Pathway…

 

Pathway….

This past month, the Pilgrim’s Path In Jerusalem has opened to the public…winding its way from the pool of Siloam to the Temple Mount, another pathway walked by Jesus. They have been working on excavation for years…

“The Pool of Siloam represented God’s provision and protection over Jerusalem. The waters became a source of life during a difficult time, representing God’s peaceful care for Judah. “

https://www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/what-is-the-pool-of-siloam-in-the-bible.html

As I was reading the first verses of Psalm 96,

 Sing to the Lord a new song;sing to the Lord, all the earth. 

Sing to the Lord, praise his name;proclaim his salvation day after day. 

Declare his glory among the nations,his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

Ps.96.1-3

I just envisioned singing that as you went up hill to the temple…I don’t know that they did, just my imagination…singing a new song, praising the Lord, declaring his Glory and marvelous deeds….why not sing?

Thank YOU…

https://www.timesofisrael.com/2000-year-old-pilgrimage-road-to-temple-mount-opens-to-public-after-years-of-digging/

From the Pool of Siloam to the Temple Mount: Jerusalem’s pilgrimage road reopens - Israel365 News

The Times of Israel spoke to some of the first people to walk the path.

Israeli resident Shira Greenspan said, “It was just the biggest honour to be among the first people to rewalk these steps … I  thought it was just like a perfect blend of experiential, funny, and meaningful. It did not feel dry; it felt alive and real. You’re suddenly connected across thousands of years. It’s just breathtaking.

“To be here with Jews and non-Jews from all over the world makes you feel like you are a little stone in a big story,” she added.

2,000-year-old 'Pilgrim's Path' opens in Jerusalem - Christian Today

Grateful….(this gets a little loud, but he is grateful….)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag08JVZhP9M

Glasses…

 Glasses…

I had a friend who wore necklaces of glasses…she put this necklace on every morning first thing and took it off last thing at night…three or four glasses, each with an attached necklace…

That way she could choose which pair of glasses she needed throughout her daily tasks….she laughed about them, and her reliance on those necklaces…their nosiness…

I don’t have the necklaces but I have glasses at various places that I work…one pair for the computer, one pair for Bible reading, one pair for all purpose wear and the last for nighttime reading in bed…4… it would make quite a necklace too…I wanted to see wherever I am…seeing is so important…I find I need it….

What do we need to see in the Word? We see with our reading eyes, our heart as the 

Word finds its way into our soul and teaches us…it gives us light to our situations…shows us 

God….

Thank YOU….

 For the Lord is righteous,he loves justice;the upright will see his face.

Ps.11.7

 Let my vindication come from you;may your eyes see what is right. 

As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face;when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.

Ps.17.2,Ps.17.15

 Taste and see that the Lord is good;blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. 

Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days,

Ps.34.8,Ps.34.12

 For with you is the fountain of life;in your light we see light. Hope in the Lordand keep his way.

He will exalt you to inherit the land;when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.

Ps.36.9,Ps.37.34

 Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.

Ps.119.18

 See if there is any offensive way in me,and lead me in the way everlasting.

Ps.139.24

 Ears that hear and eyes that see—the Lord has made them both.

Prov.20.12

I see you…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6wvzx6pUhbc&list=RD6wvzx6pUhbc&start_radio=1&pp=ygURaSB3YW50IHRvIHNlZSB5b3WgBwE%3D

1 john 4

 

1 John 4

With so much happening in the world, I need this reminder today…maybe more than just me…so will share…

 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 

This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. 

This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming 

and even now is already in the world. 

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 

They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 

We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. 

This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. 

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 

No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, 

God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 

This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: 

He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 

If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.God is love. 

Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 

This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 

There is no fear in love. 

But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. 

The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 

We love because he first loved us. 

Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. 

For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 

And he has given us this command: 

Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

1John.4

Thank YOU…

The answer was love….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOShhF9Bxig

 

 Sing to him a new song;play skillfully, and shout for joy. For the word of the Lord is right and true;he is faithful in all he does. The Lord loves righteousness and justice;the earth is full of his unfailing love.

Ps.33.3-5

 He put a new song in my mouth,a hymn of praise to our God.Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.

Ps.40.3

 Sing to the Lord a new song;sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name;proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations,his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

Ps.96.1-3

 Sing to the Lord a new song,for he has done marvelous things;his right hand and his holy arm have a worked salvation for him.

Ps.98.1

 Praise the Lord.Sing to the Lord a new song,his praise in the assembly of his faithful people.

Ps.149.1

 Sing to the Lord a new song,his praise from the ends of the earth,you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it,you islands, and all who live in them.

Isa.42.10

 …. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Eph.5.18b-20

 And they sang a new song, saying:“You are worthy to take the scrolland to open its seals,because you were slain,and with your blood you purchased for Good persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.

Rev.5.9

 

A gentle book….

 

A gentle book…

“Theo of Golden is the endearing story of a curious old man who quietly moves into a southern city and, for reasons unknown to anyone but himself, undertakes a campaign of anonymous generosity. 

Theo’s love for people, combined with his fondness for books, art, birds, and story, unite in a colorful expression of outreach and affection. 

Stories are shared, friendships are born, and lives, in response to his inexplicable kindness, are affirmed and transformed. 

The old man, no stranger to sadness and loss, quickly becomes a welcome presence in the community but his new friends and neighbors wonder, who is Theo? And why is he here? 

Beautifully written stories of kindness and neighborliness are always timely, but perhaps especially so now. 

Meet Theo of Golden. He’s happy to meet you”….

I friend sent this book to me…I didn’t know I needed it until 

I started reading…it is not a great theological book, it is a simple gentle book….that is the only way I can describe it and it speaks to my heart that I need right now…I need that gentleness, that encouragement that comes through the pages….how we can be gentle, caring of others…speaking  words of encouragement to people’s hearts…looking at their soul and encouraging that fruit of the spirit to the forefront in other’s lives…….encouragement to show how God is working in the lives of others….

  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Matt.11.29

 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Eph.4.2,Eph.4.3,Eph.4.4,Eph.4.6,Eph.4.29,Eph.4.30,Eph.4.31,Eph.4.32

 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

Phil.4.5

 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. 

Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Col.3.12-14

 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. 

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

1Pet.3.4,1Pet.3.15

Thank YOU…

Gentle Shepherd….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw0WLM85aW4

Instrumental….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVuf6ldrFgk

 

 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. 

Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John.14.1,John.14.27

Hardened hearts…

 Hardened hearts….

 Today, if only you would hear his voice, 

“Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah,as you did that day at Massah in the wilderness….

Ps.95.7b-8

Meribah means quarreling…

Massage means testing….

Do we see ourselves in either of these circumstances?   Hardening of our hearts results in so much…I will let the word speak for itself…

 Blessed is the one who always trembles before God,but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.

Prov.28.14

 But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory.

Dan.5.20

 because they all saw him and were terrified.Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

Mark.6.50-52

 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 

This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:“Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 

For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts,so they can neither see with their eyes,nor understand with their hearts,nor turn—and I would heal them.” 

Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him. 

Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. 

But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praise more than praise from God.

John.12.37-43

 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.

Eph.4.18

do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion,during the time of testing in the wilderness, 

As has just been said:“Today, if you hear his voice,do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” 

This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted:“Today, if you hear his voice,do not harden your hearts.”

Heb.3.8,Heb.3.15,Heb.4.7

I would rather be blessed than have a hardened heart as the Word speaks about so aptly…

Bible study notes…

“A hardened heart is as useless as a lump of clay, or a hardened loaf of bread. Nothing can restore it r make it useful……when someone’s heart is hardened that person is so stubbornly set in his ways that he or she cannot turn to God….” Useless, worthless as old stale bread or hardened clay…

Our goal should be useful in God’s world, moldable…

Thank YOU…

Have thine own way…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERT7d_HF2Lk