Monday, May 31, 2021
How Are Your Knees?
Meditate.
Don't be selfish; don't try
to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.
Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others,
too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he
gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was
born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in
obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross. Therefore, God
elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all
other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on
earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:3-11
Can you ever consider a scripture passage too much? This is only the third day of repeating and reflecting on this selection. Jesus’ attitude is paramount to our own. God’s reaction to Jesus’ obedience is that of any proud father…honor the Son as the Son has honored the Father. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. How do you honor God the Father and Jesus in your life?
How are your knees? Mine are beginning
to get old! I know that I need to exercise them more…walking, riding my bicycle,
gardening…and kneeling in prayer. Once I’m on my knees, it is a little hard to
get back up. Does that mean more time praying?! Maybe that is why older folks
make such good prayer warriors. They are down for a while…and stay that way
longer! Ha-Ha! I am grateful that God has a sense of humor! I’m sure there are
a lot of knees out there that also need a healing touch—so that those folks can
even get into the kneeling position…and then get back up again without any help.
Asking for help—whether it is getting out of the family’s swimming pool…or
getting up from kneeling to pray is humbling. Most churches just have people
sit or stand to pray—and even then people want to spend a short time…not an
hour in prayer. Prayer time is a sacred
time with God. A time of communing and sharing. Fellowship. Relationship.
The Sea of Galilee
It belongs to God.
Sing to the Lord--The Rock of our Salvation.
Come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to
the Rock of our salvation. Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing
psalms of praise to him. For the LORD is a great God, a great King above all gods.
He holds in his hands the depths of the earth and the mightiest mountains. The
sea belongs to him, for he made it. His hands formed the dry land, too. Come,
let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the LORD our maker, for he
is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. If
only you would listen to his voice today! The LORD says, "Don't harden
your hearts as Israel did at Meribah, as they did at Massah in the wilderness.”
Psalm 95:1-8 (Underlined for emphasis.)
Kneel before the Lord. One day every knee will bow before Jesus. Where will you be on that day? In Heaven…on earth…or under the earth? As it was written in the Psalms passage above, don’t harden your hearts…. Humbly bow before the Lord Jesus even now. Offer Him praise and glorify Him and your relationship with the King of Kings.
Prayer ~ Lord Jesus, I humbly bow before You and before our Heavenly Father. You are an awesome God—worthy of my praise and adoration. Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness. Psalm 145:3
Verse of Salvation ~ The LORD
lives! Praise to my Rock! May the God of my salvation be exalted! Psalm
18:46
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Sunday, May 30, 2021
How’s Your Attitude?
Meditate. Think about your attitude towards God and others.
Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:3-11
Does this scripture passage draw you closer in relationship to the Lord? Read it again.
Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
 |
| Are you always looking out for yourself? Big smile...but wicked bite? How's your attitude? |
Clearly, God's promise to give the whole earth to Abraham
and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God's law, but on a right
relationship with God that comes by faith. If God's promise is only for
those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary and the promise is
pointless. For the law always brings punishment on those who try to obey it.
(The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break!) So the
promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all
certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if
we have faith like Abraham's. For Abraham is the father of all who believe.
That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, "I have made you the father
of many nations." This happened because Abraham believed in the God who
brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing. Romans
4:13-17 (Underlined for emphasis.)
In our relationship to the Lord where is our attitude towards Him…and to others that He has placed in our lives? Faith is the key to setting our attitude right. Our faith is in God as our Lord, our creator, our hope and savior.
Prayer ~ Lord, I believe in You…as my God, my creator, my sustainer, my hope. I put my faith in You. Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Hebrews 11:1.
Verses of Salvation ~ If you
confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God
raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your
heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth
that you are saved. Romans 10:9-10
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Saturday, May 29, 2021
Jesus is God
Meditate.
Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:3-11
If there was any
doubt that Jesus IS God, this scripture eradicates that doubt. Jesus is God…and
He was man…born as a human being.
Consider how He was Creator of the universe, seated in Heaven with the
Father before He came to earth. Then he gave up his divine privileges….
He became a humble little baby, born into a stable near Bethlehem. He lived an
unpretentious life. He had no home.
As they were walking along, someone said to
Jesus, "I will follow you wherever you go." But Jesus replied,
"Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has
no place even to lay his head." Luke 9:57-58
Jesus was
homeless. How are homeless people treated today? Outcast, rejected, ignored,
forgotten, and snubbed. That is pretty much how Jesus was treated in some instances.
I would still choose to follow Him today. He was a great teacher, healer,
encourager, friend, servant, creator, Lord and Savior. He is God. I worship and
adore Him. How about you? How is your relationship with this humble, mighty, man-God
today? To know Him…to really know Him is to love Him with all your heart, soul,
mind and strength. Consider that is just how He said we should love God…and He
is God.
One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" Jesus replied, "The most important commandment is this: 'Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.' The second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these." Mark 12:28-31
Prayer ~ Lord God, I believe
You can do anything…and I see evidence all around me of the wonders You created…from
the stars of the heaven, to the lowly earthworm and the magnificent tall pine
trees. You’ve healed people physically, mentally and spiritually. Like that
father whose boy had an evil spirit I ask You to give me deeper faith. 
Trees are only a small part of
God's awesome creation.
Thank You, Lord.
The father instantly cried out, "I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!" Mark 9:24
Verses of Warning and Salvation ~ Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. You must warn each other every day, while it is still "today," so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ. Remember what it says: "Today when you hear his voice, don't harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled." Hebrews 3:12-15
Bible Trivia Answer ~ Where did Jesus make His home when He was here on earth? He had no home.
As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, "I
will follow you wherever you go." But Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens
to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay
his head." Luke 9:57-58
He often went to Capernaum, to Peter’s
home. Read Mark 1:21-34. He taught at the synagogue there and stayed at Peter’s
home. Capernaum seemed to be the center of His Galilean ministry. At least
others thought of that town as His home, not Nazareth.
When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. Mark 2:1
Bible Trivia Question for next
week ~ From what diseases did Jesus heal people?
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Friday, May 28, 2021
Are You Sinless?
Meditate.
For the choir director: A
psalm of David, regarding the time Nathan the prophet came to him after David
had committed adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, because of your
unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my
sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my
rebellion; it haunts me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I
sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in
what you say, and your judgment against me is just. For I was born a sinner—yes,
from the moment my mother conceived me. But you desire honesty from the womb,
teaching me wisdom even there. Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you
have broken me--now let me rejoice. Psalm 51:1-8
Are any of us more sinless (committed less sin) than David? Of course not. Everyone has sinned. Everyone except Jesus. He was sinless.
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's
glorious standard. Romans 3:23
Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never
sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered
physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit. 1 Peter 3:18
Like David, I recognize my
rebellion—and I want to be washed clean from my guilt. Thankfully, God hears my
prayers…your too.
The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayers
of the righteous. Proverbs 15:29
But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 1 John 1:9
That pretty much says it all. God
is faithful. He will forgive our sin…if we confess…if we ask. How is your
relationship with God today? Have you confessed your sins of the day…and are
you rejoicing that He has forgiven you? Talking to God is the best part of the
day. Rejoice and praise Him.
Prayer ~ Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don't take your Holy Spirit from me. Unseal my lips, O Lord, that my mouth may praise you. Psalm 51:10-11, 15
Verses of Salvation ~ Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don't take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Psalm 51:10-12
Friday’s Feasting at the King’s Table
We can’t live on bread alone. Have some ice cream. It is that time of the year when the weather here in the Northern Hemisphere is warmer and it is ice cream time. What is your favorite? Vanilla. Strawberry. Chocolate—but there are so many variations of chocolate! Rocky Road. Mudslide. Brownie Delight. Chocolate Chip Mint. There are some unusual flavors like bubblegum and cotton candy. Ugh. Guess I’m more of a purest when it comes to ice cream flavors. How about some sorbet? Mango is my favorite…followed closely by Raspberry. Consider the lemon or strawberry sorbets, too.
Enjoy some good creamy ice cream soon. You can make it yourself, get it at a grocery store or an ice cream shop. You can find some easy recipes on line…or save up your pennies…and dollars and splurge on a cone at a local shop.
© 2021 Text, photos and
illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All scripture quoted
from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.
New Living Translation
copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation.
Used by permission of
Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights
reserved.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.
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Daily Devotional for Building Character
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Thursday, May 27, 2021
Rejoice!
Meditate.
This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24
Rejoice! This is the day that the
Lord has made…just like any day…yesterday…today...or tomorrow. The days are all
the same. God doesn’t change. The days don’t change. Seasons change…the length
of the days varies…but they are still just like God created them. This is the
day that the Lord created. Rejoice and be glad in it. You have a choice…rejoice
or not. When we are rejoicing and praising the Lord—there is no desire to pout.
We cannot simultaneously pout and praise.
Prayer ~ Lord God, You are my
God, and I will praise you! You are my God, and I will exalt you! I give thanks
to You, LORD, for You are good! Your faithful love endures forever. From Psalm
118:28-29
Verse of Salvation ~ May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation--the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ--for this will bring much glory and praise to God. Philippians 1:11
Rejoice!
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Wednesday, May 26, 2021
Is the Holy Spirit Your Advocate?
Meditate.
If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn't looking for him and doesn't recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. John 14:15-19
Advocate. One who stands up for
you. One who has your back and steps in to keep you safe when you’re in trouble
or need help.
But when the Father sends the Advocate as my
representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will
remind you of everything I have told you. John 14:26
 |
| Holy Spirit - seen as a dove Our Advocate |
Prayer ~ Heavenly Father, when Jesus spoke to His disciples about the Holy Spirit He said, But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don't, the Advocate won't come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God's righteousness, and of the coming judgment. John 16:7-8. May You continue to send the Holy Spirit to be our Advocate and convict each person of their disobedience to You. I confess that that disobedience in my life and in the lives of my family, friends and all of my country is sin. Forgive us.
Verses of Salvation ~ As for
us, we can't help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the
Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to
experience salvation--a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you
holy and through your belief in the truth. He called you to salvation when we
told you the Good News; now you can share in the glory of our Lord Jesus
Christ. 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
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Tuesday, May 25, 2021
Safe at Home
Meditate.
Christ suffered for our sins
once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely
home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the
Spirit. 1 Peter 3:18
The Empty Tomb
Christ was raised from the dead.
Safely home to God. That’s what we all ultimately want—right? To be safe at home. Where better place to be than with God. There are those who still can’t look God in the eye…ashamed of themselves or their lifestyle—so they may want to be safe at home…but not with God. What can get them right with God? Jesus can. He has taken all our sins to the cross with Him…but in order for those to be validated people have to ask for forgiveness. That simple act washes those sins away…forever. It is an acceptance of God’s gift of freedom from sin. The gift of eternal life. Jesus didn’t die forever—He was raised to life in the Spirit. That is what will happen to us one day, too. We will be raised to life…eternal life…with Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.
Safe at home…like hitting a home run and outrunning the ball to make it safe at home plate! Safe at home…like having a great security alarm system that you know will not only bring help is if an intruder comes…but will scare away that intruder! That is a feeling of safety! God provides us that feeling of safety when He call us home to be with Him…forever. I look forward to that day…whether it is the Rapture or death in my old age. I know I’m going “home” someday to be with my Lord. How about you? Are you secure in the knowledge that you’ll be taken safely home to God? How is your relationship with the Lord?
Prayer ~ Come quickly, Lord God. Open the eyes of those who don’t know You as their Lord and Savior that they too will be taken home—for You have promised that there are many rooms in Your Father’s house…so there is a place for us that You have prepared.
Verses of Salvation ~ "Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father's home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going." John 14:1-4
For we know that when this
earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this
earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by
God himself and not by human hands. 2 Corinthians 5:1
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Monday, May 24, 2021
Spiritual Beginnings
Meditate.
In the beginning God created
the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness
covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of
the waters. Genesis 1:1-2
 |
| Holy Spirit - like a dove. Hovering over the surface of the water. |
Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He
has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the
whole scope of God's work from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11
God is a spirit. He has declared
that He was at the beginning and the end. He is eternal.
"I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the
end," says the Lord God. "I am the one who is, who always was, and
who is still to come—the Almighty One." Revelation 1:8
We cannot truly fathom an era without
beginning or ending…but that is God’s time. Timeless. Unending. Unchanging. The
Holy Spirit has always existed…but it is only when we accept Jesus as our
Savior that the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us. Spiritual beginnings. We are
the temple of the Holy Spirit and a treasure to God.
Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy
Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to
yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your
body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
For you are a holy people, who belong to the LORD your
God. Of all the people on earth, the LORD your God has chosen you to be his own
special treasure. Deuteronomy 7:6
We are blessed to be chosen by God…and for Him to make His home in our hearts. How awesome is that? Spiritual beginnings.
Prayer ~ Lord God, Thank You for revealing the truth to me that You are an eternal spirit and You are my God, creator of everything…so large and yet fit into my heart. Spiritual beginning of my life…with You eternally.
Verse of Salvation ~ For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 1:9
This truth gives them
confidence that they have eternal life, which God—who does not lie—promised them before the world began. Titus 1:2
© 2021 Text, photos and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.
New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.
Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character
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Sunday, May 23, 2021
On Fire for The Lord
Meditate. Have you counted out fifty days?
On the day of Pentecost all
the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound
from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house
where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared
and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy
Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this
ability. At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in
Jerusalem. When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were
bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers. Acts
2:1-6
Pentecost marks the beginning of the church. It falls on the Feast of Harvest, also called the Feast of Weeks, or in Hebrew—Shavuot. It is a festival seven weeks after Passover and is one of three festivals that required Jewish men to go to the Temple in Jerusalem.
Count off seven weeks from when you first begin to cut the
grain at the time of harvest. Then celebrate the Festival of Harvest to honor
the LORD your God. Bring him a voluntary offering in proportion to the
blessings you have received from him. This is a time to celebrate before the
LORD your God at the designated place of worship he will choose for his name to
be honored. Celebrate with your sons and daughters, your male and female servants,
the Levites from your towns, and the foreigners, orphans, and widows who live
among you. Deuteronomy 16:9-11
Each year every man in Israel must celebrate these three
festivals: the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Harvest,
and the Festival of Shelters. On each of these occasions, all men must appear
before the LORD your God at the place he chooses, but they must not appear
before the LORD without a gift for him. Deuteronomy 16:16 (Underlined for
emphasis.)
The Harvest considered with the
Feast of Weeks is a literal harvest of the wheat fields. The harvest considered
in Revelation is the harvest of the souls of men—as well as women and
children—who believe in Jesus as their Savior.
Then I saw a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was someone
like the Son of Man. He had a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his
hand. Then another angel came from the Temple and shouted to the one sitting on
the cloud, "Swing the sickle, for the time of harvest has come; the crop
on earth is ripe." So the one sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over
the earth, and the whole earth was harvested. Revelation 14:14-16
(Underlined for emphasis.)
It was required for a devout Jew
to go to Jerusalem for the Feast of Harvest (Weeks), so it is no surprise that
there were people from all over the known world gathered in Jerusalem. It was a
surprise that when the Holy Spirit came on them that they could speak and hear
the message of the Gospel in their own specific language. Amazing! Our God is
an awesome God with an equally wonderous plan. From Jerusalem those people took
the Gospel message out to the four corners of the world. The first
missionaries—well maybe not the first since Jesus had sent His disciples out
earlier as sort of missionaries to tell people in the towns of Galilee to turn
to God.
And he called his twelve disciples together and began
sending them out two by two, giving them authority to cast out evil spirits. He told
them to take nothing for their journey except a walking stick--no food, no
traveler's bag, no money. He allowed them to wear sandals but not to take a
change of clothes. "Wherever you go," he said, "stay in the same
house until you leave town. But if any place refuses to welcome you or listen
to you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have
abandoned those people to their fate." So the disciples went out, telling
everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God. And they cast out
many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil.
Mark 6:7-13
So…that is what we need to do even today. Tell others about God…to repent. Are you prepared to heal others…to tell them to repent and to return to God? For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13
Prayer ~ Lord God, just as You filled those in Jerusalem at the time of Pentecost and in Antioch when Paul preached…fill me today with Your Holy Spirit and give me boldness to witness for You…to go into all the world at least via this blog. Bless those who read this that they too would seek You more each day and build their relationship with You.
Verses of Salvation ~ "When
God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the
righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our
sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously
poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his
grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit
eternal life." Titus 3:4-7
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Saturday, May 22, 2021
Christ has Authority Over His Church
Meditate.
God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself. Ephesians 1:22-23 (Underlined for emphasis.)
Even from His vantage place in
Heaven, Christ is still the Head Guy—the ruler…the one in authority over the
church. It takes a whole group of people working together to serve the Lord—to be
His church. I’m not talking about a building where people meet to worship the
Lord…but people around the world who are being the hands, feet, eyes, ears and
even the mouth of Jesus, serving Him in all they do.
Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won't
be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be
influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the
truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and
more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole
body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps
the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of
love. Ephesians 4:14-16
Christ is the head…and we are the
body that is fit together perfectly…working together perfectly for His
service. He is the Head…the big honcho…and yet servant to His servants. He gave
the greatest gift…His very life.
Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body.
He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in
everything. For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and
through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything
in heaven and on earth by means of Christ's blood on the cross. ... So we tell
others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom
God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship
to Christ. That's why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ's mighty
power that works within me. Colossians 1:18-20, 28-29
No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just
as Christ cares for the church. Ephesians 5:29
Perfect in their relationship to
Christ. Relationship is the key. We can have knowledge in our head…but it is
important to have a connection with the Lord in our heart to truly know Him and
not be deceived.
I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the
world. They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body. Such a person is a
deceiver and an antichrist. Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked
so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward. Anyone
who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone
who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father
and the Son. 2 John 1:7-9
It is up to us to build that relationship with the Lord--to desire it and and to be dedicated to Jesus and our relationship with Him. How are you doing with that today?
Prayer ~ Lord God…You united me with Christ Jesus. For my benefit You, God, made Christ to be wisdom itself. Christ made me right with You, God; He made me pure and holy, and He freed me from sin. Therefore, as the Scriptures say, "If you want to boast, boast only about the LORD." From 1 Corinthians 1:30-31. Lord God, You are the light of my life and I am complete only in You.
Verse of Salvation ~ The
message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we
who are being saved know it is the very power of God. As the Scriptures say,
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the
intelligent." So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and
the world's brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look
foolish. Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him
through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who
believe. It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is
foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. So when we preach that Christ was
crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it's all nonsense. But to
those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power
of God and the wisdom of God. This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest
of human plans, and God's weakness is stronger than the greatest of human
strength. 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
Bible Trivia Answer for last week ~ What is Pentecost?
Feast of Weeks or in
Hebrew—Shavuot. It is a festival seven weeks (50 days) after Passover and is one of three
festivals that required Jewish men to go to the Temple in Jerusalem.
Count off seven weeks from when you first begin to cut the
grain at the time of harvest. Then celebrate the Festival of Harvest to honor
the LORD your God. Bring him a voluntary offering in proportion to the
blessings you have received from him. This is a time to celebrate before the
LORD your God at the designated place of worship he will choose for his name to
be honored. Celebrate with your sons and daughters, your male and female
servants, the Levites from your towns, and the foreigners, orphans, and widows
who live among you. Deuteronomy 16:9-11
Each year every man in Israel must celebrate these three
festivals: the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Harvest,
and the Festival of Shelters. On each of these occasions, all men must appear
before the LORD your God at the place he chooses, but they must not appear
before the LORD without a gift for him. Deuteronomy 16:16 (Underlined for
emphasis.)
 |
| Wheat Harvest in Israel a few years ago. Modern technology. Swinging the sickle of a combine. |
Then I saw a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was
someone like the Son of Man. He had a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle
in his hand. Then another angel came from the Temple and shouted to the one
sitting on the cloud, "Swing the sickle, for the time of harvest has come;
the crop on earth is ripe." So the one sitting on the cloud swung his
sickle over the earth, and the whole earth was harvested. Revelation
14:14-16 (Underlined for emphasis.)
Bible Trivia Question for next week ~ Where did Jesus make His home when He was here on earth?
Friday, May 21, 2021
The Head Guy
Meditate.
Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can't see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything. Colossians 1:15-18 (Underlined for emphasis.)
Can you see me now? We often hear that from friends and family as we chat via Zoom or Facetime. Do you think Jesus ever asked, “Can you see Me now?” His disciples were amazed that they could not only see, but also touch Jesus after His resurrection. Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation…. We obviously can’t see Jesus now—He has ascended into Heaven, but He is still supreme over all creation…including the church—His church. The church is the group of people around the world…and throughout time…that believe in Him as their Lord and Savior. Jesus is the Head Guy…the one in charge…the one from whom we should be getting our orders, assignments and guidance for the day. Are we? Where do you look for that direction? The Bible of course—but where, when and why?
Choose a time of day…and stick to it. It may mean getting up ten minutes earlier and finding a quiet place in your home so that you can concentrate on Jesus. What to read? The Bible is a huge book—and it maybe overwhelming to consider reading the whole thing…but it can be done. I actually had read lots of passages and several of the books, but not made it through until I decided a few years ago to make it a priority for that year. I read…and listened to parts of it on a Bible app that read it to me. That was a lifetime achievement for me! Now I just read a book at a time and am currently concentrating on reading the book of Mark. If you don’t have a reading plan, I suggest you choose one of the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke or John, in the New Testament and set a goal to read it in the next few weeks. You could choose to read a book of the Old Testament—especially if you enjoy history. There is actually a lot of history in both the Old and New Testaments. Follow Paul’s journeys on a map and get acquainted with the Mediterranean area of the world. In a pre-COVID time you could have planned a trip to Israel, Greece, Italy, and Jordan—but with world conditions now you can only take such a trip virtually.
Before you read your chosen passage, pray for insight. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and help you to find ways to apply God’s Word to your life. Jesus told us that whatever we ask for in His name, we will receive. Ask the Head Guy for wisdom, understanding, insight.
Prayer ~ Lord God, Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding. Proverbs 3:13. Give me wisdom and understanding as I seek to know You more and have a better relationship with You. Thank You for Your guidance—not just for me, my family and friends, but also for all of Your church.
Verses of Salvation for the early Church ~ A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. Acts 2:43-47
Friday’s Feasting at the King’s Table
We can’t live on bread alone. What should we eat today? That is
always a good question!
What’s on your menu…on your plate? I’d like to have She-Crab Soup and a chop salad. Chop Salad? Chop salad seems to be very popular item on restaurant and home menus this spring and now into the summer. It can be changed up for any ethnic meal just by varying some of the ingredients and dressing. Here’s a basic one.
Crisp
and colorful fresh vegetables combine in this delicious chopped salad. This
easy salad recipe gets topped off with creamy avocado and crunchy bacon to make
it truly restaurant-worthy. Make the homemade dressing recipe a couple of days
in advance to give the garlic and lemon flavors time to develop.
2 cloves garlic, peeled
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ lemon, juiced
1 cup sour cream
2 hearts romaine lettuce
2 ears fresh corn, kernels cut
from cob
4 ounces green beans, trimmed
and cut in 2-inch lengths
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cucumber, seeded and chopped
¼ cup finely chopped fresh
chives
Himalayan sea salt, or Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 avocado, halved, seeded,
peeled, and cut into chunks
6 slices bacon, crisp-cooked
and chopped
Other options: chick peas, black
eyed peas, sliced kalamata olives
For dressing, peel garlic, split lengthwise, and remove any green germ or interior sprout. Finely grate the garlic and mix with a generous sprinkling of kosher salt. Hold knife with blade facing away from you; repeatedly rub garlic and salt together with flat of the blade to work it into a fine paste. Transfer mashed garlic to a small bowl. Squeeze lemon juice over garlic. Stir in an additional sprinkling of salt. Allow to stand 10 to 15 minutes so lemon can tame the garlic. Whisk in sour cream; season with salt and a few grinds of black pepper. To give flavors time to develop, refrigerate for 1 hour. The dressing keeps in the refrigerator up to 3 days.
Cut lettuce into bite-size pieces. Cook corn and green beans in a pot of rapidly boiling, lightly salted water for 1 to 3 minutes.
In
a large salad bowl combine corn, beans, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber (and
optional vegetables). Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and half the chives. Add two
or three spoonfuls of dressing and toss gently.
Add lettuce to bowl. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and most of the remaining chives. Add an etra drizzle of dressing. Lift up vegetable from the bottom of the bowl and turn over the lettuce. Repeat until ingredients are just mixed, adding additional dressing as necessary to coat. Just before serving, add the avocado, bacon and cheese if desired. Top servings with additional chives.
Adapted from Better Homes & Garden recipe.
Available as an e-book
or paperback at Amazon.com
Thursday, May 20, 2021
Do You Seek Wisdom and Understanding?
Meditate. What is wisdom to you?
I have always tried my best
to let wisdom guide my thoughts and actions. I said to myself, "I am
determined to be wise." But it didn't work. Wisdom is always distant and
difficult to find. I searched everywhere, determined to find wisdom and to
understand the reason for things. I was determined to prove to myself that
wickedness is stupid and that foolishness is madness. Ecclesiastes
7:23-25
Are you searching for spiritual wisdom
and understanding? Where do you find it?
But do people know where to find wisdom? Where can they
find understanding? No one knows where to find it, for it is not found among
the living. Job 28:12-13
A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good
sense. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches
and valuables. The wise are mightier than the strong, and those with knowledge
grow stronger and stronger. Proverbs 24:3-5
God's House
Holy Family Shrine, Gretna, Nebraska
Built by wisdom.
In the same way, wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find
it, you will have a bright future, and your hopes will not be cut short. Proverbs
24:14
God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God
made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us
pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. 1 Corinthians 1:30 (Underlined for
emphasis.)
We find wisdom in Christ…in
knowing Him as our Lord and Savior. We can savor that wisdom in our
relationship with Him and as we tell others about Him.
So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. Colossians 1:28
Prayer ~ As Paul prayed for those in the church at Colossi…I
pray for those reading this blog today.
So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. Colossians 1:9-10.
Verse of Salvation ~ But to
those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power
of God and the wisdom of God. This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest
of human plans, and God's weakness is stronger than the greatest of human
strength. 1 Corinthians 1:24-25
Available as an e-book
or paperback at Amazon.com