One of the most told stories of the New Testament outside of the Gospels: the conversion of Saul on the road to Damascus. And most probably, my favorite. My favorite because it reminds me that no matter what wrong path I'm on-how far I might stray- God can and will stop me in my tracks and put me exactly where He needs me for His good, His message, His plan.
The second part of the story is worth taking note. Poor Ananias is elected by God to go lay hands on Saul to give him back his sight. "Get up and go to the street called Straight and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight". v.11-12 " But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name". v. 13-14 You see, Ananias was scared of being killed by Saul. But Ananias obeys. I would like to think that if I got such direct direction from God, like in a voice, that I would obey too, ie, knowing for sure that it was God talking. Hmm...I can not think at this moment of anytime that God has called me to do something and I was afraid but went anyway. That is probably not a good thing. I am going to think about that and let you know.
Praise God that Saul was struck down and saved. He would become key to the conversions of the Gentiles and God's perfect instrument to show/demonstrate grace...His Grace. What better person to tell and explain to people God's grace, than one that received it the most. Saul was saved for some days when the Jews had already started a plot to kill him - the disciples had to hide him to keep him safe. God didn't waste anytime getting Saul to work to proclaim His name.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Acts 8
We meet Saul here - later to be Paul - persecuting the church. The worst of the worst in that his only mission was to enter people's homes and drag them off, men and women, to go to prison and then eventually die for their belief in Christ. Saul was at the stoning of Stephen and "was in hearty agreement with putting him to death." I guess I didn't know that Paul (Saul) was at the stoning of Stephen. Wow.
I also meet Simon the Magician in this chapter; I've heard of him before but didn't know how it related. He tried to fool Philip, and himself, into believing that he had the Holy Spirit because he wanted the power...the power of the miracles...for money! Let's name who comes to mind when you think of someone that tried to fool the public into believing their miracles were of the Holy Spirit but it was really for money! Hmm...Jim Baker, Jimmy Swaggart and in my mind, many men who run churches today. Peter said to Simon, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!" v. 20
I can not emphasize enough that the apostles had to continually pray that the Holy Spirit would fall upon the new believers..."they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit." v. 15-17 Note: Something Simon the Magician wanted very badly...the gift of the Holy Spirit but It was not his to have because he didn't want the message of Christ.
But my biggest surprise was this: "W
hen they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him" v.39. I learned that both Elijah and Ezekiel were both snatched away in this same miraculous manner...made me think of Touched By An Angel. LOL Truly Philip belonged to God.
I also meet Simon the Magician in this chapter; I've heard of him before but didn't know how it related. He tried to fool Philip, and himself, into believing that he had the Holy Spirit because he wanted the power...the power of the miracles...for money! Let's name who comes to mind when you think of someone that tried to fool the public into believing their miracles were of the Holy Spirit but it was really for money! Hmm...Jim Baker, Jimmy Swaggart and in my mind, many men who run churches today. Peter said to Simon, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!" v. 20
I can not emphasize enough that the apostles had to continually pray that the Holy Spirit would fall upon the new believers..."they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit." v. 15-17 Note: Something Simon the Magician wanted very badly...the gift of the Holy Spirit but It was not his to have because he didn't want the message of Christ.
But my biggest surprise was this: "W
hen they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him" v.39. I learned that both Elijah and Ezekiel were both snatched away in this same miraculous manner...made me think of Touched By An Angel. LOL Truly Philip belonged to God.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Blessing
"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse." Romans 1:20
My husband, Dale, took this shot yesterday on our visit to Yosemite. Jesus blessed us abundantly with a fresh blanket of snow.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Acts 7
"And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel." v. 6:15
Here is Stephen, basically on "trial" for preaching the name of Jesus; without fear he starts into a long dissertation defending the Christian faith beginning with the Old Testament including examples of Joseph and Jacob. He concludes with the stories of Joshua, David and Solomon.
His real ending however was directly to the council, "You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; you who received the law as ordained by angels and yet did not keep it." v. 51-53
How more direct could someone be? They began gnashing their teeth at him. Big surprise! What comes next, yep, they stone Stephen, to death.
But I love this; we know God was happy with Stephen's speech and courage: "...being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." v. 55-56 They continued to stone him and in the end Stephen cried out to God," Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!"...."Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" v. 59-60
Not a lot you can say about that.
Here is Stephen, basically on "trial" for preaching the name of Jesus; without fear he starts into a long dissertation defending the Christian faith beginning with the Old Testament including examples of Joseph and Jacob. He concludes with the stories of Joshua, David and Solomon.
His real ending however was directly to the council, "You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; you who received the law as ordained by angels and yet did not keep it." v. 51-53
How more direct could someone be? They began gnashing their teeth at him. Big surprise! What comes next, yep, they stone Stephen, to death.
But I love this; we know God was happy with Stephen's speech and courage: "...being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." v. 55-56 They continued to stone him and in the end Stephen cried out to God," Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!"...."Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" v. 59-60
Not a lot you can say about that.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Acts 6
Acts - the whole New Testament - seems to use the term disciple and apostle almost interchangeably and they basically are. Here is the difference: apostles refers to a small, inner group of Jesus' followers; disciples refers to a larger group of Jesus' followers. You and I would be disciples - students. Apostle is designated for a group of men that either knew Jesus when He was on earth or was commissioned by Him after His Resurrection - one example being Paul who saw Jesus on the road to Damascus.
In this chapter we meet Stephen and Phillip among others to be chosen as disciples. "Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people." v.8 I wanted to quote my commentary that I use on the matter of wonders and signs. " "Wonders" is the amazement people experience when witnessing supernatural works (miracles). "Signs" point to the power of God behind miracles - marvels have no value unless they point to God and His truth. Such works were often done by the Holy spirit through the apostles and their associates to authenticate them as the messengers of God's truth. " John MacArthur
In this chapter we meet Stephen and Phillip among others to be chosen as disciples. "Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people." v.8 I wanted to quote my commentary that I use on the matter of wonders and signs. " "Wonders" is the amazement people experience when witnessing supernatural works (miracles). "Signs" point to the power of God behind miracles - marvels have no value unless they point to God and His truth. Such works were often done by the Holy spirit through the apostles and their associates to authenticate them as the messengers of God's truth. " John MacArthur
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Acts 5
Hypocrisy - now, there's a word: the pretending of having virtues, principles, or beliefs that one in fact does not have.
Synonyms: cant, dissembling, dissimulation, insincerity, piousness, sanctimoniousness.
Related Words: deception, deceptiveness, dishonesty, falsity, pretense, pretension, pretentiousness, self-righteousness, self-satisfaction; duplicity, fakery, falseness, fraudulentness, shamming; artificiality, glibness, oiliness, smoothness, unctuousness
The church wasn't even "five" days old when hypocrisy had already shown up, here in Acts 5. I believe that hypocrisy is the main reason that people leave the church or never even give the church a try. I think the world can forgive a Christian for what seems to be a "natural" - for lack of a better word -sin, but a true deception of our beliefs the world does not let us off the hook...and they will use it against us. In this chapter, God kills the couple that lied to Him...tried to pull one over by only giving part of what they promised. I was thinking, wow, little harsh don't you think. But no...God knew and knows how hypocrisy kills the church, kills the Christian witness...it had to be dealt with severely. Maybe if it was handled this way today, the hypocrisy would be less. The people in Jerusalem that saw this punishment were scared! "And a great fear came over the whole church," v. 11
Now, having said that, the world has it's responsibility too. The Christian is not Jesus, only human and the world needs to look at Christ and the Bible for the truth, not pin it all on the example of the follower; we will mess up. But we need to recognize the severity of the consequences of some of our actions especially the more public they are. In my own life I have been involved in a very public sin, and I know people that will probably never turn to Christ because of me and what I did...I am just so grateful that God let me live so I could come to a point of return and repentance. I'm just so sorry for the people that I misrepresented Jesus to, and I wish I could turn back time.
The last part of the chapter starts the real persecution of the apostles for proclaiming Jesus Christ. Here they are flogged. The persecution and martyrdom will continue even through today and into the future, until Christ returns. People get mad when you talk about Jesus, don't they? You can bring up any other religious leader and people can have a normal debate, but boy, bring up Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God, and people's dander gets all worked up and they don't want to hear it or talk about it. Jesus' name carries an amazing amount of power.
The power of the Holy Spirit inside the first century church is a beauty to behold, because no matter the beatings, whipping, killings the church went through, they kept proclaiming the Gospel. And it is only with the Holy Spirit that we would be able to do the same. How real Jesus must have been to them. How real and precious the Word of God. We could only hope that it is that for us.
Synonyms: cant, dissembling, dissimulation, insincerity, piousness, sanctimoniousness.
Related Words: deception, deceptiveness, dishonesty, falsity, pretense, pretension, pretentiousness, self-righteousness, self-satisfaction; duplicity, fakery, falseness, fraudulentness, shamming; artificiality, glibness, oiliness, smoothness, unctuousness
The church wasn't even "five" days old when hypocrisy had already shown up, here in Acts 5. I believe that hypocrisy is the main reason that people leave the church or never even give the church a try. I think the world can forgive a Christian for what seems to be a "natural" - for lack of a better word -sin, but a true deception of our beliefs the world does not let us off the hook...and they will use it against us. In this chapter, God kills the couple that lied to Him...tried to pull one over by only giving part of what they promised. I was thinking, wow, little harsh don't you think. But no...God knew and knows how hypocrisy kills the church, kills the Christian witness...it had to be dealt with severely. Maybe if it was handled this way today, the hypocrisy would be less. The people in Jerusalem that saw this punishment were scared! "And a great fear came over the whole church," v. 11
Now, having said that, the world has it's responsibility too. The Christian is not Jesus, only human and the world needs to look at Christ and the Bible for the truth, not pin it all on the example of the follower; we will mess up. But we need to recognize the severity of the consequences of some of our actions especially the more public they are. In my own life I have been involved in a very public sin, and I know people that will probably never turn to Christ because of me and what I did...I am just so grateful that God let me live so I could come to a point of return and repentance. I'm just so sorry for the people that I misrepresented Jesus to, and I wish I could turn back time.
The last part of the chapter starts the real persecution of the apostles for proclaiming Jesus Christ. Here they are flogged. The persecution and martyrdom will continue even through today and into the future, until Christ returns. People get mad when you talk about Jesus, don't they? You can bring up any other religious leader and people can have a normal debate, but boy, bring up Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God, and people's dander gets all worked up and they don't want to hear it or talk about it. Jesus' name carries an amazing amount of power.
The power of the Holy Spirit inside the first century church is a beauty to behold, because no matter the beatings, whipping, killings the church went through, they kept proclaiming the Gospel. And it is only with the Holy Spirit that we would be able to do the same. How real Jesus must have been to them. How real and precious the Word of God. We could only hope that it is that for us.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Acts 4
"But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand." v4 Wow. The power of the Holy Spirit. It must have been amazing to hear Peter speak and see the miracles they were doing.
Peter and John get arrested here...my thought is, how jealous the Jewish church leaders must have been! Their teachings were so convoluted with laws and rules and void of any power of God, they had to strike the disciples down. The only other alternative would be to accept that they had crucified the Messiah, repent and return; they were not about to do any of that! Too prideful, too full of themselves, no way they were going to admit they were wrong...even in the face of such miracles and blatant, in your face, power of the Holy Spirit. "There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." v 12 So, what do they do? They ban the name of Jesus! Yeah, right! That'll happen. "Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard." v. 19-20 What part of all this did they not, and still are not getting?
Below: The Church Triumphant, by Bill Gaither
Only by the Power of the Holy Spirit; The Power of God!
Peter and John get arrested here...my thought is, how jealous the Jewish church leaders must have been! Their teachings were so convoluted with laws and rules and void of any power of God, they had to strike the disciples down. The only other alternative would be to accept that they had crucified the Messiah, repent and return; they were not about to do any of that! Too prideful, too full of themselves, no way they were going to admit they were wrong...even in the face of such miracles and blatant, in your face, power of the Holy Spirit. "There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." v 12 So, what do they do? They ban the name of Jesus! Yeah, right! That'll happen. "Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard." v. 19-20 What part of all this did they not, and still are not getting?
Below: The Church Triumphant, by Bill Gaither
Only by the Power of the Holy Spirit; The Power of God!
Acts 3
The lame man being healed will be just the beginning of many miracles that the disciples will perform throughout the book of Acts. The miracles were for one purpose - to show the divinity of Jesus Christ and that the Holy Spirit was now present in them. This lame man was known well to all of Jerusalem, he was almost 40, and had sat every day at one of the gates to the temple to beg. Peter said, "In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene - walk!" v6 The people immediately wanted to give praise to the disciples for the miracles. Peter had a chance at that point to give a mini sermon telling them that they missed the Messiah, condemned Him and put Him to death. He then rose from the dead, "and on the basis faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all." v16 He reassured them that they could be forgiven. "Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that time of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord". v 19
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Acts 2
God chose the day of Pentecost to be the day He gave them the Holy Spirit because He knew that Jerusalem would be filled with His people because they would have come home for the celebration...Pentecost was the celebration of the harvest.
It is in the upper room (maybe where the last supper had taken place) that the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit. "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit". v. 4 Quite a ruckus took place at this moment, for the crowd outside heard it. The disciples began speaking in tongues and the crowd was amazed...the crowd being from different places recognized the disciples speaking in the language of their hometown. This is important. Tongues that are given as a gift are actual languages used to spread the Word of God. ie. If Paul was going to go somewhere he could not speak the language, God would give him the gift of tongues to share the Word and the Scriptures. I believe, if needed, that could still happen today.
Peter has a chance to give his first sermon on behalf of Christ and His message. The Good News. Speaking to Jews he recited the Old Testament because the Jews knew the scriptures. He could show prophecy and through that many Jews started realizing they had killed the prophesied Messiah. Peter, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. for the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off (Us!), as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself." v.38-39 Over 3 thousand were saved that day.
It is in the upper room (maybe where the last supper had taken place) that the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit. "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit". v. 4 Quite a ruckus took place at this moment, for the crowd outside heard it. The disciples began speaking in tongues and the crowd was amazed...the crowd being from different places recognized the disciples speaking in the language of their hometown. This is important. Tongues that are given as a gift are actual languages used to spread the Word of God. ie. If Paul was going to go somewhere he could not speak the language, God would give him the gift of tongues to share the Word and the Scriptures. I believe, if needed, that could still happen today.
Peter has a chance to give his first sermon on behalf of Christ and His message. The Good News. Speaking to Jews he recited the Old Testament because the Jews knew the scriptures. He could show prophecy and through that many Jews started realizing they had killed the prophesied Messiah. Peter, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. for the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off (Us!), as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself." v.38-39 Over 3 thousand were saved that day.
Acts
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you;" Matt. 28;19-20
Acts is a history book of that direction given by Jesus - many times referred to as "The Great Commission." Acts records where the apostles go, do and see to begin the church. Luke, the disciple and a physician by trade, is the writer. He is writing to Theophilus. Who is Theophilus? No one knows. Most likely he was a Roman official of some sort that Luke was either teaching or trying to convert. Acts is chronological.
One thing I learned in Acts 1 is that someone named Matthias was chosen by God to take the place of Judas as the 12th disciple. Hmm, no idea. Wow.
The most important message in this chapter is the promise of the Holy Spirit. Jesus had shown Himself to the apostles many times over the 40 days since His Resurrection and at this one, He told them not to leave Jerusalem yet, but to wait for what the Father had promised: The Holy Spirit. "...but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." v. 5 "but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you..." v.8 This, I'm sure, was very reassuring to the disciples because they were missing Jesus and were looking forward to the Spirit coming to lead, guide and empower them.
Acts is a history book of that direction given by Jesus - many times referred to as "The Great Commission." Acts records where the apostles go, do and see to begin the church. Luke, the disciple and a physician by trade, is the writer. He is writing to Theophilus. Who is Theophilus? No one knows. Most likely he was a Roman official of some sort that Luke was either teaching or trying to convert. Acts is chronological.
One thing I learned in Acts 1 is that someone named Matthias was chosen by God to take the place of Judas as the 12th disciple. Hmm, no idea. Wow.
The most important message in this chapter is the promise of the Holy Spirit. Jesus had shown Himself to the apostles many times over the 40 days since His Resurrection and at this one, He told them not to leave Jerusalem yet, but to wait for what the Father had promised: The Holy Spirit. "...but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." v. 5 "but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you..." v.8 This, I'm sure, was very reassuring to the disciples because they were missing Jesus and were looking forward to the Spirit coming to lead, guide and empower them.
Note
Hi...hope you had a great President's Day weekend...the start of the Olympics...and 70 degrees here in sunny CA!
I'm a little behind in my blog but I'll catch up. Being done with Matthew, I thought I would skip to Acts then go back to Mark after that...doing the gospels, every other book, as not to do them all together - one after the other.
I'm a little behind in my blog but I'll catch up. Being done with Matthew, I thought I would skip to Acts then go back to Mark after that...doing the gospels, every other book, as not to do them all together - one after the other.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Matthew 28
So, Matthew ends just as it began:
"Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." v.20
"His name is Immanuel: God with Us." v. 1:23
Matthew 27
Okay, I am going to bring up something here: is it for sure that Judas was condemned? Is this repentance shown here in v. 3-5, not a real one? "...he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, " I have sinned by betraying innocent blood...And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and departed and he went away and hanged himself". My commentary says that just because he hanged himself that is proof that it wasn't real repentance but just human remorse. Do we really know? How do we know that Judas did not fall to his knees and beg for God's forgiveness? I guess we'll find out one day.
"His blood shall be on us and on our children" v.25. (Israel) Now that is an understatement, isn't it. These verses describing His beatings, scourges, the pain of the cross, all took on new meaning for me when I saw "The Passion of the Christ" by Mel Gibson. To see the honest, real torture of these things done to any man especially a Man of innocence, turns my stomach. I have a hard time reading these verses anymore because those images from the movie were just so graphic and so real. His payment for our sins was more than we can ever truly understand or grasp because we weren't there. What kind of people were these that they could watch such horrific obliteration take place. Ugh. You need to read Psalm 22...it is David's prophesy of these beatings and crucifixion. My favorite part of the whole chapter is v.51, "And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split." You see, the veil in the temple separated The Most Holy Place from the rest of the temple and is a place that only the highest priest could enter to make a sacrifice on behalf of Israel. By the veil being torn away was a representation that a new covenant had begun with Christ's death and we could now go, anyone, to Him, directly. How cool. And the veil was torn from top to bottom to prove that it was an act of God. That was HUGE to the Jews. I learned this a few years ago in BSF and it was one of those 'Aw Ha' moments for me. =)
"His blood shall be on us and on our children" v.25. (Israel) Now that is an understatement, isn't it. These verses describing His beatings, scourges, the pain of the cross, all took on new meaning for me when I saw "The Passion of the Christ" by Mel Gibson. To see the honest, real torture of these things done to any man especially a Man of innocence, turns my stomach. I have a hard time reading these verses anymore because those images from the movie were just so graphic and so real. His payment for our sins was more than we can ever truly understand or grasp because we weren't there. What kind of people were these that they could watch such horrific obliteration take place. Ugh. You need to read Psalm 22...it is David's prophesy of these beatings and crucifixion. My favorite part of the whole chapter is v.51, "And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split." You see, the veil in the temple separated The Most Holy Place from the rest of the temple and is a place that only the highest priest could enter to make a sacrifice on behalf of Israel. By the veil being torn away was a representation that a new covenant had begun with Christ's death and we could now go, anyone, to Him, directly. How cool. And the veil was torn from top to bottom to prove that it was an act of God. That was HUGE to the Jews. I learned this a few years ago in BSF and it was one of those 'Aw Ha' moments for me. =)
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Matthew 26
Wow, already we are to the part of the gospel where Jesus is being arrested and being put on trial. In this chapter we have:
Mary's anointing Jesus with perfume
Judas accepting the money to betray Jesus
The Last Supper
Jesus' prayers in Gethsemane
His betrayal and arrest
and
Peter's three denials.
All very known stories, I guess, if you've ever had any church at all. This is a long chapter and though beloved to me, difficult to find something to say.
I noted that at the Last Supper they were singing a hymn, and the commentary in my Bible says that it was mostly likely Psalm 118 because "the Talmud designated Pss 113-118 at the Halel (praise psalms) of Egypt. They were sung at Passover." I don't know, I just thought it was kind of cool to think of Jesus singing the same Psalms that we read and that we sing. =)
Also, Jesus prayers (3) in Gethsemane also struck me. The fact that Jesus prays when He is part of the Trinity seems to be an anomaly - for lack of a better word. Why does He pray when He already is God? The bottom line is the fact that He does...and often. The New Testament does not show Him reading the Scriptures - though He knows them well and sights them often - The Bible is forever recording His prayers and the fact that He prays. The intimate relationship that He has with His Father is something I would like to grasp. I've talked about this before, but praying is the last thing that I do and I don't do it well or for any length of time. I totally believe that prayer changes things and the lack of it is a great way for Satan to get a foothold - because if he can keep you from praying, from that intimate relationship with God, then how much more he gains! For that reason alone I should hit my knees, regularly!! I love this: "My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death" v38, Jesus says on his way to prayer. He was going to God for the reassurance that what was about to take place, truly needed to take place...and I thought, you know, it is only in prayer that we can get those kinds of answers. And if we have answers then we will know what to do and can gladly do what the Father has in mind for us.
There, easy. LOL
Enjoy:
Mary's anointing Jesus with perfume
Judas accepting the money to betray Jesus
The Last Supper
Jesus' prayers in Gethsemane
His betrayal and arrest
and
Peter's three denials.
All very known stories, I guess, if you've ever had any church at all. This is a long chapter and though beloved to me, difficult to find something to say.
I noted that at the Last Supper they were singing a hymn, and the commentary in my Bible says that it was mostly likely Psalm 118 because "the Talmud designated Pss 113-118 at the Halel (praise psalms) of Egypt. They were sung at Passover." I don't know, I just thought it was kind of cool to think of Jesus singing the same Psalms that we read and that we sing. =)
Also, Jesus prayers (3) in Gethsemane also struck me. The fact that Jesus prays when He is part of the Trinity seems to be an anomaly - for lack of a better word. Why does He pray when He already is God? The bottom line is the fact that He does...and often. The New Testament does not show Him reading the Scriptures - though He knows them well and sights them often - The Bible is forever recording His prayers and the fact that He prays. The intimate relationship that He has with His Father is something I would like to grasp. I've talked about this before, but praying is the last thing that I do and I don't do it well or for any length of time. I totally believe that prayer changes things and the lack of it is a great way for Satan to get a foothold - because if he can keep you from praying, from that intimate relationship with God, then how much more he gains! For that reason alone I should hit my knees, regularly!! I love this: "My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death" v38, Jesus says on his way to prayer. He was going to God for the reassurance that what was about to take place, truly needed to take place...and I thought, you know, it is only in prayer that we can get those kinds of answers. And if we have answers then we will know what to do and can gladly do what the Father has in mind for us.
There, easy. LOL
Enjoy:
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Matthew 25
The parable of the Ten Virgins was given to once again say, from Matt. 24, "be on the alert then, for you do not know the day or the hour." v.13 Be ready...don't be running to clean up the moment Christ returns in the clouds...be bathed all ready.
The next parable is the Parable of the Talents. Talents here, means something of value in regards to gold or silver, but I thought the word 'talent' was appropriate because really what Christ is wanting is for us to use - not bury in the ground and hide - our natural talent, given by Him for His church, His kingdom, for those He loves. "You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things..." v21.
So, what is your talent, God's gift He has given you to use here on earth. What is mine? That is why I am here on the blog...to find out more. I have some natural talent for speaking and encouraging women, some kinds of teaching and writing but how are they or even one meant to be used? What is next for me? I want to be able to see where God wants me to go and be able to do good work for Him. - Feeling a little (a lot) useless lying around on this couch in recoup. Moses got a burning bush. Works for me! Let's have a burning bush. Couldn't miss that. LOL Somehow I think God's prompting will be something a little more shy.
"Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these bothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me." v.40
This verse comes to mind every time I see someone on the corner with a cardboard sign...I know I can't give to all of them...but it is a great reminder that I need to consider and help those less fortunate than myself and my family when given the opportunity.
I was watching "Touched by and Angel" last night and this guy from Ireland was talking about how at Christmas time they put candles in their front windows. This is to represent that Mary and Joseph would be able to find shelter there, in their home. Came to mind when thinking of the part of the verse: To the extent that you did it to one...you did it to Me.
The next parable is the Parable of the Talents. Talents here, means something of value in regards to gold or silver, but I thought the word 'talent' was appropriate because really what Christ is wanting is for us to use - not bury in the ground and hide - our natural talent, given by Him for His church, His kingdom, for those He loves. "You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things..." v21.
So, what is your talent, God's gift He has given you to use here on earth. What is mine? That is why I am here on the blog...to find out more. I have some natural talent for speaking and encouraging women, some kinds of teaching and writing but how are they or even one meant to be used? What is next for me? I want to be able to see where God wants me to go and be able to do good work for Him. - Feeling a little (a lot) useless lying around on this couch in recoup. Moses got a burning bush. Works for me! Let's have a burning bush. Couldn't miss that. LOL Somehow I think God's prompting will be something a little more shy.
"Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these bothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me." v.40
This verse comes to mind every time I see someone on the corner with a cardboard sign...I know I can't give to all of them...but it is a great reminder that I need to consider and help those less fortunate than myself and my family when given the opportunity.
I was watching "Touched by and Angel" last night and this guy from Ireland was talking about how at Christmas time they put candles in their front windows. This is to represent that Mary and Joseph would be able to find shelter there, in their home. Came to mind when thinking of the part of the verse: To the extent that you did it to one...you did it to Me.
Matthew 24
This chapter deals with eschatology, primarily. Eschatology is the study of the end times. If you'd like to read a secular definition of Christian Eschatology take a look. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_eschatology It's a pretty good overview.
There are a few views of the end times that are popular today. They all take a biblical yet different interpretation of how the end times will or, in some instances, have come about. I'm going to stay out of it. I have my beliefs but I can't prove one over the other so I am going to leave it alone.
The view that all the above named groups can agree on is: Jesus will return one day as King and rule the earth. "And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory!" v 30
What we need to be doing in the meantime: "Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes." v45-46
Another words, continue the good work that you are doing for Him and don't worry about it. Love, Serve, Give.
There are a few views of the end times that are popular today. They all take a biblical yet different interpretation of how the end times will or, in some instances, have come about. I'm going to stay out of it. I have my beliefs but I can't prove one over the other so I am going to leave it alone.
The view that all the above named groups can agree on is: Jesus will return one day as King and rule the earth. "And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory!" v 30
What we need to be doing in the meantime: "Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes." v45-46
Another words, continue the good work that you are doing for Him and don't worry about it. Love, Serve, Give.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Matthew 23
v.4 and v.15 " They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men's shoulders." "Woe to you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte (convert), and when he becomes one, you make him twice a son of hell as yourselves."
How many churches tie-up heavy burdens and lay them on men's shoulders? Wow. So many people have left the church because the burden has been too heavy! That is the opposite of the reason Jesus came. His burden is light - we men make it too heavy to carry. Listen closely to the words...nothing to see.
Jesus continues to bring on the point of Matthew 20: "But the greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted." v. 11 and 12
Beautiful: "How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings," v37. Alas, the Jews were unwilling. And how sad to see here, Jesus giving up and letting them go. Hard to imagine that they didn't want to be gathered. But I do! I need the protection of His wings.
How many churches tie-up heavy burdens and lay them on men's shoulders? Wow. So many people have left the church because the burden has been too heavy! That is the opposite of the reason Jesus came. His burden is light - we men make it too heavy to carry. Listen closely to the words...nothing to see.
Jesus continues to bring on the point of Matthew 20: "But the greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted." v. 11 and 12
Beautiful: "How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings," v37. Alas, the Jews were unwilling. And how sad to see here, Jesus giving up and letting them go. Hard to imagine that they didn't want to be gathered. But I do! I need the protection of His wings.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Note re: Matthew 20
...learn to be the servant of all...
On a personal note, my marriage has an albatross in it and each time the monster raises its head I want to do anything but serve. I want to fight and have my way. I want my side heard and understood and I want my husband to agree with me, kick back and do it my way. I don't want to serve when I feel it is wrongly deserved and completely unjust. My husband doesn't see my point of view or agree with my opinion and is asking me to step up to the plate anyway. I find it next to impossible. I am fighting against myself to put myself last...but Christ has so plainly told me to do so. So after this awful fight tonight..I will relent to the albatross and put myself last. I will shut my mouth. I just wish I was doing this with a better heart...but I am doing it for Christ.
I can be an ugly person. The person I don't think I am can, and does, show up and remind me of my complete and total need for Christ and His forgiveness and direction. My actions today are a reminder to me how completely impossible it is to find favor with God apart from Christ. I was told tonight not to continue my blog, that I am not a good enough Christian to do this blog - but that's the point. I am not a good enough Christian so I need to go to the Word and I need Him. I don't claim to be anything but a sinner saved by grace.
On a personal note, my marriage has an albatross in it and each time the monster raises its head I want to do anything but serve. I want to fight and have my way. I want my side heard and understood and I want my husband to agree with me, kick back and do it my way. I don't want to serve when I feel it is wrongly deserved and completely unjust. My husband doesn't see my point of view or agree with my opinion and is asking me to step up to the plate anyway. I find it next to impossible. I am fighting against myself to put myself last...but Christ has so plainly told me to do so. So after this awful fight tonight..I will relent to the albatross and put myself last. I will shut my mouth. I just wish I was doing this with a better heart...but I am doing it for Christ.
I can be an ugly person. The person I don't think I am can, and does, show up and remind me of my complete and total need for Christ and His forgiveness and direction. My actions today are a reminder to me how completely impossible it is to find favor with God apart from Christ. I was told tonight not to continue my blog, that I am not a good enough Christian to do this blog - but that's the point. I am not a good enough Christian so I need to go to the Word and I need Him. I don't claim to be anything but a sinner saved by grace.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Matthew 22
Aww...the miraculous (for us) parable of the marriage feast:
The king continued to invite the people (the Israelites) but they continued to decline. Actually, on top of that they started killing the slaves (the persecution of the Christians). So the king gave up and started inviting everyone else...us, the gentiles. Yea! There was one that showed up not in wedding attire; he was tossed out. So then follows the following verse:
v14 "For many are called but few are chosen.". This is a verse that is argued by theological scholars regularly. My take on it; what I learned: There is a 'general' call of repentance and faith - that is the gospel message. Many will hear it, but only a few respond. The 'chosen' are those that respond. Easy.
A question and answer I don't like:
" In the resurrection, therefor, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all married her."...For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven." v28, 30
I want to remain Dale's wife and my kid's mom. I don't want to be the same as everyone else to those I love. I can't dream of not being Laurie and Tommy's mom forever! I do recognize though that this is a human condition and is something not to be worried about. God's heaven will be perfect.
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind."..."You shall love your neighbor as yourself." v. 38,39. Says it all; now let's do it!
The king continued to invite the people (the Israelites) but they continued to decline. Actually, on top of that they started killing the slaves (the persecution of the Christians). So the king gave up and started inviting everyone else...us, the gentiles. Yea! There was one that showed up not in wedding attire; he was tossed out. So then follows the following verse:
v14 "For many are called but few are chosen.". This is a verse that is argued by theological scholars regularly. My take on it; what I learned: There is a 'general' call of repentance and faith - that is the gospel message. Many will hear it, but only a few respond. The 'chosen' are those that respond. Easy.
A question and answer I don't like:
" In the resurrection, therefor, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all married her."...For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven." v28, 30
I want to remain Dale's wife and my kid's mom. I don't want to be the same as everyone else to those I love. I can't dream of not being Laurie and Tommy's mom forever! I do recognize though that this is a human condition and is something not to be worried about. God's heaven will be perfect.
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind."..."You shall love your neighbor as yourself." v. 38,39. Says it all; now let's do it!
Matthew 21
I learned today that reference to the 'fig tree' in the Bible, a lot of times is referring to the Israelites, God's chosen people. The Jews were messing up; they had all the advantage to recognize the Messiah, yet He walked among them and they didn't see. The fig tree was becoming fruitless the more and more they denied His deity. The parable of the Landowner talks of how the landowner was going to give the vineyard to the other vine-growers (us, the gentiles) because the people he had originally chosen rejected the son, the heir to the land. Jesus begins talking about what His church will be and sadly, for the most part, it will not consist of His people but of the gentiles. The gentiles wanted Him, wanted a Savior and for the first time were learning of the scriptures and the prophecy of the Messiah to save the world, and were excited.
"The stone which the builders rejected, this became the chief cornerstone..." v42
An amazing promise: "Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, ... if you say to this mountain, 'be taken up and cast into the sea,' it will happen. And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." v.21-22
Then there is the verse that describes my life: " 'Son, go work today in the vineyard.' And he answered, 'I will not'; but afterward regretted it and went. LOL Yep, that's me. But Jesus gives me some reassurance here in that He says it is better to go eventually than to say that I am going and then not go at all. Yea. However, better still if I would just go the first time I am directed. Superbowl Sunday today...I'm sure there is an analogy in there somewhere about a player not following the play called, until later...
"The stone which the builders rejected, this became the chief cornerstone..." v42
An amazing promise: "Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, ... if you say to this mountain, 'be taken up and cast into the sea,' it will happen. And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." v.21-22
Then there is the verse that describes my life: " 'Son, go work today in the vineyard.' And he answered, 'I will not'; but afterward regretted it and went. LOL Yep, that's me. But Jesus gives me some reassurance here in that He says it is better to go eventually than to say that I am going and then not go at all. Yea. However, better still if I would just go the first time I am directed. Superbowl Sunday today...I'm sure there is an analogy in there somewhere about a player not following the play called, until later...
Matthew 20
Coming back to these blogs after some days off, I will admit, is hard. I'm feeling like I don't have too much to say. I am into my 3rd day of recoup from surgery on my ACL and am feeling very uninspired.
What Matthew 20 has to say is important: we need to serve, not only serve but not look for any accolades for deeds done and do it with love for Christ and our fellow man. We need to serve more than we do anything else. Tough, especially when our world tells us the exact opposite is expected. How blessed it must have been to be Mother Theresa and just be able to spend her life giving to others...the rest of us are not as fortunate...we have lives to live. Right? I believe God knows that, but it is a mindset - in each situation we encounter how can we give to those around us, those we work with, our family our next door neighbor? How can we be selfless if we are trying to get to the position at work that we need to get to? Just a question.
I was watching Carrie Underwood sing, How Great Thou Art" this morning. Wow, what a voice and what a blessing to me to hear it. I thought this was a good combo of someone who has risen to the top but with a gift from God and who is using it to bless others....though she obviously benefits greatly. Another thought...when I add videos to my blog, I have to cut and paste the embed on youtube to my html, and some artists, like Gaither, do not allow it because they always want to receive royalties (I would guess is the reason) whenever their music is shared. Hmm...I guess I don't think that the Gaithers should be like that; they should want to share for the good of Christ, right?
I've had my ministry in the past that I had a chance to use my gifts...but it is not everyday. I've had a chance to give to my kids but it is not everyday anymore, either. My day to day would be my husband and my job...whoa...both hard not to want to take as much if not more than I give. A marriage situation is the perfect place to see where you are not being a servant. LOL
V. 20-23, the mother of James and John (on their request) is asking Jesus for them to sit at His right and left hand - in power. Sounds like something I would do for my kids!! The disciples were always arguing about who was the most important among them. Really? Jesus guarantees them that they shall suffer and die for His sake but only God knew who was to eventually end up at His left and right. Even the disciples had a hard time shaking the world's view of what was important.
"but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave, just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve..." v 26-28.
If you want to be great in God's kingdom, learn to be the servant of all.
What Matthew 20 has to say is important: we need to serve, not only serve but not look for any accolades for deeds done and do it with love for Christ and our fellow man. We need to serve more than we do anything else. Tough, especially when our world tells us the exact opposite is expected. How blessed it must have been to be Mother Theresa and just be able to spend her life giving to others...the rest of us are not as fortunate...we have lives to live. Right? I believe God knows that, but it is a mindset - in each situation we encounter how can we give to those around us, those we work with, our family our next door neighbor? How can we be selfless if we are trying to get to the position at work that we need to get to? Just a question.
I was watching Carrie Underwood sing, How Great Thou Art" this morning. Wow, what a voice and what a blessing to me to hear it. I thought this was a good combo of someone who has risen to the top but with a gift from God and who is using it to bless others....though she obviously benefits greatly. Another thought...when I add videos to my blog, I have to cut and paste the embed on youtube to my html, and some artists, like Gaither, do not allow it because they always want to receive royalties (I would guess is the reason) whenever their music is shared. Hmm...I guess I don't think that the Gaithers should be like that; they should want to share for the good of Christ, right?
I've had my ministry in the past that I had a chance to use my gifts...but it is not everyday. I've had a chance to give to my kids but it is not everyday anymore, either. My day to day would be my husband and my job...whoa...both hard not to want to take as much if not more than I give. A marriage situation is the perfect place to see where you are not being a servant. LOL
V. 20-23, the mother of James and John (on their request) is asking Jesus for them to sit at His right and left hand - in power. Sounds like something I would do for my kids!! The disciples were always arguing about who was the most important among them. Really? Jesus guarantees them that they shall suffer and die for His sake but only God knew who was to eventually end up at His left and right. Even the disciples had a hard time shaking the world's view of what was important.
"but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave, just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve..." v 26-28.
If you want to be great in God's kingdom, learn to be the servant of all.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Note
Between skiing both days this weekend, early work, and surgery coming up on Thursday, the posts are going to be lagging behind and sporadic. I will catch up though during my recovery. Stay posted.
Hope everyone is enjoying the beginning of Feb. and Mr. Groundhog tomorrow.
Hope everyone is enjoying the beginning of Feb. and Mr. Groundhog tomorrow.
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