Category: faithlife

God, What Are You Doing???

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I visited Smithville Baptist church the Sunday they hosted Jesus in the Passover. Laura Barron, from Jews For Jesus, presented excellent visuals as she explained what goes on in the Jewish household for Passover and how it relates to what we have in Jesus. 

This connection with Laura connected me with Karol Joseph, who is working with Laura on sharing Yeshua with Haredi women. [Strict version of Judaism].

Well, Karol offered a study she wrote: Counting The Omer Journey. This is the 50-day time between Passover and Pentecost, following the Israelites’ journey from Egypt toward the Promised Land. I get each week’s study in my email and print it off.

Karol takes me into the story, encouraging me to identify with the Israelites and how it relates to my own life story.

Exodus 13:17 When Pharoah let the people go, God did not lead them [the Israelites]by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said,”Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt. “

Three weeks into the journey, God has told Moses to have the people double back to encamp near the Red Sea. God said He was going to bring glory, but no one knows how yet.

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In Exodus 14, the people went out boldly, buoyed by the miracles God had done to release them.  Pharoah hardened his heart and gathered all his choicest military might to go and drag them back into slavery.

Exodus 149 The Egyptians pursued them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and overtook them camping by the sea beside Pi Hahiroth, before Baal Zephon.

When the Israelites see this great army, they turn on God and on Moses. Forgetting that God is stronger than the might of Pharaoh, they are sure they will die on the shore.

We all know the great miracle God did. I encourage you to read chapter 14 of Exodus to get into this miracle our Lord orchestrated to show His great glory.

What about us in this era? The enemy is rattling its sabers and the world seems to have gone crazy! Can we trust our monetary system? Our government? Our vote and advocacy make some difference,  but ultimately,  if God does not do a miracle, all is lost.

Will we be like our ancestors in the wilderness and despair? Will we look to the arm of flesh and worldly comfort? Will we choose to remember the  LORD and in Him our confidence place?

We see from their example that we can not lean on ‘Egypt’ and go back to the leeks, onions, and flesh pots. Manna, the food of angels in heaven, is a perfect food. It’s just not as appealing to the senses as what they had in Egypt.

The slave mentality had its advantages because they were used to being told what to do and being provided for. But, complaining and unbelief kept them in the wilderness.  How much have we been enslaved by our culture? Our schools, our media? Our outlook on life is a major thing. Our abundance and comfort lull us and can make us forget where these blessings come from.

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This study I’m doing makes me wonder how God is going to save us by His mighty right arm this time. How much longer will the enemy rage? How much of it is our part? How much hangs  on our faith, our prayers, our actions to walk, in the light and love, of Christ?

Let us recount the great miracles we have read about. Also, ask the Holy Spirit to bring to mind the great things He’s done in your own life. It is our obligation to share our testimony and encourage others in faith.

Remember, mighty angels are waiting for us to tell them what to do! Use your power and authority in Jesus!

Bible Chapter 8:1-8 in Revelation

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Welcome to the last Chapter 8 in the New Testament. This passage shares the beginning of God’s judgment on earth and the importance of the prayers of the saints.

Seventh Seal: Prelude to the Seven Trumpets
8 When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

Silence! Would you expect silence as the seal was opened? We shall see that it was necessary.

2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.

These seven angels must hold a high status in the kingdom to stand before God. Can you imagine how loud the trumpets will sound after the silence? But hold tight! Before the Trumpet blasts, the angel with a golden censer comes to the altar with the prayers of the saints.

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3 Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand.

Our prayers are mixed with holy incense. Just as the incense the priests used in the temple, just a foreshadowing of what goes on in heaven, our prayers are a sweet smell that rises before our God. What happens when our prayers and the incense come into contact with fire from the altar?

5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.

This is where people come up with the term, “Acts of God”, awesome destruction and noise from the heavens. NOW the seven angels can blow the trumpets.

6 So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. First Trumpet: Vegetation Struck
7 The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.

Vegetation Struck.  Hail and fire mixed with blood thrown down from heaven, 1/3 of the trees, and all of the grass burn up. In an account from a woman who encountered Jesus in heaven, green is Jesus’ favorite color. Can you imagine Jesus mourning the need to destroy all that green because of the world’s evil, sinful ways?

Second Trumpet: The Seas Struck
8 Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9 And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

After one-third of the trees and all of the grass on the land were destroyed, something like a burning mountain hit the sea. One-third of the sea became blood: think of the plagues in Egypt when the waters turned to blood. Also, one-third of the living creatures and ships in and on the sea were obliterated.

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I will not continue with the rest of the seven trumpets here, but let’s focus on the prayers of the saints that started all of this. We have been crying out for God to fix all that is wrong in this life and avenge the evil on earth for many generations. Those cries for help are piling up in heaven.

Worthy Is the Lamb
Revelation 5:8 When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Golden bowls are full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. We who belong to Jesus are the set- apart, sanctified ones. We are the saints this verse refers to. Our prayers rise up to heaven; at least those prayed according to the will of God do.

Make sure you do not give up on praying the will of God on earth as it is in heaven.  We tend to grow weary and disillusioned.  This can stop us from continuing to pray, often just before breakthrough comes.

My dear readers, be encouraged.  We serve a prayer-hearing, prayer-answering God who is faithful to all generations.  Trust him to work on your behalf and keep bringing your concerns before the throne of grace. Evil will not prevail against God’s people. He will keep us through the days of peril and storm as He has done throughout all generations. Remember, Romans 12:19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to [God’s] wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. It is not for us to beg the Lord to act, but for us to pray according to His will and speak out declarations and decrees in the name and power of Jesus. We can’t go wrong using Scripture as the Spirit leads. If we do not take up and use what Christ has bought for us, it will not be done here on earth as it is in heaven.

I remind you; my first major book event is only two weeks away! If you cannot attend, please pray for me to be led by the Holy Spirit.

Bible Chapter 8:1-8 Hebrews

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In this edition of this series, we delve into the new Priestly Service we have obtained through Jesus Christ.  Just a basic taste of the riches we have in His sacrifice.

New Priestly Service
8:1 Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.

Who have I in heaven but You? Our ultimate High Priest, Jesus Christ, has now been seated at the right hand of our Heavenly Father in heaven. This is not the earthly tabernacle that was destroyed in 70 AD, but one that will never be destroyed. The earthly tabernacle was a shadow of the one we have now.

3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer.

Paul is clarifying, comparing the earthly high priest with what we have in Jesus. What did Jesus offer?

4 For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; 5 who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”

God commanded Moses to follow His pattern, a copy/shadow of what is in heaven. Jesus came to earth to open the way to the actual tabernacle in heaven. Because Moses was obedient to all that the LORD instructed, we have a good idea of what it is. Although we need this background to understand what we have in Christ…

6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.

He is now our Mediator, and we have a better covenant and better promises. Let’s see what this means.

A New Covenant
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. 8 Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—

So, the first covenant did not fit the bill, so a second covenant needed to be made. We are now in the days when we are heirs of this new covenant, along with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In this new era of God, it’s time to stand up as manifest sons and daughters of God and let His glory shine through us until it fills the whole earth.

My children Christopher, Harold, Eliza, and Alexander

We were blessed to have our four grown children together on Easter Sunday.  If you have read my book, I introduced them with their families in the introduction. I pray that you experience a deeper intimacy and appreciation of the rich blessings we have in Jesus, our Christ. Shalom dear ones!

Bible Chapter 8:1-8 2Corinthians

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Welcome to the next edition of this bible study. 2 Corinthians chapter 8 tells us of the grace God blesses us with as we give ourselves to the Lord and then give what we can. This section is a major truth of living with God and supporting each other that holds true even today. Let’s work through these verses.

Abundant joy! We attended Lauren Daigle’s concert at PPGPaints arena in Pittsburgh on March 8th

2Corinthians 8:1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. 

So, the churches of Macedonia were experiencing great afflictions and trials. They experienced deep poverty. Yet, they abounded  in the riches of the grace of God because they found His joy and gave liberally out of the things they had.

3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4 imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 

Abundant blooms as only our God can create!

Their hearts were in such a place, in love with fellow believers, that above and beyond their ability, they freely wanted to give to minister to the saints. I just read news from ministries that I am involved with. The Joshua Fund is ministering to those amid the war and chaos going on in Israel. Iran Alive is ministering through electronic means to the people of Iran who have had enough of Islam and their government.  They hear the good news of Jesus and are eager to follow Him, even if it’s dangerous.

Also, Crossroads Prison Ministries, reaching those incarcerated with Bible correspondence lessons and mentoring. They are celebrating 40 years of ministry,  multiple testimonies from Crossroads students, volunteers, leaders, and mentors. All these ways to sow into what God is doing these days, the ones I’ve mentioned are a very small portion of avenues to be part of what is spreading the gospel in these days

5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. 6 So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well.

Surrender as Christ did

The Macedonians show a critical step we all should follow. First, they gave themselves to the Lord, then to the will of God, and finally, to others. The Apostle Paul is encouraging others to follow their example and experience this grace for themselves.

 7 But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also.8 I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.

In Christ, we are meant to abound in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, in our love for others. As we aspire for these things to manifest and develop in our lives, we should be diligent to sincerely love others as Christ loves us all.

A testament to the faith of another generation

Right now, our church knows God wants us to expand our church greatly.  With human understanding, there is no way our 300 people can raise the funds necessary to make this expansion a reality, aiming toward a facility that will accommodate 1,000 people.

But God! I get multiple appeals to help others most days in my mail and email. Add to this the desire to contribute to our church building project and community needs, and it’s overwhelming.  But God!

What if it is my job not to give money, but to spend time in prayer for each of these needs? Am I doing right in praying for others to give financially where I can not? Is this a time for me to examine my use of the abundance God blesses me with?

I think we are to first dedicate all we have to the LORD whose hands it comes from. Then, we should ask for wisdom to decide what is our part of blessing the opportunities that the Lord allows in our lives. We are not obligated to give to every cause that comes to us. There are many good things to support, but what is your responsibility? Only God knows, so ask Him.

Mark 14:7 For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always

This verse comes from Judas Iscariot saying the expensive oil Mary poured out on Jesus’s feet should have been sold and the money given to the poor. This is where discernment is needed. The appeals for our money and time and resources will never cease this side of heaven.  It is good to give to the poor in body and spirit, but Jesus said we can give to them whenever we want. Of course, this doesn’t mean we are to go into debt by giving to everyone who asks or demands. Again, discernment!

I bless you to abound in all things as God allows, according to his riches found in Christ Jesus. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He cares about each one of us He created. Look to Him alone for your provision, and may you abound in all that Christ purchased for you. Shalom, my fellow pilgrims!

Bible Chapter 8:1-8, 1Corinthians

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Welcome to the next study in this series. These passages about things offered to idols stress the fact that each of us answers to God for our own actions. Let us dig in!

1 Corinthians 8:1 Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. 2 And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.

So, knowledge makes us prideful, but love edifies others as well as ourselves. If we love God, we are known by God.

4 Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. 

In other words, I believe an idol is only a god to the one who believes it is one. The wise, loving person has realized the truth, that there is no other God with a big ‘G’.

5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.

Yes, there are many gods and lords worshiped in this world, but only one God, the Father, and one Lord Jesus Christ. Belonging to Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit and the word of God, we gain understanding. Then we realize that we truly live solely in and through Him.

7 However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.

Let’s unpack this section. Not everyone has the knowledge that in God all things consist. He made us, and not we ourselves. If you do not understand this, you believe the idol has tainted the food. Having a weak conscience, which I understand as not having a good understanding of who Father God is, this person senses defilement if eating food dedicated/ consecrated to an idol.

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8 But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.

In other words, God doesn’t care about the food we eat. As Jesus said, what goes into the body comes out. Let’s look at Matthew 15.

Matthew 15:16 So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated?

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18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.

This is where Jesus was chastising the Pharisees. They made sure to wash the outside of the cup and ritually wash their hands, but neglected the inside of the cup and their heart. They followed religion, counting the tithe down to the smallest mustard seed, but forgot the weightier matters like mercy and grace. This leads to the rest of 1 Corinthians chapter 8. Let’s continue and see what Paul had to say.

1 Corinthians 8:9 But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? 

The new believers were trying to find their way in the newness of salvation in Jesus Christ. They had formerly worshipped idols made with human hands, offering meat to them and then eating it without knowledge of God. This made them weak and susceptible to error. For them, it would lead them back to idol worship, away from Christ.

11 And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 

We wound our brethren by wounding their conscience, and thus wound Christ.

13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

Just because Christ has given you freedom does not mean your brethren have the same freedom. You may be able to play computer games, but it is not good for me because it is clear that I cannot limit my time playing. I should not insist that you stop playing because I cannot. The food issue is a hot one these days. If your friends are vegan, vegetarian, paleo, Pegan… any restrictive diet choice, it’s a mine field to eat at the same table. I come from a marriage where we eat a lot of meat since John is an avid hunter and fisherman. My daughter-in-law is vegan and so is her daughter. When we visit their home, I aim to eat what she has prepared. I may not agree with her choices, but it is not my right to force my ideas on her.

Lord, forgive me when I assert my freedoms on others. Forgive me when I attempt to restrict others with my restrictions or damage them with my freedoms. Holy Spirit, help me love those I rub elbows with. Help me give them grace and love to live as unique individuals in Christ Jesus. Amen.

John and I had a friend take this picture. It will be used for publicity for my speaking engagement on April 27th. This will be the first actual event since my book, Musings Along Life’s Journey, was published just a year ago. [the other opportunities never panned out] I am holding the original paperback published by Zoe Life Publisher. John is holding the paperback from our Amazon KDP publishing he helped me with. If you are a woman in the area, [the church is in the Henderson/Adams, NY area] you are welcome to come! A complimentary breakfast will be offered from 9-9:45 a.m. The Program begins at 10:00 a.m. with worship to begin the presentation. Here is the Save The Date card:

Bible Chapter 8:1-8 book of Romans

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Welcome to the next installment in this Bible study.  Let’s see what the Spirit highlights in the eighth chapter of Romans.

A group artwork from the Shetler family’s ministry in Africa.

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,

Make note: if you are in Christ, walking in the Spirit, there is no more condemnation, no more punishment As Jesus said in John 3:17, He did not come to condemn us but to reconcile us to Father God. We now have access to the law of the Spirit, which is life in Christ Jesus. This frees us from walking in the law of sin and death, the law we were born into through the sins of the fathers, stretching back to Adam. This is why Jesus condemned sin in the flesh by coming in human flesh.

4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Do you walk in the righteous law of love? Love for your God and loving your neighbor as yourself? We can muscle our way into acting out this love by our own human effort, but is that truly denying your fleshly lusts and desires?

5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

If we only think about what to eat, what to wear, and having the best “necessities” in life,where is our spiritual life? We can do good deeds, but if it’s to rack up points, trying to get on God’s good side, how are we any different than the heathen unbelievers around us? The carnality of our human side is set against God and the love of God in Christ.

6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

I find when I hear all the facts, if I fail to look towards the truth in the Bible, I fall short. With our human understanding, we hate those who fight against us. In God’s Sprit, we can love even our enemies! But is this wise? What does God say?

1 Corinthians 2: 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

So we must be careful, walking circumspectly in this evil time we live in. It is clear that we are on the path to death and destruction when we look to the world and our own strength and understanding.

Proverbs 14:12 & 16:25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

Remember to ask for your daily manna from the LORD. This includes all the things required for what each day demands. We have a heavenly Father who knows what we need, but still delights in his children, when we ask him daily to provide. This includes daily food, shelter, and clothing. Also, grace, mercy, and love. Don’t forget peace in Christ Jesus, more than we could ask for! Remember, you need more to sustain you than physical needs. Without daily food from the Bible and the Spirit of God, we starve our spirits.

So live each day in the Spirit, denying your fleshly desires. Walk in love and understanding as you grow in the things of God found in his Word. If you fail, as we all do, quickly repent and apply the precious blood of Jesus. Continue renewing your mind and remember the old chorus:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in his wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace.


Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Helen Howarth Lemmel
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus lyrics © Curb Songs, Littleberace Music, Okapione Music, Integrity’s Hosanna! Music, New Spring Publishing Inc., Mercy/vineyard Publishing

Bible Chapter 8:1-8 in the Gospels #4 John

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Welcome to the end of the Gospels chapter 8:1-8. Let us enter the book of John, the Beloved.

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But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

2 Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them.

Jesus frequently went into the temple and taught the people who gathered there. His ministry was not done in secret, and neither should ours!

3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act.”

Here come the religious leaders, dragging a trembling woman into the midst of Jesus’s teaching. Note how they plan to catch Jesus with the law of Moses.

And when they had set her in the midst, 4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?”

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Was the woman dragged from the bed, clutching a sheet? Did they allow her to grab her robe? Her hair was probably loose, uncustomary for that culture. Full of shame, fear, consternation, maybe? I’m sure she already knew the law and consequences. I’m sure she did not know the compassion Jesus had for her, a sinner.

6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.

Jesus spoke without a word. He knew their hearts as well as He knew the Laws of Moses. We all wonder exactly what Jesus was writing with His finger in the dirt.

7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.

We all know what happens next. The leaders turned around and left, in shame. It began with the elders, ending with the youngest. I assumed because the eldest had more time to rack up sins.

Jesus asked the woman where her accusers were. They all left! He told her that he did not condemn her [see John 3:17] but warned her to go and sin no more.

One question that arises: Where was the other half of the adulterous couple? Was he one of the leaders?

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This passage of Scripture sets many people free, especially women in Muslim communities. Jesus was demonstrating the value God puts on women.  Many cultures and religions put no value on women. Note: one false version of the Bible ends this story with Jesus killing this woman because he was the one without sin, giving him the onus to stone her to death.

This brings me to my reading from yesterday’s devotions, Matthew chapter 7. I think judgement is the crux of John chapter 8. as well as Matthew 7.

Do Not Judge
Matthew  7:1“Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

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All of us have been guilty of transgressing the law at some point in our lives. When we humble ourselves, we can see clearly. Religious piety is normal for our human bent. We experience something of God and the Spirit, then we want to hold onto it. We make it a dogma to follow.

Humanity loves having boundaries. The freedom we get from Christ and the love of God can make us uneasy. It’s much easier to have rules to follow and parameters to hold us in although, we also want to push those boundaries. Pay attention to what brings judgmental thoughts to your mind; it is probably your plank.

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Coming back to Matthew 7, we like to judge those who are different, who are doing something/being something we don’t think is right. We must be careful to have a true estimation of who we are in light of Christ and God’s love.

All of us are guilty, bound for judgement by a righteous God. We have forgiveness in Jesus. Do not take it lightly! Extend it to others as you speak the truth in love. You want mercy and forgiveness, so does the one you are condemning by your thoughts/words/ actions. I leave you with these thoughts. The photo is me, getting ready to identify with Christ’s death and resurrection in baptism. I pray you get time to seek the LORD and find His Shalom. Until next time, be a blessing as you are blessed by God!

Bible Chapter 8:1-8 passages in the Gospels #2 Mark

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Welcome to the second episode of my Bible study. You may notice that I have added more pages to this blog site. With help from WordPress support, I have created a page where you can find where to purchase my books. There is a second page where I will publish book reviews to share what I’m reading. I hope the upgrade of my site is useful for you. Now, let us study Mark 8:1-8.

What does 4,000 look like?

Feeding the Four Thousand
8:1 In those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples to Him and said to them, 2 “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar.”

Compassion… the Bible often points out that Jesus was moved with compassion. He is still the same today. Jesus knew what it was like to have nothing to eat, about being far from home. This compassion was more than empathy. Let’s look at what happened next.

4 Then His disciples answered Him, “How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness?”

5 He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?”And they said, “Seven.”

We often look at a situation and wonder how it can have a natural solution. Jesus often challenges us by asking what resources we already have.

6 So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and they set them before the multitude. 7 They also had a few small fish; and having blessed them, He said to set them also before them. 8 So they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments.

Jesus commanded the multitude to sit on the ground. Apparently, most of them stood while Jesus had been speaking for three days. Isn’t this a picture of how Jesus calls us from the fray and invites/commands us to sit at the table as he prepares the meal for our souls?

Jesus begins with giving thanks for the loaves of bread. He broke them, foreshadowing his broken body. If not broken, the bread can not be shared. If his body, the Bread, had not been broken, there would be no wholeness for us.

Notice the qualifier on the fish- small. We bring our small offerings to his table, and he will multiply them. Can we trust him?

Humanly, we are inadequate for most tasks that come our way. If we are bold enough to trust our Father’s provision, to believe he can multiply what we bring to the table, we will experience abundance to share.

What are you needing the Lord to multiply or increase in your life right now? This story of the miracle feeding assures us. Give thanks for what you have, and put it to good use. Watch and be amazed with what turns out!

Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich on Pexels.com

Bible Chapter 8:1-8 passages in the Gospels #1 Matthew

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Most mornings, I am awake enough to see John’s clock beside the bed. Usually, the clock says somewhere between 8:02 and 8:08. In James Goll’s advice about journaling and getting your dreams recorded, he stressed getting down the exact time, because it’s probably a Scripture the Spirit is leading you to look up. This led the Spirit to prompt me to do another Bible series. It’s been a while since I’ve done one, so here goes. I begin with Matthew 8:1.

Jesus Cleanses a Leper

8:1 When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. 2 And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” 3 Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

This is the story of a single leper, as opposed to the story of the ten. Notice, Jesus had to be ready “in season and out of season” to minister to great multitudes, but at the same time, minister to the one person in front of him. Another thing I notice is that the leper came and worshipped Jesus, probably kneeling at his feet. Let us worship Him for who He is before we bring our requests.

The Leper’s question is one most of us ask, “Lord, if you are willing, You can make me clean.” We must believe Jesus is willing to answer our prayers when we pray them. Jesus reached out and touched the diseased man, and said, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Faith, which includes the idea of trust in our Heavenly Father, and His Son, is what needs to be exercised. “Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”

My hands were healed of housewife’s eczema, which could qualify as leprosy according to the Bible definition.

Jesus urged the healed man to not tell anyone but go straight to the priests. Can you imagine what would have happened if the man spread the news and it got to the priests before he did? I wonder how many priests over the generations got a chance to see a healed leper. Being from the community, they would have recognized the man as a leper, even as he came to them healed.

Appearing with the offering prescribed by the Law, fully cleansed, was to be a testimony to the priests. These days we live in, many need a testimony of seeing Jesus healing people to believe. Blessed is he that believes without seeing! But also bless the one who needs a sign to move their heart, bypassing their head knowledge!

Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant

5 Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, 6 saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.” 7 And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8 The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.

Jesus entered Capernaum, meaning the village of consolation/comfort. The centurion, leader of one hundred soldiers, came to Jesus, pleading with him. Centurions weren’t known for pleading with anyone! Jesus has compassion for those who humble themselves before him. The servant was paralyzed, dreadfully tormented. This centurion was also tormented, by his love and respect for the servant. In Jesus’ compassion, he offered to go straight to the centurion’s home. The centurion was a military man, trained to follow protocol. He knew he was not worthy to have Jesus come to his home. He trusted Jesus to have the power to heal his servant without touching him.

What about us? Most of us have not seen Jesus with our own eyes, but he is just as willing today to honor the scripture from Psalm 107:20 He sent His word and healed them and delivered them from their destructions (or fears). What happened in the Bible and in past generations is still available for us today. If it was done in the past, the Lord can still do it today! Let us believe that we serve a prayer hearing, prayer answering Father God. As His children, connected with Jesus, we have the same power and authority available to us that Jesus did.

Here is the most recent book I have read. Wow! Shawn’s accounts of his heavenly encounters through dreams and visions are inspiring. He shares how God is doing a maturing process that will make us as strong oak trees with deep roots. He shares seeing Father, Son, and Spirit working on creating us. Jesus is ecstatic about the destiny they are planning for each one, each person is his favorite. There is a perfect plan for each of us, but the enemy thwarts as much of that plan as he can manage with his minions. It inspired me to dig in deep and realize I don’t have to let the evil one into my plans. If we don’t partner with the evil spirits, they cannot have any power on earth. I encourage you to read this book. It reveals a lot of what’s happened and is happening, and what is about to happen! We who know Jesus have bright days ahead!

I leave you with a photo I took one morning as I awoke, the sunlight shining through the blinds. Notice the Ukranian doilies I have on my dresser. It’s a great memory of our trips there and good for remembering to pray. Since my page won’t let me leave the box below empty, I’ll let you contemplate what’s going on in the firmament between us and heaven.

Tropical Depression Alex (Atlantic Ocean) by NASA Goddard Photo and Video is licensed under CC-BY 2.0

Publishing Success and Hanukkah

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Happy Hanukkah to those who celebrate this important holiday. It’s the feast of dedication,  commemorating the re-dedication of the temple after the Maccabean victory. The temple had been desecrated by pigs, one of the most unclean animals.

My thoughts on this? How much cleaning of my soul, life, and possessions is needed at this time in my life? What do I need to dedicate or re-dedicate to my Lord and Savior? After all the earthly temple is no more, but it is now inside of each soul who names Jesus Christ as Savior.

Many have heard the name Jehovah Nissi. The common understanding of this name is The LORD is our banner. Moses held up the rod of the LORD during the war with the Amalekites. The Israeli army was winning as long as Moses held his hands up, but we’re losing when his arms got tired. Aaron and Hur assisted him. At the end of this battle,  God spoke to Moses. This is when Jehovah Nissi is introduced in the Bible.

Exodus 17:14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 And Moses built an altar and called its name The-Lord-Is-My-Banner; 16 for he said, “Because the Lord has sworn: the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”

Jehovah Nissi also connotates the LORD’S war cry, the light breaking through. As Christians,  we should join in with lighting a menorah for the 8 evenings of this festival, celebrating Jesus. He is the unending light of the world. Angels burn with holy fire. The love of God is a consuming fire. This holy fire, by the Spirit, cleanses us. It burns up the chaff, kindle the chaff. You can find a small menorah on Amazon. Mine uses birthday candles. You can find the Scriptures and prayers for each evening online.

This day, December 14th, 2023, is the final evening of the holiday, but this gives you time to prepare for next year. I got busy and have not climbed up to get my menorah down from the upper shelf in my kitchen.

Hallelujah, this day is also momentous for another reason.  I declare my KDP adventure complete. My kindle, paperback, and hardcover versions are all submitted and going through quality checks. Musings Along Life’s Journey,  Vignettes From The Road, will soon be available for purchase on Amazon!

You may see any, all, or none of these photos used in the KDP publishing. Each of the covers, including the audiobook, have different covers. I have not figured out how to use the photo from my original publishing or to reuse a cover made with the KDP cover creator. The top photo IS the cover for my audiobook. Top left is the first try at the hardcover. The green bordered one on the right is the first try at the paperback. The bottom left, of course, is the one from the original publishing by Zoe Life Christian Communications.

Stay tuned, and I shall soon begin my second book. I’ll take you through my publishing journey, sharing testimonies from along the road. I’m open to suggestions for a title & subtitle, as well as a cover photo. I also want testimonies or reviews of my first book to include. Stay tuned!

I leave you with a small portion of the cookies that the women from our life group decorated last Saturday. I was not able to attend due to family spending the weekend, but we got to share some of these at church last evening. We had a Q&A about our potential building plan at ACF Church. Shalom to you all!