I began this post as I was busy preparing to leave with David’s Kidz Uganda 25 in December. I’m just cleaning up my unpublished posts and finishing them. Here’s what I wrote with updates.
Packing
These are photos of what went into my checked luggage, staged for packing. Of course, a lot of it did not come back with me!
Welcome to my most recent musings. Christmas is coming, and I leave for Uganda in 12 days. Gathering things to pack, shopping with my husband, and wrapping gifts. Pleased to meet our granddaughter Faith at the train station, readying paperwork for tomorrow’s early run on the way there.
We had a good chat with our lovely granddaughter, Faith, a beautiful young woman excited to have time off from college. She was eager to share about her first trip into the city with friends. We had a good visit and meal with her family and animals when we got her home. it was a blessing to see them all and share our bounty of Christmas gifts with them.
Vehicle problems?
Did I mention that Faith used our KIA Telluride during her vacation because her mom’s car broke down on the way to pick her up? Which is why we headed down after our early run for work. A couple weeks after, they got a used minivan at a good deal from an individual.
With a bit of cleaning and fixing, it served them well. Until Joanna was driving Steve to a doctors appointment, and someone backed into it coming out of a driveway. Alex was able to fix it. But in February, he was waiting for new parts to put in, when he was coming home from work and got swiped by a woman at a corner. The van was totaled, but God is good! We were at his house for Steven’s birthday, so when he called, John and Joanna went to rescue Alex. Caleb & I were able to stay with Steve. SO, we plan on picking Faith up from college for Summer Break. Please pray for the transportation needs of their family.
Books
I have read three or four books and am halfway through another. I think I’ve said that I’m reading books from my stash to pick some to take to Uganda and leave rather than send them to Love Packages.
Well, I did get several books read and also purchased two Bibles to leave. I was able to give the books to Michael & Esther, who help Bishop Makka. Esther loves to read and couldn’t wait to read my book! [Bishop’s wife, Brenda, is also eager to read my book] I gave them the two Bibles, Esther claimed the blue one and Michael claimed the black one. I am so blessed to be able to bless them with tools for their ministry.
Uganda 2025 Davids Kidz
You will have to check out previous posts to find more of my writing about the Uganda 25 trip. It was an amazing time of adventure and growth. I encourage you to look into joining a short-term mission trip, as the Lord leads. There are lots of excuses for not going. The Lord can take care of them all if you are willing! “Here am I LORD, Send Me!”
Good day, Readers. I have finished several days of reading The Daily Bible section that goes through the Law of Moses at the end of the Israelites forty years in the wilderness. In this section, the LORD made it clear. His chosen people are a stiff- necked, obstinate group. I am also reading 60-day Holy SpiritDevotional by Dr. Kevin Zadai, so I will take you through Galatians 3:1-3Day 6, The Just Shall Live by Faith.
Blessings
Blessings and Curses
He spells out the abundant blessings that will come to them if they obey; if they continue to choose to follow the LORD God Almighty, who brought them out of Egypt. The curses on the nations they will drive out are just the opposite of the promised blessings, which will come upon them when they rebell. So that they would understand and pass down to their children the blessings and curses, He gave Moses a song to teach them. You will find this song in Deuteronomy chapter 32.
Curses
Galatians 3:1Foolish!
Galatians 3:1 You foolish Galatians!
Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.
People in our day are excavating the past. They are spending decades of their lives digging up the people and cultures that worshipped the sun, moon, stars, and multiple idols & false gods. They investigate the cults and gnostics that deny the truths of the Bible, promoting the idea that Jesus didn’t really die but was taken away by Joseph of Aramathea to another country and had children with Mary Magdalen. If Christ did not die on the cross as the sinless Lamb of God, we are all dead in our sins!
Galatians 3:2 How Did You Receive the Spirit?
2 I would like to learn just one thing from you:
Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard?
The Israelites showed us how we can never fulfill the Law of Moses. Why would anyone want to work for a free gift? How did you get the Holy Spirit?
Galatians 3:3 Foolishness of Fleshly Living
3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?
We have a choice, just like the children of Israel. Are we going to flow in the Spirit that the LORD has given or strive in our own strength and wisdom?
“Remain obedient to what the Spirit of God and His Word are saying. When evil spirits come, their purpose is to get you to strive in the flesh and slow down your momentum. Don’t fall for it! Instead, be vigilant and aware of these tactics. God is the opposite; He wants to empower you to finish your race. Use discernment and stay in the Holy Spirit. You will overcome!”
60-Day Holy Spirit Devotional p. 14 Dr. Kevin Zadai
Conclusion
Our LORD is the same yesterday, today, and forever more. We are His creation. We did not make ourselves. I am no better than my ancestors, all the way back to Adam and Eve. The difference is that Jesus Christ has given me the gift of salvation. In Him, i find grace for each day, and Father sent down the Holy Spirit to lead and guide me. I love the way He brings songs to mind and Scriptures as needed.
May the LORD bless you and keep you. May you find the grace to walk in the Spirit and fulfill the plans for your life that God wrote before you were born. Be encouraged on your journey! Shalom, Heidi
Here we go with a smattering of things I’ve encountered in the past week. I hope you can make sense out of what I’m putting together. I am reading several books so I can decide which to take with me to bless the people in Uganda when I go in January, I will share two of them here.
God has heard the cries of the children. All the enemy is doing is aimed at destroying the children! We need to boldly rise up and destroy all the enemy’s plans with the truth. Of course, in the power and authority of Jesus Christ, we shall overcome! Riots shall come, but don’t give them any attention and they will fall apart (most of the people involved are paid to riot).
Psalm 20:1 May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble; May the name of the God of Jacob defend you; 2 May He send you help from the sanctuary, and strengthen you out of Zion; 3 May He remember all your offerings, and accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah
There is a banner of victory over the lives of God’s elect, declaring, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place” 2Corinthians 2:14. From: Called To Breakthrough. by Rabbi Kirt A. Schneider p. 103
Having Jewish blood myself, I enjoyed reading Kirt’s story. He’s had an amazing life so far, mixed with joy, angst, and persecution. In the last chapter of the book, he gives keys he’s found to truly living with our Messiah. I want to concentrate on these things he points out as I prepare to head to Uganda.
Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God. 8 They have bowed down and fallen; But we have risen and stand upright.
Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
In The Giftfor all people; Thoughts on God’s Great Grace, by Max Lucado, he shares the above passage from Romans. Let’s parse this out.
Godis for us,
God isfor us,
God is for us,
God is for us…
Go ahead. Read each line, as you emphasize the word in orange.
Now, if God is for us, let’s read each of the following:
Whocanbe against us?
Who can beagainst us?
Who can be against us?
Who can be against us?
I break in here to share about The Gift for All People. You may notice this book is smaller than average. I’ve read most of it in the past hour or two. I think it may make a wonderful gift for someone on your Christmas list? Here’s the book in a nutshell, from the back cover.
“More than anything, God wants you to be with Him. The God who designed your world, the God who placed you on the planet, simply wants you home with Him, and to bring you home. He offers you a gift… the gift of eternal salvation.
My prayer is that through the pages of this book you’ll see His gift like you’ve never seen it.
If you’ve already accepted it; you’ll thank Him again. And if you’ve never accepted it, I pray you will. For it’s the gift of a lifetime. A gift for all people. – Max Lucado
SOOO… If God is for us, who can be against us? God Is… not maybe, not has been, not would be, but… Right Now, God is FOR you!
As God told Rabbi Kirt, “Ascending the day.” It’s our calling.
Let’s get out and rejoice, spreading the Glory of the Lord from soul to soul, spirit to spirit. May our days ascend in Christ, not descend into the worldly trials of the day.
I leave you with a blessing from one of Rabbi Kirt’s favorite Hebrew sayings [translated]. (As found in Psalm 84:7)“May you go from strength to strength.”
I honor my brother, Karl, today. He passed away May 24th, 2024, and today, August 23rd, would be his 68th birthday. I share this poem he wrote about his sisters:
Sisters
Friends, playmates, rivals.
Happy together, sometimes mean.
Teaching each other in time spent together.
Each her own person, together a team.
Value each other and enjoy your lives.
1/26/1999 Karl E. Stahl
Call To Action
One of Karl’s desires was that he could publish a book. This poem is from a booklet of poems Karl’s friend from high school printed for him. It’s title is: Just FocusPoems by Karl Stahl Copyright 1999 by Karl Stahl. Poems include: A Hint of Infinity, An Epic Journey, Drunk, A News Photo, At the Department Of Social Services, Panic Attack, and Sisters. If you would like a copy of this booklet of poems, please let me know and we can have more printed.
Psalm 2
One of the chapters of my devotions this past week was Psalm 2. I think it’s an appropriate study for this time in our world.
The Messiah’s Triumph and Kingdom
2 Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us.”
Isn’t this what’s going on around the world today? The nations rage and plot. They want to throw off the restraints of the Lord. It seems easier to make your own rules and make your own gods.
God’s Derision/Wrath
4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision. 5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure: 6 “Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion.”
First, the Lord laughs; holds them in derision. He speaks to them in holy wrath… I have set My King on MY holy hill of Zion. King Jesus!
Son-ship/ Inheritance
7 “I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. 8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ”
Yes, Jesus is the Son. Through Him, we are also sons & daughters. We shall ask Him for the nations and the ends of the earth for our possession, in the Name and power of the Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing can stand against Him, or against us who are called by His name!
Be Wise/ Be Blessed
10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear, And rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.
Speak to the kings and judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with Fear, Rejoice, Tremble, kiss the Son in honor before His righteous anger destroys those who plot evil.
BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO PUT THEIR TRUST IN Him! Do not be afraid of what is coming. Pray, declare the Lord’s will, and stand firm. Your salvation is near! Hope in God alone.
ELECTIONS
May I remind you, only about 33% of professing Christians exercise their right to vote. Oh, but “I don’t support any of the candidates; I don’t know who to vote for, so I never vote”. Well, seek the Lord while He may be found. He will lead you to the right choice. No candidate is perfect; look at the people God used throughout the Bible. What would happen if Christians stood up and grasped their God-given right to vote? Maybe God’s chosen candidates winning by a landslide???
In Conclusion: I declare an open heaven. By faith, take down what you need. Shalom, my readers.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Yes, Jesus assured us that trials (tribulation) not only may, but truly will, come into our lives. What do we do when they come? I believe trials can break you down, wear you out, cause you to lose hope. Can anyone say … depression?
Don’t Waste Your Sorrows!
But… when you lean into Father God, trials bring you deeper into your relationship with the Lord. They strengthen your faith as He proves His goodness through it all. To comfort others in their trials, we need to experience our own.
Comfort Others, Gain Experience
2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
Trials develop our compassion. Experience is gained so we can raise our levels of understanding. We learn more about this life compared with heaven, and we understand more how God works in human lives. The accounts in the Bible make more sense.
Compassion gained from experience in action
Find the Hidden Gems
Trials develop patience. They are fertile soil to grow, making us more like Jesus. We experience goodness in those who walk the rough road with us or help us out at just the right time. When we begin to see the light, joy resurfaces.
I’m currentlyworking through these devotions.
Trust God
We serve a God who knows the end from the beginning, who has been from beginning to the end of all our lives. We can trust him that our sorrows will be turned to joy for His glory and our good.
I leave you to meditate on the following verses in Romans. I pray that the Holy Spirit will bless your understanding, and you will see the jewels in your darkness.
Romans 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?” 35 “Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?”
36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
When morning guilds the skies… my heart awakening cries… may Jesus Christ be praised!
Due to the early times we need to leave for our new job, this is actually a sunrise photo instead of my usual sunset!
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.
7However, 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.
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?
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 8:9But 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:
Welcome to the next section of Bible 8:1-8 passages. Let’s dive into Acts chapter 8.
Saul Persecutes the Church Acts 8:1 Now Saul was consenting to his [Stephen’s] death. At that time, a great persecution arose against the church, which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial and made great lamentation over him. 3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.
After the 120 who gathered in the upper room were immersed/baptized in the fiery Holy Spirit, hundreds upon hundreds of people were miraculously coming into the kingdom. All the things that Jesus told them would happen when He rose up to heaven were happening! This was a marvelous time to be part of what God was doing and the spirit of unity was strong within the body of Christ. Inevitably, we hear of persecution beginning with the arrest of James and John when they offered healing to the lame man at the temple gate. Next, Stephen was arrested and stoned to death, even though he was ministering to so many people and teaching with authority. God used this persecution to His advantage.
Christ Is Preached in Samaria 4 Therefore, those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. 5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city.
See how God caused the believers to scatter? He wanted the good news of Messiah to spread to all the world, not stagnate in Jerusalem. He is still scattering and shifting His people around to where we are needed. It is a privilege to be part of this new era in the LORD, heaven coming down to earth; the veil between the two thinning as we speak!
The following is what Jesus taught not long before Acts 8 occurred:
Matthew 5:44But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven;for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
Saul didn’t know it yet, but the Lord was using him in spite of himself. The one who was holding the coats of those stoning Stephen became the one the Lord used to reach multitudes of people in the name of Jesus the Messiah. Paul’s letters in the New Testament are still drawing, encouraging, teaching and training people today.
God is able to use everything for His glorious plans, even our enemies. Let us pray for those who treat us badly. Let us pray for and speak blessing over those our hearts want to condemn. As I said in my book, Musings Along Life’s Journey, If I don’t pray for them, they will be damned. The eternity of hell is so horrid, I don’t want even my worst enemy to go there! I will be speaking about my book at Smithville Baptist Church in Adams, NY in April if you are able to attend. Here is the “Save the Date” card.
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?”
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.
6This 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?
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.
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.
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!
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.
The Brownville, NY church Charles G. Finney spent a winter snowed -in at, preaching and praying in the1800’s revival at its infancy.
New Year’s Eve, I spent about 6 hours at this old church, experiencing a taste of heaven on earth and the burgeoning revival in our area. I rejoiced in seeing people from my former church involvements and many from my current congregation, as well as many I met for the first time. Just thinking about how in eternity, we can fellowship with Everyone who follows Jesus!
What excellent fellowship we enjoyed as we packed the church sanctuary. The worship team was excellent, the Spirit heavy, and prayers effective. Baptisms were performed, and many children and young people were there, all behaving well for such a late evening! Oh, did I mention older saints and people from several different churches attended as well?
Our church has begun our annual January fast. Our concentration this year is Immanuel; Our God is with us, and we are with our God. You can check out http://www.myacf.orgfor Pastor’s sermon about this fast. I decided to begin fasting at sundown New Year’s evening, only drinking water. The Spirit and fellowship made it easy to pass up the snacks that were there at the church. This year, I decided to concentrate on no wheat, no dairy, and no sugars. I eat enough to take my supplements in the morning, then liquids until after 4 p.m. Liquids continue after sharing a curtailed dinner with my husband, John. The main idea is to take 21 days to make room in my life to grow closer to the Lord, feeding my spirit more than my flesh. Our church does not mandate that members fast or dictate how to observe it, but it helps knowing others are abstaining from food at the same time.
Now for the book reviews. I remind you that there’s a discount for my Musings Along Life’s Journey Kindle version starting January 17th, only 99cents!
The Lost Arts of Christianity by Mike Bartholomew is my current read. I met Pastor Mike at a joint prayer evening last week at our church. He pastors at a sister church in our area. This book was published in 2009 but still holds good advice for coming back to the truths of Christian Living many of us have left off from. Mike covers:
Beginning Correctly, Salty Living, The Spirit Filled Life, Self-control, Patient Faith, Serving, Hospitality, Disciple Making, Praying, Forgiving, Giving, Recognizing the Times, Loyalty, Contentment, Hard Work, Loving the Truth, Joyful Living, Discretion, Unity, Parenting, Submission to Authority, Finishing Correctly.
You will find I covered a few of these topics in my memoir, but Pastor Mike Bartholomew fleshes them out a bit more, since he’s been a Pastor as long as I’ve been a believer, which gives him more examples to share. If you want to find out how to help others find God’s way of living this Christian life or confirm/challenge the life you’re living, I recommend this book, which can be purchased on Amazon or Walmart.com.
The second book I want to share is the new devotional I started today. It’s Our FaithfulGodDevotional by Katie Davis Majors, 52 Weeks of Leaning on His Unchanging Character.
Katie says,”… we aren’t going to cover the whole Bible in a year. But we are going to read different parts of the Old and New Testaments, soaking our hearts and minds in God’s Word as we look for evidence of His unchanging character throughout the ages.” (From the introduction). Each week, you read one Scripture each day for four days. On day five, you read all four Scriptures. Two days a week, you can meditate/re-read the Scriptures, or use them as catch-up days. Katy starts each day by setting the stage for the chapter you will read, then offers questions to help you apply it to your life.
This seems to be a good place for me to start this new year. I have christened a new journal and look forward to what the Spirit will do with Katie’s prompts. My first assignment is to read Genesis 1 and start a habit of noticing God’s goodness all around, trusting Him to make the dark areas of my life light and good. This means seeing God as Creator of all, still speaking light and life, still declaring His creation is good. My second day, I read the first chapter of Matthew.
As I conclude these thoughts, I speakShalom to you, my readers. 2024 is a year of expectation. God is on the move, and we are blessed to move with Him! Remember to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, as Psalm 122 says, for the good of our brothers and friends. Also, they that touch Israel touch the apple of the Father’s eye. He will not let the enemy go much farther. His judgement is written in the Scriptures!
Musings along life's journey 