Zechariah 2 ~ His Holy Dwelling

Zechariah 2

And I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand! Then I said, "Where are you going?" And he said to me, "To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its breadth and what is its length."

And behold, the angel who talked with me came forward, and another angel came forward to meet him, and said to him, "Run, say to that young man, `Jerusalem shall be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the multitude of men and cattle in it. For I will be to her a wall of fire round about, says the LORD, and I will be the glory within her.'"

Ho! ho! Flee from the land of the north, says the LORD; for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heavens, says the LORD.

Ho! Escape to Zion, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon. For thus said the LORD of hosts, after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye: "Behold, I will shake my hand over them, and they shall become plunder for those who served them. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me.

Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion; for lo, I come and I will dwell in the midst of you, says the LORD. And many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in the midst of you, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you.

And the LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem." Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD; for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.


O' Come All Ye Faithful sung by Celtic Woman - Link

Oh come all you faithful, the Lord comes to live and dwell among us.

John 1:12-14
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Father God promises us, again, the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. He gives us villages without walls, where multitudes dwell. The fullness of the earth is also the Lord's. He sent His Holy Spirit and He dwells in the midst of us. We are the apple of His eye, He listens to us and our deepest desires. The Lord does not just dwell in heaven, but in us, where His Holy Spirit dwells.

Father God, dwell in me. I open my heart and my spirit to you. You have given us Your Son, Jesus as Christ the Lord. Thank You for the forgiveness You have given me in the name of Jesus. Amen.

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Psalm 126 ~ Restore our fortunes, O Lord

Both photographs are the Arugot River flowing thru the Judean Desert, & also called the Nigev Desert.

4,700 sq miles, or at least 55% of Israel's land area, Southern Israel, is the Negev Desert. Water is still very precious in this large desert. The Southern District is one of Israel's six administrative districts, it is the largest, as well as the most sparsely populated. It covers most of the Negev desert. The population of the Southern District is 1,002,400. It is 86% Jewish. The district capital is Beersheba, which blooms in the desert like a desert city - comparably to Las Vegas.

Psalm 126

1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us;
we are glad.

4 Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
like streams in the Negeb!
5 Those who sow in tears
shall reap with shouts of joy!
6 He who goes out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him.

One of the prayers I offer to Father God, and fills me with joy, is asking that I might be comforting to others like the way Jesus describes Heaven. To help me, in His Grace, to be an oasis of love in a busy and sometimes harsh world.

Matthew 13:31,32
He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."

I like to pray for large prayers, I think that Father God likes expectant prayers. May you be filled with faith, hope and love during Thanksgiving and the Christmas Season! We will pray for God's blessing to come in and refresh us; like streams of living water in the desert, replenishing our souls, letting our light shine for the glory of God. In the highest name given to us, we ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!

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1 Timothy 4 ~ in faith

1 Timothy 4

1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, 3 who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

6 If you put these things before the brothers (& sisters - siblings), you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

11 Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

In faith, men & women travelled, in unknown conditions, in small ships to begin a new life for themselves and would become a great nation. Thanksgiving isn't just a secular holiday, but thanks for all that God has given us in 1 Timothy 4.

A Relation or Journal of the Beginning and Proceedings of the English Plantation Settled at Plimoth in New England, written by Edward Winslow in 1621: "Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruits of our labor. They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week. At which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which we brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty."

Let's remember to give thanks for the blessings we have received from living in a free country. And continue to pray for the United States and our families that we will conduct ourselves in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity. To be grateful we can freely read the Scriptures and teach them. Knowing that the United States is not the youthful, new country we once were, we will continue to pray for our nation to grow in faith and remember to treat one another with love.

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1 Timothy 5 ~ Good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden

Everyone in this Norman Rockwell drawing has a different look on their face for this Thanksgiving meal. A friend of mine has a Master's in Social Work, she says families fall into tried and true communication patterns. We had a wonderful Springer Spaniel named Spencer, who had worn paths in the backyard were he liked to travel. Not all communication patterns are helpful. Blessed are the Peacemakers.

1 Timothy 5

1 Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.

3 Honor widows who are truly widows. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. 5 She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, 6 but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. 7 Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

9 Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, 10 and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work. 11 But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry 12 and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. 13 Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not. 14 So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander. 15 For some have already strayed after Satan. 16 If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are truly widows.

17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.” 19 Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. 21 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality. 22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. 23 (No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.) 24 The sins of some men are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. 25 So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.

God tells us we are His creation, created for His purpose - to do good works:

Ephesians 2:10
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Matthew 6:3
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing

James 2:17-19
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

Why are the good deeds God created us to do in secret eventually revealed?

Matthew 5:14-16
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

We can never earn our way into salvation, and volunteerism plays out. We can give God gratitude each day, ask Him how to nurture others and ask each day that our actions, work and words bring Him joy.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word

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Job 6 ~ God would grant what I long for

The book of Job: When the Morning Stars Sang Together, painted by William Blake. 1825

Job 6 (American Standard Version)

1
Then Job answered and said:
2
Ah, could my anguish but be measured and my calamity laid with it in the scales,
3
They would now outweigh the sands of the sea! Because of this I speak without restraint.
4
For the arrows of the Almighty pierce me, and my spirit drinks in their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.
5
1 Does the wild ass bray when he has grass? Does the ox low over his fodder?
6
Can a thing insipid be eaten without salt? Is there flavor in the white of an egg?
7
I refuse to touch them; they are loathsome food to me.
8
Oh, that I might have my request, and that God would grant what I long for:
9
Even that God would decide to crush me, that he would put forth his hand and cut me off!
10
Then I should still have consolation and could exult through unremitting pain, because I have not transgressed the commands of the Holy One.
11
What strength have I that I should endure, and what is my limit that I should be patient?
12
Have I the strength of stones, or is my flesh of bronze?
13
Have I no helper, and has advice deserted me?
14
A friend owes kindness to one in despair, though he have forsaken the fear of the Almighty.
15
My brethren are undependable as a brook, as watercourses that run dry in the wadies;
16
Though they may be black with ice, and with snow heaped upon them,
17
Yet once they flow, they cease to be; in the heat, they disappear from their place.
18
Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go into the desert and perish.
19
2 The caravans of Tema search, the companies of Sheba have hopes;
20
They are disappointed, though they were confident; they come there and are frustrated.
21
It is thus that you have now become for me; you see a terrifying thing and are afraid.
22
Have I asked you to give me anything, to offer a gift for me from your possessions,
23
Or to deliver me from the enemy, or to redeem me from oppressors?
24
Teach me, and I will be silent; prove to me wherein I have erred.
25
How agreeable are honest words; yet how unconvincing is your argument!
26
Do you consider your words as proof, but the sayings of a desperate man as wind?
27
You would even cast lots for the orphan, and would barter away your friend!
28
Come, now, give me your attention; surely I will not lie to your face.
29
Think it over; let there be no injustice. Think it over; I still am right.
30
Is there insincerity on my tongue, or cannot my taste discern falsehood?


The bible is a road map God has given us for life on earth. He has seen all of life for millenniums. One of my theories about the purpose of life, is for our souls to mature and allow us to grow up and go home. Job is a difficult book in the Scripture to read, no one really wants to know about deep suffering. But instead of being run over with extreme experience or grief, God gives us Job to understand what true grief is like. Job is hard, let's read a different book, but Job is hope as well.

My first experience with the permanence of death was the loss of a friend in 3rd grade, who really suffered with Leukemia. I really grieved for him and his family. I've had some depression in my life and understand sadness, but nothing prepared me for the death of my dad when I was thirty. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most painful, how bad was it? It was probably a 72. I had no idea the scale could go higher than 10. I experienced what Job felt too. Please, someone take the crushing weight of this sadness, just for a moment. A friend to carry it. But grief must be dealt with internally. Sometimes grief is like having to carry an elephant. I felt this again when my daughter died.

~ Oh, that I might have my request, and that God would grant what I long for

Job found something important, Father God does not forget us. In His way and in His time, God does grant the requests of our heart and soul. Just as Job learned to wait upon the Lord and trust Him, we will too. In His time, we will stand and rejoice in being part of His Victory!

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Psalm 98 ~ make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!

Psalm 98

1 Oh sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
2 The Lord has made known his salvation;
he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.

4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
5 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody!
6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!

7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
the world and those who dwell in it!
8 Let the rivers clap their hands;
let the hills sing for joy together
9 before the Lord, for he comes
to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity.

This isn't Advent, it's barely Thanksgiving, there is something exciting going on - not in the mainstream publications - something a majority of people feel and want to honor the Lord. Each week when we are about to celebrate Communion, we say, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!" This is about honoring the One who lived and dwelt among us. Jesus Christ giving us life.

This is the song, listen to the lyrics, this is what more that 86% of people want to say and exalt:

It's called Christmas! By Go Fish! - Link

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Revelation 3 ~ you

Revelation 3

To the angel of the church in Sardis, write this: The one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars says this:

"I know your works, that you have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Be watchful and strengthen what is left, which is going to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember then how you accepted and heard; keep it, and repent. If you are not watchful, I will come like a thief, and you will never know at what hour I will come upon you. However, you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; they will walk with me dressed in white, because they are worthy. The victor will thus be dressed in white, and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name in the presence of my Father and of his angels. Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

To the angel of the church in Philadelphia, write this: The holy one, the true, who holds the key of David, who opens and no one shall close, who closes and no one shall open, says this:

"I know your works (behold, I have left an open door before you, which no one can close). You have limited strength, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Behold, I will make those of the assembly of Satan who claim to be Jews and are not, but are lying, behold I will make them come and fall prostrate at your feet, and they will realize that I love you. Because you have kept my message of endurance, I will keep you safe in the time of trial that is going to come to the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. I am coming quickly. Hold fast to what you have, so that no one may take your crown. The victor I will make into a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never leave it again. On him I will inscribe the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, as well as my new name. Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'

To the angel of the church in Laodicea, write this: The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the source of God's creation, says this:

"I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, 'I am rich and affluent and have no need of anything,' and yet do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich, and white garments to put on so that your shameful nakedness may not be exposed, and buy ointment to smear on your eyes so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and chastise. Be earnest, therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, (then) I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me. I will give the victor the right to sit with me on my throne, as I myself first won the victory and sit with my Father on his throne. Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

One of the most powerful points about the Scripture is God's Word being living and active. When we listen with open hearts (a smart woman in my church says when we have a teachable heart), the Scripture will be different at different times when we hear the bible. For example, if I heard Revelations 3 in the spring, and my soul understands the word to tell me I've gotten to be lax in works for God.

Revelations 3 comes into my life, say, in July and I "hear" about the white robes of heaven for the first time and begin to think about holiness, purity and beauty in the Kingdom of Heaven. It makes me think of the glories of heaven.

Revelations 3, really and not just as an example, makes me think about the study of happiness done by the evening news last night. The second component of happiness, according to the report last night, is not to compare ourselves to others. We just don't know how God plans others' lives and really what goes on. Perhaps we envy someone all their good fortune, but in reality their heart is "wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked." And if we guess it to be so, we still do not know what God has in store, within the next year that person could be given a revelation and refined by God's fire. Just as the disciples, before and after Jesus lived among them, had different aspects of their faith grow and fall back. (Remember Peter and Paul had the dispute over circumcision or early churches and the turmoil over eating kosher/idol sacrifices). So churches, and us, individually, have growth and rest periods in our lives.

It's important to read the Scripture several times, stop and think about what you remembered the best.... that is the Holy Spirit speaking to you.

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