Just a butterfly...

I woke up before dawn today and started to work on the computer before 7 am.  Life is both variable and strange during retirement.  Right now, this cup of coffee looks great to me.  Not just because its coffee, but because of the little something extra; the butterfly.  Somehow, this simple addition makes it enticing.  And then Jesus does this...

WEB: Matthew Chapter 19

[13] Then little children were brought to him, that he should lay his hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. [14] But Jesus said, "“Allow the little children, and don’t forbid them to come to me; for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to ones like these.”" [15] He laid his hands on them, and departed from there.

There is so much in the Bible that it is almost beyond belief (no pun intended).  Even though I have been through it many times, still, I always manage to find something new.  It has concepts in it that almost defy understanding (read the book of Revelation lately?) and yet its simplicity is also profound.  The above passage from Matthew is an example.  Little children belong in the Kingdom of Heaven; now there is a thought!!!  Scribes and Pharisees, with all their intellect and religious studies fell short, but CHILDREN DIDN'T!!!  Tells you something about SIMPLE FAITH, DOESN'T IT?  That's today's thought... simple faith and the simple beauty of a cup of coffee (with a butterfly).  If God gave me a cup of coffee in heaven, I wonder what design he would put on it????

Feb. 29 Exodus 10

Feb. 29

Exodus 10

Exo 10:1 Yahweh said to Moses, "Go in to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I may show these my signs in the midst of them,

Exo 10:2 and that you may tell in the hearing of your son, and of your son's son, what things I have done to Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that you may know that I am Yahweh."

Exo 10:3 Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and said to him, "This is what Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, says: 'How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, that they may serve me.

Exo 10:4 Or else, if you refuse to let my people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your country,

Exo 10:5 and they shall cover the surface of the earth, so that one won't be able to see the earth. They shall eat the residue of that which has escaped, which remains to you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which grows for you out of the field.

Exo 10:6 Your houses shall be filled, and the houses of all your servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians; as neither your fathers nor your fathers' fathers have seen, since the day that they were on the earth to this day.' " He turned, and went out from Pharaoh.

Exo 10:7 Pharaoh's servants said to him, "How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve Yahweh, their God. Don't you yet know that Egypt is destroyed?"

Exo 10:8 Moses and Aaron were brought again to Pharaoh, and he said to them, "Go, serve Yahweh your God; but who are those who will go?"

Exo 10:9 Moses said, "We will go with our young and with our old; with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go; for we must hold a feast to Yahweh."

Exo 10:10 He said to them, "Yahweh be with you if I will let you go with your little ones! See, evil is clearly before your faces.

Exo 10:11 Not so! Go now you who are men, and serve Yahweh; for that is what you desire!" They were driven out from Pharaoh's presence.

Exo 10:12 Yahweh said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up on the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail has left."

Exo 10:13 Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and Yahweh brought an east wind on the land all that day, and all the night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.

Exo 10:14 The locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the borders of Egypt. They were very grievous. Before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such.

Exo 10:15 For they covered the surface of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened, and they ate every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left. There remained nothing green, either tree or herb of the field, through all the land of Egypt.

Exo 10:16 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste, and he said, "I have sinned against Yahweh your God, and against you.

Exo 10:17 Now therefore please forgive my sin again, and pray to Yahweh your God, that he may also take away from me this death."

Exo 10:18 He went out from Pharaoh, and prayed to Yahweh.

Exo 10:19 Yahweh turned an exceeding strong west wind, which took up the locusts, and drove them into the Red Sea. There remained not one locust in all the borders of Egypt.

Exo 10:20 But Yahweh hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he didn't let the children of Israel go.

Exo 10:21 Yahweh said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt."

Exo 10:22 Moses stretched forth his hand toward the sky, and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days.

Exo 10:23 They didn't see one another, neither did anyone rise from his place for three days; but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.

Exo 10:24 Pharaoh called to Moses, and said, "Go, serve Yahweh. Only let your flocks and your herds stay behind. Let your little ones also go with you."

Exo 10:25 Moses said, "You must also give into our hand sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to Yahweh our God.

Exo 10:26 Our livestock also shall go with us. There shall not a hoof be left behind, for of it we must take to serve Yahweh our God; and we don't know with what we must serve Yahweh, until we come there."

Exo 10:27 But Yahweh hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he wouldn't let them go.

Exo 10:28 Pharaoh said to him, "Get away from me! Be careful to see my face no more; for in the day you see my face you shall die!"

Exo 10:29 Moses said, "You have spoken well. I will see your face again no more."

"THE BOOK OF PSALMS" Psalm 15 - The Marks Of A True Worshiper by Mark Copeland

 "THE BOOK OF PSALMS"

               Psalm 15 - The Marks Of A True Worshiper

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS PSALM

1) To note the character of those whom God would have worship Him

2) To be reminded of basic principles of righteous conduct required by
   God

SUMMARY

The heading attributes this psalm to David, and may have been written
in anticipation of the ark's restoration to Israel and establishment of
public worship in Jerusalem (cf. 2Sa 6:1-19).  It is didactic in
nature, and is entitled by Leupold as "The Marks Of A True Worshiper."

The psalm begins with two questions addressed to Jehovah (LORD),
perhaps prompted by the incident involving Uzzah touching the ark when
it was being transported improperly on the back of a cart (cf. 2 Sam
6:3-7; Num 4:5-15; 7:9).  Since no one could actually take up residence
in the tabernacle, the inquiry could be paraphrased "Whom will You
accept when he comes to Your house, O Lord?" (1).

The answer provided begins with a general description of a true
worshiper as one who walks uprightly and works righteousness.  More
specifically, the true worshiper is one who does not lie (cf. Ep 4:25),
backbite with his tongue (cf. Jm 4:11), do evil to his neighbor, or
take up a reproach against his friend (cf. Ps 101:5-8).  He despises a
vile person, but honors those who fear the Lord (cf. Ps 16:3;
119:63).  His upright character is illustrated by his unwillingness to
go back on his word even if he has sworn to his own detriment (e.g.,
Josh 9:18-20; Judg 11:35).  He also will not loan money at interest (cf.
Exo 22:25; Deut 23:19,20), or take bribes (cf. Exo 23:8) against the
innocent (2-5a).

The psalm ends with a declaration that one who does these things shall
never be moved.  This is because he is privileged to draw near to God
(cf. Ps 16:8), and is reminiscent of the blessed man of Psalms 1 who
prospers in every thing he does (5b).

OUTLINE

I. THE QUESTION POSED (15:1)

   A. WHO MAY ABIDE IN THE LORD'S TABERNACLE? (1a)

   B. WHO MAY DWELL IN HIS HOLY HILL? (1b)

II. THE ANSWER PROVIDED (15:2-5)

   A. IN GENERAL TERMS (2a)
      1. He who walks uprightly
      2. He who works righteousness

   B. IN SPECIFIC TERMS (2b-5)
      1. He who speaks truth in his heart
      2. He who does not...
         a. Backbite with his tongue
         b. Do evil to his neighbor
         c. Take up a reproach against his friend
      3. In whose eyes...
         a. A vile person is despised
         b. One who fears the Lord is honored
      4. He who swears to his own hurt and does not change
      5. He who does not...
         a. Put out his money at usury (interest)
         b. Take a bribe against the innocent
      -- He who does these things shall never be moved

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE PSALM

1) What are the main points of this psalm?
   - The question posed (1)
   - The answer provided (2-5)

2) Who is the author of this psalm?
   - David

3) What is the character or style of this psalm?
   - Didactic (designed to teach or instruct)

4) What question(s) does the psalmist ask at the beginning? (1)
   - Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle?
   - Who may dwell in Your holy hill?

5) What is the answer in general terms? (2a)
   - He who walks uprightly and works righteousness

6) What is the answer in more specific terms? (2b-5a)
   - He who speaks the truth in his heart
   - He who does not backbite with his tongue
   - He who does no evil to his neighbor
   - He who does not take up a reproach against his friend
   - He who despises a vile person
   - He who honors those who fear the Lord
   - He who swears to his own hurt and does not change
   - He who does not put out his money at usury
   - He who does not take a bribe against the innocent

7) What is said of one who does all these things? (5b)
   - He shall never be moved

Indestructable!!!

This lighthouse looks like it will be overwhelmed by those massive waves, yet somehow it survives.  Christianity is a lot like this lighthouse.  Daily we hear of fresh avenues of attack; new ways Satan is trying to destroy God's work.  The good news is, Satan will continue to fail.  Why?  Because nothing can withstand the will of God; absolutely nothing!!!  If we are within that will, Satan can not get to us either.  The following scriptures give insight to this thought...

WEB: Matthew Chapter 16

[13] Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, "“Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”"

[14] They said, “Some say John the Baptizer, some, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”

[15] He said to them, "“But who do you say that I am?”"

[16] Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

[17] Jesus answered him, "“Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. [18] I also tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.

Peter actually said something right: he acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God.  This, coupled with obedience is the foundation for the assembly (the church) and not can stand against it, absolutely nothing!!!  As Jesus is the light of the world, so is his assembly (or church).  It just occurred to me; the place where Christians meet is a light - house because the light of God shines there!!!

Feb. 28 Exodus 9

Feb. 28

Exodus 9

Exo 9:1 Then Yahweh said to Moses, "Go in to Pharaoh, and tell him, 'This is what Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, says: "Let my people go, that they may serve me.

Exo 9:2 For if you refuse to let them go, and hold them still,

Exo 9:3 behold, the hand of Yahweh is on your livestock which are in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the herds, and on the flocks with a very grievous pestilence.

Exo 9:4 Yahweh will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt; and there shall nothing die of all that belongs to the children of Israel." ' "

Exo 9:5 Yahweh appointed a set time, saying, "Tomorrow Yahweh shall do this thing in the land."

Exo 9:6 Yahweh did that thing on the next day; and all the livestock of Egypt died, but of the livestock of the children of Israel, not one died.

Exo 9:7 Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not so much as one of the livestock of the Israelites dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was stubborn, and he didn't let the people go.

Exo 9:8 Yahweh said to Moses and to Aaron, "Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the sky in the sight of Pharaoh.

Exo 9:9 It shall become small dust over all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with boils on man and on animal, throughout all the land of Egypt."

Exo 9:10 They took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward the sky; and it became a boil breaking forth with boils on man and on animal.

Exo 9:11 The magicians couldn't stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boils were on the magicians, and on all the Egyptians.

Exo 9:12 Yahweh hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he didn't listen to them, as Yahweh had spoken to Moses.

Exo 9:13 Yahweh said to Moses, "Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and tell him, 'This is what Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, says: "Let my people go, that they may serve me.

Exo 9:14 For this time I will send all my plagues against your heart, against your officials, and against your people; that you may know that there is none like me in all the earth.

Exo 9:15 For now I would have put forth my hand, and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth;

Exo 9:16 but indeed for this cause I have made you stand: to show you my power, and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth;

Exo 9:17 as you still exalt yourself against my people, that you won't let them go.

Exo 9:18 Behold, tomorrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as has not been in Egypt since the day it was founded even until now.

Exo 9:19 Now therefore command that all of your livestock and all that you have in the field be brought into shelter. Every man and animal that is found in the field, and isn't brought home, the hail shall come down on them, and they shall die." ' "

Exo 9:20 Those who feared the word of Yahweh among the servants of Pharaoh made their servants and their livestock flee into the houses.

Exo 9:21 Whoever didn't regard the word of Yahweh left his servants and his livestock in the field.

Exo 9:22 Yahweh said to Moses, "Stretch forth your hand toward the sky, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, on man, and on animal, and on every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt."

Exo 9:23 Moses stretched forth his rod toward the heavens, and Yahweh sent thunder, hail, and lightning flashed down to the earth. Yahweh rained hail on the land of Egypt.

Exo 9:24 So there was very severe hail, and lightning mixed with the hail, such as had not been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.

Exo 9:25 The hail struck throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and animal; and the hail struck every herb of the field, and broke every tree of the field.

Exo 9:26 Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, there was no hail.

Exo 9:27 Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "I have sinned this time. Yahweh is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.

Exo 9:28 Pray to Yahweh; for there has been enough of mighty thunderings and hail. I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer."

Exo 9:29 Moses said to him, "As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands to Yahweh. The thunders shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that you may know that the earth is Yahweh's.

Exo 9:30 But as for you and your servants, I know that you don't yet fear Yahweh God."

Exo 9:31 The flax and the barley were struck, for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was in bloom.

Exo 9:32 But the wheat and the spelt were not struck, for they had not grown up.

Exo 9:33 Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands to Yahweh; and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured on the earth.

Exo 9:34 When Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.

Exo 9:35 The heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he didn't let the children of Israel go, just as Yahweh had spoken through Moses.

Feb. 28, 29 Mark 2

Feb. 28, 29

Mark 2

Mar 2:1 When he entered again into Capernaum after some days, it was heard that he was in the house.

Mar 2:2 Immediately many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even around the door; and he spoke the word to them.

Mar 2:3 Four people came, carrying a paralytic to him.

Mar 2:4 When they could not come near to him for the crowd, they removed the roof where he was. When they had broken it up, they let down the mat that the paralytic was lying on.

Mar 2:5 Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you."

Mar 2:6 But there were some of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,

Mar 2:7 "Why does this man speak blasphemies like that? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

Mar 2:8 Immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you reason these things in your hearts?

Mar 2:9 Which is easier, to tell the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven;' or to say, 'Arise, and take up your bed, and walk?'

Mar 2:10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" -he said to the paralytic-

Mar 2:11 "I tell you, arise, take up your mat, and go to your house."

Mar 2:12 He arose, and immediately took up the mat, and went out in front of them all; so that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"

Mar 2:13 He went out again by the seaside. All the multitude came to him, and he taught them.

Mar 2:14 As he passed by, he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he arose and followed him.

Mar 2:15 It happened, that he was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners sat down with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many, and they followed him.

Mar 2:16 The scribes and the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, "Why is it that he eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?"

Mar 2:17 When Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Mar 2:18 John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, and they came and asked him, "Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples don't fast?"

Mar 2:19 Jesus said to them, "Can the groomsmen fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they can't fast.

Mar 2:20 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then will they fast in that day.

Mar 2:21 No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, or else the patch shrinks and the new tears away from the old, and a worse hole is made.

Mar 2:22 No one puts new wine into old wineskins, or else the new wine will burst the skins, and the wine pours out, and the skins will be destroyed; but they put new wine into fresh wineskins."

Mar 2:23 It happened that he was going on the Sabbath day through the grain fields, and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of grain.

Mar 2:24 The Pharisees said to him, "Behold, why do they do that which is not lawful on the Sabbath day?"

Mar 2:25 He said to them, "Did you never read what David did, when he had need, and was hungry-he, and those who were with him?

Mar 2:26 How he entered into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the show bread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and gave also to those who were with him?"

Mar 2:27 He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

Mar 2:28 Therefore the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath."

"THE BOOK OF PSALMS" Psalm 8 - The Song Of The Astronomer by Mark Copeland

 "THE BOOK OF PSALMS"

                 Psalm 8 - The Song Of The Astronomer

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS PSALM

1) To consider a beautiful example of a hymn of praise

2) To observe the use and possible meaning of the word "Gittith"

3) To note man's dominion over the earth when created by God, but also
   that he lost it and has now been regained by Jesus Christ

SUMMARY

The heading attributes this psalm to David, with instructions to the
Chief Musician to be sung "upon Gittith."  This may mean "after the
tune of the treaders of the winepress" (Leupold) and refer to the
joyful nature in which the workers sung.  The psalm is certainly a hymn
of delight, as are others with this word in the heading (Ps 81, 84).  I
second Spurgeon's suggestion that this psalm can be called "The Song Of
The Astronomer" as it seems to have been prompted while contemplating
the night skies.

It begins praising God for His excellent name (i.e. character) and His
glory in the earth and above the heavens.  God's glory is illustrated
in the way He is able to use "babes" and "infants" (i.e., the frailest
and weakest of men, e.g., Mt 11:25; 1Co 1:27) to silence the enemy and
the avenger (1-2).

David's praise appears to have been sparked by comparing the work of
God in the heavens with the seeming insignificance of man on the earth.
Amazed that God would even be mindful of man, David noted that God
created man a little lower than the angels, and even set man over the
works of His hands, including the animals, birds, and fish (3-8).  Of
course, after the fall of man that dominion was lost, and has since
been regained by Jesus Christ following His resurrection and ascension
to heaven (cf. He 2:5-9; Mt 28:19; Ep 1:20-22; 1Pe 3:22).

The psalm ends the way it began, praising the excellence of God's name
in all the earth, which is the proper response of His creation,
especially man (9).

OUTLINE

I. GOD'S MAJESTY IN CREATION (8:1-2)

   A. HIS NAME AND GLORY (1)
      1. His name (character) exalted in all the earth
      2. His glory set above the heavens

   B. HIS POWER OVER ENEMIES (2)
      1. Able to ordain strength from the mouths of babes and infants
      2. And thereby silence the enemy and the avenger

II. MAN'S DIGNITY OVER CREATION (8:3-9)

   A. MAN'S INSIGNIFICANCE (3-4)
      1. In contrast to the heavens, the moon and stars
      2. Amazed that God would consider man, even less care for him

   B. MAN'S EXALTATION (5-8)
      1. By virtue of his creation by God
         a. Made a little lower than the angels
         b. Crowned with glory and honor
      2. By virtue of his place in creation
         a. Given dominion over the works of God
         b. All things placed under his feet
            1) Sheep, oxen, the beasts of the field
            2) The birds of the air
            3) The fish that pass through the paths of the sea

   C. MAN'S RESPONSE (9)
      1. To praise God!
      2. For His excellent Name in all the earth!

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE PSALM

1) What are the main points of this psalm?
   - God's majesty in creation (1-2)
   - Man's dignity over creation (3-9)

2) Who is the author of this psalm?
   - David

3) For what does the Psalmist praise God? (1)
   - The excellence of His name (character) in all the earth
   - His glory set above the heavens

4) How has God chosen to silence the enemy and the avenger? (2)
   - By working His strength (power) through "babes" and "infants"

5) What prompted the Psalmist's amazement over God's concern for man?
   (3-4)
   - His contemplation of the night skies

6) How was man exalted when God created him? (5-6)
   - God made him a little lower than the angels
   - God crowned him with glory and honor
   - God gave him dominion over the works of His hands
   - God put all things under his feet

7) What things were placed under man's feet? (7-8)
   - All sheep and oxen
   - The beasts of the field
   - The birds of the air
   - The fish that pass through the paths of the sea

8) Has man maintained his dominion over the earth? (cf. He 2:5-8)
   - No

9) Who now has all authority over heaven and earth? (cf. He 2:9; Mt
   28:19; Ep 1:20-22; 1Pe 3:22)
   - Jesus Christ, who became man and for the suffering of death has 
     been crowned with glory and honor; He is now head over all things

10) Contemplating God's majesty and man's dignity, how does David end
    his psalm? (9)
   - With praise for the excellence of God's name (character) in all 
     the earth