tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49297864500852447662024-03-14T22:37:20.294-06:00Beth...Listening to HimBethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07844762228781056047noreply@blogger.comBlogger338125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4929786450085244766.post-83863371980937917062024-03-08T12:35:00.020-07:002024-03-08T13:53:32.463-07:00John's Baptism, Apollos, and Priscilla -Happy International Women's Day!<p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwahZ1a42yY_A-vkcTZoleOHX2RPYmucWr_0EjobOWyBTzs6FofiIInrWaJDOls3mC4hpWaF_-0IJAYhrp70GTQVXUBZrMNN3UeyZKaWKPls8wsvHmKcMuWxswyNJJ9lYqmYqAw9LIhVUkG5s0KpG1N6i_uD58XHrbZj1jLRGjB7GLtkdWQzFZT-ZgfM/s6000/Woman%20teaching%20Bible.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwahZ1a42yY_A-vkcTZoleOHX2RPYmucWr_0EjobOWyBTzs6FofiIInrWaJDOls3mC4hpWaF_-0IJAYhrp70GTQVXUBZrMNN3UeyZKaWKPls8wsvHmKcMuWxswyNJJ9lYqmYqAw9LIhVUkG5s0KpG1N6i_uD58XHrbZj1jLRGjB7GLtkdWQzFZT-ZgfM/w640-h426/Woman%20teaching%20Bible.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@fan11?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Fa Barboza</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/woman-in-orange-blazer-sitting-on-car-seat-Bydac41Jg6Y?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Unsplash</a></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /> </span><p></p><span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">This morning I was reading about John’s Baptism. You can find accounts of John baptizing Jesus in all four Gospels. You can read more about <a href="http://bethlisteningtohim.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-baptism-of-holy-spirit-life-of-jesus.html">that here in a post I wrote about the Baptism of Jesus.</a></span></span></p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Reading that passage of Scripture led me to a few different thoughts today. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">First, John was baptizing people. This is very interesting. Under the law, people had to do certain things to be forgiven of sins. They had to bring offerings. Blood had to be shed. Priests had to be involved. But that isn’t what is happening in these passages with John baptizing people.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">John’s name means “the Lord is gracious.” In the beginning of the Gospels, with the stories of Mary, Joseph, Zechariah, Elizabeth, John, Jesus, and a couple of others, we see a new age being introduced, the age of grace. When you understand this, it makes more sense why John was baptizing.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Thinking about this led to other thoughts, ones regarding women in the New Testament, and the age of grace. This is what I want to share today on International Women's Day, a day where we celebrate women around the world, and their accomplishments. I think the three women I am going to discuss merit mentioning.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">So what do my thoughts about John’s Baptism have to do with women in the New Testament? Well, we see John mentioned again in the book of Acts.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, well versed in the Scriptures. </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/3778.htm" style="font-style: italic; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">He</span></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/1510.htm" style="font-style: italic; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">had been</span></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/2727.htm" style="font-style: italic; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">instructed in</span></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/3588.htm" style="font-style: italic; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">the</span></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/3598.htm" style="font-style: italic; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">way</span></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/3588.htm" style="font-style: italic; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">of the</span></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/2962.htm" style="font-style: italic; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Lord</span></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/2532.htm" style="font-style: italic; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">and</span></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/2204.htm" style="font-style: italic; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">was fervent</span></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/4151.htm" style="font-style: italic; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">in spirit.</span></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/2980.htm" style="font-style: italic; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">He spoke</span></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/2532.htm" style="font-style: italic; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">and</span></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/1321.htm" style="font-style: italic; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">taught</span></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/199.htm" style="font-style: italic; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">accurately</span></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/4012.htm" style="font-style: italic; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">about</span></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/2424.htm" style="font-style: italic; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Jesus,</span></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/1987.htm" style="font-style: italic; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">though he knew</span></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/3440.htm" style="font-style: italic; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">only</span></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/3588.htm" style="font-style: italic; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">the</span></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/908.htm" style="font-style: italic; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">baptism</span></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/2491.htm" style="font-style: italic; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">of John.</span></a><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i> And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him in and explained to him the way of God more accurately.-</i>Acts 18:24-26</span></span></p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Apollos, a Believer in Jesus, had been instructed in the way of the Lord, but he only knew about the baptism of John. So, a couple had to take him aside and explain to him more accurately about things. That couple was Priscilla and Aquila. They are mentioned many times by Paul throughout the epistles. They had many churches in their different homes. Priscilla’s name is often mentioned first, which brings me to my next point.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">In the passage of Scripture, it says “they” took Apollos aside and explained to him the way of God. It doesn’t say just Apollos, but them combined together as a team. This means Priscilla had a part in teaching. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">In Ephesians 4, Paul lists the ministry gifts apostle, prophet, pastor, teacher and evangelist. These are gifts that are given by Jesus through the Holy Spirit. They are spiritual gifts, but we can see their affects or influence with our eyes.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Sometimes women are left out of some of these gifts, but I think if we look more closely at the Scriptures, we will see these gifts operating in the lives of women mentioned in the Book of Acts and the Epistles. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">When I think about the gifts I think about Priscilla, Chloe, Lydia, Nympha, and Junia. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">They are all women listed in Scripture who appear to be in leadership positions. </span></p><span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">I think people often mistake women who want to function in a leadership position as wanting to rule over men. But according to Jesus, that is not what the Kingdom of God is like. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But Jesus called them aside and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them. 26 </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/1510.htm" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It shall not be</span></a><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/3779.htm" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">this way</span></a><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/1722.htm" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">among</span></a><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/4771.htm" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">you.</span></a><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/235.htm" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Instead,</span></a><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/3739.htm" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">whoever</span></a><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/2309.htm" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">wants</span></a><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/1096.htm" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">to become</span></a><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/3173.htm" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">great</span></a><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/1722.htm" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">among</span></a><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/4771.htm" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">you</span></a><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/1510.htm" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">must be</span></a><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/4771.htm" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">your</span></a><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/1249.htm" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">servant,</span></a></i><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i> </i>-Matthew 20:25-26 (BSB)</span></span></p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">You can see this throughout the lives of women in Scripture, those submitted to the will of God for their lives. Other examples I can think of are Deborah. She was a prophet and judge in the Old Testament. She served Israel for forty years. <a href="https://bethlisteningtohim.blogspot.com/2018/03/women-in-early-church-phoebe-and-1.html">Another woman is Phoebe. </a>She can be found in Romans 16 in the New Testament. She is commended by Paul for serving (as a deaconess) the church in Cenchrea. Many scholars also believe that she was the one who delivered the epistle to the Romans to the church in Rome. If that is true, what an honor!</span></span></p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Today on International Women’s Day, I pray you recognize and take your place in the Kingdom of God. He has somewhere for you to serve, where the gifts of the Holy Spirit will be flowing from you, and you can build those in your sphere for ministry so they can also serve the people they come in contact with.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Many blessings to you as you grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus!</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Beth 🌴</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Here's a few posts that share more information about some topics I mentioned in this post!</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="http://bethlisteningtohim.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-baptism-of-holy-spirit-life-of-jesus.html">The Baptism of the Holy Spirit-The Life of Jesus</a></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><a href="http://bethlisteningtohim.blogspot.com/2018/12/a-foundation-of-grace-his-name-is-john.html">A Foundation of Grace: His Name is John</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://bethlisteningtohim.blogspot.com/2017/11/women-in-life-of-jesus-women-and.html"><span style="font-size: large;">Women and Ephesians 4</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://bethlisteningtohim.blogspot.com/2022/07/women-of-romans-16.html"><span style="font-size: large;">Women of Romans 16</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://bethlisteningtohim.blogspot.com/2020/05/bold-women-in-bible.html"><span style="font-size: large;">Bold Women in the Bible</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://bethlisteningtohim.blogspot.com/2020/02/five-minute-friday-risk.html"><span style="font-size: large;">Risk (A Post About Priscilla and Aquila)</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /><br /><br /></span><br /></span>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07844762228781056047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4929786450085244766.post-91431207626592600592023-10-06T10:14:00.005-06:002023-10-06T10:20:32.157-06:00Five Minute Friday: Attempt<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHA7jUctjxQvxjFnQtWNkBKOlKXfrroNokoEocA1ItWbPSt2bCYJi8E2wmjDOwb86fqDEC0i5LCISl2gJDbzeQpZMTQI5BkVo30cqoxW6saUPDaVHxz5bHO_Dx_9AzsjzV0SLtmYKj5FE5tQCQVeKBwP5rtvXBUq-9GCitE3NpyDgzUfCMR4O73GXjFs/s4050/aj-yorio-ZAcyCeWeHvw-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2551" data-original-width="4050" height="405" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHA7jUctjxQvxjFnQtWNkBKOlKXfrroNokoEocA1ItWbPSt2bCYJi8E2wmjDOwb86fqDEC0i5LCISl2gJDbzeQpZMTQI5BkVo30cqoxW6saUPDaVHxz5bHO_Dx_9AzsjzV0SLtmYKj5FE5tQCQVeKBwP5rtvXBUq-9GCitE3NpyDgzUfCMR4O73GXjFs/w640-h405/aj-yorio-ZAcyCeWeHvw-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@lightninghorse?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">AJ Yorio</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/ZAcyCeWeHvw?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Unsplash</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: times;">Today I am participating in<a href="http://fiveminutefriday.com/linkup/" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration-line: none;"> Five Minute Friday, where a group of writers get together </a>and free write about a one word prompt for 5 minutes. Today's word is "attempt."</span></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><i>And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas.</i></span><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>-</i>Acts 16:6-8 (ESV)<br /><br /><br />I love this story. I have come back to it many times, especially when a BIG decision is looming in my life. Not so much for the smaller ones-it’s usually only the big decisions that I decide to refer to this story.<br /><br />Maybe that should be different? Hmmmm….<br /><br />This morning, as I was perusing Scripture trying to select a passage to go with the word prompt “attempt,” I came across this story again. This time, I decided to get my map out and look at it through geographical eyes.<br /><br />Phyrigia and Galatia and Mysia all sort of border around the region of Bithynia. They form sort of like a bowl underneath. Paul was so very close. Yet, the Holy Spirit didn’t want him to go there…yet.<br /><br />He decided to yield to what the Spirit said, and they went down to Troas. If you read the rest of the story, you will see that He had a vision during the night of a man from Macedonia pleading with him to come help him. So, they went. And a new church was born. (Read Acts 16 for all the details.) We literally have another letter in our Bibles because of this incident.<br /><br />A couple of things I want to point out. First, Paul was attempting to do something. He was in motion. He had gone many places in the area, with the leading of the Holy Spirit I am sure. Many may have been because it seemed good. That phrase is also used in the Scripture. <br /><br />But when he got to Bythnia it was a big no. This leads me to my next point. Did the Holy Spirit say no because He didn’t want Paul to go to Bythnia, or was it because He had something else for him to do? It may not have been that danger awaited him in Bithynia (because Paul often encountered danger, beatings, etc.), but it was because the timing was there for the people that were awaiting him in Philippi.<br /><br />I also searched the word Bithynia when I was looking words up today, and that region is also found in 1 Peter 1 in Peter’s greeting to the Believers of specific regions. <br /><br />“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,<br /><br />To the elect who are exiles of the Dispersion throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosenaccording to the foreknowledge of God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood:<br /><br />Grace and peace be yours in abundance.”-1 Peter 1:1-2 (BSB)</span><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Bithynia was still included. They didn't get left behind or left out.<br /><br />I think the biggest takeaway (for me anyway), is to always attempt something. Keep moving. You can trust the Lord to direct your steps, and care for those that you thought you might be going to, but it turns out you weren’t. There are more people for you to encounter ahead.<br /><br />P.S. Read the Bible with a map. (I love geography.)<br /><br /><br />Many blessings to you as you continue to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus,<br /><br />Beth</span><br /></div></div></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07844762228781056047noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4929786450085244766.post-62916078056643124362023-09-22T14:29:00.001-06:002023-09-22T14:29:11.954-06:00Five Minute Friday: Opinion<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyf41fswhRGIIaN9ucl8Z5k_9QuzH3fzg7AvwU_yB6vxZE-fGY9yzbAfTt_0KlNQvG7GY2oSleeQ8MKiD2sFB4o-b3PVVJhrV55UBhjgMm66ih2ms7guRP0dyIFWSGtUI5oNjSaeNDOCGndX0KKnnQdxLEy4JjkID8xsuI9_GnSkuwt69k2W-VHff4i8s/s4771/harris-vo-egSqtHrxKDQ-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3182" data-original-width="4771" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyf41fswhRGIIaN9ucl8Z5k_9QuzH3fzg7AvwU_yB6vxZE-fGY9yzbAfTt_0KlNQvG7GY2oSleeQ8MKiD2sFB4o-b3PVVJhrV55UBhjgMm66ih2ms7guRP0dyIFWSGtUI5oNjSaeNDOCGndX0KKnnQdxLEy4JjkID8xsuI9_GnSkuwt69k2W-VHff4i8s/w640-h426/harris-vo-egSqtHrxKDQ-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@hoanvokim?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Harris Vo</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/egSqtHrxKDQ?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Today I am participating in<a href="http://fiveminutefriday.com/linkup/"> Five Minute Friday, where a group of writers get together </a>and free write about a one word prompt for 5 minutes. Today's word is "opinion."</span><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Begin.<br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">After they had arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, “Does your Teacher pay the two drachmas?”</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">“Yes,” he answered.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">When Peter entered the house, Jesus preempted him. “What do you think, Simon?” He asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs and taxes: from their own sons, or from others?”</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">“From others,” Peter answered.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">“Then the sons are exempt,” Jesus declared. “But so that we may not offend them, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take the first fish you catch. When you open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for My tax and yours.”</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> -Matthew 17:24-27 (BSB)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br />This is an interesting passage of Scripture. In it Jesus actually asks Peter’s opinion, what he thinks. Jesus likes to ask questions.<br /><br />Has He ever asked you a question? I have had Him ask me questions before when He was trying to lead me to the solution to a question I had. It helped a lot.<br /><br />In the above passage, He also uses the question to provide not only a solution to a current issue, but to do so in a supernatural, miraculous way. <br /><br />Have you ever gone fishing before? Do you like to fish? I used to go fishing with my dad when I was a little girl. I remember because I would always get some kind of treat from the snack shop. We fished in a stocked pond. I am assuming this expedition for Peter took place in the Sea of Galilee since they were in Capernaum. But in all of my fishing trips, I have never gotten a fish that had a coin in its mouth. How would that even be possible?<br /><br />Another interesting fact about this passage is that Jesus told Peter to cast a hook. This is the second time Jesus has told Peter to do something regarding fishing and a miracle happened. The first time was with the net-breaking catch of fish when Jesus called him to ministry. Do you think he was building in Peter that he was the solver of all problems?<br /><br />I don’t think he needed Peter’s opinion, but He might have wanted Peter to arrive at the conclusion on his own.<br /><br /><br />Stop.</span><br /></div></div></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07844762228781056047noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4929786450085244766.post-63578870928937711022023-09-15T16:45:00.005-06:002023-09-15T20:32:40.883-06:00Five Minute Friday: Escape<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjoMB6DkMGCCiSHB22HRXtSlTBHF63B89fe567eOaHwmgLJLtE6RSNoXHA2J4eypzqQ8GHeDdmGH2fsDgp4Fk0XSWtrtQ3WrR-u3on51oZCppPkQk5ij5KsInrRKueMKRfxAteIIw9MSgX3Xn1xZPpmI15pe09JYrpvLvdgqGRTXfqImJUwalgva3gX5Q/s2800/lightstock_135017_medium_beth_reavis.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1867" data-original-width="2800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjoMB6DkMGCCiSHB22HRXtSlTBHF63B89fe567eOaHwmgLJLtE6RSNoXHA2J4eypzqQ8GHeDdmGH2fsDgp4Fk0XSWtrtQ3WrR-u3on51oZCppPkQk5ij5KsInrRKueMKRfxAteIIw9MSgX3Xn1xZPpmI15pe09JYrpvLvdgqGRTXfqImJUwalgva3gX5Q/w640-h426/lightstock_135017_medium_beth_reavis.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /><br /> Today I am participating in<a href="http://fiveminutefriday.com/linkup/"> Five Minute Friday, where a group of writers get together </a>and free write about a one word prompt for 5 minutes. Today's word is "escape." Usually I wrote non-fiction, but today I thought about trying some fiction again.</span><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Begin.<br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">There was no escape. I was standing there just listening to them. I was trapped, trapped in the middle of those who had been my brethren. But now I just felt like I was on the outside, looking in. It seemed like mania in that room. <br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">The officers were standing there shuffling their feet back and forth, one with beads of sweat forming on his brow, waiting for a punishment to come.<br /><br />I couldn’t take it any longer. So, I just blurted out, “Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?” <br /><br />Every face in the room turned to me. The chief priests, the Pharisees, and the officers all stared at me intently. After the surprise wore off, a few of the Pharisees knit their eyebrows in confusion, and possibly some in anger. <br /><br />I really wanted to turn and run. But I held my ground. I stared back and waited for the inevitable; a chastisement was surely coming.<br /><br />A few of them began to speak in unison, all with the same thought. “Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.” <br /><br />It was all I could do to not roll my eyes. I simply said, “Hmmmm” while stroking my beard, trying to appear in thought. This diverted their attention away from me and back to each other somewhat. It was not time for me to give myself away just yet. Who knew what else was to come?<br /><br />After I lost their attention, I turned to leave the boiler of a room, and walked away with my hands behind my back, mumbling quietly under my breath, “Well Jonah came from Galilee.”<br /><br />As I walked out the door, I could hear them plotting. “We must trap this carpenter in his own words, expose him before the people. But what can we do?”</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br />End.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />*This is a fictional rendering of the events that happened in John 7:45-52, from the perspective of Nicodemus, the night before a woman caught in adultery is brought to Jesus in the Temple.<br /></span><br /></div></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07844762228781056047noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4929786450085244766.post-24264471581044896022023-09-07T18:15:00.003-06:002023-09-07T18:18:36.724-06:00By Faith Moses<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLI5madyBqDR6oFsHrxWwk8wuFFO1cnGJr_boExbz2eKAciq9IM1LQb2rWJXwelfW-MmWi-Hv97zGzmEIHD5h0u04OkC2UAn5TNUXahs6MS2bgp9mr8KZfkPOBTXCB0g49JI3vBlBTgwiMCqCwXBxluVy19G4Vcuxm43moYI_4tSS_TtPMOfpGsYIwFIw/s940/faith.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLI5madyBqDR6oFsHrxWwk8wuFFO1cnGJr_boExbz2eKAciq9IM1LQb2rWJXwelfW-MmWi-Hv97zGzmEIHD5h0u04OkC2UAn5TNUXahs6MS2bgp9mr8KZfkPOBTXCB0g49JI3vBlBTgwiMCqCwXBxluVy19G4Vcuxm43moYI_4tSS_TtPMOfpGsYIwFIw/w640-h536/faith.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to suffer oppression with God’s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin. He valued disgrace for Christ above the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward.</i></div></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">-Hebrews 11:24-26 (BSB)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">So, check out this verse. This says Moses valued disgrace for Christ!! What?? Moses lived close to 1500 years before Jesus.<br /><br />What does that mean?<br /><br />If you go read Hebrews 11...again...because I am sure you already have, with this verse in mind, you will see something new. Or maybe it is just new to me.<br /><br />All of Hebrews 11 is about Jesus. Every act of faith mentioned is about Jesus!! It is about pictures of Him, foreshadowing of Him, and them looking for Him. What does this teach us about faith? That it all pertains to Him.<br /><br />If you go on and reach Hebrews 12:2, it confirms this:<br /><br />"looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (BSB).<br /><br />Wow. So just write Jesus' name at the time of Hebrews 11. In fact, I would almost go so far as to say every time faith is mentioned in the Scriptures, you could put His name there.</span><p><br /></p></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07844762228781056047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4929786450085244766.post-14552688815112625972023-08-25T16:09:00.001-06:002023-08-25T16:09:14.447-06:00Five Minute Friday: Replace<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0pKZ5ePTLK4Z87cTRmrtK1P6g1YfuqhRYpvs4SDvUAJ8x7A2YPmXA0j265dBrAvpYKKc6dYfMN0gK22YhgX_2Vw2Hhk_6xUORia8nvMnLgpyVO9SFhaP1Y_Q9DKjO8x7wyjulujhkFsIHz5SkNhp4D0qz56YzpqVICGmOKMRwwf8PUMPZLOggiBZdrc/s6000/johannes-plenio-voQ97kezCx0-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0pKZ5ePTLK4Z87cTRmrtK1P6g1YfuqhRYpvs4SDvUAJ8x7A2YPmXA0j265dBrAvpYKKc6dYfMN0gK22YhgX_2Vw2Hhk_6xUORia8nvMnLgpyVO9SFhaP1Y_Q9DKjO8x7wyjulujhkFsIHz5SkNhp4D0qz56YzpqVICGmOKMRwwf8PUMPZLOggiBZdrc/w640-h426/johannes-plenio-voQ97kezCx0-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@jplenio?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Johannes Plenio</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/voQ97kezCx0?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></div></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><br /></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">Today I am participating in</span><a href="http://fiveminutefriday.com/linkup/" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; text-decoration-line: none;"> Five Minute Friday, where a group of writers get together </a><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">and free write about a one word prompt for 5 minutes. Today's word is "replace."</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666;" /></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /> Replace. It means to exchange one thing for another. Sometimes it can be positive and sometimes it can be negative.<br /><br />Paul tells us in Romans 12:2 to "be transformed by the renewing of your mind To me that would suggest a replacement. We have to exchange our thoughts for God's thoughts. There is a replacement of old thoughts taking place with new ones coming in.<br /><br />I personally need this very badly. I often find my thoughts trailing off, and I have to reel it back in by spending time in God's Word. This is important so I can see myself as God sees me, not as others see me.<br /><br />People they only see what they are looking at on the outside at the moment. My external features are not who I am on the inside. I am who God says I am.<br /><br />So, daily I have to replace not only my perceptions of myself with my thoughts trailing off, but I often have to replace what others things of me as well. Going to God's Word brings truth and light about me.<br /><br />There is a Scripture that says judge no one after the flesh. </span><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer</i>.-2 Corinthians 5:16 (BSB)</span><br /><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br />I know that is difficult for me to do with others, and I am sure that is difficult for others to do with me. (Sometimes I just want to lead with my flaws so people know what they are getting into.)<br /><br /><br />However, God wants what Paul said in 2 Corinthians. He wants me, and others, to replace our thoughts about ourselves and each other, with the view through Christ.<br /><br /><i>Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come</i>!- 2 Corinthians 5:17 (BSB)<br /><br /><br />Replace.</span></div></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07844762228781056047noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4929786450085244766.post-28583148680068640442023-08-18T16:30:00.002-06:002023-08-18T16:30:37.160-06:00Five Minute Friday: Moment<div class="separator"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhn7MSZvCMxnyNqzLeE1PGuDVNib4Q_coYBvztF6XZOlBUgmhxoYoRjZpo6p_T1vA1yNwHJAcGfx684wOy3OewUWfuYR4sqa0ZMcv2rH4gMvIWUxINFUSR8ivu4h5c9J3wHfikj9lSU-xVU2i-c0-KssMydHITJOPex7xByZGVPCUF2sIG8BnL89yAA9g/s5005/jeremy-thomas-E0AHdsENmDg-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhn7MSZvCMxnyNqzLeE1PGuDVNib4Q_coYBvztF6XZOlBUgmhxoYoRjZpo6p_T1vA1yNwHJAcGfx684wOy3OewUWfuYR4sqa0ZMcv2rH4gMvIWUxINFUSR8ivu4h5c9J3wHfikj9lSU-xVU2i-c0-KssMydHITJOPex7xByZGVPCUF2sIG8BnL89yAA9g/w640-h435/jeremy-thomas-E0AHdsENmDg-unsplash.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@jeremythomasphoto?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Jeremy Thomas</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/E0AHdsENmDg?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Today I am participating in<a href="http://fiveminutefriday.com/linkup/"> Five Minute Friday, where a group of writers get together </a>and free write about a one word prompt for 5 minutes. Today's word is "moment."<br /><br /><br /><i>In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.<br /><br />Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.<br /><br />And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light</i>.-Genesis 1:1-3 (BSB)<br /><br /><br /><br /><i>In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. </i></span><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>He was with God in the beginning. </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made. </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.-</i>John 1:1-5 (BSB)<br /></span><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /><br />He was there, in that moment; He was always there. <br /><br />Jesus was part of the Godhead, making creation, creating all things. Love was in the beginning, birthing this world.<br /><br />John, the apostle of love, remembered that His love was always there, always had been, always existed. And in that moment, at the beginning, His life was a part of us.<br /><br />His light was the light of men. In that moment, when we were created, life and light breathed into us, and we became human beings. <br /><br /><br />In the Gospel of John, he reminds us that it had come full circle. The one who walked in the garden was walking on earth, waiting to breathe His life, his Spirit into us once again.</span></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07844762228781056047noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4929786450085244766.post-54411537100672799672023-04-22T10:22:00.001-06:002023-04-22T10:22:38.931-06:00Dwell by Sandra Byrd: Book Review<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsct-dP6kjZ547J--ol1Os8sizK-pIilHbiMIB2QzwxrvCeBHA86QBx36twwZqPbnVx5gftZ8__TwsD1Fp_oRWqTuniTjKtBrqyL7IucK8Pdma4JkUBlSjMFvi7EFtKd-onoBMpH1I6iPPdQgqLvoeEaK1i0hTAu4U6QeouPAzvoj_M1OHqOY96I2Y/s2048/Dwell%20photo%20by%20Sandra%20Byrd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1436" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsct-dP6kjZ547J--ol1Os8sizK-pIilHbiMIB2QzwxrvCeBHA86QBx36twwZqPbnVx5gftZ8__TwsD1Fp_oRWqTuniTjKtBrqyL7IucK8Pdma4JkUBlSjMFvi7EFtKd-onoBMpH1I6iPPdQgqLvoeEaK1i0hTAu4U6QeouPAzvoj_M1OHqOY96I2Y/w280-h400/Dwell%20photo%20by%20Sandra%20Byrd.jpg" width="280" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /> Sandra Byrd’s new devotional, <i>Dwell: 90 Days at Home With God</i> is a beautiful book. In it you will find 90 individual devotionals, each one centered around themes such as gardening, family, friendship, and food, all under the umbrella of home. Each day contains a topic, short (and warm) devotional, Scriptures throughout and one focus Scripture that ties it all together.<br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">When I came back to Jesus in my early twenties, I spent most of my time reconnecting with Him through devotions in my women’s Bible, and other materials that were devotional in nature. It was a simple and comforting way to learn. It encourages and edifies the Body of Christ and often provides a word in due season. This devotional reminds me of that time in my life.<br /><br />As I read, I found one devotional that had the theme of marigolds. I was instantly reminded of my childhood, the smell of marigolds and playing in the dirt. I am sure God was there in that experience; it evokes such joy and comfort in my heart.<br /><br /><i>Dwell</i> has an overall warm and cozy theme. The pictures are gorgeous and it is just a very beautiful book.<br /><br />If you are looking for a nugget of encouragement each day, I would recommend <i>Dwell</i> to you. You might just be inspired to become more creative in your home, as you grow in your walk with God. Read it with a cup of tea and a cozy blanket or sitting in your favorite chair. It would make a nice gift for a friend or your mom this Mother’s Day.<br /><br />Blessings to you as you continue to grow in grace, and allow God to meet you in the quiet spaces of home.<br /><br /><br />*Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the devotional from the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review. The thoughts and opinions here are entirely my own.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">To learn more about the author, please visit her website at <a href="http://sandrabyrd.com."><span style="color: #2b00fe;">sandrabyrd.com.</span></a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">To order a copy of Dwell, please visit any online retailer.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">To read a sample of Dwell, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dwell-90-Days-Home-God/dp/164070227X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1Y5NEKC7JAHAO&keywords=Dwell+Sandra+Byrd&qid=1682180239&sprefix=dwell+sandra+byrd%2Caps%2C301&sr=8-1"><span style="color: #800180;">please go here to Amazon.</span></a></span></div><div><br /></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07844762228781056047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4929786450085244766.post-49993130785072749652023-03-24T14:53:00.000-06:002023-03-24T14:53:04.538-06:00Five Minute Friday: Follow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIGsjwZQj-2tHuTZnbMj7Z_BLmNc8kEsYfi0h-nJxcZFQfEn7yAjtNhB37b2123SXZmyFcDg6Y4wm15BCV8HmGPQPRHJZuCZHMS60AHTVNWadtQbWVFu2v612skowZnYsOv6oy9B1eX2kZYfs8q3_egw0QOJiMniuAomI5ANdfnvvuYinWdGab3j2M/s2800/lightstock_212552_medium_beth_reavis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1867" data-original-width="2800" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIGsjwZQj-2tHuTZnbMj7Z_BLmNc8kEsYfi0h-nJxcZFQfEn7yAjtNhB37b2123SXZmyFcDg6Y4wm15BCV8HmGPQPRHJZuCZHMS60AHTVNWadtQbWVFu2v612skowZnYsOv6oy9B1eX2kZYfs8q3_egw0QOJiMniuAomI5ANdfnvvuYinWdGab3j2M/w640-h427/lightstock_212552_medium_beth_reavis.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: times;">Today I am participating in</span><a href="http://fiveminutefriday.com/linkup/" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; font-family: times; text-decoration-line: none;"> Five Minute Friday, where a group of writers get together </a><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: times;">and free write about a one word prompt for 5 minutes. Today's word is "follow."</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: times; font-size: large;" /><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>But Peter followed Him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. And he went in and sat down with the guards to see the outcome</i>-Matthew 26:58 (BSB)</div><br /><br />Sat down with the guards? What?<br /><br /><br />I have read this story multiple times. But today, when I looked up some Scriptures for the word follow, this came up, and I noticed something new! Don’t you love when that happens?<br /><br /><br />I have always thought Peter was afraid from the get-go. He boasted after the Passover meal that he would follow the Lord to death. Remember?<br /><br /><br />Well, apparently he wasn’t lying. Or at least he didn’t think he was…and he wasn’t, at least not until the very last minute.<br /><br /><br />If you remember, the guards come to arrest Jesus. Peter apparently had a sword, and cut off the high priest servant's ear whose name was Malchus. So far, Peter is holding to his promise to Jesus.<br /><br /><br />And then they take Jesus. Peter follows, from a distance the Bible says. But then look at what happens next.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">“But Peter followed Him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. And he went in and sat down with the guards to see the outcome”-Matthew 26:58 (BSB)</div><br /><br />The Berean Study Bible says he sits down with the guards. Many translations use the word “guards". Others use the word officers, and some use the word servants. I looked the word up in Greek and it means “an underling, servant.” It is often used in many other places in the Gospels and it is translated as officers, attendants, ministers, servants, and helpers.<br /><br /><br />I have often thought of Peter as losing his courage in the garden, but it doesn’t seem so. He follows Jesus, even after he cuts off Malchus’ ear. He follows Him all the way to the high priest’s courtyard. That would be inside the home’s area.<br /><br /><br />If you read further on in the story, chapter 26 moves into the religious leaders questioning Jesus. They eventually decide that He is “deserving of death.”(Matthew 26:66) Right after they decide this is when the high priest’s servant girl approaches Peter, and this is when the denial starts.<br /><br /><br />Peter had been full of courage, but the longer he sat there, it drained. Maybe he heard what was happening inside, and realized they were really going to put Jesus to death. Maybe it hadn’t been real to him. Remember at one point he had corrected Jesus and told him that He would never die. See Matthew 16:21-23. Jesus rebuked him at that moment. <br /><br /><br />Maybe Peter did not believe Jesus was really going to die, until it began to dawn on him, after his adrenaline had gone down, while sitting, waiting in the courtyard. <br /><br /><br />Why bring this up? Sometimes I think we think we know everything in Scripture, because we have heard the stories many times, especially if we have been Believers for a while. But it is always worth another look. We will learn something new about God, and something new about ourselves. <br /><br /><br />Peter followed Jesus, up to almost the very end. I love this story because it teaches us about mistakes. Even if we are moving along, doing what we are supposed to be doing, and then trip and make a mistake, the Lord knew about it before it happened. And He is not holding it against us. He still has a job for us to do. To learn more about it, read John 21 and the story of Jesus and Peter by the sea of Galilee, where they first met. <br /><br /><br />Don’t you just love this about Jesus? Keep following Him. He still has stuff for you to do.</span><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">*Have you ever had an experience like this with the Lord? I'd love to hear about it. </span><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Many blessings,</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Beth 🌴</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07844762228781056047noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4929786450085244766.post-16669749541985945242023-03-10T16:48:00.002-07:002023-03-23T14:55:35.128-06:00Five Minute Friday: Choose<p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"></span></p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSH1j5y-JemnpAh6G_z4sBOGl8XroT4Ek5v34CFGmNOeI_l3lOtXttEwrlaNax98ume3-EzEetKIqrdsZnIeOKV-eWb8-7-sTh9hLNkj5J2A_olESI49wdxD2Ek-9PI0hGRqE1J3SrLR50WXu9Khu-EExVlPR28OE-dw-3iXSheiNhR7d-FiWhDRHm/s5184/unseen-studio-s9CC2SKySJM-unsplash.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSH1j5y-JemnpAh6G_z4sBOGl8XroT4Ek5v34CFGmNOeI_l3lOtXttEwrlaNax98ume3-EzEetKIqrdsZnIeOKV-eWb8-7-sTh9hLNkj5J2A_olESI49wdxD2Ek-9PI0hGRqE1J3SrLR50WXu9Khu-EExVlPR28OE-dw-3iXSheiNhR7d-FiWhDRHm/w640-h426/unseen-studio-s9CC2SKySJM-unsplash.jpg" /></a><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@craftedbygc?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unseen Studio</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/s9CC2SKySJM?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></span></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /><br />Today I am participating in<a href="http://fiveminutefriday.com/linkup/"> Five Minute Friday, where a group of writers get together </a>and free write about a one word prompt for 5 minutes. It's been a while since I've joined in. Today's word is "choose." <br /><br /><br /> Choose<br /><br /><br />This word often makes me think of that Robert Frost poem, “The Road Not Taken.”<br /><br /><br /><i>Two roads diverged in a yellow wood…</i><br /><br /><br />I sometimes have a hard time choosing. I am in the middle of making a decision right now. I want to choose the right thing, but there is one thing I really want to do, and I am not sure if it is the right thing.<br /><br /><br />But, if I choose the other way, I feel as though I might be robbing myself of an opportunity.<br /><br /><br />Have you ever felt that way?<br /><br /><br />What do you do when you have to choose between two things?<br /><br /><br />My first course of action is to pray. I pray and try to get quiet and listen.<br /><br /><br />Often I will ask others to pray as well, people I trust, who I know have my best interest at heart.<br /><br /><br />I will also talk to my husband about it. He is the closest to me, and knows our family situation the best.<br /><br /><br />I will also talk to friends about my choices. <br /><br /><br />Things that might come in and try to help make my decision for me are fear and guilt. So, I must keep those at bay and only rest in the goodness of the Lord.<br /><br /><br />What do you do when you have to make a choice and choose between two things?<br /><br /><br />Choose.</span><br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07844762228781056047noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4929786450085244766.post-90906691320071776652023-03-02T10:14:00.002-07:002023-03-02T10:14:08.888-07:00Bethlehem<span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEMoSHY-uQdRmg4s56vzZXHDGMppHOLrv-0P3HQeHosO5Ukgw-aKVDkrH1EQ7Wf_17VrenRa9jTGLEd4AAO9LpvS_sFXZnfhjWTx0kiNcdd9qnPH9YvhaZRs_2VZRqag64Z2dJY1M07r4wJdp46UQfXT76cf-l5Alex5veL7dWg4VSjiRUCkd8_tNl/s1200/lightstock_589190_small_beth_reavis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEMoSHY-uQdRmg4s56vzZXHDGMppHOLrv-0P3HQeHosO5Ukgw-aKVDkrH1EQ7Wf_17VrenRa9jTGLEd4AAO9LpvS_sFXZnfhjWTx0kiNcdd9qnPH9YvhaZRs_2VZRqag64Z2dJY1M07r4wJdp46UQfXT76cf-l5Alex5veL7dWg4VSjiRUCkd8_tNl/w640-h480/lightstock_589190_small_beth_reavis.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />In Matthew's genealogy of Jesus, we see five women listed. The first four are within the context of the first 14 generations. Mary is in the last fourteen. They have so many things in common. </span><br /><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">In their stories we see pictures of forgiveness, redemption, the blood of Jesus, the extravagant grace of God, the marriage of the bride and Redeemer, the death of the lamb, and the engrafting of the Gentiles into the vine (see Romans 11). But, while I was studying, and asking questions, I found what I believe is another connection. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">I don't think God does anything randomly. He does things with purpose. He wants to answer our questions.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /> In chapter 2 of Matthew's Gospel, he repeats the prophecy of Micah 5:2. It says,</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>are by no means least among the rulers of Judah,</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>for out of you will come a ruler</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>who will be the shepherd of My people Israel.’</i></span></div></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br />This prophecy made me realize that they are all connected to this place, and the house of David in one way or another.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br />The descendents of Tamar produced the land of Judah. The land of Israel was divided into portions according to tribes. Bethlehem is in the portion assigned to Judah. Rahab would have lived in Bethlehem upon moving into that land after leaving Jericho with the Israelites. Ruth came to Bethlehem from Moab. David came out of Bethlehem and was married to Bathsheba, producing two sons through whom the kingly lineage would continue. And Mary and Joseph had to travel back to Bethlehem for Jesus to be born because they were both of the house of David.</span></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07844762228781056047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4929786450085244766.post-81332851288573218622022-11-21T10:28:00.002-07:002022-11-21T11:44:46.973-07:00Five Minute Friday-Laugh<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWVkwkkMzPtqlghXCPxQzon2cOiLGD02PP8iOzP-va0wVyo2Y09vBwEyLfKZ3LnloeW5sKgR1Yatxo2ZbugeWN_dS8TzxOaJHA8oY36TV4H3waxKOvM5a90m15eJWy-jGYmtL3O4cCZreTVfD7kWa6ca-jl66itdhoN6wd_ItMm6DA5S4qic5tlOVb/s4240/pro-church-media-kSjsDWDn3WM-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2384" data-original-width="4240" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWVkwkkMzPtqlghXCPxQzon2cOiLGD02PP8iOzP-va0wVyo2Y09vBwEyLfKZ3LnloeW5sKgR1Yatxo2ZbugeWN_dS8TzxOaJHA8oY36TV4H3waxKOvM5a90m15eJWy-jGYmtL3O4cCZreTVfD7kWa6ca-jl66itdhoN6wd_ItMm6DA5S4qic5tlOVb/w640-h360/pro-church-media-kSjsDWDn3WM-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@prochurchmedia?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Pro Church Media</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/Christmas-king?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: times;">Today I am participating in</span><a href="http://fiveminutefriday.com/linkup/" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; font-family: times; text-decoration-line: none;"> Five Minute Friday, where a group of writers get together </a><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: times;">and free write about a one word prompt for 5 minutes. Today's word is "laugh."</span> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Begin.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;">Laugh. There is so much to laugh about and so much to be thankful for. So much joy. I can look around me and here in this moment I can smile. I have family and a warm place to live. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">My drink is hot and tasty this morning-turmeric, black pepper, cinnamon, ginger and oat milk. It has become my new morning drink, and is especially nice since it turned cold.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">I can see my fabrics I have bought and cut already to make Christmas pillowcases. I have been thinking a lot lately about what makes me happy, nostalgia mostly.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> I need that warmth right now because this is my Christmas without my mother. She died this year. I know where she is, that she is with Jesus. She is getting to spend her first Christmas with the King of Kings and is the reason we even celebrate Christmas.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">I know she is laughing in Heaven. I know she is smiling and full of joy. I can see her in my mind and I imagine she is very young and beautiful, and is rejoicing with her King. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07844762228781056047noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4929786450085244766.post-228466756053274152022-09-17T07:49:00.002-06:002022-09-17T07:49:27.611-06:00Five Minute Friday: Spontaneous<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0O9ZnzdaSdG1Xb5zlgsIt1XhPtUWtkEWviudCZaiHxh_o5pl0NxbXoZOPOoaTnGHkA7sqlWEoxmnv-xmCpM7uW16-jQocTqih5wSYmw7jUT1mh4vew_tcYBa3zXPA_w0rqiKIBtv9CbjqZQmip-DqH7IMAy43u2rbs0rAIdOG1LkW4SaVVZs5Wv2/s4032/heather-afable-tEX8m8hpMuk-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0O9ZnzdaSdG1Xb5zlgsIt1XhPtUWtkEWviudCZaiHxh_o5pl0NxbXoZOPOoaTnGHkA7sqlWEoxmnv-xmCpM7uW16-jQocTqih5wSYmw7jUT1mh4vew_tcYBa3zXPA_w0rqiKIBtv9CbjqZQmip-DqH7IMAy43u2rbs0rAIdOG1LkW4SaVVZs5Wv2/w640-h480/heather-afable-tEX8m8hpMuk-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@hafable?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Heather Afable</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/@hafable?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Today I am participating in<a href="http://fiveminutefriday.com/linkup/"> Five Minute Friday, where a group of writers get together </a>and free write about a one word prompt for 5 minutes. Today's word is "spontaneous."<br /><br /><br />I used to be spontaneous, but not so much anymore. I don’t know if that comes with life as a parent, and you have to be a little scheduled. There’s not much room for spontaneity anymore. I am trying to remember the last time I was spontaneous. Doing this writing challenge is spontaneous sometimes. Ha ha! <br /><br />I think when we remove the spontaneity, we remove some of the joy out of life. It removes some of the element of surprise! And maybe we need some surprises. Things can be so controlled, especially if we are the ones who are trying to control them-that can take away some of the fun.<br /><br />Maybe this should be a challenge for me. Maybe I should try to be more spontaneous. Maybe life would be more fun. I plan and plan and fret and fret about whether I am making the right choices. With spontaneity, you don’t have time to worry about if it is the right choice. Because you just do it and go with it. Then you really have to trust God, instead of yourself.<br /><br />I imagine the disciples experienced lots of spontaneous moments during their walk on earth with Jesus, and even after He went back to Heaven. One particular one I am thinking about is Philip. In the book of Acts, the Holy Spirit tells him to go join himself to a chariot, which means basically to go introduce yourself I guess.<br /><br />So, Philip goes and meets the treasurer I believe, for Candace, Queen of the Ethiopians. That man is reading the book of the prophet Isaiah. He is trying to figure out who Isaiah is talking about, and because of the Holy Spirit’s prompt with Philip and some spontaneity, the man finds out it was Jesus.<br /><br />Then, in what was another spontaneous moment for Philip I am sure, Philip was whisked away by the Holy Spirit to the coast of Israel. My son has asked me recently about teleportation. It would seem that Philip experienced that in the Spirit. That would have been seriously spontaneous for me; not what I would have been expecting at all.<br /><br />I believe also Philip spends the rest of his days, or at least part of them, on the coast, in Caesarea Maritima. He is there because of something out of his control. I think I would be happy living out my days on the Mediterranean.<br /><br /><br />*Note: To read more about Philip, please visit the book of Acts, chapters <a href="https://biblehub.com/bsb/acts/8.htm">8 </a>& <a href="https://biblehub.com/bsb/acts/21.htm">21.</a></span><br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07844762228781056047noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4929786450085244766.post-30458006298844672102022-07-23T10:57:00.002-06:002022-07-23T10:59:30.438-06:00Women of Romans 16<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1526" data-original-width="2800" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4rMTZEUpRIx_f3QCZffcL2lAJ8GDbLhmSGf14tol6rlrQdIP-G49bMJzXtfsqexLwbj3VYlXIgTa3KTY87HFaj8ZUX4P0wmLiIFq79-8MTRZCSwhgyc-SUuZeipb9P7vJ6cA9Ym3nCrmx86hrYr6RMLwJ_5T3noZkRD487i-xrB9dm3_hmKulsPI/w634-h361/lightstock_63812_medium_beth_reavis.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="634" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.lightstock.com/photos/woman-carrying-a-sign-of-john-3-16-in-a-field">Photo courtesy of Kevin Carden at Lighstock</a></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br />I have spent a lot of time on the <a href="http://bethlisteningtohim.blogspot.com/2015/10/women-in-life-of-jesus.html"><span style="color: #800180;">women in the Gospels and a little on some in the Old Testament.</span></a> I thought I would move forward a little and start talking about the women in Acts and the Epistles. I already have a teeny bit of research about the women listed in <a href="https://biblehub.com/context/romans/16-1.htm"><span style="color: #800180;">Romans 16</span></a>. I am going to share some of that with you. The first two mentioned are the ones we know the most about.<br /><br />The epistle to the Romans was written to all Believers in Rome, though it appears according to the list in <a href="https://biblehub.com/context/romans/16-1.htm"><span style="color: #800180;">Romans 16</span></a> that there were many house churches that existed there. There are ten women listed in the passage of Scripture in<span style="color: #800180;"> <a href="https://biblehub.com/context/romans/16-1.htm"><span style="color: #800180;">Romans 16</span></a>.</span> They are:<br /><br />1. Phoebe<br /><br />2. Prisca<br /><br />3. Mary<br /><br />4. Junia<br /><br />5. Tryphena<br /><br />6. Tryphosa<br /><br />7. Persis<br /><br />8.. Rufus’ mother<br /><br />9. Julia<br /><br />10. Nereus’ sister<br /><br />The first woman mentioned was Phoebe. It is believed that she was the one who actually carried the letter of Romans to the Church at Rome. I have written about her in more detail in a post in relation to 1 Timothy 3. <a href="https://bethlisteningtohim.blogspot.com/2018/03/women-in-early-church-phoebe-and-1.html"><span style="color: #800180;">Click here to read that post.</span></a></span><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br />The second woman mentioned was Prisca or Priscilla. She was the wife of Aquila, and they are mentioned throughout the New Testament. Luke mentions them in Acts, and Paul mentions them in Romans, 1 Corinthians, and 2 Timothy. <a href="https://bethlisteningtohim.blogspot.com/2020/02/five-minute-friday-risk.html"><span style="color: #800180;">Click here to read a little more about Priscilla.</span></a><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">There are 8 more I have yet to explore. When Paul mentions some of them, he says they "laboured much for us" or "laboured much in the Lord." What does in mean to "labour in the Lord?" Where else is that phrase found in the New Testament? They must have held some significance to be among those mentioned in this passage of Scripture. <br />More to come...</span></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07844762228781056047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4929786450085244766.post-32923412733810857092022-07-19T14:53:00.000-06:002022-07-19T14:53:01.184-06:00Daily Devotion: The Lord is Gentle<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRuHrcO38touowfQyj0Cj8hR7ZKtfkQDqeSDHc35YE9pZcienrjAyMOvsOju4mIOIdu72W3E9HFufS3rb8Y6-wo18W3pC0PkDeQgnJrbTcXGYaZRraq4I_KUVQLjGpZkXg326YEB58JgxH1GfN17iyhmVb3wUHXJR-ZQC1dG9dTTpyaoi7pEHcW8H/s1893/Lord%20Gentle%20Washing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1770" data-original-width="1893" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRuHrcO38touowfQyj0Cj8hR7ZKtfkQDqeSDHc35YE9pZcienrjAyMOvsOju4mIOIdu72W3E9HFufS3rb8Y6-wo18W3pC0PkDeQgnJrbTcXGYaZRraq4I_KUVQLjGpZkXg326YEB58JgxH1GfN17iyhmVb3wUHXJR-ZQC1dG9dTTpyaoi7pEHcW8H/w439-h337/Lord%20Gentle%20Washing.jpg" width="439" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Photo by Courtney Cook on Unsplash</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">The Lord is so gentle in the way He teaches us. I had a dream one night, and I could see a man sitting behind a potter's wheel. There was some clay on the wheel, and he would just take a little water, not too much, and put it on the clay to shape it. I woke up just being very aware of how gentle the Lord is.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br />He shapes us with His word and smooths out the rough places.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> <br />"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ]gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law."-Galatians 5:22</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br />"But now, O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand"-Isaiah 64:8</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br />"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,"-Ephesians 5:25-26</span></p>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07844762228781056047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4929786450085244766.post-43481310596519423012022-07-18T07:13:00.011-06:002022-07-18T07:40:55.752-06:00Daily Devotion: Washing of the Water<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpvVbzcZhAWLwoRTfm8-reOUYS-DESgB5kc5BuUjkE8ydd84HG-H1m44UPPqz3hcaW8BeRuq1mU_Y9up67z3h8y8J4RZyI5_xzFaSzGftcU5EWRtXgviL_Nqq7oNGExeKw9kDRgG6o7nwxAJFUytwNvPantrtgMMjjdfB1dgAbraXtQCt8JQIF45g/s6272/david-ballew-P7saq8j11pM-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6272" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpvVbzcZhAWLwoRTfm8-reOUYS-DESgB5kc5BuUjkE8ydd84HG-H1m44UPPqz3hcaW8BeRuq1mU_Y9up67z3h8y8J4RZyI5_xzFaSzGftcU5EWRtXgviL_Nqq7oNGExeKw9kDRgG6o7nwxAJFUytwNvPantrtgMMjjdfB1dgAbraXtQCt8JQIF45g/w528-h334/david-ballew-P7saq8j11pM-unsplash.jpg" width="528" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@daveballew?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">David Ballew</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /><br /> I have been gardening a little bit. This is the first time I have had a garden, probably since childhood. It is hot here, so you have to water the garden a lot, or the plants will wither and wilt.</span><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br />I can't help but make all kinds of spiritual analogies while I am gardening. Jesus talked about seed and ground in Mark 4. There are all kinds of farmer/gardening analogies in the word of God.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br />So, this morning I am thinking about the ground and the plants being dry. I think so many people are dry right now. They are withering. How do you start to grow again? How do you become refreshed?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br />By the water of the Word.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br />In Ephesians 5:26, Paul calls the Word of God, water.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br />"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, "-Ephesians 5:25-26</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br />You can't spend time feeding on the news and social media all day long, and not feel drained. Spend some time with God in His Word. Spend some time with other Believers. Go to Bible study. Listen to the Word of God preached.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br />You need it to stay refreshed and strong.</span></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07844762228781056047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4929786450085244766.post-84376045806237091332022-01-03T12:36:00.003-07:002022-01-03T12:36:45.872-07:00A Foundation of Grace: Moses, Joshua, and Jesus<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg77-erDqaAnuQcnoC9hmvbLWKL0wQqi5GYk37GD9JsVxxeRlsvKD6Uw9SONX-YUfiErYoNg8c6I4sHtERL9auawHqRv18eTpISBcpHg69d6-zu5vsmHHV_uDvFBwtQYFztOrGW-7gOFavbhA7ruQ-IQ4Dd998fkztnqOEqnVhVcQ1qwZUvq2D-0ASz=s1200" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1200" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg77-erDqaAnuQcnoC9hmvbLWKL0wQqi5GYk37GD9JsVxxeRlsvKD6Uw9SONX-YUfiErYoNg8c6I4sHtERL9auawHqRv18eTpISBcpHg69d6-zu5vsmHHV_uDvFBwtQYFztOrGW-7gOFavbhA7ruQ-IQ4Dd998fkztnqOEqnVhVcQ1qwZUvq2D-0ASz=w640-h428" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Travis Longmore at Lighstock</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /><br /> Here's something interesting to think about. When the Israelites entered the Promised Land, they were led by Joshua. Moses was not allowed to go. Why was that? I think sometimes we think God was harsh for not allowing Moses to go in, since he had led them that whole way. But I think there is a bigger picture here.<br /><br />Joshua is a type of Christ. In Hebrew his name is "Yehoshua," which means, "the Lord is salvation." He led the Israelites into the Promised Land. It was a land of great blessings for them, that they did not work for.<br /><br />To me this sounds like Jesus. Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua, and also means "the Lord is salvation" or "Yahweh saves."<br /><br />Jesus leads us into our Promised Land, which is life in Christ. It is a land flowing with milk and honey, a land we didn’t work for, full of the richest blessings that Jesus paid for with his life.<br /><br />So, again, why couldn’t Moses go into the Promised Land with the Israelites? If you remember, once during the Gospels Jesus took Peter, James, and John up onto a high mountain. Elijah and Moses appeared and started talking with Jesus. Moses is a picture of the law, and Elijah is a picture of the prophets.<br /><br />While they were talking, this happened:<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If You wish, I will put up three shelters— one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.<a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/2243.htm">”</a> While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him</i>!”…Matthew 17:4-5 (BSB)</span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /><br />The reason Moses couldn’t go into the Promised Land is because the law cannot go in with you to your Promised Land in Christ. Moses was a picture of the law, even in the Old Testament account. Joshua, a type of Jesus led the Israelites in, just as Jesus leads us as Believers into our Promised Land.<br /><br />Romans 6:14 says,<br /><br /><i>For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace</i>. (NKJV)<br /><br />Isn’t it beautiful that God put this picture for us in this Old Testament account of us going into the Promised Land without the law?</span><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">To read more in the series, please join me here, at <a href="http://bethlisteningtohim.blogspot.com/2018/10/a-foundation-of-grace.html" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration-line: none;">A Foundation of Grace.</a></span><br style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;" /><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, freeserif, serif; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"></span></span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 18.06px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;" /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"></span><div class="separator" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br style="margin: 0px;" /></span></div></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18.06px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 18.06px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 18.06px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 18.06px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"></span><span style="font-size: 18.06px;"></span></span><br style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;" /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"></span><div class="separator" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 18.06px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAIi4pkb5jXXqtqL-Bu0KZAilBX3hxekwg2nI5gIvY63NCqyyoreG4dQ74D_HYdKrMVykGFmd5GVtvMwotpfAalsbj0QE_aJJGxV9NT3_FMTTl_JlzYfXnnMydCRZsUVL5L1ocS3kXLI/s1600/A+Foundation+of+Grace.png" style="background-color: transparent; color: #33aaff; font-size: 15.4px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin-left: 15.4px; margin-right: 15.4px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAIi4pkb5jXXqtqL-Bu0KZAilBX3hxekwg2nI5gIvY63NCqyyoreG4dQ74D_HYdKrMVykGFmd5GVtvMwotpfAalsbj0QE_aJJGxV9NT3_FMTTl_JlzYfXnnMydCRZsUVL5L1ocS3kXLI/s320/A+Foundation+of+Grace.png" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></span></div></span><br /> </div></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07844762228781056047noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4929786450085244766.post-29814804763955322472021-12-17T10:11:00.007-07:002021-12-17T10:20:23.790-07:00Five Minute Friday: Announce<div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfvBavqQ-4RvUXMKcKxdlLjI5jK0Kd8bfZnKXLnfwTnkr0TcTLDZdDNucUGpDAtmKjc5mCLopz4HogJcGPpImYLFKP9RmEJ8JQoObk9n_WaCagzxgJuxJCfNznxAxdS8zTXZ9X4NC9dLvqgV2wi-2PAq5hGvrP7wbr26O237e99r0VbXSaHpiNtW0Y=s940" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfvBavqQ-4RvUXMKcKxdlLjI5jK0Kd8bfZnKXLnfwTnkr0TcTLDZdDNucUGpDAtmKjc5mCLopz4HogJcGPpImYLFKP9RmEJ8JQoObk9n_WaCagzxgJuxJCfNznxAxdS8zTXZ9X4NC9dLvqgV2wi-2PAq5hGvrP7wbr26O237e99r0VbXSaHpiNtW0Y=w466-h390" width="466" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><br /></span></span></div>Today I am participating in</span><a href="http://fiveminutefriday.com/linkup/" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; text-decoration-line: none;"> Five Minute Friday, where a group of writers get together </a><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">and free write about a one word prompt for 5 minutes. Today's word is "announce."</span><br /><br /><i>And there were shepherds residing in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night. Just then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord! And this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”<br /><br />And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying:<br /><br />“Glory to God in the highest,<br /><br />and on earth peace to men<br /><br />on whom His favor rests!”<br /><br />When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”<br /><br />So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the Baby, who was lying in the manger. After they had seen the Child, they spread the message they had received about Him. And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. <a href="https://biblehub.com/luke/2-19.htm">19</a>But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.<br /><br />The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, which was just as the angel had told them.</i>-Luke 2:8-20<br /><br /> <br /><br />This was a great announcement, the greatest announcement that has ever been issued in the earth! <br /><br /><i>For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord!</i><br /><br />He’s here! He’s finally here! And the angels announced it to the shepherds that were out in the field. This begs the question: why?<br /><br />Yesterday I was looking at this wonderful book I have, <i>A Visual Guide to Gospel Events. </i>In the commentary on the shepherds in Luke 2, it said that “typical sheep and goats grazed during the day and were brought into sheepfolds for the night.” They indicated that these shepherds to whom the message was proclaimed were no ordinary shepherds. For them to stay with the sheep and guard them round the clock might have meant that they were Temple shepherds and those were sheep that would be used for sacrifice.<br /><br />This would be a satisfactory explanation to why God would have angels announce the birth of Jesus to shepherds, wouldn’t it?<br /><br />That would be so remarkable in itself, but I want to take this a little further. I noticed something else about this passage yesterday when I was studying. It says the shepherds “hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the Baby who was lying in a manger.”<br /><br />The shepherds just leave the sheep! It doesn’t seem like they took the sheep with them. The Scripture says they “hurried.” I don’t really know a lot about sheep, and I would have to research it, but it doesn’t seem to me that sheep are the type of animals to hurry.<br /><br />Throughout the Gospels there are so many pictures of the grace of God, and the transition that was taking place between law and grace. I think that in this story, we find one of those pictures.<br /><br />Those shepherds were keeping sheep. Sheep were used as temple sacrifices. Jesus is called by John the Baptist, “the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” (John 1:29) The shepherds left the sheep and the old covenant way of life, to look for Jesus, who brought “grace and truth.”<br /><br />Just like the angel announced to them, it was “good news of great joy for all the people.”<br /><br />I pray this Christmas is full of great joy for you and your experience is the same as the shepherds, wonder at the birth of Jesus!<br /></span><br /> Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07844762228781056047noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4929786450085244766.post-38674338686959140532021-12-15T10:53:00.000-07:002021-12-15T10:53:29.903-07:00Angels<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHENLc5q-5gKvjYqX3D1eiz8NJA7TSIaHGxiSFnwh701f0XNnjLdVyZL3gG1fzK0VRBQ0LaZ_wDDB-5fMK6AjKMiiB6_cOixy079opIm64weyxZG-1jMSgS4oYM1LYQFHeKu2bpTjdgTcjnc4chsoJ3oxjhuNyA0f2OJ2uoB_4RkvV0afh9pktgybL=s940" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHENLc5q-5gKvjYqX3D1eiz8NJA7TSIaHGxiSFnwh701f0XNnjLdVyZL3gG1fzK0VRBQ0LaZ_wDDB-5fMK6AjKMiiB6_cOixy079opIm64weyxZG-1jMSgS4oYM1LYQFHeKu2bpTjdgTcjnc4chsoJ3oxjhuNyA0f2OJ2uoB_4RkvV0afh9pktgybL=w400-h335" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /><br />There was so much angelic activity surrounding the birth of Jesus! Luke tells us about the angel Gabriel coming to visit Zechariah about the birth of John, and then Mary about the birth of Jesus. Matthew tells us about the angel of the Lord visiting Joseph in a dream to confirm that Mary is going to give birth to a baby conceived by the Holy Spirit, and he is to give him the name Jesus. When Jesus is born, an angel of the Lord appears to the shepherds to announce the birth of Jesus. And then a group of angels appears with that angel to announce praise and another message about what the birth of Jesus would bring. <br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Angels appear again and again throughout the Gospels and the book of Acts.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Hebrews 1:14 says, </span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br />Hebrews 13:2 says, </span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br />What are some other verses that mention angels?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br />Do you think you have you ever seen an angel? Do you know someone who has?<br /><br /></span></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07844762228781056047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4929786450085244766.post-21694448531911756472021-12-15T07:01:00.003-07:002021-12-15T17:49:11.664-07:00Five Minute Friday: Behold<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbla3mH2A8XIxVPv0Hjfl21o3qC4HZDNRBjdb56gy8tNNHyYJwEb6AOInV9JbZFDS6tzDrCi9504YVTaQxa8zcnPLEi_PXvyrT-sZq2MYcNj0R0um8GeEW91_SSw67trceSj3PsmqIWdfzjn0-ndLSNV5Xb8v4oydREm37oWUuWYUc34Ze7BrC0aU1=s1080" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbla3mH2A8XIxVPv0Hjfl21o3qC4HZDNRBjdb56gy8tNNHyYJwEb6AOInV9JbZFDS6tzDrCi9504YVTaQxa8zcnPLEi_PXvyrT-sZq2MYcNj0R0um8GeEW91_SSw67trceSj3PsmqIWdfzjn0-ndLSNV5Xb8v4oydREm37oWUuWYUc34Ze7BrC0aU1=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Today I am participating in<a href="http://fiveminutefriday.com/linkup/"> Five Minute Friday, where a group of writers get together </a>and free write about a one word prompt for 5 minutes. Today's word is "behold."</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /><br /><i>Behold what love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God--and we are!-</i>1 John 3:1<br /><br />Behold! When I looked it up in the Greek, it means “to see, perceive, attend to.”<br /><br />Recently, someone hurt my feelings. I am not sure if they meant what they said the way I took it. It’s hard to communicate appropriately through technology. But still, I was bothered by it. I could still sense the tone, and it seemed short and curt.<br /><br />A few years ago, this would have completely wrecked me for a while. I am still a little upset, but I will be okay. Why? I think it’s truly because of the verse above. <br /><br />I am a child of God. I put my faith in that, not in other people’s opinions of me. I love people and want them to think the best of me, but ultimately, when it comes down to it, they don’t direct my life. Their thoughts of me don’t direct my life. God does.<br /><br />If people knock me down with their words, so to speak, or attitudes toward me, I just get back up, and move forward knowing whose I am, and what I am called to do.<br /><br />I am a child of God. And with that comes many privileges. Jesus purchased me with his blood, which means I am of great value to Him. And he has given me authority to act and speak in His name.<br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">Behold. Today, child of God, behold your ancestry. Know to whom you belong, and you can smile and move forward because you are loved by the King of Kings.</span></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07844762228781056047noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4929786450085244766.post-65036514127393606802021-11-29T15:04:00.007-07:002021-11-29T15:09:56.008-07:00Ananias and Sapphira: Law & Grace<p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4Qr5JrmS0R2V59GOpatBKdQikYK_aoSYLrTaxXLt1biKhBjADljNeZfiW2BzigLfE7HRwaeF54yfl01n1J2scGMqP1YZAiPj_zvYiFvu52u9dnQgwBZDv1Zdp9vFTj2misfL0xwawZA/s940/Add+a+heading+%25288%2529.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="419" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4Qr5JrmS0R2V59GOpatBKdQikYK_aoSYLrTaxXLt1biKhBjADljNeZfiW2BzigLfE7HRwaeF54yfl01n1J2scGMqP1YZAiPj_zvYiFvu52u9dnQgwBZDv1Zdp9vFTj2misfL0xwawZA/w500-h419/Add+a+heading+%25288%2529.png" width="500" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have been teaching on women in the book of Acts in an online women's Bible study group. Sapphira is one of the named women in the book of Acts. Her story is kind of difficult, and has been used to create fear in the Body of Christ. Even thought I wanted to, I couldn't skip her. I am really glad now I didn't. This post is part 4 of the series I have been teaching on Ananias and Sapphira.</span></span><p></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">There are many pictures of law and grace contrasted in the stories in the Gospels. I have written about a few of them. I will share links to some of those at the bottom of this post. I believe that is what we are seeing yet again in the story with Ananias and Sapphira.</span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-803ec45e-7fff-1318-531d-ac270fb0b311" style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The name Ananias is of Hebrew origin and means, “Yah has been gracious.” He is a picture of the grace of God. Sapphira’s name comes from the word for the jewel sapphire or lapis lazuli. I believe she is a picture of the law.</span></p><span><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Jewish Talmud teaches that the ten commandments were written on sapphire, not stone. The Talmud is not Scripture, but a collection of commentary compiled by Jewish rabbis from A.D. 250-500. </span></p><span><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Since the Talmud is not Scripture, but commentary, let’s look at some Biblical support for the idea of the ten commandments being written on sapphire or a blue stone. </span></p><span><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Exodus 24, right before God gives the ten commandments to Moses, we see the word sapphire in reference to what was under God’s feet.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 12pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel. Under His feet was a work like a pavement made of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself. But God did not lay His hand on the nobles of Israel; they saw Him, and they ate and drank.</i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and stay here, so that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.</i>-Exodus 24:9-12</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God gives Moses the first set of tablets of stone. Moses breaks those when he goes down the mountain and finds the Israelites worshipping the golden calf. When he goes back to God and gets the second set, Moses chisels those out of stone himself.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another thing that would support the idea of the first set of the ten commandments being sapphire is the tekhelet.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I understand it, Jewish men wore tassels on the four corners of their garments. If there were no corners, they had no tassels. Those tassels were called the tzitzit and had a blue thread woven in called the tekhelet. </span></p><span><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Numbers 15 says this, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Speak to the children of Israel: Tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners. And you shall have the tassel, that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the LORD and do them, and that you may not follow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined,</i>-Numbers 15:38-39</span></p><span><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because the thread was blue, that connects with the idea that the ten commandments were made from Sapphire, and further connects with the idea of Sapphira being a picture of the law in Acts 5. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span>In 2 Corinthians 3, Paul spends some time comparing the ministry of the law or the ten commandments to the ministry of the Spirit.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 12pt 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>And He has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.</i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Now if the ministry of death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at the face of Moses because of its fleeting glory, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?</i>- 2 Corinthians 3:6-8</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you read the book of Galatians, you will find Paul discussing the law and grace throughout most of the book.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I believe we can safely say that the story of Ananias and Sapphira is another picture the Holy Spirit wanted to paint for us, of law and grace, and what happens when you combine the two.</span></p><span><br /><br /></span><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">To see some more pictures of grace in the Gospel stories, please check out my series, <a href="http://bethlisteningtohim.blogspot.com/2018/10/a-foundation-of-grace.html">A Foundation of Grace.</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">You can also read about grace and healing in my series, <a href="http://bethlisteningtohim.blogspot.com/2016/10/31-days-of-healing.html">31 Days of Healing.</a></span></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07844762228781056047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4929786450085244766.post-12081141498917907462021-07-06T17:31:00.004-06:002021-07-06T18:00:54.684-06:00Book Review: Between the Wild Branches by Connilyn Cossette<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4PVGdlrubmUwP0plnc6PLEmlTB0xD-0ZbPQif5qLq9agdHCDkpeRMPRXtrJKYXrII6ry6vlBp39KdpHZ2qP19s6xXzHWzWV0UTljzBQMjqwBLKhF6QSTEjlk5lgLh-a08MTuclaXTZGw/s740/Betweenthewildbranches.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: times; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="479" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4PVGdlrubmUwP0plnc6PLEmlTB0xD-0ZbPQif5qLq9agdHCDkpeRMPRXtrJKYXrII6ry6vlBp39KdpHZ2qP19s6xXzHWzWV0UTljzBQMjqwBLKhF6QSTEjlk5lgLh-a08MTuclaXTZGw/w414-h640/Betweenthewildbranches.jpg" width="414" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">“My opponent wavered on his feet, catching his breath from the relentless attack I’d delivered to his torso, and in that brief moment, my attention flitted up to the balcony that surrounded this royal courtyard….Surely it was only a trick of the light that familiar hazel eyes gazed down at me…”</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">-Lukio, Between the Wild Branches</div></span><p style="text-align: center;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-83541273-7fff-6ab6-efa7-8c3732540972" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>Between the Wild Branches </i>by Connilyn Cossette is the continuation of the duology, The Covenant House series. In this story, we get to experience the continuation of the story of Lukio, and his closest childhood friend, Shoshanna. <br /><br />At the beginning of <i>Between the Wild Branches</i>, Lukio is back in Ashdod, one of five cities occupied by the Philistines, as a successful fighter, and has achieved wealth and notoriety because of his skills in fighting. Shoshana has been brought to Ashdod as a slave after the Philistines raided the Hebrew land where she lived. They are reunited under some precarious circumstances, and the plot begins.</span><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span><br /><i>Between the Wild Branches</i> was a great sequel and wrap up to the first book. It was great to see the characters again because I enjoyed their stories so much.</span> I read it in about two days, and a lot of my time was spent fighting the urge to turn to the end and find out how the author resolved everything that was going on. It was that intense!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">There was lots of action, unique surprises, and scenarios that I kept wondering how the author was going to work out. The characters got themselves into so many predicaments that you wondered how they would ever untangle themselves. The plot was brilliant!!!<br /><br />There was some violence in this novel that was not for the faint of heart. The Philistines were brutal and had some horrible practices. I didn’t know a lot of details about them, other than what I have read in the Bible in relation to well known people like Samson and David.<br /><br />The setting is during the time period of the Judges in the Old Testament. So if you like historical fiction set in Biblical eras, you will enjoy this novel. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Many blessings as you read!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To learn more about <a href="https://www.christianbook.com/between-the-wild-branches-2/connilyn-cossette/9780764234354/pd/234354?product_redirect=1&search_term=Between%20the%20Wild%20Branches&Ntt=234354&item_code=&ps_exit=PRODUCT|legacy&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP"><i>Between the Wild Branches</i>, please go here.</a></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To learn more about the author, please go to her website at <a href="http://ConnilynCossette.com.">ConnilynCossette.com.</a></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To read an author interview about <a href="http://bethlisteningtohim.blogspot.com/2021/07/q-with-connily-cossette-between-wild.html"><i>Between the Wild Branches</i>, go here.</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">To read my review for the first book in the series, <a href="http://bethlisteningtohim.blogspot.com/2020/12/book-review-to-dwell-among-cedars-by.html"><i>To Dwell Among Cedars, </i>go here.</a></p></span><br /></span></div><div><br /></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07844762228781056047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4929786450085244766.post-45991495314505583062021-07-05T09:41:00.004-06:002021-07-05T09:46:03.621-06:00Q & A with Connilyn Cossette on Between the Wild Branches<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv42xepm-BGIMiMGYsdPfvqQNLxbtPaDqjGtCM635qCCC_KqaeLXLWNQUpqUQRxnECvJ-aHOeOjVj_i59bMLLUWhdfJm6hGtD0crxZjwem9WEUdWi9w_m4t5_Q3R_r-xrjsEt0yYhSpiU/s740/Betweenthewildbranches.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="479" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv42xepm-BGIMiMGYsdPfvqQNLxbtPaDqjGtCM635qCCC_KqaeLXLWNQUpqUQRxnECvJ-aHOeOjVj_i59bMLLUWhdfJm6hGtD0crxZjwem9WEUdWi9w_m4t5_Q3R_r-xrjsEt0yYhSpiU/w414-h640/Betweenthewildbranches.jpg" width="414" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /><span><br /><br /><i>Between the Wild Branches</i> is the second in the Covenant House series and is set to release July 6th! It is the continuation of the story of Lukio, and Shoshanna, his childhood friend, as we find them in perilous circumstances in the city of Ashdod, the Philistine city where Lukio was born. In honor of her book release, I thought I would share some Q & A with the author, Connilyn Cossette, about her upcoming book!<br /><br /><br /><br /><b> This series is a duology, what made you decide to only write two books this time? </b><br /><br />I was really intrigued with telling the story of two siblings and how their journeys intertwined to form one whole story that was satisfying both to myself and to my readers. Of course I usually fall in love with secondary characters along the way and wish I could tell their stories too, and the Covenant House was no exception. There is one character in particular in Between the Wild Branches that my beta readers wanted to know more about. So who knows, maybe in the future I’ll have the chance to expand that storyline a bit! The great thing is that my next series is a spin-off and readers will get to meet my next four heroes in BTWB, so keep your eyes peeled as you read, especially near the end!<br /><br /><b>What drew you to this period in history to place a series? </b><br /><br />When I had the opportunity to go to Israel a few years ago we traveled right through the Beth Shemesh valley, where the ruins of that town are just off the highway. And when our tour guide mentioned that this area was near where Samson lived and was also the exact place where the Philistines returned the Ark of the Covenant after they stole it in 1 Samuel. That day, I had a distinct vision of that ark bumping along on the road with two curious children following after it and decided that I needed to tell their story. Fortunately for me, at the same time I was plotting/researching the Covenant House series, scientists were proving from DNA evidence gathered in a Philistine graveyard that these enigmatic people actually came from Crete just like the Bible says they did. This new information gave me lots of fodder for book material and made my imagination spin like mad about the culture of the Philistines, which most likely was rooted in the Minoan and/or Mycenean people during the Bronze Age. They were certainly not simple shepherds and farmers like the Hebrew people were at that time and likely worshipped the precursors to the Greek gods we all know, so I had lots of fun contrasting the two opposing cultures and religious systems. There are still a lot of unknowns with the Philistines and we don’t have a handle on their language or writing system yet but I suspect more will come to light in the future that will continue to prove the Bible historically accurate. <br /><br /><br /><b>This series has underlying themes of adoption, why is this a special topic for you</b>?<br /><br />Well, for starters, I am an adoptee myself. I was adopted at birth and grew up knowing that my adoption was a special thing and what a loving choice my young birthmother made to place me in a stable, two-parent home. When I was twenty-two I actually got to meet my birth mom, after stumbling across a web posting way back in the early days of the internet, and have since gotten to know both her and my half-siblings. My brother, too, was adopted from Korea when he was four and I am also the mother of two adopted-at-birth children myself. So adoption is such a precious theme in my own life that it just naturally spills into my stories. And our adoption into the family of God through the sacrifice of Jesus is, of course, the most beautiful story there is, so there are shades of that built into Eliora and Lukio’s union with the Hebrew family that take them in and introduce them to covenant life. Of course, adoption is a precious thing and full of beauty but it is also rooted in loss, so I do not shy away from some of the challenges and questions that adoptees face, such as: Who am I? Where do I belong? How do I define my past and how does it affect my future? Or what if I’d never been separated from my family of origin? Eliora and Lukio struggle through these questions in different ways and I found great satisfaction in working through their healing and self-acceptance, since their journeys at times mirror my own, my brother’s, and those of my children.<br /><br /></span></span><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><b style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;">Between Eliora and Lukio, which sibling did you relate to the most and why?</span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span><br />Hm. That is kind of tough. I’m actually quite different from Eliora, who spends a lot of time trying to “earn her place at the table” but I also have a tendency to try and blend in with the background because I hate spotlights. And I am certainly not an aggressive bare-knuckle fighter like Lukio, but I have struggled with some of the same identity issues he has and tend toward walling myself off in difficult relationships and compartmentalizing things to the point of isolation. So I am not like either of them, but yet I am. There are probably pieces of me in all the characters I write. Even the villains ;)</span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span><b>What makes the characters in Between the Wild Branches different from any others you’ve written before?</b><br /><br />I had lots of fun writing a more hero-centric story this time and Lukio is hands down my favorite male character to have written. First of all, he is a no-holds-barred bare-knuckled fighter (which is rooted in the ancient and brutal sport of Pankration) so I got to channel my inner MMA fighter and have some fun getting out some imaginary aggression. But he is also a hurting little boy on the inside, one who feels deeply and is wounded from what he perceived to be devastating betrayals. His journey to healing was so satisfying for me and no matter how many times I edited it all, I cried every time I read the final scenes. Also, since there was a childhood friendship/romance between Lukio and Shoshana, there was lots of intriguing history between them which added a different dimension to their reunion. Since ten years have passed since they’ve seen each other and a lot of life, and in Shoshana’s case pain, has occurred in that gap, they are in some ways completely different people by the time the book opens. It was an interesting challenge to think about how they relate to the “newness” of each other, while at the same time holding on to the sweet, secret friendship they enjoyed in the past. I love how they complement each other and how their relationship develops over the course of the story, despite all the obstacles between them.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span><br /><br /><b>What part of BTWB did you have the hardest time writing?<br /></b><br />Honestly, this story poured out of me in a way that none of my books have before. I wrote the entire manuscript by hand and was so in love with the characters that there was not any part that was a major challenge. This is why the next series is a spin-off, because I just couldn’t let go of my friends! <br /><br /><br /></span></span><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Thank you Connilyn for answering these questions, and for continuing to write these stories of healing and redemption!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">To learn more about the author, please visit her website at connilyncossette.com.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">To learn more about <a href="<p><b><a href="https://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&amp;p=1207415&amp;item_no=234354">Between the Wild Branches #2</a></b> </p>">Between the Wild Branches</a>, go to <a href="<p><b><a href="https://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&amp;p=1207415&amp;item_no=234354">Between the Wild Branches #2</a></b> </p>">Christianbook.com. </a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">To learn more about the first book in the series, <a href="<p><b><a href="https://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&amp;p=1207415&amp;item_no=4234347">To Dwell Among Cedars, #1</a></b> </p>">To Dwell Among Cedars,</a> please click on the book title, or go <a href="http://bethlisteningtohim.blogspot.com/2020/12/book-review-to-dwell-among-cedars-by.html">here to read my review.</a></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Note: This post contains affiliate links from Christianbook.com. This means if you purchase one of these books after clicking on the link, I will generate a commission from that purchase. This does not influence my recommendation of the books.</span></span></div></div></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07844762228781056047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4929786450085244766.post-2463350348175571712021-07-02T14:33:00.010-06:002021-07-05T09:11:15.987-06:00Summer 2021 Reading List<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtfNGR4GTk2mB9nDnUwrKc-il_B6Gs2X_RNtSbaVxT2jxPffsYljeKlZMAnD8r0TJsDEBQWypQqN7md3N4EaHZP94fenF7PP7C7bDHlIk1wAm0dw9TtV8HDs6DrZc144Ez9g_1j9Omhgo/s2048/IMG_7540.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1853" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtfNGR4GTk2mB9nDnUwrKc-il_B6Gs2X_RNtSbaVxT2jxPffsYljeKlZMAnD8r0TJsDEBQWypQqN7md3N4EaHZP94fenF7PP7C7bDHlIk1wAm0dw9TtV8HDs6DrZc144Ez9g_1j9Omhgo/w580-h640/IMG_7540.JPG" width="580" /></span></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">I signed the kids and myself up for the summer reading program at one of our local libraries this year! Since I will be reading quite extensively, I thought I would create this list to show you what I have plans for this summer! I have already finished 6 of the books, which leaves me with 6 more to go! What are you reading this summer? Have you read any of the books on the list?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Daughter-Jerusalem-Joanne-Otto/dp/1948812169/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Joanne+Otto&qid=1625257491&sr=8-1"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i>Daughter of Jerusalem</i> </span></a>by <a href="http://joanneotto.com/">Joanne Otto</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">I stumbled across this book while searching for others on Amazon. I wasn't familiar with this author, but I ordered it anyway because of the subject matter, and because I read a sample first. I have already finished this book. It was a short read, and meant for probably middle school readers or young adults. Because it was a story about a girl who lives in Jerusalem during the time of Jesus, I enjoyed reading it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i><a href="<p><b><a href="https://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&amp;p=1207415&amp;item_no=234354">Between the Wild Branches #2</a></b> </p>">Between the Wild Branches</a></i> by <a href="https://www.connilyncossette.com/">Connilyn Cossette</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">This is part of a two book series called The Covenant House series, and is the story of two siblings, a brother and sister. The first book was <i><a href="http://bethlisteningtohim.blogspot.com/2020/12/book-review-to-dwell-among-cedars-by.html">To Dwell Among Cedars</a>. </i> If you click on the book title for <i><a href="http://bethlisteningtohim.blogspot.com/2020/12/book-review-to-dwell-among-cedars-by.html">To Dwell Among Cedars</a></i>, you can read a review I did previously. I have finished Between the Wild Branches, and am currently working on a review for that as well.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i><a href="<p><b><a href="https://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&amp;p=1207415&amp;item_no=073109">Encountering Jesus in the Real World of the Gospels</a></b> </p>">Encountering Jesus in the Real World of the Gospels</a> </i>by <a href="https://www.narrativeofplace.com/new-page-2">Cyndi Parker</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">This book is a nonfiction book that takes us from Eden to the Resurrection. It covers the history of Israel and other people groups leading up to the time of Jesus, in an effort to give the reader/learner a clearer picture of what the time/space/place was like during the time of His earthly ministry. I first listened to this book on audio, and loved it so much I had to buy a paper copy. There is a lot of information about place and history, which is usually hard for me to follow unless it is in story form, but the author made it so relatable that it was easy to connect. It helped that the subject was Jesus.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i><a href="<p><b><a href="https://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&amp;p=1207415&amp;item_no=212293">When Calls the Heart, Movie Edition</a></b> </p>">When Calls the Heart</a> b</i>y Janette Oke</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">I have started reading this book, but haven't finished yet. I love the tv show that was based on the book series, so I wanted to give the book a try. So far, I am enjoying it. It is a nice, peaceful read, which is a pleasant change from some of the more intense books I have read! Not that I didn't like the other books, but that this is a little different in nature and has a more calm tone. It's sort of like comparing a thunderstorm to a general rainstorm. You can enjoy both, just one is more intense than the other.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i><a href="<p><b><a href="https://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&amp;p=1207415&amp;item_no=795313">Fearless Daughters of the Bible: What You Can Learn from 22 Women Who Challenged Tradition, Fought Injustice and Dared to Lead</a></b> </p>">Fearless Daughters of the Bible</a></i> by Lee Grady</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">I haven't started this one yet, but purchased it because it is about women in the Bible, a subject with which I am moderately familiar, but always wanting to learn more about. So many times women in the Old Testament are a picture of Jesus or the Church, so I am eager to learn as much about them as I can.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i><a href="https://www.shopguideposts.org/fiction-books/biblical-fiction/ordinary-women-bible/daughter-of-light-book-16.html"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Daughter of Light: Charilene's Story</span></a></i> by Melanie Dobson</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">This book is one of the <a href="https://www.shopguideposts.org/fiction-books/biblical-fiction/ordinary-women-bible.html">Ordinary Women of the Bible </a>series published by Guideposts. I believe this one is about one of Philip's daughters from the Book of Acts. I have read other books in this series, but have not started this one yet. I will publish an update when I am finished.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><i><a href="https://www.christianbook.com/a-man-with-a-past-2/mary-connealy/9780764237737/pd/237737?event=ESRCG">A Man with a Past</a></i> </span>by Mary Connealy</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">I am not familiar with this author or book, but I am looking forward to reading <i>A Man with a Past</i>. What I know so far about the book is that it is the second in a series, and is a Western Christian Fiction type book. I have not begun reading it yet, so I will post an update when I am finished.</span></p><p><i><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i><a href="https://www.christianbook.com/jerusalems-queen-novel-of-salome-alexandra/angela-hunt/9780764219344/pd/219342?event=ESRCG"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Jerusalem's Queen</span></a></i><span> by Angela Hunt</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">I am very interested in reading this book. It is based on history that took place between the Old Testament and the New Testament, also known as the Intertestamental Period. The main character is Salome, who was the Queen of Jerusalem during part of this time period. I know very little about her, other than she was responsible for setting up the educational system for children, and her brother was a Pharisee or a Saducee. I will post an update after I have finished this book.</span></p><p><i><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i><a href="https://www.christianbook.com/michal-wives-of-king-david/jill-smith/9780800733209/pd/733209?product_redirect=1&search_term=Michal%20jill%20ei&Ntt=733209&item_code=&ps_exit=PRODUCT|legacy&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Michal</span></a> </i><span>by <a href="https://jill.allauthor.com/">Jill Eileen Smith</a></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">This book is Biblical fiction and is based on King David's first wife, Michal. She was King Saul's daughter. I have read other books by Jill Eileen Smith. She has written many about women in the Bible, so I am looking forward to this one.</span></p><p><i><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i><a href="https://www.shopguideposts.org/fiction-books/biblical-fiction/ordinary-women-bible/missionary-of-hope-book-13.html"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Missionary of Hope: Priscilla's Story</span></a></i><span> by Ginger Garrett</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">This book is part of the <a href="https://www.shopguideposts.org/fiction-books/biblical-fiction/ordinary-women-bible.html">Ordinary Women of the Bible</a> series published by Guideposts, and is the story of a women whom we first meet in the Book of Acts, chapter 18. She is also mentioned in Romans and a couple of the other epistles from Paul. I love her story in the Bible, and I have read several books about her. This one was super intense. I enjoyed it so much, and was unable to read anything else for a few days after because I was still processing. I had not read a book by this author before either, so that was nice to read something by someone new.</span></p><p><i><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i><a href="https://www.shopguideposts.org/fiction-books/biblical-fiction/ordinary-women-bible/her-source-of-strength-book-12.html"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Her Source of Strength: Raya's Story</span></a> </i><span>by <a href="https://jill.allauthor.com/">Jill Eileen Smith</a></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">This is another book in the <a href="https://www.shopguideposts.org/fiction-books/biblical-fiction/ordinary-women-bible.html">Ordinary Women of the Bible</a> series. Raya's story is about Samson's mother. She is mentioned a couple of times in Judges, but only as Manoah's wife I believe. This novel went through the story of Samson, beginning to end, from what it might have been like to view from his mother's perspective. Samson kind of bothered me a lot because of the choices he made, but since reading the story, I have re-read parts of the Biblical account, and I am beginning to see Jesus more clearly in there.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i><a href="<p><b><a href="https://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&amp;p=1207415&amp;item_no=428762">Jewel of the Nile, softcover</a></b> </p>">Jewel of the Nile </a></i>by <a href="https://tessaafshar.com/">Tessa Afshar</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">This novel is also fiction set during the Biblical era of the Book of Acts. The main character is Charilene, and she is from Cush, also known as Ethiopia. In this book, we get to see some other well known Biblical people from the Book of Acts, as well as a character that has been in two of her other books, Theo. I loved this story. It is in my top 5 books of the year so far. I have read all of Tessa's books, and this one is close to being my favorite. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">*To learn more about the books, click on the book title. To learn more about the author, click on their name.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Note: This post contains affiliate links from Christianbook.com. This means if you purchase one of these books after clicking on the link, I will generate a commission from that purchase. This does not influence my recommendation of the books.</span></p>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07844762228781056047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4929786450085244766.post-12116979111219405332021-07-02T09:10:00.001-06:002021-07-02T09:10:07.223-06:00Five Minute Friday: Deserve<div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicqI-bkbeTJeP631NygJ2oawk8zgOpYVmjVpN37gRMp95YC-JBrdg6tvEzIObZIlQ_-4MEh-YNYkT7IDQEaWImdQBOKWP09X6ZUXn2wC7sxk-3B3GEMuKd5eg2BUu8VQNp0IRnZncYLiY/s2048/lightstock_387_medium_beth_reavis.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicqI-bkbeTJeP631NygJ2oawk8zgOpYVmjVpN37gRMp95YC-JBrdg6tvEzIObZIlQ_-4MEh-YNYkT7IDQEaWImdQBOKWP09X6ZUXn2wC7sxk-3B3GEMuKd5eg2BUu8VQNp0IRnZncYLiY/w640-h360/lightstock_387_medium_beth_reavis.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">Today I am participating in</span><a href="http://fiveminutefriday.com/linkup/" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; text-decoration-line: none;"> Five Minute Friday, where a group of writers get together </a><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">and free write about a one word prompt for 5 minutes. Today's word is "deserve."</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Deserve-to have earned because of some act or quality</span><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br />I don’t or haven’t really liked the word “deserve” in the past. I think it conjures up all the thoughts in my head about what I am not, where I am lacking. And I don’t really need any help in that area- I already know. <br /><br />And I didn't already know, there have been people who were eager and ready to let me know.<br /><br />I feel as though I don’t measure up on a daily basis in so many areas.<br /><br />In Ephesians 2:8, it says, <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div><i>By grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.</i></div><span style="text-align: start;"> -Ephesians 2:18</span></div><br /><br />God had to tell us twice in that Scripture that we didn’t deserve it. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>By grace you are saved.</i></div><br />Grace is God’s undeserved, unmerited favor. You can’t earn it. It’s only because of His goodness.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>That not of yourselves…</i></div><br />You didn’t do anything to earn it.<br /><br />He told us twice. This means we just have to trust Him.<br /><br />Under the New Covenant, we get nothing by earning, or by deserving it. It’s all by grace through faith, by trusting what He said was true.</span><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07844762228781056047noreply@blogger.com4