Sunday Sharing: Sunday School Lesson on Hypocrisy

Today our lesson was on having integrity and not being a hypocrite.  The scripture the lesson was based on was Acts 4:32-5:11 about how when the church first started in its early days, the believers would share everything they had with each other and even would sell their homes and land and give the proceeds to the church to distribute to those in need.

Joseph a/k/a Barnabas because he was an encourager was one who sold some land and gave all the money from the sale to the church.  Peter was the one who collected the money for distribution.  Another couple in the church, Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, also had some land that they sold, but decided to only give part to the church and keep part for themselves.  This would have been okay IF they hadn't led people to believe they were giving the entire amount.

Were they really believers?  Were they possibly pharisees in disguise just wanting to look good?  Were they really believers but wanted the praise of men?  The Bible doesn't really say for sure, but we do know they lied about the amount they got for their land and both fell over dead on the spot, were carried out and buried next to each other.

I seriously doubt if any lying was done in that church for a long time after that!  Today, at least our church, does not really practice sharing everything we have with all the other members of the church; however, we do have a food pantry where people can get free food items that others have donated for those in need.  We often have mission projects that people give money to support.  I do believe everything I have comes from God and am willing to use it for His glory. 

After we read through the story, I let the kids (and my husband helped too) use finger puppets to review the story.  They did a great job moving the puppets around, coming up at the right time and having the puppets face the one they were talking to.  Unfortunately, they didn't speak up loud enough for the sound to be good on the video so I had to do quite a bit of editing to it and added titles and text.  The edited version is above. 

Another interesting part of the class was showing an excerpt from a Brain Games DVD about lying.  It showed four little kids in a room alone for 15 min. with a chocolate cake sitting in front of them and they were told not to eat any of it.  (They were taped with a hidden camera during that time.)  An interrogator came in to see if he could get a confession from any of them.  All said they didn't eat any of it, but three actually did.  

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Sunday Sharing: How Great God Is!

image source:  allfreeclipart.com

Last Sunday the boys in my Sunday School class were bringing up some good points and actually asking some good questions related to the lesson which was about the problem of sin, the origin of sin, which led to Satan, consequences and God's greatness, power and love.  (Yes, we cover a lot in one lesson.)   The thing is as I was doing some digging during the week to follow up on some points that were brought up, one was this verse:

He counts the stars and names each one. -- Psalm 147:4

This led me to read all of Psalm 147, then Psalm 148, then Psalm 149 and Psalm 150--all chapters about God's power, greatness and plain amazing awesomeness.  It was a special time of private worship.  I couldn't help but break into singing "To God Be The Glory."  Let every thing that has breath praise the Lord!


This is another good one too that I thought of later:


I encourage you to read these Psalms and be reminded of how truly wonderful God is! What scripture highlight did you come across last week? 





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Sunday Sharing: Song of Victory

I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.  He is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.--Psalm 18:1-2 (NIV)

Notice how often the words "I" and "My" are used? David had a personal relationship with God and so do I. In the study this week, it was helpful to look back to see how the Lord has been my shield, deliver and refuge. Here are the questions and answers that I came up with:

1. The Lord is MY Shield:

I remember two times when driving through snowstorms in white out conditions. One was when I was when I drove five or six teens home from a Bible quiz and the other was when Gerard and I went to a winter couples retreat at Beulah Beach. The car spun around out of control in traffic on Route 2.  I really thought we were both going to die that night and just called out to God to take the wheel. It was a miracle nothing hit us, we didn't hit anyone and were able to keep going. I was so shook up but also very thankful when we got there. That is the last retreat we are going to in the winter. It wasn't snowing at all when we left and it was only 45 minutes away, in good weather.

When has God shielded you from what appeared to be imminent harm?

2. The Lord is MY deliverer:

A long time ago, when I was a teen, I had a death wish because of a broken friendship. This friend was mad about something but wouldn't tell me what. She refused to talk to me. I remember walking down the street heading home in a thunder storm hoping to be struck by lightening. Then, as the storm continued, I realized I really didn't want to die after all. I realized God had work for me to do yet and I needed to stop letting this person get to me and move on with my life.

When has God been your deliverer?

3. The Lord is My refuge and stronghold:

When my parents died, God was there for me. I felt so alone and overwhelmed and poured my heart out to him, especially when my dad died because he was the last parent I had. When mom died, I missed her terribly (and still do) but I still had dad at least. God really helped me a lot by sending people in my life to help me do the big job of getting his house cleaned out and sold.

When has God been a refuge when you felt like everyone needed more from you than you could give?

When doing the Beth Moore Bible study, David--Seeking a Heart Like His, I saw that Psalm 18 and II Samuel 22 are practically identical. It is a song of victory that David wrote.

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Sunday Sharing: Head Toss

My highlight this week was from the Beth Moore study, "David, A Heart Like His."  After David's son, Absalom died, David decided to go back and re-establish himself in his rightful position on the throne.  However, he heard that Sheba, son of Bicri, was trying to take over.  David sent his army to kill Sheba before he made things any worse.

Sheba ran to Abel Beth Maacah and Joab and David's army started to siege the city.  A woman spoke up, talked to Joab and he told her if they handed over Sheba, he would withdraw from the city.

The woman said to Joab, "His head will be thrown to you from the wall."  Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bicri and threw it to Joab.  So he sounded the trumpet, and his men dispersed from the city, each returning to his home.  And Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem.  --II Samuel 20:21b-22

They sure did a lot of beheading in Bible times!  I didn't know about this one though, and thought it was kind of strange how they just tossed it over the wall!   This woman was not only wise, but also brave to step in and take control of the situation like that.  I think it's odd though that her name isn't even mentioned.

Share a scripture highlight you came across this week in the comments or feel free to comment on this post?

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Sunday Sharing: Strong Bones and One Messed Up Family

Strong Bones

Don't depend on your own wisdom, respect the Lord and refuse to do wrong.   Then your body will be healthy and your bones will be strong. --Proverbs 3:7-8 (ICB)

I came across the above verse when studying for my Sunday School lesson this week and I thought what an easy way to stay healthy.  But then, it's not so easy to not depend on my own wisdom.  I have the respecting the Lord and refusing to do wrong part down, I think.  I just need to seek God's wisdom more though instead of relying on my own.

I want to be healthy and have strong bones.  My follow up checkups with my Oncologist due to having had Cancer and being on the Femara drug to keep it from coming back have indicated my bones are getting weaker.  I need more Vitamin D.  Years ago before all this fancy technology, they never would have mentioned such a thing.  Now they tell me by taking more pills, my bones can be improved.  I've been drinking more milk and also taking three be-BALANCED bone strengthening Calcium, a dietary supplement every day. I call them bone chews--they're good!.  I have an appointment coming up Nov. 7 and she'll probably schedule me for another bone scan so I'm hoping there is some improvement.

One Messed Up Family

Back to the life of David and his family, in II Samuel 14:28-29, David's son Absalom has his half-brother Amnon killed at a family celebration for sleeping with Absolom's sister, Tamar.

But he told his servants, "Keep an eye on Amnon.  When he gets a little drunk from the wine and is feeling good, I'll give the signal.  Then kill him!  I've commanded you to do it, so don't be afraid.  Be strong and brave."  Absalom's servants killed Amnon, just as Absalom had told them.  The rest of the king's sons quickly rode away on their mules to escape from Absalom.  (Contemporary English version)

This show what holding in anger and bitterness can do.  I found it interesting that David's family was so messed up.  He was a much better king than a father apparently.  I also found it interesting that just like Absalom's father, he had a servant do his killing for him.  I always was under the impression that Absalom had actually killed Amnon himself.

Please share in the comments what interesting scripture highlights you came across this week.

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Sunday Sharing: Depending on God

My highlight this week is from my Sunday School lesson, the story of Elijah being fed by ravens during a drought and the widow and her son who took care of him found in I Kings 17:1-16.

image:  openclipart.org

The thing that stood out to me was the great faith Elijah had in God demonstrated by his total reliance on Him for food and water.  I like how God uses even birds and animals for His purposes!  I can't imagine just camping out by a brook relying on ravens to bring me food each morning and evening . . . for days. 

Finally, when the brook dried up, God told him to go to a widow's home.  She was very unselfish and poor.  Down to her last meal, she still shared with Elijah what she had.  God came through for them in a miraculous way, never letting her run out of the oil and flour all through the 3.5 years of the drought!

The jar of flour and the jug of oil were never empty.  This happened just as the Lord, through Elijah, said it would.--I King 17:16

We too must remember to obey Romans 12:13 like the widow which says:

Share with God's people in need.  Practice hospitality.

I have a hard time picturing me inviting a total stranger to stay in my home for three and half years!  I wonder what would have happened though had she not welcomed Elijah to stay and fed him what she had.  Would God still provided for her needs had she turned Elijah away or would she and her son have starved to death?
Share a scripture highlight you came across this week in the comments.

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Sunday Sharing: Four Highlights From II Samuel 3-5

In continuing my study through David--Seeking a Heart Like His by Beth Moore, I am learning a lot of things.  Here is a list of some of the highlights that jumped out at me this week.

David's Family Grows

I knew Solomon had a weakness for women and had many wives, but I never realized David had so many.  Nor did I know David had so many sons!  II Samuel 3:2-5 lists 7 wives and sons.  Then over in II Samuel 5:13-16 after he became king, he took more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem and had 11 children "born unto him in Jerusalem." 

Recab and Baanah

Do you know what Recab and Baanah did? These are two I didn't know anything about until I read II Samuel 4:5-12.

They came into the middle of the house, Recab and Baanah came as if they were going to get some wheat. Ish-Bosheth [son of Saul] was lying on his bed in his bedroom. Recab and Baanah stabbed him in the stomach. Then they cut off his head and took it with them. They traveled all night through the Jordan valley. (II Samuel 4:6-7)

They took the head to David in Hebron, thinking he would be pleased with them but he wasn't. He had no desire to hurt any of Saul's family and Recab and Baanah were both put to death for doing this.

Ask For Directions First

Something that really stood out to me this week is the fact that David prayed asking God if he should do things before he acted. I thought, what a wonderful habit to get into! In II Samuel 2:1-7 after he became king, he prayed to the Lord asking if he should go up to any cities of Judah. The Lord told him to go and he asked where. Then the Lord answered him and said to go to Hebron.

In II Samuel 5:18, David asked God first if he should attack the Philistines and if God would deliver them to him. Again, God said yes.

This shows that David was not arrogant like Saul, but trusted in God. In Psalm 20:7 he wrote:

Some trust in chariots, others in horses, but we trust the Lord our God.

 

Joab v. Abner

Another section I found interesting was how David made an agreement not to harm Abner (commander of Saul's army) when Abner transferred his loyalty to David.  This did not set well with Joab (commander of David's army) because Abner had killed one of Joab's brothers in battle.  When Joab found out, he got Abner alone and stabbed him to death.  David was very upset about this! (I Samuel 3:22-39)

I highly recommend this study. Remind you, these are just highlights from last week! Share a scripture highlight you came across last week in a comment, or feel free to comment on this post.

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Sunday Sharing: Friendship and Loving Others

This week as I was reading through I, II and II John as well as preparing for my Sunday School lesson on being a true friend, reading about David and Jonathan's example of good friends (I Kings 18-20), it seemed I was bombarded with the fact that if we say we love God, we will also love others.

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar:  for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?  And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. --I John 4:20-21 (KJV)

Finally, I reviewed the memory passage for this unit which is filled with commands as to how to treat people found in Romans 12:9-14, 21 which says:

Love must be sincere.  Hate what is evil, cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with God's people who are in need.  Practice hospitality.  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:15-20 contain even more ways to relate with others that I read as well, but I guess the ones writing the material thought the above passage was long enough to try to get kids to memorize.  

 Jesus says in John 15:14 that "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you."  (KJV)

Finally, I came across these two verses from Jude 1:2, 21 this week:

I pray that God will greatly bless you with kindness, peace and love!  And keep in step with God's love, as you wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to show how kind He is by giving you eternal life. (contemporary English version)

I had a great feast last week on the word and feel as though I will be immersed in God's Word for the upcoming months.  I learn so much when I teach others!   Looking forward not only teaching Sunday School again, but also a Beth Moore study on "A Heart Like David's" and reading another Karol Ladd book, A Woman's Passionate Pursuit of God.



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Sunday Sharing: Dry Bones Come To Life

My scripture highlight this week is just something I thought was a cool vision Ezekiel had that God used to communicate His intentions of restoring Israel.  It is commonly referred to as the vision of dry bones.

I felt the power of the Lord was on me.  He brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord.  And he put me down in the middle of a valley.  It was full of bones.  The Lord led me around among the bones.  There were many bones on the bottom of the valley.  I saw the bones were very dry.  Then he asked me, "Human being, can these bones live?"

I answered, "Lord God, only you know." [God told Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones.]

So I prophesied as I was commanded.  While I prophesied, there was a noise and a rattling.  The bones came together, bone to bone.  I looked and saw muscles come on the bones.  Flesh grew, and skin covered the bones.  But there was no breath in them.

  Then the Lord said to me, "Prophesy to the wind."  Prophesy, human being, and say to the wind:  'This is what the Lord God says:  Wind, come from the four winds.  Breathe on these people who were killed so they can live again.'"  So I prophesied as the Lord commanded me.  And the breath came into them, and they came to life.  They stood on their feet.  They were a very large army. --Ezekiel 37:1-11

This reminds of skeletons at Halloween.  I was a skeleton for many years.  Sorry, I digress.

Israel was depressed.  Verse 11 says:

Then the Lord said to me:  "Human being, these bones are like all the people of Israel.  They say, 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope has gone.  We are destroyed.'  

Then in verses 12-14, God tells Ezekiel to prophecy this message of hope to Israel:

So, prophesy, and say to them:  'This is what the Lord God says:  My people, I will open your graves.  And I will cause you to come up out of your graves.  Then I will bring you into the land of Israel.  This is how you, my people, will know that I am the Lord.  I will open your graves and cause you to come up from them.  And I will put my Spirit inside you.  You will come to life.  Then I will put you in your own land.  And you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken and done it, says the Lord.'"

God did not forsake Israel and he won't forsake me.  Whenever I get depressed or overwhelmed, I immediately start praising God, and quote Colossians 3:2 which says, "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."   I say a prayer of thanks and it always relieves my stress.  When we know God, there is no reason to be depressed! 

(All scripture is from the International Children's Bible because I can understand it better and don't have to think so hard early in the morning when I first arise.)

Feel free to share a scripture highlight you came across this week in the comments.  I'd really love to hear it or just comment on this post.

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Sunday Sharing: God Is Loyal to Jerusalem

I'm still in Ezekiel and it's getting hard to find a highlight, I must admit.  I am to the place where although Israel is still in captivity, God is telling Ezekiel about his punishment coming to other nations so they too will know He is the Lord God (see Ez. 25:17).  For the highlight, I chose this:

Human being, the city of Tyre has spoken against Jerusalem:  "The city that traded with the nations is destroyed.  Now we can be the trading center.  The city of Jerusalem is ruined.  Now we can make money. (3) So this is what the Lord God says:  I am against you, Tyre. . .  --Ezekiel 26:2-3a (ICB)

It's not a good idea to go against God's chosen people, ever!  As I was reading about one nation after another this week in Ezekiel, I couldn't help but wonder what God's view of the nations is today.  It's kind of interesting when you think about it.  Again, this week the same line was repeated over and over, "Then they will know that I am the Lord God."  God still wants us to know Him, do you? 

Gerard's new Shirt

This is a picture of the shirt Gerard ordered that came in the mail this week.  The small print at the bottom says,

HIS SPIRIT WILL FILL US
Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst."  John 6:35 

MAY YOU BE EVER IN GOD'S FAVOR

The Christian t-shirt website where Gerard bought this shirt from is Kerusso.
(John 6:35 was one of our VBS verses this summer!  Too bad he didn't have it sooner so he could have worn it there.)

What was your scripture highlight this week?

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Sunday Sharing: God Is Fair

Most of what I read in Ezekiel this week was how God was going to punish Israel and Judah for worshiping idols and sexual sins so they would know that He was the Lord God.  However, for my highlight of the week I chose these verses that stood out from the rest:

(23) I do not really want the evil person to die, says the Lord God.  I want him to stop his bad ways and live.  (31) Get rid of all the sins you have done.  And get for yourselves a new heart and a new way to think.  Why do you want to die, people of Israel?  --Ezekiel 18:23, 31 (ICB)

Doesn't this sound like rehab?  Perhaps it struck me this way because I've been reading A Chance To Win--Boyhood, Baseball, and the Struggle for Redemption in the Inner City by Jonathan Schuppe.  God is all about reconciliation.  Today, God wants us to turn from sin to trusting and following Jesus, who died on the cross and rose from the grave so that we can be forgiven and have a new heart, one that desires to do God's will and please Him.

When reading these verses, II Corinthians 5:17 & 18 came to mind which says:

(17) Therefore, if any man be in Christ he is a new creature:  old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  (18) And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.

What scripture highlight did you come across this week?  I'd really love to hear.  Please share in the comments or feel free to comment on this one.  

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Sunday Sharing: Would God's Message For The U.S. Be The Same?

I'm continuing to read Ezekiel and this week came across the following verse that made me wonder if God would say the same thing to the people of the United States.  Here it is:

So say this to the people of Israel:  "This is what the Lord God says:  Change your hearts and lives.  Stop worshiping idols.  Stop doing all the things I hate." --Ezekiel 14:6 (Children's International Version)

I can't help but think God must be so displeased with our injustice and the deterioration of morals in this country.   Legalizing sin (abortion, homosexuality) is just plain wrong!  There, I said it.

On a more positive note, I had a blast at our Vacation Bible School with the Sonwest Roundup theme.  I helped in the 5th and 6th grade group and had both boys and girls in my small group.  I really thought I was going to win three years in a row, but this year my group came in second place because we had some who missed some days after they started.  I am happy to report though that everyone who was there Friday and even one who wasn't said all five verses during the week.  I love seeing children memorizing God's word and hope they will remember these verses:  John 3:16, John 16:33, John 11:25, John 6:35 and John 13:34-35.

What was your scripture highlight of the week.

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Sunday Sharing: The Lord Punishes But Warns First

I started reading the book of Ezekiel and it reads like a fantasy book!  God called Ezekiel to be a prophet to Israel when they were in captivity and Ezekiel saw lots of different visions.  So far I have read chapters 1-9 and found them to be quite interesting.  In chapter 1 he saw a living creature with four faces:  one side a man, one a lion, one an ox and one an eagle.  This just got things started off with a bang for me.  My interest was piqued to see what other visions God showed Ezekiel.

It's kind of hard to pick a key verse of the week as a highlight because all the chapters so far are God telling Ezekiel how he will punish the Israel for turning against Him and insulting Him.  Here is one passage that stood out to me in Ezekiel 3:12 & 18 which says:

(v. 12) Then the spirit lifted me up and I heard a loud rumbling sound behind me.  A voice said, "PRAISE GOD IN HEAVEN." (v. 18) When I say to an evil person "you will surely die" you must warn him.  If you don't speak out to warn the evil person to leave his evil way, he will die in his sin.  But I will hold you responsible for his death.

Whoa!  Poor Ezekiel!  Wouldn't that be so scary?  I wonder how the people will react when Ezekiel warns them to turn from their sin back to God.  I wonder if they will accuse him of being judgmental like people accuse Christians so often today if we speak out against sin.  This makes me wonder if God will hold Christians responsible for the people we know who die in sin without hearing about God's love and gift of salvation if they are willing to repent of their sins and put their faith in Him as their personal Savior who died for them and rose from the grave.

I'd love to hear a scripture highlight that impressed you this week! Or, feel free to comment on this post. Have you ever read Ezekiel?

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Sunday Sharing: Helping Others

I finished reading the book of Galatians this week so will choose a highlight from there since it's such a short book. The verse for this week is Galatians 6:9-10 which says:

Don't get tired of helping others. You will be rewarded when the time is right if you don't give up. We should help people whenever we can, especially if they are followers of the Lord.

(Contemporary English Version)

I generally like to help others and believe most people do.  It gives me a good feeling if I can help someone and I also am grateful when someone helps me.  This is one of the reasons that I enjoy being a secretary/administrative assistant which is basically just helping others.  It's a good job for me.  Beyond that though, it's fun to surprise people by doing something nice for them.

One day last week, I witnessed one of the beggars downtown who asks people for money every day, ask a lady that was passing by behind me.  I heard her say she didn't have any money, but she could give him her lunch (which she had just purchased) saying it was a burger.  He gratefully accepted it and she gave it to him!

It made me realize I have a ways to go in this area.  I'm fine with buying people gifts, going out of my way to help someone with something, giving time to help with church events, help my husband with things, but don't see me ready to give up my own lunch for someone else that I don't even know.  I thought that was very nice of her!

When was the last time you saw someone help someone else.  How are you doing at helping others?

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Sunday Sharing: A Prayer For Those With Heavy Hearts

Last week was one of sadness for many people I know.  Several people I attend a Bible study with at church are going difficult family situations and I learned about five deaths of family members or pets of friends, co-workers of mine and blogging buddies.  

On Tuesday, I began reading the book of Galatians and the first thing in Chapter 1 is a prayer that I prayed for those I know going through hard times or times of grief over their loss of loved ones.  I thought it was just what they need so I'd like to share it with you.  (Replace "you" with whomever you wish and pray this for those you know.)

I pray that God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you and will bless you with peace. --Galatians 1:3

This is how Paul opened his letter to the Galatians.  Later on, he called them stupid but I'll let you read that for yourself in chapter 3.

I'd love to hear what scripture highlight you came across this week and hope you will experience God's kindness and peace in your life this week!

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Sunday Sharing: How To Avoid Becoming Useless

My scripture highlight this week is from II Peter 1:5-7 from the Children's International Bible which says:

Because you have these blessings, you should try as much as you can to add these things to your lives: to your FAITH, add GOODNESS; and to your goodness, add KNOWLEDGE; and to your knowledge, add SELF-CONTROL; and to your self-control, add the ABILITY TO HOLD ON; and to your ability to hold on, add SERVICE FOR GOD; and to your service for God, add KINDNESS FOR YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST; and to this kindness, add LOVE. If all these things are in you and are growing, they will help you never to be useless. They all help your knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ make your lives better.

Oh, I had such a fun busy week when on vacation doing Sports Camp Monday through Thursday, coaching basketball in the morning, assisting soccer coaches (who I had in my Sunday School class when they were 5th graders) in the afternoon and helping set up for the family picnic on Thursday evening!  I was able to incorporate all of the above things mentioned in this scripture passage and definitely did not feel useless, just a bit old.  I was having such a good time and was so busy that I only got a few pictures, but thought you might enjoy seeing some of what my vacation looked like. 


We as a church put on this sports camp free of charge to show God's love to our community and get the opportunity to share the Good News about Jesus with them.  Many would never come into our church otherwise.  The final program this year were two jugglers and all the kids there who attended through the week received four juggling balls.  This year we had more kids than ever before and both morning and afternoon sessions were filled to capacity in all the sports!

I didn't get to visit many blogs this week, but it was kind of nice being outdoors and enjoying seeing people face-to-face for a change.  I sure hate to see my vacation come to an end.

WELCOME SUMMER!

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Sunday Sharing: Perseverance, Courage and Commitment

I was reading Acts 12-15 this week and for my highlight, I choose Acts 14:4-5:

The people of Iconium did not know what to think.  Some believed the Jewish group and others believed the apostles.  Finally, some Gentiles and Jews together with their leaders, decided to make trouble for Paul and Barnabas and to stone them to death.

(Contemporary English Version)

Paul and Barnabas were stoned in Iconium and left for dead; however, they were still alive and moved on to Lystra.  They kept on preaching about Jesus and more and more people kept believing.  They had great courage and never gave up.  Later though, they even had the courage to return to Iconium to check up on the believers to see how they were doing and encourage them to remain strong in their faith!

Their faith in Jesus and their commitment to follow his last instructions to them to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost was so strong that they were willing to die for it! 

I am so humbled when I compare myself to the apostles.  I do not talk about Jesus everywhere I go like they did even though they were often threatened and persecuted for doing so and I am not.  Reading this makes me realize I need to be more outgoing and share the Good News about Jesus to those who I come in contact with who do not yet know him.  I encourage all my readers to get into the Holy Bible, God's Word, and get to really know the only true God you loves you so much! 

I wish you all a good week and hope you will share in the comments a highlight from scripture you came across this week!  Feel free to comment on what I wrote as well.

Photo credit:  Mike Solomon (our photographer)

Happy Mother's Day!  I suggest you get a picture taken of you and your mom while you still can.  I have none with just my mom and me except for when I was a baby.  Kind of sad. 

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Sunday Sharing: A Life Transformed

This week for my scripture highlight, I chose Acts 9:22-23 which says:

(22) Saul preached with such power that the completely confused the Jewish People in Damascus, as he tried to show them that Jesus is the Messiah. (33) Later some of them made plans to kill Saul.

Saul is a great example of a transformed life after a personal encounter with Jesus.  He was a well educated Jew on his way to Damascus to persecute the Christians who went there after fleeing Jerusalem because of all the persecution.  In his mind, he was doing what God wanted.  But then, on the way Jesus spoke to him from above and he was blind for three days.  God prepared another believer, Ananias, to restore his sight and Saul's sight was restored, he received the Holy Ghost and was baptized.  His life changed 180 degrees as my chosen verses of the week show.  I find it absolutely amazing and also encouraging that Jesus can make such a huge difference in one's life. 

Not only did he become a Christian, but he also preached about Jesus being the Messiah everywhere he went and wrote letters to the believers at the cities he visited which became New Testament books!  Even his name was changed to Paul. In fact, he wrote the following to the Corinthians:

Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:  old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new. (I Corinthians 5:17 KJV).

When I repented of my sin and trusted Jesus as my Savior at age 7 or 8, I did not have a terrible past with a lot of major sin, but I was guilty just the same and needed a Savior so my sins could be forgiven.  I asked Jesus to be my Savior and forgive me which he did according to His word.  Ever since, my thinking was changed and I sought to please God and live in obedience to His word as I yield my will to His.  I am very happy to have come to know Jesus as my Savior at an early age and consequently, He has kept me from lots of problems and heartache that are pretty common for many people.

Feel free to share in the comments about a scripture highlight you came across this week or share your thoughts about this post.  If you are a "new creature" I'd love to hear about when that happened in your life.

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Sunday Sharing: Job, The Perfect Example

Last week I was reading in Acts and Job so have chosen a highlight from Job 31 to share with you. If you are unfamiliar, with Job, he was a well respected, wealthy upright man in the Old Testament who suffered greatly because God gave Satan permission to test his faith. His friends all told him he was sick and suffered so much loss because he sinned and needed to repent. Job knew this was not the case and answered them with these words:

God sees my ways and He counts every step I take. I have not been a dishonest person. I have not lied to others. Let God weigh me on honest scales. Then He will know I have done nothing wrong. Job 31:4-6 (ICB)

Then Job proceeds to list all the good things he has done.  He did not let his friends make him doubt.  He was confident that his deeds were pleasing to God.

We all know that bad things do happen to good people and Job is a good example of this. Job did not worship God because of all the good things God gave him like Satan accused him of doing. He worshiped God because He is the almighty God, creator of the universe and everything in it! His ways are so much higher than our ways and His love and compassion so much deeper! He is alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end! He lived a righteous life, even when he lost everything and was physically sick. Job questioned God but did not blame God.

I ask myself, am I living a life like Job: doing those things that God wants no matter what my circumstances? 

Share in comments a highlight from scripture you came across this week or feel free to share your thoughts about this post.

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Sunday Sharing: 4 Questions--Can You Answer Any?

I finished up the Gospel of John last week and have started Acts now and as usual, had a hard time choosing one highlight.  I have a lot of questions this week from the passages I read, so think I'll share these with you and perhaps some of you may be able to answer some of them.


Question 1:  Why didn't Mary recognize Jesus?

John 20:15-16 says:  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou?  whom seekest thou?  She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou has laid him, and I will take him away.  Jesus saith unto her, Mary.  She turned herself , and saith unto him, Rabboni, which is to say, Master.

Question 2:  Don't Touch!  Why was it okay for Thomas to touch Jesus but not Mary?

John 20:17 says:  Jesus saith unto her [Mary], Touch me not:  for I am not yet ascended to my Father:  but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

 John 20:27-28 says:  Then saith he to Thomas, Reach higher thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side:  and be not faithless, but believing.  And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

Question 3:  I always thought the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost in Acts based on Acts 2:1-4: 

After Jesus ascended to heaven, Acts 2:1-4 says:
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

However, according to John 20:21-22, Jesus breathed on the disciples and told them to receive the Holy Ghost when he appeared to them after his resurrection: 

Then said Jesus to them [the apostles] again, Peace be unto you:  as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.  And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

If this is so, then how do you explain John 16:7 that says the comforter will not come to them until Jesus departs? 

John 16:7 Before he was crucified, Jesus is talking to his disciples and said,  

Nevertheless I tell you the truth:  It is expedient for you that I go away:  for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

 Question 4:  This is the same Peter who denied knowing Jesus and after receiving the Holy Ghost, now has power to do miracles like Jesus did!  God is the same and does not change, yet I know lots of Christians (followers of Jesus Christ) but do not see these kinds of miracles today.  Why?  Is our faith in Jesus so weak that we have no power or was this "power surge" just to get the early church kick started?  What do you think?

Acts 3:6-8 says:

Then Peter said, [to the lame beggar] Silver and gold have I none:  but such as I have give I thee:  in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.  And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up:  and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.  And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. 

 Now  a special treat for you!  I can never read this scripture without thinking of this song that we used to sing:

UPDATE 8/5/14:  I just read a very fascinating and inspirational book on my Kindle that answers this question called THE RISK FACTOR:  CROSSING THE CHICKEN LINE INTO YOUR SUPERNATURAL DESTINY by Kevin and Chad Dedmon.  Reading this book was like reading the book of Acts except in modern times!  God IS still performing miracles today and Christians can see the power of the Holy Spirit work through them!  WOW, this was a fantastic read!

As you can see, it's been an interesting week for me.  I'd love to hear your thoughts about these questions or feel free to share a "stumper" of your own or a highlight from scripture that you came across this week in the comments.

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