Bible Study and Good Friday

good morning y'all!!!         I hope and pray that wherever y'all are that you are praising God for the day and that you get to be a part of it.        this particular week has been a week of thought for me.      thinking about Jesus and what He went thru for us.        where would I have been, had I been in the crowd?         I would love to think that I would have loved Jesus as deeply as the other women who followed Him.        I would love to think that I would have served Him as eagerly as the other women did.         but to be honest, I don't know where I would have been in the crowd.        I could have shouting "crucify Him, crucify Him!!"      the thoughts of that absolutely turns my stomach, but I don't know where I would have been.        all I can do is know where I am now and I love Jesus and I always want to take a stand for the things that matter to Him.        I want to serve Him where ever I am and what ever I'm doing.       that's what I've tried to do with my blog, is serve Him while I share about the things that matter to me.          anyway, I hope and pray that we all focus on Jesus today and realize that it truly was a good day for believers.       and Jesus done it because He loves us.        do we serve Him because we love Him?          I sure hope so.         have a great day y'all.   

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My hope is in Jesus Christ!!!    My hope is the One that loved me enough to die for me!!!!    My hope is in the Resurrection!!!    My hope is in the Lamb of God!!!!    My hope is in the empty tomb!!!!     My hope rests in seeing The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords coming again in the clouds, just like He promised He would!!!!   I am so ready for that day.    It can't happen soon enough to stop the madness of this upside down world we live in!!!   Come Lord Jesus, come!!!!

Philippians 4:8 

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.   King James Version (KJV)

When my mind starts racing and I feel like my head is about to explode, the above scripture is my "go to" scripture for a little bit of sanity.   Scripture is the only place that we sink our mind into and come out all the better for having placed ourselves in it.    I find myself spending more time in the Word.  If you find yourself perplexed about the days in which we live, maybe more time spent in Bible study would be a good place for you also.     

When I read the above scripture and think about what is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of a good report, any virtue and praise worthy, the only thing that comes to mind is JESUS CHRIST, my Lord and Savior!!!!    I pray that you feel the same way.    Trust in the Lord!!!

CRUCIFY HIM!!!!       CRUCIFY HIM!!!!!!!          these are the words that resonated loud and clear and they still echo loudly in our ears today.         the religious leaders of the day was so terrified of Jesus, they knew there was something different about Him.         He was teaching them when He was 12 years old.         How could He know what He knew at 12 years of age?         He was God in flesh!!!!         that's how He knew what He knew.         they was afraid of Him and rightfully so.        they had done turned His fathers House into a den of thieves and He cleared the temple out of the money changers.         they were incensed and ready to kill Him.        and they did!!!!        but that's not the end of the story.       

Today is Good Friday.    What is that?    What is so good about today?    Well, today is the day, by some interpreters, that Christ was crucified.    There is some argument that it may have been a different day.   I don't know enough about the calendar of the day to say yay or nay.  

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giggle for the day:

Q - What do frogs order at fast-food restaurants?

A - French flies!

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

oh ick, yuck, that's gross!!!!!     hahahaha

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picking up with Amos Chapter 6,         humility, justice and compassion are supposed to be character traits of believers.       a lot of times we see complacency, pride and an indifference to what's going on around us.           keeping our focus on God will help us keep our hearts in the right place.        when we settle in to our comfort, wealth and security, it exposes our pride and self indulgences.         we need to look at our spiritual lives and see where we are and then recognize that any and all blessings come from God.         God has a heart for justice and if we are seeking after the heart of God, we too have a heart for justice.         we will all stand before God some day and give an account of the way we lived our lives.         pray for a spirit of humility and a deeper understanding of God.

Chapter 7,          God's justice is real and so is His compassion.         despite opposition we are called to stand firm in our faith and proclaim God's truth!!        we need to be prayer warriors for our nation and other countries around the world.         also for our friends and neighbors, right where we live.        does our actions and attitudes line up with the righteousness of God?         if not, why?          sin is serious and it requires repentance.         do we see sin as serious?        most don't, but God does.        we need to seek God's mercy and forgiveness for our own personal sins and for the sins of our nation.    

Chapter 8,           it's important for God's people to maintain their spiritual integrity and deal with people fairly in our every day lives.        we have to read the word of God daily to avoid a spiritual famine in our lives.        the only way to know the word of God is to read it daily.       repentance and obedience to God's commands is very important and we need realize that.       even when we can't feel the presence of God in lives, stand firm and stay the course.         God is still in control and you just may be in a season where God is quiet for a reason, stay the course.        thank God for His word and pray for a deep hunger and yearning for scripture to avoid a spiritual famine.

Chapter 9,         God is a righteous judge and a merciful restorer.          I think every one can attest to that personally.         I know I can.      His mercy, grace, restoration and blessings is abundant for His believers.       sin has consequences but we can have hope in God only He can give.        God always has restoration and blessings for His people.          we should strive to live Him knowing that nothing is ever hidden from Him.        we need to strive to be a part of the faithful remnant that God preserves, living a life that mirrors His truth and values.     may we be reminded of the seriousness of sin and that it has to be dealt with.         But God is always offering hope of restoration and blessings.

next time we pick up with Obadiah Chapter 1.

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today is Good Friday, the day our Lord was crucified.         doesn't sound much like a good day does it?  but we know the story doesn't end here.        if it did, we'd all be doomed.         but praise God, Ressurection Sunday is coming!!!!        so just hang on, sunday's coming.        may we keep sunday about the resurrection and not about easter candy and the easter bunny.        let's keep the focus of Christ and what He done for us.       blessings of restoration and healing be ours.

hugs and love, patty

We Marched thru March

Good morning Blessed Ones!!!!      I do hope that this finds you all doing wonderful.      It's just another rainy day in my neck of the woods today.     Flooding over the weekend around in the low lying areas and more rain on top of that.      With each passing day, the earth, in my area is awakening from the deep sleep it has been in for a while.     Rain is part of what helps the earth to wake up.     We've seen a lot of trees in bloom and also a lot of the so called weeds that bloom are in full bloom.    Lots of daffodils and other spring flowers are too.     It's just a beautiful time of the year.    I notice every time I look out back and toward the tree line at the back of the property, that more and more trees are starting the process of putting on leaves.    They are getting their beautiful raiment for the year.    I just think it is a wonderful time of the year.     I can sit in the house, even as I type, and I hear more and more birds calling to their mates.     It really does my soul good to hear such beautiful music.     Every once in a while we will hear an owl calling to his mate.     Who who who, then a slight pause, who who who.    Then, from a slight distance, we will hear the answer to that call, who who who, slight pause and  who who who.     This goes on for hours and hours.     It is such a lovely sound.     Last year we had 2 pairs of owls up in the trees in the back yard.     They were different types of owls and wow, was it ever great to listen to them both calling and talking their mates.     I love that God seen fit to bless us with such beautiful sounds from all the gorgeous birds that He created for us to benefit from.    Praise Him!!!

This coming Friday is Good Friday.     One of the most horrible days in the history of our world is known as "Good" Friday.      To a lot of people, that would sound very strange.     But to a Christian, we know why it's called "Good" Friday.      Without that day, there would be no Resurrection Sunday.     So we have a lot to be thankful for.     Christ died in my place and He rose on Resurrection Morning.     His earthly mission was completed.     The Comforter has come and we can be in right relationship with our Father all because of Good Friday and Resurrection Morning.     I hope and pray that everyone reading this has the same hope in the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ as I do.     I trust that hope.    I trust what the Lord has done for me.     The hope I refer to is this hope:  

Romans 15:13  May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 119:14 You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.

Jeremiah 17:7 Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is in the LORD.

Lamentations 3:24 '"The LORD is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I hope in Him"'

Titus 1:2 "In hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began."

These are just a few scriptures for us all that speak of the hope we have in Christ.    We have this hope, because God cannot lie and He has promised this hope to and for us, even before time began.     So, cling tight to that promise and search for more scriptures that speak of the hope that we have in Christ.  I hope that everyone has a blessed Good Friday and remember that Resurrection Day is the day the grave lost it's hold on Christ followers.     Praise be to God our Father for providing a way for us to be in right relationship with Him, thru the events of the Cross and the weekend close approaching.   

So, as we near the fast approaching holy day, to take our minds off the rabbit, let's actually focus on an animal that was actually there and played a very important role in the birth and death of our Lord and Savior.     I wrote this back in 2019.    I don't remember if I shared it on my blog before or not, but if I did, it bears sharing again.

The Little Donkeys, I can just imagine

The lowly little donkey.    A stubborn little thing.    It's sure footed and can carry most anything you place on it.    If you scare it, it won't run, like a horse will.     It will just stay there.    Curiosity is one reason they are called stubborn.     Because they are not afraid of much.    At one time, most everyone had a donkey.    If you traveled, you had a donkey to carry your belongings.    Even today, in parts of the world, a lot of travel is still done with donkeys.

 
I got to thinking about the lowly little creature.     And this is some of the things that I can just imagine.
I can just imagine the donkey that Mary rode on when she was great with child and she and Joseph was going to be counted in the census.    I can just imagine that lowly little creature realized that he was carrying God's Son on his back when Mary was riding his back.     I can just imagine here a little bit too, because we don't know what the donkey thought or knew.     But them being perceptive animals, I can just imagine that the donkey knew he was carrying Precious Cargo.     I can just imagine that he, the donkey, was a little more sure footed than usual.     Since Jesus and John knew each other in their mothers wombs, I can just imagine that Jesus communicated with the donkey while still in His mother's womb.     Far fetched thought I know, it actually is far fetched.     But I can just imagine that if He had wanted to communicate with the little donkey, that He certainly could have.     And just because there is no record of it, doesn't mean He didn't.

I can just imagine that this donkey stepped a little differently after his task of carrying Mary to Bethlehem.     I have always imagined it just like this, that the donkey carried Jesus to His birthplace, by carrying His mother, Mary to Bethlehem.      I can just imagine this. The King of Kings and Lord and Lords came riding in to His kingdom on a donkey.       When we think of kings and lords we usually associate them with royalty and military.       Neither of those words describe our Lord and Savior.    Oh, to me, those words don't even do Him justice, but the world has never seen Him as anything but someone who is a disturbance to them and their sin.      But, He is my King and my Lord and far greater than anything this world will ever know as king and lord.     And I can just imagine that Jesus meant a lot to the little donkey that carried Him in to Bethlehem to be born.      I would love to know how he communicated with his donkey friends about the task that he had been chosen to do. I can just imagine that he told his story as humbly as a little donkey could, while trying to keep his pride from getting the best of him.     But, in all honesty, he could be very proud of the task that he had done. After all, no one else would ever have such an honor as his

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No one, except the little donkey chosen to carry Jesus to His death.     I can just imagine this little donkey probably didn't have any choice over the task at hand either, any more than the one that carried Him to His birth.     But, I can just imagine, that he done his job just as noble as the first little donkey did.      Jesus may have told this little donkey what was going to happen.     I can just imagine that it is possible that this little donkey was a relative to the one that carried Him to His birth, but, I don't know. When we are just imagining, I guess anything is possible.     Can you just imagine the importance of the task at hand?      This little donkey would be fulfilling prophecy in the Old Testament.      I can just imagine that with each step up the palm branch laden road that this little donkey felt a little more heart pain with each step.      Oh, I don't know if donkeys have broken hearts or not, but I can just imagine if Jesus communicated with him in any way about the mission that this little donkey had been called to do, that he took this task seriously.

 
What would this little donkey say to you or me if he could talk and tell us about his experience?   Do you think he would tell us that it was an honor to carry such a person on his back?     Oh, I can just imagine he would.      I can just imagine he would tell us about all the obstacles along the way that he avoided just to keep our Savior safe while on his back.      I can just imagine he would tell us just how broken hearted Jesus really was at what was happening and going to happen shortly.     This was the mission of Jesus and He knew that, but can you just imagine being in His shoes and knowing what was ahead of you in the all too near future.      I can just imagine that the mere act of sitting on the donkey allowed the donkey to feel some of the impending danger and doom that lay ahead for our Savior.    I can also just imagine that for one split second that little donkey wished he was a very large fast stallion, so he could wisk our Savior away to safety.      I can also just imagine that is probably why a small slow donkey was chosen.      So the will of God could be carried out so perfectly, with our Savior being our perfect sacrifice for our sin.        This little donkey fulfilled his calling in life by being the transportation that our Lord and Savior rode to the cross on.      He done what he was destined to do.      They both did. The first donkey carried our Savior to Bethlehem to His birth and the second donkey carried our Savior to His death on the cross.

 
I know that none of my imaginings about these two little donkeys is factual other than the fact that they did what they did.     They were the chosen transportation for our Lord and Savior.    But, you know what, this is some of the things that I have just imagined over the years when I think about those little donkeys.      I have a deep love in my heart for these two little creatures that were chosen for their purpose.      I hope that if you have never thought of them like this, that maybe, just maybe, you will now.

And we know the next time our Lord and Savior rides on the back of an animal it will be a strong and mighty beast, a white horse, created for it's mission and purpose.     To bring the King of Kings and Lord of Lords to claim His own!!!      Praise His mighty and holy name!!!!      Three creatures created for the sole purpose of carrying our Lord and Savior. One to His birth, one to His death and one to His triumphant return!!      I can only imagine this is the only factual statement in this whole scenario. 

This has not been to mislead anyone, it's just where my mind goes when I think of the little donkeys in our Savior's story.      I don't know that my thoughts are true, but I don't know they aren't either.     I just know that I have new found respect for the little donkeys, I can just imagine you do too.    Have a blessed evening!!!! hugs, patty
written by: pjg 03-2019

I hope that just one person gets something from this little story,     It's not about bunny rabbits.     I don't have anything against rabbits, but the Resurrection Story has NOTHING to do with them.    The rabbit story was a big ploy by the devil to take our minds from the real story of Christ and what a deeper relationship with Him can mean for our lives.     Instead, we focus on a rabbit that can do nothing for us but distract us.    BINGO, job well done by satan.    Just know that the enemy does not want you to think about Jesus at all, but he knows that he can distract your thoughts so that you won't develop a deep and loving relationship with Jesus.    So, if you wish to give the enemy a black eye, take Resurrection Sunday back and make it all about the blood of Jesus that covers our sins, that washes away our sins, that puts us in right relationship with the Father, and assures us we will see Jesus face to face and eye to eye one beautiful day in the future.    

I have no idea who else needed this, but I can assure you, I did!!!!!      I love how God always gives me what I need and most of the time, I don't even know it's for me till the end of my blog and I realize it was for me.     I hope this touches base with some.     I hope it determines you to grow in your relationship with Him.

I hope all of you Blessed Ones have a wonderful rest of your day.    Praise God for the hope you have in the name of Jesus.   Be blessed and just know that God loves you.    I love you too.  till next time, patty