I love genealogy. I love finding out the stories of people's lives - their family, where they lived, what they did for a living, the culture of the time and so on. Well, John, the beloved disciple, has a story. He did not live in a vacuum. He was a man of his culture and time. As I did today's lesson of Beth Moore's study, "Beloved Disciple", I discovered that family life and spiritual life were intertwined. They were not separate activities. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 states: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." NIV ...
Scripture: Proverbs 14:23 In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury. KJV All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. NIV Work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty! NLT 1 Thessalonians 4:11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you... KJV Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you...NIV Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. NLT Observation: Clark's Commentary on the Bible ~ In all labor there is profit - If a man work at his trade, he gains by it; if he cultivate the earth, it will yield an increase; and in proportion as he labors, so will be his profit: but he who talks much labors little. And a man words is seldom a man of deeds. Less talk and more work...
Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten season. It is a time for reflection and preparation for Easter. There are many wonderful resources to guide us in this journey to the cross and the resurrection. Thirty Days with Jesus begins with a portion of Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John and concludes with a fresh insight that will draw readers closer to Jesus. This devotional helps one to understand the character of God and the proper attitudes of the Christian life. Another resource is Devotions for Lent from the NLT Mosaic Bible. Each day provides a scripture to meditate on, prayers, poems, and hymns gleaned from every century of Christian history. It is available as a paperback book ($2.99) and as a Kindle download ($1.99 or free for Amazon Prime members). Also, Anne Voskamp of A Holy Experience is offering a free Lenten devotional and activities to make a Jesus Easter tree. It is free to anyone who subscribes to her blog. As this season begins, I wa...
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