Friday, December 16, 2022

Jesus Celebrated Hanukkah


Then came Hanukkah; it was winter in Jerusalem. Yeshua was walking in the Temple around Solomon’s Colonnade. Then the Judean leaders surrounded Him, saying, “How long will You hold us in suspense? If You are the Messiah, tell us outright!” Yeshua answered them, “I told you, but you don’t believe! The works I do in My Father’s name testify concerning Me. 

John 10:22-25 TLV


Yeshua is the Hebrew form of the name of Jesus.

The TLV is the Tree of Life Version popular with Jewish believers in Jesus.


Here it is in the King James Version:


And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.

And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.

Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, 

How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.

Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: 

the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. 

John 10:22-25 KJV



Do you know who He is,

and why He came to you?

He is the Messiah, the Savior of the world.



Happy Hanukkah if you celebrate it too.

And if you don't, Happy Hanukkah anyway!







Monday, December 5, 2022

Judged.


I read this on Gretchen's Blog and was shocked.

I thought the quote was going one way, then it went another.




“Religion used to be the opium of the people. To those suffering humiliation, pain, illness, and serfdom, religion promised the reward of an afterlife. But now, we are witnessing a transformation, a true opium of the people is the belief in nothingness after death, the huge solace, the huge comfort of thinking that for our betrayals, our greed, our cowardice, our murders, we are not going to be judged.”



-Czesław Miłosz,

(1911-2004), a Polish-American poet, prose writer, translator, and diplomat. 

He is regarded as one of the great poets of the 20th century.





Sunday, December 4, 2022

Gift

 

For by grace you have been saved through faith. 

And this is not from yourselves—it is the gift of God.

Ephesians 2:8



Friday, December 2, 2022

Welcome

 


On this chilly December day

may all your troubles disappear

(like this bread!)

And may you know the peace

of the King of Kings

and Lord of Lords,

Jesus the Messiah.



Thursday, November 24, 2022

A prayer for you

 

For you, a light to dawn

And shine the way for you to take.

Warmth today

Every day

Peace and purpose

Bravery

Fearlessness

And forgiveness.

Freedom

Righteousness

And praise to sprout up before all nations.




HAPPY THANKSGIVING








Wednesday, November 23, 2022

Thankfulness

 

He did this.


Breath

Wonder

I can see


Love

Joy

Peace

Hope


He leads me

He says to me, 

This Way.


Life is a gift.





Wednesday, November 16, 2022

Promise


I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me;

I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me.


from Isaiah 65:1



Sunday, November 13, 2022

Shalom

 

And coming to her, the angel said,

“Shalom, favored one! 

ADONAI is with you.” 


Luke 1:28




Thursday, November 10, 2022

Lamb

 

Would you be free from the burden of sin? 

There's power in the blood 

Power in the blood 

Would you o'er evil a victory win? 

There's wonderful power in the blood 

There is power, power, wonder working power 

In the blood of the Lamb





Wednesday, November 9, 2022

Psalm 23

 

A Psalm of David.


The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.


He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.


Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for you are with me; 

your rod and your staff, they comfort me.


You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.


Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.






Monday, November 7, 2022

Fall Back

 


I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.


1 Timothy 2:1-2



Friday, November 4, 2022

Peace

 


“And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, 

“Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 

He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”


Mark 4:39-40



Tuesday, November 1, 2022

Confess

 

Romans 10:9-10


If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.




Monday, October 31, 2022

Sun'll

 


"The sun'll come out tomorrow..."

Remember that song from Annie? 

I like how they made the contraction of sun will. 

Here is the sunrise this morning. So it's true. The sun did come out!

Have a blessed day.


Sunday, October 30, 2022

Matthew 7:7

 

Ask and it will be given to you; 

seek and you will find; 

knock and the door will be opened to you



Thursday, October 27, 2022

Is it True?

 

There are many untruths are out there vying for our attention and promising the answers we seek. But why do we seek? Because our hearts cry out to Our Creator. Ask yourself if what you believe is true. Then ask the Lord God. Is it true?


He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Psalm 91:4


...


For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Psalm 62:5-8


Friday, October 21, 2022

Friday Night Bread





I learned to make bread in 2020. Didn't everybody?

This one is Challah, a traditional loaf served on the Sabbath. 

Biblically, that's Friday night to Saturday night, 

though many people observe it on Sunday. 

If you celebrate a Sabbath, have a good one. 

If not, have a good one anyway!



Thursday, October 20, 2022

Cover

 

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; 

his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Psalm 91:4




Friday, October 14, 2022

3

 

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—


Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.


I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.


For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.


Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.


Tuesday, October 11, 2022

The Dome Builder





She stepped into forever as though it were the next logical step. One moment she'd been there and now she was here. Heaven. In the distance a structure was being built on the apex of a mountain. In an instant she was there, eye to eye with the dome builder and his creation.


"It's beautiful," she said. "What is it?"


"What do you think it is?" He asked simply.


"It looks like a church dome from the old world. Blue and gold." She paused, "This gold is different than the gold of the old world. It shines..."

and for lack of better wording, added, "like the sun."


He nodded. 


"I painted it with the sun," he explained.


A grin spread across his face and she didn't know if he was joking.


She recognized him. She knew his story, or at least what she had been told. Boldly, she asked, "You were a monster on Earth. How did you get here?"


He was taken aback by her assumption, but not surprised to hear the question. He'd been asked it a million times already and he'd only just arrived.


"How did you get here?" He parried.


She smiled.


"The same way, it must be."


He nodded, "I was forgiven."


They worked together on the dome. Once it was complete they had nothing to put it on. All of Heaven is a temple and the people there are the temple. He held it in his hands instead and took it around to show people. Each one of them asked, "How did you get here?" And each one answered their own question, 

"The same way, it must be. I was forgiven too."




Sunday, October 9, 2022

Call



The
Lord
is
near
to
all
who
call
on
him,
to
all
who
call
on
him
in
truth.

Psalm 
145:18




Thursday, October 6, 2022

These Days

 

These days it seems every country is threatening another. I can't control what they do, only what I do. I see the Lord moving in my heart to forgive and be forgiven. In the past few years He has brought to mind some things far in the past that I needed to remember and be forgiven of, and to forgive other people. It was not easy, but it was good. It seems to me I can wonder about the hearts of people, and the motives of world leaders, but when it comes down to it, my heart's condition is what matters. I can not decide for anyone else, only myself. I pray for our world. 

I pray for you. Any prayer requests?



“Then he left the crowds and went into the house. 

And his disciples came to him, saying, 

“Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 

He answered, 

“The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 

The field is the world, 

and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. 

The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 

and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. 


The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 

Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, 

so will it be at the end of the age. 


The Son of Man will send his angels, 

and they will gather out of his kingdom 

all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 

and throw them into the fiery furnace. 

In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 

Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. 

He who has ears, let him hear. ” 


Matthew 13: 36-43




Tuesday, October 4, 2022

Atonement

 

The Day of Atonement begins tonight. We can not accomplish the atonement for ourselves. We can not work for it. We can only receive forgiveness for our sins.


If you fast, may it be meaningful.




Thursday, September 29, 2022

JESUS

 

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.


Matthew 11:28-30




Sunday, September 25, 2022

In the Garden



I come to the garden alone,

While the dew is still on the roses;

And the voice I hear, falling on my ear,

The Son of God discloses.


And He walks with me, and He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own,

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other has ever known.


He speaks, and the sound of His voice

Is so sweet the birds hush their singing;

And the melody that He gave to me

Within my heart is ringing.


I'd stay in the garden with Him

Tho' the night around me be falling;

But He bids me go; thro' the voice of woe,

His voice to me is calling.


C. Austin Miles

1912