Tag Archives: Bible

2018 Lent Day Six – 2/28/2023

Lent Devotions
Lent Week Two
We have created a facebook group to follow and discuss, please join! – 40 days of Lent!

Lent Day Six
Jesus Weeps

For those Tears I died – The Isaacs

If That Isn’t Love – The Blackwood Brothers Quartet

Scripture

Luke 19:41-44 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Jesus’ Love for Jerusalem
41 As He approached and saw the city, He wept over it, 42 saying, “If you knew this day what would bring peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days will come on you when your enemies will build an embankment against you, surround you, and hem you in on every side. 44 They will crush you and your children within you to the ground, and they will not leave one stone on another in you, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”

Because of the refusal of Jerusalem – the Jews – His chosen people – to receive Him, and for what He knew was about to happen.

The ONE that knew He was going to raise Lazarus – wept.

John 11:35 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
35 Jesus wept.

He joined in the grief of those around him.
In Lazarus’s case, He knew that He was going to raise Him from the dead. Some have said, maybe he felt sorry for having to raise Lazarus – he was in a better place! I don’t know. I do know that He joined in the weeping with Mary and Martha.

His compassion for Jerusalem when they had rejected him is nothing short of Divine! He knew He was going to the cross, at their hands. He knew that He was going to carry the sins of all mankind – and still, His compassion demanded that He Forgive.

Charles Spurgeon said:

A Jesus that never wept could never wipe away my tears.

Our High Priest

Hebrews 4:14-16 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to the confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.

He is our Advocate – by dying on our cross!

1 John 2:1-2 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
2 My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the Righteous One. 2 He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.

1 John 4 – the Love of God – in this whole chapter, but here are a few verses I’ve pulled out:

verse 10-11 Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the[d] propitiation for our sins. 11 Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another.

verse 15-16 15 Whoever confesses[g] that Jesus is the Son of God—God remains in him and he in God. 16 And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.

verse 19 We love because He first loved us.

Tears –
God Hears them –

Psalm 6:8

God is touched by them –

Psalm 9:12

God acknowledges them:

Psalm 34:15 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and His ears are open to their cry for help.

AND
God keeps each one!

Psalm 56:8 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
8 You Yourself have recorded my wanderings.[a]
Put my tears in Your bottle.
Are they not in Your records?

We are different, from those that don’t choose him-

1 John 3:1 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
3 1 Look at how great a love[a] the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children. And we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn’t know Him.

God has bestowed upon us His Love, His compassion, His mercy, His grace.
He weeps over us. There are tears of sadness.
He rejoices over us. Don’t we also have tears of joy?
HE LOVES US! And He loved us while we were yet sinners! Oh what a glorious thought!

One last promise:

Psalm 30:5 weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Because He lives(Amen) – by Matt Maher

We were the reason by David Meece

Because He lives – Guy Penrod

~~~~!~~resources~~!~~

I want these to be family activities – therefore, I am going to attempt to give links to free coloring pages. Unfortunately, I cannot find anything about Jesus Wept.
There are other coloring pages at Lent Week Two
~~~~~~~

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:

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.

Older woman with shades of coral in jewelry and sweater, glasses, silver and brown hair.

M. Christine Wildman

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” –
from My Utmost for His highest

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.

2018 Lent Day Five- 2/27/2023

Lent Devotions
Lent Week Two
We have created a facebook group to follow and discuss, please join! – 40 days of Lent!

Lent Day 5 – Triumphal Entry!
Songs:
Repeating Last week’s hymns!
King of Kings (Majesty) by Jared Cooper
King of Kings (He’s Wonder) – CeCe Winans

Scripture:

Matthew 21:7-11 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
7 They brought the donkey and the colt; then they laid their robes on them, and He sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their robes on the road; others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road.
9 Then the crowds who went ahead of Him and those who followed kept shouting:

Hosanna to the Son of David!
He who comes in the name
of the Lord is the blessed One![a]
Hosanna in the highest heaven!

10 When He entered Jerusalem, the whole city was shaken, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds kept saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee!”

While I did not understand what it meant for someone to ride into Jerusalem on a donkey, those of that day certainly did!

Why Palm Branches?

Wikipedia

The palm branch is a symbol of victory, triumph, peace, and eternal life originating in the ancient Near East and Mediterranean world.

and in ancient Egypt represented immortality.

In Judaism, the lulav, a closed frond of the date palm is part of the festival of Sukkot.

Sukkot is the celebration of the ingathering…like Thanksgiving.

The one mentioned in the Book of Exodus is agricultural in nature—”Feast of Ingathering at the year’s end” (Exodus 34:22)

Also:

As stated in Leviticus, it is also intended as a reminiscence of the type of fragile dwellings in which the Israelites dwelt during their 40 years of travel in the desert after the Exodus from slavery in Egypt.

Triple symbolism.

  • KING entering into Jerusalem – King of Kings and Lord of Lords…Is 9:6
  • Ingathering – Jesus came to gather in those that had been waiting for HIS sacrifice! In John 6:25-40 He talks about himself being the bread of life, and the Lord gathering those that are His unto Him.
    In Matthew 13:24-30 He talks about the church being a field of wheat – and the harvest.
    He also talks about the harvest that we are to be working in – John 4:34-38;Matthew 9:35-38
  • Temporary Tabernacle – and this one is two parts…first, remembering the tents they lived in during the exodus, and 40 years of wandering(because of sin).
    and the temporary tabernacle in which Jesus lived…as God man. Otherwise, he could not die on our behalf.
    One can also make this about our bodies being temporary tabernacles for God, and the need to dedicate them to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! 1 Cor 6:19-20; Matthew 26:41

Hosanna – what does that mean?
From Bible Study Tools:

Hosanna [N] [E] [H] [S]
Joyful Aramaic exclamation of praise, apparently specific to the major Jewish religious festivals (especially Passover and Tabernacles) in which the Egyptian Hallel (Psalms 113-118) was recited. Originally an appeal for deliverance (Heb. hosia na, Please save Psalm 118:25 ), it came in liturgical usage to serve as an expression of joy and praise for deliverance granted or anticipated. When Jesus came to Jerusalem for his final presentation of himself to Israel, the expression came readily to the lips of the Passover crowds.

Those from whose lips “Hosanna” rose that day seem to have looked on Jesus as God’s anointed one from the house of David of whom the prophets had spoken and through whom they hoped that all their messianic expectations would be fulfilled.

There is more at that page, but the thing is, again, that the people were declaring him as their KING!

The leaders also recognized this!

Luke 19:39-40 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
39 Some of the Pharisees from the crowd told Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.”
40 He answered, “I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out!”

This statement echoes John the Baptist, in Matthew 3:1-12. He’s talking about repentance, and vanity, and false security. It’s not because of your father’s faith – it has to be YOUR faith. The mountains and the hills will sing and clap their hands! Isaiah 55:1-12

Do you have Faith that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, died on the cross for your sins, rose from the dead and sits on the right hand of the Father? Romans 10

If you have, is there anywhere in your life that you need to shore up your temporary tabernacle – dedicated to glorifying HIM in our bodies?

If you have not, Take a few minutes and read this webpage by All About God, and Salvation.

Let’s worship:
Your are Holy (Prince of Peace )- Michael W Smith
Lord of Lords – Hillsong
King of Kings and Lord of Lords – Don Moen

Jesus triumphal entry –
I want these to be family activities – therefore, I am going to attempt to give links to free coloring pages.

Coloring Home
SuperColoring

~~~~~~~

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:

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.

Older woman with shades of coral in jewelry and sweater, glasses, silver and brown hair.

M. Christine Wildman

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” –
from My Utmost for His highest

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.

Lent 2018 Week Two(2023 dates)

What is LENT? (a link to all of the LENT devotions)
Wikipedia has a very complete explanation for many of the christian denominations that observe LENT.
Short and simple, it’s making oneself prepared through humility to celebrate the resurrection of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is the Christian equivalent to Passover for the Jews.
We’ve created a facebook group to follow and discuss, please join us! – 40 days of Lent!

2018 Lent dates – week two(2023 dates)
2/27 – Orthodox Clean Monday

5 – (2/27) Triumphal entry – John 12:12-19; Luke 19:35-40 palm branch
6 – (2/28) Jesus Weeps Luke 19:41-44 tear
7 – (3/1) Voice of God – Listen- John 12:20-36 gold for glory
8 – (3/2) Believe and confess or refuse – John 12:35-50 –
9 – (3/3) Judas’s decision to betray Christ. Luke 22:1-5 piece of silver
10 -(3/4) Upper Room prepared Mk 14:12, Luke 22:7-13 small table?
(3/5) Second of Lent – SUNDAY WORSHIP – REMEMBER THE RESURRECTION “Today in Paradise”

Our Lenten cross in progress.

I want these to be family activities, therefore, I’m going to list a few free coloring page websites here:

 

~~~~~~~

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:

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.

Older woman with shades of coral in jewelry and sweater, glasses, silver and brown hair.

M. Christine Wildman

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” –
from My Utmost for His highest

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.

2018 – Lent day 1 – Or Ash Wednesday

Lent Week One

facebook to follow and discuss – 40 days of Lent!

Ash Wednesday – the day when many liturgical churches burn the palm fronds from last year, and mark themselves with the ashes to designate that they are committing to repent, and that by reflection to glorify Christ in their bodies.

Psalm 51 is a great psalm for repentant reflection to pray to the Father!

Create in Me a Clean Heart by Keith Green
Just as I am – Aaron Shust

Devotion:
Jesus did give his followers warning that he was going to die.

John 12:20-33 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Jesus Predicts His Crucifixion
20 Now some Greeks were among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 So they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”

22 Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 Jesus replied to them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

24 “I assure you: Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces a large crop.25 The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me. Where I am, there My servant also will be. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

27 “Now My soul is troubled. What should I say—Father, save Me from this hour? But that is why I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify Your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again!”

29 The crowd standing there heard it and said it was thunder. Others said that an angel had spoken to Him.

30 Jesus responded, “This voice came, not for Me, but for you. 31 Now is the judgment of this world. Now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 As for Me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to Myself.” 33 He said this to signify what kind of death He was about to die.

If someone you had been with every single day for several years told you that they were going to die soon…and not just die, die a horrible death, what would you do?

Would you possibly respond as Peter did?

Matthew 16:21-23 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
His Death and Resurrection Predicted
21 From then on Jesus began to point out to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised the third day.
22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, “Oh no,[a] Lord! This will never happen to You!”
23 But He turned and told Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me because you’re not thinking about God’s concerns,[b] but man’s.”

I think that the only reason that Peter is the one that said something was that he was normally the one that said something…as in, open mouth before the brain is in gear! The others were probably shocked! This is their KING! He’s come to save them from the horrible Romans! Die???? There’s been a mistake!

We have the benefit of knowing that Jesus ROSE again!
We have the benefit of knowing the end of that part of the story!
And still – Jesus explained it to them, and now to us that WE ARE SUPPOSED TO TAKE UP OUR CROSS!

Matthew 16:24-28 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Take Up Your Cross
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.
25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will find it.
26 What will it benefit a man if he gains the whole world yet loses his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?
27 For the Son of Man is going to come with His angels in the glory of His Father, and then He will reward each according to what he has done.
28 I assure you: There are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

Lent is remembering the first part of Easter…that Jesus suffered and died. FOR US. To pay the price for our sins. Jesus was born that He would die.
Ash Wednesday – or the whole concept of Lent – is that we reflect on ourselves, and our lives, and recommit to walk the walk that Christ has asked us to walk. Good Friday is coming, but so is SUNDAY! HE conquered sin and death!

1. What does Christ’s death mean to you? It means that I do not have to suffer the penalty of my sins, and that by Christ, I can enter into the Kingdom of GOD – not just when I die and go to heaven, but NOW as I pray!

2. Is there anything in your life that you know that Jesus does not like? Are you willing to lay it down on the altar? For me, it’s complaining. I need to give up whining and disputing and do all things with joy.

3. Is there anything that often comes between you and what Christ wants you to do? For me – I’ve had difficulty with turning to food for comfort rather than turning to Christ. This is something that turns into an idol by me replacing Christ with the food.

tomorrow – Zacchaeus!

 

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.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” –
from My Utmost for His highest

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.

Lent Devotions – Week One

What is LENT? (a link to all of the LENT devotions)
Wikipedia has a very complete explanation for many of the Christian denominations that observe LENT.
Short and simple, it’s making oneself prepared through humility to celebrate the resurrection of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is the Christian equivalent to Passover for the Jews.
We’ve created a face book group to follow and discuss, please join us! – 40 days of Lent!

2023 Lent dates – week one!
2/21 – Shrove Tuesday – you are on your own! Eat pancakes, do whatever!
2/22 – Ash Wednesday – the beginning of self reflection
2/27 – Orthodox Clean Monday

1 – (2/22) preaching on his upcoming death – Luke 18:31-34 (egg rocks – black cloth)
2 – (2/23) Zacchaeus – Luke 19:1-10; Let the Children Come – Luke 18:15-17 (egg rocks – tree branch or children photos)
3 – (2/24) Mary anoints Jesus’ feet – John 12:1-11, Mk 14:1-9 (egg rocks -small bottle of perfume)
4 – (2/25) Donkey provided – Luke 19: 28-35 (egg rocks – donkey)

(2/26) 1st Sunday of Lent – SUNDAY WORSHIP – REMEMBER THE RESURRECTION – Father forgive them – Lk 23:34

the not quite done Lenten cross

I want these to be family activities, therefore, I’m going to list a few free coloring page websites here:

 

~~~~~~~

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:

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.

Older woman with shades of coral in jewelry and sweater, glasses, silver and brown hair.

M. Christine Wildman

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” –
from My Utmost for His highest

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.

Itty Bitty Bible Study – Jonah – Introduction

Jonah

My thoughts for the Itty Bitty Bible Study group on Facebook. (join if you’d like to get these in fb!) The conversation starts Monday, February 5th.

Introduction from Bible.org

Great source of information, and I have grabbed the outline from the above link:

B. Brief Outline (basically in two parts, chapters 1,2 and 3,4)

1. chapter 1 – God’s will rejected and replaced by Jonah’s will. God wins!

2. chapter 2 – Jonah repents (poem written in past tense and depicts worship in the temple in Jerusalem).

3. chapter 3 – God’s will received; Nineveh repents.

4. chapter 4 – God’s character revealed in contrast to Jonah’s attitude and action.

As you know by now, I love Dr. J. Vernon McGee.
His ministry provides study guides and such, and an introduction to Jonah. In this, he discusses the theological perspectives and pulls apart the covers, showing that the pompous considerations do not hold water in light of scripture. He also clearly demonstrates that Jonah is NOT A FISH STORY!!!

You can go to the link above and get the study guide, or I’m going to try to make the jonah pdf available here. no22_jonah

This past year, we were able to take a whale watching cruise, and we got photos of the beluga whale…I think.
While there are various reasons that the whale might not be the fish…here’s some photos just for your amusement. I you have to copy this and put it into the url bar.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/w3NLZH8rdiY3BWqY2

Christi, you say there’s reasons that it may not be a whale?

Here is the Institute in Creation Research’s point of view on whale vs fish.

Another place I like to look for some answers is GotQuestions.org. They discus whether Jonah was swallowed by a fish…and whether we should believe the story.

My first focus is on verses 1-3, and I will be sharing a story about how God told me to go to college, and I said no and joined the Navy. Like Jonah, I ended up being put in position wherein I had nothing to do but to cry out to God!

Week one, we’ll look at chapters 1& 2 – and how we say NO to God’s leading, and how we can turn that around.

Week two, we’ll look at chapters 3 & 4 – obedience doesn’t always lead to the outcomes we assume, and how that can effect our attitude.

Also, I intend to be creating my own Jonah art – and I’ll be posting it a bit at a time with each blog.

rough sketch

 

Jim & Christi 2017

 

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.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” –
from My Utmost for His highest

I want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

Some artwork is from me – ChristArtist. It is copyrighted – by me. Please do not share it without my permission. The same goes for my written work.
Some artwork is from ChristArt – not me! I have purchased a membership, and the art is copyrighted by them.
Some artwork is from FreeClipArt Library. copyrights belong to them.

I’d love to stay in touch with you – we are working on email subscriptions…sign up! 
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

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.

Itty Bitty Bible Study – Obadiah – Introduction

My thoughts for the Itty Bitty Bible Study group on Facebook. (join if you’d like to get these in fb!) The conversation starts Monday, January 29th.

Obadiah

I love J Vernon McGee for his insights into the Bible. He’s entered into his eternal reward, but we are blessed to still have his works of theology and bible Studies.
Blue Letter Bible provides all of his notes, amont many other commentators. For this study, I’m referring to Obadiah. I also like his outline of the book better than any I’ve seen:

I. Edom — destruction, vv. 1-16

A. Charge against Edom, vv. 1-9

B. Crime of Edom, vv. 10-14

C. Catastrophe to Edom, vv. 15, 16

(Poetic justice — lex talionis — law of retaliation)

II. Israel — restoration, vv. 17-21

A. Condition of Israel, v. 17

B. Calling of Israel, v. 18

C. Consummation of all things, vv. 19-21

(“And the kingdom shall be the Lord’s.”)

In case these references are not deep enough, I’ve been looking over this introduction to Obadiah by David Malik provided by Bible.org, another great place for Bible research online.

Dr Malik proposes this is the purpose of Obadiah:

A. To proclaim judgment upon Edom for rejoicing over the fall of Jerusalem

B. To proclaim through the judgment of Edom that all of the nations will be judged for their hostility to God’s people

C. To proclaim a message of hope for Judah

Here’s my understanding, and since this is my blog, I guess that’s the understanding you are going to get, hahaha!

Who is Obadiah?
Servant of God.

On Bible Gateway, when I do a search for Obadiah, it gives me the list of all the Obadiahs...including the book.

Obadiah – servant of Yahweh.

J.Vernon McGee – “this name was as common in that day as the name John is today.”

When – when was this written?
The dating has been difficult…even for all those lofty scholars that have access to tons of information and references! They have forgotten more bible knowledge than I will ever have, therefore, if they can’t figure it out, I know I won’t! hahaha!

The one agreed upon timing is that it has to do with the time that Edom laughed and helped to take down Judah.
From the Bible.org introduction,

The Babylonian context matches other exilic scriptures which describe the involvement of Edom in the fall of Jerusalem.

a. Psalm 137:7:
Remember, O Lord, against the sons of Edom the day of Jerusalem who said, ‘Raze it, raze it, to its very foundation’

b. Lamentations 4:21-22
Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, Who dwells in the land of Uz; but the cup will come around to you as well, you will become drunk, and make yourself naked, the punishment of your iniquity has been completed. O daughter of Zion. He will exile you no longer. But He will punish your iniquity, O daughter of Edom; He will expose your sins.

c. Ezekiel 25:12-14:
Thus says the Lord God, ‘Because Edom has acted against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and has incurred grievous guilt, and avenged themselves upon them,’ Therefore thus says the Lord God, ‘I will also stretch out My hand against Edom and cut off man and beast from it. And I will lay it waste; from Teman even to Dedan they will fall by the sword. An I will lay My vengeance on Edom by the hand of the people Israel. Therefore, they will act in Edom according to My anger and according to My wrath’ thus they will know My vengeance,’ declares the Lord God (cf. also Ezekiel 35:5, 12-15)

There are a few other options listed in the Bible.org link, as well as any number of others you can find online.
My feeling is this:  it was appropriate then, to the enemies of the Lord, and it is appropriate today, as a shadow of what we can know of the Lord’s concern for his children today.

To Whom?
The Edomites.
Who were they? descendants of Esau.
To understand this sibling rivalry, one has to reread Genesis.
Genesis 25:19-34

Poor Rachel, finally having a baby, has twins…and they are fighting inside her womb.
She cries out to God WHY!!! and he says:

“Two nations are in your womb,
and two peoples from within you[b] shall be divided;
the one shall be stronger than the other,
the older shall serve the younger.”

Read on and Esau sells his birthright.
Then in Genesis 26, he marries girls that are not of the tribe Abraham…gentile, non believing girls.
Genesis 27 – here’s where Jacob really does in Esau…though he does it at the hands of his mom, Rachel – and steals Esau’s blessing. Any wonder why Esau was angry?

Genesis 27:41
41 Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

I don’t know God’s thoughts.
I know that there is something here about predestination and election – which I have spoken of in Itty Bitty Bible Study – Ephesians 1:3-6. I love what pastor JD Greer said in his study on Ephesians – understand that we are chosen, but that we choose, and that the ability to comprehend that is a mystery.
From Thompson’s Chain Reference Bible, commentary on Romans:

this is what the summary says:

The wall of the supposed sovereign election of God is a certain portion of the race to salvation, and the divine reprobation of all others. Rom 9:7-18
In the midst of his argument showing the awful situation of the natural man, he points out the doors of divine mercy provided for in the plan of salvation, by which all men can escape the impending judgments of God if they will.
An attempt is made in the drawing given to illustrate the points of the apostle’s arguments by a diagram of the walls and doors of escape.

There is a truth that God knew what Esau was going to be like.
There is also a truth that Esau chose to be the way he was.
And, God knew about Cain and Abel…and Cain chose to turn away from his offering to repent, and killed his brother. But each is responsible for HIS choice.

another Bible verse:

Proverbs 26:2
Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim.

and:

Galatians 6:7-8
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

For more on Galatians 6 – you may want to look at Itty Bitty Bible Study Galatians 6.

When there are curses, there is a reason. And even then, God sometimes chooses to judge those that are the instruments of the curse, because they are choosing to be violent and ungodly. Oh my, what a difficult thing it is to be the God of heaven and earth! My head is spinning just trying to keep this all straight!

Brotherly rivalry is as old as right outside of the Garden.
Today, we have the Israelites and all the Arab world. This is the very sibling rivalry, passed down from generation to generation.
There are two sides to every story, but, I want to make sure that this conversation does not turn into a current events religion bashing event.

As Christians, we have to remember that we have a history of blaming the Jews for crucifying Jesus, and treating Jews as less than dogs. As well as anyone that does not believe the same as we do – Muslims, all oriental religions, all tribal peoples, even differing denominations of Christianity! I don’t want to start thinking more highly of myself.

The Bible says that the Jewish people were chosen by God to tell his story. I’ve heard from a Jewish Rabbi that Christians have the wrong idea of “chosen ones” from the point of view of the Jew. “We were chosen to be an example, to carry the Word and to obey it. Look at our history, would you want to be that example?” 
Jesus was a Jew. He gives promise to everyone.
Jesus went to the gentiles…probably Arabs, if the area I understand is correct.
There is NO people group that is separated from the option of “For God so loved the WORLD that HE GAVE his only begotten son that WHOSOEVER would believe on HIM should have everlasting, eternal, life”. John 3:16

I plan to look at Obadiah in the light of prophecy to US, God’s children.
I choose to recognize that if I have chosen God, HE has chosen me, because no one comes to the Father except the Father draw him. I am saved by grace through faith and that not of my own but it is a gift from God. And that is the truth for every believer and follower of Christ. This is a different view of being chosen, that I’m not chosen by my worth, I’m chosen by HIS promise. I am made worthy because HE loves me. He did not choose me because I am beautiful, I am beautiful because HE chose me.

As His child…we have been given an inheritance, and we are given protection.
Many of us pray Psalm 91 for protection when things are scary…

Psalm 91
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say[a] to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

This was written long before Christ.
It’s written to “he who dwells in the secret place of the most High”, or my favorites – “He is my hiding place”, or “those that run into the name of the lord, a strong tower, shall be saved.” THESE are believers.

 The other side of the coin is this:

2 Chronicles 7:14
14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

This often quoted verse is written to those that are called according to HIS name…and they need to repent. That would include Jews…since it was written to the Jews…but now, it is applicable to anyone that calls upon the name of Jesus Christ! It says clearly that there is some sort of unhealed land that needs healing, and it will only be healed if the people REPENT from their wicked ways!

When the Israelite were getting a little high minded, this is what God had to say to them:

Deuteronomy 7:6-11
6 “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. 7 It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, 8 but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, 10 and repays to their face those who hate him, by destroying them. He will not be slack with one who hates him. He will repay him to his face. 11 You shall therefore be careful to do the commandment and the statutes and the rules that I command you today.

Even more to the point:

Deut 9:6
6 “Know, therefore, that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stubborn people.

Remember, God was just keeping his promise to the righteous fathers that went before them. He’s faithful to a 1000 generations. Then, remember – this is not written to any specific people group – it’s just true! Cause and Effect!

Proverbs 26:2
Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim.

Even Jesus has something to say about where blessings fall…

Matthew 5:44-45
44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

…and our responsibility to those we perceive as enemies! Love and prayer…which means then, that we are the sons of our Father…who blesses all.

What’s My Focus?

I’m looking at this tiny book to see what characteristics of Edom do I have?

And, what negative traits of the Israelites/Judeans might I have?

And, what do I do to change this in me?

I also am looking at how long suffering God is with His children. While Edom was art of the exile or destruction, there are plenty of prophecies and such that point that God gave Judah plenty of options to change, repent, and get right or He’d remove His hand of blessing. I know thatGod has been loooooooong suffering with me, and for that, I am eternally grateful.

Has God been longsuffering with you?

Are you blessed to know that you were chosen by God?

Can you relate to doing something very UNChristian, and hoping that God would not find out? If so, do you know that HE has provided us with an advocate in Jesus Christ?

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 2:1-2 But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

Next – Obadiah, part 1. Please Join me!

 

Jim & Christi 2017

 

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.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” –
from My Utmost for His highest

I want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

Some artwork is from me – ChristArtist. It is copyrighted – by me. Please do not share it without my permission. The same goes for my written work.
Some artwork is from ChristArt – not me! I have purchased a membership, and the art is copyrighted by them.
Some artwork is from FreeClipArt Library. copyrights belong to them.

I’d love to stay in touch with you – we are working on email subscriptions…sign up! 
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

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.

Itty Bitty Bible Study – Philippians 1:18-21

My thoughts for the Itty Bitty Bible Study group on Facebook. (join if you’d like to get these in fb!)

Philippians 1

To catch up, the links are at the end of the blog, or all the Itty Bitty Bible Studies are listed on this page.

Philippians 1:18b – 26
Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

First, focus on what Paul is saying here:

Yes, and I will rejoice,
19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance,

This sounds very familiar!!!!!
Maybe because Paul wrote ROMANS!!!

He’s in Jail.
He’s chained to a guard. Or possibly on house arrest.
Blue Letter Bible provides a very nice Timeline of Paul’s Life and Ministry
He’s had so many things happen to him…and he’s still looking at these things from the point of view that all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to HIS purposes! Romans 8:28
The whole chapter of Romans 8 could be written, and summarized in this thought…that no matter how badly things look, we can know that it is bringing about OUR salvation. Not in the sense that we get saved again and again, but more in the sense that we work out our salvation with fear and trembling, that this is a walk, a journey, and the fullness of Christ is to be worked out in us.

In Philippians 1:12 he is pointing out to everyone that is concerned that this is all for the furtherance of the gospel! This is his first and foremost concern.
In Philippians 4, we’ll hear about how it’s not about him having his needs met.
It’s to comfort those that are concerned, and to speak of HIS confidence in Christ.

I started that part with verse 18b – and yes, I will rejoice!
It reminds me of the letter that James wrote:

James 1:2-4
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James knew Paul, Paul knew James – James was the head of the church at Jerusalem. Bible Odyssey goes into much more detail.
It makes sense that James and Paul were thinking alike!

I wrote about the Oil of Joy

To understand a little bit more of verse 20, we have to read it with verse 19.

Phil 1:19-20
19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

  • I will not be at all ashamed,
  • but that with full courage now
  • as always
  • Christ will be honored
  • in my body,
  • whether by life
  • or by death.

He’s not talking about him being ashamed of the gospel. To confirm this, read

Romans 1:16
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

He’s talking about being ashamed of himself – because his first love is Christ Jesus, and he wants to glorify Him in all that he does, whether by living, or by dying.

Philippians 1:21English Standard Version (ESV)
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

And, with that, we will stop here. There’s too much to consider with the next 5 verses!
I pray that this will bless you.

Have you ever had to choose joy in the face of a “prison” surrounding you?

Have you every been “trapped” because of your faith?

Have you ever been concerned about YOUR behavior – ashamed of Your behavior as an ambassador of Christ?

Do you know that we have an advocate with the Father?

1 John 2:1-2
2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

Please share your thoughts with me in comments!

It is Well With My Soul
Worship Video
and
Chris Rice with a beautiful video

One of my rivers:

Philippians Itty Bitty Bible Study

TV Show Review – Star Trek Discovery(from my one word 2018)

I admit it, I’m a treky. I have been since the original series. Yes, in the 60’s.
I’ll also admit it – Star Trek does NOT coincide with Christian beliefs.
It was never meant to.
Gene Roddenberry

For me, as an artist and writer, I have enjoyed the cinematic evolution that is Star Trek.
The artistic aspects of the sets, the clothing, the scenes…all of that.
The humanistic study of humans…from a psychological and sociological point of view.

This is my review of the new series, Star Trek, Discovery, currently only available on CBS All-Access.
I utilized the free 7 day trial.

While all of the Star Trek episodes are/were meant to push the social envelope(Kirk kissing Uhura – first mixed race kiss on TV) – I’m feeling a bit pushed over the edge.

What I’m going to write next is NOT politically correct. This is MY review, this is MY opinion. Everyone has one!

Pros:
I love the strong women!
I love the reality of their back stories!
In only 10 episodes, I love their growth.
I love the dealing of PTSD in the life of Tyler, after being tortured by Klingons.
I love the character development.
I love the equality of the story line – mixed skin-color couple, mixed race couple(Klingon and Human) and the same sex couple. Since this is NOT a Christian statement show…I appreciate the balance from a humanistic point of view).

Cons:
This is NOT a show that will encourage my Christian faith.(sometimes, non Christian shows do give me food for thought)
This is a much more RAW Star Trek – while there are good parts…it feels much more savage and violent.
This series has been promoted as the series to push the women’s movement, and the LGBT movement into mainstream.
This is NOT a show that will encourage my Christian faith. (yes, I said that before…I’ll explain the reasoning behind this CON later)

PROS:
As a survivor of abuse, and having PTSD and anxiety issues, and to some extent, having been ‘brain washed’, the little bit of Tyler’s story, having been a POW in the Klingon camp, and having been tortured in ways we do not understand at this time, I am intrigued by his character development. In one episode, he has horrible flash backs and goes almost catatonic, and the other character talks him through the flash back. The words she says to him are the very words needed when PTSD flashbacks come.

Focus on the sound of my voice.
These are not happening, these are memories.
They didn’t defeat you then, they won’t defeat you now.
breathe.

MY Views:

My comfort when going through PTSD flashbacks sometimes needs to be from a human voice outside of my raging head filled with memories and negative self talk. Sometimes, I just need a human to keep me grounded to the present. I believe the Bible has the answer to this. I do not want my heart and mind divided.

1 Corinthians 12
26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

As an abuse survivor that has suffered from every cognitive distortion, I have struggled with not being good enough – and with suicidal thoughts. For a few of my thoughts, I submit:

Like I said above, the episode where Tyler is crashing from the flashbacks of his torture, the Admiral, a Psychiatrist, gave him simple, exact support to pull him back to reality.
A human voice on which to focus, can break through the (enormously loud chaotic) noise in my head.
As a mental healt awareness advocate, this is great exposure to how someone feels going through an episode.
In case someone needs this, here are 21 Anxiety Grounding Techniques.

As a Christian, my healing is based on my faith, my relationship with Jesus and with the Word of God speaking into my life. That is evident in my blogs above. And, prayer, Bible Verse recital, and Worship songs, and the like are VERY important safety/grounding techniques for MY healing. I believe the Bible has the source of healing that is eternal. I do not want my heart and mind divided. I’ve added some Bible verses at the end, but not about mental health at this time.

Powerful women…wow. What a change from the damsel in distress women in the original Star Trek.
Over coming mistakes.
Overcoming abuse.
Overcoming life long ridicule.
and rising up, taking back your power, and using the past to empower your future.

MY views…….
While they are encouraging and inspirational – they do not fill me with the love of Jesus that is MY healing power.

1 Peter 2:9English Standard Version (ESV)
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

You see, I need to remember that I belong to another…Another…and HIS light is a light that I desire…not the light of this world. Or any light that star trek can offer.

Luke 11:34-36English Standard Version (ESV)
34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. 35 Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.”

I’ve written many blogs about how to overcome the above issues with scripture, prayer and a relationship with Jesus Christ. Some are listed above. I believe that the Bible supports women rising up, taking back their power, and using the past to empower their future. I am one of them. I do not want my heart and mind divided.

Tolerance – all are one blood – no color seen by God. Acts 17:26
From a humanist point of view – the equality is refreshing. Including the very “normal” treatment of the prominent gay couple.

MY Views….
From a legal, and humanist point of view – this is great. From an American point of view, all are equal – We the People.
From MY Christian point of view –
all are equal before God, before salvation.
all human life is valuable to God – because he sent his son to die for the WHOLE WORLD.
all have the opportunity to be reconciled to God.
all have the opportunity to be members of the Kingdom of God.
And the method I believe in is through the Lord Jesus Christ’s death, burial and resurrection.

As with all countries – I believe every sovereign country has the right to choose who may enter their borders.
God(Jehovah, Yaweh, Yeshua, Jesus, Messiah, Emmanuel – the God that created the world, and created man, and gave His son, wholly God and wholly man to be the sacrifice for our sins, and indwells the believer with the Holy Spirit, also wholly God) – has given his requirements for entry…and that is to be a citizen.
To be a citizen, one has to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, renounce their sins, receive Him as Lord and Savior of their life, and live their life to glorify God until we meet him face to face.
I have followed the citizenship steps, and I am a citizen of the Kingdom of God.

Phillipians 3
18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

I believe the Bible, and I do not want my heart and mind divided.

CONS
The violence…period.
the deceit being rewarded.
The gay couple.
The embracing of a very over the top women’s movement.

MY views.
So, basically, my cons are pretty much that this show does not promote my beliefs.
I didn’t expect it to.
But I do need to make a choice…or be divided.

James 1:8King James Version (KJV)
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

1 Kings 18:21
Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him a word.

Isaiah 29:13
The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.

James 4:8 gives me the solotion:

Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Isaiah 55:7
let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Isaiah 5:20
“How terrible it will be for those who call evil good and good evil, who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness, who substitute what is bitter for what is sweet and what is sweet for what is bitter!”

For the Christian, it is not as easy as just turning off the tvs how.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

2 Peter 2:
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

Psalm 106:35English Standard Version (ESV)
35 but they mixed with the nations
and learned to do as they did.

Hosea 7

Those chapters are convicting, but here is the verse that really settles things in my heart:

Luke 9:
62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Yes, those words are in red, because they are the words of Jesus.
So, while I like some of the ways that this show is going, and I do not like the raw ness of it with the violence and such, I will discontinue my All-Access membership before I am charged, and choose not to watch this.

This will have an affect on my other watching habits, as well.
You see – the impression I’ve been given for this year is
“the end is near,
the time short…be like Jesus.”

There are so many more eternally profitable things I can be doing with my time.
There are so many more things that could help me to grow into Jesus’s likeness.
Star Trek is not one of them.
many of the things I’ve watched are not.

Why do you watch what you watch?
Does it further you toward your passions?
Does it help you to fulfill your calling?
If not…what do you choose?

Joshua 24:14-15
14 “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Joshua 24:14-15

Joshua 24:14-15

I admitted at the beginning that I was a trekky – that is my confession, and I am not going to stop being a trekky.
I’m a child of God – and I have a job to do – and being a trekky keeps my heart divided and distracted.
Several things I’ve allowed into my life are causing division and distraction.
The time is short, the end is near…I need to get about the job at hand, the purpose for which I was saved.

 

Jim & Christi 2017

 

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.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” –
from My Utmost for His highest

I want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

Some artwork is from me – ChristArtist. It is copyrighted – by me. Please do not share it without my permission. The same goes for my written work.
Some artwork is from ChristArt – not me! I have purchased a membership, and the art is copyrighted by them.
Some artwork is from FreeClipArt Library. copyrights belong to them.

I’d love to stay in touch with you – we are working on email subscriptions…sign up! 
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

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.

Throwback Thursday – from 2001

This is such an old blog, I recognize the original html(what we used to have to do to produce blogs!…not quite writing in binary, but close!)

So, as I read it, I noticed the date.

Received July 13 & 14, 2001  This was given to me, in the spirit of prophecy over two days.  On July 16, I searched through scriptures, as a Berean, to prove the spirit.

two months later, September 11, 2001, or as we refer to it – 9/11.
I believe it’s just as important to hear now, as then.

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

Received July 13 & 14, 2001  This was given to me, in the spirit of prophecy over two days.  On July 16, I searched through scriptures, as a Berean, to prove the spirit.

This is the word. A Bible study is also available. (Bible verses are after the poem – )

What do you think about when I say “Mother”?

What do you think about when I say “Father”?

Do you see their face?

Do you hear their voice?

Does a warm feeling come over your heart?

Do you know their name?

BUT do you KNOW ME?

I long to be a Father to the fatherless,

I long to hold you in my arms.

My little children…

What do you think of when someone says “Our Father”?

Do you see My face?

Do you know My name?

I AM.

I AM the Our Father.

I AM the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

I AM worthy of praise, glory and Honor.

I AM.

I AM the judge of all the earth

I AM creator of the new birth.

I judge sin,

but in Me, my children win.

I AM

I AM the Our Father

I AM forever more

I AM the Almighty

I AM the open door

Do you see my face,

full of grace?

Do you hear My voice

in your ears? It’s a choice.

My little children

I have called you by my name,

do you know it?

I have spoken to you by my voice,

do you hear it?

There is no reason to fear,

when you nestled up to Me,

and near.

If you know My name,

and you hold My hand,

nothing can hurt you,

nothing, not a hand.

My little children,

you’re my sheep if you know my name,

I AM a shepherd, I have nothing but gain.

You are my sheep, If you know my voice,

all you must do is follow Me by choice.

My little children,

My name is mighty

in My name you are saved.

By the name of Jesus

you are delivered from sin,

and by the name of Jesus you can enter in

you can enter in to the name of sanctification

by the name of Jesus you can

enter into my glorification.

In the name of Jesus

you will be healed.

In the name of Jesus

and the Holy Spirit power

you will be sealed.

My little children

take off the names of darkness

put them far, far away,

and put up tall the name of Light

and you’ll never even sway!

For My name is a strong tower

by My name you are safe

by My name I give you peace and righteousness

by My name

by My name you can enter in to the holy place

Take My name

of Peace, Counselor, Savior, Friend,

and see Me as the tower that the righteous run in.

When the enemy brings his banners up high,

turn and look, for your deliverance draws nigh!

When my children turn and draw near to my name,

they will hear Me whisper and call them by name.

As you run into my tower and name,

you enter in to the presence of the King.

In my throne room no evil shall stand,

nothing can hurt you,

no nothing can stand.

If you will dwell in My secret place,

I will cover you and you’ll see my face.

All the things that attack you will fade,

and you, My child, will rest in My grace.

If you come in to My presence, My dear,

I and My Son, and the Spirit draw near.

And We will surround you will a circle of love

with glory untold, pouring out from above.

If in Me you will live, and move and have your being,

you will never know doubt

and you will definitely be seeing:

you will see Me as God that delivers his children

you will see Me as Father that loves all his sons

you will see Me as comforter who cares for the wounded

you will see Me as God as I care for my lost.

There’s a way to stand against the coming destruction,

the enemy at hand has forces untold,

but I in my power have won before creation,

and I AM more powerful than one can behold.

If you run to My name,

in My fortress you’ll be safe,

and you will be covered

by My blood and My infinite grace.

But do you know Me?

Do you know Me?

Like your mother and father?

Do you hear My voice

like your sister and brother?

Do you know Me so well

that no other can pull you?

My child, you need but to listen

for I’m speaking to you.

My voice is a still, gentle breeze,

it’s like a river that trickles under the trees.

My voice is like sunshine coming down from above

with a cool gentle breeze covering you with love.

Do you know that voice,

Oh little child of mine?

Oh little child –

the voice of the divine?

If you don’t hear My voice,

If you don’t know My name,

how will you know when I come again?

How will you know

when I let out a shout?

How will you know that it’s Me it’s about?

If you don’t know My name,

how can you find Me?

If you don’t know My name

how can you call Me?

If you can hear My voice,

how can you listen?

My little children it’s a choice,

and time is now to begin.

Early I await you, for the times you come to Me,

In the still of evening, I await, just to see.

I have much to share with you,

about your life and future.

I would speak to you and comfort you

and hold you, and give you nurture.

I would that you would crawl on my lap like a mother

and put your head on my chest, and love Me as no other.

But My children

you first must seek my face,

and then you must know my immeasurable grace,

and then you are sheep, you are sheep in deed,

and my voice will speak, clear and free.

Then I ask you, have you said “no?”

When I have talked to you, did you say no?

When I AM waiting, have you told Me to go?

When I have given direction, have you said, NO?

My word is written,

is true and it’s strong.

I will not counter My word

not at all.

If you cannot see My face in the glass,

and you cannot hear My voice as pages pass,

then are you really seeking Me?

Or do you have some other ‘destiny’?

My sheep know My voice,

and they follow Me

they learn by the milk that is spoken of Me

the meat of My word comes from spirit to spirit

do you see it? Do you see Me?

Do you desire to be in it?

When a child has a parent that is far, far away,

the parent writes love letters every day.

The child may not know what the parent is like,

except that they read the letter each night.

When that parent calls on the phone

the child knows the voice, and that voice all alone.

But when the day comes, when they meet face to face,

the child knows the parent across all time and space.

For the child has spent time with the words that were written

and the child, on the phone, has completely been listening.

I have a word that has been written for you

I have a phone line that’s open, too!

I will speak to you

in My word, and in prayer

if you ‘ll only turn your heart

and come listen to Me there.

My name is a tower.

The strong can come in,

the strong who are mighty and free from all sin.

In My name you are holy,

in My name, you are whole,

in My name you have peace,

in My name you shall go!

I have not left you alone to despair,

you have My love, and My name, and My care.

I prepared a way for you to go,

it is up to you to say yes or say no.

If you seek Me, you will find Me, I AM there

I will show myself to you

and I will take up every care.

There is nothing to fear

when you are wrapped up in Me,

I care for my own

and nothing can take them from Me.

Do not fear for the coming destruction,

for the shepherd will hold

his sheep in his hand

and bring them in to divine protection.

But you must know Me,

recognize my name.

You must seek Me

only Me,

my voice,

and my name.

In Me you will find all the answers you need.

in Me you will have everything, just believe.

It may not look pretty,

It’s not of this world,

for I’m away to prepare a place

that is out of this world!

This here is but shadows and smoke

this here is just like a cloak.

For sin entered in, the world has been dying

nothing here is glorifying!

But I’ve prepared a place for my children

who know my voice and my name

and choose to enter in.

(c)2001 M.Christine Wildman – all rights reserved.

Mica 4:1- 5 (KJV) But in the last days it shall come to pass, [that] the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.

2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make [them] afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken [it].

5 For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.

Joel 2:32 (KJV)And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

Psal 91:14 (KJV) Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I [will be] with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

Acts 2:21 (KJV) And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Acts 4:12 (KJV) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Rom 10:13 (KJV) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Phil 2:10 (KJV) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth; (Rom 14:11)

***

Acts 3:16 (KJV) And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

Prov 18:10 (KJV) The name of the LORD [is] a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

Colo 3:17 (KJV) And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

2The 1:12 (KJV) That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1Cor 6:11 (KJV) And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Isai 50:10 (KJV) Who [is] among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh [in] darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.

Exod 20:7 (KJV) Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

Psal 20:6 (KJV) Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.

7 Some [trust] in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

8 They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.

Ps 116

Psal 116:4 (KJV) Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.

Psal 116:13  I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.

Psal 116:17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.

Psal 124:8 (KJV) Our help [is] in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

Psal 113:1 (KJV) Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD.

2 Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore.

3 From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’S name [is] to be praised.

4 The LORD [is] high above all nations, [and] his glory above the heavens.

5 Who [is] like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high,

6 Who humbleth [himself] to behold [the things that are] in heaven, and in the earth!

7 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, [and] lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;

8 That he may set [him] with princes, [even] with the princes of his people.

9 He maketh the barren woman to keep house, [and to be] a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.

May God be glorified through this writing. ~Christi

(c)2001 M. Christine Wildman; all rights reserved. Permission granted to share, but not to publish in any work to be sold.

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This was convicting to me, again…16 years later.

Here’s a link to my OLD website…but, if you think you are a Christian, but you have some concerns…this can help you figure it out! So You think you’re gonna be OK?

 

Jim & Christi 2017

 

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.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” –
from My Utmost for His highest

I want to thank

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