Author Archives: christartist

Mindfully Meditating on Matthew chapter 18 or MMM18

Mindfully Meditating in Matthew chapter Eighteen

Mindfully Meditating on Matthew Catalogue , the collection of these studies
(First 100 days of 2023, day 49, Feb 18)

Passage Matthew Chapter Eighteen

It doesn’t matter which version you choose. It can be digital or paper. You can use one of those fancy coloring bibles and do a page or coloring along with the passage.

I will mostly do Holman Christian Standard Bible because of their copyright freedoms.

This chapter, though, I will use the New Living Translation for clearing up some of the translations.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Matthew 18
- Mt 18:1-6 Who is the Greatest in Heaven?
  - a little child
    - ³Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. ⁴So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
  - Don’t cause one to suffer – to fall into sin
    - ⁶But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.
- Mt 18:7-9 the sorrows of temptation
  - ⁷“What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.
    - cut off hand, gouge out eye
  - God holds children dear
    - ¹⁰“Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.^[c]
- Mt 18:11- 14 The 99 vs the 1 – promise for wayward children
  - Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost?
  - rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away!
  - ¹⁴In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.
- Mt 18:15-17 Conflict Negotiation for the church
  - one-to-one
    - ¹⁵“If another believer^[d] sins against you,^[e] go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back.
  - bring one or two
    - ¹⁶But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses.
  - whole church
    - ¹⁷If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church.
  - If no change –
    - Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.
    - make every attempt possible, but do not poison the body.
- Mt 18:18- 20 in light of church matters – PRAYER POWER
  - ¹⁸“I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid^[f] on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit^[g] on earth will be permitted in heaven.
  - ¹⁹“I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. ²⁰For where two or three gather together as my followers,^[h] I am there among them.”
- Mt 18:21 – 22 How often to forgive
  - ²²“No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!^[j]
- Mt 18: 23-35 Forgive to be forgiven Parable
  - ³⁵“That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters^[m] from your heart.”

Mindful Meditating

choose a verse,
set a timer for 5 minutes, or whatever works for you.
example: Matt 18:3
repeat to yourself, and at each word, enunciate the next word in the sentence starting with the first word…

example:

³Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.
UNLESS you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven
unless YOU turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven
unless you TURN from your sins and become like little children, you will never get int the Kingdom of Heaven.

…and so on. This will cause you to look at the verse more intently, and may have you memorize it before your five minutes are done.

Lost Sheep coloring pages by ColoringHome.

Unforgiving Servant Coloring page

Quick Questions – if you have time, or to think about over the course of the day, and jot down thoughts later.

What qualities do children have that we, as adults, could grow back into?
1. Your answer
Why is the 99 and 1 verse about wayward children? does it just pertain to God’s children?
1. Your Answer
Read the Parable of the ruler and the servants – and think of something you’ve been forgiven of, and someone you are in need of forgiving. Could God put the consequences of sin back on us like this parable suggests? What color are the words of this parable in your Bible?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hi!
My hope in the midst of despair and my joy in the face of depression is because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do not have one, or are not sure you will join him in heaven, please check out these links:

Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
Billy Graham’s version of the Plan of salvation.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

Copyrights and Legal-eze
There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Naomi’s Heart Ministries
Obed’s House Ministries
The son of a friend will be interning with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.

Mindfully Meditating on Matthew chapter 17 or MMM17

Mindfully Meditating on Matthew chapter seventeen

Mindfully Meditating on Matthew Catalogue , the collection of these studies
(First 100 days of 2023, day 48, Feb 17)

Passage Matthew Chapter Seventeen

It doesn’t matter which version you choose. It can be digital or paper. You can use one of those fancy coloring bibles and do a page or coloring along with the passage.

I will mostly do Holman Christian Standard Bible because of their copyright freedoms.

Matthew 17
- Mt 17:1-9 Transfiguration
  - Peter James and John chosen
  - Semi-Glorified Body
    - ²He was transformed^[a] in front of them, and His face shone like the sun. Even His clothes became as white as the light.
  - Moses and Elijah in Resurrected Bodies
    - ³Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.
  - Seemed real to dear Peter
    - ⁴Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it’s good for us to be here! If You want, I will make^[b] three tabernacles here: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
      - you don’t make tabernacles (shelters, tents) for ghosts
  - Then God spoke
    - ⁵While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud covered^[c] them, and a voice from the cloud said:
    - This is My beloved Son.
      I take delight in Him.
      Listen to Him!
  - The fear of the Lord
    - ⁶When the disciples heard it, they fell facedown and were terrified.
    - ⁷Then Jesus came up, touched them, and said, “Get up; don’t be afraid.”
- Mt 17:10-13 Elijah? John the Baptist?
  - ¹²“But I tell you: Elijah has already come, and they didn’t recognize him. On the contrary, they did whatever they pleased to him. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.”^[h]
- Mt 17:14-21 Healing the son with seizures – Faith
  - ¹⁵“Lord,” he said, “have mercy on my son, because he has seizures^[i] and suffers severely. He often falls into the fire and often into the water. ¹⁶I brought him to Your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.”
    - the father moved up the ladder of authority.
  - ¹⁷Jesus replied, “You unbelieving and rebellious^[j] generation! How long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to Me.”
    - apparently, the disciples should have been able
  - Why Not?
    - ¹⁹Then the disciples approached Jesus privately and said, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
    - ²⁰“Because of your little faith,” He^[n] told them. “For I assure you: If you have faith the size of^[o] a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.
  - BUT – there is differences!!!
    - [²¹However, this kind does not come out except by prayer and fasting.]”^[p]
- Mt 17: 22-23 Second mention of his coming death
  - Jesus told them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men. ²³They will kill Him, and on the third day He will be raised up.” And they were deeply distressed.
- Mt 17: 24- 27 Paying Taxes
  - Peter asked by tax collectors
    - “Doesn’t your Teacher pay the double-drachma tax?”
  - Peter says
    - “Yes,”
      - but what was his plan?????
  - Jesus first!
    - “What do you think, Simon? Who do earthly kings collect tariffs or taxes from? From their sons or from strangers?”^[
    - “From strangers,”
    - “Then the sons are free,” Jesus told him. ²⁷“But, so we won’t offend them, go to the sea, cast in a fishhook, and take the first fish that you catch. When you open its mouth you’ll find a coin.^[v] Take it and give it to them for Me and you.”
      - basic principle that we are not the sons of this government, so we should pay taxes, but also allows that God will provide.

Mindful Meditating

choose a verse,
set a timer for 5 minutes, or whatever works for you.
example: Matt 17:5
repeat to yourself, and at each word, enunciate the next word in the sentence starting with the first word…

example:

This is My beloved Son.
I take delight in Him.
Listen to Him!
THIS is my beloved Son. I take delight in Him. Listen to Him!
This IS My beloved Son. I take delight in Him. Listen to Him!
This is MY beloved Son. I take delight in Him. Listen to Him!
This is My BELOVED Son. I take delight in Him. Listen to Him!

…and so on. This will cause you to look at the verse more intently, and may have you memorize it before your five minutes are done.

A Mount of Transfiguration coloring page available at The Homely Hours.

Transfiguration from the Coloring Home

a page from the feast of the transfiguration from the Catholic Playground

Quick Questions – if you have time, or to think about over the course of the day, and jot down thoughts later.

Where or what was the mount of transfiguration?
1. Got Answers discusses some various thoughts.
Why were the disciples unable to cast out the demon? The strength of the demon or their lack of faith?
1. Bible Ask explains it in a way that enlightened me!
What do you think about the issue of taxes?
1. Your answer

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
Billy Graham’s version of the Plan of salvation.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

Naomi’s Heart Ministries
Obed’s House Ministries
The son of a friend will be interning with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.

Mindfully Meditating on Matthew chapter 16 or MMM16

Mindfully Meditating on Matthew Catalogue , the collection of these studies
(First 100 days of 2023, day 47, Feb 16)

Passage Matthew Chapter Sixteen

It doesn’t matter which version you choose. It can be digital or paper. You can use one of those fancy coloring bibles and do a page or coloring along with the passage.

I will mostly do Holman Christian Standard Bible because of their copyright freedoms.

Matthew 16
- Mt 16:1-4 Signs
  - ⁴A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.
  - Itty Bitty Bible Study on Jonah
- Mt 16:5-12 Yeast discussions
  - ⁵When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. ⁶“Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
  - ⁹Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? ¹⁰Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?
  - ¹²Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
- Mt 16:13-17 The Son of Man
  - ¹³When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
  - ¹⁶Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
  - ¹⁷Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.
- Mt 16:18-20 Peter and keys to kingdom
  - ¹⁸And I tell you that you are Peter,^[b] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades^[c] will not overcome it.
    - see question below
  - ⁹I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be^[d] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be^[e] loosed in heaven.”
- Mt 16:21-23 – Jesus reveals Jerusalem events
  - Jesus is going to be killed
  - Peter says no, never
  - ²³Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
  - Poor Peter!
- Mt 16:24-28
  - ²⁴Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ²⁵For whoever wants to save their life^[f] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. ²⁶What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? ²⁷For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
  - Jim Elliott – He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.

Mindful Meditating

choose a verse,
set a timer for 5 minutes, or whatever works for you.
example: Matt 15:18
repeat to yourself, and at each word, enunciate the next word in the sentence starting with the first word…

example:

⁹I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be^[d] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be^[e] loosed in heaven.”
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven;
I WILL give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven;
I will GIVE you the keys of the kingdom of heaven;
I will give YOU the keys of the kingdom of heaven

…and so on. This will cause you to look at the verse more intently, and may have you memorize it before your five minutes are done.

A Matthew Coloring Page by Ministry to Children – though it can be good for adult meditating.

I’m sorry, no coloring pages for Who do you say that I am, or the yeast of the pharisees.

Quick Questions – if you have time, or to think about over the course of the day, and jot down thoughts later.

Is Peter the Rock or his confession the Rock?
1. GotAnswers explains it this way.
2. More on Peter from my Lent Story.
To whom are the keys to the Kingdom given?
1. Christianity.com sees it this way.
2. GotQuestions discusses it as well.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
Billy Graham’s version of the Plan of salvation.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

Naomi’s Heart Ministries
Obed’s House Ministries
The son of a friend will be interning with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.

Mindfully Meditating in Matthew chapter 15 or MMM15

Mindfully Meditating on Matthew Catalogue , the collection of these studies
(First 100 days of 2023, day 46, Feb 15)

Passage Matthew Chapter Fifteen

It doesn’t matter which version you choose. It can be digital or paper. You can use one of those fancy coloring bibles and do a page or coloring along with the passage.

I will mostly do Holman Christian Standard Bible because of their copyright freedoms.

Matthew 15
- Mt 15:1-20 Clean hands or clean hearts?
  - 1-9 Reprimanding the Pharisees
    - make rulings to undermine the point of the law and benefit themselves.
    - “‘These people honor me with their lips,
      but their hearts are far from me.
      ⁹They worship me in vain;
      their teachings are merely human rules.’^[c]”
  - 10-20what washing hands was a foreshadowing of:
    - ¹⁰Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. ¹¹What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”
    - ¹⁸But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. ¹⁹For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. ²⁰These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.”
- Mt 15:21-28 The Faith of the Canaanite Woman – how to press in for answers
  - Came to Jesus – request #1
    - ²²A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”
  - Ignored
    - ²³Jesus did not answer a word.
    - So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”
    - ²⁴He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
  - Request #2
    - ²⁵The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.
  - Rebuked – potentially a denial
    - ²⁶He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
  - Request/Response #3
    - ²⁷“Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
  - Rewarded for persistent Faith
    - ²⁸Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.
- Mt 15:29-31 Jesus Healing multitudes
  - ³¹The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.
- Mt 15:32 – 38 Feeding the Four Thousand
  - Jesus’ practical compassion
    - ³²Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.”
  - disciples forget previous miracles
    - ³³His disciples answered, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?”
  - What DO you have?
    - “Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”
  - Prayer of Thanksgiving
    - ³⁶Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people.
  - How many ate?
    - ⁷They all ate and were satisfied.
    - ³⁸The number of those who ate was four thousand men, besides women and children.
  - Exceedingly Abundantly above what you ask or think:
    - Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
    - NO WASTE – LEFTOVERS!
- Mt 15:39 – Moving on to the next place
  - - ³⁹After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to the vicinity of Magadan.
- Here is an excellent comparison between the feeding of the five thousand and the feeding of the four thousand.

Mindful Meditating

choose a verse,
set a timer for 5 minutes, or whatever works for you.
example: Matt 15:18
repeat to yourself, and at each word, enunciate the next word in the sentence starting with the first word…

example:

¹⁸But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them
BUT the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.
But THE things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them,
But the THINGS that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart
But the things THAT come out of a person’s mouth come fr0m the heart

Life and death are in the power of the tongue! Prov 18:21

…and so on. This will cause you to look at the verse more intently, and may have you memorize it before your five minutes are done.

A Matthew Coloring Page by Ministry to Children – though it can be good for adult meditating.

Various coloring pages of Jesus feeding the 5000 to choose from by Coloring Home

Quick Questions – if you have time, or to think about over the course of the day, and jot down thoughts later.

How does the whole conversation about words and hands defiling you make you feel?
1. Your Answer
Does this irradicate the Laws that the Pharisees made that ruled their every day?
1. Your Answer
A very interesting Article in BibleAsk about the Clash between Jesus and Pharisees.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
Billy Graham’s version of the Plan of salvation.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

Naomi’s Heart Ministries
Obed’s House Ministries
The son of a friend will be interning with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.

Mindfully Meditating on Matthew chapter 14 or MMM14

Mindfully Meditating on Matthew Catalogue , the collection of these studies
(First 100 days of 2023, day 45, Feb 14)

Passage
Matthew Chapter Fourteen

It doesn’t matter which version you choose. It can be digital or paper. You can use one of those fancy coloring bibles and do a page or coloring along with the passage.

I will mostly do Holman Christian Standard Bible because of their copyright freedoms.

Matthew 14
- Mt 14:1-12 the story of the death of John the Baptist
  - ¹²Then his disciples came, removed the corpse,^[c] buried it, and went and reported to Jesus.
- Mt 14:13-14 Jesus tries to mourn John
  - - ¹³When Jesus heard about it, He withdrew from there by boat to a remote place to be alone. When the crowds heard this, they followed Him on foot from the towns. ¹⁴As He stepped ashore,^[d] He saw a huge crowd, felt compassion for them, and healed their sick.
- Mt 14: 15-21 Feeding the 5000
  - YOU do it
    - ¹⁶“They don’t need to go away,” Jesus told them. “You give them something to eat.”
  - WE DON’T HAVE ENOUGH
    - ¹⁷“But we only have five loaves and two fish here,” they said to Him.
  - GIVE IT TO JESUS
    - ¹⁸“Bring them here to Me,” He said.
  - MORE THAN ENOUGH
    - ²⁰Everyone ate and was filled. Then they picked up 12 baskets full of leftover pieces!
- Mt 14:22- 33 Take a Walk on the Water
  - Prayer time JESUS WAS ALONE
    - ²³After dismissing the crowds, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone.
  - Danger arose- JESUS WAS WATCHING
    - ²⁴But the boat was already over a mile^[h] from land,^[i] battered by the waves, because the wind was against them.
  - JESUS DIDN’T COME RIGHT AWAY
    - ⁵Around three in the morning,^[j] He came toward them walking on the sea.
  - FRIGHTENED MORE OF THE GHOST!
  - JESUS CALMED THEIR FEARS
    - ²⁷Immediately Jesus spoke to them. “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
  - PETER WALKS ON WATER
    - ²⁸“Lord, if it’s You,” Peter answered Him, “command me to come to You on the water.”
    - ²⁹“Come!” He said.
    - And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus.
  - PETER LOOKS AT THE STORM
    - ³⁰But when he saw the strength of the wind,^[k] he was afraid. And beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
  - JESUS REPRIMANDS, BUT SAVES
    - ³¹Immediately Jesus reached out His hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
  - THEN THE STORM CEASED!
    - ³²When they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
  - Peter stepped out of the boat in faith WHILE IN THE MIDST OF A STORM!
  - ³³Then those in the boat worshiped Him and said, “Truly You are the Son of God!”
- Mt 14:34-36 – Touch the tassel
  - ³⁴Once they crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.
  - ³⁶They were begging Him that they might only touch the tassel on His robe. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.
    - Sounds like the woman with the issue of blood!
      - Luke 8:43-48
        
        ⁴³A woman suffering from bleeding for 12 years, who had spent all she had on doctors^[a] yet could not be healed by any, ⁴⁴approached from behind and touched the tassel of His robe. Instantly her bleeding stopped.

Mindful Meditating

choose a verse,
set a timer for 5 minutes, or whatever works for you.
example: Matt 14:27
repeat to yourself, and at each word, enunciate the next word in the sentence starting with the first word…

example:

²⁷Immediately Jesus spoke to them. “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
IMMEDIATELY Jesus spoke to them. “have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.
JESUS spoke to them, have courage! it is I. Don’t be afraid,
Jesus SPOKE to them, have courage, it is I, don’t be afraid
Jesus spoke TO them, have courage, it is I, don’t be afraid.
Jesus spoke to ME, have courage, it is I, don’t be afraid.

…and so on. This will cause you to look at the verse more intently, and may have you memorize it before your five minutes are done.

A Matthew Coloring Page by Ministry to Children – though it can be good for adult meditating.

Various coloring pages of Jesus feeding the 5000 to choose from by Coloring Home

Various coloring pages of Jesus Walking on the Water to choose from by Coloring Home

Quick Questions – if you have time, or to think about over the course of the day, and jot down thoughts later.

Peter stepped out of the boat in faith WHILE IN THE MIDST OF A STORM!
1. What does that tell us about walking through storms?
2. The Eye of the Storm by Ryan Stevenson

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
Billy Graham’s version of the Plan of salvation.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

Naomi’s Heart Ministries
Obed’s House Ministries
The son of a friend will be interning with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.

Mindfully Meditating on Matthew chapter 13 or MMM13

Mindfully Meditating on Matthew Catalogue , the collection of these studies
(First 100 days of 2023, day 44, Feb 13)

Passage
Matthew Chapter Thirteen

It doesn’t matter which version you choose. It can be digital or paper. You can use one of those fancy coloring bibles and do a page or coloring along with the passage.

I will mostly do Holman Christian Standard Bible because of their copyright freedoms.

Matthew 13
- Mt 13:1-9 & 18-23 Parable of the Sower
  - 4 &19
    - hard pounded path- eaten
  - 5&20
    - rocky soil – no root
  - 7 & 22
    - thorns – choked
  - 8 & 23
    - good ground-harvest
  - ⁸Still others fell on good ground and produced a crop: some 100, some 60, and some 30 times what was sown.
- Mt 13:10-17 Parables and Secrets
  - ¹⁶“But your eyes are blessed because they do see, and your ears because they do hear!
- Mt 13:24-30 & 36-43 Wheat and Weeds
  - 24 & 37 Sower – Son of Man
  - 24 & 38 field – world
  - 24 & 38 Seeds – son’s of the Kingdom
  - 26 & 38 Weeds – Sons of the evil one
  - 25 & 39 enemy – Devil
  - Harvest –
    - ²⁹“‘No,’ he said. ‘When you gather up the weeds, you might also uproot the wheat with them. ³⁰Let both grow together until the harvest. At harvest time I’ll tell the reapers: Gather the weeds first and tie them in bundles to burn them, but store the wheat in my barn.’”
  - End of the Age –
    - The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. ⁴⁰Therefore, just as the weeds are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. ⁴¹The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather from His kingdom everything that causes sin^[i] and those guilty of lawlessness.^[j] ⁴²They will throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ⁴³Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Anyone who has ears^[k] should listen!
- Mt 13:34-35 Why parables? to fulfill:
  - I will open My mouth in parables;
    I will declare things kept secret
    from the foundation of the world.
- Mt 13:31-32 Parable of the Mustard seed
- Mt 13:33– Parable of the Yeast
- Mt 13:44 Parable of the Hidden Treasure
- Mt 13:45 Parable of the Pearl
- Mt 13:47-50 Parable of the Net
  - ⁴⁷“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a large net thrown into the sea. It collected every kind of fish, ⁴⁸and when it was full, they dragged it ashore, sat down, and gathered the good fish into containers, but threw out the worthless ones. ⁴⁹So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out, separate the evil people from the righteous, ⁵⁰and throw them into the blazing furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
- Mt 13:51 Do you understand?
  - ⁵²“Therefore,” He said to them, “every student of Scripture^[n] instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who brings out of his storeroom what is new and what is old.”
- Mt 13:54- 58 Rejection in Nazareth
  - But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his household.” ⁵⁸And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.

Mindful Meditating

choose a verse,
set a timer for 5 minutes, or whatever works for you.
example: Matt 13:16
repeat to yourself, and at each word, enunciate the next word in the sentence starting with the first word…

example:

¹⁶“But your eyes are blessed because they do see, and your ears because they do hear!
BUT your eyes are blessed because they do see, and your ears because they do hear!
But YOUR eyes are blessed because they do see, and your ears because they do hear!
But your EYES are blessed because they do see, and your ears because they do hear!
But your eyes ARE Blessed because they do see, and your ears because they do hear!

…and so on. This will cause you to look at the verse more intently, and may have you memorize it before your five minutes are done.

A Matthew Coloring Page by Ministry to Children – though it can be good for adult meditating.

Various Parable coloring pages to choose from by Coloring Home

Quick Questions – if you have time, or to think about over the course of the day, and jot down thoughts later.

Which of these parables speaks to you the most today?
1. See if there is a coloring page for that parable, and pull it out and color while meditating on that parable.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
Billy Graham’s version of the Plan of salvation.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

Naomi’s Heart Ministries
Obed’s House Ministries
The son of a friend will be interning with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.

Mindfully Meditating on Matthew chapter 12 or MMM12

Mindfully Meditating on Matthew Catalogue , the collection of these studies
(First 100 days of 2023, day 43, Feb 12)

Passage
Matthew Chapter Twelve

It doesn’t matter which version you choose. It can be digital or paper. You can use one of those fancy coloring bibles and do a page or coloring along with the passage.

I will mostly do Holman Christian Standard Bible because of their copyright freedoms.

Matthew 12
- Mt 12:1-8 Lord of the Sabbath
  - ⁶But I tell you that something greater than the temple is here! ⁷If you had known what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice,^[c] you would not have condemned the innocent. ⁸For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
    - 1 Sam 15:22,Heb 10:6, Ps 40:6
    - Mark 12:33
      - To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
    - Ps 51:16-17
      - You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
            you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
        ¹⁷My sacrifice, O God, is^[b] a broken spirit;
            a broken and contrite heart
            you, God, will not despise.
- Mt 12:9-14 Lawful to heal on the Sabbath
  - - - ¹²A man is worth far more than a sheep, so it is lawful to do what is good on the Sabbath.”
- Mt 12:15-21 Fulfilled
  - Here is My Servant whom I have chosen,
    My beloved in whom My soul delights;
    I will put My Spirit on Him,
    and He will proclaim justice to the nations.
    ¹⁹He will not argue or shout,
    and no one will hear His voice in the streets.
    ²⁰He will not break a bruised reed,
    and He will not put out a smoldering wick,
    until He has led justice to victory.^[f]
    ²¹The nations will put their hope in His name.^[g]
- Mt 12:22-30House Divided
  - ²⁸If I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.
  - ³⁰Anyone who is not with Me is against Me, and anyone who does not gather with Me scatters.
  - Luke 11:23
- Mt 12:31-32 Respect the Holy Spirit
  - ³¹Because of this, I tell you, people will be forgiven every sin and blasphemy, but the blasphemy against^[i] the Spirit will not be forgiven.^[j] ³²Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the one to come.
- Mt 12:33-35, tree and it’s fruit
- Mt 12:36-37 judged by your words
  - ³⁶I tell you that on the day of judgment people will have to account for every careless word they speak.^[m] ³⁷For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
- Mt 12:38-42 Sign of Jonah
  - ⁴⁰For as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.
- Mt 12:43- 45 The return of an unclean sprit
  - ⁴⁴Then it says, ‘I’ll go back to my house that I came from.’ And returning, it finds the house vacant, swept, and put in order.
    - Acts 9:17,
- Mt 12:46-50 Eternal Relationships
  - https://images.knowing-jesus.com/Matthew/12
    
    ⁴⁸But He replied to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” ⁴⁹And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! ⁵⁰For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven, that person is My brother and sister and mother.”

Mindful Meditating

choose a verse,
set a timer for 5 minutes, or whatever works for you.
example: Matt 12:12
repeat to yourself, and at each word, enunciate the next word in the sentence starting with the first word…

example:

¹²A man is worth far more than a sheep, so it is lawful to do what is good on the Sabbath.”
A MAN is worth far more than a sheep, so it is lawful to do what is good on the Sabbath.
A man IS worth far more than a sheep, so it is lawful to do what is good on the Sabbath.
SO it is lawful to do what is good on the Sabbath..
so IT is lawful to do what is good on the Sabbath
so it IS lawful to do what is good on the Sabbath.

…and so on. This will cause you to look at the verse more intently, and may have you memorize it before your five minutes are done.

A Matthew Coloring Page by Ministry to Children – though it can be good for adult meditating.

A coloring page of Hope from a collection, scroll down for Matt 12:21

Quick Questions – if you have time, or to think about over the course of the day, and jot down thoughts later.

Who is the servant of the Lord?
1. Got Answers says it this way about the Servant of the Lord in general. Who do you think it is in THIS passage?
What do you think Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is?
1. Got Questions explains it thus.
2. Do you agree or disagree?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
Billy Graham’s version of the Plan of salvation.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

Naomi’s Heart Ministries
Obed’s House Ministries
The son of a friend will be interning with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.

Mindfully Meditating in Matthew chapter 11 or MMM11

Mindfully Meditating on Matthew Catalogue, the collection of these studies
(First 100 days of 2023, day 42, Feb 11)

Passage
Matthew Chapter Eleven

It doesn’t matter which version you choose. It can be digital or paper. You can use one of those fancy coloring bibles and do a page or coloring along with the passage.

I will mostly do Holman Christian Standard Bible because of their copyright freedoms.

Matthew 11
- - Mt 11:1-6 John the Baptist’s questions
    - ⁴Jesus replied to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: ⁵the blind see, the lame walk, those with skin diseases are healed,^[a] the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news. ⁶And if anyone is not offended because of Me, he is blessed.”
  - Mt 11:7-15 Who was John the Baptist?
    - Look, I am sending My messenger ahead of You;^[b]
      he will prepare Your way before You.
    - ¹⁵Anyone who has ears^[f] should listen!
  - Mt 11:16-19 What’s Up?
    - ¹⁸For John did not come eating or drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’ ¹⁹The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated^[h] by her deeds.”^[i]
  - Mt 11:20- 24 Towns that didn’t believe
    - ²¹“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented in sackcloth and ashes long ago!
    - ²⁴But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”
  - Mt 11:25-27 Who knows the Father? Who knows the Son?
  - ²⁷All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows^[l] the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son desires^[m] to reveal Him
  - Mt 11:28-30
  - https://images.knowing-jesus.com/Matthew/11
    
    ²⁸“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. ³⁰For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Mindful Meditating

choose a verse,
set a timer for 5 minutes, or whatever works for you.
example: Matt 11:28
repeat to yourself, and at each word, enunciate the next word in the sentence starting with the first word…

example:

²⁸“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
COME to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Come TO Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Come to ME, all of you who are weary and burdened , and I will give you rest

…and so on. This will cause you to look at the verse more intently, and may have you memorize it before your five minutes are done.

A Matthew Coloring Page by Ministry to Children – though it can be good for adult meditating.

Come to Me on Pinterest

Come Unto me coloring page by Flanders Family Homelife

Quick Questions – if you have time, or to think about over the course of the day, and jot down thoughts later.

Why do you think John asked about Jesus when he knew him in the womb, and knew him at baptism?
1. your answer
Why do you think that it would be better for Old Testament cities than those that didn’t believe Jesus?
1. Your Answer
How do you come to Jesus when you are weak and heaven laden?
1. Your Answer

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
Billy Graham’s version of the Plan of salvation.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

Naomi’s Heart Ministries
Obed’s House Ministries
The son of a friend will be interning with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.

Mindfully Meditating on Matthew chapter 7 or MMM7

Mindfully Meditating in Matthew, the collection of these studies
(First 100 days of 2023, day 38, Feb 7)

Passage
Matthew Chapter Seven

It doesn’t matter which version you choose. It can be digital or paper. You can use one of those fancy coloring bibles and do a page or coloring along with the passage.

I will mostly do Holman Christian Standard Bible because of their copyright freedoms.

Matthew 7
- Mt 7:1 don’t judge
  - “Do not judge, so that you won’t be judged. ²For with the judgment you use,^[a] you will be judged, and with the measure you use,^[b] it will be measured to you.
    - John 7:24
      - ²⁴Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
  - We have to make judgements. Proverbs is full of judgements. This is talking about judging without checking out your own heart first. Harsh judging just to put someone down. Judging to lift yourself up. Judging that doesn’t need to be done.
    - Luke 6:37, Luke 6:41, Romans 2:1, Romans 14:10, Romans 14:13,
    - Determine the difference between God’s hand and the enemy’s hand –
      - Ephesians 6:12
        
        ¹²For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
    - Matthew 10:16 Christ did give a warning to watch for those without good intentions.
      - “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues.
  - When in doubt, don’t. Because we can trust God to take care of us.
    - Romans 12:18- 20 Our response to perceived evil:
      - ¹⁷Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”^[d] says the Lord. ²⁰On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
        In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”^[e]
- Mt 7:2-6 Hypocrites and Pigs
- Mt 7:7-12 Ask, Seek, Knock, give as you would be given
  - ⁹What man among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ¹¹If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
  - ¹²Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them—this is the Law and the Prophets.^[h]
- Mt 7:13-14 Where to Enter
  - ¹³“Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. ¹⁴How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.
- Mt 7:15-20
  - ²⁰So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.
- Mt 7:21-23 To be known
  - ²¹“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven.
  - ²³Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!’^[i]^[j]
- Mt 7:24-27 Build your house on THE Rock
  - ²⁵The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock.
- Mt 7:28-29
- ²⁸When Jesus had finished this sermon,^[k] the crowds were astonished at His teaching, ²⁹because He was teaching them like one who had authority, and not like their scribes.

Mindful Meditating

choose a verse,
set a timer for 5 minutes, or whatever works for you.
example: Matt 7:13
repeat to yourself, and at each word, enunciate the next word in the sentence starting with the first word…

example:

¹³“Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it.
ENTER through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction
Enter THROUGH the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction.
Enter through THE narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction.

…and so on. This will cause you to look at the verse more intently, and may have you memorize it before your five minutes are done.

A Matthew 7 color page by Mary Jo:

by Mary Jo

Life on the rock thoughts and Coloring page by Mary Dean

Quick Questions – if you have time, or to think about over the course of the day, and jot down thoughts later.

Do you find yourself judging in a critical way? What do you do then?
1. your answer
Does the log scripture go along with the judge scripture?
1. Why or why not? if no, what does it say to us?
Is there anything that you need to Ask, Seek, and Knock about? What does this mean?
1. GotQuestions handles this very well, though I believe that we can apply this to any need.
Do you understand the narrow path and wide path?
1. GotQuestions does well in explaining this as well.

Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
Billy Graham’s version of the Plan of salvation.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

Naomi’s Heart Ministries
Obed’s House Ministries
The son of a friend will be interning with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.

Mindfully Meditating on Matthew chapter 6 or MMM6

Mindfully Meditating in Matthew chapter six

Mindfully Meditating in Matthew, the collection of these studies
(First 100 days of 2023, day 37, Feb 6)

Passage
Matthew Chapter Six

It doesn’t matter which version you choose. It can be digital or paper. You can use one of those fancy coloring bibles and do a page or coloring along with the passage.

I will mostly do Homan Christian Standard Bible because of their copyright freedoms.

Matthew 6
- Mt 6:1-4 Quiet Giving
  - ²So whenever you give to the poor, don’t sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. I assure you: They’ve got their reward!
- Mt 6:5-8 Privately Pray
  - ⁶But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you
- Mt 6:9-13 The Lord’s prayer
- Mt 6:14-15 Forgiveness
  - ¹⁴“For if you forgive people their wrongdoing,^[i] your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. ¹⁵But if you don’t forgive people,^[j] your Father will not forgive your wrongdoing.^[k]
    - Matthew 18:21-35
      - ³⁵“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
    - Luke 6:37
      - “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
    - Mark 11:25
      - And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
    - Ephesians 4:32
      - Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
    - Colossians 3:13
      - Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
- Mt 6:16- 18 Secret Fasting
  - ¹⁷But when you fast, put oil on your head, and wash your face, ¹⁸so that you don’t show your fasting to people but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.^[
- Mt 6:19-24 Treasures, The Eye and Masters
  - ²¹For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
  - ²²“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.
  - ²⁴“No one can be a slave of two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot be slaves of God and of money.
    - Choose today whom you will serve –
      - ^{Joshua 24:15}And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
    - MMM19
- Mt 6:25-34 Anxieties
  - ²⁵“This is why I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing?
  - ²⁷Can any of you add a single cubit to his height^[o] by worrying?
  - ³³But seek first the kingdom of God^[q] and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. ³⁴Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
  - 1 Peter 5:7
    - ⁷Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
  - Mt 10:30-31

Mindful Meditating

choose a verse,
set a timer for 5 minutes, or whatever works for you.
example: Matt 6:33
repeat to yourself, and at each word, enunciate the next word in the sentence starting with the first word…

example:

³³But seek first the kingdom of God^[q] and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.
BUT seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness
but SEEK first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness
but seek FIRST the Kingdom of G0d and His righteousness
but seek first THE Kingdom of God and His righteousness

…and so on. This will cause you to look at the verse more intently, and may have you memorize it before your five minutes are done.

A lovely color page of the Lord’s Prayer

A set of many different coloring pages for the Lord’s prayer

Quick Questions – if you have time, or to think about over the course of the day, and jot down thoughts later.

Consider your giving and if it is in secret
1. your answer
Do you know the Lord’s Prayer? Is it the same as is written in your Bible?
1. your answer
Do you pray the Lord’s prayer?
1. Your answer
What is the key to being forgiven?
1. your answer – and Open Bible has a list of verses that go along with forgiveness

Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
Billy Graham’s version of the Plan of salvation.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

Naomi’s Heart Ministries
Obed’s House Ministries
The son of a friend will be interning with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.

The Wildberry Patch

Be Engrafted into the VINE to produce Eternal Fruit

Author Archives: christartist

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