This IS Eternal Life, 'That They May Know You.-John 17:3

 

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Holy Land Picture of the Day

 

Mount Hermon Today's picture is of Mount Hermon, with just a few patches of snow near the summit. It reminds us of Psalm 133: 1-3; "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, coming down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard, coming down upon the edge of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon coming down upon the mountains of Zion; For there the LORD commanded the blessing-life forever."   “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life, it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life” (John 5:39-40). Hey Gang, Previously, I shared the deep desire of my heart to sit at the feet of Jesus just as Mary did.  I asked the question of each of you “Have you ever had a yearning so deep that it filled your every thought."  I pray you have given that question your undivided attention.  But those who know me also know that I am not one who leaves unanswered questions lying dormant in my dome-of-intellect.  I do not believe God would have me seek such an experience, while here on earth, without making provision for me to have the desire of my heart fulfilled.   How many know that God does indeed work in mysterious ways.  I just happened to open a book -that I have been wading through- to the chapter titled “The Undivided Life” and I believe I have found God’s formula for sitting at the feet of Jesus, even now while I am an earthbound homo-sapien.  Ortberg begins by saying you can be a Bible attacker, where the challenge is to read through the Bible from cover to cover.  He warns that to be filled with the knowledge about the Bible, but to be unwashed by it, is worse than not knowing it at all.  It can give us a false sense of security.  Have you ever come face to face with a Bible thumper who could quote Scriptures that fit every subject but, when one looks at their lives, there is a melt down between what they are saying and the fruit they are producing?  Now hear me, Ortberg was not putting down reading the Bible through or even reading large portions of Scripture in rapid-fire motion.  But what he was saying is, speed reading is not meditation on the Word and will not lead to growing in the Lord.  His suggestion: take a passage and first seek the Lord’s guidance and wisdom to understand and grow in the Lord through that passage.   Ask Him, “Lord what do you want to say to me in this moment?”  Keep in mind the Bible is God’s love letter to His children and, to get the depth out of what He is saying, we must consume it like a love letter. Keep in mind, the goal is not to get through the Scriptures but to get the Scriptures through us.  The Psalmist says that sitting at the feet of Jesus comes to the person who meditates on the law ‘day and night’ (Psa. 1:2).  Keep in mind meditation is a slow process that requires allowing God’s thoughts and words to seep deep into our souls. Soooo friends and neighbors, do you want to sit at the feet of Jesus?   Then “Be still and know that He is God” (Psa. 46:10).  Remember, the word that God speaks to us can renew our mind, but we must be silent and receive it. Blessings,  Gramps

Do You LOVE as Jesus LOVES?

 

Hey Gang, Continuing our Love theme, I felt this Devotional 2-12-21 from Mornings with Jesus needed to be shared.

 “…Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly.  And the greatest of these is Love.” I Corinthians 13:13  ( The Message)

      I can’t remember the first time I realized that Jesus expects us to LOVE as He does -- unconditionally, extravagantly, audaciously.  It was probably a thought floating somewhere within the pool of information I been introduced to in Sunday School and then further developed through Bible studies and sermons in my early adult years. In My journey to know Jesus better, I stopped imagining Him as simply really, really skilled at loving people and instead realized His brand of LOVE was in a class by itself.

       Part of that dawning on the subject of Jesus’ LOVE happened just the other day.

      After years of court-appointed exile from society, a family member and friend returned to us.  I told him, “I love you,” and meant it. 

     “Thank you,” he said.

     His response startled me, so I said, “You don’t have to thank me for loving you.”

     He was silent for a moment, then said, “Some wouldn’t.”  The words came out as a whisper lace with experience.

     I didn’t have to love him.  But loving comes easily because or the way I ‘ve been loved by Jesus - lavishly, in spite of my failures.  Reading about Jesus’ limitless LOVE - for those who came to Him with nothing but their brokenness, their pain, and their unsavory past - has convinced me that defaulting to LOVE is heaven’s expectation and my best option!                    - Cynthia Ruchti

      Faith Step: Someone in your circle of friends and family, or even a stranger needs to know he or she is loved outrageously and extravagantly.  Are you the carrier that Jesus wants to use to deliver that message?

 This message of Christ-like LOVE spoke to my heart.  It is certainly a message our world needs to today  - in word and actions. On the web I found this poem that I used to hear from my parents. Please open your heart as you read it.   Blessings, Gma J

The World's Bible  by Annie Johnson Flint

Christ has no hands but our hands To do His work today;
He has no feet but our feet To lead men in His way;
He has no tongues but our tongues To tell men how He died;
He has no help but our help To bring them to His side.

We are the only Bible The careless world will read;
We are the sinner's Gospel, We are the scoffer's creed;
We are the Lord's last message, Given in deed and word;
What if the type is crooked? What if the print is blurred?

What if our hands are busy With work other than His?
What if our feet are walking Where sin's allurement is?
What if our tongues are speaking Of things His lips would spurn?
How can we hope to help Him And hasten His return?

No Greater Love!!!!

Sunday, February 24, 2013

 Jesus: Son of GOD, Son of DAVID, Son of MAN

"In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets…but in ‘these last days’ He has spoken to us by his Son, whom He appointed heir of all things…The Son is the ‘radiance of God’s glory’, the exact representation of His being.”  (Hebrews 1:1-3).

 

Son of GOD:  

“The angel answered,”….so the holy one to be born will be called ‘the Son of God,”  (Luke 1:32)

Some scholars teach that many Old Testament references to ’the Angel of the Lord’ referred to Yahweh’s Son, and so it maybe; The New Testament is clear, in several places, that Jesus, son of David, son of Mary (and Joseph) was the Son of God.  However, as God, He was pre-existant, but unlike God, Jesus put on ‘humanity’ to show us the face  and love of God.

 

GOD SAID- Jesus was His SON!!!  Remember the Sunday school stories?  Jesus was being baptized by his cousin John, “As He was praying, the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended…and a voice came from heaven: You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (John 3:21-22).  Another time, on the Mount of Transfiguration, and in the presence of Peter, James and John, God said, “This is my Son, whom I love, listen to Him!”  (Mark 9:7)

 

People Said – “Jesus Christ/Anointed one” -Even though Jesus taught differently from others and did miracles, many did not make the connection that Jesus was Messiah, Son of God- but a few did!  We visited Caesarea Philippi, where Peter responded to Jesus’ question with - “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!” (Matt 16:16). The Centurion and Guards, who saw Jesus die and the events that followed, were convinced!  The Centurion exclaimed, “Surely He was the Son of God.” (Matt 17:54)

Demons said: -" What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God...?"Mk 5:7

 

Son of DAVID:

“A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham,” (Matt 1:1) The Lord will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” (Luke 1:32-33)    

 

GOD SAID - Jewish people of the first Century AD, and still today, are looking for Messiah to come from the lineage of King David, as was promised in several places: “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.” II Samuel 7:18. All the ‘begats’ and written lineages were important to Jews, as well as to Father God, (read Isa 49:18). Detailed records were kept at the Temple and, during His’ lifetime on earth, no one questioned that Jesus was of the lineage of King David. 

 God used the Decree of Caesar Augustus to confirm this in the registry of Bethlehem. (Luke 2:4)
In David rested the hope of the ages for all Jews.  The Prophet Micah had said, someday The Messiah would be born here and rule the earth from Zion.

 

People said - ‘Son of David’ to get Jesus’ attention. Using this title was an expression of their faith that He, Messiah. could overcome political bondage and physical needs; examples include the Blind men (Matt 10:47 & Matt 9:27-30) and the Canaanite woman (Matt 15:22).

 

I have personally experienced God’s divine healing: I (Gma J) am 12 years cancer free; I have seen family members healed, but ‘Son of David’ is not part of my prayers for healing.  We know Jesus, Savior, Lord is our great Physician, yes, but cares about each circumstance in our lives whether good or difficult.

 

Son of MAN:

“Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house (Zacchaeus and all who believe). For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:9-10).

 

‘Son of Man’ was a title Jesus used for himself!  He said in Matt 6 and Luke 9 that The Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head…”;  In Matt 12:32 He said, “If any one speaks against the Son of Man he speaks against the Holy Spirit”; and Matt 20:28 He said, “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and give his life a ransom for many.”;  In Mark 8 he said, “If we are ashamed of Him and his words, He will be ashamed of us when He comes into God’s glory.

 

In all these statements His emphasis was on things of earth, but, indicated His eventual domination!   Do you recognize him as Son of God?  Are there situations in your life you need to give to Son of David to extend his rule over?  Have you offended the Son of Man and need to repent?

 

Jesus, Son of God and Son of Man is an incredible mystery.  He was God-Man from birth to the resurrection.  Son of David weaves him into our humanity – tempted, weary, thirsty, weeping, laughing, dying.   He is Awesome God, Creator, Indescribable, Unfathomable, Mighty in power.  He cares for you and me and knows my hallelujahs and heartaches.

 

He, who is the Son of God, became the Son of David that we might be His spiritual lineage and be forever adopted as sons of God…SOO, let God’s spirit uncover every area of your life not yet fully under His rule.  Read Col 1:16-18

Gospel in a nutshell: "For God so loved the world He gave his Only Begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  John 3:16 

 

Blessings

Gma J

God uses Broken things…

   Hey Gang, Today I picked up one of Gramps favorite Devotionals. Still Waters.  As I read it I could hear him reading it to me - as he usually did at night.  Human love has been theme for several weeks, think of how Great is God’s love as He reshapes and repurposes us to be used by Him while on this earth and then in the Eternal Kingdom. 

Firewood or Furniture                                                                  by Fred Schau - Broadhead, WI

“And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold I make ALL THINGS new: And He said unto me, ‘Write: for these words are true and faithful.” Revelation 21:5 (Emphasis added)

 For well over a century, the walnut tree had endured the rainstorms, blizzards, droughts and floods of the prairie.  The huge tree finally went down when a windstorm took off some branches, causing the trunk to split.  One plank cut from the tree was stored in a barn for five years. It became covered with pigeon droppings, mold, and dust. The plank was warped and had cracks in places, but my son was sure that it would make a good headboard for his daughter’s bed.

 I had my doubts, but we trimmed and ragged ends off the board and managed to get one edge straight. Then we started running the board repeatedly through the planer.  Soon the grain appeared mor clearly.  At one end it had a regular pattern as if quarter sawn, but    farther up the plank, the reason curled into whorls.  One of the whorls had a ring of bark around it where the trunk once grew around a branch.  Another whorl had formed where a broken branch healed over.  My son was right - the plank became one of the most beautiful pieces of lumber I have ever seen.

After a sinner comet to Christ, covered with the grime and filth of sin, Christ begins transforming him into “His Workmanship” (Ephesians 2:10).  The process is hard and it hurts.  Much excess material is removed, but eventually the result is a new creation. Though the rigors of the former sinful life left scars behind, the ‘new creature’ has remarkable beauty not because of sin but in spite of sin.   By the amazing grace of Christ, the ‘fallen wood’ that was suitable only for fireweed is transformed into attractive and useful ‘furniture.”

“Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God.”  Revelation 3:12

 Let God’s love flood your heart and spirit.

Gma J

Yeshua, Linking the Old Testament With the New

 

 Sunday, February 17, 2013

“Therefore, God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  Phil 4:9-10

Before I was a wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandma, I was a daughter, sister, baby, toddler, friend, student, teen, teacher….(depending where I was when, and who needed what) and so the list goes on through the years.  Today, I am still called many things – friend, senior, volunteer……….

 Jesus, too, was a baby, son, toddler, brother, carpenter…..but His Names and Titles are far more excellent and none  other can compare!  They are impressive qualities, which He makes available to His followers for salvation, comfort, guidance, strength, healing of spirit, mind, body  and the list goes on.

 So, to think of Jesus in terms of Savior, Lord, Messiah- and the 360 more in a devotional I have- is not so unreal.  True, some in this Devotional are similar or images in a sentence, but this only begins to show us His Godliness, personhood, character and many attributes.  They also give us insight into His human life and ministry, as examples that we can strive to follow.  Remember He came to earth to show us His Father, His Kingdom Principles and His LOVE!

 For years I have been interested in reading and studying the Names of God in the Old Testament and names of Jesus in the New. Of course, many are the same or related.  Sooo, Let’s go back to the beginning.  Genesis 1:26 says, “Let us make man…” Seems that us includes the Son, whom we call Jesus (Yeshua).

 Isaiah was clear when he wrote, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of peace.” (9:6-7).  And familiar to all of us is Immanuel – God with us! ( Isaiah 7:14)

            He is God’s Son-----our Redeemer

            He is God’s Lamb----sacrifice for our sin, yet our Shepherd

 Go with me to Luke chapters one and two and look at the Names He is called:

1:31-32      Angel to Mary – “Jesus, … Son of the Most High”

1:43          Elizabeth called Him “My LORD”

1 :69, 73  Zecharias called him “Horn of salvation” and “Dayspring”

1 :54         Mary called him “God’s gift to Israel”

2:11          Angel called him “Savior, Christ the Lord”

2 :31          Simeon – “Light to the Gentiles” a fulfillment of Isa 49:6 and fulfilled in Matt

2 :38         Anna – “Redemption of Jerusalem”

   John begins his Gospel: “In the beginning was the WORD…” We will let this be our beginning of His human life. Yes, it is hard to separate his humanity from Godliness, but Scripture also says He knows our weaknesses and has been tempted in all points as we have been. (Heb 15:4) 

 SOOOO, what do you call Him? Other than in song? Jesus?  Lord?  Savior?  Does it hurt your heart when you hear His Name used lightly?  Will you say with Peter, “You are the Christ, Son of the Living God.”

                        Jesus, Name Above All Names              (No author given)

Jesus, name above all names Beautiful Savior, glorious Lord.

Emmanuel, God is with us. Blessed Redeemer, Living Word.

Blessings, 

Gma J