Topsy-turvey

There are truly wonderful lessons from the world around us... if we will only LOOK!  And so it is with this simple glass at sunset.  The liquid in the glass reflects the surroundings, but in reverse.  Which tells me that there is more than one way of looking at something.  This of course is understanding and who better to relate to in this matter than Solomon....

  1 The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:
  2 to know wisdom and instruction;
to discern the words of understanding;
  3 to receive instruction in wise dealing,
in righteousness, justice, and equity;
  4 to give prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the young man:

  5 that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning;
that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel:
  6 to understand a proverb, and parables,
the words and riddles of the wise.

  7 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge;
but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
  8 My son, listen to your father’s instruction,
and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching:
  9 for they will be a garland to grace your head,
and chains around your neck.

Understanding is more than just "book learning"!!!  To begin to understand others means beginning to see things as others see them.  Sometimes other people understand things completely opposite of your thoughts and frankly, this drives me crazy.  Rather than just get mad, I try to appreciate their point of view; even when it is obviously wrong.  Truthfully, often there are good reasons why people think as they do and listening goes a long way to coming to a mutual agreement.  This works fine for human interaction, but interplay with the divine is something else.  We are not on equal footing; God is absolute, we are NOT!!!  While the underlined verses above work well with human thinking, verse seven is really the key in this passage.  If your foundation is based on God's word, you have the beginning of wisdom.  He will turn all your up-side-down thinking straight and put you on the right path.  I promise you... the world will never seem the same again!!!!

May 16 Joshua 13, 14

May 16

Joshua 13, 14

Jos 13:1 Now Joshua was old and well advanced in years. Yahweh said to him, "You are old and advanced in years, and there remains yet very much land to be possessed.

Jos 13:2 This is the land that still remains: all the regions of the Philistines, and all the Geshurites;

Jos 13:3 from the Shihor, which is before Egypt, even to the border of Ekron northward, which is counted as Canaanite; the five lords of the Philistines; the Gazites, and the Ashdodites, the Ashkelonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avvim,

Jos 13:4 on the south; all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that belongs to the Sidonians, to Aphek, to the border of the Amorites;

Jos 13:5 and the land of the Gebalites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrise, from Baal Gad under Mount Hermon to the entrance of Hamath;

Jos 13:6 all the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim, even all the Sidonians; them will I drive out from before the children of Israel: only allocate it to Israel for an inheritance, as I have commanded you.

Jos 13:7 Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance to the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh."

Jos 13:8 With him the Reubenites and the Gadites received their inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond the Jordan eastward, even as Moses the servant of Yahweh gave them:

Jos 13:9 from Aroer, that is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the valley, and all the plain of Medeba to Dibon;

Jos 13:10 and all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, to the border of the children of Ammon;

Jos 13:11 and Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maacathites, and all Mount Hermon, and all Bashan to Salecah;

Jos 13:12 all the kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei (the same was left of the remnant of the Rephaim); for Moses attacked these, and drove them out.

Jos 13:13 Nevertheless the children of Israel didn't drive out the Geshurites, nor the Maacathites: but Geshur and Maacath dwell in the midst of Israel to this day.

Jos 13:14 Only he gave no inheritance to the tribe of Levi. The offerings of Yahweh, the God of Israel, made by fire are his inheritance, as he spoke to him.

Jos 13:15 Moses gave to the tribe of the children of Reuben according to their families.

Jos 13:16 Their border was from Aroer, that is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the valley, and all the plain by Medeba;

Jos 13:17 Heshbon, and all its cities that are in the plain; Dibon, Bamoth Baal, Beth Baal Meon,

Jos 13:18 Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath,

Jos 13:19 Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth Shahar in the mount of the valley,

Jos 13:20 Beth Peor, the slopes of Pisgah, Beth Jeshimoth,

Jos 13:21 all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses struck with the chiefs of Midian, Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the princes of Sihon, who lived in the land.

Jos 13:22 The children of Israel alse killed Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, with the sword, among the rest of their slain.

Jos 13:23 The border of the children of Reuben was the bank of the Jordan. This was the inheritance of the children of Reuben according to their families, the cities and its villages.

Jos 13:24 Moses gave to the tribe of Gad, to the children of Gad, according to their families.

Jos 13:25 Their border was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the children of Ammon, to Aroer that is before Rabbah;

Jos 13:26 and from Heshbon to Ramath Mizpeh, and Betonim; and from Mahanaim to the border of Debir;

Jos 13:27 and in the valley, Beth Haram, Beth Nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, the Jordan's bank, to the uttermost part of the sea of Chinnereth beyond the Jordan eastward.

Jos 13:28 This is the inheritance of the children of Gad according to their families, the cities and its villages.

Jos 13:29 Moses gave an inheritance to the half-tribe of Manasseh. It was for the half-tribe of the children of Manasseh according to their families.

Jos 13:30 Their border was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the towns of Jair, which are in Bashan, sixty cities.

Jos 13:31 Half Gilead, Ashtaroth, and Edrei, the cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were for the children of Machir the son of Manasseh, even for the half of the children of Machir according to their families.

Jos 13:32 These are the inheritances which Moses distributed in the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan at Jericho, eastward.

Jos 13:33 But to the tribe of Levi Moses gave no inheritance. Yahweh, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as he spoke to them.

Jos 14:1 These are the inheritances which the children of Israel took in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers' houses of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed to them,

Jos 14:2 by the lot of their inheritance, as Yahweh commanded by Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half-tribe.

Jos 14:3 For Moses had given the inheritance of the two tribes and the half-tribe beyond the Jordan; but to the Levites he gave no inheritance among them.

Jos 14:4 For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim: and they gave no portion to the Levites in the land, except cities to dwell in, with their suburbs for their livestock and for their property.

Jos 14:5 The children of Israel did as Yahweh commanded Moses, and they divided the land.

Jos 14:6 Then the children of Judah drew near to Joshua in Gilgal. Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, "You know the thing that Yahweh spoke to Moses the man of God concerning me and concerning you in Kadesh Barnea.

Jos 14:7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of Yahweh sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land. I brought him word again as it was in my heart.

Jos 14:8 Nevertheless, my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt; but I wholly followed Yahweh my God.

Jos 14:9 Moses swore on that day, saying, 'Surely the land where you walked shall be an inheritance to you and to your children forever, because you have wholly followed Yahweh my God.'

Jos 14:10 Now, behold, Yahweh has kept me alive, as he spoke, these forty-five years, from the time that Yahweh spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. Now, behold, I am eighty-five years old, today.

Jos 14:11 As yet I am as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now for war, to go out and to come in.

Jos 14:12 Now therefore give me this hill country, of which Yahweh spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and great and fortified cities. It may be that Yahweh will be with me, and I shall drive them out, as Yahweh spoke."

Jos 14:13 Joshua blessed him; and he gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance.

Jos 14:14 Therefore Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day; because he wholly followed Yahweh, the God of Israel.

Jos 14:15 Now the name of Hebron before was Kiriath Arba, after the greatest man among the Anakim. The land had rest from war.

May 16, 17 John 1

May 16, 17

John 1

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.

Joh 1:3 All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made.

Joh 1:4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

Joh 1:5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn't overcome it.

Joh 1:6 There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John.

Joh 1:7 The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him.

Joh 1:8 He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light.

Joh 1:9 The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world.

Joh 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn't recognize him.

Joh 1:11 He came to his own, and those who were his own didn't receive him.

Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God's children, to those who believe in his name:

Joh 1:13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Joh 1:14 The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Joh 1:15 John testified about him. He cried out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.' "

Joh 1:16 From his fullness we all received grace upon grace.

Joh 1:17 For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Joh 1:18 No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.

Joh 1:19 This is John's testimony, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"

Joh 1:20 He confessed, and didn't deny, but he confessed, "I am not the Christ."

Joh 1:21 They asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" He answered, "No."

Joh 1:22 They said therefore to him, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"

Joh 1:23 He said, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as Isaiah the prophet said."

Joh 1:24 The ones who had been sent were from the Pharisees.

Joh 1:25 They asked him, "Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?"

Joh 1:26 John answered them, "I baptize in water, but among you stands one whom you don't know.

Joh 1:27 He is the one who comes after me, who is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I'm not worthy to loosen."

Joh 1:28 These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Joh 1:29 The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Joh 1:30 This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who is preferred before me, for he was before me.'

Joh 1:31 I didn't know him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water: that he would be revealed to Israel."

Joh 1:32 John testified, saying, "I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him.

Joh 1:33 I didn't recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water, he said to me, 'On whomever you will see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.'

Joh 1:34 I have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God."

Joh 1:35 Again, the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples,

Joh 1:36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!"

Joh 1:37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

Joh 1:38 Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, being interpreted, Teacher), "where are you staying?"

Joh 1:39 He said to them, "Come, and see." They came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about the tenth hour.

Joh 1:40 One of the two who heard John, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.

Joh 1:41 He first found his own brother, Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah!" (which is, being interpreted, Christ).

Joh 1:42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas" (which is by interpretation, Peter).

Joh 1:43 On the next day, he was determined to go out into Galilee, and he found Philip. Jesus said to him, "Follow me."

Joh 1:44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter.

Joh 1:45 Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, "We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, wrote: Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."

Joh 1:46 Nathanael said to him, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."

Joh 1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said about him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!"

Joh 1:48 Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."

Joh 1:49 Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are King of Israel!"

Joh 1:50 Jesus answered him, "Because I told you, 'I saw you underneath the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these!"

Joh 1:51 He said to him, "Most certainly, I tell you, hereafter you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW" Chapter Twenty-Eight by Mark Copeland

                       "THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"

                          Chapter Twenty-Eight

On the first day of the week following His crucifixion, Jesus rose from
the dead on the first day of the week and appeared first to the two
Marys, giving them instructions for the disciples to meet Him in Galilee
(1-10).  Meanwhile the chief priests and elders bribed the soldiers to
say that the disciples stole the body (11-15).  When the disciples met
Jesus in Galilee, He charged them to go and make disciples of all the
nations (16-20).

POINTS TO PONDER

   *  The circumstances of Jesus’ resurrection

   *  The details of the Great Commission

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - The resurrection of Jesus - Mt 28:1-10
   - The soldiers are bribed - Mt 28:11-15
   - The Great Commission - Mt 28:16-20

2) Who came to the tomb at dawn on the first day of the week? (1)
   - Mary Magdalene and the "other" Mary (cf. Mt 27:56,61)

3) What had happened by the time they got there? (2)
   - An earthquake, and the stone from the door removed by an angel of
     the Lord

4) What were the two women instructed by the angel to do? (7)
   - Tell Jesus’ disciples that He is risen from the dead and for them
     to go to Galilee

5) Who appeared to the two women on their way to the disciples? (9-10)
   - Jesus Himself, who gave them the same instructions as did the angel

6) What makes the soldiers’ lie about the body of Jesus fatally flawed?
   (13)
   - If the soldiers were asleep, how did they know it was the
     disciples?

7) When the disciples saw Jesus in Galilee, what was their reaction?
   (16-17)
   - They worshiped Him (cf. Mt 28:9), though some doubted

8) What did Jesus claim had been given to Him? (18)
   - All authority in heaven and on earth

9) What did Jesus charge His disciples to do?  What did that involve?
   (19-20)
   - To go and make disciples of all nations; baptizing and teaching

10) What did Jesus promise His disciples? (20)
   - "I am with you always, even to the end of the age."