Mar 11 from beginning to end

Thank You Lord, is not enough to say to You, for enduring such a horrible crucifixion and death so that I could be reunited and reconciled, into fellowship with You.  Thank You that the precious blood You shed washes away my sin and pays the penalty my sin deserves.

I cannot begin to imagine the horror of all You felt and went through.  Movies that depict it are difficult to watch and fill me with sorrow and shame, that it was for my sin You chose to go through it all.

It boggles my mind, that this was planned before the foundation of the world!  You already knew what would happen with sin being a part of the world You created, and what it would take to make it right again.

When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, they died spiritually, as they were separated from Your presence.  And eventually died physically.  They continued in sin, as did all man for centuries, and a system of shedding innocent blood and making offerings was instituted. 

In the desert when Korah sinned against You and rebelled, You swallowed him up in the earth with his followers.  Yet sin continued. As did sacrifices as a way to enter Your presence, first in the Tabernacle, then the Temple.

In the fulfillment of Your prophecies, You came to the earth as Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the perfect, innocent Lamb of God and became the ultimate sacrifice, laying down Your life once for all – all the sin, all the people, for all time.  Yet all have not accepted that gift.

One day Your world will be free of sin again as You judge all the living and the dead – even the angels – and create a new heaven and a new earth.

You will have delivered Your people from all trouble, and will look triumphantly upon all Your foes.  They will be brought down to eternal death, separated from You for all eternity. And Your people will live with You forever.

I am eternally blessed to be Your child.  Thank You.  Amen

Numbers 16:1-40; Mark 15:12-38; Psalm 54:7

Mar 3 Hosanna!

Oh Lord, how wonderful it would have been to be one of the people who shouted to You “Hosanna!  Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!  Hosanna in the highest!”

And to lay down palm branches and watch You ride onto Jerusalem on the back of a donkey.  What a prophetic time to live in!

I can just imagine the excitement of the moment, and the expectation of the people as they wondered if You really could be the Messiah.

Hosanna!  Waving my arms in the air, swaying with the crowd; having heard the stories of Your miracles and healing:

Water into wine!
Walking on water!
Healing with a touch, a word!
Raising the dead!
These must be signs of a long-awaited deliverance for Your people!

But were these the same people who only a few days later called “Crucify Him!” and watched as You were led away?

How is it Jesus, that so near the end of Your time here, the next two days You are still to be found teaching?  Whole crowds were amazed at Your words when You threw out the money changers, enraging the chief priests and teachers of the law.

Thank You for teaching me one more time about prayer.  Your words remind me that I need to ask in faith, believing.  And that I need to ask according to Your will.  And that I need to be forgiving so I can be forgiven.

“You are my refuge!  And my strength!  My ever-present help in times of trouble.  Therefore, I will not fear.”  Amen

Mark 11:1-24; Psalm 46:1-2

Feb 22 Who is Jesus to you?

Heavenly Father, it amazes me that even in Your presence here on earth,

with all the wisdom You shared in Your teachings,

all the authority You spoke with,

all the healings and miracles You performed,

people didn’t recognize and acknowledge who You were.

Those in Your hometown wondered, amazed by You, but had no faith in someone they believed they already knew.  Others thought You were a prophet, or the reincarnated spirit of a prophet.

To some You were their healer, a miracle worker who raised loved ones from the dead.  To some, a blasphemer claiming divinity.  To others a confusing juxtaposition of holy teacher and friend of sinners.

To a very few, Messiah.

I wonder, who I would have thought You were, had I been alive and in the region at that time?

You said and did things that were against conventional teachings, yet all You did, You did in love.

You spoke to hundreds, thousands at a time, yet met each individual where they were.

You spoke in puzzling parables, yet to those who were called, they made perfect sense.

You fulfilled hundreds of prophecies, yet people who knew the prophecies, didn’t recognize what was happening.

It must have been a confusing time.  Yet thanks to You, I can know and be sure of my salvation because You have told me: “You chose me before the foundation of the world.”  So, no matter when I was born, or where; to me You are Jeshua Meshiac, Jesus Christ, Messiah, the Son of God, my Savior, my God, my King.  Amen

Mark 6:1-6; Ephesians 1:4

May 1 I believe

“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

In today’s scripture You come onto the scene and are recognized as Messiah, the Lamb of God, the One who saves!

You came in the flesh, to my physical world to sacrifice Yourself to make a way for me to be reconciled to You.  You are the Only Way.  Yet there are still people who do not recognize You for who You are.

John recognized You because he was spiritually aware.  You revealed to him that the one on whom he saw the Spirit of a dove come down and rest, was the Son of God.  He saw the Spirit rest on You so he could know for certain, proclaim and testify that You are the Son of God.  

Two of John’s disciples first followed You because they had studied with John.  They knew the scriptures, the prophecies and trusted John’s testimony, so they believed.  Nathanael believed because You knew things about him You could not have naturally known.

Lord God, You call and You save.  But it is my personal decision whether to respond to or ignore Your call.

I accept Your free gift of eternal salvation, but there are so many who do not.

Lord God, Your Word says it is Your will that every single human being would be saved from the penalty of their sin.  That penalty is death, eternal separation from You.  You desire that they would answer Your call and accept Your payment for that sin and be reconciled to You.

Some will come to You because they are aware of spiritual truth, like John.

Some will come because they study out the scriptures for themselves, or because someone they trust will share with them, like John’s disciples.

Some will come because they see You doing things, miracles, that are not naturally possible.

The pandemic has caused many people to consider eternity and what happens after our life here on earth. Father, lead them to a saving knowledge of You.

Open their ears so they hear Your call.  Sensitize their minds, hearts, and spirits so they are ready to accept Your salvation.  And show me how I can speak or act in a way that will draw people to You.  Use me to point them to “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”

A time is coming when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.  I can’t wait!  Amen

John 1:29-51

Apr 29 Teach me from ALL of Your Word

“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, Jesus explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.”

“Everything must be fulfilled about Me that is written in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.  Then Jesus opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.”

Father, explain to me and open my mind so I can understand the Scriptures!

You are the God of both Testaments!  Of the whole Bible!

What I was brought up calling the Old Testament, Jews refer to these as The Tanakh.

Made up of three parts: The Torah, the Neviim and the Ketuvim, the Torah is the first five books, Genesis through Deuteronomy.   The Neviim are the Prophets, so the twelve books of the minor prophets and nine written by major Prophets.  The Ketuvim are the books of wisdom, scrolls and history.

So much of the meaning in the Old Testament is lost to me unless I learn about the Hebrew customs and language.   When I only see what You said and did in the New Testament, I miss the depth of meaning without the context of what came before.

You are part of the Trinity in Genesis 1.  When You said “Let Us make man in our image…” it was plural; in Hebrew “Elohim.”

When the prophet Isaiah spoke it was You he saw who would be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace!  He described You in his words when he said “a man of sorrows, familiar with pain, despised and rejected.”

Zechariah saw that You would be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver, that You would die a violent death for all mankind.

There are 351 prophecies in this Scripture that You fulfill.   And more yet to be fulfilled!

How much more marvelous to know You as the One who speaks of the future, AND has the power to bring it to pass!

Understanding who You are and have been since the beginning helps me know and love You more.  And the more I understand the prophecies, the better prepared I can be to face the future, trusting in You as my Savior.  

Thank You for being true to Your Word.  Thank You that as I read and study, You reveal more and more of Yourself to me: my God in whom I trust!  Amen

Luke 24:13-45

Mar 11 From Beginning to End

Thank You Lord, is not enough to say to You, for enduring such a horrible crucifixion and death so that I could be reunited and reconciled, into fellowship with You.  Thank You that the precious blood You shed washes away my sin and pays the penalty my sin deserves.

I cannot begin to imagine the horror of all You felt and went through.  Movies that depict it are difficult to watch and fill me with sorrow and shame, that it was for my sin You chose to go through it all.

It boggles my mind, that this was planned before the foundation of the world!  You already knew what would happen with sin being a part of the world You created, and what it would take to make it right again.

When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, they died spiritually, as they were separated from Your presence.  And eventually died physically.  They continued in sin, as did all man for centuries, and a system of shedding innocent blood and making offerings was instituted. 

In the desert when Korah sinned against You and rebelled, You swallowed him up in the earth with his followers.  Yet sin continued. As did sacrifices as a way to enter Your presence, first in the Tabernacle, then the Temple.

In the fulfillment of Your prophecies, You came to the earth as Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the perfect, innocent Lamb of God and became the ultimate sacrifice, laying down Your life once for all – all the sin, all the people, for all time.  Yet all have not accepted that gift.

One day Your world will be free of sin again as You judge all the living and the dead – even the angels – and create a new heaven and a new earth.

You will have delivered Your people from all trouble, and will look triumphantly upon all Your foes.  They will be brought down to eternal death, separated from You for all eternity. And Your people will live with You forever.

I am eternally blessed to be Your child.  Thank You.  Amen

Numbers 16:1-40; Mark 15:12-38; Psalm 54:7

Mar 3 Hosanna!

Oh Lord, how wonderful it would have been to be one of the people who shouted to You “Hosanna!  Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!  Hosanna in the highest!”

And to lay down palm branches and watch You ride onto Jerusalem on the back of a donkey.  What a prophetic time to live in.

I can just imagine the excitement of the moment, and the expectation of the people as they wondered if You really could be the Messiah.

Hosanna!  Waving my arms in the air, swaying with the crowd; having heard the stories of Your miracles and healing:

Water into wine!

Walking on water!

Healing with a touch, a word!

Raising the dead!

These must be signs of a long-awaited deliverance for our people!

But were these the same people who only a few days later called “Crucify Him!” and watched as You were led away?

How is it Jesus, that so near the end of Your time here, the next two days You are still to be found teaching?  Whole crowds were amazed at Your words when You threw out the money changers, enraging the chief priests and teachers of the law.

Thank You for teaching me one more time about prayer.  Your words remind me that I need to ask in faith, believing.  And that I need to ask according to Your will.  And that I need to be forgiving so I can be forgiven.

“You are my refuge!  And my strength!  My ever-present help in times of trouble.  Therefore, I will not fear.”  Amen

Mark 11:1-24; Psalm 46:1-2

Feb 22 Who is Jesus to you?

Heavenly Father, it amazes me that even in Your presence here on earth,

with all the wisdom You shared in Your teachings,

all the authority You spoke with,

all the healings and miracles You performed,

people didn’t recognize and acknowledge who You were.

Those in Your hometown wondered, amazed by You, but had no faith in someone they believed they already knew.  Others thought You were a prophet, or the reincarnated spirit of a prophet.

To some You were their healer, a miracle worker who raised loved ones from the dead.  To some, a blasphemer claiming divinity.  To others a confusing juxtaposition of holy teacher and friend of sinners.

To a very few, Messiah.

I wonder, who I would have thought You were, had I been alive and in the region at that time?

You said and did things that were against conventional teachings, yet all You did, You did in love.

You spoke to hundreds, thousands at a time, yet met each individual where they were.

You spoke in puzzling parables, yet to those who were called, they made perfect sense.

You fulfilled hundreds of prophecies, yet people who knew the prophecies, didn’t recognize what was happening.

It must have been a confusing time.  Yet thanks to You, I can know and be sure of my salvation because You have told me: “You chose me before the foundation of the world.”  So, no matter when I was born, or where; to me You are Jeshua Meshiac, Jesus Christ, Messiah, the Son of God, my Savior, my God, my King.  Amen

Mark 6:1-6; Ephesians 1:4

May 1 I Believe

“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

In today’s scripture You come onto the scene and are recognized as Messiah, the Lamb of God, the One who saves!

You came in the flesh, to my physical world to sacrifice Yourself to make a way for me to be reconciled to You.  You are the Only Way.  Yet there are still people who do not recognize You for who You are.

John recognized You because he was spiritually aware.  You revealed to him that the one on whom he saw the Spirit of a dove come down and rest, was the Son of God.  He saw the Spirit rest on You so he could know for certain, proclaim and testify that You are the Son of God.

Two of John’s disciples first followed You because they had studied with John.  They knew the scriptures, the prophecies and trusted John’s testimony, so they believed.  Nathanael believed because You knew things about him You could not have naturally known.

Lord God, You call and You save.  But it is my personal decision whether to respond to or ignore Your call.

I accept Your free gift of eternal salvation, but there are so many who do not.

Lord God, Your Word says it is Your will that every single human being would be saved from the penalty of their sin.  That penalty is death, eternal separation from You.  You desire that they would answer Your call and accept Your payment for that sin and be reconciled to You.

Some will come to You because they are aware of spiritual truth, like John.

Some will come because they study out the scriptures for themselves, or because someone they trust will share with them, like John’s disciples.

Some will come because they see You doing things, miracles, that are not naturally possible.

This  last year with the pandemic has caused many people to consider eternity and what happens after our life here on earth. Father, lead them to a saving knowledge of You.

Open their ears so they hear Your call. Sensitize their minds, hearts, and spirits so they are ready to accept Your salvation.  And show me how I can speak or act in a way that will draw people to You.  Use me to point them to “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”

A time is coming when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.  I can’t wait!  Amen

John 1:29-51

Apr 29 Teach me from ALL of Your Word

“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, Jesus explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.”

“Everything must be fulfilled about Me that is written in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.  Then Jesus opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.”

Father, explain to me and open my mind so I can understand the Scriptures!

You are the God of both Testaments!  Of the whole Bible!

What I was brought up calling the Old Testament, Jews refer to these as The Tanakh.

Made up of three parts: The Torah, the Neviim and the Ketuvim, the Torah is the first five books, Genesis through Deuteronomy.   The Neviim are the Prophets, so the twelve books of the minor prophets and nine written by major Prophets.  The Ketuvim are the books of wisdom, scrolls and history.

So much of the meaning in the Old Testament is lost to me unless I learn about the Hebrew customs and language.   When I only see what You said and did in the New Testament, I miss the depth of meaning without the context of what came before.

You are part of the Trinity in Genesis 1.  When You said “Let Us make man in our image…” it was plural; in Hebrew “Elohim.”

When the prophet Isaiah spoke it was You he saw who would be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace!  He described You in his words when he said “a man of sorrows, familiar with pain, despised and rejected.”

Zechariah saw that You would be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver, that You would die a violent death for all mankind.

There are 351 prophecies in this Scripture that You fulfill.   And more yet to be fulfilled!

How much more marvelous to know You as the One who speaks of the future, AND has the power to bring it to pass!

Understanding who You are and have been since the beginning helps me know and love You more.  And the more I understand the prophecies, the better prepared I can be to face the future, trusting in You as my Savior.  

Thank You for being true to Your Word.  Thank You that as I read and study, You reveal more and more of Yourself to me: my God in whom I trust!  Amen

Luke 24:13-45

Mar 11 from Beginning to End

Thank You Lord, is not enough to say to You, for enduring such a horrible crucifixion and death so that I could be reunited and reconciled, into fellowship with You.  Thank You that the precious blood You shed washes away my sin and pays the penalty my sin deserves.

I cannot begin to imagine the horror of all You felt and went through.  Movies that depict it are difficult to watch and fill me with sorrow and shame, that it was for my sin You chose to go through it all.

It boggles my mind, that this was planned before the foundation of the world!  You already knew what would happen with sin being a part of the world You created, and what it would take to make it right again.

When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, they died spiritually, as they were separated from Your presence.  And eventually died physically.  They continued in sin, as did all man for centuries, and a system of shedding innocent blood and making offerings was instituted.

In the desert when Korah sinned against You and rebelled, You swallowed him up in the earth with his followers.  Yet sin continued. As did sacrifices as a way to enter Your presence, first in the Tabernacle, then the Temple.

In the fulfillment of Your prophecies, You came to the earth as Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the perfect, innocent Lamb of God and became the ultimate sacrifice, laying down Your life once for all – all the sin, all the people, for all time.  Yet all have not accepted that gift.

One day Your world will be free of sin again as You judge all the living and the dead – even the angels – and create a new heaven and a new earth.

You will have delivered Your people from all trouble, and will look triumphantly upon all Your foes.  They will be brought down to eternal death, separated from You for all eternity. And Your people will live with You forever.

I am eternally blessed to be Your child.  Thank You.  Amen

Numbers 16:1-40; Mark 15:12-38; Psalm 54:7

Mar 3 Hosanna!

Oh Lord, how wonderful it would have been to be one of the people who shouted to You “Hosanna!  Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!  Hosanna in the highest!”

And to lay down palm branches and watch You ride onto Jerusalem on the back of a donkey.  What a prophetic time to live in.

picture from LumoProject.com

I can just imagine the excitement of the moment, and the expectation of the people as they wondered if You really could be the Messiah.

Hosanna!  Waving my arms in the air, swaying with the crowd; having heard the stories of Your miracles and healing:

Water into wine!
Walking on water!
Healing with a touch, a word!
Raising the dead!
These must be signs of a long-awaited deliverance for our people!

But were these the same people who only a few days later called “Crucify Him!” and watched as You were led away?

How is it Jesus, that so near the end of Your time here, You are still to be found teaching.  Whole crowds were amazed at Your words when You threw out the money changers, enraging the chief priests and teachers of the law.

Thank You for teaching me one more time about prayer.  Your words remind me that I need to ask in faith, believing.  And that I need to ask according to Your will.  And that I need to be forgiving so I can be forgiven.

“You are my refuge!  And my strength!  My ever-present help in times of trouble.  Therefore, I will not fear.”  Amen

Mark 11:1-24; Psalm 46:1-2

Feb 22 Who is Jesus to you?

Heavenly Father, it amazes me that even in Your presence here on earth, with all the wisdom You shared in Your teachings, all the authority You spoke with, all the healings and miracles You performed, people didn’t recognize and acknowledge who You were.

Those in Your hometown wondered, amazed by You, but had no faith in someone they believed they already knew.  Others thought You were a prophet, or the reincarnated spirit of a prophet.

To some You were their healer, a miracle worker who raised loved ones from the dead.  To some, a blasphemer claiming divinity.  To others a confusing juxtaposition of holy teacher and friend of sinners.

To a very few, Messiah.

I wonder, who I would have thought You were, had I been alive and in the region at that time?

You said and did things that were against conventional teachings.  Yet all You did, You did in love.

You spoke to hundreds, thousands at a time, yet met each individual where they were.

You spoke in puzzling parables, yet to those who were called, they made perfect sense.

You fulfilled hundreds of prophecies, yet people who knew the prophecies, didn’t recognize what was happening.

It must have been a confusing time.  Yet thanks to You, I can know and be sure of my salvation because You have told me: “You chose me before the foundation of the world.”  So, no matter when I was born, or where; to me You are Jeshua Meshiac, Jesus Christ, Messiah, the Son of God, my Savior, my God, my King.  Amen

Mark 6:1-6; Ephesians 1:4

May 1 I believe

“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

In today’s scripture You come onto the scene and are recognized as Messiah, the Lamb of God, the One who saves!

You came in the flesh, to my physical world to sacrifice Yourself to make a way for me to be reconciled to You.  You are the Only Way.  Yet there are still people who do not recognize You for who You are.

John recognized You because he was spiritually aware.  You revealed to him that the one on whom he saw the Spirit of a dove come down and rest, was the Son of God.  He saw the Spirit rest on You so he could know for certain, proclaim and testify that You are the Son of God.

Two of John’s disciples first followed You because they had studied with John.  They knew the scriptures, the prophecies and trusted John’s testimony, so they believed.  Nathanael believed because You knew things about him You could not have naturally known.

Lord God, You call and You save.  But it is my personal decision whether to respond to or ignore Your call.

I accept Your free gift of eternal salvation, but there are so many who do not.

Lord God, Your Word says it is Your will that every single human being would be saved from the penalty of their sin.  That penalty is death, eternal separation from You.  You desire that they would answer Your call and accept Your payment for that sin and be reconciled to You.

Some will come to You because they are aware of spiritual truth, like John.

Some will come because they study out the scriptures for themselves, or because someone they trust will share with them, like John’s disciples.

Some will come because they see You doing things, miracles, that are not naturally possible.

This pandemic has caused many people to consider eternity and what happens after our life here on earth. Father, lead them to a saving knowledge of You.

Open their ears do they hear Your call.  Sensitize their minds, hearts, and spirits so they are ready to accept Your salvation.  And show me how I can speak or act in a way that will draw people to You.  Use me to point them to “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”

A time is coming when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.  I can’t wait!  Amen

John 1:29-51

April 29 Teach me from all Your Word

“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, Jesus explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.”

“Everything must be fulfilled about Me that is written in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.  Then Jesus opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.”

You are the God of both Testaments!  Of the whole Bible!

Father, explain to me and open my mind so I can understand the Scriptures!

What I was brought up calling the Old Testament, Jews refer to these as The Tanakh.

Made up of three parts: The Torah, the Neviim and the Ketuvim, the Torah is the first five books, Genesis through Deuteronomy.   The Neviim are the Prophets, so the twelve books of the minor prophets and nine written by major Prophets.  The Ketuvim are the books of wisdom, scrolls and history.

So much of the meaning in the Old Testament is lost to me unless I learn about the Hebrew customs and language.   When I only see what You said and did in the New Testament, I miss the depth of meaning without the context of what came before.

You are part of the Trinity in Genesis 1.  When You said “Let Us make man in our image…” it was plural; in Hebrew “Elohim.”

When the prophet Isaiah spoke it was You he saw who would be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace!  He described You in his words when he said “a man of sorrows, familiar with pain, despised and rejected.”

Zechariah saw that You would be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver, that You would die a violent death for all mankind.

There are 351 prophecies in this Scripture that You fulfill.   And more yet to be fulfilled!

How much more marvelous to know You as the One who speaks of the future, AND has the power to bring it to pass!

Understanding who You are and have been since the beginning helps me know and love You more.  And the more I understand the prophecies, the better prepared I can be to face the future, trusting in You as my Savior.

Thank You for being true to Your Word.  Thank You that as I read and study, You reveal more and more of Yourself to me: my God in whom I trust!  Amen

Luke 24:13-45

Mar 11 from Beginning to End

Thank You Lord, is not enough to say to You, for enduring such a horrible death so that I could be reunited and reconciled, into fellowship with You.

Thank You that the precious blood You shed washes away my sin and pays the penalty my sin deserves.

I cannot begin to imagine the horror of all You felt and went through.  Movies that depict it are difficult to watch and fill me with sorrow and shame, that it was for my sin You chose to go through it all.

It boggles my mind, that this was planned before the foundation of the world!  You already knew what would happen with sin being a part of the world You created, and what it would take to make it right again.

When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, they died spiritually, as they were separated from Your presence.  And eventually died physically.  They continued in sin, as did all man for centuries, and a system of shedding innocent blood and making offerings was instituted.

In the desert when Korah sinned against You and rebelled, You swallowed him up in the earth with his followers.  Yet sin continued. As did sacrifices as a way to enter Your presence, first in the Tabernacle, then the Temple.

In the fulfillment of Your prophecies, You came to the earth as Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the perfect, innocent Lamb of God and became the ultimate sacrifice, laying down Your life once for all – all the sin, all the people, for all time.  Yet all have not accepted that gift.

One day Your world will be free of sin again as You judge all the living and the dead – even the angels – and create a new heaven and a new earth.

You will have delivered Your people from all trouble, and will look triumphantly upon all Your foes.  They will be brought down to eternal death, separated from You for all eternity. And Your people will live with You forever.

I am eternally blessed to be Your child.  Thank You.  Amen

Numbers 16:1-40; Mark 15:12-38; Psalm 54:7

Mar 3 Hosanna!

Oh Lord, how wonderful it would have been to be one of the people who shouted to You “Hosanna!  Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!  Hosanna in the highest!”

And to lay down palm branches and watch You ride onto Jerusalem on the back of a donkey.  What a prophetic time to live in.

Picture from LumoProject.com

I can just imagine the excitement of the moment, and the expectation of the people as they wondered if You really could be the Messiah.

Hosanna!  Waving my arms in the air, swaying with the crowd; having heard the stories of Your miracles and healing.  Water into wine!  Walking on water!  Healing with a touch, a word!  Raising the dead!  These must be signs of a long-awaited deliverance for our people!

But were these the same people who only a few days later called “Crucify Him!” and watched as You were led away?

How is it Jesus, that so near the end of Your time here, You are still to be found teaching.  Whole crowds were amazed at Your words when You threw out the money changers, enraging the chief priests and teachers of the law.

Thank You for teaching me one more time about prayer.  Your words remind me that I need to ask in faith, believing.  And that I need to ask according to Your will.  And that I need to be forgiving so I can be forgiven.

“You are my refuge!  And my strength!  My ever-present help in times of trouble.  Therefore, I will not fear.”  Amen

Mark 11:1-24; Psalm 46:1-2

Feb 22 Who is Jesus to you?

Heavenly Father, it amazes me that even in Your presence here on earth, with all the wisdom You shared in Your teachings, all the authority You spoke with, all the healings and miracles You performed, people didn’t recognize and acknowledge who You were.

Those in Your hometown wondered, amazed by You, but had no faith in someone they believed they already knew.  Others thought You were a prophet, or the reincarnated spirit of a prophet.

To some You were their healer, a miracle worker who raised loved ones from the dead.  To some, a blasphemer claiming divinity.  To others a confusing juxtaposition of holy teacher and friend of sinners.

To a very few, Messiah.

I wonder, who I would have thought You were, had I been alive and in the region at that time?

You said and did things that were against conventional teachings.  Yet all You did, You did in love.

You spoke to hundreds, thousands at a time, yet met each individual where they were.

You spoke in puzzling parables, yet to those who were called, they made perfect sense.

You fulfilled hundreds of prophecies, yet people who knew the prophecies, didn’t recognize what was happening.

It must have been a confusing time.  Yet thanks to You, I can know and be sure of my salvation because You have told me: “You chose me before the foundation of the world.”  So, no matter when I was born, or where; to me You are Jeshua Meshiac, Jesus Christ, Messiah, the Son of God, my Savior, my God, my King.  Amen

Mark 6:1-6; Ephesians 1:4

 

May 1 I believe

“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” 

In today’s scripture You come onto the scene and are recognized as Messiah, the Lamb of God, the One who saves!

You came in the flesh, to my physical world to sacrifice Yourself to make a way for me to be reconciled to You.  You are the Only Way.  Yet there are still people who do not recognize You for who You are.

John recognized You because he was spiritually aware.  You revealed to him that the one on whom he saw the Spirit of a dove come down and rest, was the Son of God.  He saw the Spirit rest on You so he could know for certain, proclaim and testify that You are the Son of God.

Two of John’s disciples first followed You because they had studied with John.  They knew the scriptures, the prophecies and trusted John’s testimony, so they believed.  Nathanael believed because You knew things about him You could not have naturally known.

Lord God, You call and You save.  But it is my personal decision whether to respond to or ignore Your call.

I accept Your free gift of eternal salvation, but there are so many who do not.

Lord God, Your Word says it is Your will that every single human being would be saved from the penalty of their sin.  That penalty is death, eternal separation from You.  You desire that they would answer Your call and accept Your payment for that sin and be reconciled to You.

Some will come to You because they are aware of spiritual truth, like John.

Some will come because they study out the scriptures for themselves, or because someone they trust will share with them, like John’s disciples.

Some will come because they see You doing things, miracles, that are not naturally possible.

Father open the ears of those who do not yet know You, so they can hear Your call to them.  Sensitize their minds, hearts, and spirits so they are ready to accept Your salvation.  And show me how I can speak or act in a way that will draw people to You.  Use me to point them to “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”

A time is coming when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.  I can’t wait!  Amen

John 1:29-51

Apr 29 Teach me from all Your Word

“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, Jesus explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.” 

“Everything must be fulfilled about Me that is written in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.  Then Jesus opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.”

Father, explain to me and open my mind so I can understand the Scriptures!

The Scriptures You referred to here are the books of the Bible from Genesis to Malachi.  I was brought up referring to them as the Old Testament.  Jews refer to these same books as The Tanakh.  Made up of three parts: The Torah, the Neviim and the Ketuvim, the Torah is the first five books, Genesis through Deuteronomy.   The Neviim are the Prophets, so the twelve books of the minor prophets and nine written by major Prophets.  The Ketuvim are the books of wisdom, scrolls and history.

You explained to the disciples that You are the Messiah promised in these Scriptures.  You are the God in both Testaments!  You are God of the whole Bible!

So I need to be familiar with all parts to understand You fully.    Lord teach me from both, and help me see the blessing in the connections.

So much of the meaning in the Old Testament is lost to me unless I learn about the Hebrew customs and language.   When I see what You said and did in the New Testament, I miss the depth of meaning without the context of what came before.

You are part of the Trinity in Genesis 1.  When You said “Let Us make man in our image…” it was plural; in Hebrew “Elohim.”

When the prophet Isaiah spoke it was You he saw who would be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace!  He described You in his words when he said “a man of sorrows, familiar with pain, despised and rejected.”

Zechariah saw that You would be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver, that You would die a violent death for all mankind.

There are 351 prophecies in this Scripture that You fulfill.   And more yet to be fulfilled!  How much more marvelous to know You as the Promise Keeper, the Prophecy Fulfiller!  You are the One who speaks of the future, and has the power to bring it to pass!

The more I understand of who You are and all that You have done, the better I can know You.  The more I know You, the more fully I can love You.   And the more I understand about prophecies yet to be fulfilled, the better prepared I can be to face the future, trusting in You as my Savior.

Thank You for being true to Your Word.  Thank You that as I read and study, You reveal more and more of Yourself to me: my God in whom I trust!  Amen

Luke 24:13-53

Mar 3 Hosanna!

Oh Lord, How wonderful it would have been to be one of the people who shouted to You “Hosanna!  Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!  Hosanna in the highest!”

And to lay down palm branches and watch You ride onto Jerusalem on the back of a donkey.  What a prophetic time to live in.

I can just imagine the excitement of the moment, and the expectation of the people as they wondered if You really could be the Messiah.

Hosanna!  Waving my arms in the air, swaying with the crowd; having heard the stories of Your miracles and healing.  Water into wine!  Walking on water!  Healing with a touch, a word!  Raising the dead!  These must be signs of a long-awaited deliverance for our people!

But were these the same people who only a few days later called “Crucify Him!” and watched as You were led away?

How is it Jesus, that so near the end of Your time here, You are still to be found teaching.  Whole crowds were amazed at Your words when You threw out the money changers, enraging the chief priests and teachers of the law.

Thank You for teaching me one more time about prayer.  Your words remind me that I need to ask in faith, believing.  And that I need to ask according to Your will.  And that I need to be forgiving so I can be forgiven.

“You are my refuge!  And my strength!  My ever-present help in times of trouble.  Therefore, I will not fear.”  Amen

Mark 11:1-24; Psalm 46:1-2

Feb 22 Who is Jesus to you?

Heavenly Father, it amazes me that even in Your presence here on earth, with all the wisdom You shared in Your teachings, all the authority You spoke with, all the healings and miracles You performed, people didn’t recognize and acknowledge who You were.

Those in Your hometown wondered, amazed by You, but had no faith in someone they believed they already knew.  Others thought You were a prophet, or the reincarnated spirit of a prophet.

To some You were their healer, a miracle worker who raised loved ones from the dead.  To some, a blasphemer claiming divinity.  To others a confusing juxtaposition of holy teacher and friend of sinners.

To a very few, Messiah.

I wonder, who I would have thought You were, had I been alive and in the region at that time?

You said and did things that were against conventional teachings.  Yet all You did, You did in love.

You spoke to hundreds, thousands at a time, yet met each individual where they were.

You spoke in puzzling parables, yet to those who were called, they made perfect sense.

You fulfilled hundreds of prophecies, yet people who knew the prophecies, didn’t recognize what was happening.

It must have been a confusing time.  Yet thanks to You, I can know and be sure of my salvation because You have told me: “You chose me before the foundation of the world.”  So, no matter when I was born, or where; to me You are Jeshua Meshiac, Jesus Christ, Messiah, the Son of God, my Savior, my God, my King.  Amen

Mark 6:1-6; Ephesians 1:4

Feb 22 Who is Jesus to you?

Heavenly Father, it amazes me that even in Your presence here on earth, with all the wisdom You shared in Your teachings, all the authority You spoke with, all the healings and miracles You performed, people didn’t recognize and acknowledge who You were.

Those in Your hometown wondered, amazed by You, but had no faith in someone they believed they already knew. Others thought You were a prophet, or the reincarnated spirit of a prophet. To some You were their healer, a miracle worker who raised loved ones from the dead. To some, a blasphemer claiming divinity. To others a confusing juxtaposition of holy teacher and friend of sinners. To a very few, the Messiah.

I wonder, who I would have thought You were, had I been alive and in the region at that time?

You said and did things that were against conventional teachings. Yet all You did, You did in love. You spoke to hundreds, thousands at a time, yet met each individual where they were.  You spoke in puzzling parables, yet to those who were called, they made perfect sense.  You fulfilled hundreds of prophecies, yet people who knew the prophecies, didn’t recognize what was happening.

It must have been a confusing time. Yet thanks to You, I can know and be sure of my salvation because You have told me: “You chose me before the foundation of the world”.   So, no matter when I was born, or where; to me You are Jeshua Meshiac, Jesus Christ, Messiah, the Son of God, my Savior, my God, my King. Amen

Mark 6:1-6; Ephesians 1:4

May 1 I believe

“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

In today’s scripture You come onto the scene and are recognized as Messiah, the Lamb of God, the One who saves! You came in the flesh, to my physical world to sacrifice Yourself to make a way for me to be reconciled to You. You are the Only Way. Yet there are still people who do not recognize You for who You are.

John recognized You because he was spiritually aware. You revealed to him that the one on whom he saw the Spirit of a dove come down and rest, was the Son of God. He saw that Spirit rest on You and could then know for certain, proclaim and testify that You are the Son of God.

Two of John’s disciples first followed You because they had studied with John. They knew the scriptures, the prophecies and trusted John’s testimony, so they believed. Nathanael believed because You knew things about him You could not have naturally known.

Lord God, You call and You save. But it is my personal decision whether to respond to or ignore Your call. It is my choice to accept Your salvation or reject it. I hear Your call and follow You. I accept Your free gift of eternal salvation. But, there are so many who do not. Lord God, Your Word says it is Your will that every single human being would be saved from the penalty of their sin. That penalty is death, eternal separation from You. You desire that they would answer Your call and accept Your payment for that sin and be reconciled to You.

Some will come to You because they are aware of spiritual truth, like John. Some will come because they study out the scriptures for themselves, or because someone they trust will share with them, like John’s disciples. Some will come because they see You doing things, miracles, that are not naturally possible. Father open the ears of those who do not yet know You, so they can hear Your call to them. Sensitize their minds, hearts, and spirits so they are ready to accept Your salvation. And show me how I can speak or act in a way that will draw people to You. Use me to point them to “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world”.

A time is coming when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. I can’t wait! Amen

John 1:29-51

Apr 29 Teach me from all Your Word

“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, Jesus explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.” 

“Everything must be fulfilled about Me that is written in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms. Then Jesus opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.”

Father, explain to me and open my mind so I can understand the Scriptures! The Scriptures You referred to here are the books of the Bible from Genesis to Malachi. I was brought up referring to them as the Old Testament. Jews refer to these same books as The Tanakh. Made up of three parts: The Torah, the Neviim and the Ketuvim, the Torah is the first five books, Genesis through Deuteronomy.   The Neviim are the Prophets, so the twelve books of the minor prophets and nine written by major Prophets. The Ketuvim are the books of wisdom, scrolls and history.

You explained to the disciples that You are the Messiah promised in these Scriptures. You are the God in both Testaments! You are God of the whole Bible!

So I need to be familiar with all parts to understand You fully.  Lord teach me from both, and help me see the blessing in the connections. So much of the meaning in the Old Testament is lost to me unless I learn about the Hebrew customs and language. When I see what You said and did in the New Testament, I miss the depth of meaning without the context of what came before.

You are part of the Trinity in Genesis 1. When You said “Let Us make man in our image…” it was plural; in Hebrew ‘Elohim’.   When the prophet Isaiah spoke it was You he saw who would be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace! He described You in his words when he said ‘a man of sorrows, familiar with pain, despised and rejected’. Zechariah saw that You would be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver, that You would die a violent death for all mankind. There are 351 prophecies in this Scripture that You fulfill.   And more yet to be fulfilled! How much more marvelous to know You as the Promise Keeper, the Prophecy Fulfiller! You are the One who speaks of the future, and has the power to bring it to pass!

The more I understand of who You are and all that You have done, the better I can know You. The more I know You, the more fully I can love You.   And the more I understand about prophecies yet to be fulfilled, the better prepared I can be to face the future, trusting in You as my Savior.

Thank You for being true to Your Word. Thank You that as I read and study, You reveal more and more of Yourself to me: my God in whom I trust! Amen

Luke 24:13-53

Mar 11 from beginning to end

Thank You Lord, is not enough to say to You, for enduring such a horrible death so that I could be reunited, reconciled, into fellowship with You. Thank You that the precious blood You shed washes away my sin and pays the penalty my sin deserves.

I cannot begin to imagine the horror of all You felt and went through. Movies that depict it are difficult to watch and fill me with sorrow and shame, that it was for my sin You chose to go through it all.

It boggles my mind, that this was planned before the foundation of the world was laid! That You already knew what would happen with sin being a part of the world You created, and what it would take to make it right again.

When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, they died spiritually, as they were separated from Your presence. And eventually died physically. They continued in sin, as did all man for centuries, and a system of shedding innocent blood and making offerings was instituted.

In the desert when Korah sinned against You and rebelled, You swallowed him up in the earth with his followers. Yet sin continued, with more sacrifices being made as a way to enter Your presence, first in the Tabernacle, then the Temple.

In the fulfillment of Your prophecies, You came to the earth as Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the perfect, innocent Lamb of God and became the ultimate sacrifice, laying down Your life once for all – all the sin, all the people. Yet all have not accepted that gift.

One day Your world will be free of sin again, as You judge all the living and the dead, even the angels, and create a new heaven and a new earth. You will have delivered Your people from all trouble, and will look triumphantly upon all Your foes. They will be brought down to eternal death, separated from You for all eternity. And Your people will live with You forever. I am eternally blessed to be Your child. Thank You. Amen

Numbers 15:17-16:40; Mark 15:1-47; Psalm 54:7

Jan 5 I call to You

Thank You for giving me these scriptures today. Psalm 5:3 says “In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation.”

This has become true as I read Your Word and it becomes the substance of my prayers. So today, I lay myself and my loved ones, one by one before You. I ask for Your hand to be at work in each of these relationships, and in all our circumstances. Father, You know what each of us needs better than I do, so I ask for You to work in each of our lives to bring about Your perfect will. In some cases, to break our own will where it is in opposition to Yours and set us back on Your path. I ask for healing of our bodies where there is sickness; for a turning of our spirits to You where there has been rebellion or going our own way; for softening of our hearts so we seek You for help and direction. Show us how to call out to You where there is disappointment or despair and give us a realization and acknowledgment of the blessings in our lives which come from You. I lay our lives at Your feet, knowing that You have the resources, the authority, and the power to achieve even more than I can ask or even imagine. I wait for Your hand to be made visible in the lives of my family and myself so that I can see and rejoice.

Where our troubles are the result of bad choices, show us those mistakes. Teach us to learn from them so the experience is not wasted. Where we are wrestling with spiritual forces, rulers, principalities, authorities, and powers of this dark world and in the heavenly realms; destroy them Lord! Declare them as guilty O God! Let their intrigues be their downfall. Banish them for their sins and rebellion against You.

We take refuge in You, and in Your mighty power! Spread Your protection over us. Surround us with Your favor as with a shield. We rejoice in You and we sing for joy! We love Your Name O Lord. Jehovah! Yahweh! Jesus! Messiah! For there is no other name by which we can be saved! Amen

Psalm 5:1-12