104 - David walks in Victory

Chareen's Thoughts

• David is now fleeing and seeks refuge in a cave at Gath. His father and brothers hear about this and join him.
• David prays for help Psalm 142
• Look at who joined him: And everyone in distress or in debt or discontented gathered to him, and he became a commander over them. And there were with him about 400 men. 1 Samuel 22:2
• In the evening he prayed Psalm 141:1-10
• From Gath David went to Mizpeh and asked the King of Moab to look after his parents. On instruction from the prophet Gad David returns to Hereth in Judah.
• He prays Psalm 64:1-10 and asks for protection.
• Sadly King Saul hears how Ahimelech helped David and orders him and all the priest executed.
• David hears of this and prays for help. Psalm 35:1-28
• The Philistines attack Keilah and David enquires of the Lord should he defend the people ? The Lord answered him and told him to launch an attack.
• David's men were afraid so he once again inquired of the Lord and the Lord said go.  So they went and they rescued the people of Keilah.
• David hears of the attack on the priests who helped him and offers protection to Abiathar who is the only one to escape the priesthood execution by King Saul

I call to you, Lord, come quickly to me; hear me when I call to you.
May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.
Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.
Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil so that I take part in wicked deeds along with those who are evildoers; do not let me eat their delicacies.
Psalm 141:1-4

But my eyes are toward You, O God the Lord; in You do I trust and take refuge; pour not out my life nor leave it destitute and bare.
Keep me from the trap which they have laid for me, and the snares of evildoers.
Let the wicked fall together into their own nets, while I pass over them and escape.
Psalm 141:8-10

Prayer is not the easiest thing for me.  I enjoyed reading David's prayers today.  I think that I think of prayer too formally and need to share more of my struggles with Him.  He is the author and perfecter of who I am. He will hear me as I cry out to Him.

Oh Lord rise up and draw me unto yourself.

May your day be blessed.
Blessings
Chareen

A time to start again ...

For the Lord your God is a merciful God; He will not fail you or destroy you or forget the covenant of your fathers, which He swore to them. Deuteronomy 4:31

I was asked the other day 'What is your favorite thing about God ?' My answer: "His Mercy"  I am in awe of His mercy and grace towards me.

I set out on this journey to read His word in one year. Did it happen ? No.  I had such grand intentions and then I got caught up in life. So much so that I'm the one who moved from Him. He however never stopped reaching out. I have seen His hand in my world in so many little  and large ways. It's as though He's been whispering to me: "Beloved where are you ?"

I have looked at this project and felt disappointment in myself for not completing what I started last year and this disappointment in turn lead to apathy to even pick up and move forward until today when I read this statement:  You are not a failure when you fall down you are only a failure when you do not get back up. It's so true. I NEED to be back here spending time with my Heavenly Father's word learning about His story in History.

Long story short: I'm back! This time however I'm going to take my time to savor His words to my heart and enjoy exploring what's happened and the things He has for me to learn.

May you be Blessed as you come on this journey with me.

Blessings
Chareen

297 - The good Shepherd

Kathleen's thoughts

Luke 10: 25-42
John 9: 1-41, 10: 1-42

The parable of the good Samaritan Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?
What is written in the law?" He asked him. "How do you read it?"
He answered!
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your strength, and with all you mind, and your neighbour as yourself.
"You've answered correctly. " He told him, Do this and you will live.

Jesus visits Martha and Mary Martha is concerned that her sister is not helping her serve but the Lord tells her this... The Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, But one thing is necessary, Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.

The healing of the man born blind As He was passing by, He saw a man blind from birth, His disciples questioned Him'
"Rabbi, who sinned this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
Neither this man nor his parents sinned"{ Jesus answered. This came about so that God's works might be displayed to him. We must do the works of Him who sent Me while it is day. Night is coming when non one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world".

The parable of the shepherd I assure you;  Anyone who doesn't enter the sheep pen by the door but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. The doorkeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought all his own outside, he goes ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they recognize his voice. They will never follow a stranger instead they will run away from him, because they don't recognize his voice of strangers.

Jesus, the Good Shepherd So Jesus said again. "I assure you, I am the door of the sheep All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn't listen to them. I am the door, If anyone enter by Me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance.
I am the good Shepherd. The good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Jesus at the Festival of dedication
Many believe in Him.

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. He lets me lie down in Green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters' Psalm 23: 1-2

Blessings
Kathleen.

296 - The return of the Seventy.

Kathleen's thoughts

John 8: 21-59,
Luke 9: 51-62, 10: 1-24
Matthew 8: 19-22

Jesus and the Jewish authorities
Spiritual freedom So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, you really are My disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Jesus responded, "I assure you' Everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin." A slave does not remain in the household forever, but a son does remained forever. Therefore if the Son  sets you free, you really will be free.

Sons of Abraham

Children of the devil Jesus said to them, :If God were your Father, you would love Me, because I came from God and I am here. For I didn't come on My own, but He sent Me. Why don't you understand what I say?
Because you cannot listen to My word. You are of your father the Devil and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and has not stood in the truth, because there is no truth in  him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of liars.

The claims of Jesus If anyone keeps My word, he will never see death - ever!"

Samaritan opposition
The cost of following Jesus
Jesus sends out the Seventy Jesus sends out 70 to witness

Theo unbelieving towns Whoever listens to you listens to Me. Whoever rejects you rejects Me, and whoever rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me:.

The return of the Seventy The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name"
He said to them, "I watched Satan fall from heaven like a lightening flash. Look, I have given you the authority to trample on snakes ands scorpions and over all the power of the enemy; nothing will ever harm you. However, don't rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.

Jesus' joyIn that same hour He rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I praise Your Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and the learned and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, because this was Your good pleasure. All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son desires to reveal Him;
Then turning to His disciples He said privately, "The eyes that see the things you see are blessed!

The rest of my co-workers whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again; Rejoice!" Phil. 4: 3-4

Blessings
Kathleen.

295 - An unforgiving spirit

Kathleen's thoughts

Matthew 18: 21-35
John 7: 1-53, 8: 1-20

The parable of the unforgiving slave Lord, how many times could my brother sin against me and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" "I tell you, not as many as seven.
," Jesus said to him, " but 70 times seven.

Jesus unbelieving brothers
Jesus at the Festival of Tabernacles

He teaches in the Temple Jesus answered them, "My teaching isn't Mine but is from the One who sent Me. If anyone wants to do His will, he will understand weather the teaching is from God or if I am speaking on My own. The one who speaks for himself seeks his own glory. But He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

Guards sent to arrest Jesus
The water of life On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone is thirsty, he should come to Me and drink!' The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him. He said this about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were going to receive, for the Spirit had not yet been received, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.

The dispute
The woman caught in adultery Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with His finger. When they persisted in questioning Him, He stood up and said to them, 'The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her. Then He stoped down again and continued writing on the ground. When they heard this, they left one by one, starting with the older men. Only He was left, with the woman in the center. When Jesus stood up, He said to her, "Woman, where are they? "Has no one condemned you?" No one, Lord" She answered. Neither do I condemn you, said Jesus. "God, and from now on do not sin any more"

The light of the world Then Jesus spoke to them again; "I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life"

And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another just as God also forgave you in Christ.
Eph. 4: 32

Blessings
Kathleen.

294 - Who's the greatest?

Matthew 17: 22-27, 18: 1-20
Mark 9: 14-50
Luke 9: 37-50

Jesus' ministry of healing and deliverance.

Jesus speaks again about His death While everyone was amazed at all the things He was dong, He told His disciples. Let these words sink in; the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.
But they did not understand this statement; it was concealed from them so that they could not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.

Payment of the Temple tax When he went into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, "What do you think, Simon? Who do earthly kings collect tariffs or taxes from? From their sons or from strangers?"
"From strangers" he said.
Then the sons are free," Jesus told him. But so we won't offend them, go to the sea, cast in a fish hook, and catch the first fish that comes up. When you open its mouth you'll find a coin, Take it and gfive it to them for Me and you.

Who's the greatest? Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
"Then He called a child to Him and had him stand among them. I assure you, He said "Unless you are converted and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one child like this in My name welcomes Me.

Causes of sin For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if the salt should lose its flavour, how can you make it salty? Have salt among yourselves and be at peace with one another.

The parable of the lost sheep

John is rebuked Don't stop him. said Jesus, Because there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name who can soon afterwards speak evil of Me. For whoever is not against us is for us. And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of My name, since you belong to Messiah - I assure you; He will never lose his reward.

Teaching on forgiveness and prayer. I assure you; Whatever you bind on earth is already bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth is already loosed in heaven. Again, I assure you; If two of you on earth agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there among them.

The greatest among you will be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted' Matthew 23: 11-12

Blessings
Kathleen.

293 - The transfiguration

Kathleen's thoughts

Matthew 16: 21-28, 17: 1-21
Mark 8: 27-38, 9:1 -13
Luke 9: 18-36

Peter's declaration Who do people say that I am?" They answered Him, "John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, one of the prophets" But you He ask them again, "Who do you say that I am?" Peter answered Him, "You are the Messiah!" And He strictly warned them to tell no one about Him.

Jesus speaks of His suffering and death Saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised third day"

Jesus speaks about self-denial Then Jesus said to His disciples. If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will find it.

For the Son of Man is going to come with His angels in the glory of Is Father, and then He will reward each according to what he has done.

The transfiguration He was transformed in front of them, and His face shone like the sun, Even His clothes became as white as the light. Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them Talking with Him. While he was still speaking suddenly a bright cloud covered them and a voice from the cloud said; This is My beloved Son. I take delight in Him. Listen to Him.

Question about Elijah Then they began to question Him, Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"
Elijah does come first and restores everything, He replied. "How then is it written about the Son of Man that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt? But I tell you that Elijah really has come, and they did to him whatever they wanted, just as it is written about him"

Jesus' ministry of healing and deliverance Because of your little faith" He told them. For I assure you; If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, Move from here to there' and it will move, Nothing will be impossible for you. However this kind does not come out except by prayer and fasting.

But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Blessings
Kathleen