Rebel to Redeemed…Sharing HIS Kind of Love
I had my heart broken and had been betrayed and I was angry. However, I had a choice. I could stay angry or I could learn to forgive. I chose to forgive. I forgave for my own good more than anything and there is nothing wrong with that. In the book of Genesis, is the story of Joseph. He was […]
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We are discussing various spiritual gifts. Last week, we discussed pastors, teachers and evangelist. This week, we are delving deeper into the spiritual gifts. This weeks spiritual gifts are the ones that are often misunderstood and misconstrued by modern society. 1 Corinthians 12:10 says, “and to another prophecy; and to another discerning of spirits: to another divers kinds of tongues; and to […]
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As we have discussed, the Hall of Fame in Hebrews 11, refers to those that have visions. Ezekiel is a prophet that had visions, just as Joseph and Daniel had visions. The name Ezekiel means God strengthens. The story of Ezekiel is found in the book with his name in the Old Testament. The book contains many of his visions, […]
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Jochebed is not mentioned by name in the description of Moses’ birth, but it is believed her name was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi. Centuries had passed since the time of Joseph and the Israelites were oppressed into slavery by the Egyptians. Pharaoh was threatened and decreed that all baby boys be thrown into the Nile. Jochebed already had a […]
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Jacob is fleeing from his brother, after he and his mother, Rebekah, deceive his father, Isaac. Jacob is sent to his mother’s brother, Laban. So, as he arrives he probably thinks all of his troubles are over. His troubles with his brother are for the time being, but a whole new set of issues is about to be stirred up. […]
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I have to admit that there is something about Leah that resonates with me. Whether it is the similarity in our names or the desire to be loved, my heart always goes out to Leah. So, on to Leah’s story. Jacob has arrived in Haran and already met Rachel, Leah’s younger sister, when she {Rachel} was tending to the sheep. We […]
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The next mention we have of Mary Magdalene after Jesus heals her, is of her presence at the crucifixion. Luke 23:49 says, “”women who had followed him from Galilee” standing at a distance”, but does not mentioned these women by name. However, the other three gospels do mention these women and among them is Mary Magdalene. Matthew 27:56, says, “Among them […]
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Last week, we ended the book of Genesis with a look at Joseph. The next person listed in the Hall of Faith is Moses, who picks up the story of the Israelite’s several hundred years later, in the book of Exodus. In the Hall of Faith, Moses story is summed up as “ By faith […]
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Jacob is the third generation of the great patriarch’s of the Old Testament and Israelite’s. He is the son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham. Jacob means “holder of the heel” or “supplanter”. When he was born he reached out holding onto his twin brother’s, Esau, heel. Even when they were both in the womb we are told “the children […]
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The words and music of “O Come O Come Emmanuel” developed separately. The original text, which was in Latin, was first documented in 1710 in Germany. The tune has it’s origins in 15th Century France. In the early church something called O Anitphons were used. An antiphon is a response by the choir or congregation and used in the form […]
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What Child is This? was written by William Chatterton Dix in 1865 in England. Dix worked as a manager for an insurance company before being afflicted with a severe illness that left him bedridden and severely depressed. This near death experience brought about a spiritual renewal in him while he was recovering. During his recovery he would read the Bible […]
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We’ve been studying the lives and lessons from the wives of King David, including the childless wife, some nameless concubines, a bed warmer and an almost wife. But what about his children? Only one daughter is mentioned by name. She is Tamar, daughter of Maacah. Her name is Hebrew and means date palm, palm tree or a date {the fruit}. She […]
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The story of Bathsheba is the best known of King David’s wives. By the time David meets her he is King of Israel and living in Jerusalem. Her name means the daughter of oath. Her father and grandfather were in David’s inner circle and Wikipedia says her father, Eliam, was “one of David’s thirty” and her grandfather, Ahitophel was “one […]
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Francis Scott Key We all know our National Anthem, but do you know how it originated? The author, Francis Scott Key, was at Fort McHenry when the British Royal Navy bombed the fort in 1814. Francis Scott Key, a lawyer and amateur poet, and John Stuart Skinner were on a mission for President James Madison on September 3, 1814. The […]
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We last saw Mary being rebuked by Jesus, when she came to him out of concern. Several years have passed during which Jesus was in the depths of his ministry. We’re not told which events in Jesus ministry, teaching and miracles Mary was there to witness. While she may not have been there for everything, it seems plausible that she […]
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The movie The Young Messiah, is based on the book Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt, by Anne Rice. The story is based on historical information of what life may have been like for Jesus as a young man. In the story, Jesus is seven years old. He recognizes he has powers and can heal, but isn’t sure why or […]
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The last time we saw Mary and Jesus, he was twelve years old. Now he is about thirty years old. A lot has occurred during this time, although we don’t have a record of what experiences the family had during this time. We believe that Joseph most likely died sometime in these intervening years. Jesus has already been baptized by […]
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Over a decade has passed since we last saw Jesus and his parents, Mary and Joseph. The family was fleeing to Egypt the last time we checked in with them. We’re not told what happened in the intervening years. At some point the family has returned to their homeland from Egypt. We do know they returned after the death of […]
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Risen is the first of a quartet of Christian films debuting this Lent and Easter season. The film begins with the earthquake and death of Jesus. Roman Military Tribune Clavius, the right hand of Pontius Pilate, is sent to the crucifixion to ensure that The Nazarene is truly dead. After the crucifixion, Clavius and his aide, Lucius, have the enormous […]
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The years passed by and Mary, Joseph and Jesus probably found a house somewhere to live or rent. They settled into a routine of daily life and Jesus continued to grow. The traditional belief is that Jesus was about two years old when the Magi visited. Matthew 2:1-3 (ASV) Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the […]
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