I’ve been enjoying the instruction of a writer workshop from our local community college. One tip they shared was how to find the point of your thought by rewriting it 4-5 different times.

Jesus was a master communicator. He said the same thing four times in this passage: 1. By following tradition and hometown communication, God was speaking clearly to the people. 2. Proclaiming that the scriptural truth was fulfilled in their hearing, the Son of Man was speaking without parable. 3. By acknowledging their doubt due to his humble beginnings, Jesus was honest with them. 4. By providing two examples of OT miracles substantiating His point that they were also unable to receive the miracles (as their forefathers did in the time of Elijah and Elisha). His argument was finally understood.

The crowd dynamic was intent on killing Jesus. He then did a miracle in the midst of their doubt and escaped unharmed. Did any believe? Is it only the outsider who truly asks for a miracle who is capable of receiving it?

-Teresa #yourpoint,Lord? #recognizeHisfavor #donotdoubt

Luke 4: 16-27 (ESV)

16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

22 And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” 23 And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘“Physician, heal yourself.” What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’” 24 And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown.

25 But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, 26 and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.

27 And there were many lepers[a] in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” 28 When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. 29 And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. 30 But passing through their midst, he went away.

Photo from Pexels.com

When I first started making soap (many years ago), I was suprised to learn that the base (or soapy component) for this chemistry experiment was first obtained from sacrificial ashes.

The passage below from the book of Numbers re- iterates the use of the ashes as part of the purification ritual.

What can make us clean? Is it the rituals we keep, the company we associate with or the internal climate of our minds?

The ashes of the sacrifice blessed by the priest were kept in a clean place for the water for impurity for the people.

I John 1:7 (NIV)

But if we walk in the light,

 as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all

 sin.

Psalm 51:7 (NIV)

7 Cleanse me with hyssop,and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Numbers 19:1-10 (ESV)

19 Now the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2 “This is the statute of the law that the Lord has commanded: Tell the people of Israel to bring you a red heifer without defect, in which there is no blemish, and on which a yoke has never come. 3 And you shall give it to Eleazar the priest, and it shall be taken outside the camp and slaughtered before him. 4 And Eleazar the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger, and sprinkle some of its blood toward the front of the tent of meeting seven times. 5 And the heifer shall be burned in his sight. Its skin, its flesh, and its blood, with its dung, shall be burned. 6 And the priest shall take cedarwood and hyssop and scarlet yarn, and throw them into the fire burning the heifer. 7 Then the priest shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward he may come into the camp. But the priest shall be unclean until evening. 8 The one who burns the heifer shall wash his clothes in water and bathe his body in water and shall be unclean until evening. 9 And a man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer and deposit them outside the camp in a clean place. And they shall be kept for the water for impurity for the congregation of the people of Israel; it is a sin offering. 10 And the one who gathers the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening. And this shall be a perpetual statute for the people of Israel, and for the stranger who sojourns among them.

* pics from pyxels.com

The descendants of Israel gifted carts and oxen as an offering to GOD to assist with the transport of the tabernacle. Their nomadic life centered around the worship of Yahweh in the tabernacle. Moses met with God there.

There was one group of priests, the Kohathites, who had to carry their part of the transport. No oxen to pull the burden. No cart to shoulder the load.

…because it was holy!!

If something is holy or significant, the bearer of the burden must take extra care to set it apart- consecrated for His service. – Teresa #itmaynotbeasy #butitsglorious

Numbers 11:1-7 (ESV)

7 On the day when Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle and had anointed and consecrated it with all its furnishings and had anointed and consecrated the altar with all its utensils, 2 the chiefs of Israel, heads of their fathers’ houses, who were the chiefs of the tribes, who were over those who were listed, approached 3 and brought their offerings before the Lord, six wagons and twelve oxen, a wagon for every two of the chiefs, and for each one an ox. They brought them before the tabernacle. 4 Then the Lord said to Moses, 5 “Accept these from them, that they may be used in the service of the tent of meeting, and give them to the Levites, to each man according to his service.” 6 So Moses took the wagons and the oxen and gave them to the Levites. 7 Two wagons and four oxen he gave to the sons of Gershon, according to their service. 8 And four wagons and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. 9 But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because they were charged with the service of the holy things that had to be carried on the shoulder. 10 And the chiefs offered offerings for the dedication of the altar on the day it was anointed; and the chiefs offered their offering before the altar. 11 And the Lord said to Moses, “They shall offer their offerings, one chief each day, for the dedication of the altar.”

Tossing at night

https://ann54321kids.wordpress.com/2021/02/27/tossing-at-night/
— Read on ann54321kids.wordpress.com/2021/02/27/tossing-at-night/

Why do we have issues with sleeping when our mind is too busy?

I was tossing for a short time last night and then started praying. God reminded me of a song my daughter sent to me a few months back by Delirious- Every Little Thing. Listen here Delirious?

This immediately relaxed me and made me grateful that we have a God who cares about all the little details of our lives.

Psalm 43: 5

5 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.

Take the leap of faith and remember greater things are still ahead. – Teresa

*photos from Pexels.com

A heart’s treasure

https://ann54321kids.wordpress.com/2019/04/07/a-hearts-treasure/
— Read on ann54321kids.wordpress.com/2019/04/07/a-hearts-treasure/

The Lord’s purpose fulfilled

https://ann54321kids.wordpress.com/2018/12/19/the-lords-purpose-fulfilled/
— Read on ann54321kids.wordpress.com/2018/12/19/the-lords-purpose-fulfilled/

Comforted

https://ann54321kids.wordpress.com/2019/09/13/comfort-my-people/
— Read on ann54321kids.wordpress.com/2019/09/13/comfort-my-people/

Psalm 34:1-10 (ESV)

1 I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together!
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,
for those who fear him have no lack!
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger;
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

Footnotes

Psalm 34:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet

+ Paraphrase from the author…

This poor woman cried, and the Lord heard her. He delivered her from all her troubles!!! -Teresa

😊 🙏 ☺️

Photo by August de Richelieu

When we have a chance to take good care of those entrusted to our spiritual care, God is praised. We may need to provide physically but be certain not to forget the spiritual component. When the Son of Man returns, will he find faith on the earth?

– Teresa

# Luke 18:8

Matthew 24: 45-51 (ESV) 45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant,[b] whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants[c] and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.