Reverential Fear

Thus says the LORD, Who gives the sun for light by day And the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, Who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar; The LORD of hosts is His name:  Jeremiah 31:35

In the verse above and Exodus 15:11, we are reminded of the awesome power and authority of God.  When we understand this, we develop what is known as "awe" of God.  Awe is a reverential fear.  This is not fear that sends us running for a secure place to hide (as if that existed with God).  This is the type of fear that recognizes the power and majesty of the All Might; the type of fear that produces respect for the greatest power in the universe that loves us beyond any human understanding.  We see and understand the power of our Creator.  This can be related to the awe we had of our parents when we were young.  We recognized that they had the power to reject, reward, discipline, deny, give and create the atmosphere of our lives.

Once we reach this state of "awe", we want to worship and praise in gratitude -  just as we felt about our parents.  When young, they controlled our entire world and we stood in awe of the way they went about the business of work and providing everything.  In Psalm 68:35, we are told of the power of God that He can give to us.  In Isaiah 66:2, we are told of who He favors among His people. 

Our parents were proud of us and bragged on us when we were respectful.  We were rewarded when we obeyed them and did as we were instructed.  I recognized that my mother had all authority and she demanded respect.  We feared what she could do if she did not get that respect (awe) through our disobedience.   At the same time, we were certain of her love because of the way she commanded right living.  I loved my mother, obeyed her and she returned this with love.  I respected her for her power over me and she loved me for it.

God bestows good things, blessings, on those who who trust Him.  Psalm 31:19.  In Luke 1:50, we are told that proper fear of God grants us mercy from Him.  We learn in Psalm 103:11 that God loves those who love Him.  Love comes from respect, a type of awe.  Isaiah 33:6 tells us that through fear/awe of the Lord, we will be given salvation, wisdom and knowledge as treasure.

The Lord listens to and hears those who fear Him.  Malachi 3:16-17   Proverbs 14:27 tells us we can receive health and long life  through fear of the Lord.  Proverbs 19:23 goes further to add that our life will be content and untouched by trouble when we fear Him.  Finally, we see in Proverbs 22:4 that even riches and honor are added to our life for fearing the Lord.

How do we stand in awe and fear the Lord?   We accept His unconditional love and grace imparted to us as a free gift through the sacrifice of His son on the cross.

We do not have to earn this love from God; His grace is a free gift.  Our sins were forgiven on the cross.  Hebrews 10:12 Amen

The First Communion

Names are so fascinating in the Bible.  They help translate events and their meanings.

Interesting chain of events: Gen 14:18 Melchizedek, king of Salem (Salem means "peace"), gave communion to Abram (means "Father of Altitude"), later named Abraham ("Father of Multitude"). He blessed Abram and Abram gave tithe.

This is the first mention of communion in the Bible and it lays the foundation for blessing and tithing. Notice God's blessing comes first because He is so gracious.  Notice also: after the tithe is paid, God makes a covenant with Abram to give a son (to Abram's barren wife in their old age) and countless offspring. 

Jerusalem is called the foundation of Salem; Jerusalem means "God's Delight". This communion was held in the Valley of Shaveh (means "King's Valley") Melchizedek means "My King is The Lord of Righteousness".
 
Let's put this together: "My King is The Lord of Righteousness" met in the "King's Valley" for the first communion, a ritual to mark the coming out of Egypt (Egypt translates "stress"), a type of sin (OT) (in the New Testament, the crucified Christ dying to cleanse our sin), with the "Father of Altitude" in Salem ("Peace") where we find Jerusalem, "God's Delight".  

Another way: "My King, Lord of Righteousness" went to the "King's Valley" to take out/cleanse of sin the "Father of Altitude" who honored this with giving a tenth of all he had and in return received the desire of his heart. (You can't out give God) This took place in the "Peace" of "God's Delight".

Abram became Abraham and was later asked to offer his beloved son as sacrifice to God.  This is a foretelling of the sacrifice our father made with  his beloved son, Jesus.  P.S: At the last minute, our loving Father provided an animal sacrifice and spared the boy.  
 
Our gracious God wants to bless us with the desires of our hearts in a place of peace - this is His delight.

Amen

Redemption Covenant

This plan of redemption, this great mystery is the grace of God through the sacrifice of Jesus that covers us with the blood of the perfect sacrifice to be seen as pure in the eyes of our Heavenly Father.  We have been redeemed from all our past, present and future wrong doings.   Bible says, "Once and for all."

Here's how it works:  

We do our best to live according to Jesus example and don't worry about anything else.  We are pure in the sight of God.  We do not have to work for our salvation; God gave it to us through Jesus.  When God the  Father, looks at us He only sees righteous beings.  He cannot see past Jesus pure blood of His son that covers us.

The blood sacrifice was installed when God killed animals to clothe Adam & Eve after they sinned.  Then, God was angry with Cain because he gave an offering of vegetables from the ground that God had cursed.  Abel followed what he was taught and gave a blood offering.  Nothing is cleansed without blood.  We don't need animals because we are redeemed to God by Jesus blood.

We don't have to stop and repent of every wrong thought throughout our day.  Recognize you did did it and know you have been forgiven - 2,000 years ago.  It is done for us for all time.  Jesus cannot crawl back up on the cross to be another sacrifice every time someone sins.   The plan is magnificent in it's simplicity! ! !  What a clever God we have.  What a loving Jesus.

We are the righteousness of God through what Jesus has sacrificed.  God is righteous because of His loving grace to us.  We are righteous in His sight.

As God's perfect law, the 10 Commands make a great guide line.  Just don't expect to keep them or judge yourself when you fail.  You do not have to follow the letter of the law for your salvation.   You cannot get into  heaven on your own efforts.  YOU NEED THE BLOOD OF JESUS.  He already shed it.  You are going.  You have your ticket.  Stop trying to make your salvation all about you.  It's all about Jesus.  Only He is perfect enough to atone for us.  

Believe.  Faith.  Love God above all else and love your neighbor as much as yourself.      -      Easy- peasy!

God made it easy for us because man failed time after time.  God knew we could not save ourselves.  Accept it.  Be free.  Claim Jesus.  The great "I Am".
Amen

God Is Love

We hear it all the time:  "God loves you", "Jesus loves you".

What does this really mean? 
It has been used until we don't think about the meaning.  We don't connect the words to their meaning.  There are those who would use this to control where you attend church, your finances, your opinions.  You are told God loves you, then subject to a sermon of wrath, hell fire or eye for an eye. 

Let's just explore these issues.

Wrath:  Yes, God had wrath alright, especially in the Old Testament.  But, if we actually search it out, His wrath was directed at non believers, evil doers, idol worshipers and enemies of His people.  Yes, He did punish various of His people but only as a loving father must discipline a child who misbehaves for the good of the child.  His people were always restored after the discipline.  You ask, "What about the times when Israelites were order to wipe out a people - even their children - even their flocks - and take no plunder?"  I answer: Those to be wiped out were idol worshiping enemies of God's people.  I did a study of the idol Baal and the Ashera poll.  The Ashera poll was a carving of the goddess Ashera and it was not modest (to say the least).  What they did to babies and children was an absolute abomination to God.  Mass graves have been uncovered with hundreds, even thousands of children's skeletons.  They practiced horrific mockery of God with priests and priestesses involved in public intercourse followed by orgies.  God is a just God to wipe them from the face of the earth.

Hell fire:  It is doctrine.  There is hell fire.  But, only for non believers.  Those who actually believe in Jesus as the Son of God sent for the atonement of human sin, have nothing to fear of a hell fire.  Isn't that great?  Those of us who believe are already saved through our belief in Jesus Christ.  Once you have accepted His sacrifice as your saving grace, you cannot lose it.   The rapture will lift all believers from this world before God's wrath comes in the final days.  The "Lamb's Book of Life" (Rev.21:27) will be read later; after the New Jerusalem comes down from heaven - after Jesus defeats Satan Rev.19:11 - 21.  We will already be with Him, bringing down the new Jerusalem, when the Book of Life is read.  If we follow a sequence of events: the rapture of believers, three and one half years of the reign of an anti Christ, his defeat, the New Jerusalem, reading the Book of Life, we see that Christian believers will actually be with Jesus before all this.  Jesus cannot re-judge believers He has already taken up into the clouds to be with Him.  Is He going to read the Book of Life and say, "Oooops!  I didn't know that about you; get out!"  I don't think so.  Christian believers do not face a judgement.  We will be taken up to meet Him in the clouds.  God is faithful to His faithful.

Eye for an eye:  In Ex.21:24 this first appears as God gives Moses instructions for governing the Israelites.  This is the Old Testament - the Old Covenant with the Israelite people.  Jesus brought a New Testament and taught in Mt.5:38 & 39 that you are now to turn the other cheek.  The old covenant of law has been replaced with the new covenant of grace through Jesus.  God's amazing grace.

To be loved by God is to be safe, provided for, at peace, confident, worry free and happy.  No one can love like the Creator of time and space, stars and suns, wind and the very atoms that comprise all things.

Story:  There was a scientist who came to God and declared, "We can now create life in the laboratory.  I am like you."  God replies, "Is that so?  Let's just prove your claim."  The scientist agreed they would each create a human being.  When the scientist reached down to gather the dirt to begin his creation, God stopped him and said, "Oh no you don't.  Go get your own dirt."

Challenge:  I dare you to disprove God or Jesus.  Throughout history, every time someone sets out to disprove His existence, they either come to believe in Him or give up in frustration.  Go ahead; I dare you - actual proof.

You ask me for proof of His existence?  I point you to the Bible - a perfect puzzle where all the pieces fit and the old reveals the new and the new proves the old.  I point you to the man of Jesus; perfect, without sin (Heb.9:14, IPe.1:19).  It was very important in the Old Covenant that all sacrifices be "without blemish".  He began a movement that has lasted 2,000 years and survived wars and persecution all that time just to flourish stronger than ever.  No other movement or religion in the world has with stood such opposition.


I fear I have strayed from the subject of love. 
See God as the perfect father.  He loves you so much that He wants to give you everything that is good for you.  Being a good father, who knows you from your beginning, He knows what is best for you.  He knows if you touch the hot stove, you will get burned.  That's why He has rules; just like you give your kids - because you LOVE them.  If you did not grow up with a concerned father, surrender to God and find out what the perfect father can be: never leave you, protect you, guide, discipline, provide every need, teach, listen and care.  Experience His perfect love.

Then, consider the ultimate.  Having a son that you adore.  This perfect being is your absolute joy but to save all of His bad siblings, this child must be punished severely and tortured to death.  Oh, how He loves you and me.

Deut.5:10, Jdgs.5:31, Ps.119:132, Jn.14:23

Time demands I move on with my day.  Think on these things and come back.  We'll share some more.

Amen

A Father's Love Letter

When clearing some old records, I stumbled upon this in a file and thought it nice enough to share:

My Child,

You may not know me, but I know everything about you. (Ps 139:1)  I know every time you sit down and get up. (Ps 139:2)  I know your personality. (Ps 139:3)  I know how many hairs you have on your head.  (Mt 10:29-31)  You were made in my image.  (Gen 1:27)  You have your life through me.  (Acts 17:28)  You are my offspring. (Acts 17:28) I picked you out when I planned all of creation. (Eph 1:11-12)    I knew you before you were conceived. (Jer 1:4-5)  I created you in your mother's womb (Ps 139:13), and called you out the moment of your birth. (Ps 71:6)     I deliberately made you just as you are. (Ps 139:15-16)  I know what will happen in your life before it happens. (Ps 139:15-16)   I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live. (Acts 17:26)  You are wonderful. (Ps 139:14) 

I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me. (Jn 8:41-44)  I am very near and the complete expression of love toward you. (1Jn 4:16)  I want to lavish my love on you (1Jn 3:1), just because you are my child and I am you Father. (1Jn 3:1)  I offer you more than any earthly father ever could. (Mt 7:11)  I am the perfect Father. (Mt 5:48)  Every good gift that you receive, comes from me. (Jms 1:17)  I provide for you all your needs. (Mt 6:31-33)  

I have great hope for your future (Jer 29:11), because my love for you is forever. (Jer 31:3)  I am constantly thinking of you. (Ps 139:17-18)  You make me want to sing. (Zeph 3:17)  I will never stop doing good for you. (Jer 32:40)  You are my treasured possession. (Ex 19:5)  With all my heart and soul, I want to see you secure. (Jer 32:41)  I want to show you miracles. (Jer 33:3)

I am the Father who comforts you when you are in trouble. (2Cor 1:3-4)  When your heart is broken, I am close. (Ps 34:18)  I carry you close to my heart, like a shepherd with a lamb. (Isa 40:11)  I will wipe away all your tears and you will never know sorrow again. (Rev 21:3-4)  I will not let you remember any of the pain you suffered in this life. (Rev 21:4) 

I am your Father and I love you as mush as my first born son, Jesus. (Jn 17:23)  I showed my love for you through Jesus. (Jn 17:26)  He is just like me. (Heb 1:3)  He came to show I am always for you and never against you (Ro 8:31), and to tell you that I do not know anything you do wrong. (2Cor 5:18-19)  Jesus died so that you and I could come to understanding. (2Cor 5:18-19)  I sent Him to die for you as my ultimate expression of love for you. (1Jn 4:10)  I gave what I loved so I might gain your love. (Ro 8:32)  

To find me, just look for me. (Deut 4:29)  Be happy with me and I will give you everything you want. (Ps 37:4)  I gave you those desires. (Phpns 2:13)  I am capable of doing more for you than you can imagine. (Eph 3:20)  I encourage you more than anyone else. (2Thes 2:16-17) 

If you receive the gift of Jesus, you receive me (!Jn 2:23),  and nothing will ever separate you from my love again. (Ro 8:38-39)  

Come home and I will throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. (Lk 15:7)  I have always been Father and will always be Father. (Eph 3:14-15)  
I am waiting for you. (Lk 15:11-32)

                                              Love,
                                              Your Dad





 

Me, God and Digger

Do you have a pet?  One that you just adore?
I do.  His name is "Digger" and he is a Russian tortoise.

Digger is an amphibian, a cold blooded animal.  He gets body warmth from his surroundings.  I have to see that his surroundings are the correct temperature and humidity at all times.  I have to make sure he gets enough sunlight every day and enough dark to accommodate his sleep cycle.  His diet is important and I see to it that he gets a variety of the leaves and vegetables that are good for him.  I don't let him have any plant that might be  harmful to his system.  

When he has a full tummy, he often falls asleep in his food dish.  It makes me feel good that he is content.

 
Every few days, he needs to soak in water because he is a dessert tortoise and needs moisture.  I make sure he gets time to soak and exercise in the sink.

Why?  This seems like a lot of bother.  So why do I make all this effort for his well being?   I adore this cold blooded animal more than I ever imagined I 
would. 

Hours were spent, with a shovel, in the  hot sun, creating an outdoor habitat for summer weather.  Digger likes me.  He actually acknowledges me when I am in the room or go to  his outdoor pen to get him when the weather changes.  If he is hungry when I go outside, I call and he comes to me.  I like it when he notices me and shows me attention and appreciation just like God wants us to sing, praise and visit with Him.

It gives me joy when Digger is happy; just like God is thrilled with our happiness, peace, health and comfort.


God loves us like this.  Just as I sacrificed hard work in the hot sun, God sacrificed His son, Jesus, who sacrificed his life for us.

Digger likes my warm hands;
He does not like cold rain.
I know what he likes and I try to accommodate his surroundings.
God does the same for us.
 
I am happy when Digger is happy;
God is happy when we are happy.

I know what he needs;
I supply all of Digger’s needs
God supplies all of our needs and takes great joy in doing so.  He takes such great joy in our acknowledgement of His love by saying "Thank you" and offering praise throughout the day, that He offers blessings for the gratitude and praise we give Him.  He promises to bless us when we thank Him and praise Him for providing our needs.  

What an amazing God we have.
Amen
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The Gospel Truth, Pt 1

Grace, through belief in Jesus the Christ, is our law today; love God and love your neighbor.  Mt 22:36  The amazing grace (love, forgiveness, kindness) is what Jesus replaced the law with.  Paul wrote in every one of his letters about God’s grace replacing the law. 

Col 1:26 states the “mystery that has been kept hidden” referring to God’s plan of redemption.  This plan replaces God’s perfect law of the Ten Commandments with the sacrifice of Jesus. 

Are we led by spirit or a written code of law?  Christians who belong to Christ are led by the spirit we receive when we accept Jesus as our Savior.

Spirit did not dwell in men in the Old Testament.  It fell on men.  It came and went as men and women of the Bible needed it.  God supplied when there was a need for strength through Him.  Today, we receive the Holy Spirit to dwell IN us when we accept Jesus as our Savior.  Once given and received, He does not leave. 

The Arc:  God commanded a piece of manna, Aaron’s rod and the Ten Commandments to be placed inside the arc.  They are signs of the rebellion of the Israellites.  The people broke the first commandment even before Moses came down from Mt. Sinai.  The arc is made of wood covered with gold.  Wood is a symbol of man.  The cover, the Mercy Seat, is solid gold, representing diety.  The Mercy Seat is where sacrifices were made - replaced by the sacrifice of Jesus - diety.  The lid, Jesus/grace, covers the law inside; the Ten Commandments.

What about Sabbath?  Jesus broke Sabbath time and again - one of the Ten Commandments.  He was confronted by the Pharisees about breaking the Sabbath.  Jesus said if you break one law, you are guilty of breaking all.  Christ showed us, by example, that the commandments were erased, when He came to fulfill the law, by taking all our guilt and shame, on Himself and nailed our sins, under the law, to the cross. 

Early church did not keep Sabbath.  We do not keep the Sabbath today.  The Sabbath is Saturday - ask any Jew.  Christians keep Sunday.  Sunday was the day Christ rose from death to new life.

If Pharisees were so good at keeping the law, why didn’t Christ get along with them?

Jer 31:33 & 34 Here God tells Jeremiah of a second covenant.  The first with Adam and the second through Jesus. He tells him the law will be written on their hearts.  People will no longer need a written code of law they have to obey because true believers will want to follow the will of God.  Also IICor 3:3

For the Jews who rejected Jesus as their Messiah, animal sacrifices done in obedience to the Old Testament covenant were stopped in A.D. 70, at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by the armies of Rome.  Jesus warned of this in the Gospels.

The ten commandments are done away with - Mt 5:17  Jesus fulfilled the law (10 Commandments) and the prophets.  The law is God’s perfect law.  Man is carnal and cannot keep a perfect law - that is why Jesus had to fulfill it and prophecy.  Prophecy cannot be done away with.  It is the will of God.  Jesus fulfilled the prophets by fulfilling the law.  He did it for us.  Once and for all.

Christ teaching:  Mt 5:18 & 19 In verse 18, Jesus explains that He has not yet fulfilled the law because He has not yet died for us.  Christ tells us anyone who sets aside even the least of the laws and teaches it will be called least in heaven. 

He goes on to give an example by explaining murder, adultery and a couple other issues like divorce and oaths.  He begins his explanation by stating the law and then corrects it by saying, “But I tell you”.  Here He is explaining that to even think the wrong is the same as doing the wrong.  What human being (other than Himself) can keep such law?  No one.  He knows that.  That is why He was sent - the perfect man to take the perfect law.

To be continued . . . . .

A Funny Thing Happened On Our Way To The ER

You know, for the past few days, I have been dealing with medication issues.  At 71, I have been so blessed to be on only one prescription drug - blood pressure.  It runs rampant in my family.  Recently, my prescription no longer works.  I hate drugs and for other health reasons need to stay away from as many as I possibly can.  I take lots of herbs and vitamins for prevention, exercise, drink lots of water and try to be cautious of what I eat.  

I refuse to be that old lady who sits with friends and discusses her doctor appointments, prescription drugs and side effects while waiting for my next meal.  Had to make an emergency run to the hospital when my blood pressure went over 200; elevated 30 points in just half an hour.

We decided to make an emergency run to an Emergency Room about 10:00 pm.  My husband was concerned about some road construction so we took and alternate route.  Just minutes after using our detour, there was a single head light looming on the horizon.  As we got closer, Steven slowed down realizing the light was stationary.

In my travels, I have had the opportunity to drive through some harrowing situations and this brought one to mind.  A time when going through the Appalacian's,  I had to pass through an area where people were putting things in the road (fires, trees, effigy figures) to stop cars for the purpose of robbery.  This came to my mind.  I was uncomfortable with him stopping and slowing down was giving me concern - just from a past memory.  We are in a rural area that has never had such an issue.  Funny how our minds work.

As we approached the light, it became obvious that it was one working headlight on a car that was stopped with the entire front looking like a wadded piece of tin foil.  There was a young couple in the road behind the car, pacing with a flashlight.  We stopped to inquire of the situation.  They had no phone, the young woman was in early stages of pregnancy and had blood on her.  She was in shock and ranting about a rented car, hitting a cow and what they would do about the car.  The young man was pacing with her, scanning her with the flashlight for cuts and she kept saying she was pregnant but that she was "okay".  It is only providence of God that I had my phone with me.  

My husband's phone is for work use only and he left it on his desk at home.  I only turn mine on when away from home so he can reach me.  Seldom do I carry it if I am with Steven.  I called 911 emergency and reached a town 45 miles away.  It took awhile to get reconnected to the correct county, decide what county road we were on, what was the closest EMT, exactly where we were and establish the fact that we were not the victims but rather on our way to the ER for help ourselves.  Can you believe this?  My husband was getting stressed but I found it to be quite amusing.   All I could think was, "Something strange happened on our way to the ER".  Soon, other vehicles approached with phones, willingness to help and more knowledge of the area than we had.  We were soon back to our personal objective.

Long story short, we spent several hours at the ER with a wonderful nurse and an amazing D.O. who was 75 years old.  I love old family doctors.  They are the real knowledge -   Too few and far between.  I am adjusting to new medication while being monitored and feel there was a reason we were on that road at that time on that night.  Prayers are sent up for that couple - who did not show up at the hospital we went to.  

What was God up to?  Others were on that same road with phones.  We were the first to arrive - on our own emergency mission.  Why did that couple not have a phone?  I thought everyone but Steven and I had phones.  That exact place and time came together.  We will never know their names or see them again.   I wonder about the young woman and her unborn baby.  My heart goes out; she was in obvious shock.  Was it a test for us to stop?  Was it a test for someone else on that road that night?  We could have been minutes earlier and hit the cow ourselves.  We never know but God is always aware and close.  He shields and protects His children.

I am confused about His reasoning but God is good.
Amen

P.S.  It was a cow - a large one and she was dead.

My Personal God

"My God" has made Himself personal to me:

I called on Him when I prayed "Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep" during my parents divorce.  I was seven years old and He made His presence known to me.

He put His wings around me during the abuse I endured at the hands of a stepfather, and sent me a savior; my grandfather.

He advised me when I was molested by three teen boys at a bus stop. I was 16.

When there was disappointment over missing high school graduation, due to minor surgery, He was there holding my hand.

I held fast to Him through the loss of two children at birth.

During marriage to an alcoholic, He advised me through His spirit.

He was there to console me after the death of Grandfather, the only earthly father I have known.

An angel, in the form of a police officer, was sent when my brakes failed early one morning on busy city streets.

I prayed "Our Father" in an ambulance after a car accident.  It left me with 44 stitches to my face, a broken foot and crushed vertebra, but He chose to spare my life.

Late one evening, in New York, He sent an angel to perform a miracle and save me from an assault in a public parking lot. 

Again, He held my hand during surgery for malignant tumors, consoled me when I learned that I would never have children and held my hand during the hysterectomy ten years later.

I had traveled across this country for forty-five years to sell my art work.  I remember dangerous driving conditions, storms in the mountains, icey roads and being lost - a lot.  My God was sitting next to me in the passenger seat every inch of the way.

In Alabama, He sent an angel with yet another miracle to keep me from an auto accident with two little girls in my car. 

During a time of great depression, from many wrong choices through the years, He spoke and saved me from suicide.

He has loved me from my conception, with a plan for my life.  Thirty-five years ago, my God placed me in His church, changed my life and my way of thinking and, twenty-six years ago gave me my greatest earthy treasure, a husband who truly loves me.

My God bandaged emotional wounds and started the healing.  He has always made Himself personal to my needs.

He sent me a healer and holds my hand every time I take a treatment for liver failure.

He stepped in to fill a huge void when my mother died and consoles a great loss, again, when my brother died young.

A compound fracture in my ankle was set without anesthetic by a strange doctor in a strange hospital in a city far from home.  I was alone for surgery - except for my God.

Throughout my life, and even now, my God has been with me every minute to make sure I did not suffer more than I could bare.  He has been there watching, teaching, protecting; keeping my heart, my body and my soul in His ever gentle arms.

My God took hate, fear and guilt and replaced them with joy, compassion and peace.

My God is the magnificent "I Am" who made time and space and lives on the sides of the north in the third heaven.  Every existence exists in His thought.  He knows every inch of every star in the universe, every grain of sand on every beach and cares enough about me to know how many hairs are on my head - He is the keeper of my soul.

My God loves, protects, blesses, teaches, comforts, heals and answers my prayers. Getting to know Him is a lifetime of joy and amazement.

The Christian life is not easy but the rewards are great.
Amen

It's A Mystery

At a recent Bible study - I won't say where (My point is not to condemn or point fingers at anyone person or church.), we were on the topic, "mystery kept hidden for ages" in Col 1:26.

This mystery being about Jesus Christ made known through the prophetic writings  Ro 16:26.  These prophetic writings would be Psalms and Isaiah, among other prophets. 

It's all about Jesus; the Old Testament and the New.  The Old Testament leads to and points at His coming.  The New Testament is about that life and death and the second coming.  Yes!  Jesus.  All Christians know this much.  No problem in the Bible study group.  So why is it called a mystery? 

Let me back up by saying that this revelation is a bit new to me.  I never could understand the writings of Paul until I understood this "mystery", which has been made clear to me in the recent couple years.  Then, Paul's writings took on so much meaning.  I have been in church for many (many) years.  A couple years back, I really stuck my nose into "the book".  I purchased a Hebrew Bible with translation and have learned more in the past two years than in my other sixty-nine.  I am so thrilled with what I am seeing that I want to study 24/7.

The "mystery" is the plan of redemption through Jesus Christ.  Again, something all Christians understand:  Jesus took our sins upon Himself so we might be free of sin.  Let's pause and think about that statement for a minute.  Jesus took our sins on Himself.  All of them; past, present and future.  After all, He is the beginning and the end.  We are free of sin.  FREE of sin; past, present and future.  How does that work?

This plan of redemption is: grace trumps the 10 commandments.   There, I said it.  I said it in that Bible study and really opened a can of worms.  People were demanding I show a verse that states this fact.  Well, there is none.  No one verse that specifically states "the ten commandments are done away with through Jesus".  You have to read and search out answers; we are told to "seek and find", "knock and the door will be opened".   I went home in shock.  Shouldn't have because, until two years ago, this was new to me.  I had come to believe that I was the odd man out for years - the only one who did not understand grace over the 10 commandments, the "law".  I thought every believer knew.  Now I am thinking there are more people out there walking a fine line of me or God, self centered or God centered, I do or God gives, law of stone or grace of God.

I always thought "the law" meant the temple laws, the sacrificial laws.  Not so.  Bible refers to the 10 commandments as "the law written on stone".   Ex 24:12, Ex 31:18,  Ex 34:4   Paul constantly refers to law versus grace.  

There is nothing wrong with the Ten Commandments.  They are perfect; perfect law of God.  Only a God can keep them.  They were broken before they were given on Sinai and through to the end of the Old Testament.  They are still broken today by good Christians everywhere.  God knew when He gave these laws that they could not be kept by mortals.  (Satan himself, as a high ranking spirit being, could not keep them.)  God had the plan of redemption (the great mystery) in mind when He gave the laws. 

You cannot go through life and keep the letter of the law.  Example, stealing: ever cheat on income taxes?  Ever keep the wrong change from a store clerk?  Example, false witness (lying):  Ever stretch the truth to save the feelings of a friend?  Lie!  Ever exaggerate a story?  Lie!  Ever wish someone dead in your mind?  Murder!  Ever admire a friend's spouse in a lustful way?  Adultery!  Do you go to church on Sunday?  Sabbath!  Do you value your children over God?  Idolatry!  Jesus explained in the Beatitudes that even thinking against the law is breaking it. The "law" can't be kept.  We all break the law on a daily basis in thought and/or deed. 

Here's the Good News (gospel means "good news"):  We don't have to keep the law "written on stone".  Jesus brought new law:  "Love your God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself".  Then, Jesus took all our sins (past, present and future) on Himself, once and for all.  (Ro 6:10)  It is over, done, finished, ended.  Jesus took ALL our sins upon Himself and nailed them to that cross.  We are free and do not have to put the stress upon ourselves to abide in a law that cannot be kept.  This is what grace is.

Oh, great, that means we can all go do any evil we want.  Of course not!  As believers in Jesus and what He has done, we don't want to.  That would be tantamount to slapping our Savior in the face.  What a wonderful thing He did for us.  As understanding believers who are grateful for His sacrifice, we want only to please Him.  That is all we have to do - believe, turn our back on a wayward life and try.  Easy - peasy!  God and The Son have made it easy for us - out of perfect love.  No one wants to knowingly defy such love.

This plan of redemption, this great mystery is the grace of God through the sacrifice of Jesus that covers us with the blood of the perfect sacrifice to be seen as pure in the eyes of our Heavenly Father.  We have been redeemed from all our past, present and future wrong doings.

It's all about Jesus, the Great "I Am" 
Amen

The Gospels - Matthew

In the four gospels, we find 89 chapters.  Four chapters are on the childhood of Jesus.  There are 12 chapters of the public ministry of Jesus in John alone. 

What Matthew could have looked like

NOTE:  The disciples were very young, most mere teenagers.  I will be writing on this in detail in the future.

The four gospels are referred to as "Synoptic" gospels.  Synoptic means "to view together".  Together they compose the complete life of our Savior. 

Matthew wrote with detailed precision, as the accountant that he was.  In Matthew we find Jesus portrayed as a king, symbolized by the lion, exalted and represented by the color purple, associated with royalty (although among Jews the color considered as royal is red).  The phrase, "kingdom of heaven" is only referenced in this book of the gospels.  Matthew has the most chapters, 28, probably because he wrote with a lot of detail.

This first of the gospels is written to Jews of prominence and shows Jesus geneology, through Joseph, back to King David thus proclaiming His physical claim to the throne in the kingdom of God.  The tribe of Judah is listed to show His Jewish kinship as coming from the chosen people; Jesus being THE chosen one.   It does not state that Jesus was begotten of Joseph because there was no physical connection.  In the begats of Mt, chapt. 1, we find the four gentile women listed:  Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba (listed as Uriah's wife).  A few names were left out because they were not worthy.  In AD 17, Romans burned all archives.

NOTE: Most often non believers are not mentioned by name in the Bible, but these women were and/or became believers based on evidence in their stories.

NOTE:  Matthew records three sets of 14 generations: 3x14 = 42 months = 3 1/2 years: the time of tribulation.  The first set of generations runs Abraham thru David; the second runs David thru Babylon and the third runs Babylon thru Jesus.  These reference morning, noon and evening of the time of this age.

In those days, tax collectors cheated and stole from their own people - the worst of the worst.  People despised tax collectors, did not trust and shunned them.    Matthew was, actually, serving another country (Rome).  He had given an oath to Ceasar, as a God.   He was considered a traitor of his people for the love of money - a type of idol worship.  To his credit, in Mt 9:9, Jesus said two words, "Follow Me", and Matthew did.  Jesus explains his choice in 9:12.

Matthew, writing to prominent Jews, records the visit of the Magi and their dealings with king Herod (Herod, Heb: "Evil").  (I have read an account showing Herod as descendant of Esau.) 

in Mt 2:2 we find a parallel to Gen 3:9:  In Genesis, is the first question in the Bible,  "Where are you?"; God asked of Adam.   Adam, the first man, was hiding from God from the guilt of his sin.  Here, Mt 2:2, is the question from the Magi (a class of priests among the Persians and Medes who formed the kings privy council) inquiring about the second Adam, Jesus, who came to do the job that Adam failed at: uniting man's relationship with God.

In Mt 2:13 we are told of the escape into Egypt; Egypt translates "stress".  This is very interesting not only in this story but also the story of Moses saving the Israelites out of Egypt (stress).

We see the humility of John the Baptist in Mt 3:11

In the baptism of Jesus, we see the Holy Spirit, in symbol of a dove, lighting on Jesus.  (See Ps 2:7)  In Gen 8:9, the dove found no resting place from the ark.  The dove would not land on dead bodies of the condemned/condemnation.  The Holy Spirit cannot rest on us under condemnation.  The Holy Spirit, in Matthew, found no condemnation in Jesus - only grace.

When Satan tells Jesus to turn stones to bread in Mt 4:3, he is telling Him to get fed from the law (the 10 Commandments were written on stone).  Jesus refused because He came to fulfill the law NOT to enforce it.

In 4:20, it is interesting to note the phrase "I will send you out to fish for men/people" was originally, in Greek, "Let me be your guide".  Further in verse 20, "followed him" is "became His disciples", in the original Greek.  These differences in wording do put a slightly different slant to the meaning.

In Mt 10 we find the first commission assigned to the apostles.  Verse 11:25, "little children" originally read "disciples" who actually are children in their stage of spiritual growth.  Chapt. 12:31&32 reveals what might be the "unpardonable sin".  

It is very interesting, in lieu of Matthew's view of Jesus as King, that in verse 21:3 he refers to Him as THE Lord (not "my" Lord). 

Many parables are recorded by Matthew along with Peter's declaration, Jesus prediction of His death, the transfiguration, healing, divorce, the little children, His entry into Jerusalem, taxes, hypocrisy, woe to teachers of the law, signs of the end time, the plot against Him, last supper, the garden, His arrest, trial, Peter's denial, crucifixion, burial and ends with His resurrection.  

I find it interesting in 27:25, "All the people [Jews] answered, "His blood is on us and on our children!"  Surely, they had no idea what a curse they were pronouncing on generations.

This record ends with the resurrection, ascension and promise to be "with you always, to the very end of the age.".  
Amen
  
* I'll be back in a few days with notes on the book of Mark.

He Does It For Us

We do not need great faith.
Jesus has faith in Himself; enough for all of us. Mk. 9:23.   In this verse Jesus questions the man's faith in Him (Jesus) and replies that everything is possible for Him (Jesus).   (Original Greek text leaves off the first word "believe" in v. 23 and shows a question mark: "If you can?" (Jesus acknowledges the man's doubt.) Jesus further states "Everything is possible for HIM who believes." (meaning Jesus).   We only need to know that our Savior has enough faith for all of us.  We can borrow from Him by just asking of Him for the faith we need.

We only need enough faith to believe HE can move our mountains and HIS faith will do it for us.  We merely ask.  After all, we have no ability to heal, yet we pray for others and miracles happen - through the faith of Jesus.
Amen

Do not stress; just ask.  I like to say, "If you are worried, pray.  If you pray, why are you worried?"  Think about it.  Let go and let God.  What makes you think that all your worry can do even an ounce of what God can do?

I love this picture

Jesus worked on Sabbath to show us we should rest in Him.    In all His parables sitting down refers to Him sitting down because we are so busy trying to fix our problems.  When we sit (rest in Him), He will get up and do it for us. 
There is strength in the calm.  Listen for God's quiet voice to comfort, instruct, advise and direct.  Jesus "sat Down" at the right hand of God after the resurrection; He is now our advocate to God the Father. 

In the NT, there is no talk of "waiting on the Lord God" because He has already come.
 
He works through the meek and the weak just to show He is doing it for us.  David was a boy when he killed Goliath,  Daniel and Joseph were young boys when they were taken and promoted to high ranking offices that helped their people.

Christians are amazing people.  Just the belief of a mustard seed is needed - the belief to ask.  Not your faith; the faith of Jesus.  I have the belief of a mustard seed but never moved a mountain until I showed belief in the ability of Jesus to change things.  Mountains (problems) move.


Money problems?  Jesus does not need money; He has the riches of the universe.  He waits for you to show your belief in Him enough to ask.  He says "believe in me".  Like grace - You don't have to do anything. You cant' earn it. It's a gift.  It's free.  The grace of God/Jesus provides love, protection, generosity, understanding, tolerance and so much more.



We get so caught up in doing and pushing what WE feel He wants that WE forget Jesus can and will do it for us.  WE want people to do good; WE want our family to believe; WE want what is best for our kids; WE know that the old hymns are the best; WE want the Pastor's wife to dress different; WE want the girls to stop dying their hair blue; WE want, WE want.  We want because WE know what God wants and WE are sure WE are told to do this.  Oh, come on.  How dare WE presume to know the mind of The Supreme Being Himself ?  Or His timing, or His goals? Or His unfathomable love and grace.
STOP IT !

Let go; relax.  Jesus can do it all for you and . . . He wants to.

Amen

My Story - Epilogue

Yeah, my story has a great ending.  

Looking back over my life, I can see how blessed I am.  All the trials have made me who I am today.  Perfect?  No!  But, I have learned, matured, grown spiritually, come into a personal relationship with God and am so grateful for all of it.

God did not do any of the bad things.  People were given free choice from the time of Adam and Eve.  My parents made choices and I made my choices in response to their actions.  It is obvious that I made poor choices - one after another for many years.  And, look how it just spiraled to that turning point with the loaded gun.

God does not do bad  God is total, complete love.  As a good father, He created us and knows what we need and want better than we do.  It's not easy to trust a spiritual being when everything we relate to is physical.  Faith and belief are not easy in this world.  It takes a desire and a lot of practice - a lot of trial and error.  Not to worry, the blood of Jesus covers the believer's mistakes.  You get a "do over" - every time!  Keep doing it over until you get it right.  It starts with your first step.  Jesus does not push; He waits.  You have to take the first step in faith and practice belief.  Here is another easy part:  if you need faith, just ask for it.  That first step is submission by getting on you knees and asking for everything you lack.  The father's love makes it easy.

The enemy knows where we are most vulnerable.  He knows every weak spot.  He prowls the earth like a hungry lion searching for who he can devour.  Constantly in our head whispering everything negative and telling us we are not worthy; prodding us to do and be everything Jesus is not. 

God turns bad to good:
Because my father left, I got to know an amazing grandfather.

Because of the sexual abuse, I learned to cherish physical relationship as the ultimate expression of love within the privacy of marriage.

Because I was betrayed by a close friend, I know how to be a friend.

Because of the molestings, I am cautious and aware of my surroundings.

Because of poor choices in husbands, I learned to let God have His way.  

Because I lost children, I have a passion for them.

Because of many trials, I was blessed with amazing friendships for support. 

Because of a restless spirit, I have traveled all over this country, been places, seen things and met all sorts of people. 

Because . . . because . . . because . . . get it?

My husband and I are not wealthy but we have everything we need; what a great blessing.  Sometimes, I feel downright rich. 
Note:  We have learned that any time we get a financial windfall (like a bonus at work or I sell art I was not offering), to hold on to it for awhile before we spend it.  Many times, a reason for the money comes shortly after we receive it.  So many times, God has provided BEFORE the need.  What a blessing to be able to ask our Heavenly Father for advice in every part of our daily lives.  When the answer is immediate or obvious, our faith gets a boost.  Fear fades and confidence grows.

As we mature in our relationship with Jesus, we have learned how to be grateful and show daily praise.  We are making Him the center of our married lives.  He shows us His amazing love and understanding time and again.  Our lives have become miracles.
Amen

My Story

Privacy is something I value highly.  When we relocate, I will pack personal things so movers don't come in and pack the contents of my underwear drawer or see my toiletries.  I never could share a bathroom with a husband and have only two friends I will share a motel room with.  If I don't get "alone time", you can't stand to have me around.  Anyone out there understand what I am saying?

That said, when it comes to my past, I am an open book.  Like everyone else, I have had trials, temptations, failures and embarrassments.  I don't believe in regret.  I made bad choices (for whatever reason) and they were my choices.  I like to think that I have learned from them.  After all, I did do a full turn around at one point in my life.  There were times of great sorrow, fear, worthlessness and loneliness.  I have felt "lonely" but never "alone".

When I say that I did a full turnaround and repented of a life style, I don't mean all of a sudden I realized there was a loving being out there that created everything and His son came to save me to eternal life by paying the debt for everything I did wrong; although, all of that is true.  The thing is, I cannot remember a time in my life when I was not aware of God and His presence.   And, I can remember back to the time I was still sleeping in a crib. 

It amazes me that people do discover God in there teen years or even later in life.  They have great epiphany, a moment of awareness - that "aha moment".  I have a bit of jealousy for that.  It's like I missed out on all the excitement.  On the other hand, friends have told me that they envy the fact that I have always had this awareness just like many others - I am not unique.  Neither am I different.  We have trouble seeing our own life as valuable.

Okay, all this being said, let's get back to my story.   I once offered to give my testimony in church.  My pastor, at the time, had me jot down some highlights for review.  He called me into his study and denied my request on the grounds that "no one will believe it"  -  ?  Huh?  

I know that I have had an active life of varied interests, jobs, a career and, as stated before, great changes.  I am also far passed retirement age, so it has been a rather lengthy life.  The longer your life, the more stuff happens!  To keep this writing within some boundaries, I am using key words in summary form so you can get the idea without a lot of lengthy (and boring) script.    This also keeps my private side happy because I do not have to disclose all the embarrassing details.

As first born, Mother dedicated me at birth and sent me to church from the time I could step onto the bus. Things were pretty middle-income-normal until I was eight years old.
Parents divorced  
grandfather moved in
no financial support from my father  
first experience with rejection from a man
father never answered any correspondence
moved to a less expensive neighbor hood = inner city (big city)
dislexic before there was dislexia = thought I was stupid
step father = sexual abuse (me and my sister)
teenage baptism
molested by three teens on way to work
pregnant at 17 = gave up art scholarship
high school graduation = stopped going to church 
lost two children at birth
married and moved to Boston - moved to Long Island
betrayal by closest friend; changed the course of my life
husband cheated = another rejection and divorce
attacked by man in parking lot
married an alcoholic
various menial jobs
socialized in dive bars = all sorts of people
major auto accident - 44 stitches to face
grandfather died - my only earthly father
partial hysterectomy 
husband cheated = another rejection and divorce
found a roommate
single girl for awhile = dating
out of body experience
traveled = selling my art work
married a businessman = he traveled
he had two daughters = I was a step mother
moved to Alabama = nice home, pool, country club
continued traveling and selling art
husband turned out to be an embezzler
he cheated = another divorce and rejection
single scene again
still traveling with art work
met a portrait artist and became her apprentice = hired agents
continued travel 
complete hysterectomy 
married a country boy from Alabama = step mom, again
different life style in the "back woods"
he had a country band = I ran sound system
opened small town business = framing and portrait studio
he dealt in drugs = I went back to church
he cheated =  devastating divorce
considered suicide - had loaded gun in hand
got baptized and took it serious  
* No wonder the pastor said, "No one would believe it".

The out of body experience opened my eyes to my life style but I am a stubborn person and it was years later before I made major changes.  There were  highlights along the wrong path: travel, people and I never lost that feeling of God's presence.

I took that baptism 35 years ago serious and, like the prodigal son, my (heavenly) Father welcomed me back with open arms and all the blessings of my heritage that were just waiting for me.   Imagine that!  All I had to do was "come home".  (I am reminded of the Proverb: Raise a child up in the way He should go and he will not depart from it.)  My marriage, of 26 years, is to a great Christian man who is "the wind beneath my wings".  My business became successful.  Fear and anger no longer rule over me.

It did not happen over night.  There were trials and many errors along the way: health issues, decisions and major adjustments.  During this time, I learned to let God have control and it has made all the difference.

Lately, I have been reminded that we all have a story and as Christians, we need to share it with others.  It can take us out of our comfort zone but it is our story of how God, our Father, molds us to become what He calls us to.  Just maybe your story can help someone else.  If we just plant the seed, God will make it grow somewhere.
Amen!