I had heard about the folded napkin and thought I would look it up on-line, the story is below. Whether or not this was a Hebrew tradition, I do not know, but I love the story anyway! It gives me Hope!
I also wanted to say that I watched Mel Gibson's , THE PASSION, last night, and wow!! It is unbelievable to think this is what we did to Jesus. My feelings while watching it was GEEZ, I need to stand up for and defend Jesus MUCH more than I do. This man, God's only son and what he did for ME (and you!), it is unbelievable and we should all be stepping up to the plate to defend him and keeping his ways our priority every day!! LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AND YOUR ENEMY!! I actually tell Kaila quite often on her way out the door, Be kind to your friends and your enemies. Hopefully it will sink in at some point what that really and truly means!! \
Read on..............
Why Did Jesus Fold The Napkin?
Why did Jesus fold the napkin?
Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection?
The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was
placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave
clothes. The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was
neatly folded, and was placed at the head of that stony coffin.
1. Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the
entrance.
2. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, "They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and I don't know where they have put him!" 3. Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see.
4. The other disciple outran Peter and got there first.
5. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in.
6. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there,
7. while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was folded up and lying to the side.
Is that important? Absolutely! Is it really significant? Yes!
In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The
folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would
not dare touch that table, until the master was finished. Now if the master was done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers,
his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in
those days, the wadded napkin meant, "I'm done". But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because..........
The folded napkin meant, "I'm coming back!"
He Is Coming Back!!!!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
John 6
Jesus fed the 5000 men at Passover with 5 loaves of bread and a couple dried fish.
"This is undoubtedly the Prophet who is to come into the world."
Jesus realized that they would come and carry him off to make him king so he fled back to the mountain alone.
How difficult it must have been for Jesus to get people to understand who he was without causing a ruckus!
He had to be very careful about all of his moves!
"This is undoubtedly the Prophet who is to come into the world."
Jesus realized that they would come and carry him off to make him king so he fled back to the mountain alone.
How difficult it must have been for Jesus to get people to understand who he was without causing a ruckus!
He had to be very careful about all of his moves!
John 5
To the man sick for 38 years,
Jesus says "Do you want to be healed?"
It seems like we can all relate to this, we are all sick in some way, maybe not physical but we all suffer from something that God would like to cure us of.
But do we really want God to heal us?
If we do, I believe we need to be sure God knows we would like to be healed of whatever may be slowing us down. In other words I believe in our prayers we need to remember to pray for ourselves and ask God for the things we need (and no, I don't mean a new car).
I am talking about the things we really need, help with being more patient would be something I need at times.
Jesus tells the man, "Stand up, pick up your mat and walk!"
and Jesus quietly slipped away, leaving others wondering who he was.
(He didn't stick around to boast!)
I should do nice things for others, but not so that I can brag about what I have done. Because I know God loves (LOVES not LOVED) me so much that he sent his only Son. That is how much he loves ME (and you too!).
A true loving relationship should be reciprocated. How do we do that with GOD?
By living our lives in a way that would make God proud. Jesus teaches us to forgives mercilessly and so I will forgive to no end! It is the least I can do, as God has forgiven me!
Jesus was starting to get some slack for telling this man to
"pick up your mat and walk!"
because it was on the Sabbath. For the man to do as Jesus said, he would not be RESTING on the Sabbath. From what I gather, Jesus is trying to make a point that all of the specific rules about work on the Sabbath were man-made rules and Jesus is making the point that these "rules" the Jews followed were not God given.
The point, I believe, is we do need to TAKE A BREAK from our labor, but as for the detailed rules, that is not specifically from GOD.
SO why do I pray , fast, and alms give during Lent??
Not to gain points with GOD (that is NOT how it works!)
I do it to help me draw closer to GOD.
I was reading something on lent and it described the season of Lent as sort of the SPRING CLEANING. I try to live my life for God all year, as we clean all year, but Lent is the time for the down and dirty spring cleaning, get rid of the sin that creeps up in us throughout the year.
.......... move the couch and vacuum under it, remove the screens and wash the windows inside and out.
That is the real point of LENT!
5:28 An hour is coming...........
5:29 who have done right shall rise to live; judgment is honest......
5:46 If you believed in Moses you would then believe me, for it was about me that he wrote.
But if you do not believe what he wrote,
how can you believe what I say?
**This gives me some reassurance that the OLD and NEW testament are all tied together!
Jesus says "Do you want to be healed?"
It seems like we can all relate to this, we are all sick in some way, maybe not physical but we all suffer from something that God would like to cure us of.
But do we really want God to heal us?
If we do, I believe we need to be sure God knows we would like to be healed of whatever may be slowing us down. In other words I believe in our prayers we need to remember to pray for ourselves and ask God for the things we need (and no, I don't mean a new car).
I am talking about the things we really need, help with being more patient would be something I need at times.
Jesus tells the man, "Stand up, pick up your mat and walk!"
and Jesus quietly slipped away, leaving others wondering who he was.
(He didn't stick around to boast!)
I should do nice things for others, but not so that I can brag about what I have done. Because I know God loves (LOVES not LOVED) me so much that he sent his only Son. That is how much he loves ME (and you too!).
A true loving relationship should be reciprocated. How do we do that with GOD?
By living our lives in a way that would make God proud. Jesus teaches us to forgives mercilessly and so I will forgive to no end! It is the least I can do, as God has forgiven me!
Jesus was starting to get some slack for telling this man to
"pick up your mat and walk!"
because it was on the Sabbath. For the man to do as Jesus said, he would not be RESTING on the Sabbath. From what I gather, Jesus is trying to make a point that all of the specific rules about work on the Sabbath were man-made rules and Jesus is making the point that these "rules" the Jews followed were not God given.
The point, I believe, is we do need to TAKE A BREAK from our labor, but as for the detailed rules, that is not specifically from GOD.
SO why do I pray , fast, and alms give during Lent??
Not to gain points with GOD (that is NOT how it works!)
I do it to help me draw closer to GOD.
I was reading something on lent and it described the season of Lent as sort of the SPRING CLEANING. I try to live my life for God all year, as we clean all year, but Lent is the time for the down and dirty spring cleaning, get rid of the sin that creeps up in us throughout the year.
.......... move the couch and vacuum under it, remove the screens and wash the windows inside and out.
That is the real point of LENT!
5:28 An hour is coming...........
5:29 who have done right shall rise to live; judgment is honest......
5:46 If you believed in Moses you would then believe me, for it was about me that he wrote.
But if you do not believe what he wrote,
how can you believe what I say?
**This gives me some reassurance that the OLD and NEW testament are all tied together!
Saturday, March 14, 2009
John 4
I am falling behind a bit and will have to do some catching up eventually.
I am sooooo thankful for the beautiful sun shining today. It seems like God answered my prayers. I was just saying yesterday how the cold weather was literally about to drive me over the edge! It just seems like this winter has been a lot longer in terms of COLD weather than years in the past. So the sun today has picked me up and got me to clean my house, clean out my car, etc., with me a clean house and car is enough to put me in a happy mood for a while!
John 4
In regard to the Samaritan woman denying Jesus a drink of water , he says.
"Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again.
But whoever drinks the water I give him
will never be thirsty;
no, the water I give
shall become a fountain within him,
leaping up to provide eternal life." John 4:14
(my grandma underlined "eternal life")
The disciples try to get Jesus to eat , but he says,
"I have food to eat of which you do not know." John 4:32
(It seems in this day and age we are all constantly trying to fill our selves with earthy things, food, shopping, other stuff too........... all we really need is God with us,He is the only thing that can fill ME. And to be honest I know that because I have tried to fill myself with other things and they are only temporary the only real way we can "fill" ourselves is through Jesus. I believe that with all my heart. It doesn't mean I never fall down and screw up , because I do, but I try to pull myself up by my bootstraps and keep moving on the RIGHT path)
and later
"I sent you to reap what you had not worked for.
Others have done the labor,
and you have come into their gain." John 4:38
To me this says the work has been done for our gift of eternal life, we just need to accept it. Through accepting this we will live our lives according to God's will. Not always as easy as it seems.
I am sooooo thankful for the beautiful sun shining today. It seems like God answered my prayers. I was just saying yesterday how the cold weather was literally about to drive me over the edge! It just seems like this winter has been a lot longer in terms of COLD weather than years in the past. So the sun today has picked me up and got me to clean my house, clean out my car, etc., with me a clean house and car is enough to put me in a happy mood for a while!
John 4
In regard to the Samaritan woman denying Jesus a drink of water , he says.
"Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again.
But whoever drinks the water I give him
will never be thirsty;
no, the water I give
shall become a fountain within him,
leaping up to provide eternal life." John 4:14
(my grandma underlined "eternal life")
The disciples try to get Jesus to eat , but he says,
"I have food to eat of which you do not know." John 4:32
(It seems in this day and age we are all constantly trying to fill our selves with earthy things, food, shopping, other stuff too........... all we really need is God with us,He is the only thing that can fill ME. And to be honest I know that because I have tried to fill myself with other things and they are only temporary the only real way we can "fill" ourselves is through Jesus. I believe that with all my heart. It doesn't mean I never fall down and screw up , because I do, but I try to pull myself up by my bootstraps and keep moving on the RIGHT path)
and later
"I sent you to reap what you had not worked for.
Others have done the labor,
and you have come into their gain." John 4:38
To me this says the work has been done for our gift of eternal life, we just need to accept it. Through accepting this we will live our lives according to God's will. Not always as easy as it seems.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
John 3 and other thoughts............
It amazes me how some days I feel completely overwhelmed with life and things, and other days I am completely at Peace with everything. Maybe some of it is the fact that I need to more fully and completely surrender my "stuff" to God. The first time I ever really understood that was when I was reading The Purpose Driven Life a few years back and let me tell you, I learned a lot from that! I think I actually will be re-reading that one soon!
Anyway to completely surrender everything to God leaves you with, NO worries! It is kind of amazing that God wants us to rely on Him that much, but he does.
John 3
We always hear John 3:16, it's probably the most famous verse from the New Testament. What I get out of this chapter is quite plain and simple, to believe in the Son of God is to accept the gift of Eternal Life.
It goes on to say that those in darkness, stay there so that their wicked ways are not exposed. But if we are honest and truthful, you can stand in the light, as your deeds are done in God. I suppose that is true, to be completely honest with yourself and those around you forces you to be the person God wants you to be. (when I say "you" I really just mean "me").
There is a song that Toby Mac sings, so awesome, it touches me big time. It goes:
"I wanna be in the light, like you are in the light, I wanna shine like the stars in the Heaven. Oh Lord be my light and be my salvation, because all I want is to be in the Light............. there is no other place that I'd rather be than in the light, in the light"
Once we can live our lives openly and honestly then we can be open to stepping in the light of God. He wants us to leave our sinful ways and stand with him. When I think about it, I would rather be standing next to him in His Light than any other place. I think it would feel like the most unbelievable/unconditional Love that we could ever know. Amazing.
John 3 also mentions that Jesus says :
"No one can enter into God's kingdom without being begotten of water and Spirit."
(reminds me of one of the sacraments we practice, baptism, just makes me question infant baptism v. adult baptism again. Not that I think there is a wrong way but when I read John 3:5, I think to know what Jesus makes baptism an important thing at any age!)
I also kind of feel bad for the people that didn't believe Jesus (I mean 2000 years ago). I wonder if I would have believed a human being telling me he was the Son of God. Hopefully I would have felt the Truth and followed him, but I still do wonder.
Anyway to completely surrender everything to God leaves you with, NO worries! It is kind of amazing that God wants us to rely on Him that much, but he does.
John 3
We always hear John 3:16, it's probably the most famous verse from the New Testament. What I get out of this chapter is quite plain and simple, to believe in the Son of God is to accept the gift of Eternal Life.
It goes on to say that those in darkness, stay there so that their wicked ways are not exposed. But if we are honest and truthful, you can stand in the light, as your deeds are done in God. I suppose that is true, to be completely honest with yourself and those around you forces you to be the person God wants you to be. (when I say "you" I really just mean "me").
There is a song that Toby Mac sings, so awesome, it touches me big time. It goes:
"I wanna be in the light, like you are in the light, I wanna shine like the stars in the Heaven. Oh Lord be my light and be my salvation, because all I want is to be in the Light............. there is no other place that I'd rather be than in the light, in the light"
Once we can live our lives openly and honestly then we can be open to stepping in the light of God. He wants us to leave our sinful ways and stand with him. When I think about it, I would rather be standing next to him in His Light than any other place. I think it would feel like the most unbelievable/unconditional Love that we could ever know. Amazing.
John 3 also mentions that Jesus says :
"No one can enter into God's kingdom without being begotten of water and Spirit."
(reminds me of one of the sacraments we practice, baptism, just makes me question infant baptism v. adult baptism again. Not that I think there is a wrong way but when I read John 3:5, I think to know what Jesus makes baptism an important thing at any age!)
I also kind of feel bad for the people that didn't believe Jesus (I mean 2000 years ago). I wonder if I would have believed a human being telling me he was the Son of God. Hopefully I would have felt the Truth and followed him, but I still do wonder.
Monday, March 9, 2009
John 2 and other thought s I have been having.
I haven't been on facebook once yet since I gave it up for Lent ............ Really I am realizing it was more of just a habit to hop on there, and really I don't miss it much.
Although when I found out there were pics of my friend Jason's new baby boy twins, I was a bit sad!! But that is what it is all about. Suffering for a time with things that we usually fill ourselves with and instead really gaining a closer relationship to Jesus and realizing what he really did for us.
I'm trying, I have been reading quite a bit, but the Bible is hard to read sometimes. There is just so much packed in that it takes time to get through.
I think lately I have been feeling overwhelmed with information. It is great to learn, but you begin to think, geez louise, how am I ever going to read it all?? and how am I going to ever understand it all.
I feel sometimes I just need to sit and reflect on what I do know.
For me, that is knowing that I am doing a pretty good job in my day to day life. I am honest, I treat others with respect, I love my family, I teach my kids about GOD, I pray for my family as well as many others, I try to make those that enter my home feel welcome. Those that have taken the time to get to know me, have realized that I am basically an open book, I have really nothing to hide, I am very honest about my feelings and where I am in life. I just think that is the way to go......... just be honest with who you are and where you are and you will be more open to growth in life.
John Ch. 2
Wedding at Cana:
This always reminds me that there are times for celebration in our lives, a wedding being one of those times!! Jesus knows that though we all suffer at times in our lives amidst tragedy and sadness there are times for true happiness and celebrating. Jesus turned the water into the "fine" wine, not the cheap wine that was often offered after the "good stuff" ran out..........
To look at in a less literal sense I believe that Jesus wanted the people (ALL of the people) to know that they are worthy of the fine wine through the entire celebration AS we are worthy of his gift of salvation.... ALL of us! I think I have trouble believing it at times, but I AM worthy and so are YOU!!
I was just talking with my sister and we were saying that we wish Jesus would give us a miracle like those that were written about in the Bible so we could have something concrete to believe.......... but then we went on in our conversation and realized that we have experienced miracles in our lives. But, sometimes we just forget these things, because we get caught up in our day to day lives. Yes, I have experienced miracles!
John 2:13 Cleansing of the Temple
It states that Jesus went to Jerusalem and drove sheep and oxen etc. out of the temple
Was he doing this because it was near the time of the "final sacrifice" and the people that would normally buy these animals that were necessary for sacrifice, would no longer have a need to do so after Jesus' final Sacrifice??
I guess that is how I see it.
Jesus says , "Destroy the temple and in three days I will raise it up?"
and they do just that destroy Jesus who in 3 days raises up!
Although when I found out there were pics of my friend Jason's new baby boy twins, I was a bit sad!! But that is what it is all about. Suffering for a time with things that we usually fill ourselves with and instead really gaining a closer relationship to Jesus and realizing what he really did for us.
I'm trying, I have been reading quite a bit, but the Bible is hard to read sometimes. There is just so much packed in that it takes time to get through.
I think lately I have been feeling overwhelmed with information. It is great to learn, but you begin to think, geez louise, how am I ever going to read it all?? and how am I going to ever understand it all.
I feel sometimes I just need to sit and reflect on what I do know.
For me, that is knowing that I am doing a pretty good job in my day to day life. I am honest, I treat others with respect, I love my family, I teach my kids about GOD, I pray for my family as well as many others, I try to make those that enter my home feel welcome. Those that have taken the time to get to know me, have realized that I am basically an open book, I have really nothing to hide, I am very honest about my feelings and where I am in life. I just think that is the way to go......... just be honest with who you are and where you are and you will be more open to growth in life.
John Ch. 2
Wedding at Cana:
This always reminds me that there are times for celebration in our lives, a wedding being one of those times!! Jesus knows that though we all suffer at times in our lives amidst tragedy and sadness there are times for true happiness and celebrating. Jesus turned the water into the "fine" wine, not the cheap wine that was often offered after the "good stuff" ran out..........
To look at in a less literal sense I believe that Jesus wanted the people (ALL of the people) to know that they are worthy of the fine wine through the entire celebration AS we are worthy of his gift of salvation.... ALL of us! I think I have trouble believing it at times, but I AM worthy and so are YOU!!
I was just talking with my sister and we were saying that we wish Jesus would give us a miracle like those that were written about in the Bible so we could have something concrete to believe.......... but then we went on in our conversation and realized that we have experienced miracles in our lives. But, sometimes we just forget these things, because we get caught up in our day to day lives. Yes, I have experienced miracles!
John 2:13 Cleansing of the Temple
It states that Jesus went to Jerusalem and drove sheep and oxen etc. out of the temple
Was he doing this because it was near the time of the "final sacrifice" and the people that would normally buy these animals that were necessary for sacrifice, would no longer have a need to do so after Jesus' final Sacrifice??
I guess that is how I see it.
Jesus says , "Destroy the temple and in three days I will raise it up?"
and they do just that destroy Jesus who in 3 days raises up!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Moving along
I have been attending a Bible study and reading a Lent devotional, and there is so much good stuff that I will have to share some of that too!
"I solemnly assure you, you shall see the sky opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the son of man" John 1:51
Soon after Philip and Nathanael meet Jesus, He is already giving reference to Heaven and God's angels. Sometimes I wish God would give the people of today a true glimpse of heaven. Sometimes it is so difficult to convince others that God is REAL.
I know IT and believe it in my heart. But how do we convey what is in our hearts to help other people gain faith? I guess I just need to pray some more for God to help me to bring others to God.
Now some things from my devotional:
In the letter to the Romans (12:2), Paul says, "Do not model yourselves on the behavior of the world around you, but let your behavior change, modeled by your new mind."
AND
In the second letter to the Corinthians, Paul says,
"And we, with our unveiled faces reflecting like mirrors the brightness of the Lord, all grew brighter and brighter as we are changed into the image that we reflect; this is the work of the Lord who is Spirit." (II COR. 3:18)
We are to change as Jesus changed, to allow his spirit to burn within us with the brightness that was in him, a brightness that shines through in our LOVE, in our SMILE, in our FORGIVENESS, in our UNDERSTANDING. (that was directly from my Lenten booklet)
A tough thing to do, is CHANGE ourselves. I have had a difficult time changing things that I have grown accustomed to in my life. Each day I want to try to please God. I know of a few things I need to work on ............... and will continue to do so.
"I solemnly assure you, you shall see the sky opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the son of man" John 1:51
Soon after Philip and Nathanael meet Jesus, He is already giving reference to Heaven and God's angels. Sometimes I wish God would give the people of today a true glimpse of heaven. Sometimes it is so difficult to convince others that God is REAL.
I know IT and believe it in my heart. But how do we convey what is in our hearts to help other people gain faith? I guess I just need to pray some more for God to help me to bring others to God.
Now some things from my devotional:
In the letter to the Romans (12:2), Paul says, "Do not model yourselves on the behavior of the world around you, but let your behavior change, modeled by your new mind."
AND
In the second letter to the Corinthians, Paul says,
"And we, with our unveiled faces reflecting like mirrors the brightness of the Lord, all grew brighter and brighter as we are changed into the image that we reflect; this is the work of the Lord who is Spirit." (II COR. 3:18)
We are to change as Jesus changed, to allow his spirit to burn within us with the brightness that was in him, a brightness that shines through in our LOVE, in our SMILE, in our FORGIVENESS, in our UNDERSTANDING. (that was directly from my Lenten booklet)
A tough thing to do, is CHANGE ourselves. I have had a difficult time changing things that I have grown accustomed to in my life. Each day I want to try to please God. I know of a few things I need to work on ............... and will continue to do so.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
John 1:19-34
This is proving to be difficult to keep up with.
I am planning on a chapter every other day and that should get me through John in time for Easter.
This morning we went to St. Patrick's in Grand Haven, gotta love Fr. Bill.
The message was all about sin, and how to turn away from it. He said that we should treat the temptation of sin like a rattlesnake. Turn and run as fast as you can. I really never thought of it that way before...... but makes complete sense. Jesus never sinned. He was human in form just like us, and he was able to always deny the temptation put before him. My job is to try and do the same. When I fault, I pick up and start trying again, never give up trying.
So it seems John was causing some questions and had some people asking, who he was, and if he was the "Messiah". I love how he answers the people, he said I am,
"a voice in the desert, crying out:
Make straight the way of the Lord!"
It really amazes me the way you can take a book written nearly two thousand years ago and how it can be, still, so relevant. Isn't this what we should all be doing as well, Make straight the way of the Lord. We should be making path from the Lord to our hearts straight as an arrow. There is no room for losing sight of Him. We need to always keep him and what he did for us in the forefront of our minds. Some people really struggle even with believing in the Lord. Thankfully for me I have never had that problem. My faith in the Lord is there now, but always has been there. I never questioned the fact that Jesus died for me and to "take away" my sins. Sometimes I wonder if the problem some people have with it is that they just don't feel worthy of such a gift. We are ALL worthy of this gift, we are all God's children. I try to remember that in all walks of my life. It actually helps my self-esteem and puts me in my place at times too. It is not only the people that do go to church on Sundays or just the ones that live "good" lives.......... no, we ALL were given this gift from God. Isn't it our job to make sure everyone we encounter knows it? I am not so sure how to go about this one........... from experience I would say gently, starting slow and if I want people to listen to me, I had better be living a life that is reflective of my love for God above.
Alright so I have gone off on a tangent again!
John 1:24-28
So they question John further asking him why is he baptizing people if he is Not the Messiah? John responds, that there is one among You whom you do not recognize and that he is not worthy to unfasten his sandal.
John is clearly distinguishing the difference of importance between himself and Jesus........... and the sandal thing............ later when Jesus washes the feet of the 12 disciples, sorry it kind of gives me the chills.
Where John says he is only baptizing with water........ brings me back to the sacrament of baptism. John could only do it with water, just an outward sign of something that is happening inside. Now why do Catholics do infant baptism as opposed to adult baptism. I am not certain, but I guess as parent I am happy to have them baptized as babies........ an outward sign of the gift Jesus gave to each of his children. I say take advantage of this gift as soon as possible. But I understand that there are other beliefs of this as well. I think baby and adult baptisms are beautiful.
John 1:29-34
John 1:29
Look! There is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
Well I really like the translations that read "Behold!" instead of "Look"., but that is what my G-ma's Bible says.
John says he didn't recognize him, but that,
"I saw the Spirit descend like a dove from the sky, and it came to rest on him."
"When you see the Spirit descend and rest on someone, it is he who is to baptize with the Holy Spirit". Now I have seen for myself and have testified , "
This is God's chosen One."
Baptism: Water the outward sign and The Holy Spirit pouring into us, the inner happening.
Baby or Adult.......... to me they are ALL God's children.
This week I will challenge myself to turn from sin as fast as I would turn and run from a snake. Also to remember that all people are God's children and should be treated as such.
God Bless You all this week!!!!!!!
I am planning on a chapter every other day and that should get me through John in time for Easter.
This morning we went to St. Patrick's in Grand Haven, gotta love Fr. Bill.
The message was all about sin, and how to turn away from it. He said that we should treat the temptation of sin like a rattlesnake. Turn and run as fast as you can. I really never thought of it that way before...... but makes complete sense. Jesus never sinned. He was human in form just like us, and he was able to always deny the temptation put before him. My job is to try and do the same. When I fault, I pick up and start trying again, never give up trying.
So it seems John was causing some questions and had some people asking, who he was, and if he was the "Messiah". I love how he answers the people, he said I am,
"a voice in the desert, crying out:
Make straight the way of the Lord!"
It really amazes me the way you can take a book written nearly two thousand years ago and how it can be, still, so relevant. Isn't this what we should all be doing as well, Make straight the way of the Lord. We should be making path from the Lord to our hearts straight as an arrow. There is no room for losing sight of Him. We need to always keep him and what he did for us in the forefront of our minds. Some people really struggle even with believing in the Lord. Thankfully for me I have never had that problem. My faith in the Lord is there now, but always has been there. I never questioned the fact that Jesus died for me and to "take away" my sins. Sometimes I wonder if the problem some people have with it is that they just don't feel worthy of such a gift. We are ALL worthy of this gift, we are all God's children. I try to remember that in all walks of my life. It actually helps my self-esteem and puts me in my place at times too. It is not only the people that do go to church on Sundays or just the ones that live "good" lives.......... no, we ALL were given this gift from God. Isn't it our job to make sure everyone we encounter knows it? I am not so sure how to go about this one........... from experience I would say gently, starting slow and if I want people to listen to me, I had better be living a life that is reflective of my love for God above.
Alright so I have gone off on a tangent again!
John 1:24-28
So they question John further asking him why is he baptizing people if he is Not the Messiah? John responds, that there is one among You whom you do not recognize and that he is not worthy to unfasten his sandal.
John is clearly distinguishing the difference of importance between himself and Jesus........... and the sandal thing............ later when Jesus washes the feet of the 12 disciples, sorry it kind of gives me the chills.
Where John says he is only baptizing with water........ brings me back to the sacrament of baptism. John could only do it with water, just an outward sign of something that is happening inside. Now why do Catholics do infant baptism as opposed to adult baptism. I am not certain, but I guess as parent I am happy to have them baptized as babies........ an outward sign of the gift Jesus gave to each of his children. I say take advantage of this gift as soon as possible. But I understand that there are other beliefs of this as well. I think baby and adult baptisms are beautiful.
John 1:29-34
John 1:29
Look! There is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
Well I really like the translations that read "Behold!" instead of "Look"., but that is what my G-ma's Bible says.
John says he didn't recognize him, but that,
"I saw the Spirit descend like a dove from the sky, and it came to rest on him."
"When you see the Spirit descend and rest on someone, it is he who is to baptize with the Holy Spirit". Now I have seen for myself and have testified , "
This is God's chosen One."
Baptism: Water the outward sign and The Holy Spirit pouring into us, the inner happening.
Baby or Adult.......... to me they are ALL God's children.
This week I will challenge myself to turn from sin as fast as I would turn and run from a snake. Also to remember that all people are God's children and should be treated as such.
God Bless You all this week!!!!!!!
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