Reformation Day…

Something else to celebrate….just think that we have the written Word, because of this event…God wrote his letter to each of us and we can hold it in our hands, our heart…give it to others, learn from it, be encouraged by it, be able to read and share of God’s salvation …

https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/reasons-christians-should-celebrate-reformation-day.html?aps=87dbe57c95f8aaf799abcd0402e81a2173de59a0a968659e7eee66ca7f4d67ae&utm_content=711367_20261031_1496&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=lst_cw_crosswalk_daily_update_2&utm_source=newsletter&bt_ee=+8GYticI6fZocasFX2MtQxPtCLc7LTrpJTxbyXCaSIBN2Ng0lMQ89g/InJVwdu0O&bt_ts=1793441200126

“Halloween numbers show that “Boo!” is big business in America. Consumer spending on the holiday is expected to reach about $13.5 billion this year.” Epoch News…

This is so temporary…God’s Word is eternal….

https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/what-is-reformation-day-christian-meaning.html

Thank YOU….

Psalm 119…

Word of God speak…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqsnGE3_dsg

Books of the Bible…

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

 Disheartened….

“Instead of being disheartened by the condition of the world, I wanted my followers to be lights shining in the darkness…..focus less on bemoaning evil and more on working to create something that is good.” Sarah Young, Jesus Always….

I don’t know about you, but I am getting tired of politics right now…I love our country, don’t get me wrong… but the back and forth of words and attitudes, the slinging of slurs and scoffing is tiresome….and for those who live in countries who don’t have the freedom we do to vote, I am sorry…I appreciate our freedoms, I just get tired of the words and backbiting…and the darkness it spurs…

Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Isaiah 5: 20 Woe to those who call evil good

    and good evil,

who put darkness for light

    and light for darkness,

who put bitter for sweet

    and sweet for bitter!.

Jeremiah 17: 9 The heart is deceitful above all things,

    and desperately sick;

    who can understand it?

John 13: 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

2 Chronicles 7:14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.

I thank God who bestowed his goodness upon this land…please, Lord, help us to be the shining light, to love those around us, to stand for good… help us to follow You…

Thank YOU….

How firm a foundation…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL1ZCyW8HJc

 

Beware and consider…. 

There are so many connections in the Word…reading in Exodus the other day…I found these verses…I was immediately drawn to Jesus and his last night…

Woe to be a wicked person…

Woe to be a liar…

Woe to those who take bribes…

Woe to have a crooked heart…

Woe to be a betrayer…

Not much good said about any of those…

Exodus 23: 23 “You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness. 2 You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice….

6 “You shall not pervert the justice due to your poor in his lawsuit. 7 Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent and righteous, for I will not acquit the wicked. 8 And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of those who are in the right.

Proverbs 6:19 a false witness who breathes out lies,

    and one who sows discord among brothers……

12 A worthless person, a wicked man,

    goes about with crooked speech,

13 winks with his eyes, signals with his feet,

    points with his finger,

14 with perverted heart devises evil,

    continually sowing discord;

15 therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly;

    in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.

Matthew 26: 14 Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.

Matthew 26:59 Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, 60 but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward 61 and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’” 62 And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy.66 What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.” 67 Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, 68 saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?”

We are to…

Psalm 37: 1 Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
    be not envious of wrongdoers!
2 For they will soon fade like the grass
    and wither like the green herb.

3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;
    dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
    and your justice as the noonday.

7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
    fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
    over the man who carries out evil devices!

Plus….

Psalm 37 song….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvpXmh5hRWw

 Weight of the world… 

These verses struck me the other day as I was Listening through the last chapters of Exodus….

“Bear the judgment of the people of Israel on his heart before the Lord ….”

The responsibility, of that task as Aaron went before the Lord is heavy…as a person in the group of people whose judgment he was bearing, I would want to be as good as I could so that his burden was lighter…

Exodus:28:29 So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment on his heart, when he goes into the Holy Place, to bring them to regular remembrance before the Lord. 30 And in the breastpiece of judgment you shall put the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be on Aaron's heart, when he goes in before the Lord. Thus Aaron shall bear the judgment of the people of Israel on his heart before the Lord regularly.

When I think of the verse about sin, that we all have sinned, not just a few, but all…we did the same to Jesus…he took all of our judgement, everyone’s…the whole world…for all time…the weight is infinite…so heavy that only God could do it…no mortal could do it…it is hard to fathom in my finite mind….

What a God….what a Redeemer….

Thank YOU….

1Peter 2: 24a He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.

Psalm 119: 66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge,

    for I believe in your commandments.

Romans 11: 33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord,
    or who has been his counselor?”

2 Corinthians 5: 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Teach me your ways…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhasPQ6Lvos

 Comfort verses…#?

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you (Isaiah 26:3 NIV).

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth (Isaiah 53:7a NIV).

Jesus performed many other signs [miracles] in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name (John 20:30-31 NIV).

Heaven’s my throne, earth is my footstool. What sort of house could you build for me? What holiday spot reserve for me? I made all this! I own all this!” God’s Decree. “But there is something I’m looking for: a person simple and plain, reverently responsive to what I say” (Isaiah 66:2 MSG).

Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding (Jeremiah 3:15 NIV).

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! (Romans 11:33 NIV)

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you (Luke 11:9 NIV).

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you (John 15:7)

Thank YOU…

Still…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_n6dfB2Z-Ko

 

Mountains….

Part of yesterday, I was immersed in a collection of rocks…was thinking about Genesis 1, where the Word tells us of the separation of land from the waters…”dry land” …but it doesn’t say anything about the mountains thy must have appeared on that dry land…those descriptions don’t come until later…

Genesis 1: 9 And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.

There are over 150 references to mountains, both huge ones and small…we support a missionary in Nepal….those are big mountains!!!! As well as missionaries in the deserts…no mountains…

Deuteronomy 33: 15 with the finest produce of the ancient mountains

    and the abundance of the everlasting hills,

Psalm 95: 4 In his hand are the depths of the earth;

    the heights of the mountains are his also.

Psalm 104:8 The mountains rose, the valleys sank down

    to the place that you appointed for them.

9 You set a boundary that they may not pass,

    so that they might not again cover the earth.

Proverbs 8: 25 Before the mountains had been shaped,

    before the hills, I (wisdom) was brought forth,

Isaiah 54:10 For the mountains may depart

    and the hills be removed,

but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,

    and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,”

    says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

Amos 4:13 For behold, he who forms the mountains and creates the wind,

    and declares to man what is his thought,

who makes the morning darkness,

    and treads on the heights of the earth—

    the Lord, the God of hosts, is his name!

But mountains exist all over the world….whose heights seem to reach the sky and those which are small, rolling grain covered ones…all have their beauty…

After looking at a few of the rocks collected by one man, and our family’s history with rocks,  the creativity of God is so profound in just one area of creation…the colors, the uses, for formation, the types of rocks are so amazing…so precise…

With that same precision, He made us as well, beauty, Colors, types, uses, formation….so amazing….

Thank YOU….

Shout to the Lord…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He8Is3vcgM8

 I will tell…

Psalm 9:1 I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;

    I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.

2 I will be glad and exult in you;

    I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

Reindeer people….



https://www.viewmongolia.com/reindeer-people-dukha-tribe-mongolia.html

Okay, we are going from airplanes going to ends of the earth to northern Mongolia where the reindeer people live…(the website is really interesting)…

Why, because the Gospel is going there with the Jesus Film  being shown with the YWAM teams from the capital of Ulaanbaatar…these teams have been showing it in the towns, now going to the ends of Mongolia…there was push in the 1990’s to show it all over the country..and the movie was even on public TV to show values and morals to the country just coming out of atheistic Communist rule.At that time, it was estimated that there were less than 10 Christians in the whole country…now, thirty years later, there are many Christians but a whole new generation…and better technology…

In the 1990’s, showing the movie involved a big reel to reel movie projector and electricity…Now a 5 lb. Digital Projector,solar powered, a flip up screen that people can watch on both sides.

My connection?

My husband went to Mongolia for the first push with the Jesus Film in the 1990’s…then one of my daughters went as well…my husband met the person who is showing it now (my husband passed away 14 years ago). I ate breakfast with the man who is showing it this week and heard his stories.

I just love to see the connections, generation to generation…God working in each one…I love the stories that are lived…there is good happening in the world…

Including some photos taken of the reindeer people …the YWAM people drove to end of the road and then still had 12 hours to get there…

Thank YOU…

Jesus loves the little children….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzGnEcx37u4

 

From dinner to dedication….

When I used to teach, my goal was to help my students discover new truths …to see the light bulbs blink on when students caught the concept that I was teaching…to understand….and use that information to further explore…to observe what was going on around them…

My poor children, as we traveled or going down the road were always, hearing , “ oh look at that_____!”….

So, if you will bear with me…”look at that plane”….

I went to the dinner for MAF this weekend. Yesterday was a plane dedication…”dedication,you say” ….why dedicate a plane?”

When we dedicate our children to the Lord, we ask God to put his hand of blessing on their lives….we ask those around us to pray for them, to be good examples to them and we ask for prayer for us as parents to be the best we can…to help them grow to be the best they can be In whatever God has planned for them…

Dedicating a plane is similar…Ask God to put his hand of blessing on that plane…that it would carry out the mission that it was built for…help it have a long and safe life….that the pilots be safe, that the people it will serve will give God the glory for its help…

Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Thank YOU….

“MAKING DISCIPLES … AT THE ENDS OF THE EARTH

Each year, MAF provides aviation services to more than 400 mission agencies, churches, and humanitarian organizations around the world. Without MAF, some of these organizations would be unable to reach the people they serve. Through these partnerships, MAF connects isolated people with vital services and goods while sharing the love of Christ in a tangible way.

This is how we carry out our mission of serving together to bring help, hope, and healing through aviation.”https://maf.org/what-we-do/

“MAF is the world’s largest humanitarian air operator

Mission Aviation Fellowship is the world’s largest humanitarian air operator, flying medical supplies, doctors, and nurses to places no one else can reach and ensuring critical care gets to where it’s needed most.  Your donation means that together, we can bring help, hope and healing to isolated people in need.”https://maf-uk.org

https://idahonews.com/news/local/mission-aviation-fellowship-dedicates-new-airplane-bound-for-congo-charity-africa-drc-cessna-caravan

Send me….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLYKMZE5XL0

 Seek out…

Have you ever been told, “you know you should be________?”

A teacher, a server, a giver, an encourager, a counselor, a researcher………

Over fifty yers ago, two young men were camping, discussing life around the campfire….one said to the other, “ you should be a pastor” to which he retorted, “you are a giver”….

Now these two barely had two dimes to rub together….seminary was out of site and giving was hard to do with a minimal amount of income, in fact no income at the time…but the ideas were planted….

Soon, seminary became available for the first….a job opened up for the second….God had provided both… and as they say, “ the rest is history….”

The first went on to be a pastor of many and even retired, still is…

The second went on to be a successful businessman with a focus on giving and left a legacy of giving to his family to steward in the years to come…

God worked mightily in the little and the large in these two men’s lives because they obeyed  His calling on their lives…they were not perfect and they had tough times, but God carried them through as well as their families….they took the gifts that God had given them and used them for His kingdom….

What gifts and talents has God bestowed on you….?   Use them faithfully….with enthusiasm, a worker in God’s kingdom….

Jeremiah 42: 20b For you sent me to the Lord your God, saying, ‘Pray for us to the Lord our God, and whatever the Lord our God says, declare to us and we will do it.’

I Corinthians 12: 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

Romans 12:6 we have different gifts

according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with yourfnfaith;

7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;

8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,fn do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

There is such joy in living out obedience….

Thank YOU….

Gifts from God…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfLGfuINnG4

 Stories that glorify God…

Last night I attended a “gala” hosted by Mission Aviation Fellowship…we had a delicious meal followed by speakers telling of the impact MAF has had on their personal lives and those they have been in contact….

“Mission Aviation Fellowship is an Evangelical Christian organization that provides aviation, communications, and learning technology services to more than 1,000 Christian and humanitarian agencies, as well as thousands of isolated missionaries and indigenous villagers in the world's most remote areas. “ Wikipedia

Their headquarters is in Nampa, ID…so it is a privilege to visit their facilities every once in awhile, visit with the people there…see their new projects…attend the dedication of the planes as they head in the sky, wending their way to the ends of the earth to help others…

 We heard stories of a few of the exploits…it warms my heart to see the Word spread, people taken care in difficult and normal  circumstances…to see the smiles of, the cultures they are able to service, whether in mountainous areas, rainforests, islands etc…Lesotho, Papua, Mozambique to name a few…places that are dark changed to light…through the gospel of Jesus Christ….

Psalm 48: 10 As your name, O God,

    so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth.

Isaiah 52: 7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

Video..the ends of the earth…

https://flightvue.maf.org/tabs/home/videos/50823

Thank YOU…

People need the Lord…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_i93ysKZeR4

 

Third day…

There are over fifty references to “third day”…

One of them is in Exodus 19… when God talks to the Israelites about them being a treasure to Him…and then goes on about him coming down to them on the third day….

It was just a reminder agin about the resurrection…on third day Jesus showed himself, after the resurrection…

Both times it was about God’s glory…

 Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

Exodus 19: 11 and be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 And you shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death. 13 No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot; whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.” 14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people; and they washed their garments. 15 And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day;do not go near a woman..

Matthew 16:21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.

Then Esther goes before the king to save her people…

Esther 5:1 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance.

Or Jonah saved pit of the great fish after three days…

And so many more…

“There are other passages of Scripture, however, that bear upon this subject, and in looking at them, one should remember the words of the great church historian, Philip Schaff, that “The Biblical symbolism of numbers is worthy of more serious attention than it has received in English theology” (in Lange’s Commentary on Matthew, p. 183). Is not the very first occurrence of the word in the Bible—and generally first occurrences of basic words in the Bible have great meaning—relevant to the subject, for it is on “the third day” (Gen 1:9-13) that biological life first appeared. Also in Genesis, in the story of Joseph, there is a release from prison on the third day (40:12, 13), and, actually, when Joseph’s brothers were released from prison after three days, Joseph said to them on the third day, “Do this and you will live” (42:17, 18). Notice how often this matter of life is vital in these three-day passages. The reference to Jonah’s experience in the belly of the great fish for a period of three days is well-known to all Bible students, because of our Lord’s reference to it (Jonah 1:17).”https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Third-Day

I just found it interesting that so many “third days” there are from the beginning to the end of the Word…showing God’s glory over all, his use of time, his victory…God is a constant in our lives…He is always on time…His purpose…

Thank YOU… 

Three days of glory…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcGLOxFpo9E

 

Just songs for the soul…

God don’t let the light in me die…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sb3Sc_sv3ig

Jesus, there’s just something about name…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mvd1yLeRWcs

This the day…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4A5klnLG2uM

 Organizing people…

Have you ever heard the phrase, “ it’s like herding cats”?

I can imagine that leading the Israelites in the desert may have been like that…people came to Moses everyday asking questions and his father-in-law saw this…it must have been wearying for all…

Exodus 18: 13 The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. 14 When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?” 15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; 16 when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.” 17 Moses' father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone. 19 Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, 20 and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do. 21 Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 22 And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.”

A future king, David, organized his army in a similar way using different numbers of groups. 

Both men, Moses and David, looked for trusted men to lead the various groups…thus taking much of the burden off of the top leaders….

We still use these examples in leadership today…although differently in different cultures….from the total authoritarian to empowering….

We are told to pray for our leaders…they carry a heavy weight of leadership….

1 Timothy 2:1-6

Pray for All Men

2 Therefore I [a]exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, andgiving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in [b]authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and [c]reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there isone God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,

Thank YOU…

https://biblehub.com/topical/d/david_organizes_his_troops.htm

https://outline-bible.com/1-chronicles-27-davids-leadership-administration

 Our Father who art in heaven…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSVBm8V79Wc

 Abuse…

One of our dogs was a rescue dog…he was afraid of men, or people in hats, plus he avoided being around feet of anyone.

My husband would take him to his office everyday, where the dog would sleep under the desk, comfortable in the warmth…it took months for the dog to warm up to us…if  one reached out to touch him, he would shrink back…if you wore a hat, he would cower….he watched our feet constantly…trust was a long time in coming…but, finally he was won over reluctantly…he became a great traveling buddy, hiker, and seemed to enjoy life with us….then, one day he turned…he would wait until the person whom he just greeted had passed and then bite them on the ankles for no apparent reason…be it guest or us…

In the end, we found someone who lived alone that wanted the dog…we had grandchildren coming and going and we couldn’t trust the dog around anyone…so with both sadness and relief, we gave him away…that was hard…

What brought this chapter to mind was the Israelites leaving Egypt and their beginning wanderings.  They had been abused for years by the rulers of the land in which they dwelt…along comes their savior, Moses, bringing statements and miracles of God…one after another, miracle after miracle, sign after sign….God showing himself trustworthy, faithful, they obey and leave the land of their abusers to go into the unknown…with promises of a land filled with milk and honey awaiting them…

It had to be hard for them, even though they saw that God proved himself worthy of trust…they were used to cowering, lack of care, abuse…and they fell back on old habits easily, not fully trusting…but, God persevered caring, providing, leading….

A faith journey for each person brought out of Egypt…

Just like us who have turned to Jesus…times we want to turn back to old comfortable ways instead of having faith in our Savior…but he is faithful, kind, filled with goodness….

Thank YOU….

Psalm 9: 9 The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed,

    a stronghold in times of trouble.

10 And those who know your name put their trust in you,

    for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.

The book of Exodus….

Faithful one…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PjSO5Ihl0M

 

Grumble….

Doesn’t that word sound negative? Then the definition of discontent or the synonyms sound just as bad…I said them out loud and they really sounded awful….

Grumble….

: to mutter in discontent

Whine, moan, fuss, lament, gripe, bleat, grouch, quibble, murmur, complain, grouse, yammer….Merriam Webster 

This weekend, of all times, that was me…I had most of my family around, we were celebrating a wedding, good company, good food, beautiful setting, etc..and my heart grumbled at the end…over something of no worth…I even came home and put music on to drown out the grumbles, the gripes, the bleating….finally asking for forgiveness for my attitude…then peace of soul…reigned…

Oh, how easy it is to fall into that trap…and how easy it is to take it to God…

Thank YOU….

Exodus 16:4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. 5 On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.” 6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, “At evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, 7 and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling against the Lord. For what are we, that you grumble against us?” 8 And Moses said, “When the Lord gives you in the evening meat to eat and in the morning bread to the full, because the Lord has heard your grumbling that you grumble against him—what are we? Your grumbling is not against us but against the Lord.”

Psalm 102: A Prayer of one afflicted, when he is faint and pours out his complaint before the Lord.

102 :1 Hear my prayer, O Lord;
let my cry come to you!

Colossians 3: 12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 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. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 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. 17 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.

Psalm 102…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5qkjs-N8xM

Hear me when I call…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xz89RXMG-Z4

 Comfort verses.  ….#?

Honestly I have lost track of what number I am on for comfort verses…but God’s comfort is numberless, infinite….

Thank YOU…

So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great (Job 2:13 NKJV).

“He called out to them, ‘Friends, haven’t you any fish?’ ‘No,’ they answered” (John 21:5 NIV). ( He provided)

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4 NIV).

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting” (Psalm 100:1-2, 3b, 4b-5a KJV).

“But I have prayed for you, Simon [Peter], that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:32 NIV

He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control (Philippians 3:21 NLT

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23:6 NKJV

My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music (Psalm 57:7 NIV

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: … a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance (Ecclesiastes 3:1,4 NIV).

You comfort me….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6syDo3t3pe8

 Countdown….3….

Flowers, flowers and more flowers…

What’s on the list to do?

Thursday was flower day…pumpkin patch  day…morning first thing was a trek to the local flower place…three shopping carts later, we emerged for the store, loaded flowers into one vehicle…a couple of hours of conditioning the flowers, or visiting the local pumpkin patch…then the attendants and mom of the bride, a couple of the grandmothers , plus the bride and time….buckets of flowers turned into the bridal bouquets, table arrangements…

And then Family night….

Friday was gathering final supplies, discussions, rehearsal, rehearsal dinner…

24 hours till the nuptials….

Another popular Bible segment is the verses from Ruth…

Ruth 1: ……. 16b For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”

Realizing that these verses is actually words between a widowed daughter  in law to a widowed mother in law…Ruth makes it quite clear she wants to stay with Naomi…follow her God rather than return to her own country…and she becomes an ancestor of King David through her eventual marriage to Boaz, her kinsman redeemer…

Another picture of Christ…our redeemer…he paid the price of our salvation..

Also a picture of marriage…choosing to cling together, following  God together...on this journey of life.

thank YOU..

I will follow…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFna4pEF7M8

 The countdown is over….the day of….

The temperature dropped 30 degrees from the day before…windy, chilly…the rain held off…thank YOU….

The last of the steam pressing, the flowers loaded, the chairs in place, the table decorated, the sound system working…clothes at ready for groomsmen, attendants…the bride…extra coats packed…

Then another round of pictures to be followed by another round. Professional and amateur….while the sun is out… the fall leaves fluttering, adding more color to the whole ambiance….

Finally, we assemble for the processional….and all that preplanning has paid off…

“We assemble here to witness the uniting of this couple…”

The challenge, the rings, the vows, the tears, the communion, the proclamation of “husband and wife”…the recessional…and we are done until the ensuing party and celebration….

What an amazing day  and evening….

Do you remember your wedding?  The precious moments of friends and family…

Other Bible verses set the tone of the wedding ceremony…

Song of Solomon 8:6 Set me as a seal upon your heart,

    as a seal upon your arm,

for love is strong as death,

    jealousy is fierce as the grave.

Its flashes are flashes of fire,

    the very flame of the Lord.

7a Many waters cannot quench love,

    neither can floods drown it.

Ecclesiastes 4: 9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Matthew19: 6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

Numbers 6: 24 The Lord bless you and keep you;

25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;

26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

1Peter 4: 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.

Psalm 118:24 This is the day that the Lord has made;

    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Since the Word is given to us, a personal letter about God’s Love, redemption, there is really is so much about relationships…we  can find more and more that could pertain to marriage…

Thank YOU…

So that’s my week…now a bit of clean up and sorting, getting borrowed items returned, etc… maybe a nap or two…getting caught up on some rest…and I was just one little part of it all…

But, praise and thank yous to all that participated….what love was shown…

Blessings…

The recessional…

I’m a believer…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWqmc8qxEps

 The countdown has started…2…

3 days…to go..

When I used to do wedding coordination, it was a bout this time the the bride either turned into a Bridezilla  or was to the point of, “let’s just get this over and don’t worry if something is not coming together”…. 

Both had its challenges…you want your dream wedding to come true, the party does, but sometimes it just doesn’t  happen that way…flexibility is key on all fronts…whether the mother of the bride is living her dream vicariously through her daughter or the Pinterest pictures just aren’t matching up or whatever…

Another verse that may be a theme for the service is..

Genesis 2: 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Or…

Colossians 3: 12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 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. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

The first being a united front together…so important…. I have seen so many marriages broken up or challenged by parents 

Interfering  with the couple’s decision making or whatever…

The second set of verses speak again of love,  humility, patience, forgiveness, ,etc…all of which speak of unity …which is beyond price….

Thank YOU, 

To have and to hold…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7p5Z6PpRDSI

 The countdown has started…

At the end on this week another grandchild will marry…that is number four and then there is a break until the next group comes of age…

So the time schedules are written out, what each participant, helper is doing…and already there are changes…who flies in at what time, who is arriving by car, van, etc…

The weather is supposed to be great, clothes are purchased in the right colors, everyone is lined out for vehicles, motels, airbnbs, meals…

As we are in the wedding mood in this family, I thought is would be interesting to ask Siri what the most used scripture passages are for weddings..haven’t asked “her “ opinion before…but as I looked up the question, the websites were pretty consistent in their answers…

1. 1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

The love verses…just think if we could  take these to heart all the time in marriages and relationships…along with the fruit of the Spirit…Galatians 5: 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

2.Ephesians 5: 22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

There are a lot more instructions for the husband than the wife…we get hung up on the submission in the first sentence and fly past the rest…what mutual love for one another…each is cherished by the other…Christ loves us so much and gave his life for us, the Bride…

Thank YOU…

Love is patient…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8SxizK1kdc

 

Dry ground…

In the midst of troubles and hardship, we wait for a light at the end of the tunnel, hoping it is not just another train…

Miraculously, God, with his mighty hand opened the sea, dried it and allowed the Israelites to walk across, not mired in the mud, but safety…

However, the conquering enemy got bogged down until the sea closed its gap, successfully ending their chase….

A new song filled their hearts…the Song of Moses….filled with praise…

The Lord has triumphed….for his people…

When life is rough for us, and then God intervenes giving us new light, don’t we want to  sing a new song as well…a song of praise…

Exodus 15: 2 The Lord is my strength and my song,

    and he has become my salvation;

this is my God, and I will praise him,

    my father's God, and I will exalt him."

Thank YOU…..

The song of Moses….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRGKRHo6o0Y

The horse and rider…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwM4214SRYU

 The Lord has triumphed….

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/UWfaTP6yKsc

 600+ chariots…2…

Yesterday it was 600+ , plus an army…

Exodus 14:9 The Egyptians—all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots, horsemen and troops—pursued the Israelites and overtookthem as they camped by the sea near Pi Hahiroth, opposite Baal Zephon.

The Israelites were trapped…they cried out…and the Lord said to move forward…(what , into the sea, won’t we drown)….

Exodus 14:…. Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. 17 I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18 The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.”

19 Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them,20 coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.

21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided,22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.

Divided water, light/dark, people groups….no human can do that…only God…and this was after the plagues …God claimed these people as his own…and he took care of them as he promised…

In the New Testament, we have the verses in the book of Romans…

Romans 8:

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”fn

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,fn neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,

39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

What a promise…we may have a sea looming before us or an army  behind us as the Israelites did, but, God is for us as he was them…

He hasn’t changed…

Thank YOU….

Our God…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-JZ9KsI7YI

 600 + chariots….

Can you imagine 600+ chariots racing after you…?  What an awesome, frightening sight!  Not only that, but they were ready for war on families with  belongings, children…no weapons and caught on one side by the sea and nowhere to go….

I think of the old movies, Ben Hur, The Ten Commandments or newer one, Chronicles of Narnia…or other movies with casts of thousands coming across the plains ready for war…

And there stands Moses, “ 13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never seeagain. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14….

Would your heart quake and tremble? Mine would…they weren’t used to this kind of salvation…they had been slaves to this army for generations…they knew their human power and now were going to really see God’s…his promises made true…there was no way out except God’s…

The thing is, we have that same God who works the same way for us…we may not be seeing armies and chariots chasing us…a full sea behind us….but there are times when we are just as penned in and we need the Lord to fight for us….and we need only to be still and wait…

We don’t have a Moses to lead, but we have the Holy Spirit to speak truth, God to give peace, Jesus to save….what an army….

Thank YOU….

Our God will go before us…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmEYeZB8dDI

 Retreat….

This past weekend a friend and I went to a women’s retreat in McCall, ID…

Martha Peace was the speaker…

https://marthapeacetew.blogspot.com

She has written many books…most notable, “The Excellent Wife” 30 years ago and is still timely…

One of her topics was, “Abounding Hope in the Midst of trials”…

How timely is that…

 We either blame God or be grateful…both affect us …either positively or negatively….it is our choice… 

Isaiah 45:7 everyone who is called by my name,

    whom I created for my glory,

    whom I formed and made.”

Do we glorify God in the things we do, ways we act, words we say…

 1 Peter 1: . 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Psalm 100

A psalm. For giving grateful praise.

1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2     Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he who made us, and we are his;
    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise;
    give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
    his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Thank YOU…

Psalm 100 ….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaL_VeHil6U