Tag Archives: Son

Bible open to Matthew

Mindfully Meditating on Matthew chapter 17 or MMM17

Mindfully Meditating on Matthew chapter seventeen

(c)2023 M. Christine Wildman

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
        • He 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
        • Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.
      • Seemed real to dear Peter
        • Then 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
        • While 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
        • When the disciples heard it, they fell facedown and were terrified.
        • Then 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. 16 I brought him to Your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.”
        • the father moved up the ladder of authority.
      • 17 Jesus 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?
        • 19 Then 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!!!
        • [21 However, 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. 23 They 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

  1. choose a verse,
  2.  set a timer for 5 minutes, or whatever works for you.
  3.  example: Matt 17:5
  4. 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.

  1. Where or what was the mount of transfiguration?
    1. Got Answers discusses some various thoughts.
  2. 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!
  3. What do you think about the issue of taxes?
    1. Your answer

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

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.

Bible open to Matthew

Mindfully Meditating on Matthew chapter 16 or MMM16

(c) 2023 M. Christine Wildman

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
      • A 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
      • When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
      • Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?
      • 12 Then 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
      • 13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
      • 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
      • 17 Jesus 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
      • 18 And 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
      • I 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
      • 23 Jesus 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
      • 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life[f] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What 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? 27 For 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

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

example:

  • I 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.

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

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

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.

Bible open to Matthew

Mindfully Meditating in Matthew chapter 15 or MMM15

(C) 2023 M. Christine Wildman

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.
          They worship me in vain;
              their teachings are merely human rules.’[c]
      • 10-20what washing hands was a foreshadowing of:
        • 10 Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. 11 What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”
        • 18 But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20 These 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
        • 22 A 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
        • 23 Jesus did not answer a word.
        • So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”
        • 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
      • Request #2
        • 25 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.
      • Rebuked – potentially a denial
        • 26 He 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
        • 28 Then 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
      • 31 The 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
        • 32 Jesus 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
        • 33 His 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
        • 36 Then 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?
        • They all ate and were satisfied.
        • 38 The 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
        • 39 After 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

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

example:

  • 18 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, 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.

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

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

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.

Bible open to Matthew

Mindfully Meditating in Matthew chapter 11 or MMM11

(c) 2023 M. Christine Wildman

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
        • Jesus replied to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: the 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. And 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.
        • 15 Anyone who has ears[f] should listen!
      • Mt 11:16-19 What’s Up?
        • 18 For John did not come eating or drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’ 19 The 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!
        • 24 But 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?
      • 27 All 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. 29 All 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. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

    Mindful Meditating

  1. choose a verse,
  2.  set a timer for 5 minutes, or whatever works for you.
  3.  example: Matt 11:28
  4. 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.

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

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

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.

Bible open to Matthew

Mindfully Meditating on Matthew chapter 10

Mindfully Meditating in Matthew, the collection of these studies
(First 100 days of 2023, day 41, Feb 10)

Passage

Matthew Chapter 10

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 10
    • Mt 10:1-4 Commissioning the Twelve
      • Summoning His 12 disciples, He gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out and to heal every[a] disease and sickness.
    • Mt 10:5-15 The pattern for ministering
      • stay away from Samaria (right now)
      • Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with skin diseases, drive out demons. You have received free of charge; give free of charge.
      • don’t take money – for the worker is worthy of his food.
      • hosting missionaries – 11 “When you enter any town or village, find out who is worthy, and stay there until you leave.
    • Mt 10:16- 25 Persecution is coming – be prepared
      • 16 “Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as harmless as doves.
      • 20 because you are not speaking, but the Spirit of your Father is speaking through you.
      • 22 You will be hated by everyone because of My name. But the one who endures to the end will be delivered.[g]
    • Mt 10:26-31 Don’t fear, worth more than sparrows
    • Mt 10:32-39 The division cost by belief
      • 32 “Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge Me before men, I will also acknowledge him before My Father in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in heaven.
      • 37 The person who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; the person who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow[m] Me is not worthy of Me. 39 Anyone finding[n] his life will lose it, and anyone losing[o] his life because of Me will find it.
    • Mt 10:40– 42Welcoming Christ Welcomes the Father
      • 40 “The one who welcomes you welcomes Me, and the one who welcomes Me welcomes Him who sent Me.

Mindful Meditating

  1. choose a verse,
  2.  set a timer for 5 minutes, or whatever works for you.
  3.  example: Matt 5:48
  4. repeat to yourself, and at each word, enunciate the next word in the sentence starting with the first word…

example:

  • 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
  • BE perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
  • Be PERFECT, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
  • Be perfect, THEREFORE, as your heavenly Father is perfect

…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.

Various 12 Apostles of Jesus coloring pages to print out.

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

  1. What was the job of th disciples? what were they sent to do?
    1. Your answer
  2. Can we do what the disciples did? why or why not?
    1. your answer
  3. Why does Christ bring a sword to families and churches?
    1. I like how GotAnswers deals with this question.
  4. How can you apply the welcoming bit to your own life?
    1. Your answer

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 Week Five – upper room talks, and then the Garden (TBD 2024)

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!

Lent Week Five – Upper Room Talks, and then the Garden

TBD – by Lent 2024
23 – (3/20) Spirit of Truth – John 16:5-16
24 – (3/21) Sorrow to joy – John 16:17-33 smiley face sad face flipper
?? – Upper Room – Advice – to Simon, to all Lk 31-38; John 16, maybe John 16:1-4
25 – (3/22) Jesus’ prayer for Himself – John 17:1-5
26 – (3/23) Jesus’ prayer for disciples John 17:6-19
27 – (3/24) Jesus’ prayer for believers John 17:20-26
28 – (3/25) Gethsemane – Lk 22:39-46; Mt 26:36 – John 18:1

(3-26) 4th SUNDAY WORSHIP – REMEMBER THE RESURRECTION “it is finished” guest post

Lenten Cross Instructions
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
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Third Sunday of Lent – Why hast thou forsaken me?

Lent Devotions

Lent Week Three just passed.
Lent Week Four is coming up.

We have created a facebook group in which to follow and discuss, please join! – 40 days of Lent!

If you are doing the Lenten Cross – light all but two. I am starting from the bottom, it seems symbolic to me. Here’s a photo of my cross:

third Sunday of Lent

Music
At Calvary – Casting Crowns
Didn’t He – Randy Matthews

Scripture

Matthew 27:45-48 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
The Death of Jesus
45 From noon until three in the afternoon[a] darkness came over the whole land.[b] 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Elí, Elí, lemá[c] sabachtháni?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken[d] Me?”[e]

47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling for Elijah!”

Mark 15:33-36 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
The Death of Jesus
33 When it was noon,[a] darkness came over the whole land[b] until three in the afternoon.[c] 34 And at three[d] Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lemá[e] sabachtháni?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”[f]

35 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “Look, He’s calling for Elijah!” 36 Someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, fixed it on a reed, offered Him a drink, and said, “Let’s see if Elijah comes to take Him down!”

Psalm 22

Devotion
Have you ever felt like you were so bad that God turned his back on you? I have!

Have you ever felt like God just wasn’t listening? I have!

Have you ever heard the scripture verse about the heavens are brass?
Check out all the variations of Deuteronomy 28:23 – talking about God will not hear the prayers of the people!

When I am in times of depression, distress, despair, my mind does not work correctly. I have cognitive disorders and distortions from the various mental illnesses. I have struggled with fear of abandonment! Fear of betrayal! And fear of being left behind! I also can imagine all sorts of unforgivable sins I’ve committed…though theologically, they are NOT the unforgivable sin!

Jesus saying these words strikes me to my heart. Jim is going to talk about the theological aspects of this but just on the surface to think that Christ would feel forsaken by his father hurts my heart. The fact that Christ is one third of the whole Godhead, boggles my mind! How does one part forsake another part?

I’m going to talk about the feeling of being forsaken.

I will never leave you nor forsake you!

Hebrews 13:5 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
5 Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you.

I Will
This is a promise, that is so dear to my heart.

Never! That is an eternal word! Never ever will he leave us.

Leave!
I’ve talked a lot about how sin separated us from God and from fellowship with God.
I’ve talked a lot about Christ dying on the cross specifically to give us a way back to fellowship.

From Come Back to Jesus
Jesus talks about us being in the palm of God’s hands and no man can take us out.
In Lent day 16, Jim gave us some links about Calvin’s teaching on the security of the Saints. If we are in the palm of God’s hand, and no one can take us out of that Palm, then we are always always with God.

I admit, there are times it does not feel like it. To Me.

Nor!
That’s a contraction that specifies negatives. Which makes it say I will never leave you oh, I will never forsake you. Never no never! Pretty definite!

Forsake!
Forsake has so many connotations in my mind.
It’s not just leaving, it’s betraying a trust!
It’s breaking a promise!
It’s not just leaving, it is leaving someone high and dry!
Interesting that Jesus asks us to forsake the things of this world to turn towards him.
That connotation of forsake talks about making sure that those things are no longer in our heart, and that Jesus is more important.
So if we go back to Jesus saying he will not forsake us there is nothing that is more important to him than us.

My God…why hast thou forsaken me?
I know that this is the first line of Psalm 22.
Psalm 22 is a cry of someone who believes that they have been forsaken by God! David has written out his heart cry!

  • It turns from despair that God is not listening
  • to remembering the promises and times that he did in past and
  • declaring that he will in the future.

I’m not really sure of the timing of this song. I don’t have it in the notes that I have here. There are so many times that David was in trouble and was crying out to God and was praying for deliverance! Therefore, Pick a time!

Back to Hebrews 13:5:
With me.
Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psalm 23
I am a little dense sometimes, but I just realized that Psalm 23 comes after Psalm 22. I’m not sure of the order in which they were written, but I believe that there is a purpose for this order!

The Valley of the shadow of death is a dark place. It doesn’t say that God will take us out of the Valley of the shadow of death, but that he would be with us and walk with us. With the rod and the staff, He will guide us and keep us safe, like a Shepherd does his sheep as they go from one place to the other. It might be a dangerous place that they have to get through to go from one good feeding place to another. The Shepherd keeps a watch on the sheep, and does all, including laying down his life, to protect the sheep.

John 14:23 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
23 Jesus answered, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

Luke 23:43 New International Version (NIV)
43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

In the garden, Adam and Eve walked with God. The break, the leaving, is what we cause when we sinned.
Genesis 3

Enoch walked with God and was no more because God caught him up in the clouds. Enoch walked so closely with God, that he didn’t even have to die!

Genesis 5:24 King James Version (KJV)
24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

The key here that I want to point out is that God the son has promised to never leave us nor forsake us.
When David cried out “my God my God why has thou forsaken me,” God had not forsaken him. He just felt like it because he couldn’t see what God could see.

I have an inkling that that is exactly what Jesus was stating that, not so much that he was stating that God had forsaken him, but the fullness of Psalm 22. Where David was saying why did you forsake me and he goes on with the rest of the psalm and basically says God never forsakes us and God keeps his promises and God.

As we know the end of the story is that Jesus went to deliver the captives, He rose from the dead and talked to all the folks that were there. If you look at one of the gospels it says that hundreds came to life when Jesus rose from the dead, and were walking around and people saw them. Then Jesus ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father. God kept his promise. But in the mortal, finite mind, when darkness fell and Jesus’s body died it looked as though all hope was lost.

Here’s a twist. As Jesus was talking to the disciples and he let them know that he was leaving but that he would send a comforter, which was his way of saying I’m not going to leave you alone. This is just part of the Triune God, that Jesus had to die on the cross to pay the price for our sin, so that the Holy Spirit could come and dwell our hearts. We HAD TO BE MADE NEW SO THE HOLY SPIRIT COULD INDWELL US! and help us to take control of our minds and emotions and spirits.

The disciples had walked with God as in Walking With Jesus for 3 years. Now he tells them he’s going to die. Then he tells him that he’s going to leave, and they’re freaking out.

We have to remember that the Jews were very anti polytheism, therefore they didn’t really know that God was Triune. Jesus came and said that he and the father were one and the Holy Spirit came down like a dove as He,  the son, was being baptized and the Father’s voice says “this is my son” proving that there are three Personalities in the Godhead. This is rather disconcerting to these Jewish men. He’s going to send a comforter, and it’s supposed to be as good as having Jesus? They had no idea what was going on.  Of course they had seen Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead, but if Jesus Is Dead who’s going to raise Jesus from the dead?. That is a very good question and they didn’t have an answer.

So the big theological question is if God is Triune and God the Father, God the son and God the Holy Spirit are all one, how does God the Father turn his back on God the son?

~~~~ Jim’s thoughts ~~~~

My thoughts on Christ’s cry of forsakenness.

I love what Matthew Henry points out that it was a “loud cry”, not a whimper.  He did not die gradually, but suddenly.

For all of Christ’s utterances on the cross, I like to keep in mind the point of Him being there.  To be the perfect sacrifice for our sins. We know that the sacrifices in the OT were a type (or pointed to) the cross. Whatever is true of them is true of Christ’s sacrifice as well.  Nothing that Christ said on the cross or that was done to Him can make His sacrifice violate the pattern; it has to fit the type.

  1. The sacrifice was chosen
    1. Ex 12:3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
    2. Math 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
  2. The sacrifice was perfect and w/o blemish “a lamb w/o blemish”
    1. Ex 12:5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:
    2. John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
  3. The sacrifice had to be applied in the way specified in order to be effective
    1. Ex 12:7And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.
    2. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
  4. Christ was our sacrifice (so He did what was necessary)
    1. Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor.
    2. Heb 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
    3. Heb 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

It seems to me, that as Christ was fully God, it was impossible for Him to be killed in any normal sense; so His death (no matter what was done to His body) had to be a voluntary one.  

John 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

John 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Everything Christ did, He did volitionally to fulfill the Father’s will and plan.

John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

I have no idea to what extent the Father and the Son were separated at Christ’s death, just like I have no idea how the eternal God spent 9 months in Mary’s womb, then 2-3 years not being able to speak, and 12 years or so not being able to take care of Himself (as to earning a living, etc.) and 30 years not revealing Himself to anyone.

Just as we can not really understand the “how” of the Incarnation, I don’t think we can really understand the “how” of Christ’s death on the cross.  I like to think that His cry of forsakenness was the indication that He had fully suffered as a man, that He had reached the point (known only to God) that was necessary for Him to be our perfect sacrifice.  “It is finished”

John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

~~~~ end of Jim’s thoughts ~~~~

There are other thoughts in the commentaries that Bible Hub provides for Matthew 27:46

 

One of the things that is said is that Jesus has experienced all that we have experienced.

Hebrews 4:15 New International Version (NIV)
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

Until his death on the cross, he never felt like there is a possibility that God had forsaken him. Now as our high priest he knows what that feels like even though he knew what God was going to do.

The one thing that I can absolutely State without any doubt is that God keeps his promises.
He promised to never leave us nor forsake us.
Who chose to sin and separate themselves from God?
First it was Lucifer,
then it was Adam and Eve,
and then you can go on down the line until we are the ones that chose to separate ourselves.

God has given us two great works to show his presence and to draw us to him.
One being creation that screams of a Creator,
and the other being the Bible that tells how to be reunited with the Creator.

So the choice now is are you going to forsake God or not?

Worship and prayer
At Calvary – Mercy Me
Your Grace Finds me – Matt Redmon

If you are not sure if you have ever made the choice FOR God…not FORsaking God…Here are some links to help:
Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
Billy Graham’s version of the Plan of salvation

 

~~~~~~~

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.

Jim and Christi Wildman November 2020

“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.

Advent 2015 – Christmas Eve

Advent 2015 – Christmas Eve

For the longer Advents – this is Advent 28
Here is the Advent Log for day 28:

Christmas Even Advent Log - Day 28

Christmas Eve Advent Log – Day 28

Tradition was that we would have pizza. Then, we would get serious.
This is the evening that we would have communion – preparing our hearts for the coming of the King.

Christmas Eve Communion

Christmas Eve Communion

For years I attended Midnight Mass at Christ Episcopal Church. Mass = Communion.
This was our family tradition.
When we had children, we attended non denominational, or non liturgical churches that had their Christmas Eve services in the evening. There wasn’t always communion.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve

Busted Halo gives a very short explanation on why we go to Midnight Mass.
Wikipedia information on Midnight Mass

My memory is that we were combining the vigil of waiting for Christ’s birth, and preparing ourselves to give Him room, and at Midnight, we celebrated his birth.

Christmas Carols

Christmas Carols

Joy to the world, the Lord has come! Let earth receive her King! Let every heart, prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and heaven and nature sing!

Christmas Carols

Christmas Carols

Christmas Eve, Jim would read the Christmas story from Luke.

Jim reading Christmas Eve devotions

Jim reading Christmas Eve devotions

Then, we would say the Lord’s prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the Kingdom, and the Glory and the power forever,
Amen.

This prayer, given to us by Jesus, covers most of what any worship service should cover:

  • Glorify God
  • Align yourself with His will.
  • Ask for needs.
  • Ask for forgiveness, as we forgive.
  • Ask for help to walk in this world.
  • End with praise.

We would then read the communion scripture:

Usually using this passage for the communion:
1 Cor 11:23-26

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

In 1 Corinthians 10:16, The Apostle Paul asks

“The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?”

The whole focus of our Advent Meditations was to turn the eyes upon Jesus and giving, and off of the worldly focus of Santa and getting gifts.
Communion is an outward sign of choosing to set aside my life, and decide to follow Jesus.

Tonight, I will pull out my old Episcopal Prayer Book, and go through communion with my husband. Here is the Episcopal Prayer book Online.

Lifeway has a set of resources online for practicing the Lord’s Supper. They are for churches, but could easily be adapted for your home.

For us, it was just simple to do the Lords Prayer, and then follow 1 Cor 11:23-26.

In a world where Christmas is so full of rabble rousing, and even those that say they know the reason, we wanted it to be a somber, and sacred celebration. Jesus didn’t come to earth so that we could get ginormous flat screen TVs! Jesus came to save our souls!

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Hail, the heav’n born Prince of Peace.
Hail the Son of righteousness.
Light and life to all He brings,
ris’n with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays His glory by,
born that man no more should die;
Born to raise the sons of earth,
born to give them second birth!
Hark the herald angels sing,
Glory to the New born King!

What Child is this?

Why lies He in such mean estate where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear” for sinners here the silent word is pleading/
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
the cross be born for me, for you;
Hail, Hail, the Word made flesh,
the Babe, the Son of Mary.

O Little Town of Bethlehem

Oh Holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us we pray.
Cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels, the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emanuel.

We sang many Christmas Carols!

One of my favorite Christmas Albums is by Don Moen, 1990
Praise Worship, Christmas

Here’s a compilation of the Piano Guys for Christmas

Since it’s pretty obvious that I love Pentatonix – here’s a compilation of their Christmas songs.

Instead of reading the Night Before Christmas, we would read a few different things.  The Shoemaker stories:

AdventShoemakerNVP004 AdventShoemakerCTB2006 AdventShoemakerCTB1005

We compared Jesus to Santa.

JesusSanta

And we read Twas the night before Jesus came. (c) 1993 Bethany Farms, Carrollton, IL.

I found a cute printable Christmas Story book on Ministry to Children that may be useful for those that still have littles.  My littles have all grown up.

One last thing, is this A Christmas Prayer for the Home by Henry Van Dyke, from The Book of Jesus edited by Calvin Miller.

 

More Advent Devotions

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

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.

I want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

“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’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
Or choose to LIKE me on facebook, or other social media!
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 is one that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Christmas Carol Considerations – Silent Night

Silent Night

The history is simple – the beauty is timeless.

https://youtu.be/9T4WB2zfmps?list=PLMQpRrc0BZkHcs83AzEvm6J_stToxlU5x

Silent Night, Holy Night….
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin, Mother and child.
Holy Infant so tender and mild.
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace

Verse one speaks of the virgin birthIsaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia,
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born

Verse Two speaks about the shepherds – watching their flocks. Luke 2:8-20
Angels came to them, sang to them, and they, the shepherds, were the first to go to greet the baby Jesus.

Silent night, holy night!
Son of God love’s pure light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth

Verse Three speaks about Jesus coming as the Light of the World

.John 8:12
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 1:4
In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.

John 12:35-36
35 So Jesus told them, “For a little while longer, the Light will be among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.
36 While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of light.”

1 John 1:5-7
5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

This is the reason Jesus came to earth…to save us from our sin, and to reconcile us to God!
Merry Christmas!

~~~~~~~
Advent Devotions
Thank you to Christmas Carol Lyrics for providing the lyrics for these Christmas Carols!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

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.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
Or choose to LIKE me on facebook, or other social media!
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 is one that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Christmas Carol Considerations – It came upon a Midnight Clear

It Came Upon a Midnight clear

The birth of Jesus was a miracle.
The timing of His birth was a miracle.
In fact, His lineage, His protection, His life and His death were all fulfillments of the prophecies.

It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth
To touch their harps of gold!
Peace on the earth, good will to men,
From heaven’s all gracious King!
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.

Of course the Angels sang! They were seeing the plan unfold!

Still through the cloven skies they come
With peaceful wings unfurled
And still their heavenly music floats
O’er all the weary world;
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hovering wing.
And ever o’er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.

This verse refers to the joyous gift in the midst of a weary world in darkness.

Yet with the woes of sin and strife
The world hath suffered long;
Beneath the angel-strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong;
And man, at war with man, hears not
The love song which they bring:
O hush the noise, ye men of strife,
And hear the angels sing.

When I hear this verse, I think “Peace, Be still”
and “Be still and Know that I am God!”

For lo! the days are hastening on,
By prophet bards foretold,
When, with the ever-circling years,
Shall come the Age of Gold;
When peace shall over all the earth
Its ancient splendors fling,
And all the world give back the song
Which now the angels sing.

This is a reference to Christ’s return – as the reigning King.

Mark 13:32-35
32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
33 Be on guard! Be alert[e]! You do not know when that time will come.
34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.
35 “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn.
36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Acts 1:11
“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

My faith says this is a historical event.
There is plenty of historical evidence of the life of Christ.
It takes FAITH to believe in the fulfillment of prophecy, and in Jesus as your Lord and savior.
I believe!

My faith says that Christ is coming again – and I am to be ready.

Merry Christmas!

~~~~~

Advent Devotions
Thank you to Christmas Carol Lyrics for providing the lyrics for these Christmas Carols!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

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.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
Or choose to LIKE me on facebook, or other social media!
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 is one that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.