tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64422717707321622322024-02-08T09:16:05.286-08:00Watching in PrayerDavid Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588388548361343120noreply@blogger.comBlogger357125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442271770732162232.post-65732953310659790952023-02-01T12:34:00.001-08:002023-02-01T12:34:11.035-08:00 The Miracle of Love<p> </p><span id="docs-internal-guid-325b4c75-7fff-d05c-0604-516469473970"><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 79px; overflow: hidden; width: 141px;"><img height="79" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/r2EbyeXX6bpwVFgoyGN352JH-tqXDEGxPMpzJPqYM0xTsnWz5UeeddIBCkOJUcx2zx7NuoFsOJQ6xjyCF4bPNLFrSRmCeygBRK1q44v1B9vFdxPJz8HnTBnCZrXcqUDkeN0ZM1shj-UwZSJSa7BofQc" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="141" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What we have here is one of the stories from the book </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CONTEMPLATING THE GOSPEL OF JOHN,</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; 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="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The two men walked along the road by the sea on their way from Smyrna to Pergamum. The older man’s step was quite as spry as the younger. The elder was Jewish. The younger man was obviously Greek. Despite the differences in their backgrounds and ages, they carried on a lively conversation as they walked. John often used their travels to plant his life and all that he knew of Jesus into the life of Polycarp. As they walked, Polycarp asked a favorite question. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What was the greatest miracle our Lord ever performed on this earth?”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John answered, “As much as I have enjoyed speculating about this question of yours, I have always thought there was something wrong with whatever answer I gave. I have come to believe that none of His miracles can be seen separately. His whole life was miraculous. He is the Son of God. His godliness is at the heart of everything He did.” They were both silent while Polycarp digested what John had said. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He then asked, “How did he express His godliness most often?”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“By His love,” John said with hardly a pause. “Everything he did was love.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Polycarp said, “I have sometimes heard you speak of yourself as ‘The disciple that Jesus loved.’ But didn’t Jesus love all of His disciples? He loves every one of us.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Yes,” John said. “I sometimes think He especially loved me. All of us must have thought that from time to time. His love is overwhelming. I describe myself that way to give attention to the love of Jesus and keep myself anonymous. His love in our lives is the most important thing about us.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Polycarp said, “I don’t think anyone in Asia, outside of our churches, would relate godliness to love. Some might try to demonstrate devotion by emotional or sexual excesses. The stoics would think of strict behavior.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Yes,” John said, “and even though our ancient Scriptures overflow with the love of God, the Pharisees, the strictest Jewish practitioners, never seemed to teach anything about it, except in an abstract way. Jesus lived out His love. The love of Jesus was more striking and more powerful than any other sign that He gave us.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Tell me one of the ways Jesus expressed His godly nature in love.” At this point, they came to a busier road that left the seaside for some distance. They were silent as they came out onto the high road, negotiating with the crowds and wagons, even livestock being driven to market. As they found their place in the rhythm of traffic, John began to give an answer. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“On the night that Jesus was betrayed, we gathered for that last Passover meal. You know what the Passover feast is, don’t you.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Yes,” Polycarp said. “I have heard you describe the feast, and even its beginnings in your history.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Well, as we gathered for the meal, Jesus rose and laid aside His clothes. He wrapped a towel around His waist and began to wash our feet, drying them with the towel.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Really? Jesus himself dressed as a slave and washed your feet? That is amazing. It is almost as if He were saying He was not the Master.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“My son, in His love, Jesus humbled Himself before each of us. He knew He had come from God and was preparing to return to him. We could not always see it, but His humble love accentuated His majesty. Simon Peter tried to stop Jesus from washing his feet. Jesus said, ‘Simon, if I do not wash you, you have no part in me.’ In His love, Jesus cleansed us from our sins. In His love, He forgives and transforms us. By regular forgiveness, He cleanses us day by day. Jesus taught us amazing lessons by His love. And I think the greatest miracle of His love is producing it in us. When he finished washing our feet, Jesus took back His clothes and asked, ‘Do you understand what I have done?’ He said, ‘You call me Teacher and Lord and you are right. If I then, your Teacher and Lord, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet.’”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Polycarp blurted out, “Did He mean that literally?”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Possibly,” John answered. “But He meant far more than that. Jesus gave us an example of love that humbles us before each other.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“But Jesus did that knowing He was the Son of God. How can we do it?”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John said, “We know that Jesus came from His Father and returned to His Father’s arms. We know that in Him we too are loved by God. Whether or not we are among those who live until Jesus returns, we will soon go to His Father’s embrace.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Jesus was teaching us to serve others in the power of His love. He showed us His forgiveness and gave us the power to forgive those who wrong us. Jesus told Peter that we only needed our feet washed because we were already clean. Then He said, ‘But not all of you are clean.’ He knew Judas was going to betray him that night. In is love, Jesus washed the feet of His betrayer. We too can grow to love our enemies. This kind of love can only be reproduced in those of us who know Jesus.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Polycarp said, “I have heard you say that before. And I don’t understand what Jesus meant. Was He saying He only choses those who are willing to love our enemies?” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John answered, “Jesus said we were chosen before the foundation of the world. Loving others like Jesus is His gift to us. Of course, God knew before the foundation of the world who would receive His love. But that is more than Jesus explained when He said He knew whom He had chosen. I believe it is more complicated and certainly less deserved than that. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus gave us one final command to love one another. ‘A new commandment I give you, to love as I have loved you.’ This is how people will know that we are His disciples.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Polycarp said, “That is certainly true. I heard a man in Ephesus telling other people about us. Frankly, he misrepresented almost everything we believe. But he ended by saying, ‘And look how much they love one another.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This story is drawn from John 13</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lord Jesus, we belong to you. Reproduce your supernatural love in us.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.</span></a><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Website</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://daveswatch.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://daveswatch.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YouTube</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://goo.gl/PyzUz7" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://goo.gl/PyzU</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B008C7VLAQ?_encoding=UTF8&node=2656022011&offset=0&pageSize=12&searchAlias=stripbooks&sort=author-sidecar-rank&page=1&langFilter=default#formatSelectorHeader" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon Author Central</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> page.</span></p><br /></span>David Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588388548361343120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442271770732162232.post-34272113073432927282023-01-24T12:37:00.004-08:002023-01-24T12:37:47.894-08:00My book is out!<p style="text-align: center;"> <img height="151" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/7YhW8gGexu4Nj36CLgw3o4E-n5kxpFupIKqGkuC-cRDdhu_qqp3MNq2VESdamYVkUQ5JtfDxWPRf9N2ykHPNxEm6eyzl-BHZOpbtrR9Yt9-6wzUHKE1e0K0kFYkb6qJkUjh3S1Xozn73HGeCxvH40zfsT8Gco8WMIeeP-8q__XILEy1M2-unBOSXhwrsiA" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" width="100" /></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-f76a4632-7fff-d061-c1b3-d021f0103b40"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 8pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Off and on for months I have posted poems from the book that help us gain insight into The Gospel of John. Last week I posted a word study from John Chapter 1. Again this week I am sharing a word study. Next, I will post a short short story with the same purpose. I pray that God will bless you as I give tastes of John’s Gospel in my blog posts.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Only Begotten</span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Only Begotten, ὁ μονογενὴς, </span><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">monogenes</span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and we have seen his glory, glory as of </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the only Son </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">from the Father, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">full of grace and truth.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John 1:14</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“No one has ever seen God; </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the only God</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, who is at the Father's side, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">he has made him known.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John 1:18</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The word translated “the only son” in verse 14 and “the only God” in verse 18 is the word “only begotten.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is a sense in which this translation as well as the N.I.V., and others is more nearly accurate. The word means unique or incomparable. The K.J.V used “only begotten.” and the N.A.S.B.1995 brought it back with the rather stirring translation,</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“No one has seen God at any time; </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the only begotten God</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John 1:18</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Neither Matthew nor Mark use this word. Luke uses it for an only child, like the only son of the woman whom Jesus raised in Luke 7:12. The English word begotten refers to birth, but </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">monogenes</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> refers to derivation and relationship. The last part of the word comes from “</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">genos</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” which means race or family.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John reserves this word “</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">monogenes</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” for Jesus alone. With it he is saying that Jesus alone derives from the Father. Jesus did not become the only begotten son by His birth. John does not refer to the birth of Jesus at all. Jesus is eternally in the bosom or intimate relationship with the Father. He is the eternal Son of the Living God. Possibly the best expression of this word is in John 3:16. I put this word study with John chapter 1, because this word is crucial to John's entire presentation of Jesus as the exact representation (Hebrews 1:3) of God on earth. As Isaiah prophesied, He is “God with us” (Matthew 1:23).</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 19pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here is where you can access the book, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 19pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CONTEMPLATING THE GOSPEL OF JOHN</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/CONTEMPLATING-GOSPEL-JOHN-David-Young/dp/B0BST5M16K/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-size: 7pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.amazon.com/CONTEMPLATING-GOSPEL-JOHN-David-Young/dp/B0BST5M16K/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The easiest way to access other books I have written is through my Amazon Authors page</span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B008C7VLAQ?_encoding=UTF8&node=2656022011&offset=0&pageSize=12&searchAlias=stripbooks&sort=author-sidecar-rank&page=1&langFilter=default#formatSelectorHeader" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon Author Central</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></p><br /><span style="font-family: Pacifico, cursive; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Da</span><span style="font-family: Pacifico, cursive; font-size: 19pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">vid Young</span></span>David Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588388548361343120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442271770732162232.post-35381413100768059462023-01-17T15:04:00.002-08:002023-01-17T15:04:30.595-08:00THE WORD<p> </p><span id="docs-internal-guid-548376aa-7fff-fddc-2efe-873698066709"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 150px; overflow: hidden; width: 100px;"><img height="150" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/0Ezo9Z4ESAKaX0iona1llBgB4DIXG3bZfhFHXq9hfgMAcGaNQYTsyBZV_CbtOS6Gfmin96JvaOcmXbYzbtF8oS5mcmMF6sFY5FftUOx5shwmrDObJQ4OzmNjlR3P3bf2jmMm5aoYDy2YxMlIX9c_YMWvSJ8cUUEti9cWhJ7mhSBYCeVwx4LmFT1m2Hg7Xg" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="100" /></span></span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John 1:1</span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and the Word was God.”</span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Word, ὁ λόγος, the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Logos</span></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John clearly refers to the first sentence in Genesis as he says, “In the beginning.” With this verse Oxford mathematician John Lennox gives a wonderful explanation of a word or information driven universe. I recommend any of his writings or YouTube videos.</span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The ancient Greek philosophers used the word </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">logos </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">for the reason or principle that holds all things together. Philo of Alexandria, while a Greek philosopher in the tradition of Plato, was also an orthodox Jew. He actually wrote of the Logos as if it were a person or even the divine intermediary.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John used this term for Jesus, who is the Word of God. He is the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9).</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In his essay, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why I Am Not A Christian</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, Bertram Russel dealt with the need for the universe to have a creator or prime mover. And he asked the question, “Who created God.” It did not seem to occur to him that his question did not solve the problem. It simply raised the question of whether the cosmos was formed by uncreated matter and energy or an uncreated intelligence, God. </span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John 1:14</span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”</span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John 1:18</span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“No one has ever seen God, the only God, who is at the Father's side, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">he has made him known.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is the first of the word studies in the book, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Contemplating The Gospel of John</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, that I am preparing to publish. The book has word studies, poems, and short stories highlighting each chapter of the Gospel of John.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.</span></a><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Website</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://daveswatch.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://daveswatch.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YouTube</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://goo.gl/PyzUz7" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://goo.gl/PyzU</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B008C7VLAQ?_encoding=UTF8&node=2656022011&offset=0&pageSize=12&searchAlias=stripbooks&sort=author-sidecar-rank&page=1&langFilter=default#formatSelectorHeader" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon Author Central</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> page.</span></p><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>David Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588388548361343120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442271770732162232.post-89738034419886050692023-01-10T15:06:00.002-08:002023-01-10T15:06:31.104-08:00Are You Able To See?<p style="text-align: center;"> <img height="115" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/goT3q5VS8OF6J4rPqlt7I8Y28zG_WtvbvtdtpxGaldANez32JMycYLIeo9DEoE9rhocySTdeuR8DO_ppbGFwbdEKVUcW9Lus8VcFTllw0oh44I2xNAifGqk_FCkWXShdRuOi2ODc73oBGK1rXxhVxEvE1hhI8pX0sv33g7jLmWDYva6Ghd1YM3RSHUYIYQ" style="font-size: 11pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;" width="115" /></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-470e84bb-7fff-fa27-955b-ca64dc913366"><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="color: #434343; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our visit to Sychar was as amazing to us as it was to the Samaritans. We had always been taught that they were unclean. And at least James and I had reason to fear them. I won’t go into that now. But Jesus marched us into Samaria as bold as you please. We stopped at the ancient well of Jacob. Jesus rested by the well and sent the rest of us to the nearby town of Sychar to buy food. I wondered if it was safe to leave Jesus alone, but we thought no one would come to the well in the hottest part of the day. To be honest, we felt it would be safer if we went with a larger group into town.</span></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #434343; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When we returned, Jesus was talking with a woman. None of us dared ask Him what He needed, or why He was talking to a Samaritan woman. Whatever they were talking about seemed to upset her. She left her water jar and ran off toward town.</span></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #434343; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When she was gone, we urged Jesus to eat, but He refused. We were wondering if He could have found something to eat while we were gone. He said His food was to do His Father's will. We divided what we had purchased among ourselves and sat down to eat. As we were finishing, Jesus said, “Don't you have a saying, ‘Four more months, and then the harvest?’ Lift your eyes and see. The fields are white for harvest.” We automatically looked up and saw hundreds of people coming from the town. And their robes were the color of a ripe wheat field. </span></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #434343; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Evidently on the word of the woman He had been talking to, many of them believed Jesus was the Christ. They asked Him to stay. We stayed there two more days, and in that short time, hundreds of Samaritans came to believe that Jesus was the Savior of the world.</span></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #434343; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As we went on from there, Jesus reminded us of something He had said earlier. “A prophet has no honor in his own country.” But as we came back into Galilee, the people received Him after all. They had been to the Passover in Jerusalem and had seen the amazing signs that Jesus did there. We went first to Cana where He had turned the water into wine at the wedding feast.</span></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #434343; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One morning when He rose early to go out and pray, we roused ourselves and went out with Him. It was getting light in the east when He rose from prayer and began to talk to us.</span></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #434343; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Why do you think I have been received here in Galilee where they tried to stone me earlier?” We talked about it among ourselves. It seemed obvious to us that it was because they had seen Him perform signs and wonders at the Passover. </span></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #434343; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then He asked us, “Why then did the Samaritans put their faith in me? Had they been to Jerusalem as well?” We chuckled at this. There is no way Samaritans had been to the Passover. He continued, “There is danger for people to only believe because they see miracles.”</span></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #434343; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Simon argued a little with this. “Master, I believed because I saw you fill our nets with an impossibly large catch of fish.”</span></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #434343; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus said, “Was that your only reason, Simon? Had your heart not already been convicted by some of my teachings?” Simon ducked his head. “I knew that you would believe, Simon, when you saw the miracle. But there is a danger of people who see signs and wonders believing against their will. They are not repenting. They don’t want to follow me. But they know that I have to be the Christ to have done such signs.”</span></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #434343; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My brother James said, “Then why do you perform signs and wonders?”</span></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #434343; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“My father gives these signs so people will know that I am indeed the Christ. I have given you authority to do some of the same works that I do. And as the gospel spreads to the ends of the earth, He will often do such miracles so people who will come to me will know that I am the Savior of the world. But those who only believe because they see signs, will search hard for some explanation that will not require them to continue to believe in me. Some would only believe if they saw a miracle every day.”</span></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #434343; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Just then the sun peeked over the mountains and shone down on us. We could not help but turn and look at the glorious sunrise. </span></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #434343; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus said, “Is that not a wonderful sign? Only my father could set the sun in the sky or create the stars you see at night.”</span></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #434343; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thomas said, “That is not a miracle. It happens every day.”</span></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #434343; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus answered, “And if people saw signs and wonders every day, they would begin to say, that’s not a miracle. It happens all the time.”</span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This story is drawn from John 4.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Father, draw our hearts to trust in You.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This story is part of a book I am working on titled </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CONTEMPLATING THE GOSPEL</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. In it, I go highlight each chapter of The Gospel of John with word studies, poems and vignettes like this. These are too short to be “Short Stories,” but they bring forth the truth of the passages.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the past months I have posted some of the poems used in the book. In the next few weeks I will post some of these stories and some of the crucial word studies. I pray they will open your heart to the truth of the gospel.</span></p><div><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>David Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588388548361343120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442271770732162232.post-40077966050691012362023-01-06T11:46:00.000-08:002023-01-06T11:46:02.415-08:00HITLER'S FAVORITE KIND OF PREACHER <div class="separator"><p style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"> <img height="73" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Sd1OM-Ii2QWO53xXomJa3U1izXCnL-7XyegZj4YQCOBammEHrnfd0hmnOE8Z4YKq132RFSAmfSg8zGyD3XK0MbrcgytCixDfxT8EJcMgaxIGH8HzpOZTKngShfqPeKRUd4DT14Pe_W9i2bTpvKgGV3ye6rAVoLHpwYrRx78bVwrO2ApJ5KQYDrwklX5QPA" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" width="73" /></p></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-93b907a5-7fff-7578-0622-a20892309fbd"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The headline of a recent YouTube interview of Eric Metaxis by Seth Gruber read, </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“WHAT IF ANDY STANLEY, RICK WARREN, AND TIM KILLER WERE HITLER'S FAVORITE KIND OF PREACHERS?”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This interview was about Eric's latest book, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Letter To The American Church</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The reason for the statement was that these preachers have focused their preaching on the Gospel rather than politics. In the interview, they talked about Martin Niemoller telling Hitler he was concerned about The Third Reich, and Hitler saying “You take care of your church, I will take care of The Third Reich.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I need to object to the headline of this interview on two points. First, it is only partly true. And it is not entirely relevant. I also listened to a sermon Eric preached at Second Baptist Church of Huston on the same subject. I need to say that it struck me for Eric to say that he had a strong sense that God was telling him to write this book. I do not take that lightly or cynically. I have a great deal of respect for Eric Metaxis. And for him to say that, gives me pause. The message was that We are in the same place as the German church in the 1930s. And we had better wake up. I certainly agree with the crux of Eric's message.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But let me defend my responses to the headline of the interview. The statement is only partly true. When we speak of preaching the gospel, we are talking about evangelizing. These men and others of similar heart are trying to reach their cities. Starting churches, evangelizing neighborhoods. They are not simply preaching to the people inside their doors.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And it is not relevant because what Hitler would have liked is not as important as what God wants. God has called us to preach the gospel because no politics will ever be as effective in changing society as the gospel of Jesus Christ.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I agree that the American Church needs to wake up. We have gone to sleep on the threshold of the destruction of our nation. I pray that it is not too late for us to wake up. We must repent of our careless mindset. We need to pray as we have never prayed. I pray that we will stand against ungodly politics and godless attitudes in society. And I pray that we will preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ as never before.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.</span></a><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Website</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://daveswatch.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://daveswatch.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YouTube</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://goo.gl/PyzUz7" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://goo.gl/PyzU</span></a></p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B008C7VLAQ?_encoding=UTF8&node=2656022011&offset=0&pageSize=12&searchAlias=stripbooks&sort=author-sidecar-rank&page=1&langFilter=default#formatSelectorHeader" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon Author Central</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> page.</span></span>David Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588388548361343120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442271770732162232.post-4852498344938195452022-12-28T10:09:00.003-08:002022-12-28T10:18:38.191-08:00 ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE CHRISTMAS STORY FROM THE GOSPEL OF JOHN?<span id="docs-internal-guid-99806840-7fff-909c-3f16-bc6b4219a4d7"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-1931a02a-7fff-36eb-2fdb-f592f270197f"><span style="font-family: Pacifico, cursive; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 105px; overflow: hidden; width: 105px;"><img height="105" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/yRCuEDrpQaOpENVMVSkVhDo18CwIL13cCvYFQqZuCCAUVTgA6mIoe0aad3j-_2JofSzN6i4nxLmfv_hY9qpDICM7RT3qDP3UvmBbJFDoDsf9HN25ZHNLQqs2e0RRPu3fd1n1IxK5E0TxisPtWxJX9xXGKjyaHMkJ7xsuAHggHvuWjsi5JCbirBb-Gvoo7g" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="105" /></span></span></span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt; text-align: center;"><span class="text John-1-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: 400; text-align: start;">In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: 400; text-align: start;"> </span></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Word</span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the beginning, from before the beginning</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There was God—the Father, Son and Holy Spirit,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In perfect union, eternal love communing.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He spoke His grace before there were ears to hear it.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He sent His Son, the Word from all eternity,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The fullness of the God-head in maternity.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God spoke the light. He spoke the truth. He spoke Himself.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He spoke the whirling spheres and vast expanse to be.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He spoke the skies and seas and earth with all its wealth.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He formed the world and all in it that lives and breathes.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every molecule knows the wisdom of His heart,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The plants and living creatures bear His mark.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He spoke His Son. He spoke to men. He spoke to me.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For in His time the Holy One to earth has come.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And in His great love He spoke the cross eternally.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">From the beginning was His plan, His grace, His Son.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The wonder of His love the world has seen and heard,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As God declared, “In the beginning was the Word.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; 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: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-277c1240-7fff-1651-087d-b9ec5de5a663" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Website</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://daveswatch.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">http://daveswatch.com/</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">YouTube</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://goo.gl/PyzUz7" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: #eeeeee; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">https://goo.gl/PyzU</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B008C7VLAQ?_encoding=UTF8&node=2656022011&offset=0&pageSize=12&searchAlias=stripbooks&sort=author-sidecar-rank&page=1&langFilter=default#formatSelectorHeader" style="text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon Author Central</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> page.</span></p><br /></span>David Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588388548361343120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442271770732162232.post-48196017589299696702022-12-21T11:45:00.004-08:002022-12-21T11:45:59.578-08:00 SLEEPING WITH OUR FATHERS<span id="docs-internal-guid-c1d6de98-7fff-6207-9cd8-10ee2d8369e0"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 165px; overflow: hidden; width: 93px;"><img height="165" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/oRzrcDnY6FL_n6avOSP3EKnMkAdi4oqBPpHb3NLmsBI3H1MnRsbzSgk21b_LqgkBa5KtQN_YVYcmY2g7EktgJVqhNS9naeg7Drakmqqk0f4EiJB4yqTCi0OMrFT8cuhucnJJm9JlCaQp-GYgbRTGqL-3rs9HD72I9VfRVOVJJBTs4SC0cx3JRX2d5POTJg" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="93" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is an appropriate week to come to the conclusion of Jacob’s blessing to his children in Genesis 49.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I am to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, in the cave that is in the field at Machpelah. There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I buried Leah. When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew up his feet into the bed and breathed his last and was gathered to his people.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was particularly stirred Sunday morning as we sang, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“O come O come Emmanuel, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And ransom captive Israel,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That mourns in lonely exile here, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Until the Son of God appear.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Like Israel, we are all subject to death. In Acts 13 we are assured that David died. And like Isaac, he was laid with his fathers.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption,”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Acts 13:36</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All of us will sleep with those who went before us. This week we celebrate the coming of Jesus who also came to die. But He died in our place. His death brought the promise of resurrection. Another verse of the hymn cries.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“O come, Thou Dayspring from on high,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And death’s dark shadows put to flight.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shall come to thee, O Israel.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.</span></a><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Website</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://daveswatch.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://daveswatch.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YouTube</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://goo.gl/PyzUz7" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://goo.gl/PyzU</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B008C7VLAQ?_encoding=UTF8&node=2656022011&offset=0&pageSize=12&searchAlias=stripbooks&sort=author-sidecar-rank&page=1&langFilter=default#formatSelectorHeader" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon Author Central</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> page.</span></p><br /><br /><br /></span>David Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588388548361343120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442271770732162232.post-957014339158149612022-12-13T15:52:00.006-08:002022-12-13T15:52:48.106-08:00HANDWRITING IN THE DIRT<div class="separator"><p style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"> <img height="104" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/8XfPniYOSEoEKWZInN6_bt_4ySq6WNdSQJhtO329fJ4H_oRGxWroFFhqke-CxfFQw9A9eHIcgEOxZRH4URHud9aD0uNF-1WMtYlZ2VewE_QAbV-9_ok_-E88ziSwZh6SFdDgklOO2we2qQZDBFZrqymZ5AFS13goQcVSFcdCQxU2Mm_xs1UCKYIpfmaRQg" style="font-size: 11pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" width="78" /></p></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-c883bcd2-7fff-0616-e6bd-2a343e8e9671"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John 8:3 & 4</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and placing her in the midst they said to him, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery.” </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> WRITING IN THE DIRT</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“This woman,” they proclaimed, “was caught in adultery!”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We know she is guilty; caught in the act!”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dumped in a heap of her ignominy,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The measure of her sin a proven fact.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus knelt in their presence and began to write,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Flagrantly ignoring their demands and rights.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They had burst forth displaying their arrogance.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By religiosity they were in control.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They staged this challenge as a public performance,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Grinning behind their hands to watch the play unfold.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His ignoring response they could hardly abide.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He scratched his finger in the dirt of their pride.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They’d planned this event gathering rocks in their hands.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Such a sinful woman would be the perfect tool.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They would trick Him into taking a stand, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Catch Him in compassion and prove Him a fool.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But kneeling to the ground He scribbled at their feet.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Writing something down in the dirt of their deceit.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They waited on one foot and then on the other.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What was He doing? What was He writing?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Puzzled, they glanced back and forth at one another,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rolling their eyes, their frustrations biting.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He was stretching every nerve of their irritations,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Writing in the dirt of their impatience.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But they turned away from eldest to the youngest</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When He said, “Let him without sin cast first.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The oldest in their shame may be wisest among us.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Men who are seasoned can know themselves worst.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Kneeling down to write, He had them from the start.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Writing in the dirt of their own convicting hearts.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He stood with the woman whose devotion He’d drawn.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Where are those casting stones in condemnation?”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“None of them is left, Lord. All of them are gone.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Then, sin no more in the dirt of temptation.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He brings forgiveness for those who know His love’s worth.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have you seen His handwriting in the dirt?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.</span></a><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Website</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://daveswatch.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://daveswatch.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YouTube</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://goo.gl/PyzUz7" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #1155cc; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://goo.gl/PyzU</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B008C7VLAQ?_encoding=UTF8&node=2656022011&offset=0&pageSize=12&searchAlias=stripbooks&sort=author-sidecar-rank&page=1&langFilter=default#formatSelectorHeader" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon Author Central</span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> page.</span></p><br /></span>David Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588388548361343120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442271770732162232.post-68849591441343096852022-12-07T10:29:00.003-08:002022-12-07T10:29:57.771-08:00SHALL THE RAVENOUS INHERIT THE EARTH?<p> <img height="123" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/eMSNSCxB7i7UZHIxSrjDHBWYZcJbC6cvmxCBpLjqx1cgQkTyRjtQ2H9j_mNEm14ankxcgwGxPDYAu_cpbac7VxDZDphwN96TsFKlQYCRN-wk8hpWAUNDMGMXCGMKogGz7SXGFqVTxTPLaerq38u5uyjqmSKYqRpBelR66YNJl8tUo5XPGLSeBQzft4SK2w" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" width="123" /></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-b71e5146-7fff-448f-2370-46a696c764ed"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Benjamin is a ravenous wolf, in the morning devouring the prey </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and at evening dividing the spoil.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Genesis 49:27</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have been struggling with the meaning and application of this prophecy about Jacob's final son Benjamin. What does it mean? What is God saying to us?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In her research, a writer friend of mine ran across the suggestion that the prophecy about Benjamin being a ravenous wolf had to do with the whole fiasco in the final chapters of Judges, beginning with the Levite and his concubine and the wicked deeds done in a city of Benjamin. When the tribe of Benjamin was asked to turn over the criminals, they went to war, instead of allowing perverse criminals to pay for their horrid deeds. This resulted in thousands of deaths and the almost complete destruction of their own tribe. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Their dividing of the spoils of war was not in voluntary repentance. They received the spoils from the other tribes who had realized that it would be a terrible thing for an entire tribe to be lost from The Children of Israel.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The theme of those final chapters of Judges is declared in chapter 17 and repeated in chapter 21.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes."</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Judges 17:6</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As we run our businesses, conduct our politics, and live our lives in a grant no quarter and take no prisoners mindset, we set ourselves up for ultimate destruction. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.</span></a><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Website</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://daveswatch.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://daveswatch.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YouTube</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://goo.gl/PyzUz7" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://goo.gl/PyzU</span></a></p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B008C7VLAQ?_encoding=UTF8&node=2656022011&offset=0&pageSize=12&searchAlias=stripbooks&sort=author-sidecar-rank&page=1&langFilter=default#formatSelectorHeader" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon Author Central</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> page.</span></span>David Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588388548361343120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442271770732162232.post-68071417786863271352022-11-29T10:10:00.000-08:002022-11-29T10:10:18.977-08:00I AM!<p> <span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-ab3c2fbc-7fff-e095-3d01-b8cf78aa9252"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(The words, “It is I.” translate the Greek words</span><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ἐγώ εἰμι</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><span style="font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">which literally read, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I am.” Jesus said, “I am. Do not be afraid.”)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">DON’T BE AFRAID. I AM!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 182px; overflow: hidden; width: 124px;"><img height="182" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/pXrBGFip5i_NypngQ-iVPTkQD1rdHkzryMYZjKyPu0ZYLp7V4NSLNlja7ZYOmXTIoXla3XKiw14SCrWaAzFUTjL2JKAuEICEkVa1crhA70a2LbmHFH-s4iRuRgKULXWOfEIorxch62NFOvodkmIeCO_nIRlcmUPAHp1-Tic_9WHp6GuTvO15s25RTEA7Tw" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="124" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fears eclipsed as darkness fell upon the sea.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Winds whipped and tossed the ship upon the rollers.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The screaming gale brought the chattering of teeth,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With clinging dread and water rising to their molars. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They had good cause to be swallowed up in fear,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With the loss of life looming ever nearer.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; 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: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then on roiling seas they spied an apparition.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It strolled across the waves in human form,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Looming anonymously in imposition,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stalking ominously through the violent storm.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“A ghost!” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Their screams were louder than the howling winds.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The boast of dread beyond the storm did now portend.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; 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: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every eye fixed upon it. Every heart raced.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Their cries ceased with the abandon of the damned.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Such a specter even seasoned sailors could not face.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then He spoke with reason, “Do not be afraid; I AM!” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He then caused the wind to cease, and their dreadful tears.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They now paused to tremble in a different kind of fear.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; 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: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What sort of man is this, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To whom the wind and seas submit?”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.</span></a><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Website</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://daveswatch.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://daveswatch.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YouTube</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://goo.gl/PyzUz7" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://goo.gl/PyzU</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B008C7VLAQ?_encoding=UTF8&node=2656022011&offset=0&pageSize=12&searchAlias=stripbooks&sort=author-sidecar-rank&page=1&langFilter=default#formatSelectorHeader" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon Author Central</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> page.</span></p><br /></span>David Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588388548361343120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442271770732162232.post-83865537257217430572022-11-22T16:06:00.007-08:002022-11-22T16:06:52.663-08:00Continuation Of MY FINAL BLESSING<span id="docs-internal-guid-8b94890e-7fff-81f4-852f-4c74573411e0"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 233px; overflow: hidden; width: 350px;"><img height="233" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/YA79vVq5o25Q8fREM6f4zvUtKslHtUGSzeU8X5j0BmoFgAup5giNPpFgXp0QqjEQwJgoBQ2a0VWv5qhycn19DtH6aNHyE6x4adMKxGl3lxqZLMro5rSONeASzPdulm9ZPUDJKNquGXMiwrOcxUCmxlKX0GO2o0ADW5MErF9Gmry465etmq9DXMCwpWCg_g" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="350" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">THE SOURCE OF BLESSING </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As we come to the celebration of Thanksgiving, we need to remind ourselves of the source of all blessings. James 1:17 tells us that every good gift and every perfect gift comes from above.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We see this vividly in Jacob’s blessing to Joseph in Genesis 49.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Genesis 49:22-26 gives us two pictures of our Lord’s blessings that I thought we did not see until much later in Scripture.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The blessing begins with Joseph’s fruitfulness.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Joseph is a fruitful bough,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> a fruitful bough by a spring;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> his branches run over the wall.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It then recounts Joseph’s steady response to bitter attack. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“The archers bitterly attacked him,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> shot at him, and harassed him severely,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">yet his bow remained unmoved;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> his arms were made agile</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Joseph’s strength comes from the Mighty One of Jacob. And look what else Jacob calls the Lord. He first says the Lord is his Shepherd. I would have said our Lord was not called our Shepherd until the 23rd Psalm. From the beginning of Scripture we see God who leads us gently in love and provision.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Next these verses call Him "The Stone of Israel. In 1 Corinthians 10:4 Paul refers to the water that God brought out of the rock in the wilderness.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“And all drank the same spiritual drink. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and the Rock was Christ.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In 1 Samuel 2:2 we are reminded,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He is the foundation of all stability in our lives.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As we gather this week to give thanks to our Lord this week we can give thanks for our Heavenly Father’s loving direction, His abundante provision, and His faithful stability in our lives and upon the earth.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.</span></a><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Website</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://daveswatch.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://daveswatch.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YouTube</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://goo.gl/PyzUz7" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://goo.gl/PyzU</span></a></p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B008C7VLAQ?_encoding=UTF8&node=2656022011&offset=0&pageSize=12&searchAlias=stripbooks&sort=author-sidecar-rank&page=1&langFilter=default#formatSelectorHeader" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon Author Central</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> page.</span></span>David Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588388548361343120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442271770732162232.post-84728954848514801222022-11-15T10:52:00.001-08:002022-11-15T10:53:57.953-08:00WHAT WE SEE OUR FATHER DOING<p> <img height="188" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/kb4uTIkyusHLZS8AFJCfVZSjYloLWi0Ofa0mzZhdH6Mg_OcFYNZG_HVQSYz8CL4BJlna4n-cUWdMvZK9w17nKjPBDM6dokZcLoeyKXpO-T3yWUbdLs0KZI7r1yZm6HHH861oRK_Yb3KQD1kop84Bag_XQvU0atHs9ojiAzRkVRTPlWOCjA8zC40Yl2VZFw=w125-h188" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: -34.8437px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" width="125" /></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-79fcf827-7fff-9f91-9016-564af5362c14"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John 5:19</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I used to help my father with our daily chores.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I would hold the light or share a minor load,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But I couldn’t do much without him in or out of doors. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was only able to do what he showed.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They called me my father’s little helper, true,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But I could only manage what he helped me do.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So God the Father was with the Incarnate Son.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus only did what He saw His Father do,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Following through with what the Father had begun.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Always alert to the heavenly cue,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He pointed out, when God’s power was brewing,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I only do what I see my Father doing.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, in these last days God extends this option</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For those who seek the Father and His arms run to.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Upon His own He gives this sign of adoption.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God loves His children and shows them what He’s up to.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He reduplicates in us this age-old story.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thus to Himself alone God reserves His glory.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.</span></a><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Website</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://daveswatch.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://daveswatch.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YouTube</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://goo.gl/PyzUz7" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://goo.gl/PyzU</span></a></p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B008C7VLAQ?_encoding=UTF8&node=2656022011&offset=0&pageSize=12&searchAlias=stripbooks&sort=author-sidecar-rank&page=1&langFilter=default#formatSelectorHeader" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon Author Central</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> page.</span></span>David Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588388548361343120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442271770732162232.post-32418690184699651492022-11-08T19:06:00.001-08:002022-11-08T21:43:52.738-08:00WHAT DOES YOUR LIFE PRODUCE<p> <img height="467.669252125779" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/QKR135yZAvVI-7cP9OPlEcpPvlo9lUg7flnBSSi_Usji0Ye4aW9JBUhF2cWI-E4CrqvzDpnhF1pzTxDAuG2iZ0d7oNeNMim-6cI63FahoM-gKsUyT4Oiq3FCoosI6IOgpchhkBbxFvqF0d8bWKPqgTpD7vZ6oa-QEssYKivrOp4Ve5_Rpc3Rx78-bq53dg" style="font-size: 11pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: -117.378px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" width="624" /></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-0cd34b98-7fff-d8b7-fa17-156dc6eb5cde"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Genesis 49:20-21 KJV</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; 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="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">America has produced many wonderful things that have blessed the entire world. The blessings bequeathed to Asher and Naphtali are productivity.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As The celebration of Thanksgiving approaches we ought especially to appreciate the wonderful foods produced by our own tribe. Do you have a favorite Thanksgiving delight? Most of us have several. Aren’t you glad that God provides such wonderful means of obtaining the nutrition our bodies need? I am also thrilled that He put me in a family with so many marvelous cooks.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I also love those with the blessing of Naphtali who lavish us with delicious and nourishing words. I have never been able to write beautifully. But I thank God that I live in a world with men whose words sing like Wordsworth’s and nourish like those of C.S. Lewis. I also thank God for so many kinds of art and creativity. How many clever and beautiful creations are produced by people created in the image of the God who designed Dragonflies and painted Tiger Swallowtails.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I used the King James version of these verses because it is one of the few versions that translate verse 21 literally. This gives us a wonderful beginning of the meaning of this verse. However, Hebrew is a metaphoric language. And the metaphor of the lovely words spoken by a doe are her beautiful fawns. And the most beautiful and effective words we speak are those whose lives we influence. Paul wrote to his spiritual children in his second letter to the church in Corinth. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-right: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 Corinthians 3:3</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I thank God for the legacy God has allowed me to leave in my children, physical and spiritual. They are the greatest potential for the future as we anticipate the return of Christ.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I preached for the first time in a while. This will probably be my final time to preach. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9PMSqxv7Ss" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9PMSqxv7Ss</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.</span></a><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Website</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://daveswatch.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://daveswatch.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YouTube</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://goo.gl/PyzUz7" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://goo.gl/PyzU</span></a></p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B008C7VLAQ?_encoding=UTF8&node=2656022011&offset=0&pageSize=12&searchAlias=stripbooks&sort=author-sidecar-rank&page=1&langFilter=default#formatSelectorHeader" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon Author Central</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> page.</span></span>David Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588388548361343120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442271770732162232.post-88440740547043995712022-11-01T11:57:00.002-07:002022-11-01T11:57:56.879-07:00PREACH THE WORD<span id="docs-internal-guid-3bf9ed9b-7fff-7e5b-cffc-524fb5f89f63"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 127px; overflow: hidden; width: 127px;"><img height="127" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/qjfQqsXpl27ZWnmqRek--ZfzH9GsAkd6fTf0xZGwFH63t1Wr2Mmo7gPCOomhLvl6EE4nd-xMM2ZuipmJvoHCiSDgBIU14b_EqLLJVqQimVOzN9K0IrxNMKskErNxVneWkKPOFfMr6EVMqHky7mZ8g64UuPpmV9l-kRXiUAM2UHoK9RSgjhVMdJoTQf23" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="127" /></span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In what was almost certainly <span id="docs-internal-guid-8dc7db1c-7fff-45c0-69be-2c7650949ed8"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Paul’s</span></span> final letter, he gave this challenge to Timothy.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Preach the Word; be instant in season and out of season; </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 Timothy 4:2</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I remember struggling for months with God’s call on my life. Finally, on the first Sunday in June, 1968, I publicly surrendered to God’s call to preach. God arranged for me to preach twice that week. From that day this has been my life. It has often been a wild ride. And it has been a continual blessing.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I will preach again this Sunday, November 6th, 2022. Most of you know that I have terminal cancer. And this will most likely be my final opportunity to preach. What a blessing it will be to open God’s word and share the gospel to people who are hungry for the truth.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you would like to join me, the service will be streamed. The YouTube link will be, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Connected Naz</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.</span></a><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Website</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://daveswatch.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://daveswatch.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YouTube</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://goo.gl/PyzUz7" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://goo.gl/PyzU</span></a></p></span><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B008C7VLAQ?_encoding=UTF8&node=2656022011&offset=0&pageSize=12&searchAlias=stripbooks&sort=author-sidecar-rank&page=1&langFilter=default#formatSelectorHeader" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon Author Central</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> page.</span> </p>David Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588388548361343120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442271770732162232.post-75084444916189934492022-10-26T11:53:00.002-07:002022-10-26T11:53:48.464-07:00RAIDERS<span id="docs-internal-guid-a333d3c6-7fff-8519-85fe-2287809a3ab0"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/24293932@N00/831538969" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 168px; overflow: hidden; width: 223px;"><img height="168" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/RVBHUgMjd_rLHJVv_VOngjeR1fZVHKS1T50BtZsd2t_eP6qhx0uv2miDRA7gCmwr21vHh-IkrrceoqkqsDIWjNaSROgZdy1l3SXgAwZpZmrNuUQEcqF7yadsAUXSMgGQx3EDxMkAip-G0Pi4FN8P4g_UKKcLleiLB9igf2ngK7HGdD_K_xMSAyEN" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="223" /></span></span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; 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; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Raiders shall raid Gad,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> but he shall raid at their heels.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This particular prophecy does not apply to most of us in the short term. Gad was the seventh son of Jacob. His mother was Leah’s servant Zilpa. Leah gave him the name Gad which means fortunate or lucky. And we are certainly fortunate, not because we are lucky but because we are blessed. Of course, Leah was saying she was blessed. And we too can be a blessing.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But the name Gad sounds like the word attack or raider. And Jacob says that though raiders will attack him, he will raid at their heels. God does make promises of justice to us. But the ultimate fulfillment of such promises does not come in this life. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of my heroes of history was John Huss. Some years ago we visited Prague. We came into the town square where there are monuments to Huss. But our guide did not mention him. I told her Huss was one of my heroes. She said, “But he incited the people to riot.” She did not mention, and probably didn’t know that Huss kept the nobles from rioting until the authorities burned him at the stake. I am pleased that Pope John Paul II apologized for the evil done to Huss by the church, but that was almost 600 years after his martyrdom. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We will not find complete recompense for wrongs done to us in this life. But in the new Earth that will come with the new Heaven all things will be made right and all justice will be fulfilled.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*With apologies to Las Vegas.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.</span></a><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Website</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://daveswatch.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://daveswatch.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YouTube</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://goo.gl/PyzUz7" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://goo.gl/PyzU</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B008C7VLAQ?_encoding=UTF8&node=2656022011&offset=0&pageSize=12&searchAlias=stripbooks&sort=author-sidecar-rank&page=1&langFilter=default#formatSelectorHeader" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon Author Central</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> page.</span></p><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>David Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588388548361343120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442271770732162232.post-70241966840966029532022-10-19T11:45:00.001-07:002022-10-19T11:54:57.150-07:00 CAN YOU SEE THE HARVEST<span id="docs-internal-guid-f4f8d9f9-7fff-6701-89c7-c13afd975262"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -21.6pt; margin-right: -21.6pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin: 0pt -21.6pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.wallpaperflare.com/spain-carabias-wheat-country-storm-castille-land-landscape-wallpaper-ezifk" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 111px; overflow: hidden; width: 199px;"><img height="111" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/qx4jyJDH5hT0W6dz5mKGrwJZXm1-cG_hFSBUH4mMVZTiWixkoAA6wCA6raV5KssV4h2hnOKEj_nTDGAflfUXtz8VDV9s5wimFF9O2A__v8N-XFrdAbMA2rMgn155OD-YexHXZbwr84xR_Q5Shty0ZURjpzH_1wwFzYg2D_IbbAFvSEbgxTIDpWF7jA" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="199" /></span></span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -21.6pt; margin-right: -21.6pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin: 0pt -21.6pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John 4:35</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -21.6pt; margin-right: -21.6pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin: 0pt -21.6pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -21.6pt; margin-right: -21.6pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin: 0pt -21.6pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes and see that the fields are white for harvest.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -21.6pt; margin-right: -21.6pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin: 0pt -21.6pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Can you see the harvest with its urgent joy?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -21.6pt; margin-right: -21.6pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin: 0pt -21.6pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Can you see the harvest with its pressing grace?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -21.6pt; margin-right: -21.6pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin: 0pt -21.6pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every moment threatens its eternal loss.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -21.6pt; margin-right: -21.6pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin: 0pt -21.6pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hail and drought and locusts risk a dying race.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -21.6pt; margin-right: -21.6pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin: 0pt -21.6pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sin and pride and ignorance steal away their hope. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -21.6pt; margin-right: -21.6pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin: 0pt -21.6pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The harvest time is near. This is our one chance</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -21.6pt; margin-right: -21.6pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin: 0pt -21.6pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To open men's hearts to divine romance. </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -21.6pt; margin-right: -21.6pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin: 0pt -21.6pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Will you join the harvest for the souls of men? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -21.6pt; margin-right: -21.6pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin: 0pt -21.6pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Will you join the harvest ere all hope is lost. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -21.6pt; margin-right: -21.6pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin: 0pt -21.6pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pray for those whose lives are wasting in the field. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -21.6pt; margin-right: -21.6pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin: 0pt -21.6pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Telling them of Jesus will be worth the cost. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -21.6pt; margin-right: -21.6pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin: 0pt -21.6pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Showing them the Savior who can change their lives. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -21.6pt; margin-right: -21.6pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin: 0pt -21.6pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The harvest time is here. It’s our only chance</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -21.6pt; margin-right: -21.6pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin: 0pt -21.6pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To open their hearts to divine romance. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -21.6pt; margin-right: -21.6pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin: 0pt -21.6pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This poem was published in</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I AM, Poetic Reflections Through The Gospel of John.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -21.6pt; margin-right: -21.6pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin: 0pt -21.6pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09W6W6YDN/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tpbk_p1_i9" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09W6W6YDN/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tpbk_p1_i9</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -21.6pt; margin-right: -21.6pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin: 0pt -21.6pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 65px; overflow: hidden; width: 65px;"><img height="65" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/jNgRkpWdltUZuXXkvOSlvXPwwJ06SytUSFD5SDOEwQM3VLQKdCaKhJHb94ghGVhx-SvbSyrEnU_RBeteufz56Q364C8kaxB9YRI0gFjXu9oO7NpQGt2ONKiZ-ZlwqmrLu-iOWXIQsozAN4flGkj8z36Iz8cuH6is2MROoWFaWHTirPPBe_5LOvOI2w" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="65" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.</span></a><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Website</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://daveswatch.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://daveswatch.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YouTube</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://goo.gl/PyzUz7" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://goo.gl/PyzU</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B008C7VLAQ?_encoding=UTF8&node=2656022011&offset=0&pageSize=12&searchAlias=stripbooks&sort=author-sidecar-rank&page=1&langFilter=default#formatSelectorHeader" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon Author Central</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> page.</span></p><br /><br /></span>David Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588388548361343120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442271770732162232.post-3730265186964682182022-10-12T12:24:00.004-07:002022-10-12T12:24:51.897-07:00 A PEOPLE OF JUDGMENT <span id="docs-internal-guid-d0d3605c-7fff-7f57-82f0-084055b5252e"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 96px; overflow: hidden; width: 145px;"><img height="96" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/PueAj8wTcP6SpBd7Vz3dmUVWEpMn5NHRAbN58s_21aeWyCIKeF9nC0oNoFE_J4J5o2FLe13wsfIIojvlywcDfp5XXYVvTzZavsO-LVmDPe-45lubbAj_vgTCDEW6Kq_oD_yrN9HH3c-Dh1vE8-uq1Cx6L8H5JEqNFtcZ2RjZcgxiM6PtP7V-xySAYw" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="145" /></span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Surely the most tragic of the declarations of Israel as he was about to die is the prophecy of Dan.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Dan shall judge his people</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> as one of the tribes of Israel.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">17 Dan shall be a serpent in the way,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> a viper by the path,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">that bites the horse's heels</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> so that his rider falls backwards.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">18 I wait for your salvation, O LORD.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Genesis 49:16-18</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are all pretty good at pointing out the sins of those around us. And there is certainly plenty of sin to see. That would be serious enough if verse 16 were all of this prophecy. The name Dan, means judge or possibly judgment.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Dan shall judge his people.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This prophecy pictures Dan much like Jesus described the Pharisees. As we look at passages like Judges 13 we see that the tribe of Dan was among the most wicked. There are always those among us who bring judgment to light because of their own sins. We have no shortage of those whose sinful lives highlight the judgment of God upon America.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Years ago Ruth Graham said, “If God does not judge America, He will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah.” We are a culture in which sin is deeply ingrained. It often seems impossible to do anything that does not bring us under the judgment of God.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But we should not miss the most positive statement in all of these blessings. It too was given for Dan. In verse 18 Jacob says,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I wait for your salvation, O LORD.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God poured out all of His righteous judgment upon Jesus on the cross. All Jacob could do was wait and hope for God’s salvation. It has been made available to us. I do not know if God will obliterate our beloved country because of the wickedness of our hearts, or if He will show us undeserved mercy. But I do know that in your life and mine God offers redemption though we deserve judgment for our sins.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.</span></a><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Website</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://daveswatch.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://daveswatch.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YouTube</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://goo.gl/PyzUz7" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://goo.gl/PyzU</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B008C7VLAQ?_encoding=UTF8&node=2656022011&offset=0&pageSize=12&searchAlias=stripbooks&sort=author-sidecar-rank&page=1&langFilter=default#formatSelectorHeader" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon Author Central</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> page.</span></p><br /></span>David Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588388548361343120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442271770732162232.post-18720814971987051692022-10-04T17:34:00.001-07:002022-10-04T17:34:05.101-07:00A VISION IN THE NIGHT<p style="text-align: center;"> <img height="102" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/dr_KGz9vPTsydlTZdjGKmZxh-WM_1AmsdcAzdZCaN4WhWrQ-rrQv1SJ6Z-K4RrQAA1KOxeluZVSGg5rcSLZrrjjojdrdokMdEorztY1tunm_hOyhKItMQ3I23uptdcHmiNHWhue9HkuP1Yr8cfpHn1r2WOsbSQB-IE73NedeRo_6tlSoo7kjYpf5zw" style="background-color: white; font-size: 24pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" width="151" /></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-42e63c9c-7fff-4a31-829d-f55860cd4f59"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a man of Macedonia was standing there, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">urging him and saying, “Come over to </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Macedonia and help us.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Struggling with God’s call and timing</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Listening, testing, praying, trying</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hints of paths that might be right;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Casting fleeces</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">—</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">spiritual lots,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Straining, seeking heaven’s sight,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Tying our souls in nervous knots;</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Searching here, looking yonder,</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Watching for our Guide we wander,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Knowing the seed but not the field;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> At every turn we’re forced to stop.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In aching hope we’re made to yield.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Is this the place or is it not?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Finally in frustration’s burning torment</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Comes a vision in the resting moment.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A man in foreign face and garb,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Calls from camelback or city bus.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He makes His words a piercing barb, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “Come over here, help us, tell us!”</span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 144pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.</span></a><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 144pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 144pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 144pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 144pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Website</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 144pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://daveswatch.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://daveswatch.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 144pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YouTube</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-left: 144pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://goo.gl/PyzUz7" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://goo.gl/PyzU</span></a></p> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B008C7VLAQ?_encoding=UTF8&node=2656022011&offset=0&pageSize=12&searchAlias=stripbooks&sort=author-sidecar-rank&page=1&langFilter=default#formatSelectorHeader" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon Author Central</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> page.</span></span>David Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588388548361343120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442271770732162232.post-84285082699047552362022-09-28T13:26:00.005-07:002022-09-28T13:28:29.542-07:00 WHAT IS THE GOAL OF YOUR LIFE?<span id="docs-internal-guid-d291c747-7fff-cc63-0483-54264dc31e17"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 93px; overflow: hidden; width: 93px;"><img height="93" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/tL5zj3Yj8jvnr3U5GiTA3txT04t9xC1EAf43FpW2L5_eQWhF7Z0Se8iKSsNpxDFUAFX8iRNdW2NcZDE7jTMT1oSqTH-5imCnI9Jb1sAFz2pxjIz4rIx1eGh13bD9yHWNC_fWAwaEdw2Nc9ehXTZha_FbtBZchL1V-Rtw9zqytBPyw0raI97MSVTBpw" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="93" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I find Jacob’s prophetic word about Issachar particularly apropos for many Americans.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Issachar is a strong donkey,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> crouching between the sheepfolds.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He saw that a resting place was good,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and that the land was pleasant,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">so he bowed his shoulder to bear,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and became a servant at forced labor.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 108pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Genesis 49:14-15</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Issachar was strong, but he spent his energy in getting out of labor and responsibility. He recognized a comfortable resting place and he saw good things that he wanted. That is what he sought with his life. As a young man he may have asked, “What is the Lord’s will for my life?” Many young people ask such questions. But he decided the easiest route and the most comfortable way of life was what he really wanted. But it did not turn out to be so good in the end. He found himself a slave to comfort, leisure and luxury. And to maintain that lifestyle, he wound up working 80 hours a week. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I need to be honest with you who have been looking at the will of God. It will not always be easy or fun. You will have to sacrifice for it. So, what benefit is it? Let me point out three things that you get from pursuing the will of God. They are Character, Purpose, and Satisfaction.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; 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="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CHARACTER</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of the greatest benefits of seeking and following the will of God is what you become rather than what you attain. Would you rather drive a material Cadillac or become a moral and spiritual Cadillac?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">PURPOSE</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Meaning in life comes from having a high purpose. For Christians it is not finding your purpose in life, but God’s purpose in eternity. We join God in what He is doing on the earth. Anything less than that will in the end prove to be meaningless.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">SATISFACTION</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Satisfaction does not come from getting all the chocolate you want. In the end what we see as the sweet life will always disappoint. Eternal satisfaction is satisfying God. Nothing will be so fulfilling as hearing God say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.</span></a><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Website</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://daveswatch.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://daveswatch.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YouTube</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://goo.gl/PyzUz7" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://goo.gl/PyzU</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B008C7VLAQ?_encoding=UTF8&node=2656022011&offset=0&pageSize=12&searchAlias=stripbooks&sort=author-sidecar-rank&page=1&langFilter=default#formatSelectorHeader" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon Author Central</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> page.</span></p><br /></span>David Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588388548361343120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442271770732162232.post-49322849124941753692022-09-20T10:32:00.002-07:002022-09-20T10:32:07.994-07:00It’s Raining<p> </p><span id="docs-internal-guid-793af8c0-7fff-4896-4e8e-27ba48ec2011"><h1 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 24pt; text-align: center;"><img height="111" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/IAqPBDI7fFGZw5I_KoM7FKbj7nsTXj1KNUjYB1R7Qz55Kiq4gcBdqdc0G6DRlDpwKEG5kXLjXgL9F2ysFPRTqjMgokpcKMMsDV5T7fRYAPo4edzJCzB6x0GJc8x2VygXBS_bfBBk9Tap4NoX9MUA5Baj2ZOQ8j_9LU0ab7qTANQqLac_mkqjbLBFQg" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;" width="167" /></h1><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.4400000000000002; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It's raining here, enchanting all the trees.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.4400000000000002; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Humbling summer's harshness to its knees.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.4400000000000002; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Calming filtering softening every light,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.4400000000000002; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 6pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Blending vivid contrasts to autumn's delight.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.4400000000000002; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 6pt 0pt 12pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s raining now dripping from the colored leaves,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.4400000000000002; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cooling and refreshing with a gentle breeze.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.4400000000000002; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not raining cats and dogs with their noisy quarrels,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.4400000000000002; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 6pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But hummingbird wings in smoky swirls;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.4400000000000002; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 6pt 0pt 12pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It's misting still, undisturbed by howling gales.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.4400000000000002; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In calming stillness the forest now inhales</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.4400000000000002; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Its final breath in calm anticipation</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.4400000000000002; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 6pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Of winter's freezing sleep and hibernation.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.4400000000000002; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 6pt 0pt 12pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Foliage on the ground forms a musty coffin.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.4400000000000002; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dying leaves into earthy compost soften,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.4400000000000002; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Entombed in peace in confident reflection</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.4400000000000002; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Of springtime and its resurrection.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.4400000000000002; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This poem was published in the book </span><span style="font-size: 8pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">TAKE ME TO THE GARDEN</span><span style="font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, by Jonna Padgett and David Young.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.4400000000000002; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1696964849/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tpbk_p1_i3" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1696964849/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tpbk_p1_i3</span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 69px; overflow: hidden; width: 45px;"><img height="69" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/0gJisMHFHM2RrlcMv1fB1AdC-SSQP29l_zontmmjf8liAJgDhAVmnxepxFV9vwgFPsaeYJPIE6wbZ_3lCp74FL6PV5Bzz5iz48AmW7Uj3kezS9BZvWtqQnqEkueg8KLspVLokMNGn0NvJ62VxMyZnSZ5zH0NGTCD8dzCI6Us4bduGn6UMVF9l8_Zjg" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="45" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.</span></a><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Website</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://daveswatch.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://daveswatch.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YouTube</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://goo.gl/PyzUz7" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #1155cc; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://goo.gl/PyzU</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B008C7VLAQ?_encoding=UTF8&node=2656022011&offset=0&pageSize=12&searchAlias=stripbooks&sort=author-sidecar-rank&page=1&langFilter=default#formatSelectorHeader" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon Author Central</span></a><span style="font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> page.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.4400000000000002; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 12pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;"> </p><div><br /></div></span>David Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588388548361343120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442271770732162232.post-59368645630838658242022-09-13T10:59:00.003-07:002022-09-13T10:59:41.551-07:00 A HAVEN <span id="docs-internal-guid-c5546399-7fff-eeb1-ae84-648208f1bafe"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 103px; overflow: hidden; width: 76px;"><img height="103" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Cqs6hU_CR7uG-eIIXD_GD0452AFAOYpA-CBw9XoSsX1w9ss7JCDUO9eDUR9rLCYS2IrvmCDbg7t4sRaruyPUDB-X1mMHeHnOighka1EeWQijoipawUq-EmU4P4e5noGhY6FF8WnH7WYeD-JbSsdAuBgJj1oiqLzZVRwZCxx7FdTDu2EhBHlzLZwdbg" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="76" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I love the blessing given to Zebulon by Jacob and its application to America and the church of Jesus Christ.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Zebulon shall dwell at the shore of the sea; </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">he shall become a haven for ships, and his border shall be at Sidon.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Genesis 49:13</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The land of Zebulon with its place on the sea became a refuge for ships from distant lands and for foreigners who needed a haven. Have you read the poem, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The New Colossus</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, which is on the bronze plaque at the base of The Statue of Liberty?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With conquering limbs astride from land to land;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Emma Lazarus</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wave after wave of Americans came from the rest of the world. And yes, God forgive us, those who came in previous generations were often prejudiced against new people coming to our shores. They looked different. They talked different and had not learned our language. Their customs were noting like ours. But we also became stronger with each new group of immigrants. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I always enjoyed living in The Puget Sound region which, like the land of Zebulon, became a haven for those who came from other lands. God gave me many friends. I came to consider of them as my children from other cultures who spoke other languages as they were rapidly learning English. I thank God for you whom I taught and encouraged as you taught and encouraged me.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have recently been reading the Book of Acts whose theme is the gospel reaching out to all peoples on the earth. As Paul wrote in Galatians 3</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">there is no male nor female, for you are all one in Christ.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The gospel breaks down every social or cultural barrier that separates people. Most of us need to struggle with this truth with one group or another. But as we draw nearer to Christ, we come into the true unity of the church of Christ.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.</span></a><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Website</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://daveswatch.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://daveswatch.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YouTube</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://goo.gl/PyzUz7" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://goo.gl/PyzU</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B008C7VLAQ?_encoding=UTF8&node=2656022011&offset=0&pageSize=12&searchAlias=stripbooks&sort=author-sidecar-rank&page=1&langFilter=default#formatSelectorHeader" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon Author Central</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> page.</span></p><br /><br /></span>David Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588388548361343120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442271770732162232.post-29244043797600923442022-09-06T11:45:00.000-07:002022-09-06T11:45:06.190-07:00CHARACTER AND HOPE<p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Romans 5:3-5, James 1:2-4</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-8bfc2e1d-7fff-527a-9f7f-8b75599beb65"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 110px; overflow: hidden; width: 164px;"><img height="110" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a8QjtHJ9plKGPaP3CEWb8687pQ1lIf3jooPI8JZ8QHrINxW0nwVEMHJKX2Sh6KTMyYXAXVaCSCbDeDw-iFefczOLRdYNhakQ53gecXWbADAdmC9nDQFVm6DxAkKMgCKLC9uc6OrGL5IgWirt3cY8u-__rRkI3ZSnUYJoHYTx2rk6qa6sHPQ9pkBUiA" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="164" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When troubles come upon your life like storms upon the sea,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let your heart rejoice, knowing God is working all the while.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God’s power in your life will overcome the enemy.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When your circumstance seems harsh, God is present in your trial.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, glory in your tribulations though they test you sore.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our God is building character in ways you cannot see.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And though it sometimes seems you cannot handle any more,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God is planting faithfulness in you for eternity.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Draw near to Him in your quiet time, in His word and prayer.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stretching vision beyond yourself gives eternal scope. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Still walking on this Earth, a taste of heaven you can share. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let patience have her perfect work of character and hope</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.</span></a><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Website</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://daveswatch.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://daveswatch.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YouTube</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://goo.gl/PyzUz7" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://goo.gl/PyzU</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B008C7VLAQ?_encoding=UTF8&node=2656022011&offset=0&pageSize=12&searchAlias=stripbooks&sort=author-sidecar-rank&page=1&langFilter=default#formatSelectorHeader" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon Author Central</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> page.</span></p><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>David Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588388548361343120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442271770732162232.post-27986896563218320872022-08-30T15:10:00.002-07:002022-08-30T15:17:59.867-07:00THE BLESSING OF WEALTH<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Binding his foal to the vine</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> and his donkey's colt to the choice vine,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">he has washed his garments in wine</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> and his vesture in the blood of grapes.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">His eyes are darker than wine,</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">and his teeth whiter than milk.</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-8ad339f9-7fff-dd1d-609e-5c8219ed0512"><div><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-8babbe04-7fff-1618-6eee-17d46e5ab246"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Genesis 49:11,12</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 116px; overflow: hidden; width: 142px;"><img height="116" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/mWaeBqD9r1IjLFFjutFJP0ozcjLHoNgbYNTD59DLpmD_QbxsT_Yi45ntZVDqVgwBORTxqF6QtWiyf86oj4JPAfy-lL8n5ntsyR5JSDqafj5y59LmqOPKVuifF-lVWMD-66z_ghE0yEet--6Rhpa9bPNZx82dwZ8RuO2ItpZZjjJn2diX_KphaRGdDA" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="142" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The contemporary gospel hymn, Blessed Be Your Name, by Matt Redman, begins “Blessed be your name in the land that is plentiful.” Singing that always sounds strange to me. I have usually focused on blessing His name when things are difficult. However, it can sometimes be as difficult to praise God when we are distracted by frivolous blessings.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">America has been given unprecedented blessings of wealth even frivolous wealth. If we look at the passage before us we see something that common sense ought to tell us. Such blessings still come from God. In the picture, Judah tied his donkey to the vine. His focus was on the sweetness of this blessing. God gave life to the vine. He caused it to bear fruit for our enjoyment. During the cold war The Soviet Empire devoted its resources to military prowess. In America we were focused on increasing the wellbeing of our citizens. But making people wealthier enabled us to strengthen our military as well.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And yes, we wash our clothes in wealth which seemed frivolous to the Soviet leaders. I remember a joke I heard years ago in a seminary class. In Amos 4:6, referring to famine, the prophet declares that there will be “cleanness of teeth in all their cities.” We all laughed at what sounds like a toothpaste commercial. But while our motivation to make our “teeth whiter than milk” was shallow, dental hygiene has improved the overall health of Americans.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We became healthier in many ways. In the 20th century Americans had grown taller and stronger than our European counterparts who came from the same stock. I remember being cynical about medicines sold over the counter in America because they only addressed the symptoms of illness. But on my first trip into the former Soviet Union I discovered that the people there longed for anything that addressed the symptoms of minor things like headaches and sore throats.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">China, which is still a communist country, learned this lesson. During the years after the fall of the Soviet Union, they brought in capitalist measures to strengthen their economy. During those years of increasing individual wealth the government loosened their grip on the lives of their citizens, at least in some parts of that great country. I am not sure how these two things are related. Did their economy grow because they loosened their hold on people, or did they have to loosen their grip on individuals because of their increased prosperity? China has cracked down again on things like human rights and religious freedom while continuing to promote material prosperity. I wonder what the outcome will prove to be from this effort. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is also important to see that increased wealth brings responsibility. You can use your wealth to be more generous to those around you. Or you can become more and more selfish. I have been impressed with companies that have devoted increased prosperity to increasing the lifestyle of all their employees. I know at least two fast food companies and a retail business that have increased the minimum they pay employees to at least twice the minimum wage required by law. I see this as good even if the demand for employees has driven wages up. Incidentally, the three companies I referred to raised their wages long before coved19 and its continuing effects on the job market. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is a biblical principle of God's blessing on generosity. To a great extent our increased wealth is a result of past giving to the needs of others. And make no mistake, we will give account to God for how we use our material blessings.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I think you will enjoy Matt Redman’s music. This message of this hymn is wider than blessing God in good times. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTpTQ4kBLxA&list=OLAK5uy_mgph29CwC_vLE3NLr3KbWByOQI6hDMGd4" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTpTQ4kBLxA&list=OLAK5uy_mgph29CwC_vLE3NLr3KbWByOQI6hDMGd4</span></a></p><br /><br /><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>David Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588388548361343120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442271770732162232.post-12560408574106632772022-08-23T12:23:00.001-07:002022-08-23T12:23:30.810-07:00HE GIVES MORE GRACE <p style="text-align: center;"> <img height="130" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/5JHXxD4P0cXJwt4kk-uL-MOixLz7pJFWbkO0C4JC4gXMRFH8FSX6eC7otjqjQMb9iQOU_vBi801s3zyALAqqeC0YEL9hHRd4rzPWs1AyqghGj9gORqxmhlsDgA1_ehwuoRQ4AB2ptVYITioCZDd5DYQ" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;" width="174" /></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-509806a5-7fff-3dba-f976-7fc1aa7cb17a"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the weeks in between posting MY FINAL BLESSING, an exposition of Jacob's final blessing of his children in Genesis 49, I have been posting some of my poems. But this week I want to post a poem by Annie Johnson Flint. I have been struggling with my attitudes and frame of mind. This poem ministers to my soul, so I thought it would be good to share it with you.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He Giveth More Grace </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He sendeth more strength when the labors increase</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To added affliction He addeth His mercy</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To multiplied trials His multiplied peace</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His love has no limit, His grace has no measure</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His pow'r has no boundary known unto men</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For out of His infinite riches in Jesus</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When we have exhausted our store of endurance</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When our strength has failed ere the day is half done</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When we reach the end of our hoarded resources</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our Father's full giving is only begun</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His love has no limit, His grace has no measure</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His pow'r has no boundary known unto men</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For out of His infinite riches in Jesus</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His love has no limit, His grace has no measure</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His pow'r has no boundary known unto men</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For out of His infinite riches in Jesus</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For out of His infinite riches in Jesus</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-right: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Long after Annie Johnson Flint had left the trials of her pain filled life Don Moen put this poem to music. You might enjoy the music. </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzhKGPireAA" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 8pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzhKGPireAA</span></a></p><div><br /></div></span>David Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588388548361343120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6442271770732162232.post-32466534794275696482022-08-16T16:28:00.004-07:002022-08-16T16:28:38.012-07:00 THE GIFT OF DOMINANCE<p><img height="111" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/cOBTlNCPHtqVB-Rjj-GxLoCUs6scxQOU5T38B3yRWAxICNlWuO0ctHFzlNJNb6cRGHCQZ8LaOWMbzwnfW6nOpERtLWuKaHni3JhbOrrjWOr41tReYY0wlgP4eutOJfi8Tkh3389OBS-KbejSdQ2APh8" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;" width="179" /></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-cda1b809-7fff-e2f0-c01f-3901ce499431"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I don’t believe I have ever written or spoken publicly about the military dominance of the United States of America. But it has been a reality for nearly a hundred years. And we need to see it as a blessing and a responsibility that God has given us. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Among the sons of Jacob Judah was given dominance. In verses 8-10 of Genesis 49 we read these words prophesied for Judah that can be applied to us.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Judah, your brothers shall praise you;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> your father's sons shall bow down before you.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Judah is a lion's cub;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> from the prey, my son, you have gone up.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He stooped down; he crouched as a lion</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The scepter shall not depart from Judah,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">until tribute comes to him;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some of these words will apply to positions of power that any of you may have obtained. You will give an account to God about how faithfully you carry out your responsibility. And it is important to see this from the larger perspective of our country.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While there is some truth to books like </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Ugly American</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> which pointed out reasons for the rest of the world to hate us, we have held a special place of respect in the eyes of much of the world. We have been a proponent of human rights around the world. We have sought to defend the weak. We have not sought to enlarge our borders by military force. While we have unblushingly promoted democracy, which is not something we could force upon other nations in the same way that totalitarian governments have been. This is not to say that we have always been righteous in our goals or behavior, but we have sought truth and goodness, even at our own expense. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And dominance will remain in our hands, even as the balance of power is being shaken around the world. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is important for us to see that there is a difficulty in interpreting or translating verse 10. The E.S.V. has this footnote. </span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis+49%3A8-10&version=ESV#en-ESV-1484" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4a4a4a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Genesis 49:10</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> By a slight revocalization; a slight emendation yields (compare Septuagint, Syriac, Targum) </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">until he comes to whom it belongs</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">; Hebrew </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">until Shiloh comes</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, or </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">until he comes to Shiloh.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">However we interpret this, it is important to remember that our dominance in the world is on loan from Him to whom it really belongs. It is foolish to imagine that peace and safety in the world belong to us. Psalm 33:16-17 reads,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“The king is not saved by his great army;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The war horse is a false hope for salvation,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and by its great might it cannot rescue.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For many years America held the modernist view that everything was getting better and better. That is a dangerous misconception of reality. The picture of end times in the Bible is not sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows everywhere. In 1 Thessalonians 5:3, the Bible says,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">However, we can seek to use the dominance in truth and righteousness. This comes from God. We must seek Him to keep ourselves from using our dominance for vainglory and selfish advantage.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.</span></a><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Website</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><a href="http://daveswatch.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://daveswatch.com/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YouTube</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://goo.gl/PyzUz7" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://goo.gl/PyzU</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B008C7VLAQ?_encoding=UTF8&node=2656022011&offset=0&pageSize=12&searchAlias=stripbooks&sort=author-sidecar-rank&page=1&langFilter=default#formatSelectorHeader" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon Author Central</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> page.</span></p><br /><br /></span>David Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588388548361343120noreply@blogger.com0