#Isaiah 49:1-6

[jaguar726]

Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand, and my reward is with my God

Daily Verse First Reading – Isaiah 49:1-6 The Servant of the Lord49 Listen to me, you islands;hear this, you distant nations:Before I was born the Lord called me;from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name.2 He made my mouth like a sharpened sword,in the shadow of his hand he hid me;he made me into a polished arrowand concealed me in his quiver.3 He said to me, “You are my servant,Israel, in…

[kmac4him1st]

Firstee Family

  Family Concern Plays Out To: Family Prayer In times such as these Jesus, we do have concerns for our family and we take them to You, Jesus, The Only One Who wears the Victor’s Throne, our Overcomer and our very Present Comfort. Thank You Jesus, we pray for every high thing to come down, every stronghold that affects our family in these dark and lawless times, to be broken by the power of Your…

[aestariiwilderness]

Abortion is Murder & Unbiblical

The Bible does not use the word abortion. How could it? The term itself as a procedure wasn't invented yet! However, the Bible does cover: 

Humanity's inherent value and rights as (uniquely among creation) made in the image of God

Murder

Child/infant murder as something abhorrent to God

Life's beginnings, indirectly (although that also has biological support) 

Legal ramifications of killing a child in the womb 

How God sees and interacts with children in the womb 

How we as His followers are meant to treat children 

What He expects us to do for the defenseless and vulnerable (i.e., the most defenseless and vulnerable human imaginable is the one in the womb) 

And how the question of following Him and His Word is what makes or breaks the difference between a Christian and someone who claims the name but is tragically unsaved  Below are some verses and some additional explication (partial credit: @glowsticks-and-jesus)  

Proverbs 31:8 

Luke 1:44 

2nd Kings 17:17 

Jeremiah 19:5 

Genesis 9:6 

Exodus 21:22-25 

Matthew 7:20 - 23 

John 15:14 

1st John 1:5-10, 2:3-6 

Exodus 20:13 

Mark 10:13-15 Leviticus 20:3-5 (https://biblehub.com/hebrew/mizzaro_2233.htm) 

Matthew 18:10, 14

Psalm 22:10

Jacob & Esau, John the Baptist, Samson, etc. 

Judges 16:17  Glowsticks-and-Jesus Collection:

"Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 'Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.'"Jeremiah 1:4-5

"The Lord called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name."Isaiah 49:1

John the Baptist leaped in Elizabeth’s womb when Mary greeted her cousin (Luke 1:39-45), an example that babies in utero are responsive human beings already aware of the outside world.

The righteous Hebrew midwives at the time of Moses pleased God by saving babies deemed unworthy of life by the authorities of their day (Ex. 1:15-21).

 As an additional note -- these references are included above, but worth a second mention -- it's plain that child sacrifice - child murder - is something that God abhors and explicitly does not command. I'd look here (https://biblehub.com/jeremiah/19-5.htm) and here (https://biblehub.com/2_kings/17-17.htm) and check out the cross-references as well. Likewise, there is direct support for laws against murder and the protection of the unborn (up to capital punishment) in the Bible (Genesis 9:6; Exodus 21:22-25  -- an additional reference here included about the common misunderstanding of the latter verses: https://www.str.org/w/what-exodus-21-22-says-about-abortion).

In summary -- it's possible (although, I believe, it does deprive its proponents of a foundational basis for the value of life) to be both secular and anti-abortion. But it is not possible for a Christian who truly understands their faith, their God, and His Word to be pro-abortion.

[girlbloggercher]

how to read the Bible

this is in order!

1. John

2. Mark

3. Matthew

4. Luke

5. Genesis

6. Exodus

7. Leviticus

8. Numbers

9. Dueteronomy

10. Romans

11. Galatians

12. Colossians

13. Proverbs

14. Ecclesiastes

15. Job

16. 1 Peter

17. 1 Corinthians

18. 2 Corinthians

19. Ephesians

20. Philippians

21. 1 Thessalonians

22. 2 Thessalonians

23. 1 Timothy

24. 2 Timothy

25. James

26. 2 Peter

27. 1 John

28. 2 John

29. 3 John

30. Jude

31. Psalms

32. Joshua

33. Judges

34. 1 Samuel

35. 2 Samuel

36. 1 Kings

37. 2 Kings

38. 1 Chronicles

39. 2 Chronicles

40. Ezra

41. Nehemiah

42. Jeremiah

43. Lamentations

44. Ezekiel

45. Joel

46. Amos

47. Obadiah

48. Nahum

49. Habakkuk

50. Zephaniah

51. Haggai

52. Zechariah

53. Malachi

54. Micah

55. Hosea

56. Luke

57. Esther

58. Jonah

59. Song of Solomon

60. Acts

61. Titus

62. Philemon

63. Hebrew

64. Isaiah

65. Daniel

66. Revelation

[stvrlightvngel]

What The Bible Says About Mothers ~ 📖

🕊 Honor

She is to be honored. Exodus 20:12 Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

🤍 Remembered

She is not forgotten. Isaiah 49:15 Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you.

🕊 Comfort

The Lord comforts a mother as she comforts her childred. Isaiah 66:13 As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.

🤍 Legacy

Her faith leaves a legacy. 2 Timothy 1:5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

🕊 Teacher

She teaches her children diligently. Deuteronomy 6:6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.

🤍 Blessed

Her children will rise up and call her blessed. Proverbs 31:28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.

🕊 Housekeeper

She looks well to the house. Proverbs 31:27 She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.

🤍 Strong

She is strong and diligent. Proverbs 31:25 She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

The Pharisees and Sadducees Demand Signs

1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.

2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.

3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.

5 And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.

6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.

8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?

9 Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?

12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. — Matthew 16 | King James Version (KJV) The King James Version Bible is in the public domain Cross References: Job 34:11; Psalm 42:2; Psalm 49:8; Psalm 129:2; Proverbs 26:5; isaiah 22:22; Isaiah 57:3; Jeremiah 1:1; Matthew 1:16; Matthew 3:7; Matthew 4:10; Matthew 5:20; Matthew 6:30; Matthew 8:20; Matthew 10:38-39; Matthew 12:40; Matthew 14:17; Matthew 14:20; Matthew 21:25; Mark 8:15; Luke 9:18; Luke 12:54; Luke 12:56; John 1:42; John 12;25; Revelation 3:7

Some Standing Here Will Not Taste Death

Key Events in Matthew 16

1. The Pharisees require a sign. 5. Jesus warns his disciples of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. 13. The people's opinion of Jesus, 16. and Peter's confession of him. 21. Jesus foretells his death; 23. reproves Peter for dissuading him from it; 24. and admonishes those who will follow him, to bear the cross.

[apilgrimpassingby]

Demons of the Hebrew Bible

Since today is also the day for Lord of Spiritsposting, I've decided to make a post I considered yesterday - the demons of the Hebrew Bible. This will be a long post, so I'm inserting a "Keep Reading".

Azazel: Appears only once in Leviticus 16, as the being in the wilderness to whom the goat with the people's sins laid on it in the Day of Atonement ritual is given (this isn't sacrifice, because the animal isn't killed or offered on an altar, among other things). Becomes a Devil figure in some later Jewish literature like the Book of Enoch, and is associated with deserts, sin and goats - the name literally means "the goat that goes away" (an archaic translation gives us the word "scapegoat"), and the seemingly-random reference to goat demons in Leviticus 17:7 comes just after Azazel's appearance.

Deber: The most prominent of the gang, appearing (usually in conjunction with other figures on this list) in Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Amos, Habakkuk and the Pentateuch a total of 49 times, usually unleashed as punishment for some sin by Israel (compare "handing people over to Satan" in St. Paul's letters - 1 Corinthians 5:5, 1 Timothy 1:20). A nocturnal demon of pestilence and destruction associated with the underworld in Canaanite mythology.

Hereb: Rendered as "the sword" in English; the next most prominent one, appearing 29 times and, like Deber, in conjunction with the others. A demon of violence and destruction associated with blood-drinking (Isaiah 34:5, Jeremiah 46:10) and flesh-eating (Deuteronomy 32:42, Jeremiah 12:12) and probably the rider on a red horse from Revelation 6:3-4.

Lilit: Appears just once, Isaiah 34:14, where she's dwelling in some ruins. Usually translated as "screech owl" or "night bird", but some use "Lilith". In Mesopotamian mythology, the lili are a class of nocturnal female demons associated who kill babies and are associated with owls, so the translation as "screech owl" is acceptable. The Songs of the Sage from the Dead Sea Scrolls refer to liliyot (feminine plural) as a class of demons: "And I, the Instructor, proclaim His glorious splendour so as to frighten and to te[rrify] all the spirits of the destroying angels, spirits of the bastards, demons, liliths, howlers...

Livyatan: Usually anglicised as Leviathan, and appears five times: Job 3:8 and chapter 41, Psalms 74:12-14 and 104:26 and Isaiah 27:1. Based on those appearances, he's a multi-headed fire-breathing sea serpent immune to weapons who battles with Yahweh and (of course) always loses. The myth of a god fighting a sea serpent is a staple of world mythology. Likely correlates to the beast from the sea of Revelation 13:1-10, since Leviathan is paired with a beast from the earth (Behemoth; Job 40:15-24) - also compare Revelation 13:4 ("Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?”) to Job 41:33-34 ("On earth there is not his like, a creature without fear. He sees everything that is high; he is king over all the sons of pride").

Nephilim: Famously appear in Genesis 6:1-4 as the warriors born of the sons of God and the daughters of men, understood in Second Temple Jewish texts such as the Book of Enoch and the Septuagint to be giants born of fallen angels and human women. They appear by the name Anakim or Rephaim in Genesis 14:5, 15:20, Deuteronomy 1:28, 2:10-11, 2:20-21, 3:11, 3;13, 9:2 and Joshua 11:21-22, 12:4, 13:12, 14:12, 14:15 and 15:8 and war with giants appears in 2 Samuel 21:16-22, 1 Chronicles 20:4-8 and, of course, 1 Samuel 17 (the David and Goliath story).

Qeteb: Appears just 4 times (Deuteronomy 32:24; Psalm 91:6; Isaiah 28:2; Hosea 13:14), together with Deber in the Psalms and Hosea appearances and together with Resheph in Deuteronomy; if there's any lesson from this post so far, it's that plague demons hunt in packs. A diurnal plague demon whose name is rendered in English as "destruction"; nothing more to be said.

Ra'av: The third most prominent one, appearing 35 times; a famine demon whose name is rendered in English as "famine" or "hunger" who is unleashed on Israel as punishment together with (surprise!) Hereb and either Deber or Resheph. Probably the rider on a black horse from Revelation 6:5-6.

Rephaim: The spirits of dead kings who dwell in the underworld not doing much, translated in the ESV as shades and appearing in Isaiah 14:9 and 26:14; the same imagery and concept is being used by Ezekiel 32:20-30.

Resheph: A demon of plague and conquest worshipped as a god in Canaanite and Egyptian culture, depicted as a bearded archer on a white horse. Appears just 6 times in the Hebrew Bible (Deuteronomy 32:24; Habakkuk 3:5 Psalm 78:48; Job 5:7, Song of Songs 8:6); the name is rendered as "plague" or "pestilence" or occasionally "fire" or "sparks" because the name literally means "burning". Probably the rider on a white horse from Revelation 6:2.

Sources and Further Reading

"Before Him Went Pestilence (Hab. 3:5) - Biblical Lexis and Semantic Field of Epidemics" by Jozef Jankovic for The Old Testament Society of South Africa

"A Land of Giants" by Frs. Andrew Stephen Damick and Stephen DeYoung on The Lord of Spirits

"War, Famine, Disease, Death and Hades" by Fr. Stephen DeYoung on The Whole Counsel of God

"Who is Azazel?" by Fr. Stephen DeYoung on The Whole Counsel of God

Who is Lilith - Ancient Development and Origins of the Demon Queen by Dr. Justin Sledge on ESOTERICA

Or in short - stop making it all about Lilith. Use some other Hebrew Bible demons.

[writing-whump]

Fic Masterlist 1-90

1. Sick and hurt Matthew, Isaiah and reluctant Seline help

2. Matthew defends Seline and gets sick

3. Matthew helping sick Isaiah

4. Matthew helping sick Isaiah p.2 (Isaiah's pov)

5. Matthew with stomach flu + caretaker Seline

6. Seline sick with Isaiah on the road

7. Seline sick p.2 + Isaiah and Matthew

8. Food poisoning Matthew + caretaker Isaiah

9. Isaiah poisoned at an event p.1 + Sonny and Matthew

10. Isaiah poisoned p.2 + Seline and Matthew as caretakers

11. Recovering Isaiah, panicked Matthew, moving in together idea

12. Sick Seline with a headache + Isaiah

13. Matthew mixing milk with bubbly drinks + Seline as caretaker

14. Matthew sick from roller coaster ride + Isaiah as caretaker

15. Isaiah stress sick during a movie night + Seline as caretaker

16. Hector with a broken leg + Isaiah reluctantly helps

17. Late night visit with bleeding hand Reuben + Isaiah angsting

18. Caleb sick from fear + Seline + Matthew

19. Seline crying + upset sick Matthew + Isaiah as caretaker

20. Hector sick from Seline's protective wards

21. Isaiah sick from a nightmare + Seline

22. Matthew sick from hiding an infected injury + Seline + worried Isaiah

23. Matthew with a stomach bug calls Isaiah to pick him up + awkward comfort Seline

24. Isaiah catches Matthew's bug + Seline + bellyrubs

25. Seline with a cold + Isaiah + fluff

26. Flashback: upset 18 years old Isaiah can't stop throwing up + crying + reluctant caretaker Sonny

27. Feverish Matthew + backstory reveal + Isaiah and Seline for comfort

28. Arnie with ear infection + Isaiah as caretaker + brotherly reunion

29. Isaiah + heart episode + sick at night + Matthew for help

30. Flashback fic: 17 years old Isaiah, abusive father, Reuben as prisoner

31. Drunk sick emotional Arnie + angry worried Hector

32. Emberassed in denial Isaiah sick from a gory movie + worried angry Matthew

33. Hector with food poisoning + guilty anxious Arnie + calling Isaiah for help

34. Hector recovering from food poisoning + emotional talk with Isaiah

35. Hurt Matt + Hector helps + brings him to Isaiah

36. Seline crying and stressing over trains + Matthew with a concussion for comfort

37. Isaiah comes home to find Seline and Matt huddled together in bed

38. Isaiah with a high fever and a nosebleed + calls Seline to come home to help

39. Hector with bruised ribs + Arnie sick with the flu hiding from he so he doesn't catch it

40. Part 2: Isaiah helping sick Arnie and hurt Hector

41. Seline with upset tummy + Isaiah gives her bellyrubs + fluff

42. Matt sick with heatstroke + Isaiah for comfort

43. Isaiah with heart episode at an event + meeting Matt's sister + Hector trying to help

44. Part 2: Isaiah with heart episode + Hector + Matthew argue

45. Burpy with little indigestion Isaiah + Seline fluff

46. Hector claustrophobic and motion sick on the subway + meeting Olive

47. Flashback: Seline and Isaiah first meeting + magic emeto

48. Hector and Arnie find out the truth about Isaiah + stress sick Hector + Arnie for comfort + angst

49. Feverish Seline cuddling with the boys

50. Stress sick Hector talks with Isaiah about the revelation

51. Arnie with a migraine at night from the revelation + Hector caretaker

52. Isaiah breaks down after the reveal + Matt and Seline for comfort

53. Hector invites Isaiah for breakfast with Arnie + emotional whump + crying + comfort

54. Seline argues with witches + gets attacked by their wolves + Isaiah for rescue

55. Cinema motion sick Matt + Seline + Isaiah

56. Hector gets sick + appendicitis + Arnie for comfort

57. Hector after appendicitis in pain + Isaiah + Arnie

58. Hector with appendicitis part 3

59. Isaiah overeats while visiting Seline's parents + Seline for comfort

60. Isaiah finds Matt coming down with something after the trip

61. Matt gets super sick and emotional during the night + Isaiah for comfort

62. Dylan meets Rip + sick from a hit to the stomach

63. Dylan with a cold + meets Isaiah + caretaker Seline

64. Sick Seline and Isaiah with Dylan's flu + Matthew caretaker

65. Hector + Arnie in a car accident

66. Arnie with stress migraine after the accident + Isaiah

67. Stress sick Isaiah angsting over the accident + Seline

68. Hurt Hector calls Isaiah for help in the middle of the night

69. Hurt Hector part 2: Isaiah, Matthew and Seline help

70. Seline emotional angsting + Isaiah mild food poisoning

71. Isaiah meets with Levi + Rip sick from nearly drowning + Dylan

72. Isaiah hurt hand + sick from pain + Matthew caretaker

73. Matthew with a brutal stomach bug + Isaiah

74. Isaiah violently sick with Arnie part 1

75. Isaiah super sick + Hector part 2

76. Isaiah sick part 3 + stress nauseous Hector + Arnie with a headache + Matt and Seline help out

77. Rip with a silver knife wound to his stomach + Dylan for help

78. Rip silver knife wound part 2: Dylan and Seline for comfort

79. Rip hurt part 3 + Dylan + Isaiah + Rip's backstory

80. Arnie with concussion + Hector and Isaiah angst/fluff

81. Matt sick from his shadow + Isaiah for comfort

82. Seline with period cramps at cinema with Isaiah + Hector and Arnie show up

83. Rip with a stress headache after a fight with Dylan + Isaiah

84. Matt passes out in the park + Hector + Olive

85. Matt fluff and comfort with Seline and Isaiah

86. Fluffy Isaiah and Seline date + slight overeating

87. Isaiah collapses from heart attack + Matt and Seline at the hospital

88. Waiting at the hospital Sel + Matt angst

89. Isaiah wakes up after the operation + nauseous Matt + Seline

90. Isaiah more coherent after surgery + super nausous + Matt

[bearterritory]

PALO ALTO – California track & field ended its regular season in tremendous fashion this week, picking up a more-than-decisive victory on the men's side at the 129th Big Meet by demolishing Stanford at Cobb Track and Angell Field by a margin of 114-48, its largest point differential since 1992. The men also picked up two meet records courtesy of NCAA leader Rowan Hamilton (hammer, 74.46m/244-3) and the 4x100m relay quartet of Chase Williams, George Monroe, Mason Mangum and David Foster (39.46); both were previously owned by the Cardinal, with Hamilton's surpassing Dave Popejoy's 1995 mark by over four meters.   The win from Hamilton capped off the Golden Bears' first podium sweep of the day, which included Ivar Moisander's second-place mark of 68.29m (224-0) and Michael Gupta's third-place 64.57m (211-10); the latter, a personal-best, moved Gupta up to No. 7 in program history. Cal also scored all nine points in the men's pole vault thanks to Will Siemens (4.77m/15-7.75), Parker Terrill (4.77m/15-7.75) and David Brok (4.47m/14-8), then repeated that feat in the discus, where Justin Wirtz's third-place 52.53m/172-4 followed massive personal bests from Nick Godbehere (53.85m/176-8) and Charlie Dang (53.58m/175-9). The decathlete trio of Seth Johnson, Luke Buddie and Riley Knott also went 1-2-3, in that order, in both the 110m hurdles and the javelin; in the hurdles, Johnson's victory came at a time of 14.86 to Buddie's personal-best 15.12 and Knott's 15.16, while the javelin contest resulted in 54.57m (179-0) for Johnson, 52.48m (172-2) for Buddie and 51.51m (169-0) for Knott. One final men's sweep came in the 100m, where Foster (10.25) led Williams (10.39) and Monroe (10.39) to another nine points for Cal.   Other wins for Cal's men came in the long jump (Mangum, 7.66mw/25-1.75), the high jump (Jai Williams, 2.07m/6-9.5), the 400m (Isaiah Shaw, 46.76), the 800m (Iyan Godwin, 1:54.26), the 400m hurdles (Aiden Baker, 52.97), the 200m (Foster, 21.16 – PR) and the 4x400m (Shaw/Godwin/Johnson/Josh Keller, 3:13.23).   In the women's competition, the Cardinal broke a three-year Cal winning streak, taking the win with a score of 90-72. Senior Amari Turner earned Cal's third meet record of the day in the pole vault, surpassing the 2011 mark set by Stanford's Katerina Stefanidi with a winning leap of 4.35m (14-3.25).

Turner's result highlighted one of three podium sweeps on the women's side, with Kylie Hilton (4.07m/13-4.25) and Ali Sahaida (3.97m/13-0.25) rounding out the pole vault top three. Cal also earned that distinction in the 100m hurdles – with Jazlynn Shearer's 13.52 beating out a 13.53 from Jada Hicks and a 14.17 from Mari Testa – and the women's hammer, where Jasmine Blair's 60.47m (198-4) led Adrianna Coleman's 56.54m (185-6) and Destiny Okoh's 56.47m (185-3). Blair later picked up another win in the discus, where she improved her PR (and program No. 2 mark) by over a meter to 59.60m (195-6).   Cal's women took home three more field event victories. The shot put contest landed in favor of Caisa-Marie Lindfors, who posted a throw of 15.18m (49-9.75) for the win, while Myla Canty out-leapt the field in the triple jump (12.19m/40-0) and Carolina Visca out-threw her competition in the javelin (50.03m/164-1).   "I think all of our kids competed to the best of their ability," Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Robyne Johnson said. "Credit to Stanford's women – they were the better team today. Our guys did a really good job, really showed up. I think we can do something special at the Pac-12 Championships."  

[scribeforchrist-blog]

Wrapped in Love 

MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK

=======================

+ Proverbs 3:6 In all your ways, submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

=======================

VERSE OF THE DAY 

======================

+ Luke 2:7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no place for them in the inn.

=======================

** SAY THIS BEFORE YOU READ; HERE’S SOME CHRISTIAN TRUTHS **

I AM STRONG 

I AM FEARLESS 

I AM COURAGEOUS 

I AM LISTENING 

======================

READ TIME: 9 Minutes & 6 Seconds

======================

THOUGHTS:

======================

   So, we can debate when Jesus was born and fuss about whether Christmas isn’t his birthday, but today, we are focusing on Jesus and his birth; his birth was incredible, and how he came into this world was amazing. God used a virgin to bring his son into the world, someone that was pure for a pure human being; Jesus was confirmed through different verses in the Bible that he was coming to the world.

 • Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 

•Jeremiah 23:5: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land

 

•Hosea 11:1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son

    Jesus came here for the sinner, when he was born his birth was done not with royal linen or gold everywhere he was simply born in a manger. “Luke 2:7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no place for them in the inn.

  A lot of us need all these things before we do anything, but not Jesus; he just needed a place to enter, and he did. and as he grew, he grew to do his father's work even as a child, his parents lost him one day because he wanted to teach. He told his mother I was about my father's business; he knew then what his calling was. 

  Luke 2:49-50 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.

Do you know your calling? Do you know that Jesus called us all to do something? My calling might not look like yours, but we all are called to do something amazing in his name. Jesus knew what he must do; you see that he must be about his father’s business, which means he must teach and save the world; a lot of us don’t want to do his will; we don’t want to do the calling he has placed on us because we feel we can’t do it, but when God placed a calling on us he will give us the strength and power to do it, our power is finite, but he is infinite. 

  Verse 52: Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and favor with God and all the people.

  His wisdom grew as he grew, and many people were astonished by what he knew because he grew up locally in the town, and some saw him as just Jesus, the carpenter’s boy.

  Matthew 13:55;57 Then they scoffed, “He’s just the carpenter’s son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers—James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. (57) They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.

  As he was here, many people refused to listen to him; they were offended he was even teaching; they felt he couldn’t be the Messiah because he was the son of a carpenter. No matter where you come from or your past sins, God wants to use you; a lot of people don’t understand our journey, a lot of people don’t understand the passion you have for the love of God, but that’s okay what’s the most important thing is God, not our emotions leading  us. 

  John 15:6   If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire, and burned

  This week, we learned about our connection with God and how we must continue to have a stable connection with God and how to do this, we must pray and read our word; a lot of us don’t want to go through this and put the time in with God, we want all the blessing, but not the blesser we want all the gift but no studying and God wants us to always be in our word.

   James 1:12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

   When we start to study and allow God to use us, we will be attacked, but we shouldn’t be surprised because of what Jesus went through. Jesus had people who were cruel to him, but he still pushed forward through the words and mistreatment, and we must do the same. 

  Psalm 62:5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.”

  While we are going through it, we must know we aren’t alone; it might feel like it , but we aren’t. God wants us always to know we are never alone and that we can wait on him! I can be in the worst place in my life, and I know he understands me, and I know that he won’t allow me to endure by myself. 

  Joseph endured so much, but the lord was with him every step of the way. God made sure he had favor even with people around him; when we allow God to use us and we walk in him, he will make our enemies our footstool; a lot of us won’t wait for God to move; we do it ourselves, and we should always wait on God in our hard time.

   Psalm 56:3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

  Fear can make us feel like we are all alone, but fear is a tactic the enemy uses to keep us stagnant in the plan of God; sometimes, we can think we are moving, but we aren’t because we have allowed fear to take over sure plenty of people in the Bible, we’re afraid. Still, they didn’t let their fears stop them from doing the will of God. We must stop allowing fear to run our lives and start letting God control what’s happening in our lives; when we let God conquer our fears, we can better handle what’s happening around us. 

    *** Today, we reviewed what we learned this week about the birth of Jesus. Jesus was born in a manger. A lot of us wouldn’t set foot in a manger, but he did; he was born there, the lord wanted when he came into this world that it be simple, and it was, he could’ve came into this world draped in gold, and in the best place to stay in but that would’ve taken away from the beauty of who he is and why he came here. 

  As he got older, he started to do what he was called to do, and many of us know our calling, but because it’s not what we want, we refuse to do it. God has called us all to do something in our lives, whether to preach, teach, or be an usher; whatever it is, we must do it for his glory.

   We might be fearful of what that is and fearful of doing it, but whatever he’s given to us, we can do it in his strength, not our own. We do it in him and for him; that’s why we must ask for a fresh anointing to go into the world and teach about him every day. We all have been afraid, but we can all conquer it if we keep our hand in his hand. If you feel that you have allowed fear to take over or have a calling on your life that you haven’t started, go and talk to God today, and he will extinguish all your fears and point you in the right direction.  ©Seer~ Prophetess Lee

======================

PRAYER

=====================

Heavenly Father, thank you for today, thank you for giving us , health, and strength. Lord, we need you so severely we ask you to be with us and help us to understand that you can conquer anything that comes our way; Lord, we ask you to give us a fresh anointing so that we may teach the way you want us to teach preached the way you want to preach we do everything in your will. We can’t do it alone. We ask you right now to cover us in your blood, help us to apply this lesson to our lives, and help us to be more like you in Jesus' name, amen.

======================

REFERENCES 

======================

+ Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you

 

+ Psalm 34:4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears

 

+ Luke. 2:7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger because there was no place for them in the inn.

======================

FURTHER READINGS 

======================

 Proverbs 21

Isaiah 37

Hosea 12

Lamentations 13

Joshua 24

======================

[orthodoxadventure]

2nd Saturday of Great Lent: Memorial Saturday

Commemorated on March 30

Only Creator, with wisdom profound, You mercifully order all things, and give that which is needed to all men: Give rest, O Lord, to the souls of Your servants who have fallen asleep, for they have placed their trust in You, our Maker and Fashioner, and our God.

Saturday is the day which the Church has set aside for the commemoration of faithful Orthodox Christians departed this life in the hope of resurrection to eternal life. Since the Divine Liturgy cannot be served on weekdays during Great Lent, the second, third, and fourth Saturdays of the Fast are appointed as Soul Saturdays when the departed are remembered at Liturgy.

In addition to the Liturgy, kollyva (wheat or rice cooked with honey and mixed with raisins, figs, nuts, sesame, etc.) is blessed in church on these Saturdays. The kollyva reminds us of the Lord’s words, “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (John 12:24).The kollyva symbolizes the future resurrection of all the dead. As Saint Simeon of Thessalonica (September 15) says, man is also a seed which is planted in the ground after death, and will be raised up again by God’s power. Saint Paul also speaks of this (I Cor. 15:35-49).

It is customary to give alms in memory of the dead in addition to the prayers we offer for their souls. The angel who spoke to Cornelius testifies to the efficacy of almsgiving, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God” (Acts 10:4).

Memorial services for the dead may be traced back to ancient times. Chapter 8 of the Apostolic Constitutions recommends memorial services with Psalms for the dead. It also contains a beautiful prayer for the departed, asking that their voluntary and involuntary sins be pardoned, that they be given rest with the Patriarchs, Prophets, and Apostles in a place where sorrow, suffering, and sighing have fled away (Isaiah 35:10). Saint John Chrysostom mentions the service for the dead in one of his homilies on Philippians, and says that it was established by the Apostles. Saint Cyprian of Carthage (Letter 37) also speaks of our duty to remember the martyrs.

The holy Fathers also testify to the benefit of offering prayers, memorial services, Liturgies, and alms for the dead (Saint John Chrysostom, Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, Saint John of Damascus, etc.). Although both the righteous and those who have not repented and corrected themselves may receive benefit and consolation from the Church’s prayer, it has not been revealed to what extent the unrighteous can receive this solace. It is not possible, however, for the Church’s prayer to transfer a soul from a state of evil and condemnation to a state of holiness and blessedness. Saint Basil the Great points out that the time for repentance and forgiveness of sins is during the present life, while the future life is a time for righteous judgment and retribution (Moralia 1). Saint John Chrysostom, Saint Gregory the Theologian, and other patristic writers concur with Saint Basil’s statement.

By praying for others, we bring benefit to them, and also to ourselves, because “God is not so unjust as to forget your work and the love which you showed for His sake in serving the saints...” (Heb. 6:10).

[Text from OCA]

With the saints give rest, O Christ, to the souls of Your servants, where there is neither sickness nor sorrow, and no more sighing, but life everlasting.

[jaguar726]

Before I was born the Lord called me; from my mother’s womb, he has spoken my name

Daily Verse Reading – Isaiah 49:1-6 The Servant of the Lord49 Listen to me, you islands;hear this, you distant nations:Before I was born the Lord called me;from my mother’s womb, he has spoken my name.2 He made my mouth like a sharpened sword,in the shadow of his hand, he hid me;he made me into a polished arrowand concealed me in his quiver.3 He said to me, “You are my servant,Israel, in whom I…

[walkswithmyfather]

GOD IS GOOD!

God is good all the time (Psalm 25:8; 106:1; 119:68; 145:9; Matthew 19:17).

God is wise (Romans 16:27; Daniel 2:20; 1 Timothy 1:17; Jude 25).

God is holy (Leviticus 19:2; Job 6:10).

God is just (Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalms 92:15; 119:37; Zephaniah 3:5).

God is merciful (Ephesians 2:4; Exodus 34:6; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 100:5).

God redeems (Psalm 78:35; Proverbs 23:11; Isaiah 41:14; 47:4; 59:20; Jeremiah 50:34).

God saves (Isaiah 43:3-11; 45:21; 49:26).

God sanctifies (Exodus 31:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Jude 1).

God is Judge over all (Genesis 18:25; Psalm 50:6; 2 Timothy 4:8; Hebrews 12:23).

Nothing or no one is like God (Job 11:7; Isaiah 40:28).

Amen! 🙌

[takeheartdaughter]

He is . . . 

Elohim (God, Judge, Creator) Genesis 1:1

Yahweh (Lord, Jehovah) Genesis 2:4

El Elyon (The Most High God) Genesis 14:18

Adonai (Lord, Master) Genesis 15:2

El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty) Genesis 17:1

El Olam (The Everlasting God, The God of Eternity, The God of the Universe, The God of Ancient Days) Genesis 21:33

He is . . . 

Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide) Genesis 22:14

The Shiloh (The Peace-Maker) Genesis 49:10

)Jehovah Rapha (The Lord That Heals) Exodus 15:26

Jehovah Nissi (The Lord My Banner, The Lord My Miracle) Exodus 17:15

He is . . .

Qanna (Jealous) Exodus 20:5

Jehovah Mekoddishkem (The Lord Who Sanctifies You, The Lord Who Makes Holy) Exodus 31:13

He is . . .

A Star (Numbers 24:17)

A Sceptre out of Israel (Numbers 24:17)

The Accursed of God (Deuteronomy 21:23)

The Captain of the Host of the Lord (Joshua 5:14)

Jehovah Shalom (The Lord Is Peace) Judges 6:24J

ehovah Sabaoth (The Lord of Hosts, The Lord of Powers) 1 Samuel 1:3

The Rock of my Salvation (2 Samuel 22:47)

He is . . . 

The Light of the Morning when the sun rises, a morning without clouds (2 Samuel 23:4)

The Daysman (Job 9:33)

The Interpreter (Job 33:23)

The Anointed (Psalm 2:2; Acts 4:27)

My Rock and my Redeemer (Psalm 19:14)

Crowned with a Crown of Pure Gold (Psalm 21:3)

The Most Blessed for ever (Psalm 21:6)

He is . . .

The Forsaken (Psalm 22:1)

A Worm, and no Man (Psalm 22:6)

Jehovah-Raah (The Lord My Shepherd) Psalm 23:1

My Restorer (Psalm 23:3)

The King of Glory (Psalm 24:10)

He who sitteth King for ever (Psalm 29:10)

He is . . .

 A Stranger and an Alien (Psalm 69:8)

My Strong Rock (Psalm 31:2)

My Rock and my Fortress (Psalm 31:3)

Fairer than the Children of Men (Psalm 45:2)

The Rock that is higher than I (Psalm 61:2)

The Rock of my Strength (Psalm 62:7)

A Rock of Habitation (Psalm 71:3)

He is . . . 

As Rain upon the mown grass. As Showers that water the earth (Psalm 72:6)

The Rock of my Heart (Psalm 73:26)

The Shield (Psalm 84:9)

The Rock of my Refuge (Psalm 94:22)

A King and Priest after the Order of Melchizadek (Psalm 110:4)

A Brother born for adversity (Proverbs 17:17)

A Friend that loveth at all times (Proverbs 17:17)

A Stone of Grace (Proverbs 17:8)

A Friend that sticketh closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24)

He is . . .

 As Ointment poured forth (Song of Solomon 1:3)

My Well-beloved (Song of Solomon 1:13)

A Bundle of Myrrh (Song of Solomon 1:13)

A Cluster of Henna Blooms (Song of Solomon 1:14)

The Rose of Sharon (Song of Solomon 2:1)

The Lily of the Valley (Song of Solomon 2:1)

The Chiefest among Ten Thousand (Song of Solomon 5:10)

His Countenance is as Lebanon (Song of Solomon 5:15)

Yea. He is altogether lovely. He is my beloved and my Friend (Song of Solomon 5:16)

He is . . . 

Holy, Holy, Holy (Isaiah 6:3)

A Sanctuary (Isaiah 8:14)

A Great Light (Isaiah 9:2)

A Son given (Isaiah 9:6)

The Mighty God (Isaiah 9:6)

The Father of Eternity (Isaiah 9:6)

He is . . . 

A Child Born (Isaiah 9:6)

The Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)

An Ensign of the People (Isaiah 11:10)

A Nail fastened in a sure place (Isaiah 22:23)

A Strength to the Poor (Isaiah 25:4)

A Strength to the needy in distress (Isaiah 25:4)

A Shadow from the Heat (Isaiah 25:4)

A Refuge from the Storm (Isaiah 25:4)

He is . . . 

The Rock of Ages (Isaiah 26:4)

A Crown of Glory and Beauty (Isaiah 28:5)

A Sure Foundation (Isaiah 28:16

)A Stone (Isaiah 28:16)

A Tried Stone (Isaiah 28:16)

A Covert from the Tempest (Isaiah 32:2)

He is . . . 

As Rivers of Water in a dry place. As the Shadow of a great Rock in a weary land. As a Hiding-place from the wind (Isaiah 32:2)

The King in his beauty (Isaiah 33:17)

My Leader (Isaiah 40:11)

The Everlasting God (Isaiah 40:28)

Mine Elect, in whom my soul delighteth (Isaiah 42:1)

He is . . . 

A Light of the Gentiles (Isaiah 42:6)

A Covenant of the people (Isaiah 42:6)

A Polished Shaft (Isaiah 49:2)

Glorious (Isaiah 49:5)

The Holy One of Israel (Isaiah 49:7)

He is . . . 

A Man of Sorrows (Isaiah 53:3)

Despised (Isaiah 53:3)

Rejected (Isaiah 53:3)

Stricken (Isaiah 53:4)

Smitten (Isaiah 53:4)

Wounded (Isaiah 53:5)

Bruised (Isaiah 53:5)

Oppressed (Isaiah 53:7)

He is . . .

My Portion, My Maker, My Husband (Isaiah 54:5)

The God of the whole earth (Isaiah 54:5)

A Witness to the People (Isaiah 55:4)

A Leader (Isaiah 55:4)

A Commander (Isaiah 55:4)

The Redeemer (Isaiah 59:20)

Mighty (Isaiah 63:1)

He is . . . 

My Physician (Jeremiah 8:22)

Jehovah Tsidkenu (The Lord Our Righteousness) Jeremiah 23:6

David their King (Jeremiah 30:9)

My Resting-place (Jeremiah 50:6)

My Feeder (Ezekiel 34:23)

A Plant of Renown (Ezekiel 34:29)

Jehovah Shammah (The Lord Is There) Ezekiel 48:35

He is . . . 

The Prince of Princes (Daniel 8:25)

The Messiah, the Prince (Daniel 9:25)

The Strength of the children of Israel (Joel 3:12-16)

The Hope of Thy people (Joel 3:12-16)

A Ruler (Micah 5:2)

King over all the Earth (Zechariah 14:4, 5, 9)

He is . . . 

A Refiner’s Fire (Malachi 3:2)

Fuller’s Soap (Malachi 3:2)

My Refiner (Malachi 3:3)

My Purifier (Malachi 3:3)

The Sun of Righteousness (Malachi 4:2)

He is . . . 

Jesus (Matthew 1:21)

Emanuel, God with us (Matthew 1:23)

Born as The King of the Jews (Matthew 2:2; 15:2)

A Governor (Matthew 2:6)

The Nazarene (Matthew 2:23)

The Bridegroom (Matthew 9:15)

Meek, Lowly (Matthew 11:29)

He is . . .

The One of whom the Father says, “My Beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased” (Matthew 12:18)

The Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16)

Jesus the Christ (Matthew 16:20)

The Rock (Matthew 16:18)

The Builder (Hebrews 3:3; Matthew 16:18)

The Prophet of Nazareth (Matthew 21:11)

He is . . .

Betrayed (Matthew 27:3)

Mocked (Matthew 27:29)

Crucified (Matthew 27:35)

The Holy One of God (Mark 1:24)

My Brother (Mark 3:35)

The Carpenter (Mark 6:3)

And His Life is A Ransom (Mark 10:49)

He is . . .

The Son of the Blessed (Mark 14:61)

He is . . . The Son of the Highest (Luke 1:32)

God my Savior (Luke 1:47)

A Horn of Salvation (Luke 1:69)

The Day-spring from on High (Luke 1:78)

A Savior, which is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:11)

The Salvation of God (Luke 2:30)

He is . . .

The Glory of thy people Israel (Luke 2:32)

Lord of the Sabbath (Luke 6:5)

My Healer (Luke 9:11)

The Christ of God (Luke 9:20)

My Servant (Luke 12:37)

The Chosen of God (Luke 23:35)

Risen (Luke 24:6)

A Prophet mighty in deed and word (Luke 24:19)

He is . . . 

The Word (John 1:1)

The Word that was with God (John 1:1)

The Word that was God (John 1:1)

The Light of men (John 1:4)

The True Light (John 1:9)

The Word that was made flesh (John 1:14)

He is . . .

The only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father (John 1:18)

The Lamb of God (John 1:29)

My Teacher (John 3:2)

The Gift of God (John 3:16, 4:10)

The Messiah (John 4:25)

The Bread of God (John 6:33)

The Bread of Life (John 6:35)

He is . . .

My Meat(John 6:55)

My Drink (John 6:55)

The Light of the world (John 8:12)

The Door of the Sheep (John 10:7)

The Good Shepherd – that laid down his life (John 10:11)

The Sent of the Father (John 10:36)

He is . . . 

The Resurrection (John 11:25)

King of the daughter of Zion (John 12:15)

The Corn of Wheat (John 12:24)

The Light (John 12:35)

My Lord, Master (John 13:13)

My Example (John 13:15)

He is . . . 

The Way (John 14:6)

The Truth (John 14:6)

The Life (John 14:6)

The Vine (John 15:5)

My Keeper (John 17:12)

Scourged (John 19:1)

Crowned with a Crown of Thorns (John 19:2)

Crucified as The King of the Jews (John 19:19)

He is . . . 

Exalted (Acts 2:33)

Glorified (Acts 3:13)

The Holy One and the Just (Acts 3:14)

The Prince of Life (Acts 3:15)

Anointed (Psalm 2:2; Acts 4:27)

A Prince and a Savior (Acts 5:31)

He is . . .

Lord Jesus (Acts 7:59)

Lord of all (Acts 10:36)

The Judge (Acts 17:31)

Jesus of Nazareth (Acts 22:8)

The Mercy-seat (Romans 3:25)

Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 5:21)

He is . . .

The First-Born among many Brethren (Romans 8:29)

Over all, God blessed for ever (Romans 9:5)

Lord over all (Romans 10:12)

The Deliverer (Romans 11:26)

Lord both of the dead and living (Romans 14:9)

The Minister of the Circumcision (Romans 15:8)

He is . . . 

My Wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:30)

My Righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30)

My Sanctification (1 Corinthians 1:30)

My Redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30)

He is . . . 

The Foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11)

My Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7)

That Spiritual Rock (1 Corinthians 10:4)

The Head of every Man (1 Corinthians 11:3)

The First-Fruits of them that slept (1 Corinthians 15:20) 

He is . . . 

The Last Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45)

A Quickening Spirit (1 Corinthians 15:45)

The Image of God (2 Corinthians 4:4)

His Unspeakable Gift (2 Corinthians 9:15)

My Peace (Ephesians 2:14)

He is . . .

The Offering (Ephesians 5:2)

The Sacrifice (Ephesians 5:2)

The Head over all things to the Church (Ephesians 1:22)

He that filleth all in all (Ephesians 1:23)

A Servant (Philippians 2:7) who humbled Himself unto death (Philippians 2:8) even death upon a cross

He is . . .

The Lord Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:2)

The Image of the Invisible God (Colossians 1:15)

The first-born of every creature (Colossians 1:15)

The Creator of all things (Colossians 1:16)

The First-Born from the dead (Colossians 1:18)

The Head of the Body, the Church (Colossians 1:18)

The Head of all Principality and Power (Colossians 2:10)

He is . . . 

My All in All (Colossians 3:11)

Our Lord Jesus Christ himself (2 Thessalonians 2:16)

Lord of Peace (2 Thessalonians 3:16)

My Hope (1 Timothy 1:1)

God manifest in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16)

He is . . . 

The Justified (1 Timothy 3:16)

The Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5)

The Righteous Judge (2 Timothy 4:8)

The great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13)

Obedient (Philemon 2:8)

And His throne is for ever and ever (Hebrews 1:8)

He is . . . 

The Upholder of all things (Hebrews 1:3)

The Express Image of his Person (Hebrews 1:3)

The Brightness of his Glory (Hebrew 1:3)

Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day and for ever (Hebrews 13:8)

The Shepherd of the Sheep (Hebrews 13:20)

The Great Shepherd – that was brought again from the dead (Hebrews 13:20)

He is . . .

The Minister of the Sanctuary and of the True Tabernacle (Hebrews 8:2) and His flesh is The Veil (Hebrews 10:20) which was rent in two

The Altar (Hebrews 13:10)

The Offerer (Hebrews 7:27)

The Forerunner – for us entered, even Jesus (Hebrews 6:20)

He is . . . 

the Priest (Hebrews 5:6)

The High Priest (Hebrews 3:1)

The Great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14)

The Intercessor (Hebrews 7:25)

The Surety (Hebrews 7:22)

The Covenanter (Hebrews 9:16, 17)

He is . . . 

The Captain of Salvation (Hebrews 2:10)

The Author and Finisher of Faith (Hebrews 12:2)

The King of Righteousness (Hebrews 7:2)

The King of Peace (Hebrews 7:2)

Crowned with Glory and Honor (Hebrews 2:9)

He is . . . 

The Tempted (Hebrews 4:15)

The Merciful (Hebrews 2:17)

The Faithful (Hebrews 2:17)

Holy, Harmless (Hebrews 7:26)

Undefiled (Hebrews 7:26)

The Separate (Hebrews 7:26)

The Perfect (Hebrews 5:9)

He is . . . 

My Helper (Hebrews 13:6)

A Lamb without blemish and without spot (1 Peter 1:19)

A Living Stone (1 Peter 2:4)A Chief Corner-stone (1 Peter 2:6)

A Precious Stone (1 Peter 2:6)

He is . . . 

Guileless (1 Peter 2:22)

Reviled (1 Peter 2:23)

The Chief Shepherd  – that shall again appear (1 Peter 5:4)

The Day Star (2 Peter 1:19)

My Savior (2 Peter 3:18)

The Word of Life (1 John 1:1)

The Life (1 John 1:2)

That Eternal Life which was with the Father (1 John 1:2)

He is . . . 

Jesus Christ the Righteous (1 John 2:1)

The Savior of the World (1 John 4:14)

The True God (1 John 5:20)

The Advocate (1 John 2:1)

He is . . . 

Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:5)

The First-Begotten of the dead (Revelation 1:5)

The Prince of the Kings of the earth (Revelation 1:5)

The Almighty, which is, and which was, and which is to come (Revelation 1:8)

The Beginning and the Ending (Revelation 1:8)

The Alpha and the Omega (Revelation 1:8)

He is . . . 

The First and the Last (Revelation 1:17)

He that liveth (Revelation 1:18)

The Tree of Life (Revelation 2:7)

The Hidden Manna (Revelation 2:17)

The Faithful and True Witness (Revelation 3:14)

The Amen (Revelation 3:14)

He is . . . 

The Beginning of the Creation of God (Revelation 3:14)

The Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5)

The Lamb that was slain (Revelation 5:12)

The Lamb in the midst of the throne (Revelation 7:17)

The The Lamb Slain (Revelation 13:8)

He is . . . 

The King of Saints, King of Nations (Revelation 15:3)

Lord of Lords (Revelation 17:14)

Faithful and True (Revelation 19:11)

Crowned with many Crowns (Revelation 19:12)

The Word of God (Revelation 19:13)

He is . . . 

The King of Kings (Revelation 19:16)

The Temple (Revelation 21:22)

The Bright and Morning Star (Revelation 22:16)

[hopealoft]

Who is Jesus Christ?

1. The Son of God

Many Christians who understand their faith believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. The Holy Scriptures refer to Jesus as the Son of God several times. Let’s start from the conception of Jesus Christ.

Luke 1:30-35 (TLB)  “Don’t be frightened, Mary,” the angel told her, “for God has decided to wonderfully bless you! Very soon now, you will become pregnant and have a baby boy, and you are to name him ‘Jesus.’ He shall be very great and shall be called the Son of God. And the Lord God shall give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he shall reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom shall never end!”Mary asked the angel, “But how can I have a baby? I am a virgin.”The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of God shall overshadow you; so the baby born to you will be utterly holy—the Son of God.

This is a famous story told every Christmas when we celebrate the birth of Jesus, but there’s a chance you haven’t heard of it yet. It’s not a mere story; it is History. Mary, a young virgin in Nazareth, Galilee, was engaged to a descendant of the Jewish King David, Joseph. One day, God sent Gabriel – the Angel, to deliver a message to Mary. This is the message seen in the scripture above. God had chosen Mary to bear Jesus Christ. You might ask how? Mary asked the same question! The angel revealed to Mary that she would conceive of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. This is the only event of its kind recorded in history. Jesus Christ was born as the angel of God said, and He has changed the world to date. 

Before Jesus Christ started His ministry, His cousin, John the Baptist, had been announcing the coming of Christ.

John 1:23-28 (TLB)  He replied, “I am a voice from the barren wilderness, shouting as Isaiah prophesied, ‘Get ready for the coming of the Lord!’”Then those who were sent by the Pharisees asked him, “If you aren’t the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?”John told them, “I merely baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you have never met, who will soon begin his ministry among you, and I am not even fit to be his slave.”This incident took place at Bethany, a village on the other side of the Jordan River where John was baptizing.

Although John the Baptist didn’t know who Christ was, he announced that Jesus was the Christ when He came to be baptised by John the Baptist.

John 1:29-34 (TLB)  The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! There is the Lamb of God who takes away the world’s sin! He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Soon a man far greater than I am is coming, who existed long before me!’ I didn’t know he was the one, but I am here baptizing with water in order to point him out to the nation of Israel.”Then John told about seeing the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descending from heaven and resting upon Jesus.“I didn’t know he was the one,” John said again, “but at the time God sent me to baptize he told me, ‘When you see the Holy Spirit descending and resting upon someone—he is the one you are looking for. He is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ I saw it happen to this man, and I therefore testify that he is the Son of God.”

Several accounts of people calling Jesus the Son of God because of the supernatural things He did. 

Nathanael:

John 1:49 (TLB) Nathanael replied, “Sir, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!”

Peter:

John 6:68-69 (TLB)  Simon Peter replied, “Master, to whom shall we go? You alone have the words that give eternal life, and we believe them and know you are the holy Son of God.”

Martha: 

John 11:27 (TLB)  “Yes, Master,” she told him. “I believe you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one we have so long awaited.”

Paul the Apostle:

Romans 1:1-4 (TLB)  Paul, Jesus Christ’s slave, chosen to be a missionary, and sent out to preach God’s Good News. This Good News was promised long ago by God’s prophets in the Old Testament. It is the Good News about his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who came as a human baby, born into King David’s royal family line; and by being raised from the dead he was proved to be the mighty Son of God, with the holy nature of God himself. Hebrews 4:14 (TLB)  But Jesus the Son of God is our great High Priest who has gone to heaven itself to help us; therefore, let us never stop trusting him.

[theprayerfulword]

September 26

Hebrews 13:5 God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths

Matthew 6:15 If you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins

Hebrews 6:10 God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them.

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Romans 12:8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

May you realize that the Lord Who has called you is worth hearing, and that you are well-advised to give your attention to the One Who is the first and the last, Whose own hand laid the foundations of the earth and Whose right hand spread out the heavens, for God is the One before Whom they all stand up together when He summons, and as you obey, you will be blessed. Isaiah 48

May you know that the Lord, even your God, is He Who teaches you what is best for you, and leads you in the way you should go, for if you pay attention to His commands, your peace will be like a river & your righteousness like the waves of the sea, and those He brings to you, and those who come from you, will be like the numberless grains of sand. Isaiah 48

May you go in obedience to His sending, in the leading of the Spirit, announcing with shouts of joy, and proclaiming to the ends of the earth, that the Lord has redeemed His servants, and He will provide their needs as they seek Him with their hearts. Isaiah 48

May you understand that before you were born, the Lord called you, and from your birth He has known your name, for He has shaped you and protected you, forming you according to His will, that He will have in you a willing servant through whom to display His splendor, and your reward is in the Lord's hand. Isaiah 49

May you willingly accept that the Lord has formed you in the womb to be His servant to show God's redemption to His people and to call His own to Himself, thus you are honored in the eyes of the Lord and your God is your strength. Isaiah 49

May you be confident that in the time which God favors He will answer you, and in the day of salvation He will help you, keeping and protecting you so that, through you, He may demonstrate the promises and certainty of His covenant, made in the blood of His Son, to bring restoration and an inheritance to His own, giving freedom to captives and setting at liberty those in darkness. Isaiah 49

May you be guided by Him Who has compassion on you, for He will lead you beside springs of water, feeding you beside the roads and finding provision on every barren hill so that you will neither hunger nor thirst nor will the desert heat or the sun beat upon you, for the Lord will turn all His mountains into roads & His highways will be raised up. Isaiah 49

May you shout for joy with those in the heavens and rejoice with all those on the earth, bursting into song on the mountains, for the Lord comforts His people and will have compassion on His afflicted ones. Isaiah 49

May you rejoice in the understanding that the Lord will never forsake you or abandon you, but always remember you, for though a mother might have no compassion on her child, He has engraved you on His palms and can never forget you. Isaiah 49

May you comprehend the fact that the Lord is God when you see the blessings He will provide you, for those who hope in Him will not be disappointed. Isaiah 49

May you be filled with joy at the trustworthy promise of God to retrieve the captives from warriors, and regain plunder from the fierce, for the Lord will contend with those who contend with you, & He will save your children as He destroys their oppressors, & then all mankind will know that He, the Lord, is your Savior, your Redeemer, your Mighty One! Isaiah 49

My child, you are bought with a price, a very high price, indeed! The price was willingly paid, and your debt was gladly redeemed from the hand of the one who held it. But do not think that you have been reclaimed from the tormenting captivity of an enemy to be a free spirit. You are a babe in the woods; you have no strength, no understanding, no defense against the powers that prowl. You have been accepted and adopted into the family of God, and the Father has placed His seal upon you, covering you with His protecting care, assigning designated guardians to watch over you. But until you grow in the Word and the Spirit to a maturity and an understanding of who you are in Me, you are constrained by boundaries and restricted by rules, watched over by lovingly strict taskmasters and guarded by compassionately fierce warriors. As you learn lessons designed for your growth and needs, you are expected to take part in the work of the kingdom, doing age-appropriate tasks and completing complementary assignments. These are designed to reveal more lessons and areas of growth with the purpose of answering your questions. As you walk this out, the understanding you gain from obediently following My Spirit’s leading reveals Me more clearly to and through your spirit. These times and guides can chafe on occasion, My love. I understand and offer the comfort of My presence as you work through it. Do not draw back or seek to change direction, for it only delays the time until we can rejoice together in the light and know the full joy of fellowship one with another. Submit to the training, hard though it is, and yield your heart to be taught with the loving discipline that marks a true and beloved child of the Father. The time is short, the night is near, and there is work to be done. Come, take My hand, walk in My faith, receive My strength, for it only requires your agreement; I am your Source for all that is required.

May you be there in the day of the Lord, and may you answer when He calls, knowing with full confidence that His arm is not too short to ransom you and He has the strength to rescue you. Isaiah 50

May you not draw back, but be obedient when the Sovereign Lord wakens you morning by morning, teaching as you listen, opening your ears and giving you an instructed tongue to know the words that sustain the weary. Isaiah 50

May you not hide yourself from those who mock you, and offer your back to those who spitefully use you, for as you set your face like flint to obediently follow Him, the Sovereign Lord will help you, and you will not be disgraced or put to shame. Isaiah 50

May you not fear your accuser but confront the one who brings condemning charges against you, facing him without anxiety, for the One Who vindicates you is near, and it is the Sovereign Lord Who helps you. Isaiah 50

May you fear the Lord and obey the word of His servant so that, even though you walk in the dark with no light, you can trust in the name of the Lord and rely on your God. Isaiah 50

May you no longer live as others do, in the futility of their thinking, darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of hardened hearts, always indulging in, and desiring more, impurity, but put off your old self and put on the new self, with a new attitude of mind, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4

May you speak only what is useful for building others up according to their needs, that it may help those who hear. Ephesians 4

May you get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, with every form of malice, and be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you. Ephesians 4

May you continually look for God, till it seems your eyes will fail, and may you never cease to call to Him for help, though your throat becomes parched, for because Christ was willing to pay what He did not owe, when you hope in Him you will not be disgraced, and when you seek Him you will not be put to shame. Psalm 69

May you pray to the Lord that in the time that He favors, by His great love, you will be answered with His great salvation, and you will not sink into the mire, but He will deliver you from the deep waters of those who hate you, and the depths of the floodwaters will not close over you. Psalm 69

May you see the goodness of the Lord's love when, in His great mercy, He turns to you and answers you quickly, coming near and redeeming you because of your foes. Psalm 69

May you seek the Lord for wisdom, for it gives great power, and may you study God's ways, for His knowledge increases strength. Proverbs 24:5

May you seek for, and rely on, the Lord's guidance in the spiritual war raging around you, and may He provide you many advisors who know the mind of the Lord, that you may walk in His victory. Proverbs 24:6