Beginning and end…

 Beginning and end…

The Word speaks of various seeking Jesus…at first to worship him as the Messiah…the shepherds, the magi, others…

Others were seeking Him not to worship but for death, jealousy…

At the end others still sought him for the exactly the same reasons…

Mothers wept…for their sons…

But, the job was done, and Jesus was victorious both at the beginning of his earthly life…and the end…

Thank YOU l…

Matthew 2:7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Matthew 2: 16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

18 “A voice is heard in Ramah,
    weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
    and refusing to be comforted,
    because they are no more.”

John 11: 55 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. 56 They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple courts they asked one another, “What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?” 57 But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so that they might arrest him.

John 19: 28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Where I find God…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lzl8-_4qzyk

A quiet place,,,

 

A quiet place….

A nearby park, a couch ,  camping, a bed, the ocean, a hilltop….etc, a place we seek as our quiet place…

Jesus chose the village of Ephraim before the turmoil …he knew what was ahead, not years of peace but Passover, celebrations of the getaway from slavery to freedom to the promised land of milk and honey…

How do we prepare for the times ahead?…..do we seek quiet for contemplation or a madhouse of activity…

Jesus knew a battle was coming..he would fight over our souls, the sins  that entrap…death…coming out victorious…fulfilling a promise given ages and ages ago…because he loved us…

Thank YOU …..

John 11:54 Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples

“It represents a place of refuge and preparation, highlighting the humanity of Jesus as He sought solitude and time with His disciples before facing the culmination of His earthly mission.”

“By withdrawing to Ephraim, Jesus ensured that His ultimate sacrifice would occur according to God's sovereign plan, during the Passover in Jerusalem.”

“In summary, Ephraim serves as a testament to Jesus' strategic movements during His ministry, reflecting His awareness of the political and religious climate of His time. It highlights the tension between Jesus and the Jewish authorities and underscores the divine orchestration of events leading to the fulfillment of His redemptive work.”

https://biblehub.com/topical/naves/e/ephraim--a_city_in_the_territory_of_ephraim--jesus_escapes_to,_from_the_persecution_of_caiaphas.htm

“The city of Ephraim, while not as frequently mentioned as other biblical locations, holds theological significance in the narrative of Jesus' ministry. It represents a place of refuge and preparation, highlighting the humanity of Jesus as He sought solitude and time with His disciples before facing the culmination of His earthly mission. The retreat to Ephraim underscores the tension between Jesus' growing popularity and the increasing opposition from religious authorities.

Furthermore, Ephraim's association with the tribe of Ephraim connects it to the broader narrative of Israel's history and God's covenant promises. The tribe of Ephraim, as part of the northern kingdom of Israel, played a significant role in the unfolding account of God's people, often symbolizing both blessing and waywardness.

In summary, the city of Ephraim serves as a geographical and theological waypoint in the biblical narrative, offering insights into the life and ministry of Jesus and the historical context of the tribe of Ephraim. Its mention in Scripture invites reflection on themes of refuge, preparation, and the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan.”

https://biblehub.com/topical/naves/e/ephraim--a_city_in_the_territory_of_ephraim.htm#google_vignette

https://christholdfast.org/places-in-the-bible/ephraim-city-in-the-bible/

Quiet place…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KicY80RKBtQ

Intrigue….

 Intrigue….

My children read books that had several story lines….”if this happened, would you choose a,b, c for the next chapter…” each choice would lead to another group of choices and then this or that would lead to another conclusion…

I was thinking about those books this morning, reading in John…the Bible is a book of intrigue…

John 11: 45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.

“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”

49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”

51 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. 53 So from that day on they plotted to take his life.

We read the Word from a distance, seeing how various historical things happened….we see some of the behind the scenes…like the plotting, the prophecies being fulfilled,  what people talked about, etc…

Why Moses was saved in the basket, the working of the angels, the puzzle pieces/the chess movements of nations …and so on.

God is not playing a game however…He has a purpose for everything He does…from the Creation to the end times, the Revelations…Eternity…

Will we choose to believe or be the “tattletales” who caused such rifts  and lies for their own good…?

It is just interesting how He moves…and He is still working in our lives and times to come..how do we fit into the final plan…

Thank YOU, that You know the eternal plans…

These are the days of Elijah…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ca9LnzJnpjQ&list=RDca9LnzJnpjQ&start_radio=1

 And the shortest Bible verse is…..?

John   11:35…Jesus wept…

Some say He wept because of the peoples’ unbelief, while others say He wept because of his friends were sorrowing…

Luke 19: 41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.

There are several places in the old and New Testaments that speak of weeping…

Joseph weeping at the reuniting with his father and brothers, a joyous weeping…

The women at the tomb, seeing Jesus, a joyous weeping…Jesus weeping over Jerusalem, a sad weeping…

We hear the words…”why are you crying?”…and someone will reply.   “Oh, it is happy tears”…

Or later the same question…with a different answer, “oh they are so sad “….

With “Jesus wept”…he could have been overcome with sorrow for his friends…bothered that the sister lost their brother, or he had lost his dear friend…

But, only he knew that he was able to raise Lazarus from the dead even after four days…

it shows me that Jesus will weep with us in our sorrow…he care, he comforts…

Thank YOU…

Lazarus, come forth…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKb5U8LHRZI

Reading…

 Reading….

The other day I got a quick message from one of my grandchildren…

“ just finished reading all the way through the Bible”…

What a priceless privilege  to know that…I know others have done it and hopefully more will do it…but, I pray that a hunger for the Word  will touch their souls all their lives…

Thank YOU….

Psalm 19:9b-11 The decrees of the Lord are firm,
    and all of them are righteous.

10 They are more precious than gold,
    than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
    than honey from the honeycomb.
11 By them your servant is warned;
    in keeping them there is great reward.

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Word of God Speak….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PbUNhbeBZM

For good…

 

For good…

Gensis50: 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

 John 11:4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

I have to admit that there are events in our lives that don’t feel so good and I don’t feel or see how they can be for my good…sickness, death, etc, etc, etc….they are not good in my scheme of things…but, God has such a higher purpose and I have to go with it…it just is for good….and this side of heaven, I may never know what the purpose was for…except for faith building…sometimes we can see the answers , but it seems like most of the time, we don’t…

Several years ago, one of our friends was fired  from his ministry…it was heart breaking, he was excellent at the job, but due to personality conflict and other issues, his job was terminated for him…heartbreak, confusion, etc reigned…as months went by with prayer and expectation….a better ministry evolved and he enjoyed a dream come true until he retired…that conflict turned into a “for good” a gift from God, an opportunity that would only could be reached by the route that God orchestrated…

That event was such a picture personally, that when I witness a hard time, I ask now, what good is coming out of this event…what is God doing “for good”?….i may never know, but there is the expectation of God’s glory being shown!….

Thank YOU….

To God be the glory…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IRrqCCkkFo

Go…

 Go….

Matt 28:16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Last night I had the honor of listening to someone’s testimony of how they came to Jesus, to following Him…oh 8 have heard so many stories of salvation, but it is always a reminder of how God works in so many ways in the lives of people…

Men leaving their fishing nets to follow…

A light blinding a man to call him to tell the world ….

To name a couple…

But, I still appreciate hearing a personal story…

The one I heard last night was of a college student from Mongolia, traveling to the Ukraine to college…his favorite professor was from Kentucky who invited his students over for dinner to tell them why he was in the Ukraine, and laid out the gospel of Jesus, then discipling those who believed…continuing to share Christ…

Isn’t that a roundabout way? This college student, now a husband and father, is studying airplane mechanics to help others hear the gospel in other places in the world…

Other stories…

A student joined the military to get away from the gospel, only to be surrounded by Christians…

A student who went away to college to begin a new life away from  the church…

A young g man going to a tent evangelism to hear the gospel…

A young girl jailed only to be confronted with a jail Bible teacher…

An Itinerant Bible teacher going from one small town to another spreading the Word to logging camps, mining camps…

Another young woman, abandoned at a orphanage, desiring to belong to someone, found Jesus at a small Sunday School …

An angry middle schooler went to a Good News club because his sister invited him…

A child, realizing his/her need to be saved…

Each person has a story of their salvation journey…each just as important as the other…each just as eternity bound ….

God seeks through His Word…there is no denying that He loves us, desiring that none should perish, that all come to Him wanting his gift of salvation…through faith in Jesus Christ…

Thank YOU…

I have decided…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8jvfdDtoqY