Beloved Names of God..."Jesus of Nazareth" need to finish....

 

 

"Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him,

of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazerath, the son of Joseph."

John 1:45



• Name of God the Son
• Jesus is referred to as "Jesus of Nazareth" seventeen times in the KJV.
• Nazareth is the hometown of Jesus. The meaning of the name is disputed, but it may derive from ne'tser, meaning "branch," in accordance with the prophecy of Isaiah.
• In this verse, Jesus was gathering His disciples around Him. Nathanael doubted that anything good could come from such a small, unimpressive town, which lends to the reality of how humble Jesus' origins really were.  

What's the name of that little town along the road? The place where they're less sophisticated, less cultured, a little...unrefined? Imagine you heard that someone from that vicinity claimed to be the savior of mankind. Would you bother going to see them, or would you dismiss them as crazy right then and there?
Nathanael took the second option, but moments after meeting Jesus, he changed his mind! May we be as open-minded when we meet Him.

 

 

A Contrast Between Two Kinds of Love

“A contrast is then pointed out between two distinct kinds of love: The highest form of fallen human love versus divine love. The first is revealed when, on rare occasions, one human being will willingly die for another human being he perceives as good, someone thought to be worthy of such a sacrifice. “But God,” Paul proclaims to emphasize the contrast, “ demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:6-8) In other word...s, God‘s love is of such a quality and depth that it is unaltered by the fact that we are not good. We are sinners, in fact, completely undeserving of even His tolerance, let alone His love. He does not love us more when we do right, nor does He love us less when we do wrong. Such is the amazing nature of the love which continually pulsates in the heart of the infinite One.”
~Ty Gibson in his book “Shades of Grace” pg.69-70

Ordering Baby Chicks is not for the faint of heart

The last few days have been a bit stressful for me. Last night when the anxiety raised its ugly head - I decided to work on my block of the month. Quilting is therapeutic. This is the beautiful block that I made!

This morning my husband and I got up early because we had a feeling that the chicks would arrive at the post office first thing in the morning - sure enough a phone call at 6:25am confirmed that the chicks were there and ready to be picked up. My husband went to get them as I prepared things here at home.

 

Here is the little box they arrived in.

 

It was very obvious that one of the chicks was not in very good shape. She was tiny- she seemed to be half the size of the other chicks hence my husband named her Little One. We did what we could to help her survive but a couple of hours later I found her dead. :O(  

You might not think that you would bond that quickly with these chicks, but you do. It hurts. I hate to see them suffer. Another sad situation - we have a chick that seems to be blind. We have worked with it as well. It is still alive as I write this blog post but I am afraid she won't last long because she doesn't seem to be going to the food and water. We have offered her water and put food in front of her. I just don't know if she will make it. And it, too, breaks my heart. The rest of them seem to be doing well.

 

Having baby chicks calls for frequent checks on them to make sure the temperature is correct. The thermometer that I have is very hard to read- I am thinking I will have to try to get a bigger one - one of the round ones. It will make it easier to read. Mostly you go by how the chicks are acting, but I sure to appreciate being able to check the temp and make sure that it is where it needs to be - about 95 degrees this first week.

 

Please pray for our little blind girl. Thanks  - I will update when I can. I will be busy the next few days. As I will have my granddaughter tomorrow. And taking care of these chicks is like a full time job.

Still Waiting

Tuesday evening our baby chicks began their journey to their new home -here at my home! The place I call chicken heaven. Why you ask? Because here there is no fear of being raised to eat. Nope. I have been a bit of a nervous wreck worrying if we would be ready for them when they get here. And hoping and praying that they arrive while my husband is here to help with the big job of processing them from the box they arrive in to caring for them and placing them in their new home. I have prayed about it and trust that God will work it out. And if my husband is not home - God will give me the ability to take care of the big job.

While waiting for the text that the chicks had begun the shipping process here - I was very anxious and I had to pray and ask God to help me to calm down. I had to finally tell God that I trusted that He would work it out. Funny thing is that it was about a minute after I told God that - that my phone dinged its alert that a text message had come through - yep! It was telling us that the babies were on the way.

The information from the post office is that they will get here by 8:00pm Thursday. I am hoping that they arrive before 10:00am the time period that my husband wants to be on his way. We will see. I will get on here and up date you all as soon as I get a chance to - to let you know what is going on.
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In other news, it seems that I am allergic to yellow jacket stings. They hurt. And that is normal - what isn't so normal is the quarter sized bright red spots that develop on my where I got bit- two of them. And although the color is much less intense - I have had periods of it burning and itching still. As time goes by it is less intense. I think it really helped that I made up a small batch of charcoal poultice - as shown on the Old Mountain Remedies youtube that I shared last week. It turned out great and I think that putting that on my bit really helped calm the allergic reaction down. I love it when I find a natural remedy for things!! I can't wait to get a chance to watch the rest of the youtube program!! If you haven't have a chance to watch it yet - I highly recommend you go back and check it out!

Afraid of Grace?

The quote I am sharing today from Stuart Tyner's book Searching for the God of Grace will be one that in order to get the entire blessing one would need to read the whole chapter, and I am sorry about that, but there is a richness in this paragraph that I hope come through with just this section of the chapter.

 

 

"Total dependence is a tough assignment. Obviously, Scrovegni wasn't the first or the last to be overwhelmed by the desire to contribute something to the salvation equation. The impulse to try to change God's mind is a ancient as Cane, as persistent as Sarah's laughter, as quick as Moses' grasping credit for bring water from the rock. Our words betray us. "Make me like one of Your hired servants, we insist, speaking the language of merit so stubbornly that we miss the warmth of our Father's welcoming embrace, the significance of the robe and ring of acceptance, the joy of the opening moments of the resurrection celebration (Luke 15:24). It's almost as if we were running away from the gospel, as if we were afraid of grace, not wanting to be that rich, that forgiven, that assured."

         But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,

19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants." '

20 And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.

21 And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

22 But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.

23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry;

24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry. 

Luke 15:17-24

                           

God's Response

Today I would like to share a small portion from this amazing book that I am reading. Searching for the God of Grace by Stuart Tyner. I have been extremely blessed by this book and have little sections here and the marked that I really want to share with you all. I hope that what I share blesses you. I realize that to receive the entire blessing - one would need to actually read the whole book - so if you get a chance to read this book - I highly recommend it.

 

Have you ever messed up, and then messed up again, and well messed up yet again? Many of us find ourselves in this exact situation - where we just keep messing up. But there is hope! It's God's grace.

What I am sharing today is a perfect example of God's grace and His response when we mess up.

"Esau was angry with Jacob again. And with reason. Again. (See Genesis 27:45.)

After mother's favorite son (Gen. 25:28) had manipulated Esau into giving up his birthright (verse 33); after he had stolen Esau's blessing (27:35); after all the lying and deceit, Esau's grudge was so bitter, so deeply founded, that he began to make plan to kill his brother (verse 34,41).

Mother steps in again and gets Jacob out of harm's way by sending him to Uncle Laban (verse 43) Jacob runs out of the house, heads north (28:10), and keeps running until he gets all the way to the place we know as Bethel (verse 19),. Shortly after sunset, Jacob lies down on the ground, props his head on a rock, and goes to sleep (verse 11). IN the middle of the night, Jacob dreams about God. Surely God was as angry with Jacob as Esau was. The characteristics of God's government - as well as His expectations for His children - include fairness and courage and honesty. So, how will He treat a manipulative, cowardly deceiver? Listen to His words: " 'I am the LORD...I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying...I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.' "(verses 13,15, emphasis supplies). "

Preparing

You know when you are pregnant and are expecting a baby but you are just not quite sure when the baby will arrive? Well that is where we are right now. Several weeks ago we ordered baby chicks and they are suppose to be hatched sometime soon and will ship out on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday of this week. We will receive a text to let us know when they have shipped. Then we will just have to be patient because we will still not know for sure when they will arrive.

The past week or so we have worked hard to prepare for their arrival. There is a lot of things that need to be done. And we want to be ready. I have had to read up on what all I need to do when they arrive. Believe it or not- there is a lot of work involved - just like having a baby, there is a lot of care that goes into taking care of baby chicks.

The temperature needs to be right - starting with 95 degrees the first week - then decreasing the temp by 5 degrees each week till they are ok with the temps outside. Today we are doing a trial run with our heat lamp to figure out about where it needs to be to attain the correct temp for them.

While working in the new chicken coop - I got bit by a yellow jacket. Ouch!!! Have you ever been bit by one? It only takes seconds after they sting for you to notice the sting getting stronger and more painful. I think it actually got me twice - the second bit not as much poison. Thankfully I was able to get some of my booboo blend on it pretty quickly and it isn't too awfully bad now.

Well I better go check that temp again in the chicken coop to see if we have it right yet. Oh the sad thing is - its not a you have the right place for the heat lamp and you are done- nope... you have to check on the babies several times a day - one site says to check on them at least 5 times a day. The temps outside will affect the temps and so the lamp might have to be placed closer or placed further away- depending on what the thermometer that is laying on the floor in their new home.

As you can expect, I will let you know when the babies arrive and I will try to get some photos of them. :O)

Beloved Names of God ....series "Jesus of Nazareth"

"Jesus of Nazareth"

"Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."

John 1:45 kjv

 

• Name of God the son
• Jesus is referred to as "Jesus of Nazareth" seventeen times in the KJV.
• Nazareth is the hometown of Jesus. The meaning of the name is disputed, but it may derive from ne'tser, meaning "branch," in accordance with the prophecy of Isaiah.
• In this verse, Jesus was gathering His disciples around Him. Nathanael doubted that anything good could come from such a small, unimpressive town, which lends to the reality of how humble Jesus' origins really were.

What's the name of that little town along the road? The place where they're less sophisticated, less cultured, a little...unrefined? Imagine you heard that someone from that vicinity claimed to be the savior of mankind. Would you bother going to see them, or would you dismiss them as crazy right then and there?

Nathanael took the second option, but moments after meeting Jesus, he changed his mind! May we be as open- minded when we meet Him.

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Next week we will look at "Power of the Highest" see you them :O)

Lots of Great Remedies From Your Kitchen

This week has zoomed past and sadly I have not had as much time to get on here and post as I would have liked to, but thankfully I have a few minutes now to share something awesome that I have found this week. I think there is a lot of great information that will be helpful and wanted to share this here so you too can have this information. With the high cost of health care - we need as much information as we can get to help ourselves to better health.  This youtube video is almost two hours long - and I have to be honest- I have not had a chance to see the entire video at this point - but I still want to share it with you. I will watch the rest of it later when I get a chance.

If you don't have 2 hours to watch this at this point - do what I did- watch what you can and then take note of where you are in the video - the time- and then you can go back at a later time to finish watching.

incomparable riches of God's grace

As you know this year I have been really focusing on learning what I can about "Grace" ~ as I have found out it is a very important topic to study and is intertwined with love and faith. A couple of weeks ago I found a great book on grace at my favorite little thrift store - the one that I can get books for only 50 cents to a dollar! What a deal!! I started reading this book this week and will probably be sharing a bit of it here and there throughout my time reading it.

As you read the quote below, please notice I have taken the time to gather the verses referred to in the parenthesis below the quotes- be sure and reference them.




"I want others in the church that I love- others who also grew up in the guilt-laden years when so many of us put ourselves, our achievements, and our obedience at the center of our faith, as well as others who are searching for that center today- to find the peace (Romans 5:1; John 14:27) and the confidence (Hebrews 4:16) that comes from the "abundant provision" of Gods incredible saving grace (Romans 5:17). If that describes your experience, please keep reading. Don't be afraid to "set your hope fully" (1 Peter1:13) on the "incomparable riches of [God's] grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:7), "who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1;14) and "through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand"(Romans 5:2).

Romans 5:1~Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,                            

John 14:27~Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.                  

Hebrews 4:16~ Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

         
Romans 5:17~For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)                            

1 Peter1:13~ Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

Ephesians 2:7~that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

John 1:14~And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.                            

Romans 5:2~through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.                            

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Something cool I just realized- on the last page of this book it has a page that says "If you found this book inspiring and thought-provoking, you will want to read these other books as well"
Well it lists 3 books and as I read through the list, I realized that several weeks ago I found another book on grace -hadn't felt lead to read it yet but could tell it would be a great book. Well now I found out why I got it and why I hadn't read it yet- it wasn't quite time. It is "A Strange Place for Grace" by Jon L. Dybdahl. I am thinking it will be the next book I read!

Here is what is sad about this book(this is on the page at the end of the book I am reading now):

"Do the Bible's stories reveal a hidden personality disorder in the Creator of the universe? Is He "sometimes up, and sometimes down," exhibiting a happy-go-lucky, forgiving attitude of grace one day, but striking sinners dead the next? If you've struggled to see how the stories of the Old Testament and the New can fit together to give us a consistent picture of God, you will find answers, here- not pat answers, but ones that really wrestle with the questions."

Hello :O)

Just wanted to check in and say I did not totally forget about my blog - I have just been very busy. My granddaughter and I went to 3 museums and the park this week along with groceries and the cooking for everyone and keeping up with my house and mowing - I have been busy. I will be posting again soon. Hope you are all doing well. :O)

Beloved Names of God...series "King of Kings"

"King of Kings"

"And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written,

KING of KINGS, and LORD of LORDS."

Revelations 19:16 NASB

 

• Name of God the Son
• Jesus is referred to as King of Kings three times in the NASB.
• In empire times, it was not unusual for one ruler to have dominion over many less powerful rulers, but the terms King of Kings and Lord of Lords are used here to indicate the One whom all rulers should kneel in honor.
• In the book of Revelations, John paints an awesome and terrible vision of Jesus at the Second Coming. His name is The Word of God, but across His blood-soaked robe is the name King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

 

Not a king, but perhaps the most powerful royal ever Queen Victoria ruled the British Empire at its height, encompassing once-quarter of the worlds population. Even so, she knew where true authority lay.

She once wished Jesus would return in her lifetime. When asked why, she replied, "Because I should so love to lay my crown at His blessed feet."

Victoria was wise enough to know who the King of Kings- and queen really was.

 

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Next week we will look at "Jesus of Nazareth" 

Why?

In just a few minutes I will be heading out the door to take my MIL to another appointment, the third one for this week. This one is the appointment in which we will get the results from the PET scan that was done earlier this week. Please pray with me that the cancer has not returned. She has enough other issues going on right now and I really don't think she could handle one more health issue added at this time. Thank you so much.

 

I haven't have a lot of time to blog lately - I am sorry. And I will have my granddaughter next week for her spring break so it will be another busy week for me and will probably be another light week in posting. Hopefully after that I can get back to a little more regularity in blogging.

 

Today I wanted to share yesterdays devotional in my "Streams in the Desert" devotional. It is a really good one and I thought it would be encouraging to you as well.

 

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For even when we came into Macedonia, our body had no rest at all,

 but we were troubled in every way –

struggles from the outside, fears from within (2 Cor 7:5).

Why should God have to lead us thus, and allow the pressure to be so hard and constant? Well, in the first place, it shows His all-sufficient strength and grace much better than if we were exempt from pressure and trial. “The treasure is in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”
It makes us more conscious of our dependence upon Him. God is constantly trying to teach us our dependence, and to hold us absolutely in His hand and hanging upon His care.

This was the place where Jesus Himself stood and where He wants us to stand, not with self-constituted strength, but with a hand ever leaning upon His, and a trust that dare not take one step alone. It teaches us trust.

There is no way of learning faith except by trial. It is God’s school of faith, and it is far better for us to learn to trust God than to enjoy life.

The lesson of faith once learned, is an everlasting acquisition and an eternal fortune made; and without trust even riches will leave us poor.
—Days of Heaven upon Earth

 

“Why must I weep when others sing?
’To test the deeps of suffering.’ 
Why must I work while others rest?
’To spend my strength at God’s request.’ 
Why must I lose while others gain?
’To understand defeat’s sharp pain.’ 
Why must this lot of life be mine 
When that which fairer seems is thine?
’Because God knows what plans for me 
Shall blossom in eternity.’”

 

(Streams in the Desert~ March 7th)

Busy Week

Just checking in to say that this will be a busy week for me. The blessing is that we are having great weather. I have 3 appointments to take my MIL to this week and thankfully we are not having cold, dreary weather like we have been.

I have also had the blessing of being able to get to the park and walk and am really hoping to have a chance to get a few more walks in this week.

On Friday my son will get his daughter for her spring break week. We look forward to the time with her. I have looked in to several museums and such in the area that we have not taken her to yet and plan on trying to get at least 2-3 of the places. Hoping for good weather so we can enjoy the week.

Well I am super tired this evening and I have a very early morning tomorrow- I have to have my MIL to her appointment for a PET scan by 8:30am. Please pray we have a safe trip- I am NOT looking forward to having to drive all the way there during rush hour. Plus pray that she will be able to handle the laying still for so long - it's hard for her to lay down let alone - lay still for a long time. She will be thrilled to have that behind her. Also pray that the appointment we go to on Thursday - the appointment in which we will get results from PET scan - will go smoothly. Praying there is no cancer. Please join me.

Hoping you are all doing well. :O)

Beloved Names of God...series "Quickening Spirit"

"Quickening Spirit"

"And so it was written, The first man Adam was made a living soul;

 the last Adam was made a quickening spirit."

1 Corinthians 15:45

 

• Name of God the Son
• Jesus is referred to as a "quickening spirit" once in the KJV.
• The term quicken means "to come alive"  or "to receive life." It also means "to revive," which reminds us that eternal life was the original design for humanity.
• In this verse, Paul differentiated between the natural man, Adam, and the spiritual man, Jesus. Through his creation, Adam received life and lived out his days. Jesus came as the source of life. He lived out His days- and then continued to live on. And this was the gift he brought for all who believe.

Try as they might, scientist can't shock inert cells into life. And, despite the best efforts and beliefs of "mad scientist," lightning only destroys. God, and only God, is the Quickening Spirit that gives life.
Jesus made it simple. He came to quicken a new kind of life in those who believe, a life that doesn't require lightning or science- only faith. And the life HE gives us will never end!

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Next week we will look at "King of Kings"

 



Profound Difficulties

 

Yesterday's devotional in my "Streams in the Desert" book was very good. I wanted to share it with you all today. I have found myself in a profound difficulty more than once and it is true that in those difficulties we are able to learn more about God. I am sure that I have plenty more to learn - I just wish I could learn more without having to have the profound difficulties in order to learn them.

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Consider the work of God:

for who can make that straight,

which he hath made crooked (Eccles. 7:13).

Often God seems to place His children in positions of profound difficulty, leading them into a wedge from which there is no escape; contriving a situation which no human judgment would have permitted, had it been previously consulted. The very cloud conducts them thither. You may be thus involved at this very hour.

It does seem perplexing and very serious to the last degree, but it is perfectly right. The issue will more than justify Him who has brought you hither. It is a platform for the display of His almighty grace and power.

He will not only deliver you; but in doing so, He will give you a lesson that you will never forget, and to which, in many a psalm and song, in after days, you will revert. You will never be able to thank God enough for having done just as He has.
--Selected


We may wait till He explains,
Because we know that Jesus reigns.
It puzzles me; but, Lord, Thou understandest,
And wilt one day explain this crooked thing.
Meanwhile, I know that it has worked out Thy best--
Its very crookedness taught me to cling.
Thou hast fenced up my ways, made my paths crooked,
To keep my wand'ring eyes fixed on Thee;
To make me what I was not, humble, patient;
To draw my heart from earthly love to Thee.
So I will thank and praise Thee for this puzzle,
And trust where I cannot understand.
Rejoicing Thou dost hold me worth such testing,
I cling the closer to Thy guiding hand.
--F.E.M.I.

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Living with No Regrets

Regrets... They can cause a lot of unneeded stress. Instead of just staying in the discouragement of regret, why not choose to make the changes today that you wish you had made. To be honest, there may be things in your life you really can change at this point. But God will give you the wisdom to know what you are able to change. That is where the serenity prayer comes in.

God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference. 

 

 

(By the way - while looking for this section of the serenity prayer - to save myself from typing it all out and saving myself a bit of time - I found a great article about the serenity prayer - I wanted to share a link just in case any of you are interested in it. It is called "Serenity Prayer – Applying 3 Truths from the Bible" This article is on the Crosswalk.com website. )

 

Earlier this week while I was at a nearby park walking, I saw a mother pushing her baby in a stroller as she walked along. I couldn't help but think to myself how I wish I had have had a great park nearby when my kiddos were young - and that I had have went walking with them. I walked some with them in the stroller- but I didn't really get into the trying to exercise for my health at that point in my life. And I think back at how it would have been such a great thing to have gotten more into taking care of myself. It might have prevented me having to go through the losing weight and gaining it back and having to lose it again rollercoaster. Wouldn't that be great? And I think back them I was smaller than I was at my heaviest - which was in July of 2016- when I started on the journey I am now - of losing 50 pounds by the time I turn 50. I could have avoided having to get as heavy as I was. But reality is that I did get to that point. I did hit that high in my weight. But the reality is also I don't have to stay there. I can choose to make choices today that will lead me to my goal. Even it is at a much slower rate than I would prefer. 

 

If you don't want to find yourself a year from now regretting not making positive changes in your life, then today is the day to start making those changes. Be patient with yourself. Changes take time. And the healthier long term goals - are usually best done in a slower long term process.

No more regrets - what is in the past is the past and we need to forgive ourselves of those mistakes we made. God does. So let us look forward. What can we do to work towards our goals today, so that tomorrow we don't have any regrets?

 

Something I saw on facebook - how true is this? I look back at photos of myself when for some unknown reason I thought I was fat. But I was not. Which leads me to another thing I would like to point out - there are many women and maybe even men- who for some reason think they are fat, when in reality they are not. Don't allow the unrealistic expectation of the media and those around you make you feel like you are fat. We don't all fit into the box of averages. If I were to look at the charts of what a person my height should weigh - I would look anorexic if I were at that weight. And that number will never be the goal I have for myself and I am perfectly fine with that.