Tag Archives: NASB

Christian Living, KWT Paraphrasing

Dish for Dish

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In the quiet of this morning doing morning blessings I heard Chuck Swindoll. He was speaking of kindness. Random acts of kindness. And with that, Scripture came to mind. I did not recall it verbatim nor even its Bible Address, but I got the message.

Here’s where I started.

What do ye more than they?

It’s the LORD speaking to the people reasoning with them that loving those who love you is no fine accomplishment. Loving those who hate you is the standard. And so when we dish back what is dished to us the question is WHAT DO YE MORE THAN THEY?

How different are we from the ones who railed upon us when we render railing back to them?

It’s a good question – JESUS asked it? How will I answer it? How will you answer it?

Matthew 5:

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’
44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
47 If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
48 Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
via Matthew 5 NASB – The Sermon on the Mount; The Beatitudes – Bible Gateway.

The Apostle Paul took his cues from JESUS and got in on the instructions too. We are only wise when we heed.

Romans 12:17 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.
via Rom 12:17 NASB – Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. – Bible Gateway.

Random acts of kindness, deliberate acts of kindness in response to deliberate acts of meanness, oh ABBA, what a huge and perfect standard. None of us are capable of doing it, but YOU LORD JESUS enable us. Thank You. What an honor and a privilege and a joy it is to rise above the normal and embrace Your enable-ment to do right in the midst of wrong. That is what I want. It is for that I pray for myself and for each who come here to read and pray. And in our coming to You this morning we bring our needs and the needs of others. Take a reading, LORD, on our hearts. See all the needs, see all the ills and disease and weaknesses, hidden and plain, and work miracles in us and through us. Heal our sick and raise the spiritually dead we pray. Amen and . . . .   .

We have the God-given Right to do right in this wrong World,
Praying (PFT)!

Guests

Since

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I have not written a word until just now since yesterday and since my beloved read something so good to me from Guidepost this morning, even though it is last year’s reading, I thought you would not mind if I shared it with you for our time at the screen this morning.

The writer is Mary Lou Carney. And she said:

I like gardens–not gardening. I am good at planting, usually in a rush of adrenaline brought on by seed catalogs with blossoms bursting off the page. But when the blush of the moment fades, I tend to forget about my flowers. And as time goes by, weeds grow and my garden begins to look, well . . . ragged.

My friend, Desila, on the other hand, likes gardening. Her beds are beautiful, her blossoms huge and richly colored. So I had to laugh the other day when she showed up with something for my flowerbed–a flat, gray stone that read ‘MY GARDEN WAS AT ITS BEST LAST WEEK, SORRY YOU MISSED IT.

I think the rock was meant to motivate me to take better care of my flowers. But it’s done more than that. It’s made me think about the way people perceive my actions, too. That moment when I’m short-tempered with a waitress, the times my driving gets too aggressive, the laugh I have at the expense of someone else. These things don’t occur often–but when they do, I want to say, “Wait, I looked better last week when I was doing church volunteer work. When I was letting that hassled mother go ahead of me in the grocery store line. You should have seen me when . . .”

My well-placed stone reminds me that life, like gardens, requires ongoing care. And you never know who’s looking to see just how well you’re blooming.

Master Gardener, weed from my life all that is ugly and selfish. Let me grow strong and tall in the beauty of Your love.  —- Mary Lou Carney.

I can and do amen that prayer! How about you?

Thank you for your prayers and expressed concerns for Sheila. The nausea is controlled now and she was able to take in some liquids – chicken broth and jello yesterday. We rejoiced!

1 Peter 2:23-25 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;
24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
25 For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.
via 1 Peter 2:23-25 NASB – and while being reviled, He did not – Bible Gateway.

We have the God-given Right to do right in this wrong World,
Praying (PFT)!

Passion Week

Day 6

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Passion Week

With the daylight the dark trials continued

3rd Religious Trial

Luke 22:66-71 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Jesus before the Sanhedrin
66 When it was day, the Council of elders of the people assembled, both chief priests and scribes, and they led Him away to their council chamber, saying,
67 “If You are the Christ, tell us.” But He said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe;
68 and if I ask a question, you will not answer.
69 But from now on THE SON OF MAN WILL BE SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND of the power OF GOD.”
70 And they all said, “Are You the Son of God, then?” And He said to them, “Yes, I am.”
71 Then they said, “What further need do we have of testimony? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth.”
via Matthew 27:1-2;Mark 15:1; Luke 22:66-71 NASB – Judas’s Remorse – Now when morning – Bible Gateway.

Matthew 27:1-2 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
1 Now when morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus to put Him to death;
2 and they bound Him, and led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate the governor.
via Matthew 27:1-2;Mark 15:1; Luke 22:66-71 NASB – Judas’s Remorse – Now when morning – Bible Gateway.

Mark 15:1 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
1 Early in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes and the whole Council, immediately held a consultation; and binding Jesus, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate.
via Matthew 27:1-2;Mark 15:1; Luke 22:66-71 NASB – Judas’s Remorse – Now when morning – Bible Gateway.

Judas’ remorse and Suicide
see Matthew 27:3-10; Acts 1:18-19

1st Civil Trial – 6:00 AM before Pilate
see Matthew 27:11-14; Mark 15:2-5; Luke 23:1-5; John 18:28-38
and when you read Luke’s account note how they twist and lie about what JESUS said regarding tribute to Caesar (taxes). Also note that Pilate ignored the tax issue and went straight to asking Him if He was a KING?

2nd Civil Trial
see Luke 23:6-12
Pilate perceived that JESUS was a Galilean which placed Him in Herod’s jurisdiction; he (Pilate) was glad to pass Him off to Herod and Herod was very glad to have JESUS appear before him. Herod had been wanting to see JESUS for some time. He wanted JESUS to perform a sign or two for him.

3rd Civil Trial
see Matthew 27:15-26; Mark 15:6-15; Luke 23:13-25; John 18:39-40
Verse 18 of Matthew 27 is of interest: Pilate knew the people handed JESUS over because of envy.  And the people shouted for Barabbas to be released and JESUS to be crucified.

Conclusion of trial – mocking and final condemnation
see Matthew 27:27-31; Mark 15:16-19; John 19:1-16
And he handed Him over to be crucified.

JESUS’ walk to Golgotha
see Matthew 27:32-34; Mark 15:20-23; Luke 23:26-32; John 19:17
Luke gives us the most details of the walk and John? John said only this:

John 19:17 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
17 They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha.
via Matthew 27:32-34; Mark 15:20-23; Luke 23:26-32; John 19:17 NASB – As they were coming out, they found a – Bible Gateway.

And yet John did not leave HIS side; he was there at Golgotha with JESUS. John was there when JESUS died.

First 3 hours on the cross — 9:00 AM to NOON
see Matthew 27:35-44; Mark 15:24-32; Luke 23:33-43; John 19:18-27
Here they mocked Him more, they divided His garments, they cast lots for His robe and He prayed Father forgive them for they know not what they do and He made provisions with John for His mother.
Any soul that does not love this JESUS, does not KNOW this JESUS!

“Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”

via Matthew 27:35-44; Mark 15:24-32; Luke 23:33-43; John 19:18-27 NASB – And when they had crucified Him, they – Bible Gateway.

Second 3 hours on the cross – Noon to 3:00 PM
see Matthew 27:45-50; Mark 15:33-37; Luke 23:44-46; John 19:28-37

34 At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?” which is translated, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?”

via Matthew 27:45-50; Mark 15:33-37; Luke 23:44-46; John 19:28-37 NASB – Now from the sixth hour darkness fell – Bible Gateway.

And it was at that point the full weight of my sin and your sin was upon HIM.

2 Corinthians 5:21 21st Century King James Version (KJ21)
21For He hath made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
via 2 cor 5:21 KJ21 – For He hath made Him who knew no sin to – Bible Gateway.

And to this I must ask of any soul still rejecting HIM: Seeing this, do you persistent in your rejection of HIM; and, if so, do you not see your rejection of His Sacrifice for you does indeed make you worthy of eternal hell?

Phenomenal Happenings
see Matthew 27:51-56; Mark 15:38-41; Luke 23:47-49
The veil in the Temple was torn from TOP to Bottom

39 When the centurion, who was standing right in front of Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”
via Matthew 27:51-56; Mark 15:38-41; Luke 23:47-49 NASB – And behold, the veil of the temple was – Bible Gateway.

Tombs opened and bodies came forth after JESUS Resurrection – you know what that means don’t you?

Burial of the Body of JESUS
see Matthew 27:57-61; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42

And the day closes on devastated people, particularly a Momma BUT Sunday’s  a coming!!

And, ABBA, all our hopes, all our faith, all our assurances hang upon JESUS’ Resurrection and we are sure, as sure as those who saw with their physical eyes because, HOLY SPIRIT, You have given sight to the eyes of our hearts and we KNOW. We know for sure He’s Alive. HE is alive! And we are forgiven!  Thank You. Thank You for giving us the Revelation of JESUS THE CHRIST. Thank You, JESUS, for making Yourself known to us. Thank You. Thank You.

We have the God-given Right to do right in this wrong World,
Praying (PFT)!

Passion Week

Day 4

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Passion Week

For my posts this week I am following a chart provided to me by a dear Sister who received it from a local theologian (Dr. Dale Younce), as well as my copy of The Reese Chronological Bible. And these sources indicate that Day 4, Wednesday, compared to previous days was relatively quiet in the early hours of the day. However,  in the PM Religious Leaders got down to some real plotting to kill JESUS.

Mark 14:1-2 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Death Plot
1 Now the Passover and Unleavened Bread were two days away; and the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to seize Him by stealth and kill Him;
2 for they were saying, “Not during the festival, otherwise there might be a riot of the people.”
via Matthew 26:1-5; Mark 14:1-2; Luke 22:1-2 NASB – The Plot to Kill Jesus – When Jesus had – Bible Gateway.

And then came the scandalous anointing.

Mark 14:3-9 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
3 While He was in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper, and reclining at the table, there came a woman with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume of pure nard; and she broke the vial and poured it over His head.
4 But some were indignantly remarking to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted?
5 For this perfume might have been sold for over three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they were scolding her.
6 But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you bother her? She has done a good deed to Me.
7 For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me.
8 She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial.
9 Truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.”
via Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9 NASB – The Precious Ointment – Now when Jesus – Bible Gateway.

Research provided the value of ONE denarii at the time: a day’s wage for workers and Roman Troops. Yet this bottle of perfume was not a day’s pay it was 300 days’ pay! And she did not withhold a drop of it! She broke the vial and gave it all! Can you imagine the holiness that would permeate this land if all who name the Name of CHRIST as their Savior were as generous as this Woman?  Can we even fathom how much she loved Him?  Can we even get a glimpse of what this meant to JESUS in His sinless humanity? He knew her heart; He knew her motives; He knew the love she was demonstrating.  In my sanctified imagination, I think the aroma of this costly oil remained in His hair, in His beard (what they left of it), and as He was beaten and mocked and as He walked to Calvary and as He bore my sin and your sin and her sin, He remembered her love for Him. It was a solace to Him.

YES! She did a very good deed indeed! I want to talk with her and thank her one day, don’t you?

ABBA, I am so grateful to have this account of this Woman who loved JESUS so much; grateful for the account to read and more grateful that she actually did it. I am looking forward to talking with her and thanking her someday. Thank You, HOLY SPIRIT, for recording this for us. And today, HOLY SPIRIT, reveal to us more and more this Sacrifice that You made for us, JESUS. Help us give ourselves more and more in love with You, JESUS. Thank You, for every step You took, LORD, for every Word You spoke, for every deed You did not just in this Passion Week but for all eternity. Thank You, LORD, thank You. Amen and . . .   .

We have the God-given Right to do right in this wrong World,
Praying (PFT)!