Category Archives: Questions

2022, Gospel of Mark, Praying with my Sisters and Brothers in Holy Faith, Questions

A 180 Please

2 Comments

Did you read Mark 7?

Did you see the Pharisees? 
Did you notice what concerned them? Ceremonial washing of hands. Did you get the idea that just anything, anything would do to accuse YESHUA and His followers? I think things have not changed. 

The LORD also addressed defilement with his Disciples. He made it clear it is not what we take into the stomach that defiles us. It is what our heart erupts into actions. Did you read the list of things that make a person unclean? 

21 For from within, out of a person’s heart, come forth wicked thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 greed, malice, deceit, indecency, envy, slander, arrogance, foolishness…. 23 All these wicked things come from within, and they make a person unclean.” source 

Another Scripture comes to mind that I am grateful to pair with this.

1 Corinthians 6:11  King James Version  11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.  

Do you see why?

Also in this Chapter, a woman of Greek descent – not a Jew — came to Him to heal her daughter. More specifically to drive out a demon. 
He tested her faith so she could see what she was made of. She passed! 
Her daughter was made whole.One more verse before I close. It’s so important.
A verse we need to more than commit to memory, a verse that we lean on to guard us daily.

37 People were overcome with amazement. “Everything he does, he does well!” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak!” 
source

See it? 

EVERYTHING He does. EVERYTHING.
He does ALL things well! 
He makes NO mistakes with YOU.  Or me. 

Father GOD, Thank You for Mark 7. Thank You for every WORD You breathed for us.  YOU do ALL things well. I am grateful. I am also grateful 1 Corinthians 6:11 is true; a true experience for me personally, and for every other man, woman, or child who has received Your Salvation.  If there are Readers here that have yet to receive Your gift of deliverance, it is my desire that You in mercy and grace will draw them to Yourself and enable them to trust You. Others who come here no doubt have needs of comfort, healing, strength, even confidence that You are willing to care for them; wisdom and discernment to resolve issues, relationships, just navigating this life in general. I know You are willing, please enable us to receive Your provisions for all our needs. Of all things here that are important, Father, I pray people will do a 180; that they will turn from sin TO YOU for forgiveness and deliverance from all evil. 
2022, Gospel of Mark, Praying with my Sisters and Brothers in Holy Faith, Questions

Five O’clock

Leave a comment

LORD willing I will be reading Mark 7 today.
Will you?
What’s your Go-To, Most Often Read Translation? 

As my regular readers have likely deduced I write and the next day the post goes live. 
Today, however, I have been wordier than usual, meaning I have already posted twice today (actually that is 3 times if you count KWT’s Back Page Musings) and now I have nothing for tomorrow, actually meaning today. :) 
Unless this that I am keying right now turns into something worth taking live. 

It’s nearly Five O’clock, Monday afternoon here in LA. 
(for those that may not know that’s Lower Alabama :) )
The rays of the sun have dropped from view; the house is quiet. Lunch was late so dinner is at the not hungry place. 
Technology has been good to me today. Phone calls and/or Text chats with daughters and friends. An encouraging message from a Teacher I catch from time to time. Articles I’ve read that told me what I needed to know even if I didn’t want to know.
And that lunch I spoke of – was broccoli cheese soup. It tasted good but the texture was off. Next time I’ll do better.
Texture matters. 

There should be a message in that I suppose but this evening, there isn’t. 

So let me end this silliness and pray for us.

Father GOD, thank You. Thank You for the gift of humor, written or face to face. As Mark 7 is read today, I ask You to enlighten us; change us as You will. You know I am not privy to who comes to this page but You are and You know their troubles. You know their sorrows. You know their gifts and joys. You know what events, happenings, words, songs, and messages are coming their way today; so I pray that in all these things that they will lean hard on You and experience Your faithfulness. I ask You to supply all their needs according to CHRIST JESUS. As best I know how I speak encouragement, hope, peace, and vision over them. And, Father, especially those with broken hearts, I pray for healing and mending. 

2021, Just Chatty Today, Questions

Socks and Cards

2 Comments

Greeting Cards.

We don’t send or give as many as we used to. 
Especially the handwritten message inside the card kind. 

What brought this on?
A sock drawer. No kidding. Cleaning out a sock drawer.

Tucked away in the sock drawer along with socks, socks, and more socks were cards, cards, and more cards. 
Years of cards. 
Some of those cards or envelopes contained hand-written notes.
Some of those strokes of ink came from people who today do not travel earth’s sod. 
To see words written to us by their own hand — well, it’s pretty special. 

Did we keep every card?
Well, no we didn’t.
But more than a few we did.
As I said to J. we can’t discard hand-written messages. Those who took the time and care to pick up a pen, apply it to paper and send it on its way – that message is meant to be treasured.  At least by us – those who come behind us may find File 13 is completely appropriate. 

My point?
Written words live on. We need to write more, I think. 
To those we love. 
To those who have encouraged us.
To those, we want to encourage.

Letter writing was once a beautiful, fine art.
We paid attention to paper style, ink color, and its feel as it flowed onto the parchment, appearance, content. All these things we deemed important — once.
Why did we abandon this lovely expression of friendship and love? 

Who can you send a hand-written message of love and encouragement to today? 
Who can I? 

 

Father, today’s post on its surface is light; certainly not a heavy-lifter but it is my hope that You can use it to encourage us. To encourage us to make personal, meaningful connections with one another. To put it in writing when someone gives us a reason to smile. You, obviously, think written words are important. And speaking of Your Written Word, help us to neither add to nor subtract away from Your Holy Word but always treasure, cherish, and share Your WORD with each other. 
So I ask that each Reader who comes to this page today or for as long as this account remains that You will take a reading on their hearts, dig deep into their needs and bring them healing, relief, peace, joy, rescue, deliverance — whatever it is, Father. Thank You for loving us and always hearing us when we pray in and because of the Merits of Your Son, JESUS The CHRIST.