JANUARY JEWELS 2020 17-23

We continue our journey with ‘aha’ moments, as light dawns a little earlier each day.  God’s enLightening Word takes us back to the beginning and moves forth through

one sin-filled generation after another.  This is life as we know it.  With God . . .  without God . . . . turning from God . . .  seeking God.  Humanity is in flux but God’s hand upon us is steady.  The more we seek, the straighter our path becomes.  As we journey we glean more sustenance for our soul.  

Come along, let’s journey together as we enjoy quotes from wise souls and then continue to meditate on God’s Word.

“We see in the Gospels that whenever our Lord was about to undertake some important step, He always paused for a moment to raise His eyes to Heaven, and only after this moment of recollection did He take up the work He had to do. 'He lifted up His eyes to Heaven' is a phrase that recurs with significant frequency. 

      And doubtless, when there was no outward sign of this prayer, there was the inward offering. The ideal is the same for us. The constant subjection of self to the guidance of the Holy Spirit is made easier from the fact of His presence in the soul, where He is asked explicitly to preside over all our doings . . .  We shall not submit wholeheartedly to the invisible Guest unless He is kept in close proximity to us.”    Raoul Plus, S.J., p. 37-8 “How to Pray Always.”

"Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.”   Isaiah 40:31

1-17  Genesis 6:1-8; Psalm 16,17, 22; Hebrews 3:12-19; John 2:1-12

Genesis 6:3  God said, “My spirit will not strive with

man forever.” :8 Noah found favor with God and bore Shem, Ham, Japheth.  :14 Noah was called by God to make an ark of Gopher wood.  :18 God made covenant with Noah’s family . . . :22 Noah did all God commanded.”

The book of Genesis is heavy with stories of God’s good and man’s indifference the moment humanity was ushered out of the garden.  The world as this populous know it was so filled with sin that God needed to ‘cleanse the earth.’

       Yet, this earth was parch-dry.  No lakes, no streams, only wells dug deep to sustain this desolate soul-parched generation.  Men chose idol-worshipping wives from the surrounding pagan communities and did evil in the sight of God.  God allowed them to live long (about 120 years) perhaps in hopes they would turn to God in grief for their sin-filled lives.  God grieved.  

 God reminds us that if there is even one who seeks, God will be with that person forever.  Noah was the odd one of all.  Noah sought God, focused on God, remained steadfast with God and weathered the mocking, jeering crowds who thought he was crazy.  Amazingly, his wife did also and so did their obedient children, Ham, Shem and Japheth.  God made covenant with them and directed the mighty work of the Ark in the middle of parched land, arid surroundings, with no rain in sight.  Noah did all that God commanded as he built this edifice 30 cubits long, 30 cubits high, 50 cubits wide, with 3 decks, windows at the top and one door on the side. Then God told Noah to open the doors for two of every kind of God’s creation . . .  including the sin-filled people who mocked this holy family.

Now let’s imagine we were present at the time.  Here is a crazy guy building what looks like something that would hold far more than the current population of everything.  It must have taken Noah years!  Where did he find the materials?  How did he know the plans?  God provides as  we see throughout scripture.

Think about it:  Would you accept the invitation to board this edifice knowing full well there has been no rain  and there would be no rain?  What would you do if you did

come along?  The rain did not come until the ‘boat’ was full and the doors were closed.  In fact, Noah and family must have wondered what was going on?

      How could anyone have such faith? We know the story but the others did not.

Do you have a “faith” story that seemed wild and crazy when God directed you?

Did that story turn out to be a ‘life saver’?  

        How about the church you currently attend?  How did God direct you to choose this particular place of worship?  Is the preaching life-saving?  Are you attending a Bible study or a group that challenges you to grow in Christ?  Are you actively feeding on God’s word while ‘serving the Lord with gladness?’

If we call our selves Christian, we believe that God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit . . .  three in one . . . all together . . . is directing our path.  In so doing, we are to get on the boat.  We are called to actively grow and learn about the One who called us into HIS boat.  

Think about where you are in your journey.  

Are you fully on board?

1-18    Peter, the Apostle, confessed Jesus as the Christ  

Acts 4:8-13, Psalm 23; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Matthew 16:13-19

Matthew 16:15  Jesus said, “Who do you say that I Am?”  Peter answered, “You are the Christ the son of the living God.”  Jesus: “Bless you Simon Barjona because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you but My Father who is in Heaven.  :18  You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.  :19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.”

We celebrate special days for great women and men in this country.  We celebrate St. Patrick and take a day off to celebrate the birth of Jesus.  Yet, we do not give a second thought to celebrating the Apostle Peter, whom Jesus selected to manage the leaders of this New Covenant movement after Jesus’ ascension. 

     Jesus chose Peter to take charge of furthering the Gospel. He chose Peter, who stated from his heart, “You are the Christ the son of the living God.”  Yet, Peter, in a moment of fear when Jesus was arrested, denied that he knew Jesus to save his own skin.  Jesus knew Peter’s heart, his steadfast spirit, his charisma with crowds, his holy boldness and his determination to help others live

this ‘new covenant’ life that Jesus’ could only provide through His death.

Peter was given the authority to lead the way of repentance through faith  in the Son of God, Jesus Christ.  Peter gave direction to potential leaders who would, in turn, teach others.  Peter’s writings focused mostly on the leadership as this ‘Way of Christ’, later called Christianity, spread throughout the outermost parts of the world.

1 Peter 5:1-2  says, “. . . I exhort the leaders among you to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it . . . “

Think about it:  Have you read much about Peter? 
 Read the Gospels, the book of Acts and then 1 & 2 Peter to give you some idea how Peter developed into an honored leader who had access to all the treasure of heaven, as we do. 

Do you think you have some ‘Peter’ in you?  

Do you have Holy Boldness one minutes and another minute become complacent or say things that Peter might say that are not so polite?

I bet there is a little Peter in all of us who are faith-filled and eager to get the message out to the world that will give all eternal life.

Take a few moments to digest the leadership qualities that Peter gained as he grew in Christ.  
Do you have some of these qualities?  

Perhaps you have been chosen by the Lord to be a leader in your church or your circle of Christian friends.  

Tap into that Holy Boldness that you have within your soul as Peter did.

Step out in faith as you share the love of the Lord with the world.

You may be in for a bumpy ride . . .  but so worth it as you lead others into the loving, grace-filled arms of Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Let’s follow in Peter’s footsteps.

Use your holy boldness to tell others your story.

Tell others how Jesus changed your life and wants to change hearts and lives of generations to come.

That’s what Peter would do if he were with us today.

1-19  Second Sunday of Epiphany  

Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 40; 1 Corinthians 1:1-9; John 1:29-42

Isaiah 49:2b “He has also made me a select arrow, He has hidden me in His quiver.  :5 . . .  who formed me from the womb to be his servant.”

John 29:35  “The next day John again was standing

with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!”  :37  The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.  ”When the disciples asked Jesus where he was staying, :39 Jesus said to them,”Come and see.” :40 One of the two was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. :41 He first found his brother, Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah.”  :42 He brought Simon to Jesus who looked at him [Simon] and said, “You are Simon son of John.  You are to be called Cephas, (which is translated Peter).”

The ingathering of Jesus' disciples begins.  One is curious, then two, then others follow.  “Come and See,” was the only instruction Andrew heard before he scampered off to find his brother, Simon.  Of the ‘two’ who followed Jesus, only one is identified as Andrew.  Andrew and the ‘other’ disciple only heard John’s testimony of what happened the previous day . . . when John baptized Jesus.  They so trusted John’s declaration, they simply followed.

       Andrew and his companion were drawn into the world of Jesus as if a very strong magnet were pulling them.  Jesus’ magnetic-like presence seemed to overtake all whom Jesus ‘called’ to “Come, follow Me.”  It’s as if they’d been chosen by God when they were conceived.   As the prophet, Isaiah says, “He has hidden me in His quiver . . . who formed me from the womb to be his servant.”  These men knew, deep in their spirit, almost unconsciously, they must follow.  Although they only had John’s testimony, this was enough.  They would never turn back.  They were ready to say, “yes” to Jesus, drop everything to come- and-see.

Not only did Simon “come and see” at the request of

his brother, his entire identity changed the moment he met Jesus. Simon-Peter was transformed.  Not that he became perfect by any means.  Yet, Jesus knew who Peter would become and changed his name.  Identity, in those days, was locked into their name.  Names had meaning that dictated their future.  

     Almost instantly, Simon’s new identifying name became Cephas.  The Greek translation is “Peter,” which means “rock.”  Simon, called Peter, was part of Jesus’ plan from the very beginning.  
Jesus know Andrew would seek him out.  
Jesus knew Simon-Peter would come.  
Jesus knew Peter would choose to drop his profession as a fisherman to become a “fisher of men.”  
From that day forward, Peter’s life was turned up-side-down.  He and the other disciples were in for a life journey they’d never expected.  

What a ride!

Think about it:  “Come and See.”  Powerful words.  Think back to the beginning of your journey with Christ. 
Did someone say to you, “Come and see?”  
Did you drop everything and “Go?”  
Did you attend a bible study to see what it was all about? 

Or, did you visit churches seeking to understand more about Jesus?  
Perhaps you were very young and eagerly visited Sunday school where you came and saw and learned and loved the One who loves us unconditionally.

Each of us has a story about how we were drawn into the loving arms of God through His Son.  Your story may not seem significant but it is.  Peter was minding his own business, fishing, when his brother said, “Come and see.”  The rest is history. . . and the history of Peter’s contribution to further the good news of Jesus Christ is astounding.  He was just a fisherman.  

Many of us are like Peter, moving along in our lives, when we make a choice that changes our world.  
We are now disciples . . . or are we?  
     Identify a turning point when you expressed a holy boldness for Christ Jesus as did the disciples.
      List ways you currently cling to God’s precepts in scripture that guide you in your Christ-journey.  
     Set a goal to share your life-changing story [no more than 3 minutes long], as Jesus’ disciple, with . . .  [list one person or a dozen within a specific time period.] 
     For instance I might say,  “I will share 1 of many life-changing stories I’ve experienced since coming to Christ with 1 different person each month for 1 year.”  

The Lord has already chosen those who will listen.  

We simply have to invite those on our heart to come . . .see . . . hear . . .  seek.  

God will give you holy boldness to share your story.

Pray about it. 

See what happens.

1-20  Genesis 8:6-22; Psalm 25,9,15; Hebrews 4:14 —5:6; John 2:23—3:15

Genesis 8:6 “At the end of forty days Noah opened the window and sent out a raven, then a dove seven days later.  the dove returned with an olive branch. :12 Seven more days and the dove was sent out again, not to return.  :13 In the 601st year, the first month, the first day, the water dried from land.  The second month, 27th day, the earth was dry.  :15  God spoke: “Go out of the ark.” :20 Noah built an ALTAR to the Lord and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.  :21 God said, “. . .  I will never again  destroy every living creature as I have done.”   :22 While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

 It’s in the details.  

       We know the story from childhood but deep study reveals some nuances.  This story is like twisting two separate vines together. As they grow up the trellis they become one.  God’s ‘new’ beginning, re-creation, comes from two sources and intertwines the ‘Priestly’ (P) version and the ‘Jahwist’ (J) versions together.  Same God but different way to address: “G-d” or YHWH.  One version has Noah floating around for 150 days and the version we often refer to, YHWH, is only 40 days long.  In both, God is in charge, God directs Noah, God destroys the land, and all that is in it, with flood, God brings the ark to new land, God directs a new beginning.  Noah and family wait.  Trust. Wait a little longer for God’s direction to disembark.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  This is a new year!  First month, first day . . . new beginning!  It took two months of waiting before the land was dry enough to unload.  God promises never again to cause hardship when tilling the soil as was told to Adam when he was escorted out of ‘perfection’.  

This is a new, softer, beginning with promises that

continue to this day. “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.”  According to notes in the NIB,p.20, a year is actually defined with seasons!   NRSV defines these as follows: “Seedtime” is the sowing of barley and wheat in the fall. “Harvest” is the grain harvest in the Spring. “Summer” is the summer fruit harvest. “Winter” is the harvest of autumn fruits such as olives.  Beside these ‘seasons’ of growing, the year is divided into two parts.  There is the  ‘cold’ season in winter, which is rainy, and the ‘hot’ season of summer which is parch-dry in the Mediterranean.  And then, as in the creation story, we have night and day, dark and light, rest and work.

  And then we see a new phenomenon in this story.  Noah takes a ‘time out’ for God.  He sets aside a moment, perhaps a day of rest, for God.  He and his sons built an ALTAR and gave sacrifice to God with the best birds and animals from the ark.  This comes from the "P  version.  "J" version does not have the first sacrifice until Moses’ offering on Mount Sinai [that’s even after Abraham’s covenant-sacrifice with God] . With close scrutiny, this ‘first’ sacrifice makes sense.  

Noah knew God, intimately.  Noah and family followed God’s direction when doing what seemed foolish or, at the very least, impossible.  Noah honored God, in the same way Cain and Able honored God, with sacrifice before doing anything else.  Instinctively, God drew humanity to Himself and covered our sin with what would be the only type of sacrifice that would be a “sweet incense to the Lord,” a blood sacrifice.  Noah only had provision for a blood sacrifice from ‘clean’ animals.  [Study of Leviticus tells us which animals are clean and unclean]

Think about it:  Can you imagine just sitting there, waiting, knowing you are safe, yet doing nothing until the the right time?  Waiting.  That’s the challenge we all have in life, isn’t it.  Doing what we think is unimportant even though it is God-directed.  Waiting for God’s promises to be fulfilled while we slog through the ‘daily’ waiting for that miracle we asked our Lord to bring to us.

      Much of life dedicated to God is waiting for His

direction.  In today’s world can you imagine sitting with a bunch of smelly animals and waiting for your next move?  Can you imagine no computers, no social media, no texting, no help from any source but that which God sends your way?  Impossible?  Some of us grew up with very little technology.  Life was slower.  The whole family set aside time to worship God.  Stores closed for “God’s day,” Sunday.  No soccer games, no football games, no extra-curricular activities at all.  This was the day set aside to first worship our Lord and then we would visit family members and actually talk to each other and share a meal together, much like Noah did with his family.

Today we must carve out moments to acknowledge the One who enabled us to live the life we live with the gifts God gives us.  If, indeed, we set aside a place in our home where we meet our Lord daily, and go to that place - daily- and give the sacrifice of our time and our openness to our Lord, we will bear immeasurable fruit in every season of our lives.  We’ve already accepted, by faith, the giving of the ‘blood-sacrifice’ by acknowledging our sin that has been covered by the blood of Jesus, the Christ . . . His blood shed on the cross.  

        Now our only sacrifice is the giving of our whole selves . . .  our time, our attention, our hurts, our unforgiveness, our ‘baggage’ to the Lord . . . daily.  Sit . . . wait . . . breathe deep . . .  hand over your thoughts, hurts, wonders . . .  wait some more . . .  listen . . . read God’s Word . . . wait . . . listen to your soul . . . wait . . . breathe . . . 

You have just built “Altar Time” with God.

Do it daily.

Drop what comes forth at the foot of the Cross.

Breathe.

Wait.

REJOICE in what our Lord sends forth and plants in your soul !

Each day is a new beginning!

 1-21 Genesis 9:1-17; Psalm 26,28,36,39; Hebrews 5:7-14; John 3:16-21

Hebrews 5:9 “And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation.”  :12 “By this time you should be teachers but you are still in need of milk and not solid food. . . unaccustomed to a word of righteousness and still an infant.  :14 But solid food is for the mature who, because of practice, have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”

Wow. Those are harsh words to eager followers of Christ Jesus.  Who could be so brash?  For centuries theologians have wondered who wrote this book.  Opinion keeps swinging back to the Apostle Paul, who most certainly did not mince words.  He would not hesitate to ‘say it like it is.’  

Especially in this current era, sensitive spirits reign.  We think we are doing a great job sipping insights from our little cups as we sit in church once a week.  Today is no different from the time this book was written.  The writer is trying to tell these Jewish converts to Christ about the ‘priestly role of Jesus.’  Jesus, because He was ‘begotten’ of God, has all the credentials to be God’s high priest to all humanity who follows God in the same order as Melchizedek. 

Our reading today begins right after a verse that is important for us to understand.  Hebrews 5:5-6 says,”So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a hight priest, but was appointed by the One who said to him,’You are my Son, today I have begotten you’; as he says also in another place, ‘You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.” [read more about Melchizedek in Hebrews 7]  The reading goes on to state Jesus’ affirmation from God that He is a ‘priest of priests.’  Then we continue with, “And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation.”

These concepts take time to digest.  Perhaps this

group of Jews, to whom the letter of Hebrews is written, had been apathetic in their walk as faithful followers of the Law of Moses.  Perhaps they did not comprehend their own salvation history.  If they had done so, they would have understood this conversation.  It’s as if they are like ‘toddlers sipping milk,’ glued in one place, who could not move past a certain basic teaching.  

        Perhaps these people were the “YK” and “P” of their generation just like we have the “C” and “E” people of our generation.  [High Holy Day called Yam Kippur and Passover for the Jews, Christmas and Easter for the Christians.]  Whatever the reason, they ‘claimed’ to live a life honoring God but were still drinking from ‘sippy cups’.  We are slowly discovering that, since the beginning of creation, humanity is a ‘slow learner.’  There are people in all stages of understanding our faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob . . .  our faith on one God who is over all in all and through all, whose sacrificial blood of the Lamb covers our sin.

Think about it:  Are we walking slow with our God?  Do we recognize the risen Christ, being awed by the new life we profess and then stop right there, knowing full well we have eternal life because of our faith in Him?  Do we take shortcuts in our walk and tell ourselves we are doing fine just attending church?  

       If you are reading this, you most likely eat ‘meat’ and

are among the few who choose to read and apply scripture to your life by ‘chewing’ on tough concepts.  You choose to study about the priestly concept of Melchizedek to better understand your walk in Christ.  However, you may have difficulty finding a few others to ‘dine’ with you weekly.  “It’s too much to digest,” they say.  “I’m on a diet,” they say.  “I don’t have the time,” they say.  You’ve heard it all.

God knows this and loves us anyway but our Lord grieves for us.  We, who choose to dine on meat are the leaders.  We are the shepherds of whatever flock the Lord has set before us.  It is up to us, not that other person who works full time at the church, to reach out and help others move away from their ‘sippy cups’ and begin to chew on meat.

When I worked in a huge business tower I would take my ‘brown bag’ lunch down to the atrium and munched away while reading my bible.  One day it dawned on me that there are dozens of small businesses in this building.  One by one, I met others who were eating alone.  Soon we enjoyed lunch together.  Before too long I brought up the subject of God . . . in a very secular city by the way.    
          Little did I know that these women were hungry for more even if it was just a lunch-time discussion.  The group grew, split off to other tables and . . . God did the rest.

We can help others grow past “Sippy Cups” if we are willing to chew on meat, step out in faith and invite those in our sphere of influence to join us for a shared meal of faith-filled concepts.

Try it.

See what happens.

1-22 Genesis 9:18-29; Psalm 38, 119:25-48; Hebrews 6:1-12, John 3:22-36

Genesis 9:23 “Shem and Japheth covered Noah with a garment and walked backward so as not to look at him. :25 Noah, upon waking, said, “Cursed be Canaan

[Ham]; a servant of servants he shall be to his brothers; :26 He said, “Blessed be the Lord, God of Shem.”  :27 Japheth expanded in clan size and dwelt with Shem.  :28 Noah lived 350 years after the flood. [950 years].

Hebrews6:4 “For those who have been enlightened and have tasted the heavenly gifts and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit :5 and have tasted God’s word and powers of the age to come :6 and then fallen away, it’s impossible to renew them again to repentance.”

      I chose to focus on two verses because they have a common theme.  Honor God or our soul dies.  Soul-death is death since God sees our soul, not our body, the ‘house’ that covers the soul.  

     The story of Noah continues.  Noah was the patriarch, the leader, the head of the clan.  He was the example to his household.  Like Cain, Noah was a farmer before and after the flood.  He may have imbibed a bit much in the fruit of the vineyard and become intoxicated to the point of being in an ‘indelicate’ state.  Ham did not honor his father in this state but Shem and Japheth did by ‘covering’ their father.  

     The story shows us how to honor our leaders and provide grace when they err slightly so as not to be a good example to the clan.  Noah did exceptionally great things as he followed God’s path but, just as any leader, he had his moments of non-perfection.  God’s grace helps us continue our journey with Him in the same way as God’s grace given through Shem and Japheth allowed Noah to live many centuries as a highly respected leader.

     Ham was named ‘Canaan’, the ‘Canaanite’, the name of the land that God would promise to Abraham.  It was a rugged, baron dust-pit, a picture of Ham’s life.  This would change when Jacob, Abraham’s son, would be given a new name, “Israel”. The ‘curse’ given to Ham was simply a way of elevating Shem, the son chosen to carry Noah’s inheritance to the next generations, the son who would follow God with his whole heart and be known in the genealogy of the ‘Israelites’.  Japheth knew a good deal he had in Shem so he tagged along. 

     This story was written during the ‘Monarchical’ period

in which nations vied for power and dominion.  The story becomes the foundation for all the stories that follow as families divide, some seeking God’s way and some not-so-much.  Families would become clans and clans would become nations and nations would be ruled by those chosen to lead.  Some followed God and some did not.  Shem’s line followed God.  

     So we jump ahead a few millennia to this phrase in Hebrews regarding continuing, active, pre-meditated sin.  Sin did not just appear in the book of Hebrews.  We know sin began with Adam and Eve.  God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, created from the beginning and continued to create great works through the lives of those who remained focused on Him.  

     From the beginning we see God’s powerful presence feeds lives, like those of Cain and Ham, who eventually turn against God and continuously do ungodly things.  It is ‘mortal’ sin that eventually consumes the life of a person who chooses a path that does not give honor to God.  

     God’s love and grace ‘saves’ us from ourselves, our self-focused actions, if we ask for forgiveness and re-focus on God’s best for us.  However, some, like Cain and Ham, make a choice to kill God’s presence in their soul after having experienced God’s powerful presence in their lives.  They make a choice.  God or self.  It’s not once but a continuous action, a perpetual choice, to turn away from God’s path for them.  This perpetual choice kills the soul.  Death of the soul is death in God’s eyes.

Think about it:  If we take just a moment to think about this story of Ham and our relationship to God, we have no fear of death to the soul.  Each moment we dwell on the Most High, we are in God’s presence.  Each time we err and say ‘sorry’ to God we are in His presence.  

     Noah was forever in God’s presence.  Even if he erred once in awhile, his focus remained on God.  Noah taught his family all he know about God.  The sons had a choice.  Shem made the choice to follow God’s path.

      We have a choice to listen to our Christ-centered leaders, listen to God’s voice speaking through His son, Jesus.  We have a choice to immerse ourselves in God’s stories that fill our soul . . .  or not.  The more we fellowship with the Lord through Christian community, worship, digesting His word and sharing with others the love of God, the greater our foundation in God’s presence.  

Find a sturdy piece of paper, an index card, that you can place in your bible as a bookmark.  Write down ways you focus on your walk with Jesus during the week.  As yourself each time you open your bible, “How often have I done each of these so that I may maintain my path following the Lord?”

      Here are some ideas: You may choose to write

whatever you do or the following:  Daily scripture reading, daily meditations, a weekly growth group, weekly worship, monthly fellowship with other Christians.  

You may not do all of these but perhaps this can be your goal.  

   After all, the Lord is shaping you to be a Noah . . .  a leader for others to come to know Christ so they can make Christ Jesus known to others.

      

1-23 Genesis 11:1-9; Psalm 37; Hebrews 6:13-20; John 4:15

Genesis 11:1  The whole earth used the same words :2 and as they migrated from the east, they came upon a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.  :4 They used bricks

and stone and tar for mortar and made a city and tower to reach the heavens. . :7 “Let US go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” :9 It was called Babel , which means ‘confuse’, and the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of the earth.

We think this is simply a story of people being confused and scattered but this passage is a bit more complex.  First, did you wonder why God was intervening in a grand building project?  Everyone ‘the whole earth’ . . .  the world as they knew it, gathered in one place like one large clan who spoke one language.  They were all on the same, “one” page.  Their minds clicked. They were creative.  They were ‘one.’  I would think God would be happy that this ‘new beginning’ looked so promising.

Why God did not like what was happening?  “They are building a tower to heaven,” just means they are building a ‘tall tower’ and has no other meaning.  God is concerned with their focus on “one.”  They choose to stay one group, not go out beyond themselves, but remain content in their little cocoon.  God’s plan is not to create this new beginning only to have His remnant remain ‘one’ and completely ignore the ONE who created them.
     God created us to be in fellowship with Him.  This intelligent, self-sufficient group became focused on this one clan and forgot that God must be in the mix.  It's like they squeezed God out of their lives and do very well without seeking God, praying to God, worshipping God.  Although the tower was simply a 'high and mighty' edifice, they were giving glory not so much to themselves but to their great achievements . . .  without God.

This remnant knows God but set aside their need for God.   God chooses to ‘scatter’ their language to get their attention.  It's as if God were saying, "There is ONE greater and mightier than humanity who can take charge here."  
       The people are suddenly unable to

communicate with one another.  God caused confusion so the place was called, “Babal” which people came to relate to the word ‘confused.’ The Hebrew word for confused is really ’balal’ but the literary sound seems similar to ‘babal,’ which became the commonly used word.  When we speak in circles so that others cannot understand a word we say, we seem to ‘babel.’

Think about it:  We take a simple story about God’s scattering and try to apply deep understanding.  Sometimes we just need to understand where some of our current language cames from.   No matter what we humans try to do, God always has the upper hand.  If God wants us to ‘scatter’ into all the world to, into unknown places so that we rely on God, this will happen.  We humans sometimes get in the way but our Lord is patient and waits for us to be ready to do what we were ‘called’ to do.  

     The story of Babal can teach us much.  First, we do not have to remain in one place, with like-minded people, to feel secure.  The Lord is our security.  It is important to remain connected to Christian community as an anchor for our journey in Christ.  Yet, as we grow our firm foundation in personal relationship with Him, we are then ‘called’ to go out into the secular world.  

     As we allow the Lord to ‘scatter’ us into varied secular

groups, the Holy Spirit will lead us, give us strength and fill us with the grace and love of Christ.  In so doing, we open doors to conversation about our faith in Christ.  Living a Christ-centered life in this secular world, through challenging moments, can be a great example for others.  We can share our challenges with others but, at the same time, share how the Lord is present with us even if the journey is very difficult.  We, being ‘one’ with God in Christ, need to be ready to explain why God is so important to us in clear language.  

Take a few moments to consider what you would tell someone who asks you why you believe in Jesus Christ.  Keep it short and simple, just a sentence or two.  Otherwise the person who is listening will think we are “babbling”.

  

  

JANUARY JEWELS 2020 9-16

We continue this season of Epiphany with new insights, new observations, new hope, new Light.  

Moonbeams bounce off of newly fallen snow to lighten our path.  

Days begin to lighten up a few minutes earlier in the morning and stay lighter a few minutes longer in the late afternoon. 

Our path with the Lord is meant to lighten our load as we journey through these winter months.  

Epiphany, a time to remind our soul to seek more light, the light of understanding, the light of Christ Jesus.

Here is an enlightening quote before we continue with our daily meditations.

"Our Lord’s love shines out just as much through a little soul who yields completely to His Grace as it does through the greatest.  Just as the sun shines equally on the cedar and the little flower, so the Divine Sun shines equally on everyone, great and small. Everything is ordered for their good, just as in nature the seasons are so ordered that the smallest daisy comes to bloom at its appointed time.”    Therese of Lisieux [The Little Flower] p. 4-5   Story of a Soul

1-9      Isaiah 45: 14-19; Psalm 121,122,123,131,132; Col. 1:29—2:7, John 8:12-19

John 8:12  Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world. 

He who follows Me will not walk in darkness but will have the Light of Life.” :18 I am He who testifies about Himself and the Father, who sent me, testifies about Me.”

John began this book with a powerful reflection upon the words in Genesis.  “In the beginning. . . “  It all began with God and continues with God and the Word is God and the Word in the flesh is the living God and . . .   Jesus echos the reality that He IS just as God IS.  

        Jesus said, “I am the I AM.”  In fact there are several identities of Jesus as the I AM, most preceding a noun but not always. “I am the bread of life, I am the light of the world, I am the good shepherd, I am the gate for the sheep, I am the resurrection and the Life, I am the way and the truth and the life, I am the true vine . . .  I AM.”

“I am the Light,” speaks volumes to the faith-filled Jews.  A light burned in the Temple at all times showing those priests who entered that God was there, always present, always with them.  Jesus, God in the flesh, is always present, always with us.  ‘I AM’ has no past and no future but IS . . . always . . .  present, our burning Light.

      Jesus is the Word, walking about sharing Words of truth, turning on the ‘light’ within seekers' souls, leading us to our ‘epiphany’, our moment when the light goes on within us, when we finally ‘see’ God in the flesh.  To not see, to not understand, to not seek to know God in the flesh keeps us in the dark, hidden behind the truth instead of seeing the Truth.

Think about it:  Do you turn on a light when you enter a dark room at night?  

Do you place ‘night-lights’ in strategic places so you don’t stumble if you get up in the middle of the night?  

Do you prefer to see where you are going so you do not bump into things or stumble or fall?

      Light illumines our path, helps us to see what we may not have noticed if there were no light.  

That’s the way it is with Jesus.  

He is always the Light.  

Jesus is never less light or more light but our very present light, illuminating our walk with Him, showing us who He is.  We can choose to close our heart and struggle in the darkness or we can choose to stay close to Jesus and let Jesus light our path.  

     Some evening try to turn all the lights off in the living room. Cover those blue lights on electronics.  

Snuff out all light.  

It’s best to have someone with you so you can share with each other how it feels to stand in the darkness.  

Now move across the room.  Do you move gingerly hoping not to have a mishap?  It’s not easy, is it.  

      My blind friend has no problem because she ‘sees’ with her ears and with touch.  Her joy in Jesus, in the presence of the I Am is abundant as she gabs about her blessings a mile a minute.  

The Light of Christ pours out of her soul for all to see.

Living in the ‘light’ comes from the heart, doesn’t it.

When the world seems a little too dark some days, 

simply stop.

Step back.  

Take a time out.  

Fix a cup of tea.  

Sit in your favorite place.  

Call on Jesus to ‘light’ up your world and show you something new, give you an ‘epiphany.’  You may be surprised with the way the I Am responds.

1-10  Jeremiah 23:1-8; Psalm 138,139,147; Col. 2:8-23; John 10:7-17

John 10:7  Jesus said, “. . . I am the door of the

sheep  :9 If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved and go in and out and find pasture.  :14 I am the Good Shepherd and I know my own and my own know me . . .:16  Other sheep . . . not of this flock . . . I must bring in . . .  one flock and one shepherd.” 

Do you ever wonder why the Hebrews ever got involved with sheep?  Thousands of years before Jesus’ walked this earth, Abraham, a nomad, grazed sheep, along with many other animals.  In fact, when Abraham traveled from the sophisticated city of Ur, he most likely brought sheep with him.  

Sheep are known as the dumbest animal on the planet.  I believe camels are a close second.  A baby sheep will not thrive unless it remains close to or ‘sees’ (smells) its mother.  A sheep is myopic, unable to see more than a few inches in front of it, just enough to graze on rugged foliage close to the earth.  Sheep can live on the tough, fibrous vegetation that the desert provides but must be guided to a place of provision.  Sheep are vulnerable so they need protection at all times.  Sheep can hear if they are not pre-occupied with grazing.  They learn the voice that guides them.  They learn to trust only one voice, the voice of the shepherd.  Once they learn that voice they will not follow another voice.

Enter the shepherd.  The caretaker.  The one who will lead them, feed them, corral them, speak to them, seek the one who wanders and provide a safe place for them to rest.  Sheep need extra care, a special salve, for their noses and eyes because they graze close to the ground and flies bite these sensitive areas.  

And sheep smell, really smell!  In fact, when the sons of Abraham fled to Egypt and ended up living there for about 450 years, the Egyptians were thrilled.  Egyptians were fastidious and did not like the smell of sheep.  Yet, sheep multiplied easily, ate what their land naturally

provided, had good meat and good wool.  The Egyptians learned, early on, how to turn sheep wool, which absorbed many colors of natural dye, into fine clothing.  They were more than happy to give this wretched task of raising sheep to the sons of Abraham who were good shepherds.

       So, the sons of Abraham were given a huge chunk of fertile pasture in Goshen.  These people had a place of their own and earned a living by raising and selling their sheep to the Egyptians.  They people were happy, the sheep were happy and the Egyptians were happy . . .  until this motley bunch of brothers and their families grew into millions.  That’s another story. 

Thus, Jesus speaks to people in terms they know.  Some are fishermen, some are farmers and some are merchants but the Israelites, deep in their roots, are shepherds.  They eat lamb, sacrifice lamb to God and are surrounded by sheep in the rocky, arid land in which they live.  Sheep are a staple.  Thus, when Jesus speaks of sheep they all listen.  They can relate.  

Jesus is the sheep-gate, the guard of the enclosure, the keeper of the safe place, the place of protection, the place with well defined parameters.  We can enter this safe place or not.  Jesus speaks to those who choose to enter.  He knows each of us intimately and, as we mature in Him, we learn His voice and can discern His voice . . .  but this only happens when we choose to be intimate with our Shepherd.

       

Think about it: So what does that say about Jesus and us?  Jesus is our Shepherd.  We are His sheep!  Are we really as stupid as sheep?  Do we wander off into our own pasture without seeing more than a few inches in front of us?

       Do we really need a caretaker?  We have freedom of choice.  We can choose to follow Jesus or not.  We can graze in an unprotected field of life, get too close to the cliff and fall off. . . . or not. 

If we choose to be protected, we also make the choice to grow unfettered in our abilities and gifts.  In the Shepherd’s flock, we are in community with others who choose to grow fat on the morsels we eat daily.  We choose to thrive on the love and guidance and nurturing available to us.  We can jump and play and feed on the nutrients before us all day and sleep in peace all night.  

       When we choose to follow the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, by default, we choose to follow Jesus.  Scripture says, “I and the Father are One . . . He in Me and I in Him . . . “  When we make this choice we must graze with our Shepherd and allow our Shepherd to ‘herd’ us into the ‘pen’ of His protection  and His disciplines.  These disciplines are: feeding on His words in scripture and His presence in Holy Communion, listening to Him and to other who reflect His voice, mingling with the other sheep to become an interactive part of the flock, thriving in His presence and becoming a ‘fat’ and healthy lamb for another to feed upon.  We grow to become provision for the next who comes into the flock hungry and empty and in need.

If we wander from the flock, our Shepherd will find

us.  Yet, we always have a choice to follow Him back into the fold . . . or not.  There is always that chance that we might walk too close to the cliff and fall to our demise.  He will find us but we might be broken beyond repair.  He will fix us but we have to be alive to hear his Voice.  He will never leave us nor forsake us but we have to know that deep in our soul to survive, to thrive.  In Isaiah it says, “We, like sheep, have gone astray, each to our own way . . . “  

The Shepherd is waiting for us, calling out to us.  

We just need to hear his voice saying, “Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden . . . and I will give your rest.”  

All we have to do is follow His voice and remain within the flock.

Jesus is our Good Shepherd for all eternity.

1-11 Isaiah 55:3-9; Psalm 91,92,148,150; Col. 3:1-17; John 14:6-14

John 14:6  “I AM the Way, the Truth, the Life.  No

one comes to the Father except through Me.  :11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; but if not, believe Me because of the works themselves.”

John 14 through 16 is Jesus’ final discourse to his disciples.  It’s the last time Jesus will have to fill them with all that will strengthen them for their arduous journey after Jesus’ crucifixion.  It’s the last time Jesus prays a very long prayer to his Father regarding his disciples.  Jesus knows what challenges lie ahead for this motley crew.  He makes sure they have deep understanding of what it means to walk into this New Covenant, the Christ Covenant, the Way, the path of Truth, a whole new life as God-followers.

This “I AM” statement is a continuation of the last meditation.  Just as Jesus is the ‘sheep gate’ so is He the Way, the entrance, the opening into forever love and grace and life-direction.  Once we enter THE way, we will live by new parameters, within ‘fences’ that protect us and direct us.  We enter into the presence of the Father through His Son.  We enter a new Way of life, a new Truth to life, a new Life.

Again, Jesus’ "I Am" statement re-iterates to his disciples that HE, Jesus, is the same I Am of the Old Covenant, the same I Am as God’s chosen people have known since God made Covenant with Abraham.   I Am, present tense.  Not, “I was.”  Not, “I will be.”  God, the Father, is present.  The Father IS.  Jesus, the Son, is present.  Jesus IS.  

      If, like Thomas, we doubt, observe Jesus’ ‘works’ or actions.  Throughout scripture people exclaim, “This man is more than a prophet.  He is a prophet of prophets.”  When people are healed and told not to tell anyone, those

healed immediately run to tell others so they also might be touched by the healing hand of Jesus.  Story after story tells of the ‘actions’ of Jesus and the stunning response by the crowds.  Once word is out regarding Jesus’ actions, He and the disciples are rarely left alone.  The phrase, “Actions speak louder than words,” is evident to the max in Jesus’ ministry.

     Unfortunately, too many people get tripped up on the phrase, “No one comes to the Father except through me.”  This is difficult.  It is not meant to exclude anyone from God’s love and grace.  Quite the opposite.  Jesus wants all to understand who He is.  Jesus is God.  We can believe what He says or we can believe by watching His miraculous work in the lives of millions.  

     We need to remember that God sent His only begotten Son to the Jew, first, and then to the gentile.  God sent the New Covenant to overlay the Old Covenant, not to destroy it.  Jesus is a NEW Way for the Jews, an easier Way to be in Covenant with the Father.  Instead of offering sacrifice for every little change and challenge and sin, God sent Jesus to BE the sacrifice . . .  the forever sacrifice . . .  once . . . for all.    

      It’s a new Way and new Life for God’s chosen people. 

Jesus is God’s Truth.  God is Truth.  Jesus is Truth.  Jesus is God.  This is simple, mathematical deduction in God’s eyes.  It’s like God is saying, “You people of the Exodus have been wandering in the desert and in the Promised Land and continue to sin.  It’s like you are addicted to turning away from Me.  So, I send you a New Way, a New Truth, a New Life . . .  another form of the I AM.   The I AM  "with skin on", will give you a life where you are now covered with the blood of salvation, covered so that I, God, can see you as perfect at all times, covered with the blood of Jesus so that you can come to Me and pray to Me and I will listen to you . . . 24/7/365.”

Think about it:  Too often we react to verses on their face value without taking in the entire context of the words or passage.  Too often we have family history that tells us that, if indeed this passage is correct, my friend or family member will not become a Christian.  We do not know that.  We cannot know the mind of God.  All we can do is walk into the Gate the Lord has opened for US, by faith.

If, by faith, we receive the words of God through His Son, Jesus Christ, we will be saved from eternal

separation from God.  My journey is different from your journey.  Each of us journey with God in different ways but we are all on the same path if, indeed, we seek THE Way, THE Truth, THE Life that God set before us through His Son, Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit.  

If we each follow the path the Lord has set before us, by faith, believing this road is indeed God’s way, God’s truth and God’s life for us, our salvation story will be full of the I AM, the full presence of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  
Keep walking forward.  
Remain focused on the Present Presence, the I AM.

God will do the rest . . . for you . . . for your family . . .  for your friends . . .  if they choose, by faith, to follow the I AM.

1-12 The Baptism of Our Lord   

For the ‘liturgical’ or ‘sacramental’ churches, this marks the end of the Christmas Season and the beginning of the season of Epiphany. 

Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 29; Acts 10:34-43; Matthew 3:13-17

Matthew 3:16 Jesus was baptized and immediately came up from the water and the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon Him and behold a voice said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

And this is how Jesus was introduced to the ‘world’ as they knew it, how Jesus began his very short, three-year ministry.  Jesus humbled himself before the one who paved the way for this moment, John the Baptizer.  John was born to fulfill his role as one who ‘made way for the Lord.’  John’s entire life was dedicated to God.  Even before his birth John’s spirit leaped in the womb of his mother, Elizabeth, when Mary, filled with the presence of Jesus growing inside her, came into the home of Elizabeth and Zechariah.  John’s spirit knew Jesus’ spirit before each was born.

John grew into his role as baptizer and had hundreds of followers.  His goal was simply to follow God’s direction to bring Jews back into the presence of God.  Each step of his journey prepared the way for Jesus’ ministry.  So, when John the Baptizer was once again at the Jordan river calling all to repentance and the cleansing that comes with it, One whom he had not seen since he was a child appeared.  John was busy directing one soul after another to ‘die to self’ and be renewed and cleansed in the Jordan as a sign or renewal and focus on God.  

Not until Jesus was up close, in front of him, did

John see this man, filled with confidence, walking straight toward him, slipping into the water without hesitation, and looking into John’s face, ready to immerse himself into the water.  Jesus, the One without sin, humbled Himself before the world to show others His obedience to the Father.  

       Jesus was immersed in the water of the Jordan in the same way others had been immersed.  When he came up out of the water, the thunderous voice from the heavens affirmed to John, and to all who were present, the One whom God sent to humanity, to save souls and to fill with the power of the Holy Spirit.  The booming voice from above blurted, “This is My Son, in whom I AM well pleased.”  If that were not enough, the Spirit, like a dove. came upon Jesus and remained with Him.  

God, the Father, shouted for all to hear the words that presented Jesus to the world.  God, the Holy Spirit, affirmed what people saw and heard.  The I AM presented to the world our Triune God, right there in front of John the Baptizer, right there for all to experience, right there for all to embrace this New Covenant presence.  God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit all at once.  What an Epiphany!  WOW!   

Immediately, John re-directed people to Jesus.  Immediately, Jesus began ministering ‘over there’ where John sent his followers.  “I am not the way,” says John.  “I simply prepared the way for Jesus, the One sent from God.  No longer follow me for Jesus will fill you with far more.  He will fill you with the Spirit of God.”  
Jesus is The way, The truth and The life . . . Jesus is all you need from now on.

Think about it:   Can you remember how you encountered Jesus when you experienced your first ‘epiphany’ your first ‘aha’ moment when you recognized Jesus as Lord of your life?

Were you immediately drawn into a personal relationship with our Lord or did you have to sit back and wonder a bit . . .  wonder what revelation just happened?  

     Some of us were baptized as infants and did not recognize the power working inside us. . . the power of the Holy Spirit called into us at Baptism.  Yet, God began His work to groom us as disciples at that very moment.  Our parents or sponsors promised to raise us to "Know Christ and make Him Known to others.”  The church congregation where we were baptized promised to raise us in the love and grace of our Lord.  But did they?

     My parents faithfully took all of us kids to Sunday School.  I had good teachers.  My brain absorbed words of scripture that, decades later, came forth to guide me in my Christian walk.  Yet, because of one statement by one person when I was young, I rejected God.  Yet, I continued going to Sunday School and learning intellectually.  That information held me for two decades, beyond college, when I began to seek more deeply.  Not until I was a career woman, doing quite well in life, did I seek to come into the kingdom of God through His Son, Jesus Christ.  It was a long journey but well worth it.

    

       My first ‘aha’ moment was simple, soft, just a deep ‘knowing.’  I’d worked so hard over many months trying to understand this person, Jesus, until one day I just sat and let my mind wander.  In that relaxed moment I heard deep in my soul, “You are working too hard trying to figure Me out.  Immerse yourself in faith, immerse yourself in My Love and Grace.  Let ME do the rest.  Just sit there and receive.”  

Thinking back, that was a WOW moment but I did not

feel any grand sensation.  I simply let go of my own understanding and let God fill me with His presence, His glory, His Spirit, His love, His grace.  
It was full immersion of thought.  
I allowed the Holy Spirit, planted in me at baptism, come alive, begin working in and through me.  From that moment I had tiny epiphanies each time I read scripture.  I had a ‘knowing in my knower’ of God’s presence through His Son.

I simply moved forward, holding tight to Jesus’ hand, as He drew me into Himself.  
      Decades later, I’m still being pulled into new adventures, new insights, new wonders as He leads me more deeply into His presence through prayer, study, worship and Christian accountability.

Jesus’ baptism was the beginning of His ministry.  

My baptism and confirmation of that baptism was the beginning of my life!  

How about you?

1-13  1-13  Genesis 2:4-9, 16-25;; Psalm 1,2,3,4,7; Hebrews 1:1-14; John 1:1-18

Hebrews 1:1-4  Seven Old Testament  quotes of Jesus’ superiority as the Son . . .  :1 Heir of all

things as Messianic Son and through whom God created the world :2 Radiant Light of God’s glory and exact representation of God.  :3 The One who sustains all creation through His Word, is the purification of sins through His death.  His atoning work now completed, takes His seat at the right hand of God. 

 :4 For all these reasons He is superior to the angels.

John 1:1 & 14   In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.
:14 and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

       It’s a new beginning.  This first day after we proclaim this new season, the season of new light, the season of new understanding, the season in which we bask in the light of Christ during these still dark days.  This season of epiphanies illuminates greater understanding of the One we made the choice, by faith, to follow forever.    

       Every single scripture points us to new beginnings, a fresh start, God’s eternal re-awakening.  Life in Christ should never be stagnant.  As we see in every scripture we read today, God is . . . always . . . forever . . .  eternal . . . creating and re-creating through creation.  We are made in His likeness.  We are His . . .  to be creative through God’s creation, through God’s wisdom.

Three verses begin the book of Hebrews with a

BANG.  Jesus IS !  Jesus is superior as God is superior . . .  superior to angels.  These first four verses are sustained by the following ten verses of quotes from the OT.  Quotes that remind the Hebrew people that God intended Jesus to be greater than angels, not equal, not less than . . .  greater.  There may have been some gnostic ideas rolling around that needed clarification.  Hebrews is written to the Hebrew people for this reason.  

       It’s difficult to imagine how the Hebrew people, wanting to follow Jesus, had to wrestle with the idea that Jesus is God.  Jesus, the living Word, God manifested in the flesh, alive for all to see and touch and talk to and listen to and be touched by and . . .   The book of Hebrews smashes through false concepts and reminds the Hebrew people of their faith-filled history, the same history that Jesus, birthed a Jew, embraced.  Yet, Jesus is more than a Jew.  He is God.

     Jesus is heir of all things as Messianic Son and through whom God created the world. Jesus is the radiant Light of God’s glory and exact representation of God.  He is the One who sustains all creation through His Word and is the purification of sins through His death . . . through His shed blood.  His atoning work now completed

he takes His seat at the right hand of God, as God’s co-creator.  For all these reasons, Jesus is superior to the angels.  The entire book of Hebrews rests on these seven statements as it digs into familiar stories and quotes from the Old Covenant.  It’s a book that is so packed with God’s presence that it should take a full year to study if one is diligent to divide it up into weekly segments.  

       The book of Hebrews is just as power-packed as the Gospel of John.   In the same way, John introduces Jesus to the world.  The Word was WITH God in creation.  Yet, the Word WAS God.  The WORD became FLESH and dwelt among us.  Jesus came for the Jew first and then the gentile. These words regarding THE WORD are difficult to embrace if our concept of God is one dimensional.  Yet, our eyes see in three dimensions.  God wants our soul to see in three dimensions: Father, Son, Holy Spirit.

Think about it:  The Gospel of John and the book of Hebrews, when entwined with one another, are a wondrous foundation for digging more deeply into our Christian faith.  If you read them in tandem, a little at a time, you will be well grounded in understanding our jewish roots as a foundation for our Christian walk.  We were ‘grafted’

into the the family of God’s Chosen People by our faith in Jesus Christ.

        Jesus came for those who were already worshipping the One God.  He came to be that ultimate sacrifice for all sin, past and present and future.  The reason Jesus was sent to humanity is repeated ad nauseam by me and by every word in the New Covenant scriptures yet people still do not understand.  

     God so loved us that He . . .  repeats . . .  from Genesis, to the Psalms, through the Gospel of John and into books like Hebrews . . .  God is . . .  Jesus is . . . the Holy Spirit is . . . ONE . . .  and always has been ONE . . . since the beginning.  

     So, with that said, you are now able to tell another who Jesus is, was and will ever be.  You can simply state these seven points and, with the study of Hebrews Chapter 11, stories of faith-filled God lovers beginning with Abraham, show others how Jesus is very much a part of ‘The beginning,’ of creation, of the story, of life, of history of everything.  

Go ahead.

Dig deep.

Challenge yourself.

See what you discover.

Invite another to join you. . .  and another.

Jesus never did anything alone.  

He is always in community with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

1-14 Genesis 3:1-24; Psalm 5,6,10,11; Hebrews 2:1-10; John 1:19-28

Psalm 5:4 “For you are not a God who takes pleasure in

wickedness.”

Psalm 6:8 “Depart from Me all you who do iniquity.”

Psalm 10:12 “Arise O Lord . . .  do not forget the afflicted.”

Psalm 11:4b  “The Lord’s throne is in heaven”

Often I will take a ‘time out’ and simply reflect on the Psalms, those sweet songs to the Lord.  Yet, this time all of the psalms focus on trusting God for the deliverance from enemies.  We often forget that David, when still young, was pursued by Saul in moments of his ‘madness.’  One minute Saul cannot live without listening to David’s Lute and the next minute he is out to kill David.  It’s the moments when David may be well aware of his innocence, that he pleads with God to know his innocence. 

David had an intimate relationship with his Lord and learned to trust the One who had guarded him as he guarded innocent sheep.  As a shepherd, David’s responsibility was constant, day and night.  The sheep trusted in David for protection, for food, for physical care, for their very lives.  This relationship is no different between David and God or between us and our Lord.

“For you are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness,” shows us that God is truth and light and all goodness and cannot even fathom wickedness.  This is not part of God and God does not want it to be part of our

lives.  That’s why the blood sacrifice is so important to David and Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross is so important to us.  It’s the sacrificial blood that cleanses all wickedness from us but we can also pray this for those who do not live within God’s plan of righteousness. 

     “Depart from me all who do iniquity,” is a strong statement of firm conviction. These words are all we need to cleanse us from evil that may pursue us.  God gave us holy boldness to say such words LOUD and clear.  “In the name of Jesus, depart from me all who do iniquity!”  “Be gone!”  David used holy boldness as he used the power of God’s word against his enemies and so can we, in Jesus’ name!

By way of giving thanks to the Lord for His protection we can then say, “Arise, O Lord, . . . do not forget the afflicted.”  In other words, “Don’t forget me, Lord, in my affliction even though you saved me from the enemy.”  It’s a continuing petition for God’s protection.

Along with petition and holy boldness, we rejoice in the protection our Lord gives us continuously.  Rejoice with words already written for us in this psalm, “The Lord’s throne is in heaven.”  In other words, “You, O Lord, enthroned in heaven, are always with me even though I am not yet with you in heaven.  I rejoice that you are with me always, with me, a mere mortal, with flaws and fears and in such need of You.”  

Think about it:  When we petition God for help through

the day or protection from the evil one or for guidance and blessing, we can use the Psalms as a guide. 
In fact, each day, pick one of the designated psalms to say OUT LOUD.  

It’s important to hear your own holy boldness as you pray.  

Listen to your voice.  

Is it soft, barely audible?  

Go outside or away from others for a few moments so you can use your ‘outside’ voice.  

Is it still soft and inaudible?  

Ask the Lord to help you ‘find your voice.’  

Practice using your voice, loud, clear in petition to God using the Psalms.  

You will gain a new understanding of how our Lord protects us when we call upon Him using our voice, audibly, clearly.

Petition for protection and blessing but also rejoice in those pleasurable moments.

“In Jesus name and by the power of His shed blood, I come to you Lord . . . “

Ask, thank, praise, rejoice through the Psalms!  Hallelujah!

1-15  Genesis 4:1-16; Psalm 119:1-24; 12;13;14; hebrews 2:11-18; John 1:35-42

Genesis 4:8  Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.  And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and killed him.

:9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”  He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?”   :16  Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord, and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.  

     We have heard this story many times, “Cain slew Abel.”  The generation after creation is already killing each other!   The sins of generations past revisit us to this day.  Sibling rivalry stems from jealousy.  Anger and acting out these feelings that will affect all of humanity for generations.  Because Cain slew Abel, the one whose sacrifice was pleasing to God, Cain slew that which was godly.  By killing Abel, Cain caused his own death . . .  death of the soul.

No reason is given for what Cain did.  It’s not that Cain, the farmer, gave something that was not pleasing to God.  Perhaps it was his intent?  Too many speculations to count.  We do know that Abel was the shepherd, a job always given to the youngest in the family.  We also know that Abel gave the best lamb he had . . .  a precedent for future Israelite sacrifice to God.  

So, what happens next?  Does God kill Cain?  No.  In fact, God places a mark on Cain for all to see . . .  a mark that tells all, “Do not kill this person, Cain, or you will face consequences from Me, the I Am.”    Yet, in the story, Abel’s death has somehow contaminated the ground in which Cain farms so that it will never produce again.  God will give Cain protection but Cain must leave what was once a fertile field and go east of Eden [There is a movie with this title. Hmmm] into the desert.  Cain must move into the desert, seen as devoid of any possibility of

farming, believed to even be devoid of God’s presence.  Cain, therefore “went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, the land of ‘wandering,’ which was east of Eden.

To this day jealous people kill others thinking this will enable them to have what they want from the other.  Too late they find out that they have lost their souls to evil and gained nothing.  Consequences for sin multiply exponentially.

So what happens now?  Adam and Eve had Cane and Abel.  Abel is gone.  Will all the next generations come from Cane?  Will all generations shun God and live ‘desert’ lives?  God solves that problem.   Eve bore another son, Seth . . .  who was ‘good.’  So, there was now one brother who was not good and a brother who was good. . . . from whom future generations were birthed.  

No wonder God marked Cain so that no one would kill him.  Cain took a wife and bore a son . . . You won’t believe who was his son!  Read on . . . 4:17 ff   That’s what is so intriguing about reading Genesis.  It’s no different than the soap operas we have today.  It’s the greatest novel every written.  Yet, few take time to digest this text.  

Think about it:  Adam and Eve could live in tranquility, with all needs met, forever.  Yet, because of one moment, because they forgot God’s instructions and listen to another voice, the serpent’s voice, their world turned up-side-down.  Eating from the Tree of the ‘Knowledge’ of good and evil was a shared compromise that cost them

eternal perfection.   

Adam and Eve were ushered out of their tranquil setting and God’s guards made sure no other generation got anywhere near that tree.  Adam and Eve were destined to toil as Adam worked the arid soil and Eve endured pain in childbirth.

Two sons, one who honored God and one who did not.  Freedom of choice began.

Consequences followed.  

The John Steinbeck novel, “East of Eden,” was given new life in the 1955 movie staring James Dean.  It’s about two brothers in conflict with each other.  Steinbeck is a ‘dark’ writer, who shows the reality of conflict between good and evil.  Evil seems to catch our attention, draw us into the story and keeps us lingering in this empty chasm of intrigue.  

Why is the story of the evil brother enticing?  Why do we skip over the story of the good brother and become glued to the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ and the intrigue of figuring out the mind of the evil brother?   Why does the story of Cain dominate in the following verses?  

God knows our propensity to ‘color outside the lines.’  He created us with choice . . .  to follow in His perfect love and grace . . .  or not.  Doing everything to glorify God seems boring sometimes.  There will always be a part of us, that sin nature that comes from the very beginning of creation, that tugs at us and often sways us to separate ourselves from our bond with God.

That’s why God made covenant with us, gives direction as to how we maintain that covenant and then sends His only begotten Son to be the New Covenant, whose blood was shed as the eternal sacrifice.  All we have to do is turn from our sinful ways and, by faith, give our very lives to God through His Son.  

That’s it.

Nothing more.  

Yet, this is a very challenging task, isn’t it. . . simply to be faithful to God though His Son.  

        We can only maintain our faith-filled connection with our Lord in a community who believes as we do, who knows the story, believes the story and lives in righteousness as did Abel . . . Seth . . . and generations, set before us by our Lord, who seek a life focused on the goodness, love and mercy of our Lord.

1-16   Genesis 4:17-26; Psalm 18; Hebrews 3:1-11; John 1:43-51

John 1:45 Philip found Nathaniel and  said to him,

“We have found Him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.”  :46 Nathaniel said to him,  “Can any good come out of Nazareth?”  Philip said, “Come and see.”  :47 When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!”  :48  Jesus had seen Nathanael under the fig tree before Philip was chosen. 

Philip knew prophecy.  He sought out the One who seemed to be fulfilling prophecy at every turn.  Philip had just been called by Jesus to follow Him.  So now Philip told Nathaniel the ‘good news’ in hopes that he also would follow Jesus.  Nathanial spoke to Philip as a friend, alone, where no one else could hear . . . “Can any good come out of Nazareth?”   Philip responded with the famous phrase that is used often in scripture, “Come and see.”

Nathanial came to see.  Jesus saw him coming and gave accolades to Nathanial, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!”  How can Jesus say that knowing what Nathanial just said about Him?  Nathanial was just being totally honest.  Nazareth really is a dusty hole in Galilee where no kingly ruler would ever live.  Jesus is currently seen as a powerful leader who sees all, knows all and seems to heal by simply speaking.  

What goes through Nathanial’s mind must be crazy-wild. How could Jesus know Nathanial is an Israelite when they have never met.  How would he know Nathanial does not have deceit within him and how does Jesus know

Nathanial’s statement about Nazareth?  Jesus is blowing Nathanial’s mind.  It’s like Jesus is Messiah, the anointed one of the prophecies.  

        In fact, Jesus saw Nathanial sitting under the fig tree before Philip was chosen to be His disciple.  Now Nathanial is proclaiming :49 “Rabbi, you are the Son of God!  You are the King of Israel.”  Indeed, Nathanial was blown away by the fact that Jesus saw him, observed him, most likely heard his negative remark  and seemed to know Nathanial intimately!

Think about it:  Nathanial is us.  

Jesus knows us before we have any inclination who Jesus is in relation to ourselves.  “Before you were born, I knew you,” says the Lord.  

         Nathanial is no different than any who respond to the invitation to “come and see.”  Come and see what God has in store for us.  Come and see Jesus, the One who has known us before we were born, knows every thought we think, every statement we whisper.  

Jesus truly is Rabbi . . . teacher.

Jesus is the Son of God

Jesus is the King of Israel . . . and the world . . . and over all and through all and in all who believe in Him.  

Are you a Nathanial?

Did you wonder about the power working in and through

Jesus as equally part of our triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit?

As you read through scripture, are you blown away by the fact that God knows the inner workings of our mind, our heart, our very soul?  

Does it amaze you that we can hide nothing, not even a negative thought, from God?

Can you remember your most vulnerable moment in your journey with Christ Jesus?  Did you wonder how Jesus was working in your life?  

During these times of doubt we must keep walking.

We must continue to “come and see.”

Keep wondering.

Remain curious.

Seek answers.

Pray for wisdom.

         It’s those ‘aha’ moments in our daily Christ-journey that shine enough light into those dark places within us in order to lighten up our lives so we can ‘see’.  

Just keep moving forward . . . toward the Light . . . into the embrace of our Lord.

Like Nathanial, Rejoice in the presence, the power, the love and grace of Jesus working in our lives.  

It’s wondrous.