Alpha and Ab...

Dear Jesus - Touch our hearts with the beauty of Yourself in this study....
This post began in the end.  Revelation - that is.  Did you know the phrase 'Alpha and Omega' occurs 4 times in the Bible and all those occurrences are in the book of Revelation?  This was news to me - and got me to thinking along the lines of a very simple principle for Bible study:  Greek words generally have corresponding Hebrew words.

Jesus' Request for Forgiveness...

Dear Jesus - We cannot even glimpse Your amazing love and forgiveness unless You give us the gift of Your Spirit.  Please give us that gift now that You may change our lives...

The other night I was puttering around idly listening as my husband read to my son from The Bible Story book for the night.  The evening's story was about the crucifixion.  The books are old.  Very old.  And very Biblically accurate.  However, something the author noted caught my ear.  I had to check it out for myself.

Alpha and Omega

..Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End...


Dear Jesus - I don't even know what to say.  You are so amazing - beyond compare.  Please reveal Yourself to each of us personally today...

As you can imagine, the subject of 'remember' is heavy on my mind.  Such a subject for digging!  But check this O.U.T.!!!  Law of first occurrence.  Gonna grab just the first & last occurrence - see what Jesus reveals to us about Himself:

Context, Context, Context - and John 14:1-6

Dear Jesus - Thank You for Your amazing WORD...

Perhaps I have mentioned this before?  Since June of last year, I have an amazing prayer partner.  We meet on the phone on M / W / F of each week.  First, we discuss our Bible reading for the day.  We are both on the same reading plan.  Then we move into prayer.  Total time?  About 30 minutes.  Experience?  Priceless.

Anyway - we got to discussing John 14:1-3 yesterday.  Once again the value of context popped up.  Below is the expanded text in the NASB which provides a more literal translation.  Consider the question:  Where is Jesus going?

Prepare - G2090

Dear Jesus - Please send us Your Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts and minds to know Your work...

Today's question is this:  If John 14:1-3 indicates there are already homes in Heaven, then what IS Jesus doing when He says He will 'prepare a place for you'?

Remember. No, really!

Here's a profound, though simple study.  A word search in the old king on the word 'remember'.  Guess?  Got one?

144 times.  144 times.  Like - 144,000 - but just 144.  Like 12 x 12.  God's ultimate in creation. 

Seems important.  Maybe I should.  Wonder what He wants me to remember?  What does He want me not to remember?  What does He remember & not remember?

Oh dear Jesus - we cannot remember without Your help.  Please reveal to us what You would have each of us remember...  Thank You for promising to be our Strength and our 'rememberer'...

Anchor Points - The Yoke & The Burden

There are times when life feels hard.  Difficult.  A struggle.  Our sins threaten to overwhelm us.  Grief, anxiety, care, worry - too much to bear.  At these times I turn to another Anchor Point.

Siloam vs Bethesda

The idea of a pool today evokes thoughts of peace, healing, comfort, luxury.  However, in Jesus' time, pools were about physical healing or cleansing - either physically or spiritually.  A week or so ago, posted this link to the stories in John 8 & 9.  Today though, I want to go a little deeper into this question:

Why the Pool of Siloam and not the Pool of Bethesda?

The 7 Spirit Sayings

A Gentle Wind Blowing Tall Grasses

Today a dear friend came by.  A dear friend, who has a heart after God.  He has been forgiven much and he loves much.  And an ill wind blew.  You see, our friend desperately wants to 'do something' for God.  For the One who has done so much for him.  So he finds himself drawn to messages containing - at their core - some difficult hard to be understood truths.  Thus - his experience is not always that of the tall grass gently blown by the sweet sweet Spirit.

Walking - A Neat Bible Picture...

A friend of mine did a great study on the word 'WALK' in the Bible.  Can't wait to share part of it with you!

Dear Jesus - Please help me see with Your eyes today that I may learn about the walk You have for me...

Studies like this are just great for sharing.  Because I'm certain Jesus has something for you that is different than what He had for me. 

Be Still...

A friend celebrated his birthday recently by visiting Catalina.  Beautiful place.  He came back with this picture.  I could stare at it for hours…  It prompted me to pack up the family and head to the ocean for a couple of days.  Powerful picture.  Powerful ocean.  Staring at it calms me.  Puts me into perspective. 

A Re/Creation Moment

An Eagle Fluttering His Wings..

Today a co-worker and I struck up a conversation about his amazing eagle pictures.  Which got me thinking of this blog, eagles, the Bible and a talk I heard a few years ago.  The speaker was an Old Testament Hebrew professor and the Holy Spirit buried her words deep in my mind as she spoke with passion about the beauty of the creation moment.  Today I decided to check the text out for myself - join me?