Doubting Thomas

Doubting Thomas... 77/90

Doubting Thomas (see also... Tom, Tomasz, Tommy)
Main Entry: doubting Thom•as
Pronunciation: \-ˈtä-məs\
Function: noun
Etymology: St. Thomas, apostle who doubted Jesus' resurrection until he had proof of it (John 20:24–29)
Date: 1883
: an incredulous or habitually doubtful person; a term that is used to describe someone who will refuse to believe something without direct, physical, personal evidence; a skeptic.

Thomas, one of the Twelve Honored Disciples, was not with the other eleven disciples when Jesus came and appeared to them after his death. So the disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But Thomas said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed;
... blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”



http://biblein90summerdays.blogspot.com/

truth's verdict; john 3:16

Truth's Verdict… day 75/90... John 3:16

You could say I've been highly engaged in the process of "soul searching" over the past year. So much of my life is different from one year prior... I can either surrender and give in to the pressures and end my sorrows selfishly or I can continue to search... I continue to search...

I've been reading, "Gift from the Sea" by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. A passage was used in a wedding ceremony that Jenny, Janel and I recently sang in. Jenny recommended the book to me.

One thing has impacted me today in my Bible readings alongside the book's reading... Anne Lindbergh says that the life of multiplicity "leads not to unification but to fragmentation." Our problem, she adds, is "how to remain whole in the midst of the distractions of life: how to remain balanced, no matter what centrifugal forces tend to pull one off center: how to remain strong no matter what shocks come in at the periphery and tend to crack the hub of the wheel."

She also adds that one of the answers is to "find a balance somewhere, or an alternating rhythm between solitude and communion, between restraint and return." She recommends periods of retreat in which hopefully one can learn something of the inner spirit which one can take back into worldly life. Vacations are often useless since we carry the complexity of our lives with us, or else we plan them with far too much activity scheduled in too short a period of time. Surely we ought to be able to live in the two worlds at once, the world of simplicity and complexity; the world of the one and the world of the many.

"There is no easy solution to this finding of the eternal presence in the midst of the temporal. Somehow this presence ought to grow from year to year, but in order to grow it has to start. As Jesus said to Nicodemus, "Ye must be born anew." One interpretation of these words certainly is that the new man of whom Jesus spoke is a person who can live in the temporal world while at the same time can feel the under-girding of the world of the Eternal Spirit. It has to begin, and why should it not begin today?

The process of soul searching, when it is translated into its religious dimension, involves the realization that when one finds his own soul he will discover to his joy that it is only a part of a greater soul, that his individual self is a part of a Greater Self." - Walter Donald Kring; The Process of Soul Searching

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Very truly, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

“… we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still people do not accept the testimony.”

“I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him."

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.

This is the verdict:

Light has come into the world…
but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil…

All those who do evil hate the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed...

But those who live by the truth come into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God…


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

... for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life...
john 3:16

the good girl

The Good Girl... 74/90

‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind;’ and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

‘Who is my neighbor?’

I love my sister, Janel and best friend Jenny, the other J’s in our group J3… I love how they let me be myself… demanding nothing in return… we understand each other without words… we learn from each others mistakes… we are changed forever by each own's generosity, love and good deeds…

I used to be very untrusting and skeptical of people… especially strangers, homeless, gangsters, shady characters per se… I recall hearing this story that impacted me…

“A man was sitting outside of our church on one cold wintry Sunday morning… all of the people were scurrying to get inside the warm sanctuary for Sunday church services… the man outside was dressed in ragged clothes… appeared to be very dirty… he was sitting on the ground with his back against the church clutching his legs, head down hovering over his knees… he was cold, alone and quiet… people passed by him… some looked away, pretending not to notice him… some, walked out of the path to avoid him and not get too close… some looked down at him in sadness… but not one of them offered to help him, give him money… and not one person asked him to come inside, get out of the cold and invite him to join in the church service!

All the folks were seated in the church pews awaiting the pastor’s arrival from the pulpit… Then much to their surprise… the homeless man, head down, walked into the church and down the church isle… Everyone watched as he made his way to the front of the church, stopped and turned around… He lifted his head, took off his tattered coat and to everyone’s dismay… there stood before them… their pastor…"

Would you have offered to help the bum?
Would you have invited him into the church, and out of the cold?
Would you have offered him money or clothes to keep warm?

I don’t know what I would have done at the time I first listened to this story… but now, I certainly would… however… my friend Jenny would have helped him… she is naturally like this… a good Samaritan… I love that about her!!!

Jenny befriended a man in our church who was very warn and shady… he was quite, introverted, dirty and strange… he would come to listen to our band practice at the church on Thursday nights… I remember my ex-husband always telling me to stay away from that man… “He could be a serial killer,” he would say… and truthfully, I did find him repulsive… Jenny didn’t… she took him in under her wing… became a friend… his only friend… cut his dirty long scraggly hair… cleaned him up, and gave him the gift of pure love and friendship… I admire her for this… over the years this gentleman has become one of our greatest supporters of our band… he is kind and sincere… Jenny gave him something that no one else did… “hope!”

Then again… the beggars on the street… we were in Nashville on one of our earlier visits to the music city… and we passed a beggar… he was asking for money… I was quick to say, “just keep walking…” he was dirty and unapproachable… Jenny stopped, dug through her purse and handed him some cash…

Again! Humbled by her grace… kindness… goodness…

These actions have changed my life… I am no longer the one that just passes by and ignores the cries of the oppressed… I try to help when I can… I am aware of my surroundings… and my impact on others… wouldn’t this world be so much better if more of us offered a hand once in a while… instead of walking on by…

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged.
Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.
Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Give, and it will be given to you.“

The Good Samaritan

“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii5 and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

The Golden Rule
“Do to others as you would have them do to you.“

Pay it forward…

Love wins.
- j. marshon

planting parables

planting parables... 71/90

The Parable of the Sower

* The farmer went out to plant his harvest…
… the farmer sows the word of God.

* As he was scattering seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up…
… some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown… as soon as they hear it, satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.


* Some seed fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root…
… others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy… but since they have no root, they last only a short time… when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

* Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain…
… still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.


* Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times…
… others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.

“The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that, ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’” – j. christ

weeds

weeds... 68-70/90

“the kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field... though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” – j. christ

… the kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. but while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away... when the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared... the owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied... the servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them… Let both grow together until the harvest... at that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn…’

… the one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man… the field is the world… the good seed the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one… and the enemy who sows them is the devil… he harvest is the end of the age… and the harvesters are angels…

… as the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil... they will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father…

... stand firm in your personal convictions and beliefs... have faith... grow... live... love... and know...

... for truly, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed... you can move mountains... nothing is impossible for you...

love wins!
:) j. marshon

The “Big Picture”

the big picture… 57-63/90

ALL THE SAINTS AND ALL THE PROPHETS… reveal God to us... and a glimpse to the future… It is important to understand the message of the prophets. Prophets arose in times of crisis; their job was to be a spokesperson for God. Profits revealed God through four different kinds of pronouncements.

1. what people were doing wrong, Judgment
2. what God is going to do, Instruction
3. what they need to do, and aftermath of judgment
4. what future brings; hope and deliverance

books of Isaiah and Jeremiah are set among earlier time periods. Isaiah takes place around 730 BC which is the middle of the kingdom period. In Isaiah the Assyrians are coming and invading the territory. God sends Isaiah with a message:

“Trust God, don’t do your own thing. It is better to rely on God.”
– this is the key message

One of first names given to God – Emmanuel (means God with us). God’s presence, God with us, represents a new stage, His presence in a person. God is with us. In the New Testament Jesus is born and he is declared, “Emmanuel.” God is with us in the flesh, here to dwell among his people in the form of a man. A new level of God’s presence. Getting a glimpse of what kingship should look like. The Prophets saw the failure. Words of judgment, instruction, aftermath words of hope deliverance, future plans. There is hope after judgment comes.

God makes a new covenant not like the old one. New arrangements. Ezekiel sees the vision of God’s presence leaving. The prophets knew the messages they had for the people; and expected the people to understand.

… might ask yourself, “what does this mean to me, how is this applicable to my life.?”

If we look to scripture how we ought to live, sometimes we feel like we don’t get it… we don’t see it. What we are expected to get is a knowledge of God. There is nothing more relevant to our lives than knowing God. When we embrace the knowledge of God it guide our living and choices and who we are. God’s knowledge has to get inside and change us. We have a vision of the kind of person we need to be to make right choices, and do the right thing… to be holy.

...this portion of the Bible in instrumental in delivering the “big picture” of God… it is coming into focus… and presented to us all right here in the Bible for all to know… don't blink…

… can you see it?

everything is meaningful

everything is meaningful… 48/90

if we truly take the time to find "the meaning of life"... we will spend hours… days… years... our complete life on earth... exploring and exploring... only to find out…

… life comes up short...

in all achievements... in all our searching… it only proves... “meaningless...”

ecclesiastes... asks the question on where to find self fulfillment... that which brings meaning? ... and raises the notion that perhaps nothing really brings complete rock solid "meaning"... after all, self fulfillment is a fleeting feeling after you accomplish something... it’s done… we’re left wondering… what’s next…

true fulfillment cannot be found in wealth… family… power… or religion... because all are temporary… fleeting…

what if we just abandon this quest persée... stop looking for "the meaning of life."

instead… live in the moment because… if we truly look realistically at life… at the normalcy of life... we will see that we find enjoyment and fulfillment in everything that God brings our way… we shall accept the challenges and difficulties as part of life's journey… life consists of… a time for everything...

... chapter 3 reminds us to accept the good with the bad... and know there is a time and purpose for everything under heaven…

“there is an appointed time for everything and there is a time for every event under heaven... a time to give birth, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot what is planted... a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build up... a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance... a time to throw stones, and a time to gather... a time to embrace, and a time not to... a time to search, and a time to give up as lost... a time to keep, and a time to throw away... a time to tear apart, and a time to put back together together; a time to be silent, and a time to speak... a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace...”

a time for everything...

"Without cancer, I never would have won a single Tour de France. Cancer taught me a plan for more purposeful living, and that in turn taught me how to train and to win more purposefully. It taught me that pain has a reason, and that sometimes the experience of losing things–whether health or a car or an old sense of self–has its own value in the scheme of life. Pain and loss are great enhancers." - l. armstrong

be still and know

be still and know... 47/90

what are we to do?

wisdom is gained in using wise words in the right situation... wise people become wise by recognizing the wisdom of a situation.

proverbs are not promises but, true values and generalizations... i.e. proverbs 22:6 “train a child in the way they should go, and when they are old they will not turn from it.” ... this is not a promise... but, a value... proverbs tell us how things tend to be, and how we can learn from this via ethics, etiquette and common sense...

wisdom puts everything in its place...

be still...

song to the siren

song to the siren... 45/90

... if i take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me...
ps 139:9

out of sight, out of mind

out of sight, out of mind... 40/90

… i am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: i am like a broken vessel… psalms 31:12…

humans disappoint us…

i am forgotten by love… befriended by selfish abandon… out of sight, out of mind… it’s hard to consider the notion that i be disregarded so easily because i don’t easily fit into their plans… how easily i am dismissed; now out of direct view… their conscious cleared; as my presence no longer filters their ego…

things come into focus… and reality reveals the inconvenient truth…

king david was distressed over the fact that no one seemed to be mindful of his plight, so he said that he felt like a “dead man out of mind.”

however, on the contrary… God never keeps us out of sight, out of mind… God… our constant companion…

God… our invariable perspective…

love wins.
jilly

knocking on heaven’s door

knocking on heaven’s door... 38/90

Job is distraught and questions his fate in deep-rooted discourse… knocking on heaven’s door... begrudging his place in life... questioning why God has brought him to such a place of hardship and heartache... all is lost in his eyes and he falls into a deep depression...

I understand job... as of late, i am job... i know of this loss… this loneliness… this feeling of abandonment… this horrible heartache... i too have been questioning why God has put me through such discourse...

job is knocking at death’s door... (job 38:17) and, God eventually asks job… “have the gates of death been shown to you... have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth?”

Job realizes he has spoke of things he does not understand... things beyond our human comprehension... and the fact that no plan of God’s can be thwarted...

God restored greatness and glory to job because of his faithfulness... greater blessings than he had before his trials and turmoil... a door of grace was opened to job and a path of love lay before him the rest of his years on earth...

we all have challenges and hardships... it is faith and God's grace we must acknowledge and rely on in these times of struggle... remembering that God does have a plan set in motion and we cannot simply give up at death's door by our own accord...

when we knock at heaven's door... the door will be opened...

... never, never, never, give up...

everything under God

everything under God… 29-35/90

… the Bible is a God focused perspective for us to learn, reflect on, question and find comfort in… it’s God’s role that is the most important work to note…

The book of Chronicles, goes beyond the doom… and, instead looks at patterns... the profits explains what God is up to and we learn that when kings are faithful, and people kept the law – God does wonderful things.

thus… the kingdom of God is not about a king – Chronicles takes this concept and show us how to think – spiritually, not politically. The kingdom of God has a spiritual element to it. Until we get the spiritual things straightened out, we cannot expect the political things to work in proper order. When God and the law are both in place, the community forms an identity and there is spiritual leadership. Chronicles exists to help us understand this spiritual aspect of God.

In te books of Ezra and Nehemiah – the emphasis is God showing how he was instrumental in restoring the people of Israel. After generations, God re-gathers them and provides a means for them to come back to the land… and although we were unfaithful… God’s faithfulness is revealed again. God’s people return and are given money to rebuild the temple… God works through Nehemiah’s prayers and leadership to bring people back. And no matter what choices people make… he takes them and folds them into his plans... God brings his control to accomplish his purposes... one love... one nation under God...

- j. marshon

light of darkness

light of darkness... 31/90

my life has recently been surrounded by dark clouds… in the aftermath of divorce, losing my very best friend, and trying to make a go at life on my own… all alone… it has been very dark this past year…

this past week… ive slowly begun to truly let go of the reigns… stop holding on so tight to something that is no longer mine… it has been very rainy and cold here in Michigan this week… a vast difference from one week ago when temperatures hovered in the 90s… Michigan is like that though… life is like that…

… but… this just makes adjusting to the day-to-day routines that much more difficult sometimes…

as I drove into work today… i heard this… solomon said, “the Lord has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud…” 2 chrnls 6:1

I have been living under and within this dark cloud… I want the sun to shine on me again… I know it will eventually… but, first the rain needs to fall… for everything has its natural place… and allotted time…

… I know in my heart that it is time to move on…

I’m reminded of how God is hovering over me… with me in this dark cloud… I know it is so he can be close to me… so he can easily reveal his light… so I can shine on… God's grace is revealed through the light that stems from the darkness… and, I know that it is only in this darkness, when my faith is tested, regained, reminded, rekindled, reinforced…

I am grateful for this understanding…

from everlasting to everlasting… he will never leave me… nor forsake me… for his is the light… his dwelling among us in the darkness of the clouds… he shines on…

love wins.

- j. marshon
http://biblein90summerdays.blogspot.com/

a house of cards

a house of cards… 24-28/90

In the books of kings… it is actually the kingship of God revealed as ruler of our world…

… he brings a king to the throne… David… to demonstrate what his god-like rule is reminiscent of... it is our God tho... who actually brings us order to the world.

… David was not always the kind of instrument he could have been… he was human and did some uncharacteristic things because he had the power to do so. However, this is not what God’s kingship is like, God does not abuse this power…

… God brought David victory and successes and David was instrumental bringing the arc of the covenant to a central place… the temple was built to provide God’s foothold on earth… it marks a designated place that represents God’s presence… the church… God brought about a dwelling place on earth… so as to all nation be blessed!

... following the reign of king David, things began to fall apart steadily... many failures of the predecessor kings included; abusive power, deteriorating values of God’s covenant and faithfulness, and laws were not being passed down or taught to keep God’s spirit and presence holy among people… there were misguided worship practices...

… Kings is written in a perspective of “what went wrong…” a demonstration of how the pattern of failure works against people if something does not change for the betterment... especially, when referencing worship and keeping the commands of our God so that humanity is in sync… the role of the profits is demonstrated in the books of Kings... their role was vital and quite interesting… the power given to kings often becomes distorted and bad (a common disorder of increased power and authority as noted throughout history)… it was the profits who worked to call the kings to accountability… they are the champions for God’s kingship.

note: “... the definition of insanity is: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” – albert einstein

... can you see… that most people fail to make “the leap” in life because they make the same mistakes over and over again and fail to correct them… the only way to make “that leap” is through faith… through God… to acknowledge God in all things... and that through God... all things are possible…

"the leap" then... is possible for anyone to take... through God!!! All things good and right and perfect… are right there for us to experience when we do everything in the Spirit of God... and only then... things become truly right... centered and One...

One love!

Love wins!!

jillY

well... who do you think you are... "the queen of sheba?"

25/90

well... who do you think you are?

“im the queen of sheba!” i would answer my sister upon being asked that question as a little girl... and then I would proceed to frolic around with a turban scarf draped gracefully around my head and shoulders… straight posture and uplifted chin… all in accordance with my pompous stance... i was in fact transported into the likeness of a queen; noble in character, beautiful, intelligent and self sufficient... qualities that i admire and continuously strive toward in my personal life… stil to this day...

I’ve always been enamored with the notion of the queen of sheba...

the story as relayed via biblical readings… goes as such…

… the queen of sheba (ethopia) heard of the great wisdom of king solomon of israel and journeyed there to test him with questions to see if the rumors were true… she gave solomon gold, large quantities of spices, and precious stones… interesting fact… that never again were so many spices brought in as those the queen of sheba gave to king solomon. (I love spices!!!) The queen was awed by Solomon's wisdom and wealth, and pronounced a blessing on Solomon's God… our God… the very same one and only God. Solomon reciprocated with gifts and "everything she desired," whereupon the queen returned to her country. The queen apparently was quite prosperous herself, and brought 4.5 tons of gold with her to give to Solomon. A LADY AFTER MY OWN HEART!!! :)

Interestingly… the biblical passages which refer explicitly to the Queen of Sheba imply no hint of love or attraction between her and solomon. The two are depicted merely as fellow monarchs professionally engaged in the affairs of state.

... on a side note... i have to wonder... was there a love connection??? I was interested in this... after all Solomon had an extreme amount of wives... and was quite a lady’s man… (in biblical times that is…)

the biblical text, song of solomon (Song of Songs – which is presumed to be written by king solomon), contains some references, which at various times, have been interpreted as referring to love between solomon and the queen of sheba…….. BUT the young woman depicted in song of songs, continuously denies the romantic advances of her suitor, whom many commentators identify as king solomon… In any case, there is little to identify the text with the rich and powerful foreign queen depicted in the Bible, Book of Kings. the woman of the text of the song clearly does regard "The Daughters of Jerusalem" as her peer group… of which was not queen of sheeba’s… as a song writer myself tho, there are instances where things are written to “protect the innocent.”...

... i have to say tho... "song of songs" is a lyrical poetry work of art... spilled from the ideals, fantasies and beauty of love in one's heart and mind... as a songwriter myself; i can understand these songwriting dramas and lyrical tactics...

... AGAIN tho... there is SOAP BOX DRAMA...

... Ethiopian tradition firmly asserts that King Solomon did seduce and impregnate his guest, and it provides a detailed story of how he went about it (google this on wikipedia if you want to read more) - a matter of considerable importance to Ethiopians - as their emperors traced their lineage to that union in a line, which but for one break of ca. 133 years eventually spanned circa 2900 years, through the kings of Kingdom of Axum, its Roman era (3rd century) name change to Ethiopia (documented in early Christian records, the 'Ethiopia' name showing up in the historical record from ca. AD 300 when Axum conquered the ancient kingdom of Kush, known through both Egyptian and Roman documents), and the eventual demise of Emperor Haile Selassie (deposed 1974) whose dynasty still survives, albeit out of power. Even the usurping dynasty was related, as the first jog through the distaff line (later there were others, presumably after the inheritance laws were updated) as the founding king of the [nation name or some other noun is missing here] was son-in-law of the last Axumite king, and the crown was returned to a "rightful" male line, called the Solomonic dynasty in ca. 1270 CE.)

DYNASTY… drama :)

LOVE WINS!
jillY

what dreams may come

© j. marshon

what dreams may come... 24/90

i believe in dreams... in the power of dreams... some dreams reveal things to us... while others scare us... and then there are even those that don't mean anything at all... dreams are powerful... they can give us insight... i believe angels can visit us in dreams... it is a spiritual realm unknown by us humans on earth... but the possibilities are limitless!

king solomon...

“... LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father david. but I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties... here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number... give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong... for who is able to govern this great people of yours?” ...

... the Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this... so God said to him, “since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice... i will do what you have asked... i will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be... moreover, i will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings... and if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did... i will give you a long life.”

Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream... he returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant and worshiped...

... God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore...

Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than anyone else known... and his fame spread to all the surrounding nations... He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five... He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls... He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish... From all nations people came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world...

... what dreams may come...
love wins!
jillY

... read about one of my amazing dreams...
http://jillmarshon.blogspot.com/2008/12/for-one-more-day.html

God among us

God among us... 15-21/90

week three... the literature is narrative, the Bible documents events in people’s lives. The stories about people are actually stories about “God.” God reveals himself to us so we can know him – he reveals himself and the faithfulness of his promise to give the Israelites their land. God brings them in, helps them concur the land so that God can dwell in this land. God is establishing his name there – his presence.

The battle stories are God’s victories. How he delivered on his promises.

In Joshua we learn of God’s great faithfulness to the people of Israel.

In Judges we learn of the unfaithfulness of the people to God.

When we find out what some of the leaders and people did – we witness their faithlessness. God’s faithfulness continues in the context of faithlessness of the people. People were worshiping other gods, they messed up, they struggled with their world view – everyone around them led them to think of other gods. They turned to other gods to try to resolve problems, a view they couldn’t overcome. We can see troubles in our behavior today like individualism selfishness, consumerism, we have difficulties rising above our native culture. This is what they were struggling with.

God reveals himself to Israel - All of the world is coming to know him. Leadership of the people is not up to par, and by end of Judges, people are only doing what they think is right in their own eyes; not God's will.

Where is the godliness?

Then there is Ruth! In the days of Judges, Ruth, who initially did not have any real knowledge of God, no law, just an average girl... said, "I go where you go," to Naomi in faithfulness to her. God recognized her faithfulness – and as a result of this God builds the line of David. We see the family path from Ruth to the father of David.

next destination...
... the City of David...

from generation to generation

from generation to generation... 13/90

God is God; the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him…

uncle sam wants YOU

uncle sam wants YOU... 11/90

moses and aaron began taking a census in the book of numbers... for each of the twelve israel divisions/tribes... all the men 20 years old or more, who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, one by one, according to the records of their clans and families...

there has always been war...
there will always be an army...
there is always a necessity of recruitment...

numbers...

atonement

atonement... 9/90

leviticus exists to provide instruction and laws to guide a sinful, yet redeemed life in relationship with God through personal holiness...

atonement of sins requires personal sacrifice on our behalf... respect, honor and application of God’s instructions for living a godly life among our ungodly hour...

... obedience in doing so awards integrity via personal, moral, and social living...

... we dare not be flippant in our attitudes toward sin or God’s loathing of it, nor should we make light of it in any way... but, know... with God... all things are possible... and through God, all sin washes away...

maktub!
jillY

stone temple tablets

stone temple tablets... 7/90

tablet one...

... do not worship any other god
... do not make any idols
... do not misuse the name of the LORD your God
... remember the Sabbath; keep it holy
... honor your father and your mother

tablet two...

... do not murder
... do not commit adultery
... do not steal
... do not give false testimony
... do not envy

... when moses came down from mount sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, his face was radiant because he had spoken with God... radiant!!!

... radiant love!!!

love wins!
jillY

thanksgiving b.c.

thanksgiving b.c. … 5/90

After finishing my trip through exodus, i realized something new… God actually commenced thanksgiving… that which the first American Pilgrim Thanksgiving was based on... the Feast of Tabernacles. (Exodus 23:16)

The Bible is after all, the blueprint of our world… the ultimate instructions manual… right? ... thus the Feast of In gathering was held at the end of the year when the crops were gathered from the field and at which time the Israelites showed their thankfulness for their harvest and all that God had done for them.

I give thanks to God because he continually opens my eyes, heart, and ears to what he is communicating… needing me to hear… and he has always done this… I am certain that everything links back to the beginning of time… back to the origins of the Bible… the blueprint of the living path… how wonderful!

p.s. the first sanctuary… required yarn of blue, purple and scarlet… my favorite colors… this does not surprise me at all… :)* and… fyi… the first sanctuary offerings included gold, silver and bronze… a first “tabernacle” … a first “place of honoring - God” … think about this… how is it we honor our most talented athletes… on an alter with medals of gold, silver and bronze… :)*

thanks be to God who gives us the glory...

Love wins.
jillY

the red door

the red door... 4/90

passover is a holy day and festival commemorating the Israelites escape from enslavement in Egypt... begins on the 15th day of the month of march and april...

in exodus, the god inflicted 10 plagues upon the egyptians before pharaoh would release his israelite slaves... the 10th plague being the killing of firstborn sons. Israelites marked the doors of their homes with the blood of a spring lamb so God, upon seeing this, passed over the homes in deliverance.

this was the final plague that urged pharaoh to free the Israelites... they left in such a hurry that they could not wait for bread to be made... in commemoration, for the duration of passover, no leavened bread is eaten, for which reason it is called "The Festival of the Unleavened (Matza) Bread."

God protected the Israelites even after pharaoh decided to go after them one final time following their release... this led to the parting of the red sea which God swallowed up pharaoh and his armies... pharaoh tried to go up against God... this is just not possible... as we all know...

one note thought in my readings/listenings... i cant believe after all of the protection and miracles clearly anointed via Moses and Aaron by God... how much complaining went on by the Israelites following all those days and inflictions on the Egyptians... boy oh boy... no wonder the rules came down on them!!! (Commandments!) i would have yelled at them all too... :)*

Love wins!
jillY

genesis in review

genesis in review... 3/90 (just my 2cents...)

adam and eve… we all know what eve did… befriended the serpent and got a conscious… bummer! … the girl gets the guy to go along… yeup! Drama!!! That is how we came to be intertwined and aware of good and evil… there is an angel that protects the tree of life… have you any idea what I am talking about???

Adam and Eve had two sons, Cain and Abel, the first a farmer, the second a shepherd. Cain murdered Abel… God cursed Cain a wanderer on the earth. Seth was born in lieu of Abel. The generations of Adam bring forth Noah. The family tree ends with the birth of Noah's sons, from whom all human kind descends.

God sets the days of man at 120 years… Noah "a righteous man, blameless in his generation," builds an Ark as God requested him to… and took his family and representatives of all animals… God destroys world with Flood… God promises promising never again to destroy mankind in this way. 70 generations of the descendants of Noah are named, "and from these the nations spread abroad on the earth after the flood."

Men decide to build "a tower with its top in the heavens"… God fears the ambition of mankind: and thus confuses the language in the city of Babel … scattering mankind over the face of the earth…

Abraham married Sarah who gave birth to Isaac in her old age…God tested Abraham by commanding that he sacrifice Isaac. Abraham obeys; but, as he is about to lay the knife upon his son, God restrains him, promising him numberless descendants. On the death of Sarah, Abraham purchases Machpelah for a family tomb and sends his servant to Mesopotamia, Nahor's home, to find among his relations a wife for Isaac; and Rebekah, Nahor's granddaughter, is chosen. (there is a cute story here about water, etc… it is sweet… )

Isaac's wife Rebekah is barren, but Isaac prays to God, and she gives birth to the twins Esau, and Jacob. Jacob deceives his father Isaac and obtains the blessing of prosperity by pretending to be his brother Esau (the first born)… the blessing should have been Esau's.

Fearing Esau's anger Jacob flees to Haran, the home of his mother's brother Laban. Jacob hires himself to Laban on condition that, after having served for seven years as a herdsman, he shall marry the younger daughter, Rachel, with whom he is in love. At the end of this period Laban gives him the elder daughter, Leah, explaining that it is the custom to marry the elder before the younger. Jacob does get to marry Rachel at the same time, but to be allowed to leave with her he must serve another seven years. During the next seven years, he has sons by his two wives and their two handmaidens, the ancestors of the tribes of Israel. Jacob then works another seven years, deceiving Laban to increase his flocks at his uncle's expense, and gains great wealth in sheep, goats, camels, donkeys and slave-girls.

Jacob flees with his family and flocks from Laban... Rachel gives birth to Joseph and dies giving birth to her second born son of Jacob, Benjamin. Laban pursues and catches him, but God warns Laban not to harm Jacob, and they are reconciled. On approaching his home he is in fear of Esau, to whom he sends presents under the care of his servants, and then sends his wives and children away. "And Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day… Neither Jacob nor the stranger can prevail, but the man touches Jacob and pleads to be released before daybreak, but Jacob refuses to release the being until he agrees to give a blessing; the stranger then announces to Jacob that he shall bear the name "Israel", "for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed." … he was freed… he encountered God in person!

The meeting with Esau is good and the brothers reconcile instead of fight over the betrayal years prior: "to see your face is like seeing the face of God," is how Esau greeted Jacob!!! (LOVE WINS!)

Jacob makes a coat of many colours (yeup, the technicolor dreamcoat!!!) for his favorite son, Joseph. Joseph's jealous brothers sell him to some Ishmaelites and show Jacob the coat, dipped in goat's blood, as proof that Joseph is dead. Meanwhile the Midianites sell Joseph to Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh's guard, but Potiphar's wife, unable to seduce Joseph, accuses him falsely, and he is cast into prison. Here he correctly interprets the dreams of two of his fellow prisoners, the king's butler and baker. Joseph next interprets the dream of Pharaoh, of seven fat cattle and seven lean cattle, as meaning seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine, and advises Pharaoh to store grain during the good years. He is appointed second in the kingdom, and, in the ensuing famine, "all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth."

Jacob sends his sons to Egypt to buy grain. The brothers appear before Joseph, who recognizes them but does not reveal himself. After having proved them on this and on a second journey, and they having shown themselves so fearful and penitent that Judah even offers himself as a slave, so save the life of Benjamin and the brothers, Joseph reveals his identity, forgives his brothers the wrong they did him (LOVE WINS again!), and he promises to settle in Egypt both them and his father Jacob brings his whole family to Egypt, where Pharaoh assigns to them the land of Goshen Jacob receives Joseph's sons Ephraim and Manasseh among his own sons, then calls his sons to his bedside and reveals their future to them. Jacob dies and is interred in the family tomb at Machpelah... Joseph lives to see his great-grandchildren.(there is way more to the story of Joseph and Benjamin and the brothers... very much worth reading/listening to in its entirety)... :)

whew... that's genesis...

drama!!! and this is just a quick recap... i recommend u hear the complete book urself... check out "inspired by: the bible experience" it is AWESOME! just great!!!

Love wins!!!
jillY

biblical soap opera digest

biblical soap opera digest... 2/90

i went immediately to sleep upon arriving home from work yesterday due to my own personal life drama... and as if i didnt have enough drama in my life... this section of the bible proves that there has always been 'drama' in our lives... thankfully, it is only GOD who can help us through such drama...

(i scratch my head...)

um… abraham and sarah… spawn 'those' children in the mix... and then... isaac and rebekah… a sweet love story... who drama certainly finds tho... further formulated with entangled twins jacob and esau… and then… the drama just continues and continues… w/jacob and rachel… good grief that boi had to work himself into the ground for that woman...

yeup, so much drama for the OLD testament!!! gen 21 – 31… i highly recommend it... hehehe... either way it is keeping my mind preoccupied... THANK GOD!!!

with even more drama to follow as jacob and easu meet up again… to be continued...

if you've ever wondered where drama originates... take a listen to this chapter!!! and... this is ONLY DAY 2!!!

hehehe...

Love wins.
:) jillY

building a mystery

today i began "the Bible in 90 days" summer challenge... i am going to be listening to the Bible en route to and from work... i am listening to the audio Bible called: "inspired by: the bible experience." i have to just say tho... wow! impressive... day 1 and i am really amazed at how cool the sounds and voices are! just fantastic...

... this is day 1/90 as i start the mysterious spiritual journey to tackle the bible in 90 days... last time i did this it was winter and pretty dull... i was more confused than enlightened by making my way through the pages... grew more cynical than certain... and had lots of questions... it challenged my faith a lot... soooooooooooo anyway... im beginning this next road trip because the bus has stopped... and... since i cant get off... i may as well as fill the time... time to turn things around...

it was raining cats and dogs this morning as i traveled to work... this indeed made the whole Noah's Arc story very interesting... to say the least... here i am trying to dodge large rain puddles on the highway while squinting around my windshield wipers to drive... all around me are the incredible sounds of a large storm brewing and gaining intensity... pretty good timing! :)

i work near the grand rapids, mi airport... the area here is fairly high and overlooks a lot of beautiful land, trees and skyline... i love to see the clouds appear beyond the lake michigan horizon... it is beautiful...

this morning as i made my way off the highway... the clouds opened up in a dramatic bright beautiful pattern... the story of God's promise seemed quite relevant...

it is this very same spot on the highway and exit that i have witnessed multiple rainbows, and felt the hand of God amidst the morning sunshine cradling my face through the window...

as i sat at the stop light... i witnessed the sunshine begin to peer through the puffy rain filled clouds... brilliant rays extended around me...

Love wins.
jillY