Why a wedding? December 28,2017

Some have asked why did Jesus perform His first miracle at the wedding in Cana.(John 2:1-11)  Yes His mother asked Him to because they  had run out of wine, but this is not the reason. Some ask why Cana? I am not sure about that, and my answer to why a wedding is not fact but as I was studying on baptism and the mikvah/miqveh and the Jewish traditions related to baptism, I saw some similarities with what Jesus has done for us. This reminded me that His first miracle was at a wedding. He turned water into wine, and even this has it symbolic meaning.

First let us look at baptism. Christians are baptized as a public proclamation that we believe that Jesus, lived, died upon a cross and was buried, and then rose from the grave on the third day to pay the price for our sins. Now look at the Jewish practice of the mikvah. If you research Jewish laws and customs you will find that the priests had a ritual cleansing before they could enter the temple. Then a woman who was betrothed would have to do a ritual cleansing as well. There were a few other reasons for a mikvah that I had found but it was these two purposes that stood out to me. A mikvah is used for restoration and purification.

Now look at the betrothal process. A man traveled to the home of the father of the woman he wanted to marry. His father would pay the mohar/dowry if an agreement was made. The payment was usually cash but sometimes a service could be rendered and would suffice to pay the price for his bride. Remember the story of Abraham sending out a servant to find a a bride for his son Isaac or the story of Jacob and Rachel? Both paid the price in different way for the bride. We are the Bride of Jesus Christ and He redeemed us with His blood. Remember the last supper Matthew 26:²⁸ for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

So a man would pay the price for bride, legally binding the woman to being his bride. At this time she is legally married and no other man could claim her. The mikvah is performed, symbolizing the washing away of the past in preparation for their new life together as one. The man returns home to prepare a place for his bride. He then returns for his bride and the wedding ceremony is performed and then he takes his wife to her new home.

I could go more into detail and maybe I will at a later time, but do you see the similarities?

Water= cleansing / the blood of Jesus cleanses us of our sins/mikvah/baptism

Mohar/dowry = a payment to redeem the bride / the Blood of Jesus

Wine at the wedding = wine at the last supper

The groom goes to prepare a place for his bride / Jesus has gone to the Father to prepare a place for us.(John 14:3)

We are the church, that is the people are His Bride, and He has gone to prepare a place for us, and He will return to take us home.

God bless you and keep you safe from harm, in Jesus name, Amen.

 

 

Love One Another

Comfort & Challenge

Today’s readings (click below to open in new tab/window):
Psalms 34; 147:1-11, Proverbs 8:22-30, 1 John 5:1-12, John 13:20-35

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Though the Christmas season lasts through Epiphany (January 6), once the celebration of the Nativity is over, the lectionary readings don’t waste any time getting back to serious business. The day after Christmas we read about the first martyr, and today we read about the Last Supper and the betrayal of Judas. Do we long just a little for an emotional break, a few days to bask in the glory of Christ’s birth?

Except that’s the thing: there really is no break. No matter how strong our faith, life is a mixed bag.

Take the Last Supper. Jesus knows Judas is about to betray him, and Judas knows it, too. But the Last Supper is also the origin of Communion, which unites us with Christians across time and place. And it also gives us…

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Double Provision

Pure Glory

by Apostle Gabriel Cross

In lieu of being double crossed, you are double promised, double blessed, doubly guarded by heaven, double Portion, double covenant, Yahweh will Never forget you nor forsake you. For everything you need, or have lost, YOU WILL HAVE DOUBLE. You will have twice what you had before. DOUBLE PROVISION IN EVERY AREA OF YOUR LIFE!

Am I seeing double? The Lord says, “Yes, for I am doubling what you’ve lost, doubling what you’ve gained, and I’m doubling your vision, so you can see beyond limitations. I am doubling in quality, doubling in return (what you’ve given out), and doubling in great measure, your portions, your life.

© Crown of Glory International Ministries. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission, from this blog’s author and/or owner, is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is…

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The Champion Worry Wort.

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 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34 Holy Bible Amplified Version

I used to be the World Champion Worry Wort. You name it and I would worry about it. I swear I used to worry about if I did not fart during the day (really). It caused endless sleepless nights. It is surprising I did not have ulcers or a heart attack. The stress meter would be on overload.

As my walk with Christ slowly matured more and more was put into His capable hands, starting off small and gradually enlarging as the walk with Him became more and more secure more and more was surrendered to Him. The end result was a good nights sleep ( which is enjoyed almost every night now).

There is more and more serenity in uncertain circumstances.

There…

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Christmas Every Day

Comfort & Challenge

Readings:  Psalms 2; 148, Micah 4:1-; 5:2-4, 1 John 4:7-16, John 3:31

Today is the day! The long-awaited Christ has come. We shout “Emmanuel!” because God is with us in the flesh. The spirit of this holiday is expansive enough to include many other traditions like brightly lit trees and gift exchanges which, while not uniquely Christian, reflect our joyous celebration.

Tomorrow, or maybe even as early as this evening, we will begin thinking about the clean-up. Most Christmas trees will be down before the new year begins; a few may make it until Epiphany – the day marking the end of the twelve day season of Christmastide. The annual “War on Christmas” will declare its annual 11-month cease-sire as merchants clear the way for Valentine’s Day and summer fashions. Many people who thought it was crucial for cashiers and baristas to say “Merry Christmas” during the entire season…

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A Date With God / December 25, 2017

Good morning and Merry Christmas. As you are spending time with you family this morning opening the presents under the tree I pray your time is filled with joy and happiness. When I woke up this morning I really did not want to get out of my warm bed. Then I heard His voice calling me, asking to spend time with me. How could I say no? I had a morning date with God and this is what He gave me to share. I hope it inspires you.

A Date With God / Julie A. Sheppard

Time with God can be compared to going on a date. You see He has loved you all your life. He has pursued and shown you His love each and every day. Then the day comes when you say yes to Jesus and let Him in, but it does not end there. This is only the beginning of the relationship.

Now most of us have dated, and even if you are married now, I am sure you still have a date night with your spouse. During this time you share what is happening in your life, you try to get to know each other better. You talk and listen. Hopefully you laugh and dance, maybe even sing. You enjoy your time together and hopefully you grow closer.

A good date takes effort. You need to open yourself up to the other and in the world you risk being rejected. This however is the good part about being on a date with God, because He will never reject you. He is patient and kind. He always listens and cares about you. He loves you so much that He sacrificed His One and only Son Jesus to die for your sins and not just some of your sins all of them, and Jesus loving you willing gave His life for you. He has given to you the keys to life and victory over the grave. He has many gifts for you to receive. He is Jehovah Jireh ‘The Lord who supplies all of my needs.’

There is so much more to God and even in a life time you will never learn everything about who He is and how deep His love is for you. But don’t you want to spend the time getting closer to Him. Spend special time with Him. You can make it that special one on one time, or that fun group date.  Make the time and put in the effort to get to know Him better. Just because He already knows everything about you, He would like you to get to know Him better. He is the lover of your soul.

Think about the effort you have put into going on a date. The clothes, your hair, the right perfume or cologne, and for you ladies make up. You take the time to prepare yourself. You want to make a good impression. You are hoping it will be worth it and that the date will go well. Here is the great news about your date with God, ‘It is always going to be wonderful!’ No matter when or where you spend time with God, He always has the best planned for you. Sometimes we miss out on some of the things He has for us because we are too busy looking at the clock or thinking about the problems we are having. We can also let our fear interrupt our date. We can put the blame on God even though we know it is a lie and say that He didn’t accept you for who you are, when it is actually you He was afraid f the love He has for you and you don’t see yourself as worthy(good enough/ you have done things you believe no one can forgive, etc…) Don’t let the things of this world, or even yourself, keep you from this quality time. He loves and wants to be with you. The time you spend with Him is special to Him and brings Him joy.

Your date is knocking at the door. Go enjoy yourself and let yourself fall in love with Him.

Your meal for this date;

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Zephaniah 3:17 “The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”

John 17:24 Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, that they may see the glory You gave Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

Leviticus 26:11 ‘Moreover, I will make My dwelling among you, and My soul will not reject you.

Psalm 94:14 For the LORD will not abandon His people, Nor will He forsake His inheritance.

Psalm 9:10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, For You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.

Matthew 6:25-33   “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26“Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27“And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 28“And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30“But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32“For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

John 10:28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand.

John 4:10 Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God and who is asking you for a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

Isaiah 43:1-3 “…Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.  For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;…”

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.

Under Construction

emotionalpeace

While driving on a road that was under construction I thought of how inconvenient the work being done was for the drivers who traveled this road. Detours and delays making their simple journey into one of frustration. I started thinking about how working on my own issues can irritate others around me. How my issues and how I handle them can cause others to be delayed in where they are trying to get to. We occasionally in our journey through this life face obstacles and road blocks. Sometimes these are caused by our actions or lack of action. Other times it is because of what another does or does not do. I cannot control what another does but I can make decisions for myself to do what I need to do or not to do what needs to be done leaving the problem for someone else.

I am under construction and…

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December 20, 2017 / What is my purpose?

Tonight I was able to study with some women at church and the study was Rick Warrens ‘The Purpose Driven life’. I have enjoyed reading this book in the past and the Bible studies I had previously done with others. Some may say if you have done this before, why are you doing this again? For me the answer is simple, going back is like hitting the refresh button. It is a good way to remind ourselves of things we have learned and how important those lessons are still today.

I enjoyed going through day one of this book with these wonderful women, and being reminded that the purpose of my life is not for my own self but to serve the One who created me with His purpose. He has already taken care of my needs, and given me more love than I will ever deserve. If I can do anything to show Him my love in return that is a good purpose for my life and that is to serve Him in whatever way He asks. To share His love with anyone I meet, not just friends and family, but my neighbors and the strangers who I meet everyday.

I am thankful for all that the Lord has done for me and for the love Jesus gave to me when He died on the cross to pay for my sins, saving me from myself. I am to lean not on my own understanding but trust God with my entire being.

I am alive so I do have a purpose, thank You God that You have chosen me.

December 18, 2017 Monday

The Lord is always good and faithful, so why is it that we who are called His let fear and doubt overcome us. Most days we live bold as lions and our faith does not waiver. Throw the worse at us and we face it without fear. Then there are those days that something as simple as an unpaid bill and fear and worry fills our thoughts. ‘Where is the money going to come from? Is our electric going to be turned off? How will we pay the rent or mortgage?’ Just a few examples of fears we can have. Not that paying our bills are not important because it is, but I am not afraid of someone attacking me or hurting me even when I am alone in a dangerous area. Tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, etc… and I am as calm as can be. Put a a bill in front of me and my mind races to figure out how is it going to get paid. I know the His Word and that He is Jehovah Jireh, the Lord who provides for my needs. He has kept me alive and been there with me in the darkest hours of my life. So why is it when it comes to the things I should trust Him without a second thought, I go into panic mode? I think of this scripture when I struggle with fear or doubt;

Mark 9:24(NKJV) Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

So why do I have fears and doubts when I know God loves me and cares for all of my needs? It is like being an elephant who is huge and strong but is afraid of a little mouse. This is an area I have worked on but still struggle with. I read His Word, pray, and even fast, yet still I struggle. Well tomorrow is another day and I will try again.

December 17, 2017 Sunday

I have not spent much time writing here for a little while and a few months back I did say I was going to be taking a break from blogging. We have all had our ups and downs this year. For some of us it seems there have been more down times than up, but we have made it through another year. We are still here and God is not done with us yet. In the year to come there will be much for each of us to do. There are so many hurting and lost people in this world and they are all around us. You do not need to travel to another country to be a missionary for Christ, you have a mission filed all around you. Friends, family, neighbors and strangers who cross your path every day are in need of love and comfort every day. We are His vessels who carry His Spirit and love in us and we should share this love with everyone we meet and see, each and every day. Life is not easy but you are alive. Let us do good with the life Jesus has given to us all. Love and peace to you all.