Who are you?

Today we unpacked this story from the Bible.

Everyone's either a Simon or like this woman . 

Only one in the story is rescued from the slavery to sin

Which are you? 

What should be the response if we are rescued? 

Message me ok ? We can talk about this .

Luke 7:36-50 Then one of the Pharisees invited Him to eat with him. He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. And a woman in the town who was a sinner found out that Jesus was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house. She brought an alabaster jar of fragrant oil and stood behind Him at His feet, weeping, and began to wash His feet with her tears. She wiped His feet with the hair of her head, kissing them and anointing them with the fragrant oil. When the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching Him—she’s a sinner!” Jesus replied to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”“Teacher,” he said, “say it.” “A creditor had two debtors. One owed 500 denarii, and the other 50. Since they could not pay it back, he graciously forgave them both. So, which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “I suppose the one he forgave more.”“You have judged correctly,” He told him. Turning to the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she, with her tears, has washed My feet and wiped them with her hair. You gave Me no kiss, but she hasn’t stopped kissing My feet since I came in. You didn’t anoint My head with olive oil, but she has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that’s why she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.” Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Those who were at the table with Him began to say among themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” 

Jesus - the Peace Child

Watch this account of the Sawi people 50 years after Don Richardson took them the gospel of peace

https://www.facebook.com/neverthesamemovie/posts/430018760458460

Discipleship and Dragons

As we take time to look beyond the materialism that assaults us this season, join me in obeying what we read in the Bible

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 

The reason for celebrating the birth of Jesus is found in this first message of hope :

Genesis 3:15 I will put enmity between you and the woman,and between your offspring and her offspring;he shall bruise your head,and you shall bruise his heel.” 

Let's look at the original words to Charles Wesley's hymn Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Hark, how all the welkin rings,
“Glory to the King of kings;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”

Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
Universal nature say,
“Christ the Lord is born to-day!”

Christ, by highest Heaven ador’d,
Christ, the everlasting Lord:
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of a Virgin’s womb!

Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see,
Hail the incarnate deity!
Pleased as man with men to appear,
Jesus! Our Immanuel here!

Hail, the heavenly Prince of Peace!
Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen with healing in his wings.

Mild He lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die;
Born to raise the sons of earth;
Born to give them second birth.

Come, Desire of nations, come,
Fix in us thy humble home;
Rise, the woman’s conquering seed,
Bruise in us the serpent’s head.

Now display thy saving power,
Ruined nature now restore;
Now in mystic union join
Thine to ours, and ours to thine.

Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface;
Stamp Thy image in its place.
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in thy love.

Let us Thee, though lost, regain,
Thee, the life, the inner Man:
O! to all thyself impart,
Form’d in each believing heart.

We won't talk about all the verses as I want you as a family or individual find a friend and ask yourself some questions 

1. What do you learn about God ? What is God like ? 

2. What do you learn about man ? What is man's need or struggle? 

3. How do you see God doing something about man's need? 

4. What do you personally see in the message of this hymn ? What is the current condition of your inner man? 

5. Can man do anything about his ruined nature? 

6. Which verse alludes to genesis 3:15? 

Write me if you want to know more about how to become a follower of the One, Jesus, the seed of the woman- 

Born that man might be free from the power of the dragon (serpent) 

And live at peace with God our creator and judge.

Some words you may not know

Welkin: heaven 

Efface: to remove, erase, eradicate 

Here is a link where you can sing this hymn

http://youtu.be/lCt1s44cfMM

By Grace We Are His

I dreamed I was making cash register entries for purchases. I made an incorrect entry and couldn't figure out how to delete the entry and enter the correct entry.

I was becoming quite stressed about this and began thinking :

My whole life is like this- I've made a wrong entry and no one will help me correct it!

Then I began to think about a Skype relationship turned sour. A lost soul who had never wanted to listen to the gospel and now seemed bitter and not civil in communication . 

Another wrong entry.

I woke up realizing that I needed to preach the gospel to myself. 

Jesus the perfect Son of God stayed perfectly under the authority of God the Father-

Jesus has corrected all my wrong entries and given me His right standing with God.

I don't deserve His forgiveness ; I can't earn His pardon. 

Grace: God's Riches At Christ's Expense

What is God saying to me? 

Stop all Skype relationships? 

Not necessarily.. But remembering why I am here- I don't belong here- earth is not my home-

I am on the Lord's side - I belong to Him 

I awoke thinking of the message of this old hymn

Who is on the Lord's Side?

http://youtu.be/QfunlcqcBXA

How about you? 

Questions or comments? 

Pride: the subtle hindrance to relationship

Today I remember part of an old chorus based on psalm 61:

Hear my cry O LORD, attend unto my prayer; from the ends of the earth will I cry unto Thee. And when my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the Rock, the Rock that is higher than I. For Thou hast been a shelter unto me and a fortress against the enemy. 

Later this morning I read Ezra 8. The returning exiles would encounter enemies on the trip.

Here is what Ezra wisely counseled:

Ezra 8:21-23 And there by the Ahava Canal, I gave orders for all of us to fast and humble ourselves before our God. We prayed that he would give us a safe journey and protect us, our children, and our goods as we traveled. For I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to accompany us and protect us from enemies along the way. After all, we had told the king, “Our God’s hand of protection is on all who worship him, but his fierce anger rages against those who abandon him.” So we fasted and earnestly prayed that our God would take care of us, and he heard our prayer. 

The Calvary road is beset with obstacles to our destination . Our destination is to help establish true worship over all the nations .

We must not depend on the ways of the world, rather we begin with the humble confession that we are powerless , but we look to Christ our great high priest. 

Today is the first Sunday in advent ; meditate with me on the Rock:

We learn from Paul a somber warning. Read with me :

1 Corinthians 10:1-24, 31 I don’t want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, about our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. All of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them, and all of them walked through the sea on dry ground. In the cloud and in the sea, all of them were baptized as followers of Moses. All of them ate the same spiritual food, and all of them drank the same spiritual water. For they drank from the spiritual rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ. Yet God was not pleased with most of them, and their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. These things happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did, or worship idols as some of them did. As the Scriptures say, “The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry.” And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did, causing 23,000 of them to die in one day. Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites. And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death. These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age. If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols. You are reasonable people. Decide for yourselves if what I am saying is true. When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ? And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body. Think about the people of Israel. Weren’t they united by eating the sacrifices at the altar? What am I trying to say? Am I saying that food offered to idols has some significance, or that idols are real gods? No, not at all. I am saying that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don’t want you to participate with demons. You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too. What? Do we dare to rouse the Lord’s jealousy? Do you think we are stronger than he is? You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others. So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 

Let's purpose to prepare our hearts anew this season with room for Christ to dwell by faith . Begin today making a list of those God brings to mind that you need to ask to forgive you. Or to reach out with a helping hand and heart to someone in need.

People everywhere need to know God. 

Tribulation

Acts 14:19-22 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. 

The context of this: God had just used Paul to heal a man born lame in his feet. The citizens of Lystra tried to worship

Paul and Barnabss. They of course said No and shared about the Creator God, the true and living God.

These people of Lystra were however easily swayed to reject the truth and proceeded to stone Paul believing they had killed Paul.

Wow! Is this how God rewards faithful witness to His Kingdom? 

Yes 

In fact just before Jesus goes to offer Himself as the spotless Lamb of God, Jesus gives these words to His disciples :

John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” 

This suffering isn't because we are rude and critical of lost people: notice Paul and Barbabas didn't spend time arguing about Zeus and Hermes ; they focused on Who God is and that God has been merciful to overlook these peoples' attempt to try by their own efforts to get right with God.

All false religions include an element of self help to get right with God

Do so many good deeds to wipe away your bad deeds- pray, fast,give alms to poor people, bathe in a certain river .,

However God from before the world was created uses the name "Lamb of God" - a mediator is needed-

Just as the citizens of Lystra could not let go of their vain attempts to be right with God - so today 

Acts 14:11-17 And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” 

What was the "like nature " of Paul and Barbabas ? They knew themselves as sinners - totally unrighteous in God's eyes. Black and dead hearts rebellious toward the ways and will of God.

Only a desperation about the vileness of our heart condition can open our eyes to the greatness of grace and mercy found in Christ Jesus alone,

A great sinner finds a great Saviour . 

How about you? 

Ready for that changed heart? The only way you will find life!

What was Paul's response to the stoning that left him for dead? 

Paul returns to strengthen the disciples!

Acts 14:20-22 But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. 

How about you? 

Are you willing to return good for evil?

Next post a personal testimony of how God gave me a way to display the gospel . 

I enjoy comments and questions.

http://www.gotquestions.org/meaning-of-life.html

http://www.gotquestions.org/meaning-of-life.html

Hope many of you will read this and think on the Word of God.
What is the meaning of YOUR life?
Are you living truth? or following fantasies?

“Your Marriage Course Turned My Life Around”

“Your Marriage Course Turned My Life Around”

I recommend all married, thinking of getting married, please read.

Sovereign Grace

I found this quote that is actually words to an old hymn..

And so George Chadwick said at the end of the eighteenth century, "I sought the Lord and afterwards I knew He moved my soul to seek Him seeking me, it was not I that found 0 Savior true, no I was found by Thee."

I sought the Lord, and afterward I knew
He moved my soul to seek Him, seeking me.
It was not I that found, O Savior true;
No, I was found of Thee.

Thou didst reach forth Thy hand and mine enfold;
I walked and sank not on the storm vexed sea.
’Twas not so much that I on Thee took hold,
As Thou, dear Lord, on me.

I find, I walk, I love, but oh, the whole
Of love is but my answer, Lord, to Thee!
For Thou were long beforehand with my soul,
Always Thou lovest me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWm9dYugUUo

Perhaps the hymn writer was thinking of these words..

Isaiah 65:1

English Standard Version (ESV)

Judgment and Salvation

 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.
I said, “Here I am, here I am,”
    to a nation that was not called by my name.

Ésaïe 65:1

Segond 21 (SG21)

Réponse de Dieu

Je me suis laissé consulter par ceux qui ne me demandaient rien,
je me suis laissé trouver par ceux qui ne me cherchaient pas.
J'ai dit: «Me voici! Me voici!»
à une nation qui ne faisait pas appel à mon nom.

Arabic Life Application Bible (ALAB)

  «قَدْ أَعْلَنْتُ ذَاتِي لِمَنْ لَمْ يَسْأَلُوا عَنِّي، وَوَجَدَنِي مَنْ لَمْ يَطْلُبْنِي، وَقُلْتُ: هَأَنَذَا لأُمَّةٍ لَمْ تُدْعَ بِاسْمِي.

以 賽 亞 書 65:1

Chinese Union Version (Simplified) (CUVS)

 素 来 没 有 访 问 我 的 ， 现 在 求 问 我 ； 没 有 寻 找 我 的 ， 我 叫 他 们 遇 见 ； 没 有 称 为 我 名 下 的 ， 我 对 他 们 说 ： 我 在 这 里 ！ 我 在 这 里 ！

यशायाह 65:1

Hindi Bible: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV-HI)

परमेश्वर के बारे में सभी लोग जानेंगे

65 यहोवा कहता है, “मैंने उन लोगों को भी सहारा दिया है जो उपदेश ग्रहण करने के लिए कभी मेरे पास नहीं आये। जिन लोगों ने मुझे प्राप्त कर लिया, वे मेरी खोज में नहीं थे। मैंने एक ऐसी जाति से बात की जो मेरा नाम धारण नहीं करती थी। मैंने कहा था, ‘मैं यहाँ हूँ! मैं यहाँ हूँ!’

As I write this blog, my husband and two other men are in India; 

As the three men watched the procession of people carrying the brightly colored lifeless images of gods only of the imaginations, they are saddened.

The loud drums and louder voices cannot bring life.

As they see the darkness of the demonically inspired worship of false gods, I think of God's way of converting sinners..

Psalm 46:10 says:

English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁰ “Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!”

1 Corinthians 9:16

English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁶ For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

If you are one of my readers and do not understand the way of God to seek and find lost sinners and bring them by way of repentance and trust in the finished work of Jesus Messiah on the cross, please write me.  I love to tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love..I love to preach the gospel. 

For the praise of His glory,

Mrs B