Memorial Day Concert 2022

 Memorial Day concert 2022…

One of my favorite programs to watch yearly is the Memorial Day Concert in Washington D.C.

Presented in honor of the past and present military personnel…

Great music, great stories, great scenery…great patriotism…great honor…great faith…

Stories of heroism, stories of faith, stories of grief, stories of people-past and present…encouragement to march forward…

“They gave up their tomorrows for our todays”…

The show…

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kb88V9dEoGs

The songs…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCzLU8gnWAQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0uTz7uur8I

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

https://www.history.com/news/how-did-taps-originate

Closing song….

Words and Music by Irving Berlin] 

(Originally composed in 1918 and later revised by him in 1938) 

While the storm clouds gather far across the sea, 

Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free, 

Let us all be grateful for a land so fair, 

As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer. 

God bless America, 

Land that I love, 

Stand beside her, and guide her 

Through the night with a light from above. 

From the mountains, to the prairies, 

To the oceans, white with foam 

God bless America, My home sweet home 

God bless America, My home sweet home. 

source: https://www.lyricsondemand.com/miscellaneouslyrics/patrioticsongslyrics/godblessamericalyrics.html

We have had a great nation…yes,  there are dark times…times not to be proud of…

It has been blessed with people, resources…beauty, abundance….freedom …a place people from all over the world desire to come either to visit or to stay…the most giving county in the world…

It rests on our shoulders to be good stewards of the freedom, the resources, the people…to be a beacon of light shining in the darkness…to do good…

Going around Washington D.C., there are stone memorials one after another where scripture is chiseled in place to show the roots with which our ancestors shared, lived by…God was written in the hearts of people as well…we have been gifted a great heritage here on earth…much more so a gift of Himself…after leaving this temporary journey, in a temporary land…a gift of eternal life through Christ…

Thank YOU…

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

John 3:16-17 

Fresh salmon….

 

Fresh salmon…..

Last night we fine-dined on fresh salmon…all because one of my family members stopped to help a stranded motorist…I realize that we don’t always get rewards for kindnesses done, but  in this case there was…

These following verses are just a quick reminder of our “work”…of being kind….God’s kindness which is meant to lead us to repentance…thank YOU…

Also, this is Memorial Day….and the thankfulness toward those who have served/serve this country…your deeds of serving, your kindness, giving all, I thank you…

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

Romans 2:4

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Colossians 3:17,23-24

And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.

Titus 3:14

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 5:22-24,6:2

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 4:32

Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble.

Philippians 4:14

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 

And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. 

And be thankful. 

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:12-17

https://mvotd.com/mobile/watch.php?vid=7d445241a

The blessings of communication…

 The blessings of communication…

Yesterday I was talking with a friend in Mozambique with the app “What’s App”, a bank in Zambia via Western Union, another friend via “Messenger”, a family member via “FaceTime”, other family members via “texting”, connecting with others around the world via “Facebook” and “blog spot” ( which can be translated into the language they need), plus using the phone, snail mail, emails…and just talking face to face….

I remember my grandparents wind up black phone which hung on the wall in their ranch house. You had to stand up to the ear piece held to your ear, waiting for the neighbors to finish their conversations so you could take your turn on the multi-family line.

A graduate, the other day, who couldn’t speak, gave her graduation speech via a computer generated voice, robo calls sprinkle everyday to my life as well,  or I communicate via “words with friends” to another friend…send photos instantly to others…we can watch stories unfold around the world via satellite….

Communication has come a long way just in my generation…it came a long way in previous ones as well…

For all the “modernization “ we have, the written Word of God still communicates directly to our hearts…God Speaks to us through it…the Holy Spirit speaks truth to our being…He has written eternity on our hearts that we may listen, fellowship, learn, grow, praise, meditate, pray, sing songs of praise…then hidden in our hearts, lest we forget it….

While you can receive the Word in many communication modes, translated fully into 704 languages out of 7,106 living languages…the New Testament is translated into 1,551 languages, parts of the Bible into 1,160 additional ones…we have a long way to go to get it into every heart language…but,  there is progress …information from Biblica.com

Thank YOU…for your Word…written spoken to my heart….

I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me!

Psalm 119:15,18-19 

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Psalm 119:103,105 

They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,

Luke 24:32,45

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Romans 15:4

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Repeat and repeat….?…

 

Repeat and repeat…?

“Are you willing to carry the lessons you learned in this season and follow Him into the next chapter He has for you?” From Lion Devotional, Elevation worship…

I was caught by this question from a devotional….am I learning the lessons this time around so that I don’t have to repeat the lessons again?

There used to be a saying, “well, if I don’t learn the lesson God is trying to teach me, I will be going around Mount Sinai again”…alluding to the Israelites’ 40 years of wanderings in the desert…

It would be simpler to learn the first time around, than have to repeat it…although many times we get the lesson repeated and we learn deeper and deeper things, we go for class 401 rather than 101…

And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.

1 Thessalonians 2:13

“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! 

Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? 

Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. 

Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. 

Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. 

Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you. 

“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. 

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.  

“For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Isaiah 55:1-12 

Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Psalm 19:13-14

Thank YOU….

Provides…

 Provides….

Finishing Genesis with provision…I thought it interesting that Joseph promised provision for his family, when they fearfully wondered how he would react toward them after the death of their father…he loved them, forgave them, cared for them, brought them under his care…but they still feared…but God had provided their sustenance….food foretold, saved for the time of famine…land for them in which to dwell…

It reminded me of Abraham a few generations before, walking up the mountain with his son, Isaac…to sacrifice, in obedience to God’s direction…was there a bit of fear in either Isaac or Abraham? Abraham declares, “God will provide….”

And He did with a ram “caught in a thicket”, nearby…

As  we move forward into historical accounts, God provides food, water for the Israelites in the desert, the promised land in which to dwell, filled with food not of their labors…

God Provides….thank YOU….

And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. 

And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. 

So they went both of them together. And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” 

And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 

Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” 

So they went both of them together. So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”

Genesis 22:6-8,14

So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

Genesis 50:21

Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. 

Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them. Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever. 

He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and merciful. 

He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever.

Psalm 111:1-5 

Crisis of faith…

 Crisis of faith…

There may be times in our lives that we are tested….we may feel they come too hard, too much, too soon…but they still come…

I was once given a diagram of this… a circle…you added  a conviction that you were learning to stand with…then of course, there was a test to see how committed you were…the circle continued to move around, until the next conviction, with yet another test… each adding to your life, growth after growth…you either “passed” each test and moved forward or got to repeat the test…Not sure this is a true picture of all convictions or growth, but for some lessons it is/was…I needed some repeated lessons apparently to grow stronger or dependent in certain areas…each test was a crisis of faith…some were humongous, others hardly a blip…but lessons, all…

One was learning to praise, giving thanks in all circumstances…in the good times and the extremely “bad”….this didn’t come easy…our natural tendency is not to see good in the bad…grumbling all the way…

Another was letting go…of unborn children…of grandparents as they died, then my mother…followed by my husband and my father…those first years of anguish and growth…pain and sorrow…tears and “ unfulfilled “ expectations ….letting God take more and more of the burdens…handing over the “controls” to his leading…facing new tasks, new chapters in life…hoping…

Thank YOU…

 https://www.crosswalk.com/family/marriage/how-to-survive-the-first-year-of-grieving-a-loved-one.html?utm_source=Daily%20Bible%20Living&utm_campaign=Daily%20Bible%20Living%20-%20BibleStudyTools.com&utm_medium=email&utm_content=6507329&recip=488704412&aps=d491a43856e21b587867b447453a930de9780b237aec2d5b87b5802fcc4d8c3d&PC=OUTLIOS&FORM=OUTLSB

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Romans 15:4

For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

1 Corinthians 10:1-13

https://www.holylandsite.com/kadesh-barnea

https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/what-is-a-crisis-of-faith.html

"Abide"

(feat. Aaron Williams & Dwell Songs)

For my waking breath for my daily bread

I depend on You I depend on You

For the sun to rise for my sleep at night

I depend on You I depend on You

You're the way the truth and the life

You're the well that never runs dry

I'm the branch and You are the vine

Draw me close and teach me to abide

Where the Spirit leads as I'm following

I depend on You I depend on You

For the victories still in front of me

I depend on You I depend on You

You're the way the truth and the life

You're the well that never runs dry

I'm the branch and You are the vine

Draw me close and teach me to abide

Be my strength my song in the night

Be my all my treasure my prize

I am Yours forever Your mine

Draw me close and teach me to abide

When I pass through death as I enter rest

I depend on You I depend on You

For eternal life to be raised with Christ

I depend on You I depend on You

You're the way the truth and the life

You're the well that never runs dry

I'm the branch and You are the vine

Draw me close and teach me to abide

Be my strength my song in the night

Be my all my treasure my prize

I am Yours forever Your mine

Draw me close and teach me to abide

I depend on You I depend on You

I depend on You I depend on You

I depend on You I depend on You

I depend on You I depend on You

They wept…

 They wept…

There are over 60 times that the scriptures record times that people wept…various reasons, various times…

There are some tender moments in the lives of some of the Biblical figures…

By count, Joseph of the Old Testament, wept a recorded amount of 9 times…he wept upon seeing his brothers, father at various occasions…but, that last time he wept was after his father had passed away, when his brothers confronted him with their lack of trust that he had forgiven them for their past behavior toward him…he had told them before that he had forgiven them, provided for them, accepted them, given them land…and yet their guilt still persisted…they hadn’t accepted their forgiveness from him…and he wept at their lack of trust of him….he must have thought, “ haven’t I shown you and told you that I have put the past behind me?, I love you”….and he weeps…

‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

Genesis 50:17-21

Nehemiah wept for his homeland…upon hearing that the remnant of people were in poor straits and the wall of Jerusalem were torn down…God’s beloved city torn apart…

At Various times, I have seen pictures of God’s chosen return to Israel, weeping as they are coming back to their homeland….that is my picture of Nehemiah weighted down by the anguish of his homeland in shambles…convicted that he needs to go and help repair it…praying that he may a part of Jerusalem’s restoration…confessing the sins of the people…praying in adoration of God who keeps covenant and stead fast love….

As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. And I said, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father's house have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’ They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cupbearer to the king.

Nehemiah 1:4-11

And most memorable is Jesus looking at Jerusalem again…weeping that they didn’t see the truth…the making of peace…the rejection of Him…the future fall of the favored city…

And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side 44 and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

Luke 19:41-44

What makes us weep?  The tender times, the sorrowful times, the downtrodden times, the mourning times, the pity-party times, the “why can’t you see it?” times, the joyful times, the “I’m sorry” times, the “I’ve had enough times, the “I can’t help it times”, the remorseful times, the “I can’t control it” times, the “ I can’t make it happen” times, the “seeing the consequences “ times, the disappointment times, the shameful times, etc. …

Whatever the weeping times are, Jesus is there with us…through the thick and thin, the good and the bad…

Thank YOU…

Gardens along the way…new landscaping…

 Gardens Along the way….new landscaping….

Finally, the weather is breaking enough for walking…working in the yard…still cool enough to be comfortable…warm enough not to freeze…not raining at the moment…

I walked an old path yesterday, hadn’t been that way for awhile ….many residents out industrially working in their yards…many redoing their yards…new rock, less lawns, new vision with new homeowners, trees disappearing, new flowerbeds, new drip systems, more raised gardens, new trees, repairing existing watering systems…etc….people ready for a break in their labors and ready to talk to strangers….

I thought of the Israelites coming into the promised land…everything was already ready for them…a land “flowing with milk and honey” as promised. Their “new landscaping “ was to take it…realize their gift, realize God keeps his promises, that He gave it to them…prepared it for them… and follow Him…cultivate their hearts toward Him…as we still need to do…believe and still receive that promise of salvation…a renewed heart through belief in Christ as our Savior…our promise…our gift…

Thank YOU…

and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey.”’

Exodus 3:17

Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.

 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 

And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 

You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 

You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 

You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. “And when the Lord your God brings you into the land that he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you—with great and good cities that you did not build, and houses full of all good things that you did not fill, and cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant—and when you eat and are full, then take care lest you forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 

It is the Lord your God you shall fear. 

Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear. 

You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you— for the Lord your God in your midst is a jealous God— lest the anger of the Lord your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth. 

“You shall not put the Lord your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah. 

You shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and his testimonies and his statutes, which he has commanded you. 

And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may go well with you, and that you may go in and take possession of the good land that the Lord swore to give to your fathers by thrusting out all your enemies from before you, as the Lord has promised. 

And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are this day. 

 And it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to do all this commandment before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us.’

Deuteronomy 6:3-19,24-25 

Let your hands be strong…

 Let your hands be strong….

Yesterday I embarked on a six week commitment of physical therapy on my hand…two times a week at the therapist’s….three times a day at home with a list of exercises…I want to get my strength back in my hand…I want it strong again…I want to use it to do all the things our hand do without restrictions….so I will work at it….

My mom had a stroke due to blood poisoning from an untreated infection….an artist, this greatly restricted her use of her main hand…as I was taking care of her to gain full strength again, which she did, she would diligently practice her hand exercises. This, in time, paid off as she was able to paint again, to teach again…let your hands be strong…

There are three times in scriptures where the phrase , “ let your hands be strong” is repeated…and they caught my eye this week in particular…coincidence…I think not…

Of course, the scripture is not speaking to my hand exercise…they are issued to the Israelites hundreds of years ago…but, they are issued as an encouragement…and I liked the commentary from Biblehub has to say…”taking courage to accomplish”….

Thank YOU that even small phrases from your Word speak to our hearts…You are truth….

 

Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Let your hands be strong, you who in these days have been hearing these words from the mouth of the prophets who were present on the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built. 

And as you have been a byword of cursing among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing. Fear not, but let your hands be strong.”

Zechariah 8:9,13

“This phrase does not refer specially to their courageous continuation of the building of the temple, but has the more general meaning of taking courage to accomplish what the calling of each required,”. Biblehub.com

And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. When they told David, “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul,” David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead and said to them, “May you be blessed by the Lord, because you showed this loyalty to Saul your lord and buried him. Now may the Lord show steadfast love and faithfulness to you. And I will do good to you because you have done this thing. Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be valiant, for Saul your lord is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”

2 Samuel 2:4-7

http://www.couragekindled.com/musings/let-your-hands-be-strong

Graduations….👩‍🎓👨‍🎓…

 Graduations….👨‍🎓👩‍🎓…

This weekend I had the honor of attending a graduation of two graduates whom I have known for awhile…last year a similar one with others…watching my oldest grandchildren graduate from high school, and in the next few years their collage graduations…then the next set of younger ones advance through the grades as well…time does march on…

At the same time I have been reading through and meditating on a 21 day devotional for writers…each day an encouragement, a thought about direction…

The graduations and the devotional mesh so well with one another…the devotional could be for any vocation…the life’s path of anyone could be substituted for the word “writer”…

Thank YOU….

How can a young man keep his way pure? 

By guarding it according to your word. 

With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! 

I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. 

Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes! With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth. 

In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. 

I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; 

I will not forget your word.

Psalm 119:9-16 and much more of Psalm 119…

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 

giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Ephesians 5:15-17,20

who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

2 Timothy 1:9

13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

John 16:13

so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:7-9

The Lord  bless you and keep you; 

the Lord  make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord  lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Philippians 1:6,4:13

For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.

Ezra 7:10

Our skin….

 Our skin….

When our children were little, we read  a book called “ the magnificent machine” for a morning devotional…it was all about how our bodies were/are such intricately, creatively made by a wonderful Creator…

I thought of this again when my second cast was removed from my forearm, wrist and hand…the scaly skin…shedding, shedding , shedding…down to a soft supple new layer(for awhile) of skin…

“Skin is the largest organ of the human body. It is an impressive and vital organ. It is a fleshy surface with hair, nerves, glands and nails. It consists of hair follicles which anchor hair strands into the skin.”

Interesting article…

https://byjus.com/biology/structure-and-functions-of-skin/

Simple diagram of the layers of skin….shedding…





(What a weight loss program, wonder if that counts…8 lbs a year if you live til 75)

I know not everyone is interested in skin shedding…but it just shows me another creative part of God…everything has its purpose…our skin protects, hold us intricately together with its layers upon layers…renewing itself quietly as we live our day to day lives…

It puts a new spin on the song, “morning by morning new mercies I see…”

1. Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

• Refrain:
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see:
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

2. Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.

3. Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow—
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! 

https://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Great_Is_Thy_Faithfulness/

Just a simple lesson on skin, further eliminates, for me again, the theory of evolution….we are so magnificently made…by God who saw his creation as “good”…

Thank YOU…. 

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. 

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 

My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 

 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

Psalm 139:13-16

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Genesis 1:31

There is no comma….

 

There is no comma….

There is a list of uses of the “comma” in sentences…I remember one teacher saying that the use of a comma is like taking a breath  in a sentence…

“Rule 5b. If something or someone is sufficiently identified, the description that follows is considered nonessential and should be surrounded by commas.”  Grammar Book…

And why am  bringing this up…it was about the word, “behold”…

In the ESV translation, the word “behold “ is used over 1000 times…most with a comma following the word.  Each time a description follows behold…

Such as, “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

John 1:29

Or, to list a few…

And say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord.

Zechariah 6:12

Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.

Psalm 54:4 

And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

Job 1:12

Then Joseph said to the people, “Behold, I have this day bought you and your land for Pharaoh. Now here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land.

Genesis 47:23

And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Genesis 1:29,31 

7 “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” 12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.

Revelation 22:7,12

There are two very striking verses in the book of John where there is no comma, no need of a breath, no need of an explanation….Pilate, who wanted nothing to do with Jesus’ judgment, who washed his hands of Jesus’ death…says, “behold the man…behold your King”….

“So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” 

Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”

John 19:5,14

I don’t know what went through Pilate’s mind or his thinking…but, he presented Jesus without a comma…

It brings to mind the verses…

for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” 

So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Romans 14:11-12 

so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:10-11

Most of the people may not  have realized it then, with Pilate, but like the centurion at the cross, there will come a time when we will…”behold the King”….

When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

Matthew 27:54 

Thank YOU….

Doxology…

 

Doxology….

The second song I learned as a child was the Doxology…we sang it every Sunday during church service…

As we replaced this over the years with more contemporary praise songs, it still remains a mainstay of proclamation of praise…I am glad to have this small piece of praise history included still in the worship in church…

we sing this in praise to God…

1 Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. ….Amen…

“doxology

: a usually liturgical expression of praise to God….

Doxology passed into English from Medieval Latin doxologia, which in turn comes from the Greek term doxa, meaning "opinion" or "glory," and the suffix -logia, which refers to oral or written expression. It's logical enough, therefore, that "doxology" has referred to an oral expression of praise and glorification since it first appeared in English around 1645. The word ultimately derives from the Greek verb dokein, meaning "to seem" or "to seem good." Two cousins of "doxology" via "dokein" are "dogma" and "paradox." More distant relatives include "decent" and "synecdoche." The Gloria in Excelsis and the Gloria Patri are two of the best-known and most often sung doxologies in contemporary Christianity.”

Merriam Webster 

https://www.christianity.com/wiki/church/the-doxology-its-meaning-and-importance-in-christianity.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVhsCq8fzMI

For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations, and sing to your name. 

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 

Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. 

There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. 

In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. 

Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat. 

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. 

Who can discern his errors? 

Declare me innocent from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! 

Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Psalm 18:49,19:1-14

Thank YOU….

Mining for wisdom…gold…

 Mining for wisdom…gold…

As I was reading Job 28, I couldn’t help but want to add pictures, illustrations of the words found there…as my husband was a geologist…

Job 28

“Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold that they refine. Iron is taken out of the earth, and copper is smelted from the ore. 



Man puts an end to darkness and searches out to the farthest limit the ore in gloom and deep darkness. 

He opens shafts in a valley away from where anyone lives; they are forgotten by travelers; they hang in the air, far away from mankind; they swing to and fro. 



As for the earth, out of it comes bread, but underneath it is turned up as by fire. Its stones are the place of sapphires, and it has dust of gold. 

“That path no bird of prey knows, and the falcon's eye has not seen it. 

The proud beasts have not trodden it; the lion has not passed over it. 

“Man puts his hand to the flinty rock and overturns mountains by the roots. 

He cuts out channels in the rocks, and his eye sees every precious thing. 









(This from a midsized open pit mine in Nevada, the bottom rung of the ladder on the front of the haul truck is about three feet off the ground, trucks carry 300 tons, I believe…gold is measured in parts/billion, so super small…)

He dams up the streams so that they do not trickle, and the thing that is hidden he brings out to light. 

“But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? Man does not know its worth, and it is not found in the land of the living. The deep says, ‘It is not in me,’ and the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’ 

It cannot be bought for gold, and silver cannot be weighed as its price. 



It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire.  



Gold and glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold. 

No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; the price of wisdom is above pearls. 

The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, nor can it be valued in pure gold. 



Topaz, rough…

“From where, then, does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding? It is hidden from the eyes of all living and concealed from the birds of the air. 

Abaddon and Death say, ‘We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.’ “God understands the way to it, and he knows its place. 

For he looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. 

When he gave to the wind its weight and apportioned the waters by measure, when he made a decree for the rain and a way for the lightning of the thunder, then he saw it and declared it; he established it, and searched it out. 

And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

Job 28:1-28



My late husband looking at mining claim markers…



This picture was on the wall of my late husband’s office…

With Psalm 1:1 at the bottom…

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

Psalm 1:1-2

My husband would be the first to admit it wasn’t by his wisdom, power that put this gold mine into place…Only a great Creator God could do this…as well as give wisdom to those who seek it…

Thank YOU….

Compensation….

 Compensation….

Before I start on the title, I have to admit to grumbling a bit during this one armed ordeal….

I was walking up the steps of the local Post office…grumbling along the way…it seems like it takes twice as much  time to do things with one arm, the other arm gets tired, need to watch balance more, etc., etc., etc…..so attitude was not thankful in that moment…

I turned the corner after opening the heavy door to enter and coming toward me was a woman, shorter, older, on crutches with one leg…not one in a cast waiting to be healed, but missing…

And she smiled at me as I held the door for her with my one arm…a sharp arrow to my grumbling…

Okay,  back to compensation,  I have learned to do a lot of compensation…my pointer finger has become my “thumb” for a bit, while my middle finger has tried to become my pointer for  a little grip on easy things, my other hand has taken up the slack somewhat…neither has done the job well and all get tired doing double duty….

All of our body parts have a function…they do what they do the best…when one is missing in action, others try to help and are a helpful, but the whole is thankful when everything is working is their rightful places…

Sounds a bit like the family, the body of Christ…we fit together to work together in the places for which we are designed….everything goes much more smoothly when everyone is not trying to compensate for a broken or missing part…

Thank YOU…for Your plan…

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 

If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 

And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 

If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? 

If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 

If all were a single member, where would the body be? 

As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 

On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. 

But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 

If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

1 Corinthians 12:12-27

Micah 6:8…He has shown me….

 

Micah 6:8. He has shown me….

This praise song keeps ringing through my mind this morning…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5Tb4-riE7o

It is from a portion of scripture found in the book, Micah…subtitled, “ What does the Lord require?

“With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? 

Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 

Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? 

Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” 

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Micah 6:6-8

We are studying through Zechariah and came to a similar passage in Sunday School yesterday .

“Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.”

Zechariah 7:9-10

Solomon touches on the same theme….

Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.

Proverbs 21:21

Isaiah …. 58

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? 

Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 

Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ 

If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. 

And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

Isaiah 58:7-11

35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Matthew 25:35-40

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

Romans 2:4

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

James 1:27 

Just few verses…of kindnesses, faithfulness, stewardship, giving…here in Idaho, we have just finished a week of giving, “ Idaho Gives”, with much donated to many causes…just starting the Pregnancy center giving for this next month….there are always causes to fund…camps, food banks, building projects, benevolent funds….we each have to search our hearts to hear what God wants us to do…where to expend our energies….

Thank YOU….

Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

1 Corinthians 4:2

Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.

Hosea 10:12

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Galatians 6:9-10

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 

As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” 

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 

You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 

For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.

2 Corinthians 9:6-12

Here I am, there you are….

 Here I am, there you are…

A friend recently shared these two attitudes with me…

When we enter a room, what do we portray….The “look at me, serve me” or “ I am here to serve you”….convicting, isn’t it…

Jesus addressed this situation… 

And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces 39 and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 40 who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” 

And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Mark 12:38-44

Solomon speaks of it…

One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.

Proverbs 29:23 

Isaiah brings it up…

 And the haughtiness of man shall be humbled, and the lofty pride of men shall be brought low, and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.

Isaiah 2:17

Jeremiah talks of  Moab…

We have heard of the pride of Moab— he is very proud— of his loftiness, his pride, and his arrogance, and the haughtiness of his heart. I know his insolence, declares the Lord; his boasts are false, his deeds are false.

Jeremiah 48:29-30

Obadiah wrote of it…

The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, “Who will bring me down to the ground?” Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the Lord.

Obadiah 1:3-4

John conveys it…

For all that is in the world— the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life —is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

1 John 2:16-17

So what attitude do I need…

Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! 

Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. 

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Psalm 19:13-14

For the Lord  takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.

Psalm 149:4 

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.

Proverbs 11:2

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Galatians 1:10

rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 

Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 

When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 

13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 

15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 

16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

John 13:4-5,12-16

Thinking through this last scripture, Jesus washed all of his disciples’ feet, even Judas, who would betray him…Jesus served his betrayer….just as he died for all…even those who deny him…

Thank YOU….help me to be the “there you are” servant….

A thoughtful quote…

 “A lie doesn’t become truth. wrong doesn’t become right. And evil doesn’t become good. Just because it’s accepted by the majority “…Booker T. Washington…

A thoughtful quote…

This quote by Booker T. Washington brought to mind many instances/quotes from scripture that show the same…

On a trip across America, our family stopped at Tuskegee University after having studied about Mr. Washington in school…it was quite impressive…

George Washington Carver was also a professor there. He prayed about the many uses of the abundant crop of peanuts and sweet potatoes…coming up with a multitude of recipes…

https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/booker-t-washington#:~:text=Booker%20T.%20Washington%20%281856-1915%29%20was%20born%20into%20slavery,advised%20Presidents%20Theodore%20Roosevelt%20and%20William%20Howard%20Taft.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Booker_T._Washington

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington_Carver

The Word addresses lies, liars, deceivers ….from the garden where Satan deceived Eve  to the end when Satan, the deceiver, is thrown into the lake of fire…

Over the ages, lies still don’t become truth…no matter how much we polish, shine and reword it…

I would ask that we seek truth…the Holy Spirit teaches us and leads us into truth…

Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.

Psalm 25:5

Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.

Psalm 86:11 

The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.

Psalm 119:160

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 

17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. 

26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

John 14:6,17,26 

Thank YOU…

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

Genesis 3:1-5,13-15 

But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped.

Psalm 63:11

44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

John 8:44

Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.

1 John 2:22

And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world— he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

Revelation 12:9

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Revelation 21:8

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 

This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

1 Timothy 2:1-6 

Preparedness….

 Preparedness….

As I watch, storms, wars, floods, fires..the thoughts of preparedness for these survivors has kept coming to mind…and then in Bible study we touched on it as well…being prepared to leave, evacuate quickly…what do you take at a moment’s notice…what do you fill a box or suitcase with…what is important…what do we need…

One article lists the “p’s of preparation …

• “People

• Pets

• Papers (important documents)

• Phone numbers

• Prescriptions (medications and glasses)

• Pictures (and other mementos)

• PCs (for the info stored on them)

• Plastic (credit cards, cash)

• Planning”

(Notice, no clothing😊)

There are a multitude of articles, a few listed below…

From Genesis to Revelation, the word “prepare” is used…preparing meals, the temple, preparing for war, etc…man’s preparations and God’s preparations…

Reading through some of God’s preparations, I so appreciate them…He has and is preparing so much for his own…our preparation is coming to Him in repentance and humility believing on the Lord Jesus Christ…no suitcases of papers, worldly goods, no amount of money or credit cards, identification, extra food…he has all we need…

Thank YOU….

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Psalm 23:5

2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

John 14:2-3

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—

1 Corinthians 2:9

For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

2 Corinthians 5:2-5

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Revelation 21:1-4

https://washingtondnr.wordpress.com/2014/07/29/be-ready-for-wildfires-with-the-9-ps-of-preparedness/

https://www.ready.gov/kit

https://www.aarp.org/home-family/your-home/info-2020/emergency-preparedness.html?cmp=KNC-DSO-COR-DisasterPreparedness-15205-Bing-EmergencyPreparedness-Phrase-NonBrand&&msclkid=15a1135b65d311a4a2bc71290883995a&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Core-DisasterPreparedness-NonBrand-Phrase&utm_term=emergency%20preparedness&utm_content=Emergency%20Preparedness&gclid=15a1135b65d311a4a2bc71290883995a&gclsrc=3p.ds

https://createthegood.aarp.org/volunteer-guides/operation-hurricane-prepare.html

https://www.aarp.org/politics-society/history/info-2019/surviving-deadly-wildfire.html

Touchstone…..to basis…to cornerstone…

 

Touchstone…to basis….to cornerstone…

Definition of touchstone

1

: a fundamental or quintessential part or feature : BASIS

Definition of basis

1

: the bottom of something considered as its foundation

Definition of cornerstone

1

: a stone forming a part of a corner or angle in a wall

specifically : such a stone laid at a formal ceremony

2

: a basic element : FOUNDATION……Merriam Webster 

“The cornerstone (or foundation stone or setting stone) is the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation. All other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.” Wikipedia…

Was reading about “touchstones”, places that we have in our lives that may bring peace, change, a foundation….they may be painful places or not, a physical place, or emotional or spiritual…places our hearts long for or not, places that can make us who we are…they can build us up, tear us down…and  we may need to lay a new touchstone to replace a painful one…make a new foundation for our lives…

The definitions of touchstone goes into basis…what is our basis of life? We have to answer that…and find the real foundation….the cornerstone…the stone the sets the standard…

We each make that decision…

Who or what is my foundation?

Joshua, of long ago made the  statement, “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord .”

Joshua 24:15b

Thousand of generations since then have made their choice one way or another…who will be their foundation and we are still making it now….

Thank YOU….

The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

Psalm 118:22

therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’

Isaiah 28:16

Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

Matthew 21:42

This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Acts 4:11-12

built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Ephesians 2:20-22

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 

For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 

So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”

1 Peter 2:4-7 

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,  not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

2 Peter 3:9-10

The sun, the moon, the stars….

 The sun, the moon, the stars….

Yesterday was an eclipse…I watched it sporadically as it was happening in the Southern Hemisphere….recording in the Antarctic….

Just so interesting…the lifestream screen included running comments from people all over the world…

From…”this is boring”, to “why is this taking soooo long”, to “amazing”…

With political comments thrown in and God’s word quoted…salvation proclaimed as well as prayers for the Ukraine, to “ hey, no religious/political stuff”….

Yet, we all still watched God’s creation….thank YOU….

https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Sun-Moon-And-Stars-Before-God

https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/bible-verses-about-solar-eclipse/