The Quiet of Holidays

Every day I think about what the day will bring.  Every day is mostly the same.  The house is very quiet.  I sometimes turn on music to eliminate the quiet.  I do the same with the TV.  But I don't really mind the quiet.

 

For years and years Jerry battled COPD which made him cough and wheeze and cough and wheeze.  That was one of the reasons we quit physically going to church.  Especially during 2020 and 2021 when everyone was freaking about the "virus".  Now there is no coughing.  It is quiet.  Jerry was also a person who hummed.  So the humming is missing too.  It is quiet.  It's been quiet for 86 days now since Jerry left the planet and moved to his heavenly home.

 

Christmas is 9 days away and I know it will be as quiet as I want it to be.  There are plans to attend the candlelight service at church on Christmas Eve.  There are plans to have Christmas dinner with family and friends.  There could be many more plans but I enjoy the solitude and quietness of the holidays. 

 

This is the year I need the stillness to hold me and keep me grounded.  There are so many things that may happen in the future but for now I do want to have peace with the quietness.  I just spoke with a friend and told her there is nothing that I "have" to do right now.  There is no where I "have'' to be.  There is no one I "have" to see. Right now life is just simply a day at a time with no expectations of tomorrow.

 

I know as the days and months progress the Lord will lead me where He wants and where He needs me to be.  He will lead me to those I can help or witness to.  He will guide me to whatever future He has in store for me.  For now I will try to be still and listen for His voice or just feel his love until the timing, His timing is right.

 

Exodus 14:14 (NIV) - "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

 

The Outward Appearance

Our ladies Power of Twelve word for this month has been appearance from

 

I Samuel 16:7 (NKJV)

For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

 

As human beings we tend to judge by sight when we look at something or someone for the first time.  We look with our eyes at whatever it or who it may be and our brain says good or bad.  Beautiful or ugly.  Right or wrong.  Worthless or worthy.  Initially we make that outward call without knowing what is inside or what is hidden from our sight.  Thank goodness God our Father does not judge us by this outward appearance and looks into our heart to see what is at the root of us. Does He see love in our heart or does He see the bitterness and disappointment?  Does He see jealousy or pride?  Does He see us truly as we are or does He see what we can potentially be if we chose to live a life of goodness, truth and love?

 

What appears on the outside is not necessarily true.  We are very good at hiding who we are and what we do so and sometimes the appearance, the look, the truth, is not in reality, what it is or who we are.  The outside look is not actually what is truly happening on the inside.  Human beings are very good at covering up the ugliness hidden inside. Many of us experience this 'judgement call' of another at some point in our lives but as we take the time to get to know the person, much of what appears to be who they are is not really who they truly are.  When you really know someone you find out their secrets, truths and hurts. You find out what they believe and have experienced. Do you still love then when you know the ugly truth about them?  Do they stand by you as your friendship and relationship grows?  How things appear are often not how they truly are and time reveals many things.

 

There are scripture that speak about the physical, outward appearance of Jesus saying that He was no one that was attractive or pleasurable in appearance yet His heart was filled with love for His chosen people who He willingly hung on the cross and died for to pay the price of their sins.  Then there are scripture that speak of his brilliant, shining, appearance as He prayed and spoke with the Father. His appearance was transformed into something heavenly and holy.  Jesus appeared to some as an ugly, homely, unattractive man but to others He appeared as a King, beautiful, lovely, filled with the power of God, and filled with enough love for others to save them for all of eternity.

 

Luke 9:29 (NKJV)

As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered,

and His robe became white and glistening.

 

Each time we look at others we should take a moment to discern the difference between an outside appearance and an inside heart.  Each time we are confronted with a situation we should take a few moments, or longer, to discern if the situation is an appearance of God in our lives or something else being exposed to us to better us. 

 

Appearances can be deceiving if we do not seek the Lord in His wisdom for us and for others.

I Am Lost

It's been 48 days since Jerry left the planet and I am lost without him.  As each day passes it seems to get a bit worse.  I have no confidence that this is going to last a short period of time.  Since it took almost 40 years to get to this point I actually think it could take 40 years to get passed this. 

 

I don't care about eating.  I don't care about working.  I don't care about laughing.  I don't care about crying.  I don't care about how I look. I don't care about the time of year.  I don't care about people.  I don't care about much of anything.  I am in a funk.  I am in a depression.  I am a widow and I miss my husband and my friend.

 

He may not have talked much but he listened a lot.  He may not have been healthy but he was breathing and moving.  He may not have been the most intelligent man in the world but he was very smart.  He was kind. He was generous.  He was loving.  He was nice.  He was lovable.  He loved Jesus and that was the most important part of him.

 

Jerry grounded me for the past 40 years.  When I was flying off the handle he calmed me down.  He made sense out of my erratic behavior and my erratic mind.  Now I am all over the place in thought and action.  I can't seem to find my bearing.  He was my North Star.  My compass.  My grounding rod.  Now I am a mess of a woman.

 

So with this admission all I can do is cry out to the Lord and ask for help!

Jerry's Death

Jerry died at home on Sept 21 2022 after being in the Tillamook Hospital Sept 12 - 14, 2022.  He had collapsed at home on Sept 12 and broke his collarbone in the fall.  He collapsed due to loss of blood from a bleeding ulcer.  The bleeding was stopped but there were other issues in his stomach and the doctors wanted to send him to Portland for more surgery. He said, "No more hospitals.  I want to go home." 

 

We got Hospice set up and brought him home on September 15th.  He spent 6 days at home while we took care of him.  Each day he ate and drank less and less.  He could not move and was completely bed ridden due to the broken collarbone and then rheumatoid arthritis inflammation in all his joints which had come on since he could no longer take his RA medications. I prayed each day that the Lord would allow him to die quietly and peacefully in his sleep and that his suffering would finally end.

 

At 3:43 a.m. on the morning of Sept 21st,  I (Deb) was some way awakened as I was sleeping near him on the couch and went to his side and heard his last 2 breaths and he passed from this life to the next.  I woke up son Chris who came downstairs and listened for breathing and heartbeat but there was none.  This was at 4 a.m.  Jerry had gone to be with Jesus.

 

As Chris and I had never experienced anything like this we were at a loss as to the next move.  It was a beautiful fall morning so we went out and stood on the back deck to breathe and think about what and who we had just lost.  As we looked into the night sky as morning was beginning to break, three shooting stars, all at the same time, shot over the top of the large spruce tree.  Both of us saw them and gasped.  Then within another minutes a very small wisp of a cloud appeared up in the sky towards the west.  Both of us questioned this as there were no clouds in the sky anywhere else.  It was not there when we saw the shooting stars and then it was there.  As we watched for seconds it then disappeared.  It was if the heavens had opened and then it closed.  The shooting stars came and went.  The cloud appeared and then disappeared.  Jerry was here on earth and then he was gone.  This all happened within 20 minutes of his passing.  We knew we had just witnesses a miracle.  The final moments of physical life as the spirit passes into the next life.  Just as Jesus promised. 

 

Luke 23:43 (KJV) - And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Jerry's Life

It's the 6th day since Jerry left earth and time to write about his beautiful life.  What a guy!  81 years and he lived it to the fullest.  He was wrong part of the time but he was right the majority of the time.  He ended with a strong belief and a strong heart for God and that is all that really matters.  He walked for the Lord and now he is walking with the Lord.  It's that easy!

 

Jerald (Jerry, JR) Roderick Reeves was born in the Myrtle Point, OR hospital on July 13, 1941 to William Clare Reeves and Helen Inez Stallard and was taken home to live and grow up in Powers, OR.  He graduated from Powers High School in 1959.  Jerry's first marriage was to Jean Griswold with children Jerri and Rod born into that family.  In 1972 Jerry moved his first family to Tillamook and began saw filing at the Publishers Paper lumber mill. That marriage ended in 1982.  The Lord God crossed the paths of Jerry and Debbi Schmitz (Werner) on February 19, 1983, they married July 30, 1983 and the rest is history.  Jerry and Debbi were raising Dena and Chris (Werner) when in 1984 Jerry's sister Carmen passed away so her two daughters, Jerry's nieces, Sharon (Bowers) and Carrie (McCulloch) joined the Reeves family. From 1989 to 1991, with the help of many other friends and family members, Jerry built a beautiful home for Debbi and the family.  This beautiful home is where Jerry passed away quietly and peacefully at the age of 81 years old on September 21, 2022 at 4:00 a.m. He was exactly where he wanted to be and loved to be.

 

Jerry worked as the Head Saw Filer and Saw Filer at the Tillamook Publishers Paper lumber mill, now the Hampton Lumber Mill, for 35 years, retiring in 2007. He was honored to be inducted in the Western Saw Filer Hall of Fame in 2006 for his skill and expertise in the art of saw filing. Jerry was also inducted into the Powers Community Hall of Fame in 2021 for his commitment and love to his hometown community for his entire life. Jerry was one of the founding members of Living Water Fellowship, a non-denominational church which began in Tillamook in 1985. He was a soft-spoken but dedicated and avid  disciple for Jesus, even more so after his retirement when he had the time to be with others.

 

Jerry enjoyed elk and deer hunting with his boys or sauntering alone through the prairies and the forests in Tillamook and Powers. Digging up clams in the Netarts Bay was a favorite pastime for many years with and without family and friends.  He raised a steer every year for the family freezer. He maintained the outside of the house and acreage for 32 years.  Because he lived with rheumatoid arthritis for 51 years and numerous complications of that disease he always said he had to keep moving and he did. 

 

Jerry was a quiet, humble man who loved others.  Like many, he had lessons to learn as a younger man but did learn from his mistakes and overcame to become an honorable man of God.  His wisdom and love was known to all who met him and got to know him.  One of Jerry's favorite saying to others was "All is well", knowing with God, all is well.

 

Jerry is survived by his wife, Debra (Debbi) Schmitz, children Jerri (Doward) Eldridge of Killeen TX, Rodrick Reeves of Portland OR, Dena (Brian) Lemos of Windsor CO, Chris (Lisa) Werner of Adna, WA and adopted in love son, Ryan (Cynthia) Miller, Tillamook OR. Jerry's grandchildren are Annie Eldridge Lobato, Jennifer Eldridge, Heather Reeves Meyer, Ashlee Lemos, Hailey Lemos Sanders, Felicia Lemos, Eddie Lemos, Tyler Werner, Natalee Werner, Liam Miller and Silas Miller.  Jerry's great grandchildren are  JayDee Meyer, Elizabeth and Emma Lobato, Jason Eldridge, James Guin, Ana Rose and Sarah Sanders.  Jerry is survived by his sister Sharon (Goodman) Giltz and husband Larry.  Jerry leaves behind many cousins, nephews and nieces from the Stallard, Boutin, Walker, Brady, Wyland, Reeves, and Goodman families not to mention all the others who were more family than friends from the communities of Powers and Tillamook.  Jerry was preceded in death by his father William Reeves, mother Helen Stallard Costello, sister Carmen Reeves McCulloch, brother William Goodman as well as grandparents and numerous uncles and aunts.

 

A celebration of Jerry's life has been set for May 27, 2023 at Living Water Fellowship in Tillamook (time to be announced) so that family and friends from all areas will be able to plan for and attend to share in this tribute to Jerry's life well lived. His presence on earth will be missed greatly but we all know that "All is well" and Jerry will be waiting to see all who follow Jesus Christ as savior and Lord. 

 

Transitions of Life

We are in the 9th day of Jerry moving from this life to the next with Jehovah Elohim!  It's been a miracle, blessing, sorrowful, joyful, laughter, tears, but I have to say there has been no fear.  The peace that surpasses all understanding has enveloped this house, those living in it and those coming in for visits.  It's very hard to describe in words because The Word has been living here for days and days with us.  The Comforter is working overtime with Jerry and all of us.

 

Today there are family members coming in. Chris is headed to PDX this afternoon for Brian and Ashlee.  Tomorrow Dena and Hailey fly in and they have a rental car.  Thursday Brian, Ashlee and Hailey fly out.  Dena will be staying to be more helping hands.  Friday Lisa will pick up Felicia at PDX and come over and then she will take Felicia back to PDX on Sunday.  Also Friday Jerri Jean and Doward fly in and they also have a rental car.  Eddie can't make it from Iowa.  Heather can't make it because she is having some kind of surgery.  David can't see him this way after all he went through with mom.  Jake has the babies while Hailey is here.  Felicia is coming in on Friday and Lisa will pick her up and come over. Jerri Jean and Doward will be here late on Friday and be staying for 6 days. Next week Jerri, Doward, Chris, Lisa and Dena will all be here to help with everything.  That is a blessing because I really only think it is a matter of days, not weeks, for Jerry. The hospice nurses will also be popping in and Jeannie is helping out too. 

 

Last week after the hospital pumped him full of IV fluids, 2 pints of blood and got the bleeding ulcer stopped I had thought maybe he would bounce back and get the fractured collarbone healing but God had other plans. Each day since Thursday when we got him home he has become frailer and frailer.  He is off almost all of his Rheumatoid Arthritis medication so now the joints are all inflamed.  The prednisone is too hard on the stomach so that had always kept the inflammation down but not now.  We wait on the Lord every day now.  We keep Jerry as comfortable as possible.  He is sleeping 95% of the time and he is not moving because moving causes pain, lots of pain everywhere.  Fractured collarbone and RA inflammation.  He is not eating at all and drinking very little.  My husband is slipping away from me and I have to let him go be with Jesus.  "catch you later" he said to me one time in the past week.  We know we will catch up with each other on the other side, the Lord's new place he had gone and prepared for us.  Each one of us who know him and call him king, savior, Lord, friend, God!

 

Transitions of life are difficult whether it is a new job, marriage, babies, moving, health issues, all of those things that take us out of our comfort zones and into something unknown and different. Sometimes it's fun and exciting.  Sometimes it's very scary.  I only know that I would not be able to get through all of this with Jerry if the Lord were not with me every second of each day.  I know he will be with me through these days and the days ahead after Jerry is not here with me.  I cannot fear because when God is with us what do we have to fear?  Nothing.  Absolutely because he is the God and loves us more than we can ever imagine.

 

A day has passed since I began writing this chapter.  Jerry passed away into the other life, our home with Lord Jesus, September 21st, yesterday morning, at 4 am.  Chris and I were with him within minutes of his passing and I heard the last little wisps of air pass from his lungs.  It was so peaceful and quiet then I was praising the Lord for his relief from all of the pain he had endured for 50 years with rheumatoid arthritis which caused so many other health conditions.

 

Now it is time for my own transition in life.  Jesus and I will be working on it.

 

AFTER NOTE: Jerry died at 4 AM on September 21st so all of the plans for family coming to see him were cancelled.  Sadly, Dena got here at noon and did not get to see him before he was gone.

 

The Final Days

Where do I start with this one?  It's probably going to be one of the hardest to write.  My husband of 39 years and 2 months is dying.

 

Last Monday I woke at 4 am to a huge crash and found Jerry collapsed as the bottom of the stairs.  He was trying to get from the couch where he sleeps, to the toilet and collapsed.  When I got down to him in seconds I tried to figure out what had happened and if he was breathing and if he was bleeding and if he was hearing me.  Within as minute or so he said "get me to the toilet" which was very hard to do because he was 120 pounds of almost dead weight.  We did get him onto the toilet and there was blood in his stool.  He did not want me to call 911 so we got him back to bed but within an hour he wanted back to the toilet. It was another ordeal to get him back to the bathroom and he was complaining of extra shoulder pain in his already bad shoulder.  The third toilet trip he collapsed on the living room floor and said to call 911.  We needed help. The paramedics were here within 10 minutes and began to assess him and get him into the ambulance to take him to emergency. I got to emergency at 10 am and they were just starting to get IV fluids into him as he was severely dehydrated.  About 11 one of the nurses did a covid test which she said was negative but an hour later the doctor informed us the test was actually positive.  This meant all new protocols for the patient and his care.  Of course I argued with the doctor but there was nothing I could do.  He became a patient with covid.  No visitors and everyone gown up, mask up, and glove up.  I was not leaving though.  They ended up finding in X-rays that he had broken his collarbone when he fell.  His blood count was low so they gave him a pint of blood and by 3 pm had him in an ICU unit since he was covid positive even though there was no symptoms of covid. They scheduled him for an endoscopy the next day, Tuesday, if possible, because the covid was an issue as well as his frail condition and broken collarbone.  I was told earlier in the day that I could spend the night with him but they kicked me out at 9:30 pm and said no.  They said I could come back at 9 am and see him.  I left in tears not knowing if he would make it through the night.

 

At 9 am I was back and was then told I could not go it his room.  I threw a fit and after demanding to speak with Administration I was allowed in the room with my husband in covid gear, gown, mask and gloves.  He was eating and drinking a bit.  They gave him another pint of blood.  I demanded they do the endoscopy and they were procrastinating and saying maybe they would do it Wednesday.  Tuesday at 4 pm they found a bleeding ulcer and cauterized it.  The doctor informed me his stomach was in terrible shape and there were exposed veins or arteries that could be a problem and thought the best thing would be to send him to Portland for more treatment that could help.  After Jerry  was alert and we could talk he determined he did not want any further treatment or to go to Portland.  "I want to go home."  I spent the day lining up Hospice services and a bed, supplies and equipment which was in place at home by 5 pm on Wednesday.  Our son had come down from Washington on Monday to help. Our other adopted-into-the-family son was here to help also. By 10 am on Thursday Jerry was released to home Hospice care and we brought him home. 

 

Tuesday and Wednesday Jerry had been eating and drinking some but of course he had been having IV fluids and blood put back into him.  Thursday at home he ate and drank a little bit.  By Friday it was less.  By Saturday and Sunday it was even less.  Just little bites and swallows here and there.  The majority of his time was sleeping.  He was getting pain medication every 4 hours for the broken bone.  None of his normal rheumatoid drugs were being allowed due to the condition of his stomach.

 

Today is one full week and everything in life has changed.  Jerry is losing ground everyday.  Family and friends are trying to see him one last time.  Emotions are high and exhaustion is at every turn.  But the presence of God fills this home!  We all wait on the Lord for his move and his time.  We have no fear of where Jerry will be when he draws his last breath because we have been assured by Jesus that there is another place we go to be with Him when we are not on this earth.  

 

Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God ; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going. - John 14:1-4

 

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. - Revelation 21:1

 

See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. - Isaiah 65:17

 

But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. - 2 Peter 3:13

 

Following Jesus

People who follow Jesus follow a man who was God in human form. It’s not a religious connection but a spiritual connection. Unless one finds this spiritual connection even a religious connection won’t fill a person with the peace, hope and love that comes. It only happens by spirit not religion. 

Those who followed Jesus when he walked on earth in human form heard him say things like,

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” ~  ‭‭John‬ ‭14:6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” ~ ‭‭John‬ ‭14:7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” ~ ‭‭John‬ ‭9:5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.” ~ ‭‭John‬ ‭10:14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” ~ ‭‭John‬ ‭5:46-47‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Over and over Jesus spoke to the religious leaders of his time and tried to get them to see and understand he was God. He was the Messiah, the Christ, the Savior that all of the old prophets spoke of hundreds and thousands of years earlier, but they were stuck in their religion without a spiritual connection. The were blind and did not want to see. They were stubborn and prideful. They were selfish and greedy with power. They killed him instead of kneeling before God. 

But the disciples and the people who walked with him, talked with him, listened to him and made a spiritual connection with him did see who he was. They saw the miracles he performed and were not jealous of his power. They saw the kindness and love he had for others and did not call him their enemy but their friend. They saw his gentle way of dealing with others and felt love for him not resentment. Many of them died for him and many still are over 2,000 years later. 

Living for Jesus has nothing to do with religion and everything to do with the Spirit of God living and working inside the hearts and minds of those who hear and see past this world and into a spiritual world. When one believes in who Jesus was and what he said, they also believe in this promise;

“There are many rooms in my Father's house, and I am going to prepare a place for you. I would not tell you this if it were not so. And after I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to myself, so that you will be where I am.” ~ ‭‭John‬ ‭14:2-3‬ ‭GNTD‬‬

And this promise;

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” ~ ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:28-29‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

None of this is rocket science. It is faith. Simple, pure, spiritual faith to believe. 

Speaking In Another Language

I found this very informative write up at Got Questions that helped me with more understanding of "speaking in tongues" or more correctly, "speaking in other languages".

https://www.gotquestions.org/praying-in-tongues.html

This following paragraph stood out for me as I have no idea if I speak in tongues of another identifiable human language as no one has ever told me "I hear you speaking in __________ language!"

"Acts chapter 2 describes the first occurrence of the gift of tongues. On the day of Pentecost, the apostles spoke in tongues. Acts chapter 2 makes it clear that the apostles were speaking in a human language (Acts 2:6-8). The word translated “tongues” in both Acts chapter 2 and 1 Corinthians chapter 14 is glossa which means “language.” It is the word from which we get our modern English word “glossary.” Speaking in tongues was the ability to speak in a language the speaker does not know, in order to communicate the gospel to someone who does speak that language. In the multicultural area of Corinth, it seems that the gift of tongues was especially valuable and prominent. The Corinthian believers were able to better communicate the gospel and God’s Word as a result of the gift of tongues. However, Paul made it abundantly clear that even in this usage of tongues, it was to be interpreted or “translated” (1 Corinthians 14:13, 27). A Corinthian believer would speak in tongues, proclaiming God’s truth to someone who spoke that language, and then that believer, or another believer in the church, was to interpret what was spoken so that the entire assembly could understand what was said."

This is what the scripture says in Acts 2:1-8 and I have underlined and changed the color to red on the words that jump out to me,

'And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilæans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?'

I have no doubt about being filled with the Holy Spirit personally.  I can feel him in me and I have heard him audibly speak to me one time.  He is as real to me as a person standing next to me but I am unable to see him visually with my eyes.  I do not know if the tongue/language that I speak is or is not another language of another nation here on earth since I cannot verify it.  I have never spoken out in a public meeting to test it.  I thought it was a prayer language but apparently a "prayer language" is something totally different but I do use this same language in my prayer time on occasion.  I do have several other gifts from the Holy Spirit so if speaking in another language is not one I have, I have no problem with that.  He is God.  I am not.

Got Questions has a good response about the Spiritual Gifts I also thought worth mentioning.

https://www.gotquestions.org/spiritual-gifts-survey.html

We are each uniquely and wonderfully made by the Creator and I cannot and will not say one is or isn't filled with the Holy Spirit because another human says so. I cannot and will not say one is or isn't saved by the blood of Jesus if they have been baptized in his name and walk as a follower of Christ. The final answer comes from God.

Jesus told us that we would be known by our fruit.  He does not say how many or how few fruit but only that a barren tree will be cut down and burned.  I see much of the fruit in my 68 years of life and feel no shame.  I will continue to do my best to remain fruitful for my Lord until I draw my last breath.  Thanks for hearing me out as I continue learning, seeking and growing by the revelation and discernment of the Spirit of God in me.

Yehovah Elohim

Genesis 1:1 - In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

From the very beginning of Biblical scripture we hear the word "God".  Our human minds place him as the creator of our world and everything in it and mankind.  The ruler of our lives.  The one who loves us and saves us from death and destruction.  The one who makes the final determination if we live past this life into the next or places us in eternal punishment that we rightly deserve as sinful creatures.

Of course only those who have searched their hearts and minds for the spiritual part of life are the ones who question any of the spiritual aspects of life.  Those who turn their back on any part of a spiritual life are lost in a void of darkness by their own choosing.  All human beings of a certain age at one point of time question why they are alive and breathing on earth.  All human beings of a certain age at one point of time in their lives question what happens at death. 

Many argue there is no God and there is no Supreme Creator.  They choose death and the grave at the end of their lives.  They choose not to open their spirit to God.  They make their choice and live with it.  Once in a while something happens in their lives to open them up to question their decision but too many times they turn their back and walk away because faith is not something scientific.  They choose to believe in the power of science which saves no one spiritually.

In this first verse of the Bible, Genesis 1:1, the word God in Hebrew is the word Elohim.  Elohim is a plural word for God. God the Father.  God the Son.  God the Holy Spirit.  The Hebrew writer using the word Elohim tells us he knew the triune nature of God.  Something like this can only be revealed to the human spirit by the Spirit Creator.  These revelations can only come into a human mind and a human spirit by a supernatural Spirit. By the power of the Holy Spirit. There is nothing earthy that can reveal this to the human brain of mankind.

All throughout Chapter 1 of Genesis the word Elohim is used to describe God.  The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit were creating together as One.  Elohim!

In all of the verses of Genesis 1 until Genesis 2:3 only Elohim is used when referring to God.  Then in verse 3 of Chapter 2 the writer uses the terms "Lord God" not just Elohim.  Lord in Hebrew is the word Yehovah.  The Hebrew writer uses only the word Elohim to describe God until the point of creation when Elohim has completed his or their creation work and blessed, sanctified and rested on the seventh day in Genesis 2:3.  After that, starting in verse 4, Lord God becomes the words used to describe God.  Yehovah Elohim!

Yehovah means eternal or self existent. Yehovah is our eternal God.  God the Father.  In combining Yehovah with Elohim we have our separately existing yet triune God.  Father, Son and Spirit.  One, yet three.  Eternally self existent.  Eternally together.  

When the creation of mankind is described in Genesis 1:26-27 by Elohim it is stated that we are created in the three images of Elohim.  When you read the following verse think Elohim for each word God; 

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. ~ Genesis 1:26-27

We are created in the Godhead images of Elohim, the Father, the Son and the Spirit!  We are three in one as He is three in one.  

Matthew 27:46 tell us as Jesus was dying on the cross, just before his very last breath, he cried out, 

Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?

'Eli' is a form of the Hebrew word Elohim.  Jesus is calling out to the Father and Spirit.  The word 'lama' means why and the word 'sabachthani' means left me alone.  The human Jesus cries out to them, Elohim, that he feels all alone on the cross for that moment.  The human Jesus shows his humanity to the world.  We are each crying out to Elohim that we feel we are alone.  But we are not, even when our feelings try to tell us differently. Our spirit and Elohim are together!

And the LORD , he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed. ~ Deuteronomy 31:8

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. ~ Deuteronomy 31:6

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. ~ Hebrews 13:5

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. ~ Joshua 1:9

There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. ~ Joshua 1:5

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. ~ Matthew 28:18-20

Discourage, Encourage, Courage

These words just popped into my head while preparing for our Power of Twelve meeting in a few hours.  Three words with so much difference in meaning.

It seems like each time I am preparing myself for a meeting and wanting the Holy Spirit to move in our time together, a bit of discouragement comes on me.  I throw it aside as fast I can but nonetheless it comes into my mind.  I think about the ladies who will not be attending due to circumstances of life and then wonder who else will not come.  The questions come at me, are they tired of the group, is it not fulfilling to them spiritually, did I say something wrong that offended them, does it not meet their needs of encouragement any longer? Every time it is some kind of question and usually it's an attack on me, that I am not doing something right or that I am not hearing from the Lord in a positive uplifting way and therefore it's not apparent when we gather. When I feel a bit of discouragement it generally passes quite fast as I pray to the Lord and ask him to tell me something positive or to give me joy that I am doing his will by opening my home and continuing on in his plan for these women, whomever they are, that do come into my home to have love and fellowship, even if it is only a few!

Once I come to the Lord in prayer and seek him, the encouragement comes!  I just got the sweeping, vacuuming, mopping, and cleaning the toilet done and I feel at peace!  He has encouraged me to clean up and get prepared for my sisters to come.  All of these women mean so much to me and to my life.  They each have such a special place in my heart for being a part of my life and this group and I know the Lord feels even more encouragement than I.  He smiles with pride that month after month we gather for this small amount of time and share him and our hearts with one another!  He is in love with us as much as we are in love with him.  That is one of the most beautiful things about all of this.  The love!! His love, our love for him and our love for one another. We are sisters in the Lord seeking him and his encouragement is so apparent in our lives.  Look at all the love that is in our lives on a day to day basis.

Then I think of the word courage.  I never had the courage that I have now to speak up and speak out about Jesus Christ, the savior of all.  I would love to be one who could shout it from a rooftop but feel I am too old for that kind of experience.  Therefore I am led to shout it out to this group of sisters and to share the words he gives me to share.  Each one of them have different things happening in their lives that are not pleasant.  Each one of them have trials and tribulations.  Each one of them has people that bring them sorrow but also people who bring them joy.  If I can help them focus on the joy, then hallelujah.  If I can speak a word of encouragement, then hallelujah.  If I can speak a word of wisdom, hallelujah!  I know that sometimes I am out on social media speaking words that are not encouraging and I hope that each one of them forgive me for my discouraging words.  I have lots of faults and hope my sisters still love me when my human nature and mouth are not so encouraging.  God knows I beat myself up enough over some of my words and he also informs me when I have overstepped my bounds.  Sometimes it takes courage to admit one needs to be silent and let him speak to souls without my help.  

The Lord does not want us to be discouraged.  He wants us to have the courage to encourage those who have not accepted Jesus as their savior.  He wants us to love the lost.  Love the sinner for all of us are sinners who he paid the price of salvation for.  He just loves us that much and encourages us to do the same out there in this crazy world, one day at a time!!

Mary is NOT the queen of heaven

A close study of the "queen of heaven" in the Bible shows this woman was associated with false gods and pagan rituals.  A closer study shows she was the wife of King Nimrod and that she prayed to the underworld.  She was titled the queen of heaven and hell, was a pagan priestess, and was filled with evil.

The only scriptures where the queen of heaven is mentioned are in Jeremiah as he warns the people against idol worship. God tells them He will no longer protect and guide them because of this evil worship of false gods.

Jeremiah 7:18-19 (NKJV) 'The children gather wood, the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven; and they pour out drink offerings to other gods, that they may provoke Me to anger. Do they provoke Me to anger?” says the Lord . “ Do they not provoke themselves, to the shame of their own faces?”'

Jeremiah 44:17 (NKJV) But we will certainly do whatever has gone out of our own mouth, to burn incense to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her, as we have done, we and our fathers, our kings and our princes, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For then we had plenty of food, were well-off, and saw no trouble.

Jeremiah 44:18 (NKJV) But since we stopped burning incense to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have been consumed by the sword and by famine.”

Jeremiah 44:19 (NKJV) The women also said, “And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven and poured out drink offerings to her, did we make cakes for her, to worship her, and pour out drink offerings to her without our husbands’ permission?”

Jeremiah 44:25 (NKJV)

Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying: ‘You and your wives have spoken with your mouths and fulfilled with your hands, saying, “We will surely keep our vows that we have made, to burn incense to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her.” You will surely keep your vows and perform your vows!’ For their obstinance and unwillingness to stop performing idol worship The Lord says to them,

Jeremiah 44:26-27 (NKJV) 'Therefore hear the word of the Lord , all Judah who dwell in the land of Egypt: ‘Behold, I have sworn by My great name,’ says the Lord , ‘that My name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, “The Lord God lives.” Behold, I will watch over them for adversity and not for good. And all the men of Judah who are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by famine, until there is an end to them.'

In 1954  Pope Pius XII of the Roman Catholic church decided to officially  declare Jesus' mother the queen of heaven.  For years the Catholic church had worshiped Mary even when Jesus had specifically said to only hear the word of God and keep it when a woman called blessings upon His mother Mary.

Luke 11:27-28 (NKJV) 'And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!” But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”'

The word of God says,

Hosea 13:4 (NKJV) “Yet I am the Lord your God Ever since the land of Egypt, And you shall know no God but Me; For there is no savior besides Me.

I Corinthians 8:4 (NKJV) Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one.

Exodus 20:3 (NKJV) “You shall have no other gods before Me.

Isaiah 45:5 (NKJV) I am the Lord, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me,

Deuteronomy 32:39 (NKJV) ‘Now see that I, even I, am He, And there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand.

Isaiah 44:6 (NKJV) “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God.

Jesus plainly stated that ONLY the Lord God is to be worshiped.

Luke 4:8 (ESV) And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’”

Exodus 34:13-16 (NKJV) 'But you shall destroy their altars, break their sacred pillars, and cut down their wooden images for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they play the harlot with their gods and make sacrifice to their gods, and one of them invites you and you eat of his sacrifice, and you take of his daughters for your sons, and his daughters play the harlot with their gods and make your sons play the harlot with their gods.'

When the Pope decided to officially declare Mary to be the queen of heaven he associated Mary with the only queen of heaven mentioned in Bible scripture in Jeremiah. The queen of heaven in scripture is a pagan queen, wife of Nimrod, who prayed to the underworld. The Catholic church did Mary no favors at all by associating her to a pagan priestess of the underworld.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_of_Heaven_(antiquity)

The Seven Churches (Revelation Chapters 2 & 3)

As Born-Again Spirit-Filled Christians we strive daily to be in the Church of Smyrna.  The last thing we ever want is to be affiliated, in any way, with the Church of Laodicea.  Those who fit into the Church of Laodecia will not be saved and will be cast into the Lake of Death. The other five churches have many issues to overcome but we can also have hope that the Lord will continue to guide us and forgive us as we choose to repent from our sins and walk with Him.   

Godly Authority Over Christians

Jesus was put and trial and crucified because the religious authorities of his time hated that he did not always obey the religious laws.  He called himself the son of God which was considered blasphemy.  He defied the Sabbath ordinances or laws set by the religious leaders. Even today if Jesus were here on earth he would say “No” to some of the requirements of the laws and would choose between obeying the laws of a nation and the commands of God.  He would follow His Father even though it may be breaking the human government law and he would still remain completely sinless.  There are times we must make the same choices.

'When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.” He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent? I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” '

Matthew 12:2-8

We find in Romans 12 Paul was speaking of love and continued on in Romans 13 assuming a government is acting within its God-appointed parameters and in love. When it does not, other choices may need to be made by the individual Christian.

'Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. '

Romans 13:1-5

'Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! '

Acts 5:29

'If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” '

Daniel 3:16-18

By the discernment of the power of the Holy Spirit we will know if the government is acting in love or in power.  Adhering to government authority that tells us to do something contrary to scripture and contrary to God’s commandments is not sinful and we are not held to the authority of that government.

An evil government that persecutes and terrorizes the people has no authority in the lives of God’s people therefore honor and respect are not required.

https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/the-fourfold-gospel/by-sections/jesus-defends-disciples-who-pluck-grain-on-the-sabbath.html

https://www.crossway.org/articles/should-christians-always-submit-to-the-government-romans-13/

https://research.lifeway.com/2018/07/13/did-jesus-break-the-law/

Deliver

 

Our word for the month is DELIVER!

Psalms 91:14-16 says 14 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. 15 When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” (ESV English Standard Version)

But......you know me and I am a word nut especially when it comes to scripture! 

I looked up the King James Version which is supposed to be the closest English Version of the Hebrew words used in the Old Testament.  The KJV version uses the word "deliver" in verse 14 and verse 15 while the above ESV version uses the word "deliver" in verse 14 and "rescue" in verse 15.

When we talked about this we assumed the words were interchangeable but they are 2 different words in Hebrew!

The first "deliver" (vs 14) is the Hebrew word "palet" meaning to slip out, cause to deliver, carry away, escape. 

The second "deliver" is the Hebrew word "chalats" meaning to pull off, to depart, strengthen, to arm, to prepare, to deliver and equip for fight.  This word "chalats" pertains to prepared and equipped armed soldiers ready for battle!  Oh wow!!

Now I don't know how each of you feel about the power of these verses of the Lord God speaking to the believer but it really hit my spirit.  These words are not the same and are not interchangeable.  The first “deliver” in verse 14, the Lord is telling us that He will help us escape, carry us away.  He says He will protect us because we love Him and He loves us.  The second “deliver” (rescue in ESV) in verse 15, He is telling us that in times of trouble He will give us the armor, ammunition, and strength as His soldiers who are in a battle.  Remember we talked about the spiritual battle going on right now.  We can see it but those who live in the world are blinded to the things of the spirit.  All they see is death and destruction which is why fear and anger are at such high levels today.  They need that “mustard seed” of faith to open their eyes and their hearts.

Here is Deb’s version of these verses:

14 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name.

15 When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will “arm him, strengthen him, prepare him for battle” and honor him.

16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

 

P.S. We missed our sisters who were either not feeling well or out and about spreading the word of God to their families and friends! Our next meeting will be on July 10^th and if there weather is sunny and dry we should move out chairs outside!! I love you all and pray the Lord blesses you each day till we see each other!

 

A Study on Nicolaitans, Nicolas and Nicodemus

I am studying Revelation and began looking into the Nicolaitans.  I was going to start a new thread but this one popped up but with very little study information.

It seems the Nicolaitans may originally have been followers of Nicolas spoken of in Act 6:5 which makes sense to me since he is the only Nicolas in the Bible appointed to minister the word of Jesus and then something went wrong with his ministry.

Acts 6:5 - And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch,

Rick Renner has a very good and thorough explanation of Nicolas and the Nicolaintans and why, by the time Jesus spoke to John on Patmos, He expressed hatred for their deeds.

https://renner.org/article/who-were-the-nicolaitans-and-what-was-their-doctrine-and-deeds/

My feeling today is that the spirit of the Nicolaitans is firmly back in the churches that allow a compromise of the Word of God.  Idolatry (money,power,greed, possessions), all sexual perversions, self promotion, self centeredness, self help, self ______ (you fill in the blank), no judgement allowed from fellow believers, basically lukewarm, politically correct Christianity.  Of course a large part of the problem is the teachers and preachers at the pulpit who follow this Nicolaitan doctrine, beliefs and deeds.

Jesus did not vocalize hatred to much, but we know He hated what the Nicolaitans were doing. 

More study information from Bible Gateway

https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Nicolaus

Nicolaus

NICOLAUS nĭk’ ə lā’ əs (Νικόλαος, G3775, conqueror of the people), the proselyte of Antioch chosen as one of the seven men to serve the church in Jerusalem (Acts 6:5). The reference to a proselyte meant that he was a Gentile who had become a convert to Judaism, and subsequently to Christianity. Because his name was Gr., as well as the others among the seven men chosen to distribute the food in the dole practiced by the Jerusalem church, it has been supposed that the others were proselytes also. It seems rather that they were all Gentiles, and the designation “proselyte” applied only to Nicolaus meant that he alone had come to Christianity through Judaism, the other six having come directly from paganism, or at least not having been converted to Judaism. This, of course, raises the entire question of circumcision and its importance in the Early Church. Because of a due consideration for the importance of such Jewish practices even in the Early Church, it has been most often assumed that all seven were either proselytes or Jews using Gr. names.

Nicolaus was thought by the Church Fathers to have been the founder of the heretical sect known as the Nicolaitans (Rev 2:6, 15). Irenaeus excused him from responsibility for this by indicating that it was a misunderstanding of his teaching that had produced the Nicolaitans. Nicolaus, according to Irenaeus, had taught that “the flesh must be abused.” By this he had meant that the body must be buffeted to be kept under control. The Nicolaitans changed his teaching to mean that the flesh could be treated in any fashion, that the flesh was insignificant and of no concern. Thus a man could live in any fashion that he wished; all of which led to shameless immorality. On the basis of this teaching the followers of Nicolaus practiced all kinds of wickedness.

The Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary says that the name Nicolas is the same as Nicodemus. This does not prove out completely true to me.

To me there is a huge discrepancy in the definitions Nicolas - A Christian and Nicodemus - An Israelite.

Strong's Concordance G3530

Nikodémos: Nicodemus, an Israelite

Original Word: Νικόδημος, ου, ὁ

Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine

Transliteration: Nikodémos

Phonetic Spelling: (nik-od'-ay-mos)

Definition: Nicodemus, an Israelite

Usage: Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin.

Derived From G3534 and G1218 and primary word G3529

Strong's Concordance G3534

nikos: victory

Original Word: νῖκος, ους, τό

Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter

Transliteration: nikos

Phonetic Spelling: (nee'-kos)

Definition: victory

Usage: victory.

Strong's Concordance G1218

démos: a district or country, the common people, esp. the people assembled

Original Word: δῆμος, οῦ, ὁ

Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine

Transliteration: démos

Phonetic Spelling: (day'-mos)

Definition: a district or country, the common people, the people assembled

Usage: properly: the people, especially citizens of a Greek city in popular assembly, but in NT, multitude, rabble.

Strong's Concordance G3529

niké: victory

Original Word: νίκη, ης, ἡ

Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine

Transliteration: niké

Phonetic Spelling: (nee'-kay)

Definition: victory

Usage: victory, a victorious principle.

The name Nicolas in Act 6:5 is G3532 derived from G3534 and G2004.

Strong's Concordance G3532

Nikolaos: Nicolaus, a Christian, probably not connected with the sect bearing the same name (my note: this is speculation and should not be a part of this definition)

Original Word: Νικόλαος, ου, ὁ

Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine

Transliteration: Nikolaos

Phonetic Spelling: (nik-ol'-ah-os)

Definition: Nicolaus, a Christian, probably not connected with the sect bearing the same name (again my note: this is speculation and should not be a part of this definition)

Usage: Nicolaus, a proper name.

Strong's Concordance G3534 - see above definition

Strong's Concordance G2004

epitassó: to arrange upon, i.e. to command

Original Word: ἐπιτάσσω

Part of Speech: Verb

Transliteration: epitassó

Phonetic Spelling: (ep-ee-tas'-so)

Definition: to arrange upon, to command

Usage: I give order, command, charge.

G2004 is derived from G1909 and G5021

Strong's Concordance G1909

epi: on, upon

Original Word: ἐπί

Part of Speech: Preposition

Transliteration: epi

Phonetic Spelling: (ep-ee')

Definition: on, upon

Usage: on, to, against, on the basis of, at.

Strong's Concordance G5021

tassó: to draw up in order, arrange

Original Word: τάσσω

Part of Speech: Verb

Transliteration: tassó

Phonetic Spelling: (tas'-so)

Definition: to draw up in order, arrange

Usage: (a) I assign, arrange, (b) I determine; mid: I appoint.

My Notes: 

Nicolaitans exalted and held in highest esteem the clergy over the people.  The Catholic church, with the Pope, Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, etc. is an example of the Nicolaitan ideals.  Nicolaitans also had an attitude of compromise, which is associated with Balaam.  The churches today who allow homosexuality in it's pastors and members or any  church than condones any sexual immorality is an example of Nicolaitan ideals. Any church that condones or compromises sin is guilty of Nicolaitan ideals. 

Verily Verily - I Tell You The Truth

 

There are 77 times recorded in the King James Bible where Jesus begins with saying "Verily" or "Verily, verily" and this means "I tell you the truth" and then He goes on to speak of that truth. There are 30 incidents in Matthew.  There are 15 times in the book of Mark. There are 8 in Luke and there are 24 times in John.  

Over and over throughout His ministry and life He would start by telling the people; 

"This is the truth I am speaking."

"Hear this truth."

"I am telling you the truth."

"What I am about to say is the truth."

Over and over He wanted to make the truth very plain to all people.  Even the thief dying on his cross along side of Jesus received the truth from Jesus.

Luke 23:43 (KJV) And Jesus said unto him, 

Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

The sinner on the cross received the truth from God the Son.  The Savior of all who call upon His name and believe He is who He said He is!  Jesus told the thief that today, this day, your body will die but your spirit will go with me into paradise, the perfect garden, Eden, the park, the place of perfection I have created for you, my chosen one.  Jesus prefaced this statement with the word "Verily" to express that it is truth! The undeniable and full truth of what He does for those who believe in who He is, those He loves and whom He has chosen to be with Him in a perfect place of life after this worldly life in this fallen world.  The gift of salvation, the saving of our souls forever!

This world is not the place the Father created for His people.  He had a perfect place planned with nothing but perfection for His people.  This place became tainted with sin  when the evil one became disobedient, fell from grace and was cast out of the place of perfection and onto this world where he enticed mankind to also sin causing death to our bodies. Here on the earth we were born into we each must make a choice to hear the Lord's words of truth and accept them or hear them and deny them.

John 6:47 (KJV)

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

Every single time Jesus spoke the word "Verily" He was saying Amen, So be it, this is truth, truth what I am saying, believe what I tell you, believe what I say, this is verified, this is established, this is sure, this is true.  

John 14:6 (KJV) - Jesus saith unto him, 

I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

God Made Man

 'Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person. '
Genesis 2:7

I love the word of God.  There is so much deep inside of the verses set before us and there are times He will lead us to search the meaning.  Today I fell on this beautiful scripture that records the first man the God created.

These words came to Moses from the Father and were recorded.  Moses would have used a Hebrew form of language and most of the words have more than one meaning.  I wanted to study the words dust and ground that the first man was formed from and see what the Holy Spirit might reveal.

The first man is whom we call Adam because the Hebrew words for man is adam, pronounced awdawm.  The meaning of awdawm is ruddy (having a redness), human, the species of mankind, person, man.  The word awdawm is derived from the other Hebrew word adam, pronounced awdam, which means to show blood, turn rosy, ruddy, red.  From these words we can understand that the verse says  "Then the Lord God made adam", a man with red blood.  

This adam, man, was made from the "dust of the ground". The Hebrew word dust is aphar, pronounced awfar, meaning dust (powder, gray) ashes, clay, earth, ground.  The word gray puzzled me.  Why would the color gray be a part of the meaning of the word dust?  Because dust is gray and has no life.  It is dry and barren of life. Ashes are the same being nothing but a gray powder. 

Moving to the word ground, it is the Hebrew word adamah, pronounced adawmaw.  Adamah means soil, earth, land, ground but is derived from a second Hebrew word adam, pronounced awdam, having the meaning of blood, red.

God the Father took some of the dry, lifeless gray dust, a pile of ashes, from the earth He had just created the week before and formed man, adam in the Hebrew language.  Then the miraculous happened. The Father breathed the breath of life into the nostrils of His man.   The soil, the earth, the ground, the gray dust He had gathered became blood red, ruddy, and the dust was gray and lifeless no longer.

When Father God breathed life into the nostrils of the adam he became a living soul.  Adam had become a living, breathing, blood red, person, body, life, a single individual man.  What was moments before, only gray lifeless dust, been changed into a red blooded soul breathing life.  The Father had made the perfect adam from His new earthly creation.  He had made this adam in His image to share all this creation with and specifically placed adam into a garden He had made to the east of where He had created adam in a place He called Eden. I love that the word Eden means fenced, delicate, delightful, pleasurable garden.  The Father had made the perfect home for His man, His Adam.

The Final Week

Easter is the season we remember the death of Jesus and celebrate his resurrection from the grave!  This year I felt the need to understand His final week, what He did and why He did it.

Being a Gentile and not a Jew I have little knowledge of the traditions of the Jews for Passover.  I know the Passover story and that the Jewish people have honored and celebrated their exile from Egypt for centuries.  I was not aware of all of the traditions and rituals performed.  This is a brief summery of the week long Passover Festival.  This year, 2022, the Jewish Passover begins today, April 14th and lasts until April 23rd. Back in the time of Jesus and with the Jewish calendar being different from the modern calendar,  when he entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey colt  it has been determined by going back on the Jewish calendar that it most likely a Monday.  Christianity today calls it Palm Sunday and celebrate it the week before Easter Sunday. Regardless of the actual day of our calendar week, on the day Jesus rode into the city in April 33 AD it was the day the Jewish people would have chosen their unblemished, sacrificial Passover lamb which would be killed for the Passover meal 4 days later.  Jewish tradition was the sacrificial lamb would be seen for 4 days prior to it's killing.  Jesus came into Jerusalem on the specific day as the Jewish sacrificial lamb but they did not understand this. 

Luke 19:41-42 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.

For the next 3 days after His entrance into the city He went in and cleared the temple of the money changers and taught in the temple.  He was openly showing Himself exactly the way the Jewish people were instructed to show their lamb of choice for the Passover sacrifice.  No one at the time understood the actions and timing as they aligned with Jewish Passover traditions.  Each evening He left Jerusalem and spent the night with friends outside of the city until Thursday night.  

The night of the Passover meal, the Last Supper as Christians call it, was on Thursday night and after that meal they went to the Garden of Gethsemane where Judas betrayed Him.  The arrest and trials took place during the night because the Jewish Sabbath would begin the next day, Friday, at sundown.  The Jews were not allowed to do anything during the Sabbath so the religious leaders were on a time crunch to do their evil deed of killing Jesus.  Sundown was coming so the push was on.  The crucifixion took place on Friday which is why Christians honor Good Friday.  Late Friday afternoon after His death and  before sundown they placed Him in the tomb. On the third day He rose from the grave and showed Himself to the women and apostles. 

He was alive.