Category Archives: Gospel of Matthew

Authentic, Christian Living, Gospel of Matthew, KWT Paraphrasing, You Tubes

Defining the Word

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Well y’all In A Word didn’t even get to its scheduled posting time before some defining came.

Authentic 

I watched a movie last night: Nikki and the Perfect Stranger.

I am no stranger :) to this line of movies. This is the third one by this group that I have eaten up deliciously! 

To be authentic this year it cannot be about me; if I FOCUS on me, authentic or not,  I will miss the point. 

The minister was asked how do you do this Christian Life thing? Nikki eluded that it had become burdensome – like a check list to her. (And I have had more than my share of checklists.)  

He answered: “I don’t allow myself to stop seeing how amazing HE is.”  

15 While he was still speaking, behold, a shining cloud [composed of light] overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, This is My Son, My Beloved, with Whom I am [and have always been] delighted. Listen to Him!6 When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were seized with alarm and struck with fear.7 But Jesus came and touched them and said, Get up, and do not be afraid.8 And when they raised their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. source  Matthew 17 

Here’s my sign: Listen to and see Only JESUS!

Matthew 16:24-26 (TLV)

24 Then Yeshua said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world but forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? source

Shall I paraphrase for this posting?

Whoever concentrates on herself; goes on and on with a what about me lifestyle; or she who indulges in childishly wailing: I am so stupid;  or is repeatedly lamenting: I mess up all the time; (give me a bucket!) and then there’s the I got to do this, I got to do that dirge — I get the idea! As long as I do this life this way, the Life He has for me I will lose! I will not be the authentic me He has envisioned me to be.

In summary, for me to be authentic, I must practice what I write!

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Gospel of Matthew, Grace & Truth

Not A Word – How Rude!

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21 Now Yeshua left from there and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that district came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, O Master, Ben-David! My daughter is severely tormented by a demon.” 23 But He did not answer her a word.  . . . source

A Canaanite woman! If you are familiar with Biblical history, you know something of what that means!
For insight click HERE.

But He did not answer her a word.

How rude is that! Even if she thought it, she did not back away; what she desired was much too important.

How many of us know JESUS was and is never rude?
How many of us have conducted our thoughts down avenues that would defy that?  Shall we read on?

. . . And when His disciples came, they were urging Him, saying, “Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us.”

It would appear the Disciples thought she was rude. Send her away they said, she’s persistent and loud.
How many of us know some things are so important and so dear to us that persistent and loud are necessary?

Let’s read on.

24 But He responded, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

Hmm. Interesting response. 

25 So she came and got down on her knees before Him, saying, “Master, help me!”

Wow! Moved right into that conversation, didn’t she?
She’s one bold woman! Desperation can do that.
I think JESUS likes bold. So what does He say to her?

26 And answering, He said, “It’s not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

 Oh my, she could have been really offended by that. Or perhaps not.
When we want GOD’s attention we just might need to acknowledge where we are and who we are even if it smarts a bit in the beginning.
You see, I figure being a Canaanite she was well familiar with that dog label.

Let’s read on.

27 But she said, “Yes, Master, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”

And here it is. The key to it all! Yes, LORD, I am outside the commonwealth of Israel, yes I am a sinner, undone and unclean BUT You are GOD and You are good and I trust You.

And then He said!

28 Then answering, Yeshua said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed in that very hour.

What if this woman had been offended at JESUS for His not a word?
What if she had just walked away?
What if she had not pursued Him?
What if she had fallen prey to thinking He was just another rude man?

It was a test. A test she passed.
He knew she would.
But she didn’t. She needed to walk out her fresh faith in the GOD MAN, she needed to know in practice that her faith was well placed.

Next time we do get not a word, I hope we will remember this humble yet bold woman and the GOD-MAN who loves her and us.

Love, Kathie 

Revisited 12.30.2022