom in being reckless. The route to the good life—riches and honor and life is humility (see Mic. 6:8) and the fear of God. A person who lives by violence is likely to die violently; a person who lives wickedly should not be surprised if he falls victim to crime. A good eye observes the needs of others first. A bad eye sees only its own self-interest. The eyes of human beings are simply not trustworthy. Ultimately, all human affairs are in God's hands, even though at times the wicked prosper. God made both the poor and the rich and He will justly determine their destinies . A person's trust must be in the Lord. Most violations of justice target poor and afflicted people because they are weak and defenseless. But anyone who does this makes an enemy of God, who will plead their cause. People must feel a certain sense of public trust and fairness for society to function.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1st Peter 1

We are foreknown by God, and sanctified by the Spirit, so that we can serve in obedience through the cleansing of the precious blood of Jesus Christ. We are refined like silver in the trials we face in life. If we remain faithful in the trials it shows the depth of our faith. Those trials bring praise, honor and glory to Jesus Christ. We, thorugh our faith in Jesus Christ, believe in God, so that our hope rest in God. We are purified in the furnace of affliction. How can we, who are kept by the power of God, be holy as He is holy? How can we who are saved by the incorruptible, perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ be obedient to the grace given to us by God the Father? We must rest our hope completely on the grace of Jesus Christ. He is able, through the sanctification of the precious Holy Spirit, to do the will of God in our life. Only in Him and through Him can we do what God is calling us to. He will lead us into our part in building the House of God, the Bride of Christ, and through love it will stand. Oh God, I am not worthy to receive You but only say the word that l may be cleansed. It is not about our worthiness but His worthiness!

To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 in this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy.

22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart

The NKJ study bible explains it this way:

Peter received a special commission from the Lord to act with official authority as God's representative among believers, in order to carry God's message to them. 1:2 Believers are chosen to be included in God's family, not on the basis of what they have done or who they are, but on the basis of God's eternal wisdom. Sanctification is the ongoing process whereby the Holy Spirit works in believers, making their lives holy, separated from their old ways and to God in order to be more like Him. One reason that God chooses us is so that we might serve Him. Our salvation is grounded in God's mercy, His act of compassion toward us despite our condition of sinfulness. Hope here does not imply a wishfulness but rather a dynamic confidence that does not end with this life but continues throughout eternity. God has set aside in heaven a wonderful inheritance that is waiting for us even now. Trials refers to ordeals that we encounter in life rather than those things that would induce us to sin. As the purity of gold is brought forth by intense heat, so the reality and purity of our faith are revealed as a result of the fiery trials we face. Ultimately the testing of our faith not only demonstrates our final salvation but also develops our capacity to bring glory to the Lord Jesus Christ when He comes into His kingdom and we reign with Him. There is a final, positive outcome for trusting God through all the difficulties of life—our salvation. Although humans may preach God's message of salvation, ultimately the Holy Spirit is the One who proclaims these great truths. Even the angels are amazed at what a wonderful salvation God has enacted on our behalf. We need to do whatever it takes to focus our thoughts on those things that allow us to serve God successfully, all the while eliminating any thoughts that would trip us up. We need to exhibit confidence that God will accomplish all that He promised He would do. We need to remember that God is both our merciful Savior and our holy Judge. God bought our freedom, paying for us with His Son's life. God's way of salvation is contrasted to human attempts at gaining salvation through the use of earthly means. Peter describes Christ as the ultimate sacrificial Lamb, who is offered in our place to pay the price for our sins. God has known the One who would bring salvation, even as He has known those to whom that salvation is offered and secured. We accomplish the purification of our souls by obedience to God's truth. The purpose of studying God's truth is not only to learn more, but to become mature in the faith. Christians are part of God's great spiritual building project