tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83490028673877465552024-03-13T23:49:09.434-07:00Handmaidens of the LordThis Blog is Dedicated to all of the Faithful Women in the Scriptures. My Mentors, my Heroines, my Friends.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349002867387746555.post-28923357266152881442013-07-10T18:29:00.001-07:002013-07-17T09:06:23.411-07:00Sariah<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>One of my favorite women in the Book of Mormon is Sariah. Humility, obedience, sacrifice, patience and long suffering are a few words that come to mind when I think of her. Sariah was the wife and helpmate of the prophet Lehi. Sariah teaches us that it takes great faith to trust not only in the Lord, but also those through whom He speaks. Especially if he is your husband!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Sariah was the first and only woman that Nephi identified by name in his record. In the opening line of 1 Nephi <a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/1?lang=eng">https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/1?lang=eng</a>I, he proudly writes, "I Nephi, having been born of goodly parents . . ." and specifically names her when identifying his family members (see 1 Nephi 2:5). Her name is of Hebrew origin and means "Princess of the Lord."</span></div>
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Sariah was married to the Prophet Lehi and they lived in Jerusalem with their four sons. The Lord warned Lehi to leave the city because wicked people sought to take away his life. Lehi’s visions and revelations gave him strength to leave “the land of his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his precious things,” taking only his family, tents, and provisions into the wilderness. But how do you think Sariah felt about this decision? She was obligated to follow her husband and there is no evidence that she received any visions or special revelations. Let us consider her story and what it meant for her to follow a prophet of God.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nylUe0vkTnA/Ud35I1-xVZI/AAAAAAAAAZA/yXxMqAheG0M/s1600/lehi-sariah-nephi-book-mormon-walter-rane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nylUe0vkTnA/Ud35I1-xVZI/AAAAAAAAAZA/yXxMqAheG0M/s1600/lehi-sariah-nephi-book-mormon-walter-rane.jpg" /></a>Nephi frequently comments that his father was a wealthy man. So we may assume that Sariah lived in one of the better homes in Jerusalem with a stove, furniture, décor and comfortable amenities. Sariah certainly enjoyed lovely clothes, jewelry, cosmetics, servants and some social standing. According to Israelite tradition, a woman’s home was where she spent the majority of her time and its domestication was her life’s work. Abandoning her home and her world must have been heartbreaking and frightening. Lehi would have frequently been taken outside of the home to fulfill commercial and religious duties. Although leaving property was a sacrifice for Lehi, it may have been a greater test of humility and faith for Sariah<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nylUe0vkTnA/Ud35I1-xVZI/AAAAAAAAAZA/yXxMqAheG0M/s1600/lehi-sariah-nephi-book-mormon-walter-rane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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Custom remains that women stayed at home during caravans. So it is likely that Sariah may have never “camped” before. Lacking servants and being the only woman in the group, she was thrust into becoming a “Survivor Woman” among men. Faithfully she put on her hiking boots and headed into the merciless, windswept Arabian dessert. As the wife and mother, much of the setting up, taking down, food preparation, cooking, cleaning and nursing would have fell upon her. Imagine how difficult her role and how heavy her responsibility. Yet, this “goodly” woman absorbed it all. <br />
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It is not until her sons are presumed dead, that we hear her despair. Her children’s round trip back to obtain the brass plates was long overdue and she frantically complained against her husband, saying, “My sons are no more, and we perish in the wilderness.” (<a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/5.2?lang=eng#1">1 Ne. 5:2</a>.) <span class="highlight">Sariah</span> must have known something about the unrighteousness of their relative Laban and had good cause to worry for the safety of her sons. Lehi comforted her, not by promising that they would not face difficulties in their journeys, but by pointing out that those who stayed in Jerusalem would perish. Then he bore testimony that God would deliver his sons “out of the hands of Laban” and Sariah was “comforted.”<br />
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It takes great faith to trust not only the Lord, but also those through whom he speaks. Most of us are not called to be prophets or be married to one, but we are called upon to recognize the prophets and their messages from God. Sariah is a model woman who presents a growing testimony of the Lord’s spokesman. When her son returned she bore strong testimony of Lehi’s calling exclaiming: “Now I know of a surety that the Lord hath commanded my husband to flee into the wilderness; yea, and I also know of a surety that the Lord hath protected my sons, and delivered them out of the hands of Laban, and given them power whereby they could accomplish the thing which the Lord hath commanded them.”<br />
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I too have a testimony of a living Prophet. His name is Thomas S. Monson and he is the Prophet and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "Heavenly Father loves His children and has not left them to walk through this mortal life without direction and guidance"<i>Dieter F. Uchtdorf</i> . I enjoy many blessings of peace and happiness because of this knowledge. I invite you to learn for yourself if this is true. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349002867387746555.post-4794894887404032092012-02-17T10:14:00.002-08:002012-02-29T16:57:30.130-08:00Tabitha (Also called Dorcas)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PSVyfNyJY-Y/Tz6QzbpeEQI/AAAAAAAAAXs/zyCNCvWqbn8/s1600/dorcas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PSVyfNyJY-Y/Tz6QzbpeEQI/AAAAAAAAAXs/zyCNCvWqbn8/s320/dorcas.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; tab-stops: .4in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Benevolent, compassionate, and devout are all words that describe this incredible woman. She sewed for the needy, was a friend to the poor and gave so generously of herself that today, approximately two thousand years later, her name is synonymous with acts of charity. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; tab-stops: .4in 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman </span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/acts/9.36?lang=eng"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"></span></i></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.” (Acts 9:36) </i></span></div><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Tabitha was first of all a disciple of Jesus Christ. She was a doer as well as a hearer of the word and followed Christ's commandment <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“</i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">For I have given you an example</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/nt/john/13.15,34-35?lang=eng" target="_blank"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"></span></i></a></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">, that ye should do as I have done to you. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love </span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/nt/john/13.15,34-35?lang=eng" target="_blank"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"></span></i></a></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love </span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/nt/john/13.15,34-35?lang=eng" target="_blank"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"></span></i></a></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love </span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/nt/john/13.15,34-35?lang=eng" target="_blank"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"></span></i></a></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">one to another.”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> (</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/nt/john/13.15,34-35?lang=eng#14" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">John 13: 15 & 34–35</span></a>)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5y1x9iC2nzw/Tz53cPEoGlI/AAAAAAAAAVE/9dH-lJe3ofk/s1600/article-page-main-ehow-images-a08-27-i0-preschool-lessons-activities-dorcas-800x800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5y1x9iC2nzw/Tz53cPEoGlI/AAAAAAAAAVE/9dH-lJe3ofk/s1600/article-page-main-ehow-images-a08-27-i0-preschool-lessons-activities-dorcas-800x800.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">This motivating principle is manifested in Tabitha’s life by her “good works and almsdeeds.” Not only did she give of her coins but she gave of herself. With a sewing needle as her tool, she brought comfort and hope to the lowliest people in her society. She loved and served the widows in her community by making clothes for them. In that time and place widows were the most venerable members of society. Without a husband they often had no source of income. They had no one to protect them or to watch out for them. And so Tabitha looked after the widows. She used the skills that God had given her and exemplified the ideal woman spoken of in Proverbs 31:13, 20 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.” “She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.” </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-grBxMWSdnZw/Tz54KBsZ1JI/AAAAAAAAAVk/PL_3aH0HK40/s1600/friendlp.nfo+o+ad6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-grBxMWSdnZw/Tz54KBsZ1JI/AAAAAAAAAVk/PL_3aH0HK40/s1600/friendlp.nfo+o+ad6.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">No one will ever know the hours that she spent sewing, the reassuring words that she gave or all the uncountable acts of charity that she performed. However, we know that she was “full” from engaging in Christ like service and that her life was full of people who cared deeply about her. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">One day, Tabitha became ill and died. When this happened, her friends and loved ones immediately went into action, </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.” (Acts 9: 37-38)</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">No doubt, these early Christians knew about the apostle Peter and the mighty miracles that he had performed in the name of Jesus Christ. Since Tabitha was such a great loss to the church in Joppa, they believed that Peter would help them. Perhaps they were looking for a miracle. When Peter heard the news about her death, he came at once. Upon arrival, he was taken to an upper room in the house where Tabitha’s body had been laid out. All the widows that she had helped were there wearing the clothes that Tabitha had made. They stood up around Peter weeping and showed him her handiwork. The faithful apostle must have had great compassion upon this scene and sought to bring the people comfort. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KkbwClSjT90/Tz6BX3L9f4I/AAAAAAAAAW8/pmyTF4GPbSY/s1600/friendlp.nfo+o+adc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KkbwClSjT90/Tz6BX3L9f4I/AAAAAAAAAW8/pmyTF4GPbSY/s320/friendlp.nfo+o+adc.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Peter dismissed the mourners from the room; then knelt down in faith and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">'Tabitha, arise</i>.' She then opened her eyes, saw Peter and sat up. He gave her his hand and lifted her up. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive. This became known all over Joppa, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and many people believed in the Lord</i>."</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Some might think that Tabitha’s story is important because she was raised from the dead, for this was indeed a marvelous and faith promoting miracle. But, I believe that her story is just as significant because of the life that she lived. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n-nAAmxC15c/Tz54D9VIjLI/AAAAAAAAAVc/2QJx4GqJllw/s1600/Tabitha-230x300.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n-nAAmxC15c/Tz54D9VIjLI/AAAAAAAAAVc/2QJx4GqJllw/s1600/Tabitha-230x300.png" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Tabitha learned to love her neighbor as herself and teaches us that those who have love in their hearts can do a lot of good for others. She reminds us that we are the Lords hands here upon the earth and that our service to others is an expression of our discipleship. I believe that the Lord depends upon each of us to love and help one another. In return we are blessed and sanctified through our sacrifice. </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Our own spirits become healed, more refined, and stronger.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">We become happier, more peaceful, and more receptive to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit.” </i><a href="http://www.lds.org/church/leader/dieter-f-uchtdorf?lang=eng"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Dieter F. Uchtdorf </span></i></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><i><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"> </span></i><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">As we serve the Savior and do what He would have us do, we become more like Him. As we become more like the Savior, we can begin to understand how he served and saves us. The Atonement of Jesus Christ then becomes truer and more active in our lives. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Each day we have the opportunity to brighten someone’s day and to save them in little ways. Maybe it’s sewing clothing like Tabitha or just helping a neighbor who needs some small assistance. Whatever it is, even small and simple acts of kindness can mean the world to someone. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CcaUbK1f58w/Tz6Qf-s5FsI/AAAAAAAAAXk/ZFwbmyQYXzc/s1600/a-helping-hand-nursing-ca-006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CcaUbK1f58w/Tz6Qf-s5FsI/AAAAAAAAAXk/ZFwbmyQYXzc/s320/a-helping-hand-nursing-ca-006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">With Tabitha’s story in mind, let our hearts and hands be stretched out in compassion towards others. Let us make the effort to follow the Savior as she did. If we claim to be Christians and Disciples of Christ, should we not do the same?</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349002867387746555.post-6212178417507924382011-10-18T14:08:00.001-07:002012-02-29T16:39:33.070-08:00Lydia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3-Fq0ljTmMk/Tp3q0HwBEnI/AAAAAAAAAT0/Fx1IX_W1M3Q/s1600/lydia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3-Fq0ljTmMk/Tp3q0HwBEnI/AAAAAAAAAT0/Fx1IX_W1M3Q/s320/lydia.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We have all heard the expression “Truth is Hard to Find.” I Googled the word Truth and came up with 669,000,000 results. With so many opinions about Truth, no wonder it is hard to know what to believe! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lydia was a seeker of truth and an independent woman who questioned the status of her day. She did not have the internet so she went to the best search engine there is, God, who answered her prayers. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 135.25pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">She was an entrepreneur who sold purple cloth in the city of Philippi about A.D. 50. She had the knowledge and skill to run a successful business and a large household. She probably was one of the most influential women in her city and represented the “new woman” of her day. It seems that she had it all and could have lived quite content. However, Lydia was wise enough to know that there was a higher purpose for her life.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Her short but powerful story begins in Acts 16:13-14. </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mPnANpe0Ets/Tp3r_QiY6GI/AAAAAAAAAT8/5kUoavNptuo/s1600/lydia-seller-purple-cloth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mPnANpe0Ets/Tp3r_QiY6GI/AAAAAAAAAT8/5kUoavNptuo/s200/lydia-seller-purple-cloth.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Here, I imagine her and her friends sitting at a peaceful riverside away for the city, earnestly praying together for guidance. Perhaps it was to this small group that God directed the apostle Paul to come as they worshiped. </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“And on the Sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither. And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us. </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">whose heart the Lord opened, … attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.”</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">These two short verses teach us a lot about Lydia. First, she was not Jewish. Woman gathered at rivers to bathe or to wash clothes. A devout Jewish woman would have done neither of these on the Sabbath. Lydia a Gentile, worshiped the one God of the Jews, while all the other Gentiles around her worshiped many gods. Because of her longing to know better the wonders and powers of the one God, Lydia was in a place of prayer on the Sabbath. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V9X_dt5JeGQ/Tp3tEepkHGI/AAAAAAAAAUE/jemNGN9Q88c/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V9X_dt5JeGQ/Tp3tEepkHGI/AAAAAAAAAUE/jemNGN9Q88c/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Second, she had an open heart. She really wanted to know truth and put forth the effort to obtain it. Paul tells us that she “heard us”. As Lydia listened with humility, keen insight and a witness of the spirit; she embraced the story of the new gospel. What courage it must have took for her to change. Many people today hear the good news of Jesus Christ yet they are unwilling to follow him. If only we could all have faith like Lydia. She made the decision to be a true Christian without hesitation. She did not think of how if might affect her business if she accepted her new faith. Her customers of purple dye might have scoffed at the gospel of Christ, but Lydia did not wait. She put Christ first and business afterward, and went forward and was baptized, as were members of her household. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">After baptism Lydia desired with all of her heart to know more truth. She humbly spoke to Paul “If ye have judged me be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and abide there” (Acts 16:15). Lydia “constrained” them and insisted that they share her hospitality. Her home thereafter became a meeting place for the early Christian cause. Later on, Paul and Silas also sought her home as a place of refuge after being released from prison. Again, Lydia did not care what her neighbors thought. Lydia had purpose and peace in her heart because she knew the gospel of Jesus Christ was true and that these were His disciples. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Perhaps when Paul wrote to the Philippians “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now” (Philip. 1:3-5), he had in mind, among others, Lydia, the first to be converted, the first to be baptized, the first to open her home as a meeting place for the saints in Philippi. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UtxwHURsuoQ/Tp3uAyvdwHI/AAAAAAAAAUU/snq_U2nuByw/s1600/Lydia+working.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UtxwHURsuoQ/Tp3uAyvdwHI/AAAAAAAAAUU/snq_U2nuByw/s320/Lydia+working.jpg" width="212" /></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Lydia’s story stands as a witness to the invitation from our Savior <span style="font-size: small;"><i>“<b>Ask and it shall be given you, seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you” </b>(Matthew 7:7)<b>. </b></i><b><i>“</i></b></span></span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%;">Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, </span></i></span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me”</i></span></b><span style="font-size: small;">(Revelation 3:20)</span><b><span style="font-size: small;">.</span></b><sup> </sup>Like Lydia we must have the desire to open the door, even if it shakes the very foundation of our past beliefs and way of life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">To the honest in heart and good people of the world, I invite you to awake out of complacency and foolish contentment and come unto Christ. Let us follow Lydia’s lead and do whatever it takes to earnestly seek truth, to know God the Eternal Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349002867387746555.post-69259736610606754732011-08-08T18:18:00.001-07:002013-07-16T15:47:29.978-07:00The Crippled Woman with the Spirit of Infirmity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years. Her body was crooked and so bowed that she could not lift up her head. Perhaps she had suffered from a serious accident or from some other crippling disease like scoliosis. Whatever her infirmities, Jesus said Satan had bound her for almost two decades.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Imagine what it would be like not to walk straight for eighteen years, to never see where you are going and to move about in constant pain. Think of how broken one would be in spirit. This woman probably had lost all hope, because her body had been bent for so long. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Then on the Sabbath, she came before Jesus in her crippled condition. So serious was her ailment that she could not raise herself up and look into His face. But Jesus saw her and called her to Him. He then laid His hands upon her and said, “Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity” (Luke 13:12). Immediately she was healed, stood up straight and glorified God. She did not take her healing for granted, but offered a prayer of adoration to the Giver of all good. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There are so many of us that are going through life like this woman. We may have physical or emotional pains that impair our lives. For some, the burden of sin may be crushing and paralyzing. When we are weakened and downtrodden it is hard to look up and move forward. But like this woman, Jesus sees us. He knows our hearts and the trials that we go through and He calls us to Him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Some of us harden our hearts and turn away with bitterness from sorrow. Others look upon Him with indifference. While some want to believe but will not make the effort to meet Him. Jesus asks us the question, “Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?” (Mark 4:40).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I am afraid of many things. That the economy is bad, that my children will not succeed, that my skin cancer may return. The list goes on and on. Sometimes it is quite overwhelming and I want to give up. But this amazing woman gives me hope and direction. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When I face adversity, instead of looking down and inward, I strive to look up and move towards the Savior. Like this crooked woman, I have been bent and molded by my life experiences. However, I believe that they are for a greater purpose and I choose to trust in Jesus Christ. Let each of us have faith that we will lose our spirit of infirmity when we come to Him, for that is why He comes to us.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349002867387746555.post-66926354682168996612011-06-15T16:45:00.001-07:002012-02-29T16:51:32.458-08:00The Parable of the Ten Virgins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y24Z8LbvO8U/TflqVQf_XdI/AAAAAAAAATU/IAwUJn3lNl4/s1600/en07jun40c_malm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y24Z8LbvO8U/TflqVQf_XdI/AAAAAAAAATU/IAwUJn3lNl4/s400/en07jun40c_malm.jpg" width="193" /></a></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-erDmjv7k6sY/TfkxTBZX_dI/AAAAAAAAAS4/FLDCD-DcAVU/s1600/rapture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Did you miss the “Rapture” at 6pm on May 21, 2011? Oops, I certainly did. There have been a lot of predictions about the end of the world and if and when the Second Coming will happen. The scriptures teach us that Jesus Christ will return again. However, the Savior taught “Ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” (Matthew 24:42) </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Regardless if He comes today or years from now, Jesus told us to “Watch” and prepare ourselves. Through the parable of the Ten Virgins, He impressed the importance of unwavering diligence in preparation for His coming. Will you be ready? Are you like the wise or the foolish women in the story?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It was a custom among the Jews for the bridegroom to come at night to the bride’s house, where her bridesmaids attended her. When the bridegroom’s approach was announced, these maidens went out with lamps to light his way into the house for the celebration.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5HHcGVg0hDo/Tfk2C8lyg7I/AAAAAAAAATA/cqEpPvHTYlg/s1600/ten+virgins+lamp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5HHcGVg0hDo/Tfk2C8lyg7I/AAAAAAAAATA/cqEpPvHTYlg/s320/ten+virgins+lamp.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Jesus told a story about ten young women who went to a wedding and waited for the bridegroom to come and let them in. They did not know what time he would come. Five of the virgins were wise and took along extra oil for their lamps, but five others were foolish and did not. When the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered, and at midnight, when it was announced that he was coming, the wise virgins arose and trimmed their lamps, but the foolish virgins said, “Our lamps are gone out.” And they said to the wise “Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.” But the wise women said no, it is not enough for both of us, go and buy for yourselves. While the foolish ones went to buy more oil, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in and the door was shut, the foolish virgins were too late and could not go to the wedding. (Matthew 25:1-12) <a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/nt/matt/25?lang=eng&query=ten+virgins">http://lds.org/scriptures/nt/matt/25?lang=eng&query=ten+virgins</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hTjvlv4tSb8/TflCsgihMYI/AAAAAAAAATM/L7dmo_RTl7w/s1600/tenvirg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hTjvlv4tSb8/TflCsgihMYI/AAAAAAAAATM/L7dmo_RTl7w/s320/tenvirg.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In this parable, Jesus represents the bridegroom and we are like the ten virgins. When Christ comes again, some of us will be ready because we have prepared by obeying God’s commandments. Others will not be ready and will not be able to be with the Savior. If we look at the ratio in the parable, half of those who profess to follow Jesus will not enter into His kingdom. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Those who are unprepared will look to the righteous around them and beg for their help. However, the wise members of Christ’s church will not be able to aid them. As we cannot share our own “oil”, which is our faith, testimony, purity, dedication, good works, and our keeping of covenants. We must carry our own light or Spirit of God with us to find the way.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Like the ten virgins who stepped out into the night to meet the bridegroom, the children of God are looking for the Savior to return. We do not know the timing of Christ’s Second Coming, but we should prepare for it as though it could come at any moment. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k83MViPl83E/TflB3Da6AWI/AAAAAAAAATI/HJH7ZEK5eqk/s1600/index.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k83MViPl83E/TflB3Da6AWI/AAAAAAAAATI/HJH7ZEK5eqk/s1600/index.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In the mean time, we can be like the five wise virgins in this parable, filling our lives with an abundance of oil in case our world gets dark and it’s hard to find our way. This reserve will keep the light of God burning with us, guiding us safely until the Savior comes again. This is how the spirit of the wise is maintained. </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349002867387746555.post-81501711385677624352011-05-16T17:59:00.001-07:002012-02-29T16:52:21.493-08:00The Widow's Mite<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I_G3yGsehvY/TdGq6uXVNPI/AAAAAAAAAR8/13VzjyhSlhk/s1600/james-c-christensen-the-widows-mite1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I_G3yGsehvY/TdGq6uXVNPI/AAAAAAAAAR8/13VzjyhSlhk/s320/james-c-christensen-the-widows-mite1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Dr. Seuss once said “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” There are so many problems in the world right now, like natural disasters, disease and poverty. We all want to help. But seriously, how can just one person make a difference, especially if their resources are limited? Mother Teresa advised us that “We can do no great things, only small things with great love.” The lesson of the widow’s mite is an enduring testament to the value of a small but meaningful contribution. It is proof that when our hearts are in the right place we can not only help but inspire others to be generous as well.</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: right;"></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pT509_T3jcc/TdGzZwbu42I/AAAAAAAAASQ/iiCJHCQWPhk/s1600/4158746991_d26df84219_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pT509_T3jcc/TdGzZwbu42I/AAAAAAAAASQ/iiCJHCQWPhk/s320/4158746991_d26df84219_z.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> During the last Passover week of Jesus’ life, streams of visitors came to Jerusalem. As part of the celebration, Jewish people were required to visit the temple and make contributions to the treasury. On one particular day Jesus watched people cast their offerings. Much attention was being given to the wealthy men who made ostentatious contributions in front of everyone. In the mist of this, a poor widowed woman quietly came in. There she unselfishly casted into the chest her last two mites, hardly enough to buy a loaf of bread. (Mites were ancient pennies, fairly worthless at the time.)</span></div><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">And Jesus looked up<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">, </i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13pt;">“and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.” (Luke 21:1-4)</span></i><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This woman could have easily gone unnoticed. But devotion like hers did not escape the Savior. Instead of pointing out the offerings of the wealthy men, Jesus commended on the gift of the widow. She was not well-known and important but represented the lowliest of her society. However Jesus saw her worth as a great woman who was willing to share all that she had.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A_YIKVCGAvU/TdHETPJ6idI/AAAAAAAAASw/5VKtdrj4jSU/s1600/63455_1719404755032_1535672921_31684181_4896494_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A_YIKVCGAvU/TdHETPJ6idI/AAAAAAAAASw/5VKtdrj4jSU/s320/63455_1719404755032_1535672921_31684181_4896494_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The cash value of her gift was nothing compared to that of the wealthy man’s but the devotion behind it was another matter. That devotion beginning there and spreading throughout the world has built hospitals, helped the needy, fed the hungered and encouraged the impoverished. Today the world knows more about this poor widow than about the richest man of Jerusalem in her day. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Centuries later this woman inspires me to have faith to give a generous tithing. As she could not have known where her next meal would come from, but believed that God would provide for her. She also encourages me to give of my time and talents to help others as well. As in her day money was often called “talents”. </span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aaraTConhtw/TdHGMm0K4zI/AAAAAAAAAS0/RzQjzkkbSH8/s1600/web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aaraTConhtw/TdHGMm0K4zI/AAAAAAAAAS0/RzQjzkkbSH8/s320/web.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> I know that I cannot fix all of the world’s problems but I can help someone make their world a little better. I can take a meal to a sick friend, visit someone who is lonely or give a little money without judging a person in need. Like the Widow who gave her mites to God, I can give all of my might to serve Him and His children on earth. In doing so, I know that I can make <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">some</i> difference, will you? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349002867387746555.post-17469491989634307282011-04-12T15:08:00.001-07:002012-02-29T16:52:49.773-08:00Mary of Bethany Anoints Jesus<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uaqf7cEv-YA/TaTHXndiTQI/AAAAAAAAAR0/UWAV4oyouJo/s1600/300px-Mary_of_Bethany_2.jpg%25E2%2580%258E.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uaqf7cEv-YA/TaTHXndiTQI/AAAAAAAAAR0/UWAV4oyouJo/s400/300px-Mary_of_Bethany_2.jpg%25E2%2580%258E.jpg" width="335" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Six days before the Passover, Jesus Christ made a trip to Bethany. There He attended a dinner that was never to be forgotten. As He sits at the meal, Mary the sister of Lazarus comes into the room and interrupts the flow of words. As I imagine this scene, I see her quietly walk over to Jesus who is the center of conversation. She is holding an alabaster box containing a very costly amount of precious ointment. Mary opens the box, produces a jar and then pours spikenard from the container onto Christ’s head. Through her silence, she creates a sacred space, a holy place. She is anointing Jesus. Everything about her actions is lovely, the reverence in which she opens the box, the sweet fragrance of her faith filling the room. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GL6tmwdks2w/TaTF3iB8qMI/AAAAAAAAARQ/BZbirf3nRP4/s1600/jar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GL6tmwdks2w/TaTF3iB8qMI/AAAAAAAAARQ/BZbirf3nRP4/s320/jar.jpg" width="214" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mary then anoints Jesus’ feet and wipes them with her hair. To anoint the head is to do Him honor but to anoint both the head and the feet with such expense is an act of homage rendered to kings. When Mary wipes His feet with her hair is an overwhelming expression of humility, devotion and respect. The act of her letting down her hair is extremely personable and something Jewish women do not do in public. Servants also wash the feet of guest with towels. Mary is using her beautiful hair to show that she does not care about the things of the world, only about her Lord and His ministry. The utter extravagance and adoration of it all is a prophetic symbol of how very precious Jesus’ life is. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I6zGfh9tmX8/TaTGTD8mKFI/AAAAAAAAARo/-DZyP2zN6eY/s1600/Mary+anoints.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I6zGfh9tmX8/TaTGTD8mKFI/AAAAAAAAARo/-DZyP2zN6eY/s320/Mary+anoints.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But one of Jesus’ disciples, Judas Iscariot, does not approve and scolds Mary by saying “Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?” But, Jesus sensitive to her feelings and meaning says, “Leave her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always”. (John 12:4-8) Verily I say unto you. Wherever this gospel shall be preached to the whole world, there shall also this that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial to her.” (Matthew 26:13)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jesus‘ words “my burying hath she kept this” bring Mary’s offering into focus. Jesus had been telling his disciples of his impending death. Since women were among His followers, it is likely that Mary too had heard these warnings. Her act of love symbolized that she had a deeper understanding of what Jesus was about to face, an understanding that even some of His male disciples may have lacked.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xe9wNWW9muk/TaTGFs-1d9I/AAAAAAAAARc/AR_kqMywiSg/s1600/jesus+feet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xe9wNWW9muk/TaTGFs-1d9I/AAAAAAAAARc/AR_kqMywiSg/s320/jesus+feet.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The amount of spikenard Mary used was worth about sixty dollars at the time. I wonder what length she went through to obtain the ointment. Did she have to sell some of her jewelry or give up part of her inheritance? Did she travel far to purchase it or did she pay someone else to obtain it for her? Judas criticized Mary for being so extravagant but soon he would betray the Savior for just thirty pieces of silver, the equivalent of about twenty dollars. Certainly Mary used her money justly and was the more righteous disciple. Her unselfish gift was a balm of faithfulness that soothed the way for the Savior who would suffer in Gethsemane and trudge to the cross alone. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mary must have also been worried about the enemies Jesus had and the danger that awaited Him in Jerusalem. He was a provocative man who divided the people and angered religious leaders. Many thought He committed blasphemy. Others thought he was crazy or possessed. But Mary was among those who believed He was the Savior of the world. She needed to show her devotion to Him in an unmistakable and remarkable way. This anointing of Jesus’ body was the only one He would receive upon His death. It was a powerful message on the eve of His being handed over to suffering and death. She anointed Him, as if to say, “Behold, the Lamb of God.”</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q8V5QLewDlM/TaTGIy2KNKI/AAAAAAAAARg/U-oYhritBeo/s1600/luke7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q8V5QLewDlM/TaTGIy2KNKI/AAAAAAAAARg/U-oYhritBeo/s320/luke7.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">No wonder this incident is a “memorial to her”.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As this Easter season comes upon us, I want to focus my thoughts and heart like Mary. I want to show my love and gratitude to my Savior. For many Christians, “Holy Week” describes a season of observance that begins with Palm Sunday and ends on Easter morning. I have committed myself to reading and pondering about each one of the days and events leading up to the resurrection of Christ. I invite you to read along with me by following this link.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=4a57eafcee340210VgnVCM100000176f620a____">http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=4a57eafcee340210VgnVCM100000176f620a____</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Like Mary, we must come to know that Jesus Christ is our prophet, priest and king. I know that as we learn about and reflect upon His life we can receive a special witness of this. I bear witness that He is the Savior of world.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Your Friend in Christ, </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Patty</span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349002867387746555.post-20574744189864785302011-03-12T17:32:00.001-08:002012-02-29T16:53:15.486-08:00Mary and Martha<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-arFJF0rj4Xg/TXltMY4LsJI/AAAAAAAAAQY/IAVUUz1iGTI/s1600/maryandmartha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-arFJF0rj4Xg/TXltMY4LsJI/AAAAAAAAAQY/IAVUUz1iGTI/s320/maryandmartha.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Artist: Minerva Teickert</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small;">Every time I turn on my computer, this beautiful painting of Mary, Martha and Jesus appears on the screen. This image serves as a daily reminder of who I want to be and the choices I want to make. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small;">I love how Martha is busy working while turned towards the Savior and how Mary is focused on Christ but still nearby to help her sister. In a world full of responsibilities and options, I appreciate what their story teaches us about balance in our lives.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small;">Mary and Martha lived in Bethany, a small village about two miles from Jerusalem. They and their brother Lazarus were good friends of Jesus and often received Him in their home. On one occasion, Jesus arrived and Martha immediately busied herself with preparations for her guest. The scriptures tell us that Martha “was cumbered about much serving.” Mary on the other hand sat at the Savior’s feet, earnestly listening to His teachings. No doubt, Martha would have liked to have sat too but chose to express her love for the Savior by serving Him instead. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br />
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1ifsNWznsIQ/TXupocGdCqI/AAAAAAAAARA/Kj8Phijyhps/s1600/en07jun41a_rane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1ifsNWznsIQ/TXupocGdCqI/AAAAAAAAARA/Kj8Phijyhps/s320/en07jun41a_rane.jpg" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small;">I imagine Martha trying to do everything herself. Setting the table, chopping the herbs, stirring the stew, how could she get it all done and was it fair? She wanted everything to be perfect for Jesus but instead of achieving her goal she made everyone uncomfortable by lashing out in frustration “Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me.” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small;">This must have been an awkward moment for Mary who may have helped in the beginning but was now captivated by Jesus. Tenderly, the Master replied, “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: “But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small;">I don’t believe that the Lord was unsympathetic to Martha’s cause or dismissed the value of her service. I just think He was trying to get her to focus on what mattered most, the “good part”. He was there to tell them the “Good News” and she was missing it, His words, His teachings, His spirit, because of the STUFF that she had to do! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-As1HJVDMWQ8/TXup-k-0NqI/AAAAAAAAARE/sXbGN3_AnSI/s1600/Water-Girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-As1HJVDMWQ8/TXup-k-0NqI/AAAAAAAAARE/sXbGN3_AnSI/s200/Water-Girl.jpg" width="198" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small;">Like Mary, I want to sit and learn at the Savior’s feet, while like Martha, I need to figure out what’s for dinner. I don’t have lots of time. Like these two wonderful sisters, I have to choose between the spiritual and the temporal.<i> </i>To discern God's will in my life so that I can follow the Savior into the next.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small;">In a world filled with distractions, the story of Mary and Martha can help us set our lives in order<span style="color: #333333;">. </span>Martha was anxious with preparing the meal. Martha was not a bad person. She was not involved in wicked or sinful activities. She was a good woman, and her only desire was to serve and please the Lord. But she got her priorities out of whack. Mary on the other hand had chosen the spiritual. She had made the better choice. She had chosen to listen to the words of Jesus – the spiritual bread which leads to eternal life which could never be taken away from her. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n9wghWxV_aM/TXuqJdfSbbI/AAAAAAAAARI/bEprtaEGCE0/s1600/mary-and-martha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n9wghWxV_aM/TXuqJdfSbbI/AAAAAAAAARI/bEprtaEGCE0/s320/mary-and-martha.jpg" width="242" /></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small;">I believe that the Lord wants us to be anxiously engaged in good causes and is happy when we are industrious but at the same time we cannot let these activities become more important than our spiritual growth. We cannot let the temporal things of this world rob us of the eternal blessings that await us.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small;">When I was a child, I watched the “Jetsons” cartoon show. I dreamed of a world of technology and robots like “Rosey” who would do all of my work for me. However, now that I have a personal computer, cell phone, fax machine, and a fast moving vehicle, my life is busier than ever. In fact busyness threatens to take over my life. I know that if I am to be more like Mary, I must spend time with the Lord each day in prayer, scripture study and obey His command, "<i>Be still, and know that I am God</i>". (Psalm 46:10) </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small;">Somewhere between Mary and Martha I am striving to find me, a productive person, serving others, but most of all, obeying the Lord's will. I have a testimony that if we take the time to sit at the Savior's feet each day, we will find peace and direction. The word of God and the power of His spirit </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small;">will teach us how to balance our chaotic lives and be truly happy. Most importantly, we will choose the Good Part, which shall never be taken away. </span></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349002867387746555.post-8729531928527791452011-02-22T09:56:00.000-08:002011-02-24T16:19:44.486-08:00The Woman with the Issue of Blood<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yPZAisNDtnk/TWNU5F7iYoI/AAAAAAAAAPs/m12dhuexaEM/s1600/woman+issue+of+blood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yPZAisNDtnk/TWNU5F7iYoI/AAAAAAAAAPs/m12dhuexaEM/s320/woman+issue+of+blood.jpg" width="269" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> If only she could reach him. For she knew He had the power of God. Jesus had already healed so many and she was certain that He could cure her too. But the crowd was so great and pressing upon him that she just couldn’t get near. She prayed with all of her heart. “Please God, just let me get close enough to touch him. If you do, I have the faith that He can make me whole again.”</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">For twelve years she suffered from an issue of blood. Strictly speaking, she should have not even come that day. According to the laws of ritual purity, women who were experiencing their monthly cycle should stay at home. It was a time out for them, when they were relieved of their normal duties like drawing water from a well, going to the market place or serving dinner to their family. (see Leviticus 15:19-31). This worked for healthy women who were confined once a month but she was bleeding every day of her life! It was not acceptable for her to mix in public, worship at the temple or even to be held in the arms of her husband. According to the Mosaic Law, she was considered unclean, impure and untouchable.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">In these years of shame and pain she had gone from physician to physician seeking help. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_aIPtlnGEko/TWNU8chRIVI/AAAAAAAAAPw/uVocmYQeP9g/s1600/crowd_jesus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_aIPtlnGEko/TWNU8chRIVI/AAAAAAAAAPw/uVocmYQeP9g/s320/crowd_jesus.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>Each time new hope rising within her but in the end she had wasted all of her money and was physically worse off than before. Perhaps just as significantly, she was mentally spent. Her mind had been plagued with worry and despair. She was frustrated, disappointed and she could not be at peace when her future was so uncertain. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Encouraged by her faith, she had fought her way through the crowd that day until she could finally reach Jesus. Approaching Him from behind, she touched His robe; “For she said, if I touch but his clothes I shall be whole.” She immediately felt His healing energy go through her body and knew that she had been made well. Having accomplished her heart’s desire, she tried to escape back into the crowd. But Jesus also sensed that virtue had gone from Him, for He turned and said “Who touched me? </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"> Seeing that she could not go unnoticed, she came forward trembling and fell at His feet. In the presence of all the people, she told Him her story of suffering, why she had touched Him and how she had been instantly healed. Then He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.'" What triumphant words for a woman who had suffered for twelve years!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I-Gj0ajqzJo/TWNVGNctTYI/AAAAAAAAAP4/0H-EIaz7B5E/s1600/womanwithissueofblood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I-Gj0ajqzJo/TWNVGNctTYI/AAAAAAAAAP4/0H-EIaz7B5E/s320/womanwithissueofblood.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><i>I love this beautiful story and this woman of great faith. In fact her example challenges me to develop my own faith more fully. When she went to see the Savior that day, she completely expected to be healed. She was determined, unwavering and resolute. </i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><i>Her story makes me evaluate my own relationship with Jesus Christ. When I come to Him with my “issues”, do I fully expect for something to happen? Or do I just think He is there listening and will eventually get around to my problems when He can?</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><i>This story teaches me that our Lord does care about us individually and knows our deepest concerns. Even though many others were calling out to Him that day, He stopped and acknowledged this woman. If fact, He called her “Daughter” so that she understood, she was a member of His family. </i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gm8UzDjoKfc/TWPzxgyoWPI/AAAAAAAAAQE/ukuYUxmoMMY/s1600/2.5-3_CRIPPLED_WOMAN_Jesus_raises_the_woman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gm8UzDjoKfc/TWPzxgyoWPI/AAAAAAAAAQE/ukuYUxmoMMY/s320/2.5-3_CRIPPLED_WOMAN_Jesus_raises_the_woman.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><i>This woman represents all of us who are sick with sin and or burdened by the cares of the world. We can follow her example and come to the Savior too. For He has said, </i>“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” <i>And</i> <i>He promises us</i>, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><i>Jesus Christ has the power to heal all manner of illness, whether spiritual or physical. Through His Atonement we can be forgiven of our sins and have peace in our lives. Like the woman in this story we can be whole and happy again. If we just reach out to touch Him and believe.</i><br />
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<i><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/nt/mark/5?lang=eng">http://lds.org/scriptures/nt/mark/5?lang=eng</a> - Find this story in the Bible</i></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349002867387746555.post-23203929619074711032011-01-23T14:27:00.001-08:002012-02-29T16:54:47.907-08:00The Woman of Samaria<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TTygDD9_Z6I/AAAAAAAAAM4/EcOqDx_caMw/s1600/WAW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TTygDD9_Z6I/AAAAAAAAAM4/EcOqDx_caMw/s320/WAW.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> She came to the well at midday, perhaps to avoid the gossipy women who usually gathered there each morning. Her life had not been easy. She already had five different husbands and was now living with a man who she never married. Whatever the reasons were for these failed relationships, she must have suffered a great deal of hardship. She may have longed for a different life but thought it was just too late or difficult to change. However, her life did transform that day. When a stranger, a man named Jesus saw her at the well and asked “Give me to drink?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TTygYFPqSSI/AAAAAAAAAM8/HiETmbu9dTc/s1600/At+the+well.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TTygYFPqSSI/AAAAAAAAAM8/HiETmbu9dTc/s320/At+the+well.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">By the rules of hospitality, she should have responded to this thirsty traveler and let him drink from her water pot. But He was a Jew! She was surprised and perhaps speechless at first. Why would a Jewish man speak to a Samaritan who was considered to be his enemy?<b> </b>Jews always avoided Samaritans<b> </b>because they were a mixed race, unclean and beneath them.<b> </b>The Samaritans in return disliked the Jews who treated them with disdain and rejected their common Israelite ancestry. To disregard this adversarial connection was ‘Asur” or forbidden.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">More significantly, why would this outsider dare speak to her? Jewish custom discouraged men from speaking with women who were not accompanied by their husbands or fathers. One saying of the Jewish law went like this “Let no one talk with a woman in the street, no, not with his own wife.” Yet, Jesus saw the value in her that she likely did not see in herself. He disregarded tradition and prejudices. He knew her only as a daughter of God and wanted her to know His true identity too.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TTynexpduiI/AAAAAAAAANs/vOUxo9IWx_U/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TTynexpduiI/AAAAAAAAANs/vOUxo9IWx_U/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Jesus then said to her, “if thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of Him, and he would given thee living water. “ The woman reminded Him that He had no cord or bucket to draw water from the deep well and perhaps sarcastically added, “Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us this well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Jesus answered, “Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thrist again; But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">His words intrigued her because each day required the hard task of carrying heavy water to and from the well. She was no longer young. Her body like her spirit must have been somewhat worn out. The very thought of an ever flowing supply of water pleased her. As she contemplated this and continued to stand in the presence of our Lord, a change came over her. She began to recognize His eternal truths and to receive a glimpse of what this living water might be. With a great longing in her heart to know more about it she said “give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.”</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TTyn-fa0EEI/AAAAAAAAANw/B9zj_l2AY94/s1600/living-water-iStock_000001299858XSmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TTyn-fa0EEI/AAAAAAAAANw/B9zj_l2AY94/s320/living-water-iStock_000001299858XSmall.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Jesus seized this opportunity to teach and told her to go get her husband. She informed Him that she had no husband. Knowing this already, He said “For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband.” I wonder if his statement stung her or if she felt his love and concern? Regardless, she received his words with humility. His ultimate knowledge about her life convinced her that he was a prophet.</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Christ went on to teach her more. Perhaps she did not understand everything He said or needed a polite way to end the conversation by finally saying, oh well “I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ; when he is come, he will tell us all things.” Jesus then unequivocally pronounced, “I that speak unto thee am he.”He said it and she believed it. The Messiah had come! Not just to the Jews but he had come for everyone. And to her, an outcast woman, who others believed to be of little worth. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TTyhF9wiipI/AAAAAAAAANE/-AaUHtDPmQk/s1600/samaritanwoman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TTyhF9wiipI/AAAAAAAAANE/-AaUHtDPmQk/s320/samaritanwoman.jpg" width="227" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">One can only speculate as to why the Messiah would choose to reveal himself to someone like her. I believe that he looked upon her heart that day and knew she hungered for truth. Her life to this point had been hopeless and he was the fulfillment of her very hope. </span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Hurriedly, she left her waterpot and went into the village to tell everyone about the man, “which told me all things that ever I did, is not this the Christ?” Because of her testimony many believed and heard for themselves, exclaiming “this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. “</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I believe this story is exceptionally important to women because it shows the value that Jesus Christ placed on women and their discipleship. The length and depth of the conversation is significant and the beginning of the revolutionary way He involved women in His ministry. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">More importantly this story invites each of us to partake of the living waters by accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior. Like the Samaritan woman, we too can have this precious opportunity. We may feel undeserving or inadequate, but the Savior knows who we truly are. Also like her, we must be willing to change our lives and except Christ’s admonitions with humility. We can discover His authenticity through scripture study and personal prayer, knowing for ourselves that He is indeed the Messiah! This is my prayer for each of you. Whoever you are reading this. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">May God Bless and Keep you. And may you drink of his eternal truths this day. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Patty</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/nt/john/4?lang=eng">http://lds.org/scriptures/nt/john/4?lang=eng</a> The story of the Samaritan woman in John 4</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349002867387746555.post-66036445275607673602010-12-20T18:04:00.000-08:002010-12-22T20:03:36.889-08:00Mary, Did You Know?<iframe frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dMvnUKNAhdM?fs=1" width="425"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349002867387746555.post-49991103906021518502010-12-20T18:03:00.001-08:002012-02-29T16:55:21.524-08:00Mary the Mother of the Savior<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Her name was Mary and she was chosen by God to bear His only begotten Son. She was humble, faithful, courageous and a true disciple of Christ. But most of all she was real. She did breath, hurt, hope and love like all of us. I envision Mary holding her newborn son for the very first time, crying with elation, gratitude and relief all at once. Did her heart rejoice knowing who her son was and what He was to become? Did she comprehend His mission and the sacrifice that He alone would perform? Did she understand how wonderful she was and how much she would be revered and loved? Certainly, she was one of the noblest and greatest of all the spirit children of our Father in Heaven.</span></div><br />
The Christmas story from the gospel of Luke.<br />
<a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/nt/luke/2?lang=eng">http://lds.org/scriptures/nt/luke/2?lang=eng </a><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TRAF1FqQ80I/AAAAAAAAAMU/y1KQWTi9gB8/s1600/yhst-37939424361191_2027_161446281.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TRAF1FqQ80I/AAAAAAAAAMU/y1KQWTi9gB8/s320/yhst-37939424361191_2027_161446281.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span id="goog_1852952807"></span><span id="goog_1852952808"></span>As the mother of Jesus Christ, Mary stands apart from all women in history. Not only was she chosen to be the mother of the Messiah but she was to raise the only perfect man to walk on earth. Mary was a young poor girl from Nazareth betrothed to an ordinary carpenter. These facts made her unsuitable in the eyes of her people. How could such a common girl be the chosen one? Yet, the angle Gabriel visited her and told her that she was “Highly Favored by God”. </span><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Even with God's favor, Mary would still suffer much. Though she would one day be highly honored as the mother of the Savior, she would first know disgrace as an unwed mother. She would nearly lose her fiancé. Her beloved son would be rejected and cruelly murdered. Mary's submission to God's plan would cost her dearly, yet she was willing to be God's servant.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TRAHjbVhHrI/AAAAAAAAAMY/A2gtKwdYww4/s1600/Jesus+Praying+w+Mary.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TRAHjbVhHrI/AAAAAAAAAMY/A2gtKwdYww4/s320/Jesus+Praying+w+Mary.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">God knew that Mary was a woman of rare strength and obedience. She was the only human being to be with Jesus throughout his entire life, from his birth until his death. She gave life<u><span style="color: blue;"> </span></u>to him as her child and watched him die as her Savior. Mary also knew the Scriptures. When the angel appeared and told her that her child would be God's Son, Mary replied, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word." (Luke 1:38). She knew of the Old Testament prophesies about the coming Messiah.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">God looked upon the quality of her trust and obedience. He knew she would willingly serve God in one of the most important callings ever given to a human being. Just like Mary, God looks at our obedience and trust, usually not the qualifications that man might look upon. God will often choose and use the most unlikely of choices.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Some mistakenly cast Mary as the “Mother of God”. She was indeed the mother of Jesus, the Son of God. However, God the Son existed from eternity. Mary was the source of Jesus’ human nature. Even so it is appropriate that we honor Mary and the faith that she displayed throughout her life. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TBWafZkCZaI/AAAAAAAAABo/ve6PV0qHIlM/s1600/Jesus+and+Mom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TBWafZkCZaI/AAAAAAAAABo/ve6PV0qHIlM/s320/Jesus+and+Mom.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This Christmas, as I celebrate the birth of Christ, I celebrate Mary too. I am so grateful for this wonderful woman and her ability to fulfill her role as the mother of our Savior. My heart is full of love for her and I marvel and thank her for her example and gift to the world. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>Merry Christmas Everyone. May the true meaning of Christmas fill your heart and home. God Bless, Patty</i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349002867387746555.post-11278202059064925372010-11-21T21:54:00.001-08:002012-02-29T16:55:46.711-08:00Elizabeth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TOoCN6zdUpI/AAAAAAAAAME/68fxyS8g4F0/s1600/2.4.Elizabeth_Elizabeth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TOoCN6zdUpI/AAAAAAAAAME/68fxyS8g4F0/s1600/2.4.Elizabeth_Elizabeth.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Do you every feel like God does not hear your prayers? Are there times in your life when you ask, “Where are you, Heavenly Father?” “Are you really listening? Elizabeth the wife of the priest Zacharias was a woman whose prayers were unanswered for many years. However, she was a woman of great spiritual maturity whose decades of deep disappointment strengthened her instead of destroying her faith. She taught us to trust in God and to wait. As we can be sure that God’s answer will come and in a way that we never imagined!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Like her husband Zacharias, Elizabeth came from a line of priestly families, the same priestly line that the Messiah would come from. Luke took great care to describe that she and her husband were <i>“both righteous before God, walking in all commandments of the Lord, blameless”. </i>This description teaches us the first thing we need to know about having our prayers answered. Elizabeth and Zacharias were not said to be sinless or perfect but that they kept the commandments and had true hearts dedicated to the Lord. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Elizabeth “<i>had no child, was barren, stricken in years</i>” and must have yearned deeply for a baby of her own. I imagine her fasting and praying with great supplication. Sometimes even begging for peace and inspiration to follow God’s will. Despite her disappointment, she relied on God’s love and continued to celebrate his blessings.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> On one such occasion, her husband was chosen to participate in the temple ordinances. What pride she must have felt as this important responsibility came upon him. While Zacharias was in the temple he was visited by the angel Gabriel who told him that Elizabeth would soon bear a son “<i>who would be great in the site of the Lord</i>”. In fact, Elizabeth was selected by God to give birth to John the Baptist who would prepare the way for the Messiah. John would also become a powerful missionary and Jesus would call him the greatest of all the prophets.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Zacharias was overcome with this news and found it too hard to believe, even coming from a heavenly messenger. Because of his lack of faith, he lost his ability to speak. Elizabeth however, believed in miracles and soon became pregnant, praising God for taking away her “reproach” or barrenness. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TOoCprmi1hI/AAAAAAAAAMI/q6WEjY6QzOU/s1600/elizabeth-greeting-mary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TOoCprmi1hI/AAAAAAAAAMI/q6WEjY6QzOU/s320/elizabeth-greeting-mary.jpg" width="198" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: small;"> In Elizabeth’s sixth month of pregnancy she was visited by her cousin Mary. Elizabeth was given divine revelation to know that Mary was also with child. When the two women met, Elizabeth’s unborn baby responded by suddenly moving and kicking in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with the spirit and in a moment of penetrating clarity pronounced a blessing upon Mary. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that thee would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”</i> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"> First of all, I love that Mary would come to her. Mary a pregnant teenager, with more hopes and fears in her heart than we can imagine. Her older cousin must have been kind, understanding and capable of good advice. At just the sight of her, Elizabeth’s blessing gave Mary the confirmation, courage and peace that she was searching for. Elizabeth realized that Mary had been chosen to give birth to the Messiah and she rejoiced in it. What comfort her words must have given to Mary. Over the next three months, Elizabeth would continue to encourage and help Mary prepare for her Mission. The birth and miracle of Elizabeth’s son would also teach Mary that “With God, nothing shall be impossible.” </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TOoC1_lIVMI/AAAAAAAAAMM/riYQaWv4udk/s1600/elizabeth-photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TOoC1_lIVMI/AAAAAAAAAMM/riYQaWv4udk/s320/elizabeth-photo.jpg" width="212" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> At a time when Elizabeth was settling down to a quiet old age, her life took an unexpected turn. She became pregnant and bore the son she had always hoped for. And God had answered her prayer at the most opportune time. Not only would her son assist with the coming of the Messiah but she would assist Christ’s mother for his coming too. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> Elizabeth story teaches us that answers will come from God. They will come in a way and in a time that will be most enjoyed and for our benefit. I learn from her that, prayers are worth waiting for. </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349002867387746555.post-4414248866820979932010-11-01T16:56:00.000-07:002010-11-01T17:18:18.477-07:00Have you heard the one about Jesus and the Mother-in-law?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TM9OG5R5dNI/AAAAAAAAALs/Yvu5OxjJyoE/s1600/Peters+mother+in+law.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TM9OG5R5dNI/AAAAAAAAALs/Yvu5OxjJyoE/s320/Peters+mother+in+law.jpg" width="264" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mother-in-laws often get a bad rap. There are so many bad jokes and stories about them. It’s almost like their doomed - -constantly accused of being meddlesome, manipulative, and opinionated. I love my mother-in-law. She is kind, loving and supportive. Plus, she makes the best brownies ever! Mother-in-laws can be a tremendous example and blessing to their extended families. The account of Peter’s mother-in-law is about one such faithful woman and a story worth telling.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="color: black;"> </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">After worshipping God in the synagogue one </span><span style="color: black;">day, </span>Jesus, <span style="color: black;">Peter, Andrew, James, and John went to Peter's home to relax and eat. When they arrived, Peter's wife's mother was bedridden with a fever. </span>Dr. Luke, using medical terms, tells us that she had a “high” fever. (Luke 4:38) This implies that the fever was very serious and perhaps even life-threatening. When the Savior heard about her condition,”<span style="color: black;"> he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. (Mark 1:31) </span></span> </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jesus healed many people but with this particular healing, something unique happened. Quite often, after being healed, people left Jesus to go about their renewed lives. Peter's mother-in-law, however, immediately rose and began to minister to them. The Greek word for ‘minister’ can also mean to ‘serve’. Peter’s mother-in-law teaches us that if we are truly grateful to the Lord then we will not just thank him but we will serve him. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">And her service did not stop there. Peter’s home immediately became available to Jesus and his disciples whenever they stayed in Capernaum. Mark tells us the “whole city” gathered at Peter’s door (Mark 1:33). Late into the night miracle after miracle took place. It is likely that Peter’s mother-in-law was a widow and lived in his home. I imagine that she must have done a lot of cooking and cleaning during those times. Quietly serving the Master, while she herself feasted on His words</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TM9PePzYPGI/AAAAAAAAAL8/qWJC0bKcADM/s1600/Carol_Anderson_Women_of_the_Bible.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TM9PePzYPGI/AAAAAAAAAL8/qWJC0bKcADM/s200/Carol_Anderson_Women_of_the_Bible.jpg" width="170" /></a> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">I think about all of the times that Peter was away from his family serving the Lord. Did they suffer from the loss of Peter’s financial income? Were they afraid of persecution because they were intimate with Jesus and his disciples? Were they worried that Peter himself would never come home? This wonderful lady must have been a tremendous support to Peter’s family. Her faith, testimony and witness of Christ’s mission surely must have given them great courage. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I am grateful God chose to give us two Mother’s. The one that gives us life and the one that helps us understand life from a new perspective. We may not always agree with our mother-in-law but I believe that most act out of love. Like Peter’s mother-in-law, they can teach us and bless us. Sometimes it’s hard for adult children to open their hearts and lives to suggestions and help from their parents. But this story teaches us that a mother-in-law’s life experience, discernment and undying love for her family can be invaluable. So here’s to Mother-in-laws everywhere and to my own whom I am truly thankful for</span></span>. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br />
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<tr align="center"><td bgcolor="#f6f5f5" height="40">Church over the house where Peter's mother-in-law was said to live -Capernaum Israel</td></tr>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349002867387746555.post-1738567087309905812010-09-27T15:52:00.001-07:002012-02-29T16:47:33.254-08:00Anna the Prophetess<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TKEoK8M_lvI/AAAAAAAAAKk/_G7XlpQ0t34/s1600/1753-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TKEoK8M_lvI/AAAAAAAAAKk/_G7XlpQ0t34/s320/1753-m.jpg" width="226" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;">“Do Good, Feel Good” is a terrific motto for happiness. And new research shows that choosing to help others activates the brain’s subgenual area, the part of the brain that produces feel-good chemicals, like oxytocin. The Bible has always taught us this eternal truth and the story of Anna is a wonderful example. If you are ever feeling lonely, discouraged or afraid, try Anna’s remedy—serve the Lord. You will experience </span><span style="font-size: small;">great joy instead. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Luke 2:36-38</i>. Anna the prophetess was a woman of faithful service. Anna likely became a bride at a young age and was only married seven years until her husband passed away. I imagine that this began a long string of lonely days and nights. Perhaps no kinsman were willing to take her hand as was customary in those ancient days in Jerusalem; or they thought Anna was barren, for there is no record of children in her brief years of marriage. And a woman without a husband or children would have no status in that society. So Anna went on alone, waiting for the companion that never claimed her hand, yearning for the child that was never laid in her arms. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TKEHCJjOBLI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/35KTyETkEpQ/s1600/anna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TKEHCJjOBLI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/35KTyETkEpQ/s320/anna.jpg" width="257" /></a></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As time passed, her hair likely turned gray, her eyes wrinkled, and her step became much slower and yet she did not just sit and wait for life to come to her. Life had dealt her empty arms, and she chose to turn empty arms into open arms through service. Luke records that Anna “departed not from the temple, but served God with fasting and prayers night and day.” Anna forsook her sorrow to assist those who needed her help. And in so doing she came alive, and became great in the eyes of those she served.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TKEo1Ctv7iI/AAAAAAAAAKo/Fjy_jbgl8xc/s1600/Rembrandt4123Present1628Hamburg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TKEo1Ctv7iI/AAAAAAAAAKo/Fjy_jbgl8xc/s320/Rembrandt4123Present1628Hamburg.jpg" width="212" /></a></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When Mary and Joseph brought the newborn Jesus to the temple to make their offerings, Anna was there and when she saw the child, she came in an instant and gave thanks to the Lord. She was among the first to recognize Him as the Messiah and from that time forward, she bore a fervent testimony of Him “to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.” I envision Anna, at her great age, holding the new infant, the Lord that she had served so faithfully for so many years. Imagine her joy as she cuddled the child in her arms. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Savior taught His disciples, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it”. Perhaps the Savior is telling us that unless we lose ourselves in service to others, there is little purpose to our own lives. Those who live only for themselves eventually shrivel up and figuratively lose their lives, while those who lose themselves in service to others grow and flourish—and in effect save their lives.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Anna teaches us this great lesson too. Her story invites us and challenges us to forget ourselves and serve others. Let us follow her example and seek ways to help others. Show a little extra kindness today. Ask the Lord to be his hands and his servant. Put a smile on someone’s face and I promise that you will be smiling too. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349002867387746555.post-26884965425449888772010-09-01T21:20:00.001-07:002012-02-29T16:56:15.219-08:00Job's Wife "Curse God and Die!"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TH8e0cX6LbI/AAAAAAAAAJw/dlLgL5HL_5Q/s1600/women-pray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TH8e0cX6LbI/AAAAAAAAAJw/dlLgL5HL_5Q/s320/women-pray.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>What was it like to have been Job’s wife? And do we give her a harder time than is necessary? Consider this. Every single one of Job's trials was also born by his wife. And yet we hardly stop to offer her compassion.<br />
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She is introduced after Job, one of the richest and most faithful men of his time, has had all of his cattle, flocks, camels and children taken from him. Moreover, he is suffering from a horrible disease. As he sat on an ash heap outside the city walls, Job still did not blame God. His wife, out of bitterness, discouragement or perhaps empathy for his sufferings tells Job” Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die! (Job 2:9-10). Whatever her reasons or motivations for saying this, we are unsure. However, we do know the following facts. <br />
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<i><b>She experienced the death of every single one of her children.</b></i> One day her seven sons and three daughters were all gathered together for a feast in the house of her firstborn. A mighty storm came and the house collapsed, killing all of her children at once. I wonder were there grandchildren in that house too? This must have been the worst day of her life. Everything that she had hoped for and drew joy from was now ripped from her life forever.<br />
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<i><b>She experienced dramatic financial loss.</b></i> Job was an incredibly rich man who went from living a privileged life to an impoverished one. He must have had many servants and been well respected in his community. I cannot imagine how hard it was for his wife to see her husband so defeated and to suffer the loss of her children all at the same time. <br />
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<i><b>She became the caretaker for her disease-ravaged husband.</b></i> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TH8hgyrPwAI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/MiUyhSkEejg/s1600/job.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TH8hgyrPwAI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/MiUyhSkEejg/s320/job.jpg" /></a></div>Job was stricken with boils from the soles of his foot to the crown of his head. This means that Job likely could not walk, sit or even sleep without being in pain. His appearance became so distorted that even his closest friends didn’t recognize him. When they approached, they fell down in anguish and pity. Job’s wife had to endure that every day and she was the one who cared for him. They had little or no money for a physician. She had no children to relieve her from nursing him.<br />
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<i><b>When everyone else had deserted Job, her love was constant</b></i>. When Job was finally restored to health and wealth, she was still there. God Blessed Job with twice as much as he had before but he also blessed Job’s wife, as she became mother again to seven sons and three daughters. She was also reinstated as a great lady in the household of Job.<br />
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I once went through a sixth month period in my life where I could somewhat relate to Job’s wife. In the Month of June, My Father-in-Law died from unexpected complications after a surgery. Soon after, my husband got very ill with phenomena. My car was stolen on Thanksgiving Day and on December 5th my own father had a heart attack and passed away. During all that time, I was pregnant with my second child and was trying to “keep it together” at my job. One day an associate called me up on the phone and told me how horrible my performance had recently been. I just sobbed on the phone and said nothing. That night I commented to my husband “I don’t understand why God is allowing this to happen to us. I just don’t think I can take it anymore!” I remember him looking at me and saying, “Don’t ever say that.” <br />
This reminds me of Job’s reaction when his wife was at her wits end and told him to” Curse God and die.” Job then said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” (Job 2:10). In a sense, this was the same loving counsel my own husband gave me. He reminded me of who I was and what I believed. That “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”(Job 1:21)<br />
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Job's and his wife’s experiences can explain why good people may go through discouraging and traumatic times and be tempted to resent God for not obviously and quickly intervening on their behalf. Like Job's wife, we can fail to understand that God sees far more than we see.<br />
Looking back on my own trials, I understand how much I grew spiritually. I know that God was still there and that he loved me deeply. Like Job’s wife I had my moments of weakness, but also like her, I did persevere. <br />
We need always to remember some excellent advice from King David: "Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD!" (Psalm 27:14). We should learn from Job and his wife’s experience to maintain patient respect and trust in God even in the midst of our sufferings (James 5:10-11).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349002867387746555.post-70341481150189662022010-08-02T23:27:00.001-07:002012-02-29T16:58:51.135-08:00A Price Above Rubies<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TFibvwi3urI/AAAAAAAAAIo/7WQyFnwULCE/s1600/ruby.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501318189620378290" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TFibvwi3urI/AAAAAAAAAIo/7WQyFnwULCE/s200/ruby.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 200px;" /></a> <br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><i><span style="font-family: ";"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. Proverbs 31:10</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;">I love rubies. They are a beautiful and rare stone made of my favorite color, red. All rubies have color impurities that make them distinctive. Gemologist can identify natural rubies through these imperfections, as they do not exist in synthetic stones. Rubies are a rough stone that is heated before cutting and placed into a beautiful setting. They are considered one of the most precious stones in the world and can command a</span><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;"> very high price. Just as we can’t find precious rubies laying around everywhere, it is extraordinary to find virtuous women in today’s society. A woman of high moral character is indeed a treasure. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;">Like rubies, all women are beautiful and precious, especially to God. Like gems, we each have our own unique characteristics and imperfections that make us special. Just as the master gemologist refines gems into something exceptional, God also purifies our </span><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;">spirits through our experiences and trials in life.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;">The virtuous woman places all of her trust in the Lord. She knows that only through him</span><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;"> she can be everything that he wants her to be. She understands that</span><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"> the storms will come, the winds will blow, there will be times when the "ends may not meet", there may be sickness, trials, and heartache. However, the conclusion of the matter is this, she is assured that there will be times of joy, laughter, and deliverance with lif</span></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TFicDqjU5zI/AAAAAAAAAIw/iVxhSVdHgqs/s1600/water_gallery_02_470x320.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501318531609061170" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TFicDqjU5zI/AAAAAAAAAIw/iVxhSVdHgqs/s200/water_gallery_02_470x320.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 136px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></a><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">e more abundantly; this is the promise of her Father in Heaven. She knows that she can “do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. Her strength and faith give hope and blessings to all who know her. She is a shining example of a daughter of God and a Christian woman. This is what makes her so valuable.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;"></span></span><o:p></o:p></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349002867387746555.post-54022148369905334172010-07-21T17:13:00.001-07:002012-02-29T16:56:50.361-08:00Esther<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TEeQp7fMp2I/AAAAAAAAAHo/YCZ8C9Ajy5g/s1600/682048v6kuwu4bkf-1.jpg"> <br />
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</style> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-size: 100%;">“<i>Who knoweth whether thou art come for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TEeU8qaEPRI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/GfZB-2trfqI/s1600/1.14.E2.jpg"> <br />
</a></i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;"> Esther was one of the bravest women in the Old Testament. This is because she risked her life in order to save her people from certain death. I wonder, could I ever be that brave? I once visited a Haunted House and a man dressed up as a monster jumped out and howled at me. I grabbed my twelve</span><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;"> year old daughter and hid behind her. She still teases me about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;">God has a purpose and a plan for eac</span><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;">h one of us. It may not be as demanding and scary as Queen Esther’s mission but it may take as much bravery to accomplish. When</span><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;"> we are faced with trials or great adversity in our life, we can draw strength from her story of fa</span><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;">ith, obedience and courage. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;"> Esther’s life reads like a Cinderella story – born in obscurity she becomes queen over all of Persia, one of the most powerful empires in history. When we first meet her she is called by her Hebrew name, Hadassah. She is an orphan, who was raised in the household of</span><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;"> her cousin Mordecai. They are of the House of Israel, who more than a hundred years before her birth </span><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;">had been taken into captivity by the Babylonians. The Babylonians were then later conquered by th</span><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;">e Persians. Now, after many years, her people were allowed to return to their homeland. However, many chose to stay in this foreign land (for it had become their new home). This choice to stay angered many people, some in very high places of</span><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;"> power and authority.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;">The King of Persia, Aasuerus, sent his wife Vashti away for disobeying him. The king had ordered her to appear before him at a drunken feast he was hosting. Ahasuer</span><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;">us wanted her to unveil herself before his guest so that he could show off his wife’s beauty. To Vashti’s credit, she refused to obey his immodest and degrading request. To save face, Ahasuerus disposed of Queen Vashti and began searching for a new queen to take her place. Hadassah, along with all the other beautiful young maidens in the kingdom were then forced to appear at the palace for the King’s choosing.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;">Before Hadassah’s departure, Mordecai instructed her that she should not reveal her true identity as a Jew. He feared that should her heritage b</span><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;">e known, she would not be treated well. He told her to go by the Persian name of Esther. Which means “Star”. Perhaps, he believed that if Esther could become Queen, she would somehow light the way for their people. Mordecai must have realized th</span><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;">ere was something unique in Esther's opportunity. Esther was a r</span><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;">ighteous woman and it had to be divine providence that she became the wife of the non-Jewish king. Mordecai was aware of the impending calamity that would likely befall the Jews. Could Esther be the one through whom they would be saved?<o:p> <br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;"><o:p> </o:p>Esther heeded her cousin’s counsel and guarded her secret. During this time, she trusted in the Lord and magnified him through her words and deeds. When the occasion arrived, Esther was introduced to the King and he fell in love with her. Out of all who were brought to t</span><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;">he palace, she was crowned Queen. <br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;">Mordecai remained in contact with Esther and sent messages to her as often as he could. Not long after her marriage, he heard about a plot to kill the king. He passed this information on to </span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TEeSVWjhFiI/AAAAAAAAAIA/kXnff_heqqc/s1600/king_queens.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496522765758436898" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TEeSVWjhFiI/AAAAAAAAAIA/kXnff_heqqc/s320/king_queens.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 250px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></a><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;">Esther, who in turn told her husband and saved his life. The king was grateful but soon forgot about it and life went on as before.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;">Haman, the villain in the book of Esther, was second in command to</span><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;"> the king and everyone had to bow to him. But Mordecai would not bow to Haman. Maybe Mordecai saw it as false worship, dishonoring God. Haman hated Mordecai for not showing him honor. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;">When Haman discovered that Mordecai was a Jew he dreamed up a plan to destroy him. He told the King that there was a group of people in the land who held to their own </span><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;">laws and did not keep the Persian laws. Haman advised the King that these people, the Jews, shoul</span><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;">d all be destroyed. The King agreed. He did not know that Queen Esther was a Jew. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;">Mordecai informed Queen Esther of the new law and asked her to go to the King and plead for the lives of the Jews. Mordecai thought the King would listen to her since he loved her and would change the law. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;">But Queen Esther was afraid. She also knew of another law that said if anyone dared to approach the King without being summoned by him, could be put to death. The only exception was if the King would hold out his golden scepter to them. She was worried that he would not hold out his scepter for her because he had ignored</span><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;"> her for thirty days. Yet, she knew the only way to save her people, the Jews, from death would be for her to intercede for them.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;">She sent word to Mordecai to ask her people to pray and fast with her. The fasting and praying for guidance would last for three days. Esthe</span><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;">r must have realized that all that had happened in her life had prepared her for this moment in history.</span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TEeRUfxWEoI/AAAAAAAAAH4/p4ddruFhnaE/s1600/step-parent-bible-story-mordecai-and-esther.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496521651540857474" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TEeRUfxWEoI/AAAAAAAAAH4/p4ddruFhnaE/s320/step-parent-bible-story-mordecai-and-esther.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 228px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;">Esther decided that she would have to reveal her heritage and appeal for deliverance for her people in a hostile court. Trusting in G</span><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;">od she went to the king. Miraculously, he did hold out his specter to her. She then asked her husband, the King and Haman to a series of private banquets. At the last banquet she petitioned the King for his help. She revealed the truth about Haman and his plans to eradicate the Jews, which included her. The King was so angry that he had Haman executed. The King also made a new law that helped insure that the Jewish people could live safely in his kingdom from that time forward. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;">~The lessons that we can learn from Esther are faithfulness, trust in God, and a willingness to follow His will whether we are afraid or not. Esther’s act on behalf of the Jews is an emblem of sacrifice. Her story is a representation of what the Savior, Jesus Christ, would do hundreds of years later. Esther – Hadassah – was willing to sacrifice he</span><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;">rself to save her people. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;">~The book of Esther is a very unusual book of the Bible. First, it's one of only two books in the entire Scriptures named for a woman (the other is Ruth)</span><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;">. Secondly, the book of Esther does not mention God by name. However, the presence of God is easily seen in this story. Just because he is silent does not mean that he is not there. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Easter’s life was full of challenges and adversity but through it all God was there, molding her, preparing her and finally bringing her to her full potential. Sometimes in my own life, I feel like God is silent. I wonder where he is when I am experiencing challenges and even pain. Esther’s story reminds me that God never leaves us if we do not leave him</span></span><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">. Sometimes he is testing us, stretching us and teaching us how to become a better person. If we remain faithful like Queen Esther, who knows what God has in store for us?<span style="font-family: "; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TEeVKpT-sHI/AAAAAAAAAIY/_4CkiLzHySw/s1600/esther+2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496525880349864050" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TEeVKpT-sHI/AAAAAAAAAIY/_4CkiLzHySw/s320/esther+2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 243px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <o:p></o:p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349002867387746555.post-51227964012400960542010-06-29T10:14:00.002-07:002012-02-29T16:59:26.695-08:00Deborah<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TCpoM--feJI/AAAAAAAAAGI/FAlsa_4g_Pw/s1600/Deborah.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488313668177197202" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TCpoM--feJI/AAAAAAAAAGI/FAlsa_4g_Pw/s400/Deborah.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 230px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 154px;" /></a><link href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CPatty%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CPatty%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx" rel="themeData"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CPatty%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml" rel="colorSchemeMapping"></link><style>
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The story of Deborah describes the unlikely victory of the Israelites, led by an extraordinary woman who was a prophetess, a judge and a deliverer for her people. Though she lived in the time of “Judges”, some thirteen centuries before Christ, there are few women in history who have ever attained the public dignity and supreme authority as Deborah.<o:p></o:p><br />
The scriptures tell us that she was the wife of a man named Lapidoth. Therefore, she must have been a homemaker and perhaps a mother. The rabbis say she was a keeper of the tabernacle lamps. If so, these were wonderful and humble tasks for a woman who was to become so great a strength in Israel.<o:p></o:p><br />
In Deborah’s time, the children of Israel began to worship pagan deities so God allowed them to fall into the hands of Jabin, the king of Canaan, who oppressed them sorely for twenty years. Because the men of Israel had faltered in leadership, Deborah arose as a counselor, judge and prophetess for her people. She sat under a sacred tree in the hill country of Ephraim where she gave ruling on particular matters. People came to her when they needed a dispute settled, or when they needed advice about their future actions. She listened, considered the problem then gave her guidance.<br />
Deborah was distressed over the plight of her people. She spoke out about the deteriorating state of the country around Ephraim. Law and order had broken down, and it was no longer safe to travel on the highways. As she spoke and listened to the <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TCprWPh0hBI/AAAAAAAAAGo/YmLq1RQiCmw/s1600/deborah-dtrs-fire.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488317125774050322" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TCprWPh0hBI/AAAAAAAAAGo/YmLq1RQiCmw/s200/deborah-dtrs-fire.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 200px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 161px;" /></a>people, she must have sensed their common enthusiasm for immediate action against their enemy. <br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=8349002867387746555&postID=5122796401240096054" name="5"></a> With courage and faith in God she called for Israel’s most capable military leader Barak. Together they made a plan to move against their enemy. At first, Barak must have made the case that <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=8349002867387746555&postID=5122796401240096054" name="6"></a>their tribesmen were hill people, who fought mostly on foot. Their enemies had nine hundred thundering, iron chariots to clear their way. There technology, fighting skills and numbers were far superior to the Israelite forces! Deborah however, let Barak know that she was not afraid to do as the Lord commanded. She told him“Hath not the Lord God of Israel commanded, saying Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtale and of the children of Zebulun?”.<br />
Deborah further told him, “I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him unto thine hand." Deborah's strategy was to get the enemy to fight in a muddy place where their chariots would be disabled. She knew that if they came, God would disarm Sisera's army and be Israel's shield. <br />
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Barak, sensing the spiritual ins<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TCprtyJYkGI/AAAAAAAAAGw/PbAcKtHRvMk/s1600/debandbarak.jpeg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488317530203787362" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TCprtyJYkGI/AAAAAAAAAGw/PbAcKtHRvMk/s200/debandbarak.jpeg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 141px;" /></a>ight that Deborah possessed and urgent need for her spiritual presence and counsel said<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=8349002867387746555&postID=5122796401240096054" name="8"></a>, “If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.”<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=8349002867387746555&postID=5122796401240096054" name="9"></a><br />
<o:p></o:p>She then prophesized, “I will surely go with thee; notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the Lord shall deliver Sisera into the hand of a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=8349002867387746555&postID=5122796401240096054" name="10"></a>After Barak had assembled his men on a flat place atop Mount Tabor and Sisera had formed his army and chariots on the plain near the Kishon River, Deborah alerted Barak: “Up; for this is the day in which the Lord hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the Lord gone out before thee?”<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=8349002867387746555&postID=5122796401240096054" name="11"></a>Barak and his ten thousand warriors descended from Mount Tabor, and the Lord strengthened them. They fought so fiercely that Sisera was forced to flee for his life on foot, his chariots were destroyed, and all of his men were slain.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TCps7GSYftI/AAAAAAAAAHI/osYnSoJ75Xg/s1600/deborah4.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488318858460167890" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TCps7GSYftI/AAAAAAAAAHI/osYnSoJ75Xg/s400/deborah4.gif" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 140px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 140px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=8349002867387746555&postID=5122796401240096054" name="12"></a>When the battle was over, Barak went in search of Sisera and discovered that he was already dead. He lay on the ground inside the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. Sisera had sought safety inside Jael’s tent, but, as Deborah had prophesied, he had been delivered “into the hand of a woman.” Jael had killed him while he was asleep for the good of all Israel.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=8349002867387746555&postID=5122796401240096054" name="13"></a>Because of Deborah’s valor and her ability to inspire confidence in Barak to do his duty as God had commanded, “the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.”<b><u><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TCpsFA8tyYI/AAAAAAAAAG4/5ggSHyd_v0c/s1600/deborah4.gif"> <br />
</a></u></b><br />
<b><u>Why this story is important?</u></b><br />
~God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things.<br />
~Women can have the gift of prophesy.<br />
~ God does gift women for spiritual leadership. At the same time, Barak as a military leader indicates that not every leadership role is appropriate for women.<br />
Deborah’s story is largely about success against all odds. Though everything about the time and culture were against Deborah, she put her faith, courage and trust in God. She stayed worthy in a time of great sin so that the Lord could communicate with her and act through her. She prayed and listened to him when the priesthood leaders of her time would not. She gave her life to his service, believed in his promises and he used her to bring about his will. <br />
Deborah’s courage and humility are models for us. She kept her eyes focused on God and not the circumstances around her. She gave God the glory for the victory and she thanked Him specifically for what He did for her and her country. She reminds us that we all have the potential to do great things for God if we will only listen, trust and obey.<br />
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<o:p> </o:p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349002867387746555.post-15704545186246674852010-06-19T20:08:00.002-07:002012-02-29T17:00:06.693-08:00Hannah<span style="color: black; font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TB2GUz-GjrI/AAAAAAAAAD4/P0fKdY29p3Y/s1600/Hannah-prayer.jpg" style="font-family: times new roman;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484687613313322674" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TB2GUz-GjrI/AAAAAAAAAD4/P0fKdY29p3Y/s320/Hannah-prayer.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 228px;" /></a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: times new roman; font-size: 100%;"> <br />
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Hannah was a wonderful woman of faith and is among my favorite women in the Old Testament. Hannah was married to a devout Israelite man named Elkanah who also h</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: times new roman; font-size: 100%;"><span style="color: black;">ad another wife, named Peninnah</span><span style="color: black; font-family: times new roman;">. Elkanah and Peninnah had several children together, but Hannah remained childless.</span></span> <br />
<div style="color: black; font-family: times new roman;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-size: 0pt;"></span>The Old Testament mentions the word</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> mother</span><span style="font-size: 100%;">, or one of</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> its derivatives, 232 times, which is 50 percent more than all of the other standard works combined. This shows the significance of mothers in the Old Testament. To </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">be childless in this society must have been devastating for Hannah. She knew the importance of being a mother and all of her t</span><span style="font-size: 100%;">houghts must have been about becoming a mother and holding her baby in h</span><span style="font-size: 100%;">er arms</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: times new roman;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Each year Elkanah took his family to worship and offer sacrifice at the tabernacle in Shiloh. There he gave Penninah and her children a portion but he gave Hannah a double portion becau</span><span style="font-size: 100%;">se of his lov</span><span style="font-size: 100%;">e for her. He may have</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> done this too because she did not have any children. This must have made Peninnah very jealous because she began to taunt Hannah about being childless.</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: times new roman;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-size: 0pt;"></span>One day Hannah became so heartbroken that she wouldn’t even eat and her husband could not co</span><span style="font-size: 100%;">mfort her. She then went up to the tabernacle, and prayed with great weeping. <span style="font-size: 0pt;"></span>In her prayer she asked God for a son and in return she vowed to give that son back to God for the service of the Shiloh priests. She promised he would remain a Nazarite all the days of his life. <br />
</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: times new roman;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Eli the High Priest came upon her and saw her praying. Hannah was silently moving her lips and sobbing so deeply that he thought she was drunk and questioned her. When she explained that she was not <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TB2L9Jq9hvI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/c71o10jUpvQ/s1600/Hannah_with_Samuel.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484693803891525362" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TB2L9Jq9hvI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/c71o10jUpvQ/s320/Hannah_with_Samuel.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 215px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 254px;" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 100%;">drunk but was pouring her heart out to the Lord, he told her to “Go in Peace and the God of Israel gra</span><span style="font-size: 100%;">nt thee thy petition t</span><span style="font-size: 100%;">hat thou has aske</span><span style="font-size: 100%;">d of him.”</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: times new roman;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-size: 0pt;"></span>As promised, she conceived and bore a son. She ca</span><span style="font-size: 100%;">lled his name Samuel saying, Because “I have asked him of Jehovah”. Now it would have been easy for Hannah to rationalize her promise, To thank G</span><span style="font-size: 100%;">od and keep her treasured child. But she did not go back on her word. She raised Samuel until he was weaned and brought him to the tabernacle. She presente</span><span style="font-size: 100%;">d her precious son to Eli the priest so that he could grow up and worship the Lord there.</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: times new roman;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">The amazing thing to me about Hannah is that she was not bitter at all. She was truly grateful to the Lord for her son and seems triumphant in returning Samuel back to him. In her song, she looks beyond the gift and praises the giver. </span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: times new roman;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">"My heart rejoices in the Lord; my horn is exalted in the Lord. <br />
I smile at my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation. <br />
No one is holy like the Lord, for there is none besides You, <br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;">Nor is there any rock like our God." (I Samuel 2:1-2)</span></div><style>
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</style><span style="color: black; font-family: times new roman; font-size: 100%;">Because of her great faith Hannah continued to be blessed by the Lord. After this, she had several more sons and daughters. She was also able to visit her son in the tabernacle each year and to see Samuel become an instrument of the Lord. Samuel became a great prophet and judge in the land. Because Hannah aske</span><span style="color: black; font-family: times new roman; font-size: 100%;">d of the</span><span style="color: black; font-family: times new roman; font-size: 100%;"> Lord, all of Israel was blessed. <br />
<br />
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</style><span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 100%;"><b style="color: black;">In reading this story, there are many similarities between Mary, the Mother of Je</b></span><span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 100%;"><b style="color: black;">sus and Hannah. <span style="font-size: 0pt;"></span>I can’t help but think that Hannah was an inspiration to Mary.<o:p></o:p></b> <br />
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<div style="color: black; font-family: times new roman;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">~First of all, both women raised their sons knowing that they were to be given to the Lord. Unlike other Hebrew sons, they would not grow up and have normal lives, marry, have children and be there for their aging parents. They were raised for a greater, more holy purpose. Their children’s lives we</span><span style="font-size: 100%;">re dedicated to the Lord and solely for doing his will. </span><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: times new roman;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">~Hannah refers to herself three times as a “handmaid” of the Lord, signifying that she is a servant of the Lord too. When Mary is told by the angel of God that she is going to be the </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">mother of Jesus, she also refers to herself as his “handmaiden”.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">Both of these women show their humility and willingness to undergo whatever the Lord asked of them, no matter what the consequences. </span><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: times new roman;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">~Both of their reactions were similar. They each praised God, no matter what trials or opposition they faced.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: times new roman;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%;">~The birth of each of their firstborn sons were miracles.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><b><span style="color: black;"> <br />
</span></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: times new roman;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><b><span style="color: black;">Hannah praises the Lord and refers to “his anointed”. This was another name for the Messiah. Can you imagine Mary’s comfort in knowing that Hannah was looking forward to the birth of her child, the Messiah to come? Her testimony, her faith and trust in Jesus Christ must have given Mary great strength. I love Hannah for this!</span></b></span></div><div style="color: black;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484704908042227090" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TB2WDf2yzZI/AAAAAAAAAEg/979-yiZul5M/s320/hannahandsamuelbiblestory.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 273px; width: 265px;" /></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TB2WDf2yzZI/AAAAAAAAAEg/979-yiZul5M/s1600/hannahandsamuelbiblestory.jpg"></a><br />
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</style></div><div style="font-family: times new roman;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TB2NX4jkkaI/AAAAAAAAAEY/buobYo_W7OY/s1600/hannahandsamuelbiblestory.jpg"> <br />
</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349002867387746555.post-73785483868143519462010-06-15T18:04:00.000-07:002010-09-02T08:48:08.183-07:00Naomi and Ruth<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TBgjljv-6LI/AAAAAAAAADg/Ef_BcPrx1rs/s1600/RuthandNaomi_eating_1020-1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483171674482206898" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZD9W6B0sPjU/TBgjljv-6LI/AAAAAAAAADg/Ef_BcPrx1rs/s320/RuthandNaomi_eating_1020-1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 320px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 214px;" /></a><br />
The <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1276649276_0">story of Naomi and Ruth</span> is a tale of faith, love, loyalty and redemption. The story begins when there was a great famine in the land of Israel. A man from Bethlehem named Elimelech took his wife Naomi and his two sons Mahlon and Chilion to live in Moab. This country was just across the river Jordan but the people there were considered pagans and did not worship the one true God. The distance was only about 30 to 40 miles but as far as most Israelites were concerned, it was as far away as heaven and hell. However, the family went anyway and the son’s each married women of Moab. The two women were name Orprah and Ruth. After a time, Elimelech and both of her sons died. This left the three woman widowed and without protection. According to the laws at that time, women were not allowed to own property. So the women had no way of making a living. Since Naomi hand no kin in the land of Moab, she decided that the only thing for her to do was to go back to Bethlehem. She then encouraged both of her daughters-in-laws to go back to their families too. Neither one of the women wanted to leave Naomi. Eventually Orprah relented and returned to her kin, Ruth however would not go. She told her mother-in-law “ Intreat me not to leave thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people and thy God my God.”<br />
Ruth Loved and cared so much for Naomi that she was willing to leave her homeland forever. She was also willing to travel with her to a strange land where people might not accept her. Naomi’s example of living the gospel must have been very strong, because Ruth was also willing to turn from her religion and join the faith of her mother-in-law.<br />
When Naomi returned to Bethlehem people came out to meet her and said “is this not Naomi?”. She told them not to call her Naomi anymore but to call her Mara, which means bitter because she said “the Almighty hath dealt bitterly with me.”<br />
Naomi had lost everything and was severally depressed but soon she turned her hope and ambitions to the one person in her life that had not been taken away from her. Her loving, faithful and obedient daughter-in-law Ruth.<br />
Naomi told Ruth to go out to her kinsman’s field and to collect the grain that was left behind by the workers. For this was a law at that time that provided for the poor. Those in need were allowed to glean the fields after the reapers. Ruth did this faithfully and was able to provide quite well for herself and Naomi. Soon people began to ask about her and take notice of the loving service she gave to Naomi. One day <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1276649276_1">Boaz</span>, the kinsman who owned the field noticed Ruth too. He rewarded Ruth with special privileges and sent home extra food to her mother-in-law.<br />
Now there was a law of Moses that provided for the welfare of widows in their society (Deuteronomy 25: 5-10). If a husband died, then it was the obligation of the nearest kinsman or blood relative to marry the widow and redeem the departed mans heritage. The firstborn of that marriage would then be raised to carry on dead man’s name.<br />
Naomi understood this law and after learning of Boaz’s attention to Ruth, began to make a plan. In fact, the matchmaker told Ruth “I will not rest for thee, for that it may be well with thee” (Ruth 3:1).<br />
Naomi then instructed Ruth to get dressed up and to go into Boaz’s tent after he had eaten and went to bed. She told her to uncover his feet and lie down next to him, and then wait for him to tell her what to do. In this day and age, this seems like a very scandalous and strange thing to do but in their culture, this was acceptable. Ruth was taking advantage of the law and was purposing marriage to Boaz.<br />
About Midnight Boaz woke up and was startled to find a woman lying next to him. He asked who she was; she replied “I am Ruth, thy handmaiden”. She was laying next to his feet in submission to him, showing that she was willing to serve him and to be an obedient wife. Normally, a man in this society proposed marriage by spreading his skirt, or robe, around his intended. So she asked him to spread his skirt over her and said “for thou are a near kinsman.”<br />
In Ezekiel 16:8, the Lord says: “Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness; yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord God, and thou becamest mine.”<br />
Boaz accepted her as his own. Boaz then told her that he had heard of her story and all that she had done. He knew of her kindness to Naomi and of her character, he called her a <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1276649276_2">virtuous woman</span> and promised to seek her hand in marriage.<br />
The next day, he went out to see Ruth's closest male relative. This man said that he could not marry Ruth and granted Boaz the right to marry her instead. I wonder if this kinsman was concerned that Ruth was from Moab. She was not an Israelite and there were religious and societal complications with a marriage like this.<br />
Fortunately, this did not concern Boaz. He saw into the heart of Ruth and was only concerned with who she was and what she had become. They soon married and were blessed with a baby. Naomi became the grandmother and nursemaid to this child and was restored with great happiness. They named the child Obed. Obed was the father of Jesse, who was the father of David, who was a descendant of Jesus Christ.<br />
The true meaning of the gospel comes out in this story. Boaz represents the Savior and Ruth represents us. Once we accept the gospel and turn away from our old life, the Lord will bring us in to his own. Ruth’s story shows us that participation in the kingdom of God is not decided by bloodlines but by our obedience to God’s will. Her humility and submission to Boaz demonstrates how we must also come to the Lord and ask for his blessings and entrance into his kingdom. It is only through the Lords good grace and works that makes this possible.<br />
Boaz was Ruth’s kinsman. The Hebrew word for “kinsman” is “goel.” The Hebrew word for “Redeemer” is also “goel.” In Biblical times, these words were interchangeable. If a man was a kinsman, it was his duty to be a redeemer for his families’ inheritance. Boaz played a role very similar to the one that Jesus played for all mankind. Thus Boaz is a type of Christ’s love and redemptive power.<br />
“Where you go, I will go…” With these words, Ruth sealed her fate. By seeking out the Savior with faith like Ruth, we too can secure our place with our Lord in Heaven.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #009900;">Why do you think Ruth went with Naomi?<br />
What do you think Ruth gave up to go with her?<br />
Would you ask a man to marry you?<br />
What qualities do you like best about Ruth</span></b><b><span style="color: #009900; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">?</span></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8349002867387746555.post-49236897263535102002010-06-15T18:02:00.001-07:002012-02-29T17:00:47.806-08:00Handmaiden<div class="MsoNormal">Behold thy handmaiden, Lord. Ready now am I,<br />
To live thy word, to teach thy word, To praise thy name on high.<br />
Behold my hands, O Lord, Consecrated to thee,<br />
To serve thy daughters, to serve thy sons,<br />
To comfort each one tenderly.<br />
Behold mine eyes, O Lord, <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1276650156_0">Windows to my soul</span>,<br />
To see thy light, to love thy light, To know and shape my role.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
Behold the handmaiden of the Lord; Be it unto me according to thy word.<br />
As Mary spoke, so speak I. Heavenly Father, I will try<br />
To do thy will, Thy laws fulfill,<br />
In service to magnify thee, In humility to seek thee,<br />
Always to speak of thee,<br />
And thine, As mine.<br />
<br />
Behold thy handmaiden.<br />
Behold my heart, O Lord, Waiting here before thee,<br />
To feel thy love, to share thy love; Ever thy child I will be.</div><br />
<b><span style="color: #cc0000;">What does it mean to you<br />
to be a Handmaiden of the Lord?</span></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0