Dip Into The Scriptures

Praise God!

2010-04-22T20:07:00.003-05:00

Worship is very personal. It is God-centered.

Worship is about singing, praying, praising God, reading His Word. It is about taking communion, serving others, having your heart and attitude in the right place.

How do you know if you are worshipping in spirit and in truth? Look at your heart. Are you open to what the Bible says? Are you trying to obey God? Are you examining yourself, checking to see if you are on the right track? Is your heart right with God? Do you strive to honor God in everything that you do?

"You must be holy because I, the LORD, am holy. I have set you apart from all other people to be my very own." Leviticus 20:26

"Long ago, even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. " Ephesians 1:4"

"But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God--who chose you to be his children--is holy. " I Peter 1:15

Worship is a time of JOY! A time to offer THANKS and ADORATION!

"Worship the LORD with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. " Psalm 100:2

"The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my victory. He is my God, and I will praise him; he is my father's God, and I will exalt him! " Exodus 15:2

"I will praise him from the bottom of my heart: "LORD, who can compare with you? Who else rescues the weak and helpless from the strong? Who else protects the poor and needy from those who want to rob them?" Psalm 35:10

"The Spirit is God's guarantee that he will give us everything he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. This is just one more reason for us to praise our glorious God. " Ephesians 1:14

"And from the throne came a voice that said, "Praise our God, all his servants, from the least to the greatest, all who fear him." Revelation 19:5

Worship

2010-04-11T21:01:00.004-05:00

Definitions of worship:

–noun

1. reverent honor and homage paid to God or a sacred personage, or to any object regarded as sacred.

2. formal or ceremonious rendering of such honor and homage: They attended worship this morning.

3. adoring reverence or regard: excessive worship of business success.

4. the object of adoring reverence or regard.

5. (initial capital letter) British. a title of honor used in addressing or mentioning certain magistrates and others of high rank or station (usually prec. by Your, His, or Her).

–verb (used with object)

6. to render religious reverence and homage to.

7. to feel an adoring reverence or regard for (any person or thing).

–verb (used without object)

8. to render religious reverence and homage, as to a deity.

9. to attend services of divine worship.

10. to feel an adoring reverence or regard.

—Synonyms
3. honor, homage, adoration, idolatry. 7. honor, venerate, revere, adore, glorify, idolize, adulate.

How do we set about to worship God? How do we bow at his feet? What pleases God when we worship? When should we worship? An intriguing topic.

(worship)
occurs 311 times in 301 verses in the NLT

"When Seth grew up, he had a son and named him Enosh. It was during his lifetime that people first began to worship the LORD." Genesis 4:26

"Stay here with the donkey," Abraham told the young men. "The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back." Genesis 22:5

God said to Jacob, "Now move on to Bethel and settle there. Build an altar there to worship me--the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother, Esau." Genesis 35:1

"You must worship no other gods, but only the LORD, for he is a God who is passionate about his relationship with you. " Exodus 34:13

"Their worship is a farce, for they replace God's commands with their own man-made teachings.' " Matthew 15:9

"But the time is coming and is already here when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for anyone who will worship him that way. " John 4:23

Jacob the Deceiver

2009-01-14T20:58:00.003-06:00

This year, I am reading the Chronological Bible. It has been an adventure so far in Genesis. I know we all know the stories in Genesis. You study them as a kid in Sunday School. Then, when you start teaching kids about the Bible, you learn it all over again!

Jacob has been the topic lately. His name means "Deceiver" and he certainly was! He gives Esau a meal in exchange for the Firstborn Birthright. He steals the Firstborn Blessing from his father Isaac by pretending to be Esau. ( I always wondered, if Esau gave him the birthright, would that not have included the Blessing? If so, I guess the boys never told their parents about the new arrangement!)

He escapes the wrath of Esau by fleeing to his father's family to find a wife. On the way there:

10 Meanwhile, Jacob left Beersheba and traveled toward Haran. 11 At sundown he arrived at a good place to set up camp and stopped there for the night. Jacob found a stone for a pillow and lay down to sleep. 12 As he slept, he dreamed of a stairway that reached from earth to heaven. And he saw the angels of God going up and down on it.

13 At the top of the stairway stood the Lord, and he said, "I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham and the God of your father, Isaac. The ground you are lying on belongs to you. I will give it to you and your descendants. 14 Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth! They will cover the land from east to west and from north to south. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants. [fn1] 15 What's more, I will be with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. I will someday bring you safely back to this land. I will be with you constantly until I have finished giving you everything I have promised."

16 Then Jacob woke up and said, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I wasn't even aware of it." 17 He was afraid and said, "What an awesome place this is! It is none other than the house of God-the gateway to heaven!" 18 The next morning he got up very early. He took the stone he had used as a pillow and set it upright as a memorial pillar. Then he poured olive oil over it. 19 He named the place Bethel-"house of God"-though the name of the nearby village was Luz.

20 Then Jacob made this vow: "If God will be with me and protect me on this journey and give me food and clothing, 21 and if he will bring me back safely to my father, then I will make the Lord my God. 22 This memorial pillar will become a place for worshiping God, and I will give God a tenth of everything he gives me."

The verse that amazed me -- "IF GOD will be with me and protect me..." God had just given Jacob a wonderful promise. God HAD PROMISED to be with Jacob and protect him, and he STILL says "IF" this is true, THEN he will make the Lord his God! And yet God did not give up on Jacob. He fulfilled His promise to Jacob.

And what a blessing that this event was recorded for us. It shows us that God can find the good in us and work with it. That He does not give up on us. That God provides protection for us on our journey though life. Praise God!

John 4: 43 - 54

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Jesus Heals an Official's Son

43 At the end of the two days' stay, Jesus went on into Galilee.

44 He had previously said, "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own country."

45 The Galileans welcomed him, for they had been in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration and had seen all his miraculous signs.

46 In the course of his journey through Galilee, he arrived at the town of Cana, where he had turned the water into wine. There was a government official in the city of Capernaum whose son was very sick.

47 When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea and was traveling in Galilee, he went over to Cana. He found Jesus and begged him to come to Capernaum with him to heal his son, who was about to die.

48 Jesus asked, "Must I do miraculous signs and wonders before you people will believe in me?"

49 The official pleaded, "Lord, please come now before my little boy dies."

50 Then Jesus told him, "Go back home. Your son will live!" And the man believed Jesus' word and started home.

51 While he was on his way, some of his servants met him with the news that his son was alive and well.

52 He asked them when the boy had begun to feel better, and they replied, "Yesterday afternoon at one o'clock his fever suddenly disappeared!"

53 Then the father realized it was the same time that Jesus had told him, "Your son will live." And the officer and his entire household believed in Jesus.

54 This was Jesus' second miraculous sign in Galilee after coming from Judea.

His second miracle. Again in Cana. Different circumstances. First miracle, a joyous occasion, a wedding. Second miracle, a dying child.

Again, Jesus seems to say "No" when asked to perform a miracle. Yet he performs the miracle, just not in the way the Official expected. Jesus did not have to go with him to heal the child. He merely spoke the words "Your son will live."

The official did not need to see it happen to believe it. And his belief was confirmed.

Are we willing to take Jesus at his Word? Are we willing to let Jesus work in His own way, and not reject Him because things don't happen the way we want them to? We do better to trust God to answer prayers His way.

John 4:27-38

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27 Just then his disciples arrived. They were astonished to find him talking to a woman, but none of them asked him why he was doing it or what they had been discussing.

28 The woman left her water jar beside the well and went back to the village and told everyone,

29 "Come and meet a man who told me everything I ever did! Can this be the Messiah?"

30 So the people came streaming from the village to see him.

31 Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus to eat.

32 "No," he said, "I have food you don't know about."

33 "Who brought it to him?" the disciples asked each other.

34 Then Jesus explained: "My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.

35 Do you think the work of harvesting will not begin until the summer ends four months from now? Look around you! Vast fields are ripening all around us and are ready now for the harvest.

36 The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike!

37 You know the saying, `One person plants and someone else harvests.' And it's true.

38 I sent you to harvest where you didn't plant; others had already done the work, and you will gather the harvest."

The woman left her jar! She had come there for water. But she left her jar; she must have been in a hurry to tell others about the Messiah. Excited about the living water he offered her.

The woman saw the light of Jesus. She wanted to share this. She went to her village to share this. And they came streaming back to discover Jesus for themselves.

The light of Jesus was obvious to this woman. She took her mind off earthly things to tell others about Christ.

At this point, the Disciples are concerned about getting Jesus to eat. He must have been tired and hungry. But, doing the will of God was as essential to Jesus as eating.

We need to take our minds off earthly things. We need to get our heart and soul busy doing the will of God. Planting the seeds. Reaping the harvest.

John 4:15-26

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15 "Please, sir," the woman said, "give me some of that water! Then I'll never be thirsty again, and I won't have to come here to haul water."

1 6 "Go and get your husband," Jesus told her.

17 "I don't have a husband," the woman replied. Jesus said, "You're right! You don't have a husband-

18 for you have had five husbands, and you aren't even married to the man you're living with now."

19 "Sir," the woman said, "you must be a prophet.

20 So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?"

21 Jesus replied, "Believe me, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father here or in Jerusalem.

22 You Samaritans know so little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews.

23 But the time is coming and is already here when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for anyone who will worship him that way.

24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth."

25 The woman said, "I know the Messiah will come-the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."

26 Then Jesus told her, "I am the Messiah!"

The woman comes to the well to get water. She finds a totally different kind of water than she was seeking. She finds Jesus. She is intrigued by what he says. She wants some of the water he offers, but does she know what she is asking for?

Jesus knows the woman is really not ready for the water Jesus offers. He needs to prepare her to be ready, so he asks where her husband is. How amazed she must have been at his knowledge of her life. She is convinced that he is a prophet. She does not see Him as Messiah.

She asks another question. Jesus answers her. He has been preparing her mind and heart for what she needs to know -- I am the Messiah.

Jesus knows our hearts and lives as well. He prepares us for what we need to know, that He is Messiah. He opens our hearts and minds to the need we have for him, prepares us for becoming Christians.

John 4: 1-15

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Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard, "Jesus is baptizing and making more disciples than John"

2 (though Jesus himself didn't baptize them-his disciples did).

3 So he left Judea to return to Galilee.

4 He had to go through Samaria on the way.

5 Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

6 Jacob's well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime.

7 Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, "Please give me a drink."

8 He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food.

9 The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, "You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?"

10 Jesus replied, "If you only knew the gift God has for you and who I am, you would ask me, and I would give you living water."

11 "But sir, you don't have a rope or a bucket," she said, "and this is a very deep well. Where would you get this living water?

1 2 And besides, are you greater than our ancestor Jacob who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his cattle enjoyed?"

13 Jesus replied, "People soon become thirsty again after drinking this water.

14 But the water I give them takes away thirst altogether. It becomes a perpetual spring within them, giving them eternal life."

15 "Please, sir," the woman said, "give me some of that water! Then I'll never be thirsty again, and I won't have to come here to haul water."

Timing is everything. God's timing is perfect.

Was it an accident that Jesus was at the well when the Samaritan woman came? Was it a coincidence that the disciples had gone into town, leaving him alone?

Jesus did not have to go through Samaria. He could have gone around. Most Jews probably did. But he took the "shortcut" through Samaria. Time was of the essence. He had an appointment to keep.

How many times has God put us in the right place at the right time to tell someone about Jesus? How many of those times have we acted on it, or even recognized our opportunities?

It is easy to look back and see the times God has placed someone in our life at just the right time. We need to strive to recognize when WE are the right person in someone else's life and look for opportunities to share the Gospel.

John 3:31-36

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31 "He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. I am of the earth, and my understanding is limited to the things of earth, but he has come from heaven.

32 He tells what he has seen and heard, but how few believe what he tells them!

33 Those who believe him discover that God is true.

34 For he is sent by God. He speaks God's words, for God's Spirit is upon him without measure or limit.

35 The Father loves his Son, and he has given him authority over everything.

36 And all who believe in God's Son have eternal life. Those who don't obey the Son will never experience eternal life, but the wrath of God remains upon them."

John the Baptist tells us that Jesus is greater than anyone here on earth. He was sent by God himself. He tells us about heavenly things -- things it is hard for us to understand. We only really know this physical world that we live in.

Even today, few people believe what Jesus tells them. They choose not to recognize the power of Jesus. They choose not to believe in Him. They choose to believe in what they see and hear in this world. They choose to wait until another day, or believe it doesn't matter, that if they live a good, moral life, they will be rewarded by Jesus whether they choose to follow him in this life or not. They miss the fact that we are told we must OBEY Jesus, not just believe in Him. The Devil believes...is he going to inherit Heaven?

John 3:22-30

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22 Afterward Jesus and his disciples left Jerusalem, but they stayed in Judea for a while and baptized there.

23 At this time John the Baptist was baptizing at Aenon, near Salim, because there was plenty of water there and people kept coming to him for baptism.

24 This was before John was put into prison.

25 At that time a certain Jew began an argument with John's disciples over ceremonial cleansing.

26 John's disciples came to him and said, "Teacher, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you said was the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going over there instead of coming here to us."

27 John replied, "God in heaven appoints each person's work.

28 You yourselves know how plainly I told you that I am not the Messiah. I am here to prepare the way for him-that is all.

29 The bride will go where the bridegroom is. A bridegroom's friend rejoices with him. I am the bridegroom's friend, and I am filled with joy at his success.

30 He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.

As I read this, the first thing that really jumped out at me was verse 27 -- "God in heaven appoints each person's work." Reading on, you see that John the Baptist was very aware of his role. He was also very aware that his work would be coming to a close. But he continued to point the way to Jesus. And he continued to proclaim Jesus the Messiah.

When humans are asked to give up a "work", sometimes it is not easy. Sometimes you really miss the "work", some folks might even resent that the "work" was taken from them. It is not always easy to see God at work in your life.

What a great example John the Baptist set for us. Always look to God! Continue to point the way to Jesus! God will have a new plan for you -- be conscious of that. And continue to pray that His will be done.

John 3:16-21

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16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

17 God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.

18 "There is no judgment awaiting those who trust him. But those who do not trust him have already been judged for not believing in the only Son of God.

19 Their judgment is based on this fact: The light from heaven came into the world, but they loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.

20 They hate the light because they want to sin in the darkness. They stay away from the light for fear their sins will be exposed and they will be punished.

21 But those who do what is right come to the light gladly, so everyone can see that they are doing what God wants."

God's love is overwhelming! He sent His only Son to save us! He sent Jesus to bare all our sins on the cross so that WE could have eternal life!

Eternal life is not natural to us. We have a hard time understanding the concept. God does not force us to seek Him or to seek eternal life. He gives us the free gift of salvation when we seek him and obey Him.

First we have to believe that Jesus is the Son of God. Then, what should you do to be saved? Read Acts 2:38 to start. Read about the jailer in Acts 16, find out what he did to be saved.

John 3:1-15

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After dark one evening, a Jewish religious leader named Nicodemus, a Pharisee, 2 came to speak with Jesus. "Teacher," he said, "we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are proof enough that God is with you."

3 Jesus replied, "I assure you, unless you are born again, you can never see the Kingdom of God."

4 "What do you mean?" exclaimed Nicodemus. "How can an old man go back into his mother's womb and be born again?"

5 Jesus replied, "The truth is, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.

6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven.

7 So don't be surprised at my statement that you must be born again.

8 Just as you can hear the wind but can't tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can't explain how people are born of the Spirit."

9 "What do you mean?" Nicodemus asked.

10 Jesus replied, "You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don't understand these things?

11 I assure you, I am telling you what we know and have seen, and yet you won't believe us.

12 But if you don't even believe me when I tell you about things that happen here on earth, how can you possibly believe if I tell you what is going on in heaven?

13 For only I, the Son of Man, have come to earth and will return to heaven again.

14 And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so I, the Son of Man, must be lifted up on a pole, 15 so that everyone who believes in me will have eternal life.

Here we learn about how a man is made alive spiritually, how he is able to go to heaven. A man cannot live until he is born. He is born physically into this world, but to go to heaven, he has to be born spiritually. He tells Nicodemus this re-birth is necessary. And he tells him how to do that -- to be born of water -- to be baptized in water.

John 2: 13-25

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13 It was time for the annual Passover celebration, and Jesus went to Jerusalem.

14 In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; and he saw money changers behind their counters.

15 Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and oxen, scattered the money changers' coins over the floor, and turned over their tables.

16 Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, "Get these things out of here. Don't turn my Father's house into a marketplace!"

1 7 Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: "Passion for God's house burns within me."

18 "What right do you have to do these things?" the Jewish leaders demanded. "If you have this authority from God, show us a miraculous sign to prove it."

19 "All right," Jesus replied. "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."

20 "What!" they exclaimed. "It took forty-six years to build this Temple, and you can do it in three days?"

21 But by "this temple," Jesus meant his body.

22 After he was raised from the dead, the disciples remembered that he had said this. And they believed both Jesus and the Scriptures.

23 Because of the miraculous signs he did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many people were convinced that he was indeed the Messiah.

24 But Jesus didn't trust them, because he knew what people were really like.

25 No one needed to tell him about human nature.

Your body is a temple. Are you keeping it pure? Uncluttered? Taking good care of it spiritually and physically?

Read about this passage further at this link: Jesus Clears The Temple.

John 2:1-12

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The Wedding at Cana

The next day Jesus' mother was a guest at a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee.

2 Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration.

3 The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus' mother spoke to him about the problem. "They have no more wine," she told him.

4 "How does that concern you and me?" Jesus asked. "My time has not yet come."

5 But his mother told the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

6 Six stone waterpots were standing there; they were used for Jewish ceremonial purposes and held twenty to thirty gallons each.

7 Jesus told the servants, "Fill the jars with water." When the jars had been filled to the brim,

8 he said, "Dip some out and take it to the master of ceremonies." So they followed his instructions.

9 When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over.

10 "Usually a host serves the best wine first," he said. "Then, when everyone is full and doesn't care, he brings out the less expensive wines. But you have kept the best until now!"

11 This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was Jesus' first display of his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

12 After the wedding he went to Capernaum for a few days with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples.

Jesus is at a wedding as a guest. The wine runs out. His mother asks him a favor so that the host will not be embarassed. At first, Jesus does not seem inclined to grant this favor. But his mother had great faith that he would do what was right, and tells the servants to do as he instructs them.

Jesus performs his first miracle because his mother asked him, because he loved his mother, and because he had compasson for the host of the wedding. And he didn't just give them any old wine, he gave them the best wine.

Do you think Jesus expects anything less of us? To have love and have compassion on our family, friends, and fellow man, and to give them our best?

John 1:35-51

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35 The following day, John was again standing with two of his disciples.

36 As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and then declared, "Look! There is the Lamb of God!"

37 Then John's two disciples turned and followed Jesus.

38 Jesus looked around and saw them following. "What do you want?" he asked them.

They replied, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"

39 "Come and see," he said. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place, and they stayed there the rest of the day.

40 Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of these men who had heard what John said and then followed Jesus.

41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother, Simon, and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (which means the Christ).

42 Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, "You are Simon, the son of John-but you will be called Cephas" (which means Peter).

43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Come, be my disciple."

44 Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter's hometown.

45 Philip went off to look for Nathanael and told him, "We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth."

46 "Nazareth!" exclaimed Nathanael. "Can anything good come from there?"

"Just come and see for yourself," Philip said.

47 As they approached, Jesus said, "Here comes an honest man-a true son of Israel."

48 "How do you know about me?" Nathanael asked.

And Jesus replied, "I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you."

49 Nathanael replied, "Teacher, you are the Son of God-the King of Israel!"

50 Jesus asked him, "Do you believe all this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this."

51 Then he said, "The truth is, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down upon the Son of Man."

Wow! John identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God, and his disciples immediately believe and follow him. Andrew finds his brother, Simon, and he, too, follows Jesus. One by one they are called.

These men met Jesus in person, and knew who He was. As we meet Jesus in the book of John, we can also know who He IS. And we can be amazed at what we learn about Him.

John 1:29 - 34

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29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look! There is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

30 He is the one I was talking about when I said, `Soon a man is coming who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before I did.'

31 I didn't know he was the one, but I have been baptizing with water in order to point him out to Israel."

32 Then John said, "I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him.

33 I didn't know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, 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.'

34 I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Son of God.

John and Jesus were cousins. They undoubtedly knew each other.

John knew he was preparing the way for the Messiah, and God had revealed to him how to recognize the Messiah. Don't you imagine he was anxiously looking for the right one?

Can you imagine how amazed John was when he saw the Dove descend on his very own cousin?

Do you know Jesus? Are you anxiously looking for Him?

John 1:19-28

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19 This was the testimony of John when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John whether he claimed to be the Messiah.

20 He flatly denied it. "I am not the Messiah," he said.

21 "Well then, who are you?" they asked. "Are you Elijah?"

"No," he replied. "Are you the Prophet?" "No."

22 "Then who are you? Tell us, so we can give an answer to those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?"

23 John replied in the words of Isaiah:

"I am a voice shouting in the wilderness,

`Prepare a straight pathway for the Lord's coming!' "

24 Then those who were sent by the Pharisees 25 asked him, "If you aren't the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?"

26 John told them, "I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not know, 27 who will soon begin his ministry. I am not even worthy to be his slave. "

28 This incident took place at Bethany, a village east of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing.

Note that John considered himself, "As a voice calling in the desert" (John 1:23).

Do you ever see yourself as a voice willing to speak the truth of Jesus?

JOHN 1:1-18

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In the beginning the Word already existed.

He was with God, and he was God.

He was in the beginning with God.

He created everything there is.
Nothing exists that he didn't make.

Life itself was in him,
and this life gives light to everyone.

The light shines through the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.

God sent John the Baptist to tell everyone about the light
so that everyone might believe because of his testimony.

John himself was not the light; he was only a witness to the light.

The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone,
was going to come into the world.

But although the world was made through him,
the world didn't recognize him when he came.

Even in his own land and among his own people,
he was not accepted.

But to all who believed him and accepted him,
he gave the right to become children of God.

They are reborn! This is not a physical birth
resulting from human passion or plan -
this rebirth comes from God.

So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us.
He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.
And we have seen his glory,
the glory of the only Son of the Father.

John pointed him out to the people.
He shouted to the crowds,
"This is the one I was talking about when I said,
`Someone is coming who is far greater than I am,
for he existed long before I did.' "

We have all benefited from the rich blessings he brought to us -
one gracious blessing after another.

For the law was given through Moses;
God's unfailing love and faithfulness
came through Jesus Christ.

No one has ever seen God.
But his only Son, who is himself God,
is near to the Father's heart;
he has told us about him.

God's Family

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But if you are unwilling to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.
Joshua 24:15

Love wisdom like a sister; make insight a beloved member of your family.
Proverbs 7:12

So you should not be like cowering, fearful slaves. You should behave instead like God's very own children, adopted into his family*--calling him "Father, dear Father."
Romans 8:15

His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure.
Ephesians 1:5

So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God's holy people. You are members of God's family.
Ephesians 2:19

Never forget that Jesus Christ was a man born into King David's family and that he was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach.
2 Timothy 2:8

Those who have been born into God's family do not sin, because God's life is in them. So they can't keep on sinning, because they have been born of God.
1 John 3:9

We know that those who have become part of God's family do not make a practice of sinning, for God's Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot get his hands on them.
1 John 5:18

Joshua made the bold statement that he and his family would serve the LORD.
Proverbs said to add insight to our family. If we and our families are truly serving God, the world should be able to see good character in our family.

In the beginning, the Jews were God's chosen people, His Family. Thank goodness it was God's plan to add us, the Gentiles, to His family as well! Because Jesus lived, died, and rose from the grave, we are allowed to share in His promises.

I can still remember the day I became a member of God's Family. I remember studying my Bible, and understanding that I really wasn't sure I was saved. The more I read, the more I was convinced that I needed to take some action. God's word showed me exactly what to do.

I have this scripture memorized:
Peter's words convicted them deeply, and they said to him and to the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?" Peter replied, "Each of you must turn from your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you and to your children, and even to the Gentiles-all who have been called by the Lord our God."
Acts 2:37-39

This is what Peter told the crowd at Pentecost. If it was the answer for them, it is the answer for me. So, I was baptized. Then I KNEW I was a member of God's family!

God has continued to bless me for making that choice.

Plans

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May he grant your heart's desire and fulfill all your plans.
Psalm 20:4

But the LORD's plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken.
Psalm 33:11

O LORD my God, you have done many miracles for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.
Psalm 40:5

I told you my plans, and you answered. Now teach me your principles.
Psalm 119:26

Commit your work to the LORD, and then your plans will succeed.
Proverbs 16:3

For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

This "foolish" plan of God is far wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God's weakness is far stronger than the greatest of human strength.
I Corinthians 1:25

How do you know what will happen tomorrow? For your life is like the morning fog-it's here a little while, then it's gone.
What you ought to say is, "If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that."
Otherwise you will be boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil.
James 4:14-16

Who could tell us about making plans better than God? Our lives are so full of plans. We buy planners to write down our plans! We plan weddings, work days, vacations. Planning is often pleasurable. Sometimes we plan for things that are not pleasurable: doctor's appointments, surgeries, chemotherapy sessions. God should be present in all our plans. We can trust Him when we plan for the fun or the not-so-fun.

I am always amazed at how God's plan is present in my life. Often times, I am also amazed that I did NOT see God's plan working until He practically knocked me over with it, saying, "Listen to ME!" I have learned to thank God for the small things, and to look for what He is calling me to do. I pray daily that my eyes will be opened more and more to His plans for me.

God's Guidelines For a King

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18When he sits on the throne as king, he must copy these laws on a scroll for himself in the presence of the Levitical priests.
19 He must always keep this copy of the law with him and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the Lord his God by obeying all the terms of this law.
20 This regular reading will prevent him from becoming proud and acting as if he is above his fellow citizens. It will also prevent him from turning away from these commands in the smallest way. This will ensure that he and his descendants will reign for many generations in Israel.
Deuteronomy 17:18-20

As I read this, it struck me that this is also the way God wants me to live as a child of The King. I am so lucky I did not have to copy the law in order to read it daily. I really have no excuses -- It is available easily in my Bible, and in any computer! My favorite computer place is Blue Letter Bible. I can use their daily reading plan, I can look at a daily devotional, I can even read in one of several translations.

Song for Today:
Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet,
And a light unto my path.

Sing Praises To Him

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Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his miracles.
I Chronicles 16:9

Let the whole earth sing to the LORD! Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.
I Chronicles 16:23

And each morning and evening they stood before the LORD to sing songs of thanks and praise to him.
I Chronicles 23:30

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Protect them, so all who love your name may be filled with joy.
Psalm 5:11

I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.
Psalm 9:2

And he came so the Gentiles might also give glory to God for his mercies to them. That is what the psalmist meant when he wrote: "I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing praises to your name."
Romans 15:9

Well then, what shall I do? I will do both. I will pray in the spirit,* and I will pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will sing in words I understand.
I Corinthians 14:15

Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.
Colossians 3:16

Are any among you suffering? They should keep on praying about it. And those who have reason to be thankful should continually sing praises to the Lord.
James 5:13

SONG FOR TODAY!
Sing and you'll be happy today
Press along to the goal.
Trust in Him who leadeth the way,
He will save your soul.
Let the world know where you belong.
Trust in Jesus and pray.
Lift your voice and praise Him in song!
Sing and be happy today!

God is my Protector

2008-02-28T19:36:00.003-06:00

Psalm 91:9-12; 14-16

If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter,
No evil will conquer you; no plaque will come near your dwelling.
For He orders the angels to protect you wherever you go.
They will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone.

The Lord says, "I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.
When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue them and honor them. I will satisfy them with a long life and give them my salvation."

I feel so secure when I picture God as my protector. I look back at times in my life when I truly know he sent angels to protect me. And to think they are always there! I just don't always notice! The more I study the scriptures, the more I converse with God, the more I am able to see of his love and protection. And the more I am able to truly depend on him and cast all my burdens and worries on him. He is ever present!

Come To Know Jesus

2008-02-21T21:22:00.009-06:00

And this is the way to have eternal life-
to know you, the only true God,
and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.
John 17:3

But we know that there is only one God, the Father,
who created everything, and we exist for him.
And there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ,
through whom God made everything
and through whom we have been given life.
I Corinthians 8:6

May God bless you with his special favor and wonderful peace as you come to know Jesus,
our God and Lord,* better and better.
2 Peter 1:2

And we know that the Son of God has come,
and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God.
And now we are in God because we are in his Son, Jesus Christ.
He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.
I Johns 5:20