tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157049655649814772024-03-18T21:25:06.262-07:00ChickChatChickChathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871618401992515942noreply@blogger.comBlogger730125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415704965564981477.post-54768886149582891582024-03-15T14:55:00.000-07:002024-03-15T14:55:05.698-07:00Why Journal<p> </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIUDsZblKwj-Gl-12clcCoddmIKQU1iIVIdnIpkOqzzAlkf6CLP4wDBuXgF51P3mCqJ76gYoF1bOEMG1fAS0UpFwCaqRiFxa9QhO4OlA7JrK8MVJB0rDTubcVQg-HfU0yO4k6_4GA-KlB_h5KiIYx7hQvgJk2kSP1WHhYWfmQQfoet2MPnbwQQYKrhrZc/s750/IMG_5222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="750" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIUDsZblKwj-Gl-12clcCoddmIKQU1iIVIdnIpkOqzzAlkf6CLP4wDBuXgF51P3mCqJ76gYoF1bOEMG1fAS0UpFwCaqRiFxa9QhO4OlA7JrK8MVJB0rDTubcVQg-HfU0yO4k6_4GA-KlB_h5KiIYx7hQvgJk2kSP1WHhYWfmQQfoet2MPnbwQQYKrhrZc/w288-h288/IMG_5222.JPG" width="288" /></a></p><p></p></blockquote><p></p><h1 style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"What value is there in Christian journaling?"</span></span></strong></h1><p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><strong><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;"></span></strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJV7BrZPNAaE2vbefyzN7Essy48RIFvIGKcWafpM7FUBnKrmMlHv9ZiiDa1NZt9Vp0rpkAxGbJBgC9dGqxiyiSRH9xqecFZOFbm7n2YubA5vZQEkY-UFHk3YrfvyhTJrdfESKZdKbLGLXkH6g6xAQl0Dar3l8XPyvM-I4LxEOZ1xgtJDVPaVJc8s8WJUc/s3362/IMG_6783.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3362" data-original-width="2979" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJV7BrZPNAaE2vbefyzN7Essy48RIFvIGKcWafpM7FUBnKrmMlHv9ZiiDa1NZt9Vp0rpkAxGbJBgC9dGqxiyiSRH9xqecFZOFbm7n2YubA5vZQEkY-UFHk3YrfvyhTJrdfESKZdKbLGLXkH6g6xAQl0Dar3l8XPyvM-I4LxEOZ1xgtJDVPaVJc8s8WJUc/s320/IMG_6783.heic" width="284" /></a></strong></div><strong><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></strong><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Journaling” can mean different things to different people. For
some, journaling is written prayer. For others, journaling is keeping a record
of prayer requests and answers. Some keep a journal of especially poignant
spiritual truths, perhaps insights from a sermon or quotes from spiritual books
or a collection of Scripture. Some may write accounts of particularly
meaningful encounters with God. For some a journal is a form of diary, a place
to record the events of their day and a few thoughts or insights about it;
these entries may be as brief as one or two phrases or a long narrative. Some
might keep a “gratitude” or “joy” journal that lists one or more things each
day—small or large—for which they are thankful. Still others journal in the
sense that they write out their thoughts or respond to a particular prompt; it
is not so much a prayer or specifically God-directed as it is a written
exploration on a topic. Journals can come in a variety of forms—written in a
notebook, typed on the computer, in an online forum, shared with friends or
private, including art work or pictures or solely visual art without words,
etc. The Bible does not mention journaling, so is there value in any of these activities?<br />
<br />
Writing or creating art of any kind causes us to slow down enough to attend to
our inner being. Words may flow effortlessly, or they may take time to
formulate. Either way, writing is a method to help us reflect, contemplate, and
more fully digest the things of life. </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Proverbs 4 talks about gaining wisdom at all
costs. Its words imply intentionality and alertness: “My son, pay attention to
what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep
them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to
one’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows
from it. . . . Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before
you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all
your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Journaling can help us pay
attention and keep wisdom at the forefront of our thoughts. It can also be a
way to guard our hearts as we search our inner being, paying attention to what
is going on in our hearts and submitting it to God.<br />
<br />
In journals, we can express ourselves to God and remind ourselves of His
greatness. </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Luke 2:19 tells us about Mary treasuring the
events around Jesus’ birth and pondering them in her heart.</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Psalm 11:2 says, “Great are the works of the
LORD; they are pondered by all who delight in them.” Journaling can help us
ponder the good things of God and give Him praise.<br />
<br />
Another benefit of journaling is having a written record to which to later
refer. In times of spiritual dryness or discouragement, one can look back at a
journal and find encouragement in God’s past faithfulness or reminders of
truth. God often instructed the Israelites to set up forms of remembrance.
Journals can be one way to remind us of what God has done in our personal
histories.<br />
<br />
For those who are “natural” writers, journaling can be a way to intentionally
use their gifting to grow in Christ. They can explore through journaling the
truth presented in Scripture or the things God may be teaching them through
life circumstances. Journaling can be used to look back at the past, asking God
to reveal truth we may have missed along the way or to bring about healing. We
can also use journals to express hopes for the future and submit our desires to
God. Journals can be used as a method of personal Bible study. Journals filled
with scriptural and spiritual truths can be a quick reference tool.<br />
<br />
Journaling is exciting for some and sounds laborious to others. There is no
right or wrong way to journal. And, depending on the person, it may be highly
valuable or not add much. Journaling is certainly not a requirement for
Christian growth, but it can be a great tool.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXhML6quFh8wgyqYeMEoPHxTTnu1pKRvuLXwPqxRFzfqm72wRtzVgOF4fjRs1-RpvNf7r6OklYhh-oNBwqg6BSxotodOdlDICyGqR5o8Ws6cHVbWExycvsd4_fPVv9KoOdfTykCWlk40WciKqxlpfSH45XVFtisE336pJ1K3X_hskcuw68uLV78MgW5L0/s810/IMG_5224%201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="540" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXhML6quFh8wgyqYeMEoPHxTTnu1pKRvuLXwPqxRFzfqm72wRtzVgOF4fjRs1-RpvNf7r6OklYhh-oNBwqg6BSxotodOdlDICyGqR5o8Ws6cHVbWExycvsd4_fPVv9KoOdfTykCWlk40WciKqxlpfSH45XVFtisE336pJ1K3X_hskcuw68uLV78MgW5L0/w266-h400/IMG_5224%201.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Blessings,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Cheryl</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.gotquestions.org/">Gotquestions.org</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p></p>ChickChathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871618401992515942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415704965564981477.post-44324548830370648382024-02-03T12:33:00.000-08:002024-02-03T12:33:13.092-08:00Why God Wants to Bless You!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBolUzYNsrYRlTJQCH7fFOXxVE1Yt6oKwnhc102jm0PrN_cO0A5DHljD1HSnltacYRkDAi-b-rH9WQUcTggjoFYh3rdOU5_vIuTTA8EH4f65yhJhGzsn9pw61OclUuucR0GjuCslTuXAcrHAqYp72cdMtL8j_cPKH1FX-qxvGNFCwxFtPWr3ThqENu8wg/s800/Bible_Devotional_Coffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="800" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBolUzYNsrYRlTJQCH7fFOXxVE1Yt6oKwnhc102jm0PrN_cO0A5DHljD1HSnltacYRkDAi-b-rH9WQUcTggjoFYh3rdOU5_vIuTTA8EH4f65yhJhGzsn9pw61OclUuucR0GjuCslTuXAcrHAqYp72cdMtL8j_cPKH1FX-qxvGNFCwxFtPWr3ThqENu8wg/w466-h243/Bible_Devotional_Coffee.jpg" width="466" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Why God Wants to Bless You!</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“For to everyone who has will more be given, and he
will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be
taken away” (Matthew 25:29, ESV).<br />
<br />
Do you know that God wants to bless you? He wants you to have abundance,
lacking no good thing. But He doesn’t want that for you and me so we can merely
enjoy our lives. He wants us to steward our resources so we can be better able
to reach out to others and bless them in His name. Jesus said in Matthew 5:16 (ESV),</span><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“…let your light shine before others, so that they may
see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”</span><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The goal is fruitfulness. The goal is God’s Kingdom.
The goal is for God’s blessing to flow through us so we might be a blessing to
others, to the glory of His name!<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>ChickChathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871618401992515942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415704965564981477.post-84332637130886231932023-11-27T15:38:00.000-08:002023-11-27T19:53:59.393-08:002023 Travel Adventures <p> <span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">This past October 2023, we
had the trip of a life-time! Our original plan was a cruise to the Holy Land
but a week before we were scheduled to set sail, war broke out in Israel. Our
hearts were broken for the people; the devastation, death and destruction seemed
unbelievable. We had talked about canceling but decided to continue with the
cruise even though it would be different. Celebrity Cruise Lines added more
stops along the Greek Isles and two stops in Turkey. I’m glad we made the
decision to continue with our journey. We had a great time but our hearts continue
to hurt for those affected by the war.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6R-WAI8N0kjF8E4DtrDB4tHfHgokefLGo_BcfilYa_W2h3_2hhdleBfr3NrVQRhvpKcmGApWzMy951zPHOESGHzZ2p79lwxVn-9g3YdbwkdwzXNgA7mA01NdUw-xYGN2Re76YNT41Lxzx3RmNI7yCnh1vycrOjRzBv4THfP7QU_PIuFh2Y0x7ryoixFk/s1080/_Greece2023.PNG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6R-WAI8N0kjF8E4DtrDB4tHfHgokefLGo_BcfilYa_W2h3_2hhdleBfr3NrVQRhvpKcmGApWzMy951zPHOESGHzZ2p79lwxVn-9g3YdbwkdwzXNgA7mA01NdUw-xYGN2Re76YNT41Lxzx3RmNI7yCnh1vycrOjRzBv4THfP7QU_PIuFh2Y0x7ryoixFk/s320/_Greece2023.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Here's a little bit of our
journey…first stop Athens Greece we stayed and toured here a few days before we
board the ship for our official cruise. We did the touristy thing and road the
Hop on – Hop off bus but we stayed on for the round trip.</span></span></p><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Athens is the capital of Greece. It was also at the heart
of Ancient Greece, a powerful civilization and empire. The city is still
dominated by 5th-century BC landmarks, including the Acropolis, a hilltop
citadel topped with ancient buildings like the colonnaded Parthenon temple.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The next day we had a
private tour of Corinth, our guide was somewhat lacking in the “guide”
department. He left us on our own at each stop along the way, my husband
contacted to tour company and made an official complaint. Our final day in
Athens we did a walking tour of the Acropolis and the Temple of Olympian Zeus
which wasn’t too far from our hotel.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Pu4hhyphenhyphenfX1UwUsVe1zJUpahPd2Hv9x-BEu_bQvQKVN30ldcbd6n8Iujqwq0o8vwZbjOxE9FhjeOkjEtRokhCe7QGYqdENk1mS0qVUuoRm1mIbtlB1WwFvdrh-js0d-KoBFd6gYWXMnW1s622xe2Vw7l895tQHEd7V4iAs-QDQLmPiWRx6OkEHbRikX2A/s1280/Slide7.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Pu4hhyphenhyphenfX1UwUsVe1zJUpahPd2Hv9x-BEu_bQvQKVN30ldcbd6n8Iujqwq0o8vwZbjOxE9FhjeOkjEtRokhCe7QGYqdENk1mS0qVUuoRm1mIbtlB1WwFvdrh-js0d-KoBFd6gYWXMnW1s622xe2Vw7l895tQHEd7V4iAs-QDQLmPiWRx6OkEHbRikX2A/w640-h360/Slide7.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /></div><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12pt;">We were able to experience
Greek culture, enjoy the variety of food and dine several times at one of the
local restaurants along the path near our hotel. We walked a lot at each
destination and I’m so happy I took my sneakers, if not I would have had to buy
a pair!</span><p></p><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1z5RHlQeoha9D7O8HbGZy7x2oLk_aTPROhdykVU9ZaUfdPwV-naKZXTePV0vqNP0DikVswjhi60i4j6mIFnOjcB7kcLfShUqdnyGLBsKwELolL4juwTNQAOrGDkZr6M7O9-xsPlIuMLTE8HBmZhlTC-ScFLa9YZU9iSDR6QKBINmj6opmVNuo7kJBpQ8/s1280/Slide6.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1z5RHlQeoha9D7O8HbGZy7x2oLk_aTPROhdykVU9ZaUfdPwV-naKZXTePV0vqNP0DikVswjhi60i4j6mIFnOjcB7kcLfShUqdnyGLBsKwELolL4juwTNQAOrGDkZr6M7O9-xsPlIuMLTE8HBmZhlTC-ScFLa9YZU9iSDR6QKBINmj6opmVNuo7kJBpQ8/w640-h360/Slide6.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">This is my artistic take
on the goddess Artemis.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Now, it was time to say
good-bye to Athens until we returned to board the plane back to the States and
then home.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGf9vQi60uqZYBo3CCu9B7g2KSoYzoHRMkeFEiQAmuupO3BlbJkvKBTGBbScF3v6QgF79O-sHf4IGw32mQR1_5zY6aPkmYzE7AVf90y4gACjko92-8L42f4fokVj_2SdpOrgq9iW0exI3qVq21y2THA3K4Qr2mZtIcLIGeIiwEE5ToFwfWhEqTeUGzWA/s1000/Cheryl%20H-5027.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="1000" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGf9vQi60uqZYBo3CCu9B7g2KSoYzoHRMkeFEiQAmuupO3BlbJkvKBTGBbScF3v6QgF79O-sHf4IGw32mQR1_5zY6aPkmYzE7AVf90y4gACjko92-8L42f4fokVj_2SdpOrgq9iW0exI3qVq21y2THA3K4Qr2mZtIcLIGeIiwEE5ToFwfWhEqTeUGzWA/w640-h280/Cheryl%20H-5027.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">Mykonos was the first stop on our cruise aboard the Celebrity Apex. Its
iconic windmills are the landmarks on this Greek island. The windmills are
situated on a hill overlooking the main town of Chora and have become one of
the most recognizable symbols of the island. The Venetians built them in the
16th century during their island occupation and were used to grind grain. </span></div><div><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div><br /><br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-iCcXagxWYLEQ8uJRIe2xtrXSQp3IWyucPngQs-LOcEkIKBKVgjTVMtu0Sgfji-84vx81O0orStiSVGWRp_nIaj0QaqiSLMaIqrG7hwybwh38Db06DPW7ExYDa2ieaVuRn-Y38hE4ogFy0wVXxbrVu_MQS4nSwSkRjuRcntu9HD15e3T1Zj8vLu8VpSE/s3600/Windmills-Mykonos.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="3600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-iCcXagxWYLEQ8uJRIe2xtrXSQp3IWyucPngQs-LOcEkIKBKVgjTVMtu0Sgfji-84vx81O0orStiSVGWRp_nIaj0QaqiSLMaIqrG7hwybwh38Db06DPW7ExYDa2ieaVuRn-Y38hE4ogFy0wVXxbrVu_MQS4nSwSkRjuRcntu9HD15e3T1Zj8vLu8VpSE/w640-h320/Windmills-Mykonos.png" width="640" /></a></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Next stop will be Santorini.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsxko-2gNwQ9bkNQWnCTcoWdq5aBu-0qFvCOl71jkRbgPdeGXXPesos1LNPARAomZt6Palb7fWRHgCcoqizao4ZmA03tfjzxZQ3d8EToiL2pZ5kVxGfQgbLjzIyDhsIb6BRIOo5wyiX7DcbAskpEGXO4Xx193-7_hMNqJuk20JYBLGxFXkTc7kjT1pRNQ/s1280/Slide9.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsxko-2gNwQ9bkNQWnCTcoWdq5aBu-0qFvCOl71jkRbgPdeGXXPesos1LNPARAomZt6Palb7fWRHgCcoqizao4ZmA03tfjzxZQ3d8EToiL2pZ5kVxGfQgbLjzIyDhsIb6BRIOo5wyiX7DcbAskpEGXO4Xx193-7_hMNqJuk20JYBLGxFXkTc7kjT1pRNQ/w640-h360/Slide9.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR42wFL36r7Vy4BR58lTfwn2D2L4W3ceE-OAJ34A7jMdNjMxJAzSyMQGDK7WFxgHA0SxpgVtTsgN-_AzD6ocICx7fewW4tLEcLziviv_xQOJWs0zUzwu7ceE6H48bKng3xP6O_tr85g-MLFTvM16Zqy6N73LKZhwjzEgt8Y_v1piomORD9dqD52v6UL2U/s1280/Slide11.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR42wFL36r7Vy4BR58lTfwn2D2L4W3ceE-OAJ34A7jMdNjMxJAzSyMQGDK7WFxgHA0SxpgVtTsgN-_AzD6ocICx7fewW4tLEcLziviv_xQOJWs0zUzwu7ceE6H48bKng3xP6O_tr85g-MLFTvM16Zqy6N73LKZhwjzEgt8Y_v1piomORD9dqD52v6UL2U/w640-h360/Slide11.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">Rhodes is a beautiful island in the southeastern Aegean Sea, known for its rich history, stunning natural beauty, and vibrant culture. This Greek island is the largest of the Dodecanese archipelago and boasts a diverse landscape featuring picturesque beaches, lush forests, and rugged mountains. Its historical significance is highlighted by the ancient city of Rhodes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site showcasing well-preserved medieval architecture. We enjoyed walking around the town, and John is at the D'Amboise Gate in this photo.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33fMsDAAh4PdjfHmdaiNwUPyDkpQi2SqkTYr1h1fRfGCnEqgGognuj2BLruM4ouaX2DcKljZvXUsS_YgN92To464pXZ6jc6eJD_k0xfMdVOzpAZvOUAwJx2HPAZ9HgVQvFiDYJBlMrozIGdEtH57tAcZY11rdBWoB6hW2_dU7aDWD9tp-mHe-pV_X9hg/s1280/Slide12.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33fMsDAAh4PdjfHmdaiNwUPyDkpQi2SqkTYr1h1fRfGCnEqgGognuj2BLruM4ouaX2DcKljZvXUsS_YgN92To464pXZ6jc6eJD_k0xfMdVOzpAZvOUAwJx2HPAZ9HgVQvFiDYJBlMrozIGdEtH57tAcZY11rdBWoB6hW2_dU7aDWD9tp-mHe-pV_X9hg/w640-h360/Slide12.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDosCvdEtWTr2fBeLk7AC13TXVTik7rUdNDZN1KvDZ_V3WnsPxeripEf-ed6nZVpQmroZhyphenhyphentXG5L7Z6yzI82P7Mg5DgxG_LxFkLE0VxtQrkiIoHLQ9wxsa1qDDsJEPRlRWJVyuT32YZhXFBznh6KYWcAYS9UeRc1MkFxqgjuODbHn_HP-C99wbRv_-kE/s1280/Slide13.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDosCvdEtWTr2fBeLk7AC13TXVTik7rUdNDZN1KvDZ_V3WnsPxeripEf-ed6nZVpQmroZhyphenhyphentXG5L7Z6yzI82P7Mg5DgxG_LxFkLE0VxtQrkiIoHLQ9wxsa1qDDsJEPRlRWJVyuT32YZhXFBznh6KYWcAYS9UeRc1MkFxqgjuODbHn_HP-C99wbRv_-kE/w640-h360/Slide13.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Cyprus was our 85th country, a cruise stop in the port city of Limassol.
Cyprus is the third-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and has been
influenced by various civilizations, including the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines,
and Ottomans. The island is divided into the Republic of Cyprus in the south,
predominantly Greek, and the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
It is famous for its beautiful beaches, historic sites, and the picturesque
town of Paphos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We hope to return and spend more
time exploring this beautiful island.</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Cyprus a cruise stop in the port city of
Limassol. Cyprus is the third-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and has
been influenced by various civilizations, including the Greeks, Romans,
Byzantines, and Ottomans. The island is divided into the Republic of Cyprus in
the south, predominantly Greek, and the self-declared Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus. It is famous for its beautiful beaches, historic sites, and
the picturesque town of Paphos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We hope to return
and spend more time exploring this beautiful island.</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><br /><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3kF-d2l5pVqU70gfOJlImspHCD-VfgFvK2UzuywiOwelv_f10FgMsBcM3uKELI3O8A3fmuvhv_kI81aTkd4kgxhK7BOAnBj93c7yHHWISTuHmLrKlln9CquTnso58W1aPd5osx7xbYG3iTOkIhtUVSwglf6W7S1_pGbRBC4RL9LTjMP0M1G1yQl-150/s1280/Slide14.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3kF-d2l5pVqU70gfOJlImspHCD-VfgFvK2UzuywiOwelv_f10FgMsBcM3uKELI3O8A3fmuvhv_kI81aTkd4kgxhK7BOAnBj93c7yHHWISTuHmLrKlln9CquTnso58W1aPd5osx7xbYG3iTOkIhtUVSwglf6W7S1_pGbRBC4RL9LTjMP0M1G1yQl-150/w640-h360/Slide14.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCP5iVCXbXxFb5p_mJTSytzUdygAU6p53hVGK52hracZ0l5YG4e8bjvrrg8z3UfEnAFGj2-faAWkD0bbwwmHd2wokzmq7n5VhZufnTjPZz58SBtkdlEz_A6uu31Q6sBahQ1kaYcLPSV13sJDUuklHoGhKtoD70f8ApPF428unz5wlaFrdBHVHOIVolf7o/s1280/Slide17.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCP5iVCXbXxFb5p_mJTSytzUdygAU6p53hVGK52hracZ0l5YG4e8bjvrrg8z3UfEnAFGj2-faAWkD0bbwwmHd2wokzmq7n5VhZufnTjPZz58SBtkdlEz_A6uu31Q6sBahQ1kaYcLPSV13sJDUuklHoGhKtoD70f8ApPF428unz5wlaFrdBHVHOIVolf7o/w640-h360/Slide17.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Ancient Ephesus city ruins is located in western
Turkey in Selcuk, Izmir Kusadasi is the closest holiday resort to
Ephesus and known as Ephesus port. It is also considered as one of the precious,
ancient sites by its rich history and great cultural background. It is said
that this city of Ephesus was created by Androclos. He is known to be the son
of the king of Athens. The city of Ephesus also attracts people with
religious interest. It is the city where there is the Temple of Artemis. This is the shrine of the
goddess Artemis. Moreover, Christians also visit because it is a place
where Christianity spread. A number of points of interests in Ephesus include
the House of the Virgin Mary, as well as the St. John Basilica. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">We toured the ancient city of Ephesus, on the west coast of modern-day
Turkey. It is a significant location in early Christian history, as the Apostle
Paul wrote the Epistle of the Ephesians, and the city had a substantial role in
spreading Christian faith worldwide. It was also a significant center of trade,
culture, and learning during its peak from around the 1st century BC to nearly
the 3rd century AD. Ephesus is renowned for its well-preserved archaeological
ruins, including the iconic Library of Celsus (pictured above), the magnificent
Great Theatre, and the Temple of Artemis.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;"> </span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="background: white; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; padding: 0in;">Thank you for
stopping by my blog and I hope you’ve enjoyed exploring with me! Until next
time “Happy Travels!”</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://eboniez22.blogspot.com/2023/08/travel-adventures-2023.html" target="_blank">Related Post</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br />
</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/ephesus/"><span style="background: white; border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">#ephesus</span></a></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/turkey/"><span style="background: white; border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">#turkey</span></a></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/ancientcity/"><span style="background: white; border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">#ancientcity</span></a></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/apostlepaul/"><span style="background: white; border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">#apostlepaul</span></a></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/ephesians/"><span style="background: white; border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">#ephesians</span></a></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/libraryofcelsus/"><span style="background: white; border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">#libraryofcelsus</span></a> </span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">#cyprus #cyprus❤️ #limassol #mediterranean #cyprus #cyprus❤️ #limassol #mediterranean #rhodes #rhodesgreece #unescoworldheritage #greece #greecetravel #mediterraneansea #greece #mykonos #mykonosgreece #mediterranean #windmills</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>ChickChathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871618401992515942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415704965564981477.post-44098122700458916542023-11-22T07:30:00.000-08:002023-11-22T07:30:00.130-08:00Happy Thanksgiving!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinI-XXfJ04UcP2Qgnh9KXjD_J6jtWElNk5kENh-L-S3K69XHxE2WiXhcF4BbL1AijDFxidnimEPclXAam48-YHFhGHzwkLGU4rooRewQabSa4m4Tp1I5bgzS9sDHvVjP9-zGi-5aKxYCrmmB0-Xtd_G19YqZWZE3eCNIYzG7QK0z6O8Mg1O9Gba4oMxhA/s6491/AdobeStock_299215483.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2311" data-original-width="6491" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinI-XXfJ04UcP2Qgnh9KXjD_J6jtWElNk5kENh-L-S3K69XHxE2WiXhcF4BbL1AijDFxidnimEPclXAam48-YHFhGHzwkLGU4rooRewQabSa4m4Tp1I5bgzS9sDHvVjP9-zGi-5aKxYCrmmB0-Xtd_G19YqZWZE3eCNIYzG7QK0z6O8Mg1O9Gba4oMxhA/w569-h203/AdobeStock_299215483.jpeg" width="569" /></a></div><br /><p><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Happy Thanksgiving!</span></b></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It’s the season of thanksgiving! We are posturing our
hearts with gratitude for all the gifts and blessings God has placed in our
lives. Let’s focus on how we can take these grateful thoughts and turn them
into prayers and praises of thanksgiving that allow us to grow and strengthen
our relationships with Him. Let’s learn how we can become more devoted people
of prayer by turning to His word in this beautiful season.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Have An Attitude of Gratitude<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Living a life of gratitude means having a heart that is sensitive
to God’s presence in our everyday lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Take some time each day to thank God for who He is and
for something He has done for you. You can thank Him always for
everything—great or small—but being specific about something each day that is
especially meaningful to you will be a blessing to you and to God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">For example, it can be as simple as, “Father, thank You
for helping me make good decisions today,” or “Lord, thank You for sending
Jesus to save us.” Take a moment to do this silently in your heart or voice
your thankfulness out loud.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Not only does it please God when we thank Him, it’ll make
you feel better and change your outlook on everything from the kind of day
you’re having to how you see your relationships. Start by making a list of what
you’re thankful for…see how long you can make your list. Maybe even take some
time to write down the reasons you are thankful for the people you’ll be with
this week and then share it with them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But don’t let it stop after the holidays are over. Extend
your gratitude toward others by recognizing when someone does something nice
for you, and letting them know that you appreciate it. Showing appreciation to
your family members is a good place to start. Expressing appreciation is not
only good for the other person, but it is good for us, because it releases joy
in us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Psalm 34:1 (ESV) says, I will bless the Lord at all
times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. Gratitude can be a part of
who we are deep down in our hearts; it can be a type of prayer that can flow
out of us in a natural way that is simple and genuine.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Make a list of as many things as you can think of to
thank God for in your life. Write down ways you can show your gratitude to God
this week in your actions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Share your attitude of gratitude with everyone you
encounter. And be the one helping to create an atmosphere that everyone can
enjoy and remember.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful time of love,
laughter, good times, memories and giving thanks because that’s what it’s all
about!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Be blessed and be a blessing!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8BI49W7Pp1EvOC3DrvKgYEu1D3hR_nAKQuL-wRPzEYR2nf2e1YDjzc3fA0oUFuUXCa1dTuVYxuNIHnIge1zf7zyBj9VjWf_5Y3QBZUjcUdWPFjU9n85FUqy19TYwuyNH8BaLfZVbVEXzBHfWEvcCyxLQGYUePFgZgDyif05xaKz39Bl7pKpdR9sCaUA/s7000/AdobeStock_293267155.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="7000" data-original-width="7000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8BI49W7Pp1EvOC3DrvKgYEu1D3hR_nAKQuL-wRPzEYR2nf2e1YDjzc3fA0oUFuUXCa1dTuVYxuNIHnIge1zf7zyBj9VjWf_5Y3QBZUjcUdWPFjU9n85FUqy19TYwuyNH8BaLfZVbVEXzBHfWEvcCyxLQGYUePFgZgDyif05xaKz39Bl7pKpdR9sCaUA/s320/AdobeStock_293267155.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>ChickChathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871618401992515942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415704965564981477.post-22393106974399864582023-09-04T06:42:00.004-07:002023-09-04T06:42:41.338-07:00Happy Labor Day!<p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJvkYBva5EA5EHKOsrMTa4lp1Y7Mtk4A_rzhnkFXyeg95D2fP0L63C9HUtVluf3KZgkTJmrKF2J5neMi0rnpmgBSu0M8G-qyWr-ZJI_xUiirgRI-Xr4JrRmNfuN-aLdqPv6AGhNivneel5UvcH9aPlE-HQ2ejeR_HJhJiC0wCHVx-wyMhrAavVBVYrC8/s3815/Labor%20Day.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1123" data-original-width="3815" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJvkYBva5EA5EHKOsrMTa4lp1Y7Mtk4A_rzhnkFXyeg95D2fP0L63C9HUtVluf3KZgkTJmrKF2J5neMi0rnpmgBSu0M8G-qyWr-ZJI_xUiirgRI-Xr4JrRmNfuN-aLdqPv6AGhNivneel5UvcH9aPlE-HQ2ejeR_HJhJiC0wCHVx-wyMhrAavVBVYrC8/w640-h188/Labor%20Day.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Labor Day is an annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers. It is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday in September to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the works and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements of the United States. The holidays stem from the late 1800s when labor activists wanted a federal holiday to recognize workers' contributions to the country.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">The first U.S. Labor Day was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882 in New York City, planned by the Central Labor Union. The Labor Day parade of about 10,000 workers took unpaid leave and marched from City Hall past Union Square uptown to 42nd street and ended in Wendel’s Elm Park at 92nd Street and 9th Avenue for a concert, speeches, and a picnic.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">Oregon was the first to declare Labor Day an official holiday in 1887. Labor Day is considered the 'unofficial NFL season kickoff.' 99.44 percent of the time, the NFL plays its first official season game the Thursday after Labor Day. The first Waffle house opened on Labor Day.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">Why you don’t wear white after Labor Day</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">Some historians say brighter clothing was worn by affluent groups who could afford to leave town for a warmer coast when the leaves began to change. Subsequently, it became socially accepted that those who didn't have the money to take fall and winter vacations shouldn't wear white after the last summer holiday. If you could wear white, it often was an indication that you had means and that you didn't do manual labor and you could afford a vacation.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 13.91px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Enjoy your day and the holiday! Stay safe!!!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 13.91px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 13.91px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaMNB8WC21M0p8LJO8-QlaVmpS3t1emVDjgBvIY0w-G-dQp6v7VdI_UJzWrU1GwzB3W_Z86qw8ouiDwdeo__ZoGM2mDDYca2sYjnd_lD2MUt9gq44b0YMUsZ_jMnr9O6FcVMy-UXPbDXxZKam0RC6B7g9FvMK6OEqcrImtJZA3RXihIwnUpHO_8RfvEVM/s1080/1-Rib%20Recipe.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaMNB8WC21M0p8LJO8-QlaVmpS3t1emVDjgBvIY0w-G-dQp6v7VdI_UJzWrU1GwzB3W_Z86qw8ouiDwdeo__ZoGM2mDDYca2sYjnd_lD2MUt9gq44b0YMUsZ_jMnr9O6FcVMy-UXPbDXxZKam0RC6B7g9FvMK6OEqcrImtJZA3RXihIwnUpHO_8RfvEVM/w400-h400/1-Rib%20Recipe.PNG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>Cheryl H</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span><p></p>ChickChathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871618401992515942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415704965564981477.post-13279631371210166432023-08-02T19:03:00.000-07:002023-11-27T17:09:36.584-08:00Travel Adventures 2023<p><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Travel Adventures 2023 – So many places to go!</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">This year my
husband and I traveled to Reno, Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park. I took
lots of pictures but could only choose a few for this blog. I’ve included a
little information about each location we visited, along with a few pictures. Enjoy!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5RUKz53XgkrZWCS6sDJR1fCu8TgR8IU9oLQxobhYjltPA01ztoSzxBwm1C7N-jdxChrYt-zcqpaoUMUsdRUWucod-RbJ0l_vhuVng0DC0diH-N2veibnrasM24hchtNeq6vlCvHoxy5EeHIK6QgKON0kmPjoMYAJ0mY5jJsFxYXdK73qQro3TA4d2buQ/s2560/Reno-1.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2560" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5RUKz53XgkrZWCS6sDJR1fCu8TgR8IU9oLQxobhYjltPA01ztoSzxBwm1C7N-jdxChrYt-zcqpaoUMUsdRUWucod-RbJ0l_vhuVng0DC0diH-N2veibnrasM24hchtNeq6vlCvHoxy5EeHIK6QgKON0kmPjoMYAJ0mY5jJsFxYXdK73qQro3TA4d2buQ/w400-h225/Reno-1.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><div><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>Reno is a city
in the northwest section of the U.S. state of Nevada, along the
Nevada-California border, about 22 miles (35 km) north from Lake Tahoe,
known as "The Biggest Little City in the World". Known for its casino
and tourism industry. We stayed at the Nugget Casino & Resort...and no, I did not put any money in the slot machines!!! :-) What's a vacation with shopping - the </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-indent: 48px;">Outlets at Legends</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> proved to be more than shopping. Then off to </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Virginia City. </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhslBFEN1PacIMjYPYARxz4SAuZpZr_8yt2cZ2qO3yq14Snjuqyzpbs60wXddXHX1C7jrWUSydNs9l-IvtjufztbGX40mOqeKrsPj2gXcaZch7Zfk90AyTPidLDbGA2hO4qibl-s0ZWt-_NCa0gjsgXPd3uiDR8nx8Dfuf3yNap4rFoK7pXnDnc0H_ZMmk/s2560/Vacation%202023.8.PNG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2560" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhslBFEN1PacIMjYPYARxz4SAuZpZr_8yt2cZ2qO3yq14Snjuqyzpbs60wXddXHX1C7jrWUSydNs9l-IvtjufztbGX40mOqeKrsPj2gXcaZch7Zfk90AyTPidLDbGA2hO4qibl-s0ZWt-_NCa0gjsgXPd3uiDR8nx8Dfuf3yNap4rFoK7pXnDnc0H_ZMmk/w486-h273/Vacation%202023.8.PNG" width="486" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4Jx4EROKPfKNSPc8MEFMaXLRehgjGOWWjfMIBhpXQsvGLNWs-bwjbN1dqFkTHIV01P4-93o-So0fsu_ugmwCOdrzAGslgMWc34c4AAyTIm71jCm4T_ej3_-j5u1Rkak7C0rT3UDzkD1gUXTDxFBt2cvq8Byydkifv3TplvXu_aA_CKrHm2mr2Ozrw7g/s4032/Train.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4Jx4EROKPfKNSPc8MEFMaXLRehgjGOWWjfMIBhpXQsvGLNWs-bwjbN1dqFkTHIV01P4-93o-So0fsu_ugmwCOdrzAGslgMWc34c4AAyTIm71jCm4T_ej3_-j5u1Rkak7C0rT3UDzkD1gUXTDxFBt2cvq8Byydkifv3TplvXu_aA_CKrHm2mr2Ozrw7g/w400-h300/Train.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_xkI13ZKJDK9f--WChDUWNNbtOokFfwf04jtIo_u-FMphlLdYT7fuYpLoqBX8XwIaHbL6r7mLJviIpDRxbHQQf5r6jJkck6Y5myAIQlIThHcJrxVYGB4khtNbo4NyFCITdBVbZm89Zh8EEMaqE8NE_WWEf89NYS1WEzSCSc2OF06zzaJJNZtXacxElts" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_xkI13ZKJDK9f--WChDUWNNbtOokFfwf04jtIo_u-FMphlLdYT7fuYpLoqBX8XwIaHbL6r7mLJviIpDRxbHQQf5r6jJkck6Y5myAIQlIThHcJrxVYGB4khtNbo4NyFCITdBVbZm89Zh8EEMaqE8NE_WWEf89NYS1WEzSCSc2OF06zzaJJNZtXacxElts" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_xkI13ZKJDK9f--WChDUWNNbtOokFfwf04jtIo_u-FMphlLdYT7fuYpLoqBX8XwIaHbL6r7mLJviIpDRxbHQQf5r6jJkck6Y5myAIQlIThHcJrxVYGB4khtNbo4NyFCITdBVbZm89Zh8EEMaqE8NE_WWEf89NYS1WEzSCSc2OF06zzaJJNZtXacxElts=w282-h160" width="282" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Lake Tahoe is
located on the border of California and Nevada. About two-thirds of the lake is
in California, with about one-third extending into Nevada at the north and
south ends of the lake, and the entire eastern shore. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><br /></span></p><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Lake Tahoe is
the third deepest lake in North America and the 10th deepest in the world. It
previously served as a transcontinental route for first the railroad and later
highways. Tahoe’s deepest point is 1,645 feet near Crystal Bay. The average
depth of Lake Tahoe is 989 feet.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #5f6368; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBJhrKMACxkf-JVX-v282wNz_4_HI6sxsej9DOxICn0sYJeQmL7_k4bHMIutJsnLoGZbZwq-33XtgO1yKlA4HhbCnSpvXfl2t4MzQmdkEkh2p0gT6UdTrUr6nYgQYcJcoEYU47Ajw9qWeEMvWyaJ0RQtJ1xoA0T-alawQGpSI8JnQQ0w0DG_N15TWLuo/s3812/IMG_4660.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2372" data-original-width="3812" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBJhrKMACxkf-JVX-v282wNz_4_HI6sxsej9DOxICn0sYJeQmL7_k4bHMIutJsnLoGZbZwq-33XtgO1yKlA4HhbCnSpvXfl2t4MzQmdkEkh2p0gT6UdTrUr6nYgQYcJcoEYU47Ajw9qWeEMvWyaJ0RQtJ1xoA0T-alawQGpSI8JnQQ0w0DG_N15TWLuo/w400-h249/IMG_4660.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPqMk8EQyTowMlO-24rxsz1PvxMQYWWsz9h46FOf51FqrZ-JmXY0WnevWIO1ziOFqyUSziWb_xeEFJGfceREDhbuYtZgqGxI6CfLazLnnOq1b8aTTIqeRT6BU2GpnMw42zhviO8e3H-SxPYzxjoO4RbQ8FFGPa2dmsSvDXh2HNGXtvsR3Uc5wc9pD3Gjs/s4032/Lake%20Tahoe.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPqMk8EQyTowMlO-24rxsz1PvxMQYWWsz9h46FOf51FqrZ-JmXY0WnevWIO1ziOFqyUSziWb_xeEFJGfceREDhbuYtZgqGxI6CfLazLnnOq1b8aTTIqeRT6BU2GpnMw42zhviO8e3H-SxPYzxjoO4RbQ8FFGPa2dmsSvDXh2HNGXtvsR3Uc5wc9pD3Gjs/w400-h300/Lake%20Tahoe.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Next, we're off to...</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnwz1Vow_Me0h6TNE0PmgLq_T0grscnVMxiTUlKFGmd9oLHNXglOaXdBzN6dRMRq4sM3sx-LP3wA2GLVDk0WVTtUn9lQANxG81ZZ-2mGrzcdQGXkxfPZkMDNr-5bTqtV7hxNybOthKpvTErJ_A3fd79tfImjv9K5bBTEPeERLCD5TOq4XeWKpSFxlnpr4/s1280/Vacation%202023.6.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnwz1Vow_Me0h6TNE0PmgLq_T0grscnVMxiTUlKFGmd9oLHNXglOaXdBzN6dRMRq4sM3sx-LP3wA2GLVDk0WVTtUn9lQANxG81ZZ-2mGrzcdQGXkxfPZkMDNr-5bTqtV7hxNybOthKpvTErJ_A3fd79tfImjv9K5bBTEPeERLCD5TOq4XeWKpSFxlnpr4/w640-h360/Vacation%202023.6.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Yosemite
National Park was first protected in 1864, Yosemite National Park is best known
for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep
valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, and
much more.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Yosemite Valley
is world famous for its impressive waterfalls, meadows, cliffs, and unusual
rock formations. The Mariposa Grove
of Giant Sequoias is the largest sequoia grove in Yosemite and is home to over
500 mature sequoias.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqIhFrN42vCmfbfg2Ll1LWtNfUE-ekzHkPFOw9PQ9ggKGpWpD7J958fIkPxD9k2eLWkJjqHp4y40pnfe9lcyGfTpeGJJhecUqkaAt1lC4d2Es9sddZm7aln5ml3Cr6CIbZ7CME7_NGdG82kkwX5Bhby_KTN8qwu470G6ApWXrQMgtIM1kzmVbipP2pVE/s4032/Sequoias.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqIhFrN42vCmfbfg2Ll1LWtNfUE-ekzHkPFOw9PQ9ggKGpWpD7J958fIkPxD9k2eLWkJjqHp4y40pnfe9lcyGfTpeGJJhecUqkaAt1lC4d2Es9sddZm7aln5ml3Cr6CIbZ7CME7_NGdG82kkwX5Bhby_KTN8qwu470G6ApWXrQMgtIM1kzmVbipP2pVE/s320/Sequoias.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #212529; font-size: 12pt;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #212529; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p>Just a few points of interests we spotted during our stay there: El
Capitan Meadow, </span><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #212529; font-size: 12pt;">Yosemite
Chapel, </span><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #212529; font-size: 12pt;">Bridelveil
Fall, </span><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #212529; font-size: 12pt;">Lower
Yosemite Fall, </span><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #212529; font-size: 12pt;">Valley Loop Trail, </span><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #212529; font-size: 16px;">Valley</span><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #212529; font-size: 12pt;"> View; </span><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #212529; font-size: 12pt;">Half
Dome, Tunnel View. (Not all pictures are included in this post)</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQtRr8WS-ZBn9K0d0Z9fOspfkcPrR7rrs10BNtLhzo3fy33W6LNyYMUmMJW0vLY-N0WEq8IhKl8-7IB1ud224DUIlS_6pK7BED3PzT4Mi6ISqVIBQIowDbmZQ53obvGORghQNvgQbxbhHv8QeX0aYGZAdqSan4HvvryGxAlKAAt3dgUvXfx7cO9anZU1E/s1280/Vacation%202023.3.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQtRr8WS-ZBn9K0d0Z9fOspfkcPrR7rrs10BNtLhzo3fy33W6LNyYMUmMJW0vLY-N0WEq8IhKl8-7IB1ud224DUIlS_6pK7BED3PzT4Mi6ISqVIBQIowDbmZQ53obvGORghQNvgQbxbhHv8QeX0aYGZAdqSan4HvvryGxAlKAAt3dgUvXfx7cO9anZU1E/w400-h400/Vacation%202023.3.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9gquOzgMZ9M9nqo8qO1xtojdQg986Uza2dZ2gqDFe1bCzWBTE73hqRaM-rw0XEtvauMRtwIB4DWpSKd8XpSgYdsbIep6SH0EtocjBaQ1GeeX0dwNHeP4kVkKkMU0QZIcZa3kpVn7EsXpWT1G3kaklWV45n7v8t1TEwIVC2jPwg5MiooLNmRtc7KZktA/s1280/Vacation%202023.2.PNG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9gquOzgMZ9M9nqo8qO1xtojdQg986Uza2dZ2gqDFe1bCzWBTE73hqRaM-rw0XEtvauMRtwIB4DWpSKd8XpSgYdsbIep6SH0EtocjBaQ1GeeX0dwNHeP4kVkKkMU0QZIcZa3kpVn7EsXpWT1G3kaklWV45n7v8t1TEwIVC2jPwg5MiooLNmRtc7KZktA/w200-h200/Vacation%202023.2.PNG" width="200" /></a></div></div><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #212529; font-size: 12pt;">We definitely could not see it all in the 3 days we were there. So, we'll have to put Yosemite National Park back on our bucket list of places to visit!</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #212529; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #212529; font-size: 12pt;">Enjoy your day and your summer!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #212529; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #212529; font-size: 12pt;">Until next time!!!</span></p>ChickChathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871618401992515942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415704965564981477.post-48119677315027915702023-06-19T12:53:00.000-07:002023-06-19T12:53:24.213-07:00Juneteenth 2023<h1 style="text-align: center;"><br /></h1><h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Juneteenth </span></h1><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">...is considered the longest-running African-American
holiday and has been called "America's second Independence
Day." The day was recognized as a federal holiday in 2021, when
President Joe Biden signed Juneteenth National Independence Day Act the into
law.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h3><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxfPgS4kRNyS8y5tl7c14r-QUzFesQCCHb7duT5TdwxdnECxN_yTgTeTpuJtBIaukR1sSkasjFo2GDr6SDD3_0YOB5fDsF9BLBAJKtWWZDmPf5soDCrGNZT5exeVaKAkrUsdWA22YJrhziWK63VWlowpfsJeTcHcpGuJaaOqLVUdLBpXT1iQD2zxatt_s" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxfPgS4kRNyS8y5tl7c14r-QUzFesQCCHb7duT5TdwxdnECxN_yTgTeTpuJtBIaukR1sSkasjFo2GDr6SDD3_0YOB5fDsF9BLBAJKtWWZDmPf5soDCrGNZT5exeVaKAkrUsdWA22YJrhziWK63VWlowpfsJeTcHcpGuJaaOqLVUdLBpXT1iQD2zxatt_s=w588-h391" width="588" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZGvFkSbFVzaekQnP4Xq4EuV2NN5_x-_YGoK5eP6PFzezpmtrSveTw9M3uVVLHFhohG5LjXvCRRnN7SDxGQjKfi1FY9LIUOpBgZH1pSL6tDQY2vykbIbD_aSptf-2ln5go3CK7Bjy5wq5gqSRJUrSl5hkXYqub2YHhVxPIIPqoSQAH0xLG4zI3I_JtHY/s1079/D8CD2565-1857-4375-B958-9A2EE3BCA9B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1079" height="593" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZGvFkSbFVzaekQnP4Xq4EuV2NN5_x-_YGoK5eP6PFzezpmtrSveTw9M3uVVLHFhohG5LjXvCRRnN7SDxGQjKfi1FY9LIUOpBgZH1pSL6tDQY2vykbIbD_aSptf-2ln5go3CK7Bjy5wq5gqSRJUrSl5hkXYqub2YHhVxPIIPqoSQAH0xLG4zI3I_JtHY/w593-h593/D8CD2565-1857-4375-B958-9A2EE3BCA9B3.jpg" width="593" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgboCzJUZd-2nyUlV0apkjKXM_rpdmGNx-v0L8-I1J3aSUSeaQPCEH1ZRLVXmCArI1H_eG8Gdz3TbAsp8CU29y1aTINE8JI9qmkq7TslF6u94SQGueF0FhpyQBzBapCZL2H_1Qn7i4N1ujsSSMVPv_QHscA_8iagE3W69feuQ0MnKDJl7hDhxERzdqUs/s1024/3fcacd88b397d40a22f7543eb927f24a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="447" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgboCzJUZd-2nyUlV0apkjKXM_rpdmGNx-v0L8-I1J3aSUSeaQPCEH1ZRLVXmCArI1H_eG8Gdz3TbAsp8CU29y1aTINE8JI9qmkq7TslF6u94SQGueF0FhpyQBzBapCZL2H_1Qn7i4N1ujsSSMVPv_QHscA_8iagE3W69feuQ0MnKDJl7hDhxERzdqUs/w596-h447/3fcacd88b397d40a22f7543eb927f24a.jpg" width="596" /></a></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"> Blessings!</span></h3><p><br /></p>ChickChathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871618401992515942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415704965564981477.post-13534487358732977732023-05-29T00:30:00.001-07:002023-05-29T00:30:00.141-07:00Memorial Day<p> </p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Memorial Day<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-i1KgkwruZ_rvjpArUY4GX-_rMZzsA0nfA9ThBLhnUomautFwsvFtT2cuj1P7kue14PrNdgsm0vzh7LisF9SIGRDZPHOuO2Ud6YOP5mdUDHZ-c_dcmDy9Y2-otzEvQjA4eY7r_feQjYO5ZiKiLHmsV9jpvh89954gmjfXIYi1jEE-8A8x6KN1Hs1/s1080/Memorial%20Day-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="401" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-i1KgkwruZ_rvjpArUY4GX-_rMZzsA0nfA9ThBLhnUomautFwsvFtT2cuj1P7kue14PrNdgsm0vzh7LisF9SIGRDZPHOuO2Ud6YOP5mdUDHZ-c_dcmDy9Y2-otzEvQjA4eY7r_feQjYO5ZiKiLHmsV9jpvh89954gmjfXIYi1jEE-8A8x6KN1Hs1/w401-h401/Memorial%20Day-1.jpg" width="401" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Memorial Day is an American holiday, observed on the last
Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S.
military. Memorial Day 2023 will occur on Monday, May 29. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the
years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971.
Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials,
holding family gatherings and participating in parades. Unofficially, it marks
the beginning of the summer season.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>ChickChathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871618401992515942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415704965564981477.post-48012171790090292822023-04-07T06:24:00.009-07:002023-04-07T06:24:48.978-07:00Good Friday<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_Qv7fFXQfpzAE0laVsGXYU5BgDp1I0v4MU3z_EjYxwlLfcyUEw5hwJMZBCRLqPsJCSsg41WlyidX8VrsywsYFAsi5G_-S5A87G_6NvSNyiR-jy0PF4yPSEW9VXXRA6y5OHn5-i3jUWj62SDN_IaeJ90i5hLgK85HhW34RRRtLhWceQRMjLrMaEVn/s612/Good%20Friday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="367" data-original-width="612" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_Qv7fFXQfpzAE0laVsGXYU5BgDp1I0v4MU3z_EjYxwlLfcyUEw5hwJMZBCRLqPsJCSsg41WlyidX8VrsywsYFAsi5G_-S5A87G_6NvSNyiR-jy0PF4yPSEW9VXXRA6y5OHn5-i3jUWj62SDN_IaeJ90i5hLgK85HhW34RRRtLhWceQRMjLrMaEVn/w586-h351/Good%20Friday.jpg" width="586" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What is Good
Friday?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Jesus
said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his
spirit. John 19:20<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Good
Friday, also known as "Holy Friday," is the Friday immediately
preceding Easter Sunday. It is celebrated traditionally as the day on
which Jesus was crucified. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Why is Good
Friday referred to as “good”? What the Jewish authorities and Romans did to
Jesus was definitely not good (see Matthew chapters 26-27). However, the
results of Christ’s death are very good! Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates
his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for
us.” First Peter 3:18 tells us, “For Christ died for sins once for
all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to
death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">The death of
Christ on the cross—along with His bodily resurrection—is the paramount
event of the Christian faith. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">“God with us”
became “God for us” by giving up His life to rescue us so that we could know
Him personally. That’s what makes Good Friday “good.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>ChickChathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871618401992515942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415704965564981477.post-61288812198338971372023-04-02T06:03:00.001-07:002023-04-02T06:04:38.190-07:00Palm Sunday<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">What is Palm
Sunday?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3IZBHCNzmvSKbbTmfHvcS1id5dF-h8sVxoHw23B8YTyfrHYv6jagFwRiywkJHg-3yH3-BIHTaJNIyLa04Nvrw5heBVdBJBnuaDJAKWnrKJ6f_N0BOxM9fplgKqsdflMwnj4YzxHxBAwFoFegIxQcElwOSHeMNZ3OA-ssufZUM_9NV5MNs5u2Vhg4/s800/PalmSundayWithPalms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="335" data-original-width="800" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3IZBHCNzmvSKbbTmfHvcS1id5dF-h8sVxoHw23B8YTyfrHYv6jagFwRiywkJHg-3yH3-BIHTaJNIyLa04Nvrw5heBVdBJBnuaDJAKWnrKJ6f_N0BOxM9fplgKqsdflMwnj4YzxHxBAwFoFegIxQcElwOSHeMNZ3OA-ssufZUM_9NV5MNs5u2Vhg4/w468-h196/PalmSundayWithPalms.jpg" width="468" /></a></div><br /><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">Palm
Sunday is the day we celebrate the triumphal entry of Jesus into
Jerusalem, one week before His resurrection. As Jesus entered the holy city, He
neared the culmination of a long journey toward Golgotha. He had come to save
the lost, and now was the time—this was the place—to secure that salvation.
Palm Sunday marked the start of what is often called “Passion Week,” the final
seven days of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Palm Sunday was the “beginning of the
end” of Jesus’ work on earth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">Palm
Sunday began with Jesus and His disciples traveling over the Mount of
Olives. The Lord sent two disciples ahead into the village of Bethphage to find
an animal to ride. They found the unbroken colt of a donkey, just as Jesus had
said they would. When they untied the colt, the owners began to question them.
The disciples responded with the answer Jesus had provided: “The Lord needs it.”
Amazingly, the owners were satisfied with that answer and let the disciples go.
“They brought [the donkey] to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put
Jesus on it.” </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">As Jesus ascended toward Jerusalem, a large multitude gathered around Him. This
crowd understood that Jesus was the Messiah; what they did not understand was
that it wasn’t time to set up the kingdom yet—although Jesus had tried to tell
them so. The crowd’s actions along the road give rise to the name “Palm
Sunday”: “A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut
branches from the trees and spread them on the road.” In strewing their cloaks
on the road, the people were giving Jesus the royal treatment—King Jehu was
given similar honor at his coronation. John records the detail that the
branches they cut were from palm trees.<br />
<br /><br />
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">On that first Palm Sunday, the people also honored Jesus verbally: “The crowds
that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, ‘Hosanna to the Son of
David!’ <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Blessed is he who comes in the
name of the Lord!’ <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Hosanna in the
highest heaven!’” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In their praise of
Jesus, the Jewish crowds were quoting, an acknowledged prophecy of the Christ. The
allusion to a Messianic psalm drew resentment from the religious leaders
present: “Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, rebuke
your disciples!’”. However, Jesus saw no need to rebuke those who told the
truth. He replied, “I tell you . . . if they keep quiet, the stones will cry
out.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">There is
coming a day when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord. The worship will be real then. Also, John records a scene in
heaven that features the eternal celebration of the risen Lord: “There before
me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe,
people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were
wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands,” (emphasis
added). These palm-bearing saints will shout, “Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb”, and who can measure sum of
their joy? (gotquestion.org)<o:p></o:p></span></p>ChickChathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871618401992515942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415704965564981477.post-53401861867163113622023-04-01T06:04:00.000-07:002023-04-01T06:04:14.431-07:00What is Holy Week?<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL7Ys4zEnBPi-QU71jaq5w6ouuL7qIcdEUVPHw0PPin_l1VMcdhntfjavH7KJ0yi7f4KzdIafnGoGJvtJdNzhnx7yLBVv6pWfvFIG_E1KK_n7QYIMLEiKq_lZtouhusZIyLn9Xq55vZyZzBEQEFFFTMvp1JRHbFoPajCKX3OKfFugyKKPnkECgKMEW/s211/1.HolyWeek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="211" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL7Ys4zEnBPi-QU71jaq5w6ouuL7qIcdEUVPHw0PPin_l1VMcdhntfjavH7KJ0yi7f4KzdIafnGoGJvtJdNzhnx7yLBVv6pWfvFIG_E1KK_n7QYIMLEiKq_lZtouhusZIyLn9Xq55vZyZzBEQEFFFTMvp1JRHbFoPajCKX3OKfFugyKKPnkECgKMEW/s1600/1.HolyWeek.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><br /><p>What is Holy Week?</p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Holy Week, in the Christian church, is the week between
Palm Sunday and Easter; observed with special solemnity as a time of devotion
to the Passion of Jesus Christ.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Tomorrow – Palm Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week – which
commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem where the crowds greeted Him
waving palm branches and crying “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the
name of the of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ironically, these same voices the greet Jesus as Messiah and
King will be the same voices that shout “Crucify him!” just a few short days
later on Good Friday.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The 5 days of Holy Week are:</span><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #202124; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Palm Sunday – entrance into Jerusalem. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #202124; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Holy Wednesday – into the darkness. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #202124; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Maundy Thursday – the Last Supper. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #202124; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Good Friday – Jesus' agony on the cross. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #202124; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Holy Saturday – visiting the tomb
of Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul><br /><p></p>ChickChathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871618401992515942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415704965564981477.post-65983614012947330152023-03-08T15:06:00.001-08:002023-03-08T15:06:14.872-08:00International Women's Day<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 17px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Today - March 8th - is International Women’s Day</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 17px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 17px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3znKB3q33a0OsURNWrImN3aPPWf0f2_V2H1h49kIzS_QHEwEGCngoQAKlB0hHPjUOuWbObtwyySFfyd7nEyJICP9frEwc9ezQXusCQQuPVcGjYnnSDoH5vSc7GXuCWy-cL8UgYwsPx3AQhfMsrGF7iufEebl7oMNDudGaWfKMOD5evMgIDWg0avD/s1051/Womens%20Day.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="791" data-original-width="1051" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3znKB3q33a0OsURNWrImN3aPPWf0f2_V2H1h49kIzS_QHEwEGCngoQAKlB0hHPjUOuWbObtwyySFfyd7nEyJICP9frEwc9ezQXusCQQuPVcGjYnnSDoH5vSc7GXuCWy-cL8UgYwsPx3AQhfMsrGF7iufEebl7oMNDudGaWfKMOD5evMgIDWg0avD/w432-h326/Womens%20Day.JPG" width="432" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Proverbs 31 echoes this praise: “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. . . . She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard” (verses 10, 12 – 16). This is a concrete example of what wisdom looks like in a person’s life. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">From beginning to end, Proverbs is a practical handbook for leading a life based on wisdom. In the end, there are only two choices for both men and women: to embrace wisdom or to love folly. The woman of Proverbs 31 may well be meant to inspire both men and women with a picture of what a virtuous life, male or female, is capable of producing: shelter for others, serenity, honor, prosperity, generosity, confidence about the future — true blessedness. Who wouldn’t want to be like such a woman? Who wouldn’t sing her praises?</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Ir_TK0gztYeoZ8Tw3aszmPvot7mG1M9DXmjA8JfHnjRTp27mrVTZyasSetl2DCxvb5uz9uW5nD9FY-y8b9HseeOKMy1XfLjruCNP-oa4a93o2r6MnM5T2YoWMVxsknc8XURgJpPPCmyfcM612aHkjWnP8j-oM7twrCTsapaIGPkArciOAcd24sUO/s1280/Proverbs%2031%20Woman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Ir_TK0gztYeoZ8Tw3aszmPvot7mG1M9DXmjA8JfHnjRTp27mrVTZyasSetl2DCxvb5uz9uW5nD9FY-y8b9HseeOKMy1XfLjruCNP-oa4a93o2r6MnM5T2YoWMVxsknc8XURgJpPPCmyfcM612aHkjWnP8j-oM7twrCTsapaIGPkArciOAcd24sUO/w492-h277/Proverbs%2031%20Woman.jpg" width="492" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span><p></p>ChickChathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871618401992515942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415704965564981477.post-9802132215632904572022-11-22T10:30:00.002-08:002023-04-02T06:03:41.087-07:00Thanksgiving<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_fABzuDQa-ic3rvHKdnLNjjP7WS22l5jbPmSYRRruwscNpxHc6cM4wUSQoZDgBYe1ANwyNj6QcaoXNdScvFfTLZc8Sl_Ok15YIj3JHNniFjuD1R41l7UbvAMG0XF6PU6US5IbcQ3mDJJOGUv18Uh8rTGVe1m5eNwFH-MzJVi4DRYuBzcHLxWbGPI/s400/1-Give%20Thanks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="400" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_fABzuDQa-ic3rvHKdnLNjjP7WS22l5jbPmSYRRruwscNpxHc6cM4wUSQoZDgBYe1ANwyNj6QcaoXNdScvFfTLZc8Sl_Ok15YIj3JHNniFjuD1R41l7UbvAMG0XF6PU6US5IbcQ3mDJJOGUv18Uh8rTGVe1m5eNwFH-MzJVi4DRYuBzcHLxWbGPI/w552-h311/1-Give%20Thanks.jpg" width="552" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Happy Thanksgiving Week!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Thankfulness is a prominent Bible theme. First
Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give
thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Did you catch that? Give thanks in all circumstances. Thankfulness
should be a way of life for us, naturally flowing from our hearts and mouths.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We should be thankful because God is worthy of our
thanksgiving. It is only right to credit Him for “every good and perfect gift”
He gives (James 1:17). When we are thankful, our focus moves off selfish
desires and off the pain of current circumstances. Expressing thankfulness
helps us remember that God is in control. Thankfulness, then, is not only
appropriate; it is actually healthy and beneficial to us. It reminds us of the
bigger picture, that we belong to God, and that we have been blessed with every
spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3). Truly, we have an abundant life (John 10:10),
and gratefulness is fitting.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqwdBt1G_5h7Klbgsb7GOfI5ddgT1FIYgbwD-kQPzYY0EHd9tjR0xzde3aP4ToLGDY61ekwdG4TgfAs3x8R-94YPOGMcpsTp5Hf2BpZi1l8lhRiF0ImjaSWoNvFyqJ_fxs826uqh4ioFab_ZsQwtNo-ECW0itlfVWs63fj0978Mj7w839Gto3hgsE/s736/IMG_0679.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="736" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqwdBt1G_5h7Klbgsb7GOfI5ddgT1FIYgbwD-kQPzYY0EHd9tjR0xzde3aP4ToLGDY61ekwdG4TgfAs3x8R-94YPOGMcpsTp5Hf2BpZi1l8lhRiF0ImjaSWoNvFyqJ_fxs826uqh4ioFab_ZsQwtNo-ECW0itlfVWs63fj0978Mj7w839Gto3hgsE/w441-h331/IMG_0679.JPG" width="441" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>ChickChathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871618401992515942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415704965564981477.post-43573168415319563122022-09-05T00:30:00.001-07:002022-09-05T00:30:00.188-07:00Happy Labor Day!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxKRUq22zS1wSwSLaF_PRTQrXhlBdp8ndtZHbWl0qUIsnbcSbfHh3jck26x1tmZ7GEqiR2EWtYYEgwfJNZcXm9V_d9f4wT8NKBN3RTFQDMKDJdbJ9FjrfCxb4vUZPrEKOlEMAWxXBGsiesyvizbvnhqV1s0uJxFpvs4MrNnZJj8U86fV4dvVRwKJ2/s750/IMG_4806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="750" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxKRUq22zS1wSwSLaF_PRTQrXhlBdp8ndtZHbWl0qUIsnbcSbfHh3jck26x1tmZ7GEqiR2EWtYYEgwfJNZcXm9V_d9f4wT8NKBN3RTFQDMKDJdbJ9FjrfCxb4vUZPrEKOlEMAWxXBGsiesyvizbvnhqV1s0uJxFpvs4MrNnZJj8U86fV4dvVRwKJ2/w415-h276/IMG_4806.JPG" width="415" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Happy Labor Day!</span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So long summer of 2022.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You sizzled us, you soaked us, you satiated us. And like
every other summer season, your sprint to Monday – Labor Day – seemed a blur.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">For many, Labor Day is all about capturing that last
blast at the beach, backyard barbecues, school retail
bonanzas and the grudging realization that sun-soaked play days are no
more.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But why is it called Labor Day? Labor Day is a day
set aside to pay tribute to working men and women. It has been celebrated as a
national holiday in the United States and Canada since 1894.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">"Labor Day differs in every essential way from the
other holidays of the year in any country," said Samuel Gompers, founder,
and longtime president of the American Federation of Labor. "All other
holidays are in a more or less degree connected with conflicts and battles of
man's prowess over man, of strife and discord for greed and power, of glories achieved
by one nation over another. Labor Day...is devoted to no man, living or dead,
to no sect, race, or nation."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But the day has a deeper meaning and marks a pivotal
moment in U.S. labor history — and it had a pretty violent start.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In the late 1800s, the state of labor was grim as U.S.
workers toiled under bleak conditions: 12 or more hour workdays; hazardous work
environments; meager pay. Children, some as young as 5, were often fixtures at
plants and factories.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The dismal livelihoods fueled the formation of the
country’s first labor unions, which began to organize strikes and protests and
pushed employers for better hours and pay. Many of the rallies turned violent.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Congress, at the urging of Cleveland in an
overture to the labor movement, passed an act on June 28, 1894, making the
first Monday in September “Labor Day.” It was now a legal holiday.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In the coming decades, the day took root in American
culture as the "unofficial end of summer" and is marked by
parades, picnics and family/friend time. Post offices, banks, courts, federal
and state offices are shuttered. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Some herald the new beginnings that dot the
post-Labor Day months – the NFL in full swing, election season in high
gear, the first frost, fall's colors.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Alone, we can do so little; together we can do so much –
Helen Keller<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Find you joy and go there!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2T_VWG_xgaqct7wxZDMkF2KVz95BS124gyiqVONmGpk8F59GvRBDhpxKHhxc3dAv0QlfM0daOyUFoOrzEfvdHqS8jO9L6ye8DSsQDSIEBPTFXsjdO99dYXS1lP3vaGCmhM8I2uhKLTEwTvyRb2KGEPvjZwo7hbvEnWXlnaLCz_D24eaP5kes8bDr6/s600/IMG_4808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2T_VWG_xgaqct7wxZDMkF2KVz95BS124gyiqVONmGpk8F59GvRBDhpxKHhxc3dAv0QlfM0daOyUFoOrzEfvdHqS8jO9L6ye8DSsQDSIEBPTFXsjdO99dYXS1lP3vaGCmhM8I2uhKLTEwTvyRb2KGEPvjZwo7hbvEnWXlnaLCz_D24eaP5kes8bDr6/w400-h400/IMG_4808.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Have a safe and enjoyable holiday!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>ChickChathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871618401992515942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415704965564981477.post-43481601166894461262022-07-20T17:26:00.005-07:002022-07-20T17:26:40.038-07:00On this day 53 Years Ago<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04mvmHuuj39hGN8cXvzEwCBp1Z3UHpquoWO_LIYnJsHLH45df7-Goe2KyV6HJFbdIgr2G-TReQ0KR4b4lZcvhvXyiimGATWf08ckIM0dPfVLIbK4iNQS_b6Fh1CbHZCtpz3wBNxuNQti124xA3NFskFiWr54KypT5RTXwN3HHWDbkaBwFFpWIobEY/s750/The-Moon-Composite---Social.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="750" height="433" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04mvmHuuj39hGN8cXvzEwCBp1Z3UHpquoWO_LIYnJsHLH45df7-Goe2KyV6HJFbdIgr2G-TReQ0KR4b4lZcvhvXyiimGATWf08ckIM0dPfVLIbK4iNQS_b6Fh1CbHZCtpz3wBNxuNQti124xA3NFskFiWr54KypT5RTXwN3HHWDbkaBwFFpWIobEY/w433-h433/The-Moon-Composite---Social.gif" width="433" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">On this day, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">July 20th 5</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3 years ago, NASA marks the anniversary of
the historic Apollo 11 Moon landing.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">On July 16, 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin
and Michael Collins lifted off from Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space
Center in Florida on a journey to the Moon and into history. Four days later,
while Collins orbited the Moon in the command module, Armstrong and Aldrin
landed Apollo 11’s lunar module, Eagle, on the Moon’s Sea of Tranquility,
becoming the first humans to set foot on the lunar surface.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This is a composite I create to celebrate the historic occasion.</span></p><br /><p></p>ChickChathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871618401992515942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415704965564981477.post-63475661267219259252022-07-04T07:53:00.003-07:002022-07-04T07:53:50.534-07:00Happy Independence Day!<p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3EoW-eLj_WEZ8d-8OVuzP2PxEegZfCGL7LN5FwzFEBIbeeqrYxLHcNlIN8LrLxptFF8qR39rFdApz4iYT8dpgpyXnmYmLHNHm8bh85VhFSZ-CDUKBfvxY7XQ2OzTHAgfuFD_RSU_DRGdcQhA-CoL5Lu-caQjKvEYKnTEKV4Zxnf-8ogWz8UpOaABU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="1260" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3EoW-eLj_WEZ8d-8OVuzP2PxEegZfCGL7LN5FwzFEBIbeeqrYxLHcNlIN8LrLxptFF8qR39rFdApz4iYT8dpgpyXnmYmLHNHm8bh85VhFSZ-CDUKBfvxY7XQ2OzTHAgfuFD_RSU_DRGdcQhA-CoL5Lu-caQjKvEYKnTEKV4Zxnf-8ogWz8UpOaABU=w525-h257" width="525" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Happy Independence Day! Today we celebrate
America and the passage of the Declaration of Independence. Many will celebrate
with backyard (some indoor) barbecues, a tradition that dates back to the
1800's. Who knew?! Many boast that they make the best barbecue ribs, chicken,
etc. Whatever your family tradition is today, have fun making memories and be
safe.</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“It
is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” Galatians 5:1a NIV<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Now
the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
2 Corinthians 3:17 NIV<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnp0h1QFiiR_h91ROTXF_3a1xhiT0bD4Zy91mL1ClY4ZDogy8tACKbFvtgIlRrYPogPciYA0kby5mwilHPXf1Cy_5XhubpGMBZ6-1yIG_iiE6WiTW2Q4gf50ovcGgd64xFkMmFXCK_QPVzeddu2bJUvX6gCUzXwsbY4sDvqt7Tp0XNiahIOUBCwpCW/s2133/4th%20of%20July.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1574" data-original-width="2133" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnp0h1QFiiR_h91ROTXF_3a1xhiT0bD4Zy91mL1ClY4ZDogy8tACKbFvtgIlRrYPogPciYA0kby5mwilHPXf1Cy_5XhubpGMBZ6-1yIG_iiE6WiTW2Q4gf50ovcGgd64xFkMmFXCK_QPVzeddu2bJUvX6gCUzXwsbY4sDvqt7Tp0XNiahIOUBCwpCW/w473-h349/4th%20of%20July.jpg" width="473" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">In
light of the turmoil our society currently faces, it is critical that we curate
our values and rise up against the immorality of the world. You and I are to
represent God and His viewpoint in every sphere of life. We are to represent
the living God, who is the pillar and foundation of the truth.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Today, dwell
on Christ, who He is, and all the good things He’s already done. He is
faithful, He will come through, and in Him you can have hope!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Be blessed
and be a blessing. Of all the things you can be - “Be Kind.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Have a Great 4th of July!!!</span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p><br /></p>ChickChathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871618401992515942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415704965564981477.post-26570448457656666252022-06-19T08:34:00.002-07:002022-06-19T08:47:22.463-07:00Juneteenth<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbCOKpinnKawlNSm5GmJa47MylD4QjNfxe4duYxkg8FQhY-4xvc7UG-Mo1Jb5SSzRVC_1KxQEYq8Zjnq4Mbqy58BEi8VxeKwufeUJYRgkwxdNAfJMZcIs-21M19CMvMyE1St3nnB4oO845APj2bwNTvDV7DGa6aZwidtkY51wLtg05lmCA0A-JHsi/s900/Picture2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbCOKpinnKawlNSm5GmJa47MylD4QjNfxe4duYxkg8FQhY-4xvc7UG-Mo1Jb5SSzRVC_1KxQEYq8Zjnq4Mbqy58BEi8VxeKwufeUJYRgkwxdNAfJMZcIs-21M19CMvMyE1St3nnB4oO845APj2bwNTvDV7DGa6aZwidtkY51wLtg05lmCA0A-JHsi/w589-h406/Picture2.jpg" width="589" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Juneteenth is a
federal holiday in the United States commemorating emancipation of enslaved
black Americans. It is also often observed for celebrating African-American
culture. Originating in Galveston, Texas, it has been celebrated annually on
June 19 in various parts of the United States since 1865.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The US will
officially recognize Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in
America, as a federal holiday after President Biden signed a bill into law on
Thursday, 6.17.21.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Charleston was
one of the largest slave trading cities in the US. The old Exchange Building
(pictured below) was one the most common sites of downtown slave auctions.
Thousands of enslaved people were sold here along with real estate and other
personal property. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrDtoh3nMjbN5QY_7JSIwVXLPCHpf3MYKChfnWsqY89TEvTyjEwrQ01ZQKsOtjeadQauwLB5-nktq5JMS_sPDKtJBG08znxrq7l8cXma029EqNYoDnVXLk1WmjQflkcllQu-wIIFIOg1y5OnO9JAAfL-aRtHNe37zJW1pAgHz6xdrHIOA1cXrfMOM/s1563/Old%20Exch%20Bldg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1027" data-original-width="1563" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrDtoh3nMjbN5QY_7JSIwVXLPCHpf3MYKChfnWsqY89TEvTyjEwrQ01ZQKsOtjeadQauwLB5-nktq5JMS_sPDKtJBG08znxrq7l8cXma029EqNYoDnVXLk1WmjQflkcllQu-wIIFIOg1y5OnO9JAAfL-aRtHNe37zJW1pAgHz6xdrHIOA1cXrfMOM/w584-h384/Old%20Exch%20Bldg.jpg" width="584" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3nVTTLsno67YPC1o0L-UpFyyvv_86Bmy81ktV4eVHlCmz3TFC__7ZGxm9bDFdSVQPi6pzA_XsxLBbRD2vUJeueWELbvJI3H2lzB1MsGe2anrS3YBt1m9rWS7O1mFa1FQHSe8oD3B7J4p7Q-tmF-npUg6xi3afAueFlKqz04nY9ViRP7vSH1LjB_YZ/s3207/IMG_4064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3207" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3nVTTLsno67YPC1o0L-UpFyyvv_86Bmy81ktV4eVHlCmz3TFC__7ZGxm9bDFdSVQPi6pzA_XsxLBbRD2vUJeueWELbvJI3H2lzB1MsGe2anrS3YBt1m9rWS7O1mFa1FQHSe8oD3B7J4p7Q-tmF-npUg6xi3afAueFlKqz04nY9ViRP7vSH1LjB_YZ/s320/IMG_4064.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span><p></p><br /><p></p>ChickChathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871618401992515942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415704965564981477.post-43982571263282294452022-06-11T10:50:00.000-07:002022-06-11T10:50:18.884-07:00Isaiah Week 6 in Review and Conclusion <p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We’ve come to the end of our “Journey
Through the Book of Isaiah!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitHbMQDVM7HC6muqXEIW-QBLOOBVeDCgVbPfklQtwkea_lhomGQrCYoDoOGoMKr8a5rfjf6MCwTplh0Ehn-lBU2JzbU2um5ixQHaS1vy87ark_V9zsTa4QefMawpQ8s812_XhLjLjZQXVrhKSPgW2smv0HQUCSoaxFa79ZAkO-KxVkkE4DuiSUiXmc/s1920/Isaiah%20Review%20%E2%80%93%20Week%206%20%E2%80%93%205.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitHbMQDVM7HC6muqXEIW-QBLOOBVeDCgVbPfklQtwkea_lhomGQrCYoDoOGoMKr8a5rfjf6MCwTplh0Ehn-lBU2JzbU2um5ixQHaS1vy87ark_V9zsTa4QefMawpQ8s812_XhLjLjZQXVrhKSPgW2smv0HQUCSoaxFa79ZAkO-KxVkkE4DuiSUiXmc/w597-h336/Isaiah%20Review%20%E2%80%93%20Week%206%20%E2%80%93%205.png" width="597" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">In
Luke 4:16-22, Jesus spoke in the synagogue of Nazareth, His hometown. He opened
up the scroll to Isaiah 61 – perhaps an assigned reading, perhaps chosen by Him
– and read from the beginning of the chapter through the first line of verse 2.
When He sat down, He simply said today this Scripture is fulfilled in your
hearing. Jesus is the person described in Isaiah 61:1-3 and He is the one the
Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">“To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengeance of our God…” Isaiah 61:2b NKJV</span></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Because
sin is a crime that must be avenged, He will </span></span><span class="s2"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">proclaim... the day
of vengeance of our God</span></span><span class="s1"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">.</span></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Significantly,
Jesus stopped reading before this sentence. He stopped in the middle of the
prophecy, because to </span></span><span class="s2"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">proclaim... the day
of vengeance of our God</span></span><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> is relevant to His </span></span><span class="s3"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Second
Coming</span></i></span><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">, not to His first coming. The comma in </span></span><span class="s2"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">year
of the LORD, and the day of vengeance</span></span><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> has stood for
almost 2,000 years. This shows us something of the nature of Biblical prophecy:
it may “shift gears” and time frames quickly, and without warning.</span></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">As
Christians under the New Covenant, we also have an anointing: </span></span><span class="s3"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">But
you have an anointing from the Holy One</span></i></span><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> (1 John 2:20).
In the New Testament sense, </span></span><span class="s3"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">anointing</span></i></span><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> has
the idea of being filled with, and blessed by, the Holy Spirit. This is
something that is the common property of </span></span><span class="s3"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">all</span></i></span><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> Christians,
but something we can and should become more submitted and responsive to.</span></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">“Because
their shame was double, and dishonor was proclaimed as their lot, therefore
they shall possess a double portion; everlasting joy shall be theirs.”</span></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Isaiah
61:7 NRSV</span></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br />
<span class="s1">What life was like for Adam and Eve before they sinned? God Can
Set You Free from Your Shame </span><br />
<br />
<span class="s1">Genesis 2:25 tells us that though Adam and Eve were naked in the
Garden of Eden, they were not ashamed. I believe that in addition to indicating
they were without clothes, this Scripture also implies they were totally open
and honest with each other, not hiding behind any masks, not playing any games.
They were free to be themselves because they had no sense of shame. Once they
had sinned, however, they hid themselves (see Genesis 3:6-8).</span><br />
<br />
<span class="s1">If not for the work Jesus did on the cross, all of us would have
to live with the overwhelming shame of sin. But because of His sacrifice,
mankind has the opportunity to enjoy perfect freedom with one another and with
God.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="s1">Unfortunately, most of us still live with the burden of shame,
even though the Word of God promises us and assures us that we can be free of
it (see Isaiah 61:7).</span><br />
<br />
<span class="s1">God can deliver you from shame. Pray and ask Him to set you free
from the shame that tries to build up within you.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">But
now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob,</span></b></span><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br />
<span class="s1">And He who formed you, O Israel:</span><br />
<span class="s1">“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;</span><br />
<span class="s1">I have called </span><span class="s2"><i>you</i></span><span class="s1"> by your name;</span><br />
<span class="s1">You </span><span class="s2"><i>are</i></span><span class="s1"> Mine.”</span></span></b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Says
the LORD, who created you... and He who formed you</span></span><span class="s3"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">: God
speaks to His people as their </span></span><span class="s4"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Creator</span></i></span><span class="s3"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">. God
has a special and unique claim upon us because He is our Creator. When men
forget or reject God as Creator, they fail in the most basic obligation they
have to God.</span></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Fear
not</span></b></span><span class="s3"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">: This is a </span></span><span class="s4"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">command</span></i></span><span class="s3"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">,
accompanied by </span></span><span class="s4"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">promises</span></i></span><span class="s3"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">. By
outward circumstances, the people of Judah had reason to be afraid of Babylon’s
army and exile. God points them past the present circumstances to both this
command and promise.</span></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">For
I have redeemed you</span></span><span class="s3"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">: Not only did Israel have obligation
to God as their Creator, by also as their </span></span><span class="s4"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Redeemer</span></i></span><span class="s3"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">. He
is the one who bought them out of literal exile and spiritual slavery.</span></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s3"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">The
redeemer bought an unfortunate relative out of their slavery and debt. He
rescued them and paid the slave price or debt they could not pay. When God
calls Himself our </span></span><span class="s4"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Redeemer</span></i></span><span class="s3"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">, it
looks forward to the price that must be paid for our salvation.</span></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I
have called you by your name; You are mine</span></span><span class="s3"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">: God </span></span><span class="s4"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">twice
owns</span></i></span><span class="s3"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> His people. He has right of ownership both as
Creator and Redeemer. His ownership is </span></span><span class="s4"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">personal</span></i></span><span class="s3"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">,
because He says </span></span><span class="s1"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I have called you by your name</span></b></span><span class="s3"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">. His
ownership is </span></span><span class="s4"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">certain</span></i></span><span class="s3"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">, because He seals it
by saying </span></span><span class="s1"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">You are mine</span></span><span class="s3"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">.</span></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s3"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Knowing
that we belong to the LORD is a wonderful answer to fear. We can know that He
holds us, protects us, guards us, and cares for us. We can know that He would
not have created, redeemed, and called us unless He intended to finish His work
in us. How can we be afraid when we know this God is for us, is looking out for
our interests?</span></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">When
you pass through the waters, I will be with you</span></span><span class="s3"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">:
Through any potential obstacle, God will be with us. Deep waters? </span></span><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I
will be with you</span></span><span class="s3"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">. Must you </span></span><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">walk through the fire</span></span><span class="s3"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">?
Then </span></span><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">you shall not be burned</span></span><span class="s3"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">. When
God is with us, He is for us, and who can be against us?</span></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s3"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Israel
had and would have their trials, but we have ours also. Trials are inevitable;
it doesn’t say </span></span><span class="s4"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">if you pass through the waters</span></i></span><span class="s3"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">, it
says </span></span><span class="s1"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">when you pass through the waters</span></span><span class="s3"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">. The
text doesn’t say, “When you walk on a luxurious padded carpet, I will be with
you.” It says God will be with us in the toughest of circumstances. Trials are
varied; sometimes we face </span></span><span class="s1"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">waters</span></span><span class="s3"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">,
sometimes </span></span><span class="s1"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">rivers</span></span><span class="s3"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">, and sometimes </span></span><span class="s1"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">fire</span></span><span class="s3"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">.
Floods overwhelm, fires consume.</span></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">“Thus
says the Lord: Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool; what is the
house that you would build for me, and what is my resting place? All these
things my hand has made, and so all these things are mine, says the Lord. But
this is the one to whom I will look, to the humble and contrite in spirit, who
trembles at my word.” Isaiah 66:1-2 NRSV</span></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Heaven
is My throne, and earth is My footstool</span></span><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">: Here, the LORD puts
things back into proper perspective. We can never understand much of anything
until we understand that the Lord GOD is enthroned in heaven, and that the
earth is under His command – indeed, the </span></span><span class="s2"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">earth is</span></span><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> His </span></span><span class="s2"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">footstool</span></span><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">!</span></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Stephen
quoted Isaiah 66:1-2 in Acts 7:49-50, agreeing with Solomon and Isaiah about
the greatness of God the Creator.</span></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Are
you one of those who </span></span><span class="s2"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">trembles at<b> </b></span></span><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">God’s </span></span><span class="s2"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">word</span></span><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">?
“They tremble at the searching power of God’s Word. Do you never come into this
place and sit down in the pew, and say, ‘Lord, grant that thy Word may search
me and try me, that I may not be deceived’? Certain people must always have
sweets and comforts; but God’s wise children do not wish for these in undue
measure. Daily bread we ask for, not daily sugar.” (Spurgeon)</span></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><span class="s1"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">“The smallest family will become a thousand people, and the tiniest group will become a mighty nation. At the right time, I, the Lord, will make it happen.”</span></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> <span class="s1">Isaiah 60:22 NLT</span></span></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></p>
<p class="p1" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><i>These are two of my favorite passages in the
Book of Isaiah…<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Forget the former things; do not dwell on the
past. See I (God) am doing a new thing! (Isaiah 43 18-19a).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">God wants to put our eyes on the new work He
will do, so it begins with a reminder to </span></span><span class="s2"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">not remember the
former things</span></span><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">. If we are stuck in the failure and sin and
discouragement of the past, we will never go forward to the new thing God has
for us.</span></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Every-Day,
Every-Hour, Every-Minute, Every-Second is a chance to start over. Do you need a
do-over? Seek the promises of God!!!</span></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">“Arise,
shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.”
Isaiah 60:1 NKJV</span></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">“Arise,
shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord shines over you.”
Isaiah 60:1 CSB</span></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">“Arise
[from spiritual depression to a new life], shine [be radiant with the glory and
brilliance of the Lord]; for your light has come, And the glory and brilliance
of the Lord has risen upon you.” Isaiah 60:1 AMP</span></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Light
has come</span></span><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> – so God tells His people to </span></span><span class="s3"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">respond</span></i></span><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> to
it, and to </span></span><span class="s2"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">arise</span></b></span><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> and </span></span><span class="s2"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">shine</span></b></span><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="margin: 0in;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Light
is for rising up. L</span></span><span class="s2"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">ight</span></span><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> is for shining.
When the </span></span><span class="s2"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">light has come</span></span><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">, we
must respond, and </span></span><span class="s2"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">arise, shine</span></b></span><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">!</span></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; min-height: 22px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Let
your Light Shine </span></span><span class="s4"><span face=""Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">✨</span></span><span class="s1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Be
Blessed and Be a Blessing!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="p2" style="margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><a href="https://youtu.be/23UdKVb8rTo" target="_blank">Introduction to Isaiah</a></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><a href="https://youtu.be/ln7sA0dGis4" target="_blank">Week 1 in Review</a></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://youtu.be/-rIhpSILmN4" target="_blank"><i>Week 2 in Review</i></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><a href="https://eboniez22.blogspot.com/2022/05/week-3-summary.html" target="_blank">Week 3 in Review</a></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><a href="https://eboniez22.blogspot.com/2022/05/week-4-summary.html" target="_blank">Week 4 in Review</a></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://youtu.be/D1iwqRpWtfc" target="_blank"><i>Week 5 in Review</i></a></p>
<p class="p1" style="margin: 0in;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="MsoBookTitle"><i><u><b>References:<o:p></o:p></b></u></i></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="MsoBookTitle"><i>Enduring Word App <o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="MsoBookTitle"><i>“Life Principles
Bible,” Dr. Charles Stanley e-book <o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="MsoBookTitle"><i>“Old Testament Study
Guide,” Chuck Smith<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="MsoBookTitle"><i>First Things First with
Christine Caine<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="p2" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="MsoBookTitle"><i>“Promises for Your
Everyday Life Devotional,” Joyce Meyer</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>ChickChathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871618401992515942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415704965564981477.post-49015353275141671302022-06-04T19:33:00.003-07:002022-06-11T10:47:18.307-07:00Isaiah - Week 5 in Review<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtzbh5PyuFuXqcbMHLvOE6_fJjcsikRRzd4bU2uJQU2YW1gTh2UqxhH6gqBUntWm0u7tmJ2KKlG612HQRqIItHzVi8yo8QXI929frUCuXvysi4wWsahCy-_wZlWQvhP9AVT2NVrnNQpIzQl0Xg16eURIXAwbrE9KlW3ZgZmJVGrdGH-VzJ0JHhl8ve/s1920/Isaiah%20Review%20%E2%80%93%20Week%205%20%E2%80%93%204.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtzbh5PyuFuXqcbMHLvOE6_fJjcsikRRzd4bU2uJQU2YW1gTh2UqxhH6gqBUntWm0u7tmJ2KKlG612HQRqIItHzVi8yo8QXI929frUCuXvysi4wWsahCy-_wZlWQvhP9AVT2NVrnNQpIzQl0Xg16eURIXAwbrE9KlW3ZgZmJVGrdGH-VzJ0JHhl8ve/w598-h336/Isaiah%20Review%20%E2%80%93%20Week%205%20%E2%80%93%204.png" width="598" /></a></div><p><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 18pt;">Week
5 in Review<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">If
the first two lines of Isaiah 53 describe our sin problem, the last
two lines give God’s solution to it. God took our sin, all our sin, and laid it
on Christ. When Christ hung on the cross, God took all our sin and placed it on
Christ so He could die in our place. So here, in the middle of Isaiah 53, is a
powerful statement. First, man’s basic sin problem is stated to be going our
way rather than God’s way. Then there’s God’s solution: a Substitute who will
bear our sin.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">It’s
amazing when you think of it—all your sin and rebellion paid for by another,
who died for you. Amazing grace.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">“All
we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, everyone, to his own way; And
the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6 NKJV<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">All
we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, everyone, to his own way: Here
the prophet describes our need for the Messiah’s atoning work. Sheep
are stupid, headstrong animals, and we, like they, have gone astray. We
have turned – against God’s way, everyone, to his own way.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">We
all have our own way of sin. The constant temptation is to
condemn your way of sin, and to justify my way of sin. But
each way that is our own way instead of the LORD’s way is a sinful,
destructive, damned way.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">If
the Messiah was wounded for our transgressions, then it was also the
LORD who laid on Him the iniquity of us all. The Father judged
our iniquity as it was laid on the Son.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Somebody
paid for our sin. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">“Pay
attention and come to me; listen, so that you will live. I will make a
permanent covenant with you on the basis of the faithful kindnesses of David.”
Isaiah 55:3 CSB<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">“Incline
your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an
everlasting covenant with you— The sure mercies of David.” Isaiah 55:3 NKJV<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">The
thought carries over from the idea of let your soul delight itself in
abundance. Whoever will genuinely “feast” off of the Word must
consciously incline their ear towards what God will say.
This explains why two people can listen to the same message, and one benefit
and the other not. Often, the one who did not benefit simply did not incline their ear to
the LORD.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Incline
your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an
everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Isaiah
55:3 NKJV<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Hear,
and your soul shall live: The benefit from inclining your ear to God
is impressive. When we do it, we have life for our soul.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">And
I will make an everlasting covenant with you – the sure mercies of David: For
the one who will listen to the LORD, God promises a covenant. From Isaiah’s
perspective, this covenant is still in the future (I will make). The
covenant is also characterized by the sure mercies of David.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">“so
is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but
will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You
will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will
burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their
hands.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Isaiah
55:11-12 NIV<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">“For
as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but
water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and
bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall
not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall
succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10-11 ESV<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">When
God talks, His words accomplish His intended purpose. The word of the
LORD has power, and it never fails in His intended purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">God’s
Word shows that God’s Word brings forth fruit. It also shows that the
fruit has many different applications. The same grain that gives seed to
the sower also gives bread to the eater.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">God’s
Word has something to accomplish. God doesn’t just speak to hear Himself
talk. His Word is not empty, or lacking in power. This also means that God’s
Word has a purpose. He didn’t speak in unfathomable mysteries just to blow
our minds, or confuse us, or leave things up to any possible interpretation.
When God speaks, He speaks to accomplish a purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">“You
will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will
burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their
hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers
the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting
sign, that will endure forever.” Isaiah 55:12-13 NIV<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">“For
you shall go out with joy and be led out with peace; The mountains and the
hills Shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field
shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, and
instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; And it shall be to the Lord
for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.” Isaiah 55:12-13
NKJV<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">When
God’s people turn to Him, listen to Him, and His Word does His work in
them, joy and peace are always the result. The joy is so
great, that even the mountains and the hills, and the trees of the field
join in!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Before
there was barrenness and reminders of the curse (the thorn), now there will be
beautiful and useful trees. The picture is clear; in His glorious work of
restoration, God takes away the barren and the cursed, and brings forth beauty
and fruit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">When
the LORD restores, all the work is done for His name, and for His glory.
When the LORD restores, the work is secure; it is an everlasting sign that
shall not be cut off.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Be
Blessed and Be a Blessing<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><a href="https://youtu.be/23UdKVb8rTo" target="_blank">Introduction to Isaiah</a></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><a href="https://youtu.be/ln7sA0dGis4" target="_blank">Week 1 in Review</a></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://youtu.be/-rIhpSILmN4" target="_blank"><i>Week 2 in Review</i></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><a href="https://eboniez22.blogspot.com/2022/05/week-3-summary.html" target="_blank">Week 3 in Review</a></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><a href="https://eboniez22.blogspot.com/2022/05/week-4-summary.html" target="_blank">Week 4 in Review</a></i></p></div>ChickChathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871618401992515942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415704965564981477.post-67970920276818477412022-05-30T07:42:00.011-07:002022-05-30T07:42:54.792-07:00Memorial Day<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIO2VkfIF99lGgbDc1Xk6DbfrcJUqgxgmrs5oi4zRvA5YaO1m81I7StIhUyNkwnTlq090gTgGTSuil6fZzCHuR25Oh-VEYrCCv5Ya_9mVUM7G_AkYoQwAT3IjXfPa63_K9zc_Ei4A4fBRX1znJHTZ1jQhaXrNam80Vtdym-mAQWnpTOEIrcLoQDBd/s1541/Memorial%20Day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1014" data-original-width="1541" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIO2VkfIF99lGgbDc1Xk6DbfrcJUqgxgmrs5oi4zRvA5YaO1m81I7StIhUyNkwnTlq090gTgGTSuil6fZzCHuR25Oh-VEYrCCv5Ya_9mVUM7G_AkYoQwAT3IjXfPa63_K9zc_Ei4A4fBRX1znJHTZ1jQhaXrNam80Vtdym-mAQWnpTOEIrcLoQDBd/w640-h422/Memorial%20Day.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States
for mourning the U.S. military personnel who have died while serving in the
United States armed forces. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></b></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Thank you to those who served and making the ultimate
sacrifice for our country, democracy, and our freedom. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></b></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Have a blessed day as we remember those who give their
all this Memorial Day.</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p>ChickChathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871618401992515942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415704965564981477.post-46299344206572031422022-05-29T07:28:00.000-07:002022-05-30T07:43:37.502-07:00Week 4 Summary<p> </p><p class="MsoTitle"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Week 4 Summary</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a name="_MailAutoSig"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCXmg1tRVC5edoCh59Ydx0spm70iILJpsesImTiGjVjOe2FkaSwqf41djiGsurcowR_neRBSE7wrcD-UrWfnA8TLX5iTxWaV5BrwhJtsqD3lQHdWnVQztrIZuB-pfYawGEY7lukn5BdmV5R54D-FwP6dUPfXmWZu_Q2Q10Amokm2nbV794AqCCXM2/s1920/Isaiah%20Review%20%E2%80%93%20Week%204%20%E2%80%93%203.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCXmg1tRVC5edoCh59Ydx0spm70iILJpsesImTiGjVjOe2FkaSwqf41djiGsurcowR_neRBSE7wrcD-UrWfnA8TLX5iTxWaV5BrwhJtsqD3lQHdWnVQztrIZuB-pfYawGEY7lukn5BdmV5R54D-FwP6dUPfXmWZu_Q2Q10Amokm2nbV794AqCCXM2/w400-h225/Isaiah%20Review%20%E2%80%93%20Week%204%20%E2%80%93%203.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Listen,
O coastlands, to Me,<br />
And take heed, you peoples from afar!<br />
The LORD has called Me from the womb;<br />
From the matrix of My mother He has made mention of My name.” Isaiah 49:1<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Listen,
O coastlands, to Me: These words come prophetically from the Messiah, the
Servant of the LORD revealed in previous chapters. Here, He commands the coastlands –
the distant lands of the Gentiles – to listen to Him.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Then
I said, “I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and in
vain; yet surely my just reward is with the LORD” (Isaiah 49:4). The
translators of the New King James do not believe these words belong in the
mouth of the Messiah, because the do not capitalize the pronoun my, as
they would if they believed it spoke of the Messiah. Yet these words can be set
prophetically in the mouth of the Messiah, because surely Jesus was tempted by
the discouraging thought that all His work was in vain and for
nothing. Yet He triumphed over such temptation by declaring, my just
reward is with the LORD.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">When
we consider what – and who – the Lord Jesus had to work with on this earth, we
certainly must believe that one of the great temptations He faced was
discouragement. This passage shows that even though He ministered in difficult
and discouraging circumstances, He never gave into discouragement, but always
put His trust in the LORD. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Do
not be discouraged, put your trust in the Lord. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Say
to the captives, ‘Come out,’ and to those in darkness, ‘Be free!’ Shout for
joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the
Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Isaiah
49:9, 13 NIV<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jesus’
ministry set people free from bondage and imprisonment.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jesus
set the demon possessed free from the bondage of chains and demonic torture
(Mark 5:1-15).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jesus
set the sick and diseased free from the bondage of their infirmities (Luke
13:16).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jesus
set the righteous dead captive in Hades free from their place (Ephesians 4:8).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jesus
sets those in bondage to sin and the law free (John 8:33-36, Galatians
3:22-23).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
LORD calls for creation itself to add their voices in praise for all the
Messiah has done. Shout to the Lord, sing songs of praise and joy. With
everything within me I will Praise the Lord. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Awake,
awake, Zion, clothe yourself with strength! Put on your garments of
splendor…for this is what the Lord says: “You were sold for nothing, and
without money you will be redeemed.” Isaiah 52:1, 3 NIV<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jerusalem
could put on clothes of beauty and glory, because the time of judgment was
over. This shows that this passage has ultimate fulfillment in the very last
days.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Tragically,
Jerusalem went after other gods like someone selling themselves for
nothing. Yet, they would be blessed by being redeemed without money. God’s
mercy answered to their tragic sin!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">But
it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t cost anything. The end of Isaiah 52 begins to
describe the great cost of redemption, but it is a cost paid by another.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Somebody
Paid For Your Sin<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Your
God Reigns! Break forth into joy, sing together, You waste places of Jerusalem!
For the Lord has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord will
lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the
earth will see the salvation of our God.” Isaiah 52:7b, 9-10 <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Your
God reigns!” The good news – news of peace, glad tidings, and salvation –
can all be summed up in the glorious proclamation, “Your God reigns!”
Where God reigns, peace reigns. Where God reigns, glad
tidings reign. Where God reigns, salvation reigns. What a
marvelous declaration – Our God reigns!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The
thought beginning at Isaiah 51:9 (Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the
LORD!) is completed. The LORD has shown His strength, the strength of His
holy arm. No wonder it is a time for joy and singing!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">God
does not make His saving strength known just for those who are immediately
rescued. He also does it as a witness and a testimony to others, so they
can see the salvation of our God.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Behold,
My Servant shall deal prudently; He shall be exalted and extolled and be very
high.” Isaiah 52:13 NKJV<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
passage, through the end of Isaiah 53, has in focus the Servant of
the LORD. This is the Servant previously spoken of in Isaiah 42:1, and Isaiah
49:3 and 6.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Ethiopian in Acts 8:24 asked a question about Isaiah 52:13 through 53:12: Of
whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man? This
question is still asked today, and the answer is extremely important.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Through
the book of Isaiah, many have been called servants of the LORD in one way or
another. This includes Isaiah himself (Isaiah 20:3), Eliakim (Isaiah 22:20),
David (Isaiah 37:35), Israel (Isaiah 41:8-9). But there is no doubt that the
phrase is also used as a specific title for the Messiah, and this is what is in
view here.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The
context of Servant is a clear reference to Jesus. Additionally,
Matthew quotes Isaiah 42:1-5 and plainly says it is a prophecy fulfilled in
Jesus (Matthew 12:16-21). Additionally, in Matthew 8:16-17 the Bible takes this
passage of Isaiah 52:13 through 53:12 and says it specifically applies to
Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Many
people are amazed that people – especially Jewish people – can read a chapter
like this and miss Jesus. But really it isn’t surprising. When we make up our
minds about who Jesus is, it’s easy to become blind and deaf to the plain,
simple message of the Word of God. Put away your pre-conceived notions and your
cultural Jesus. Let the Word of God tell you who He is.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i><b>Be
Blessed and Be a Blessing!<o:p></o:p></b></i></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><a href="https://eboniez22.blogspot.com/2022/05/the-book-of-isaiah.html" target="_blank">Week 1 & Introduction<o:p></o:p></a></i></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><a href="https://eboniez22.blogspot.com/2022/05/week-2-summary.html" target="_blank">Week 2</a><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><a href="https://eboniez22.blogspot.com/2022/05/week-3-summary.html" target="_blank">Week 3</a><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0in;"><a href="https://youtu.be/7eJMS8kDCBo" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Week 4</i></span><o:p></o:p></a></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in;"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in;"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in;"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in;"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in;"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in;"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in;"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in;"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in;"><span class="MsoBookTitle"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>“The Bible Recap,” Tara-Leigh Cobble<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="MsoBookTitle"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Enduring Word App <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="MsoBookTitle"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>“Life Principles
Bible,” Dr. Charles Stanley e-book <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i> </i></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>ChickChathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871618401992515942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415704965564981477.post-75553777978778808262022-05-26T11:30:00.006-07:002022-05-26T12:33:26.591-07:00Week 3 Summary<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJ-1Wvf2FBrzJyG6vPFrIZ5_-Luv3ls2aiG4eT9MQfhlmYM60XGyXfDZx0P9dT9BsHWuJTRlWcA1a-vB7BE5hN3WffeKR-VL3zgRAvVw8GlFHT6QmrwUo966VzRlOYfVXMnqByiH4xUe--wq09wEgUVk4L8HUr7IH2MGc3MQiIMA7FIieVW_Fd8Yl/s1920/Isaiah%20Review%20%E2%80%93%20Week%203%20%E2%80%93%202.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJ-1Wvf2FBrzJyG6vPFrIZ5_-Luv3ls2aiG4eT9MQfhlmYM60XGyXfDZx0P9dT9BsHWuJTRlWcA1a-vB7BE5hN3WffeKR-VL3zgRAvVw8GlFHT6QmrwUo966VzRlOYfVXMnqByiH4xUe--wq09wEgUVk4L8HUr7IH2MGc3MQiIMA7FIieVW_Fd8Yl/w484-h272/Isaiah%20Review%20%E2%80%93%20Week%203%20%E2%80%93%202.png" width="484" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Week 3 Review<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a name="_MailOriginal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Isaiah
40 is one of the most striking passages in the Bible on the greatness, the
majesty, and the power of God. It was written to a discouraged people. The
Babylonians had taken Israel captive. They had been uprooted from their homes,
their communities and their land. They were discouraged, disheartened, and
despondent. They were wondering, “Where is God? Does God care? Does He see?
Does He notice? Has God abandoned us?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">We
understand. At times, we feel discouraged and wonder if God sees, if He cares.
Maybe you feel that way right now. Through the prophet Isaiah, God reminds His people
of how big, vast, and great He is.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">In
Isaiah 40:12–14, we see that God is so much bigger than nature—the oceans, the
skies, the deserts, and the mountains. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">In
Isaiah 40:15-17, we see that God is so much bigger than the nations; than
nations like Babylon that terrorize and destroy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">In
Isaiah 40:18-20, He is so much bigger than idols—the created things that so
many worship, anything that is more important to us than God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">In
Isaiah 40:21-23, He is so much bigger than rulers of the earth. We may be impressed
by the powerful rulers of nations, but not God. They are like grasshoppers to
Him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Finally,
God points us to the most awe-inspiring, humbling thing in all creation; the
stars. God created the stars and calls them by name. He is so much bigger than
even the stars. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">In
light of all this, in light of the sheer greatness and power of God, He says to
us: “Put your hope in Me. Look to Me. Wait upon Me. I have not abandoned you. I
have not ignored you. I can take care of your biggest problem–unemployment,
teenage rebellion, depression, loneliness, addiction, or cancer. Whatever it
is, however big it is, I am bigger. So wait upon Me. Look to Me. Put all your
hope in Me. I will come through for you!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I
will stop striving in my own strength and start believing God for His.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I
will stop stressing in my own reasoning and start believing God for His peace.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I
will stop dreading what I don’t know and start believing God, who already
knows.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I
will stop complaining and start believing God, who is faithful!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">In
Isaiah 40:15-17, we see that God is so much bigger than the nations; than
nations like Babylon that terrorize and destroy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">In
Isaiah 40:18-20, He is so much bigger than idols—the created things that so
many worship, anything that is more important to us than God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">In
Isaiah 40:21-23, He is so much bigger than rulers of the earth. We may be
impressed by the powerful rulers of nations, but not God. They are like
grasshoppers to Him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Finally,
God points us to the most awe-inspiring, humbling thing in all creation; the
stars. God created the stars and calls them by name. He is so much bigger than
even the stars. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Have
you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting
God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow
weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the
faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength (Isaiah
40:28–29, ESV). <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">It’s
incredible that the Creator of the universe doesn’t look down at us in our
weakness but comes alongside us to increase our strength. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">It’s
true, and the way we receive His strength is by choosing to stop striving in
our own. We must believe that because Jesus died and rose again, we really can
have all He said we can have and we can do what He said we can do. Let’s you
and I make the following declarations. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“He
gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up
with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and
not faint. Isaiah 40:29-31 NKJV<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Notice
who God gives power to: the weak, and to those who have no might He increases
strength. Those who are proud and confident in their own wisdom and strength
will receive no strength from God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">They
shall mount up with wings like eagles: This is the measure of strength the LORD
gives us – strength to soar above everything else.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Notice
the order, because it seems strange. First, we mount up with wings like eagles.
Then we run. Finally, we walk. Does it seem out of order? Not at all. First, we
recognize that we soar up into heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6).
Then we set ourselves on the course to run the race (Hebrews 12:1). Then we are
in the good place to walk the walk (Colossians 2:6).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“but
those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings
like eagles; they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not faint.”
Isaiah<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">No
Fear<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Oftentimes,
the facts and circumstances surrounding us can cause us to feel
overwhelmed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">In
Isaiah 41:10 we hear God’s Word: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed,
for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you
with my righteous right hand.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">When
you feel overwhelmed by life’s problems and are not sure you will survive, hear
God’s Word to you: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your
God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my
righteous right hand.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">When
you visit a friend in the hospital who faces surgery or a life-threatening
disease, let them hear God’s Word for them: “Fear not, for I am with you; be
not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will
uphold you with my righteous right hand.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Every
line breathes life and hope and peace. “Fear not.” The fears may come but do
not give way to them. Refuse to give way to fear.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“…
for I am with you.” If you know God is right there with you, you can bear it.
You might need to remind yourself over and over, 'He is with me.'<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“…
be not dismayed.” Do not be alarmed. Refuse to be shaken. Do not fret yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“…for
I am your God.” This is the bottom line: He is our God and He is bigger than
our burden.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“… I
will strengthen you, I will help you.” God’s strength is poured out upon our
weakness. Feel God’s strength rise within you. He is our strength.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“… I
will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” This is deeply encouraging. God
will not let you fall. He will uphold you. He will never let you go, never. Let
these words wash over you. Hear them. Hear the voice of God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">When
you feel overwhelmed by life’s problems and are not sure you will survive, hear
God’s Word to you: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your
God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my
righteous right hand.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The
enemy wants us to stay focused on what’s discouraging. He knows that with God
you can do all things, which is why I want to remind you that you’re not alone!
God is with you. He is empowering you. And through Him you are well able!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“But
now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you,
Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you
are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you
pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through
the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” Isaiah
43:1-2 NIV<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Fear
not: This is a command, accompanied by promises. By outward
circumstances, the people of Judah had reason to be afraid of Babylon’s army
and exile. God points them past the present circumstances to both this command
and promise.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">For
I have redeemed you: Not only did Israel have obligation to God as their
Creator, by also as their Redeemer. He is the one who bought them out of
literal exile and spiritual slavery.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The
redeemer bought an unfortunate relative out of their slavery and debt. He
rescued them and paid the slave price or debt they could not pay. When God
calls Himself our Redeemer, it looks forward to the price that must be
paid for our salvation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I
have called you by your name; You are mine: God twice owns His
people. He has right of ownership both as Creator and Redeemer. His ownership
is personal, because He says I have called you by your name. His
ownership is certain, because He seals it by saying You are mine.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Knowing
that we belong to the LORD is a wonderful answer to fear. We can know that He
holds us, protects us, guards us, and cares for us. We can know that He would
not have created, redeemed, and called us unless He intended to finish His work
in us. How can we be afraid when we know this God is for us, is looking out for
our interests?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">When
you pass through the waters, I will be with you: Through any potential
obstacle, God will be with us. Deep waters? I will be with you. Must
you walk through the fire? Then you shall not be burned. When God is
with us, He is for us, and who can be against us?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Israel
had and would have their trials, but we have ours also. Trials are inevitable;
it doesn’t say if you pass through the waters, it says when you pass
through the waters. The text doesn’t say, “When you walk on a luxurious padded
carpet, I will be with you.” It says God will be with us in the toughest of
circumstances. Trials are varied; sometimes we face waters,
sometimes rivers, and sometimes fire. Floods overwhelm, fires
consume.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Do
not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will
do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth…Isaiah 43:18-19a NKJV <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Do
not remember the past events; pay no attention to things of old. Look, I am
about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I
will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18-19 CSB<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Do
not remember the former things: As Isaiah writes prophetically to Israel, they
were mired in the desperate circumstances of captivity and exile. God wants to
put their eyes on the new work He will do, so it begins with a reminder
to not remember the former things. If they are stuck in the failure and
sin and discouragement of the past, they will never go forward to the new thing
God has for them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">It
is a fascinating – and instructive – switch between Isaiah 43:16-17 and Isaiah
43:18. In Isaiah 43:16-17, Israel is told to look to the past by remembering
the great things God did for them at the Red Sea. But in Isaiah 43:18, they are
told, do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old.
This shows us that there is a sense in which we must remember the
past, in terms of God’s great work on our behalf. There is also a sense in
which we must forsake and forget the past, with all its
discouragement and defeat, and move on to what God has for us in the future.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Behold,
I will do a new thing: Staying stuck in the past can keep us from the new
thing God wants to do. If Israel stayed stuck in the discouragement and
seduction of Babylon, they would never look for the new thing of
release from exile.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">We
can make an idol out of the “new.” We can error as the people of Athens did who spent
their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing (Acts
17:21). We can be tossed about by every wind of doctrine. But we can also error
on the other side of the balance, and work against the new thing God
wants to do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“This
is what the Lord says— Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty: I am the
first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.” Isaiah 44:6 NIV
(read v. 6-8)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I am
the First and I am the Last; besides Me there is no God: The LORD has already
taken this unique title in Isaiah 41:4, in the same context of proclaiming His
glory against the feeble false gods. An idol can never be the First,
because an idol needs someone to make him. An idol can never be the Last because
they wear out and break. But the Lord GOD of Israel is both the First and the
Last; He is completely unique, and besides Him there is no God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“As first he
does not derive his being from any other, but is self-existing; as last he
remains supreme at the End.” (Motyer)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Jesus
takes the same title of the First and the Last in Revelation 1:17 and
22:13. If the LORD is the Firstand the Last according
to Isaiah 44:6, and if Jesus is the First and the Last according to
Revelation 1:17 and 22:13, since there cannot be two firsts or two
lasts, Jesus must be the LORD God!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Who
can proclaim as I do: Because God is the First and the Last, He
lives outside our time-domain, and can proclaim things before they
happen. He can proclaim the things that are coming and shall come. This shows
God really is who He says He is, watching and directing the parade of human and
cosmic history as it makes its course down His appointed path.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Do
not fear, nor be afraid: Knowing these truths about God isn’t only good for
winning theological quiz games. When we really know who God is, and His great
wisdom and authority over all things, it erases all fear in our
lives.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">You
are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me (Isaiah 44:8): God says to His
people, “You are all witnesses of these truths. Tell Me yourself – is there
any God besides Me?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Because
there is no other God besides the LORD, it means that God the Father
is the LORD, God the Son is the LORD, and God the Holy Spirit is the
LORD. Yahweh – the name translated by the small-caps LORD – is the Triune
God, the One God in Three Persons. There are no “grades” or “degrees” to true
deity. There are false gods, symbolic gods, and the true God – and the only
true God is Yahweh, the LORD.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">You
are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me (Isaiah 44:8): God says to His
people, “You are all witnesses of these truths. Tell Me yourself – is there any
God besides Me?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Because
there is no other God besides the LORD, it means that God the Father is the
LORD, God the Son is the LORD, and God the Holy Spirit is the LORD. Yahweh –
the name translated by the small-caps LORD – is the Triune God, the One God in
Three Persons. There are no “grades” or “degrees” to true deity. There are
false gods, idols, symbolic gods, and the true God – and the only true God is
Yahweh, the LORD. Our God is a jealous God, He wants a deep, intimate, personal
relationship with us. Don’t let nothing and no one come before Him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><a href="https://youtu.be/y81yIo1_3o8" target="_blank">The Goodness of God</a></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Be Blessed
and Be a Blessing!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"></span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://eboniez22.blogspot.com/2022/05/the-book-of-isaiah.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Introduction</i></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ln7sA0dGis4" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Week 1 Review</i></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://eboniez22.blogspot.com/2022/05/week-2-summary.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Week 2 Review</i></span></a></p>ChickChathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871618401992515942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415704965564981477.post-54913229643186996872022-05-16T07:39:00.000-07:002022-05-16T07:39:48.772-07:00Week 2 Summary<p> </p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ57LBYI0xqpdU6PWKz11G34z_sdeDza08GPX4ojF4GnxST_Vj7E48H_lcYXatPYRXWQCxxWGVe5fAGzf9yHsY7paf1pW5zTDtYzTTKACC1u-_j-Z2ZjrUCFhEHE59hy6pUz-f-O9zfwto6tDR27Gr36Nlim3Vzty52c_KXXPwjKzTpLf1qsNRRl1e/s1280/Isaiah%20-40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ57LBYI0xqpdU6PWKz11G34z_sdeDza08GPX4ojF4GnxST_Vj7E48H_lcYXatPYRXWQCxxWGVe5fAGzf9yHsY7paf1pW5zTDtYzTTKACC1u-_j-Z2ZjrUCFhEHE59hy6pUz-f-O9zfwto6tDR27Gr36Nlim3Vzty52c_KXXPwjKzTpLf1qsNRRl1e/w605-h341/Isaiah%20-40.jpg" width="605" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">A Son Is Given to Us <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“For a child has been
born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is
named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6 NRSV<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">What was the
solution? A new government, leader, economic reform, military strategy, or
education system? <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“And he will be
called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6b NIV<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In 700 BC, the nation
of Israel had overwhelming problems. They were surrounded by vicious enemies.
The people had forgotten God. Darkness, death, and despair filled the land.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Isaiah declares that
hope will only arrive, in a newborn baby. More than a usual baby—He would
be a king. Indeed, He would be the King of kings and would rule the world. This
baby king would have four titles, describing what He can do for us:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Wonderful
Counselor.” This King has all wisdom and understanding; life’s complexities
that are beyond us, are not beyond Jesus. Do you need wisdom? Go to the
Wonderful Counselor. He knows what to do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Mighty God.” Now we know
that this King is none other than God in the flesh. He is the mighty God,
mighty enough to save us. Whatever the need, He can do it. He can rescue you<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Everlasting Father.”
This King is like a loving father in the way He cares for us. He provides. He
protects. He shepherds. He cares. He understands. He listens. What is your
greatest burden right now? Bring it to Him. He cares about you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Prince of Peace.”
Jesus can take your fears, your worries, your guilt, and your hopelessness, and
replace them with His peace. He can flood your heart with peace. He can envelop
you in peace because He, is the Prince of Peace.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The ultimate solution
to the needs of ancient Israel was this most unusual baby. The baby who was
King. He is your solution too. Call out to Him. Look to Him. Run to Him. He
knows what to do. He can rescue you. He cares about you. He can flood your
heart with peace. Run to Him now.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“You will keep him in
perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. Trust in
the Lord forever, For in YAH, the Lord, is everlasting strength.” Isaiah 26:3-4
NKJV<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">You will keep him in
perfect peace: What a promise! Perfect peace! God promises that we can
have perfect peace, and even be kept in a place of perfect
peace.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In Hebrew, the
term perfect peace is actually shalom shalom. This shows how in
Hebrew, repetition communicates intensity. It isn’t just shalom; it
is shalom shalom, perfect peace.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">To be kept in this perfect
peace, our mind must be stayed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Strengthen the weak hands
and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are fearful-hearted,
“Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance,
With the recompense of God; He will come and save you.” Isaiah 35:3-4<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Strengthen the weak hands
and make firm the feeble knees: The coming judgment would be enough to make the
hands of anyone weak, and knees of anyone feeble. But in light of the glorious
restoration God will bring from that time, it is no time to have weak
hands or feeble knees! Get strong and get going!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">We use our hands to
work with; those with weak hands are not working for the LORD as they
should. We use our knees both to progress with and to pray with.
Those with feeble knees are not progressing with the LORD and praying
as they should.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hebrews 12:12 quotes
this verse from Isaiah to make the point that even in a time of chastening from
the LORD, we should take strength and courage in the LORD, knowing that it is
His Fatherly love and care that has allowed and directed the chastening. It’s
time to get strong in the LORD and move on!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The passage both here
in Isaiah and Hebrews 12 indicates that there are some among God’s people who
indeed have weak hands and feeble knees. If we are not making
progress in our walk with Jesus, fault can surely be found with weak hands and feeble
knees.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In our present
trials, we need the strong hope of the LORD to overcome our fearful hearts. Our
fearful hearts are not hoped by a vain, vague optimism; they are helped by the
assured confidence that He will come and save.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Then the eyes of the
blind shall be opened and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Isaiah 35:5<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">When God’s salvation
comes, miraculous power comes with it. It is a miracle for the blind
to see, for the deaf to hear, for the lame to run, and for the mute to speak.
But when He will come and save you, He does it with miraculous power!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“A road will be there
and a way; it will be called the Holy Way. The unclean will not travel on it,
but it will be for the one who walks the path. Fools will not wander on it.”
Isaiah 35:8 CSB<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Today, we take good
roads for granted. But in the ancient world, a good road – a highway –
was an amazing blessing for travel, progress, and business. Isaiah announces
that in the ministry of the Messiah, there will be a wonderful highway,
a road, known as the Highway of Holiness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Hebrew word
for highway indicates what our English word literally says: “a
high-way.” It speaks of a raised road, lifted above the ground. It is a high,
glorious road to travel on!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The construction of
this Highway of Holiness was the greatest engineering feat ever
accomplished. “Engineering has done much to tunnel mountains, and bridge
abysses; but the greatest triumph of engineering is that which made a way from
sin to holiness, from death to life, from condemnation to perfection. Who could
make a road over the mountains of our iniquities but Almighty God? None but the
Lord of love would have wished it; none but the God of wisdom could have
devised it; none but the God of power could have carried it out.” (Spurgeon)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 432.75pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Singing praise to
the LORD.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Sing to
the LORD,<br />
For He has done excellent things;<br />
This is known in all the earth.<br />
Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion,<br />
For great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sing to the LORD:
First, the LORD was the song of the worshipper (Isaiah 12:6). Now, he
sings this song of the LORD to whoever will listen! If
the LORD has become your song, then sing it!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Cry out and shout:
This is excited praise! We should all abhor the artificial,
“Let’s-whip-them-up-into-a-manufactured-enthusiasm” kind of worship. But if our
worship will never cry out and shout, there is something lacking in it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“We ought not to
worship God in a half-hearted sort of way; as if it were now our duty to bless
God, but we felt it to be a weary business, and we would get it through as
quickly as we could and have done with it; and the sooner the better. No, no;
‘All that is within me, bless his holy name.’ Come, my heart, wake up, and
summon all the powers which wait upon thee! Mechanical worship is easy, but
worthless. Come rouse yourself, my brother! Rouse thyself, O my own soul!”
(Spurgeon)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">For great is the Holy
One of Israel in your midst: This gives two reasons for great praise. First,
because of who God is: the Holy One of Israel. Second, because
of where God is: in your midst. Each of these gives everyone
reason to praise God!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Be blessed and be a
blessing!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _MailOriginal;"></span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://youtu.be/-rIhpSILmN4">Week 2 Summary</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://youtu.be/ln7sA0dGis4" target="_blank">Week 1 Summary</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> <a href="https://eboniez22.blogspot.com/2022/05/the-book-of-isaiah.html" target="_blank">Introduction</a></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><br /><p></p>ChickChathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871618401992515942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415704965564981477.post-35617904947889419812022-05-07T18:12:00.018-07:002022-06-04T19:38:10.846-07:00The Book of Isaiah<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTupX6zvZnHx05u1l0lKpIqz6PkyHNxWweDGmRMoq9Hw0W3FPKyNnkKcBO_dp3cBtshfsvm_hW1x3O2_13DXeUEvGIMCJd7ibPFY_Ub1JHZ--KxIClCQDuo4ukzc9A0jf9OEGb3ueYHpJOYn2_qmANMhPrHDz1Td48npYwLEFLAbN7IvGbxlnEmFgm/s1284/Bk%20of%20Isaiah.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="721" data-original-width="1284" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTupX6zvZnHx05u1l0lKpIqz6PkyHNxWweDGmRMoq9Hw0W3FPKyNnkKcBO_dp3cBtshfsvm_hW1x3O2_13DXeUEvGIMCJd7ibPFY_Ub1JHZ--KxIClCQDuo4ukzc9A0jf9OEGb3ueYHpJOYn2_qmANMhPrHDz1Td48npYwLEFLAbN7IvGbxlnEmFgm/w571-h320/Bk%20of%20Isaiah.jpg" width="571" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">In his prophetic book, Isaiah says we will work forever
on the “new earth” where God will establish his eternal kingdom (see Isaiah
65)!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Isaiah is the most-quoted Old Testament book in the New
Testament, and the prophet Isaiah is generally regarded as the greatest of the
Old Testament “writing prophets” (those who wrote books eventually included in
the Bible) because so many of his prophecies focus on the coming Messiah and on
an age of remarkable divine blessing when “the earth will be filled with the
knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea” (Isa 11:9).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw
concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and
Hezekiah, kings of Judah. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">The vision of Isaiah: This book contains the prophesies
of Isaiah, the son of Amoz, who ministered from about 740 to 680 B.C. For
about 20 years, he spoke to both the northern kingdom of Israel and the
southern kingdom of Judah. After Israel’s fall to the Assyrians in
722 B.C., Isaiah continued to prophesy to Judah.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">This period of Israel’s history is told in 2 Kings 15
through 21 and 2 Chronicles 26 through 33. Isaiah was a contemporary of the
prophets Hosea and Micah. By the time of Isaiah, the prophets Elijah, Elisha,
Obadiah, Joel, Jonah, and Amos had already completed their ministry.</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">By this time, Israel had been in the Promised Land for
almost 700 years. For their first 400 years in Canaan, judges ruled
Israel. These were spiritual, military, and political leaders whom God raised
up as the occasion demanded. Then, for about 120 years, three kings reigned over
all Israel: Saul, David, and Solomon. But in 917 B.C. Israel had a
civil war, and remained divided into two nations, Israel (to the north) and
Judah (to the south) up until the time of Isaiah.</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Up until the time of Isaiah, the northern nation of
Israel had some 18 kings – all of them bad, and rebellious against
the LORD. The southern nation of Judah had some 11 kings before Isaiah’s
ministry, some good and some bad.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">In the time of Isaiah, Israel was a little nation often
caught in the middle of the wars between three superpowers: Egypt, Assyria, and
Babylon.</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">As Isaiah’s ministry began, there was a national crisis
in the northern nation of Israel. The superpower of Assyria was about to engulf
the nation of Israel. During the span of his ministry as a prophet, the
southern nation of Judah was faced with repeated threats from the larger
surrounding nations.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Many modern scholars think that there was more than one
author to the book of Isaiah. They throw about terms like “Deutero-Isaiah” and
“Trito-Isaiah” or the “Isaianic School.” The New Testament quotes Isaiah by
name more than all the other writing prophets combined. In John 12:37-41, John
quotes from both the “first” part of Isaiah and the “second” part of Isaiah –
the parts supposedly written by two or more different Isaiahs – and
specifically says it is the same Isaiah.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Isaiah, son of Amoz: The name Isaiah means Salvation
is of the LORD. There are at least seven men by the name of Isaiah in
the Bible, but only one is Isaiah, the son of Amoz.</span></p><p style="background: white;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><a href="https://youtu.be/23UdKVb8rTo" target="_blank">Introduction to Isaiah</a></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><a href="https://youtu.be/ln7sA0dGis4" target="_blank">Week 1 in Review</a></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://youtu.be/-rIhpSILmN4" target="_blank"><i>Week 2 in Review</i></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><a href="https://eboniez22.blogspot.com/2022/05/week-3-summary.html" target="_blank">Week 3 in Review</a></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><a href="https://eboniez22.blogspot.com/2022/05/week-4-summary.html" target="_blank">Week 4 in Review</a></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://eboniez22.blogspot.com/2022/06/isaiah-week-5-in-review.html" target="_blank"><i>Week 5 in Review</i></a></p><p></p>ChickChathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871618401992515942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415704965564981477.post-55327587551690425922021-12-31T18:13:00.002-08:002022-01-14T16:46:08.183-08:00Year in Review<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 107%;"><b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeWzpijO9Dc" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: verdana;">2021 in Review</span></a><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwZIPEW0M4kGSQRpm7tOzGwIxeywabusaCPnd8DI8jnrp0xJe51C7Bcm8GbXJjYr8m7hL1_Sjs_d819xGZwKZOZEZp9wfqO5J8vpTTsb7ewsKjvthg_Y_w7zOYt_JmMxfVRc911nkZ2DqKU0M0wZxior7uS6tSdEFhWECnNUohBnHwOqt-8FpxYyDc=s4016" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2677" data-original-width="4016" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwZIPEW0M4kGSQRpm7tOzGwIxeywabusaCPnd8DI8jnrp0xJe51C7Bcm8GbXJjYr8m7hL1_Sjs_d819xGZwKZOZEZp9wfqO5J8vpTTsb7ewsKjvthg_Y_w7zOYt_JmMxfVRc911nkZ2DqKU0M0wZxior7uS6tSdEFhWECnNUohBnHwOqt-8FpxYyDc=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Every year
comes with lessons, but I think this year especially we are learning to come
back from the struggle that overtook us in 2020. We are trying to make sense of
our new normal and regain some of what we lost in the process. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As 2021 ends,
I’m reminded of a song we used to sing in church a long time ago – “<i>as I
look back over my life, I can truly say I’ve got a tes-ti-mony.</i>” For me,
this year has been a process. I didn’t really begin to unpack any lessons from
this year until these last few months. The fog of it all has started to lift
and for the first time in a long time, I feel like I can see the light. The
hope that I have clung to has pulled me out of the darkness and kept me focused
on Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I challenge you
to sit down in the next day or two and make a list of what you have learned in
the last twelve months. But not just what you have learned but make a list of
the things that God has done in your life, reflect on His goodness, and rejoice
in His faithfulness. Take those lessons and actions of God in your life and
carry them with you into the new year. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>Here are just a
few of my favorite things for 2021</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">Weekly
Family Zoom Chats </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">- </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Celebrating our friendships with
others and loving on our family members is something that encourages us and
honors God.</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">Thanksgiving
with my son Marcus and his family, our first in-person visit since the
beginning of the pandemic<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My Social Distancing Besties – Pam and
Janet</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">I
participated in the Daily Photoshop and XD Challenges. Here’s the link to my <a href="https://www.behance.net/eboniez22">Behance</a> page; I upload a few but not
all my projects<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">The
2021 Lettering Challenge – 36 Days of Type is also on my <a href="https://www.behance.net/eboniez22">Behance</a> page<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">6.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">Going
to the beach in the pre-dawn hours for sunrise and then in the evenings for
moonrise<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">7.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">Just
can’t get enough of those Florida Launches<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">8.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">Spending
a day at the Sunflower farm <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">9.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">Spending
a weekend at Walt Disney World<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">10.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif">The
30-day Gratitude Challenge<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLZ6c5qQh0wqO4r-WtSLOjPvi2QmCBpW1D4BZNo93A-tjUr2SbAfyM3PaqHfzqu6DuQP532kvsqJzZQ7LX1d77OhLFu86Jzqa3pyT_BA4FHbhj6VVGZYKc-5pv1BlzPn4_1fDBn4HPADPPnv9zLZgKuIR_sbq6r3EEZuTGMCrnG1ib9BuSfzCpchuP=s2000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A View from my backyard" border="0" data-original-height="1442" data-original-width="2000" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLZ6c5qQh0wqO4r-WtSLOjPvi2QmCBpW1D4BZNo93A-tjUr2SbAfyM3PaqHfzqu6DuQP532kvsqJzZQ7LX1d77OhLFu86Jzqa3pyT_BA4FHbhj6VVGZYKc-5pv1BlzPn4_1fDBn4HPADPPnv9zLZgKuIR_sbq6r3EEZuTGMCrnG1ib9BuSfzCpchuP=w400-h289" title="December 2021" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">December 2021 Launch</span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">In order to fulfill so much in God’s Word, we must gather
with </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">one another</i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> more often. So, why not do something every month? In
today’s digital age, there’s many ways to gather together.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">These are a few of my favorite scriptures:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Now faith is the substance of
things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 NKJV<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Shout for joy to God, all the
earth!” Psalms 66:1 NIV<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“My lips will shout for joy when I
sing praise to you— I whom you have delivered.” Psalms 71:23 NIV<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Finally, brothers and sisters,
whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or
praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8 NIV<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Rejoice always, pray continually,
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ
Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Who satisfies your desires with
good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (He fills my lips
with good things.) Psalms 103:5 NIV<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“May my meditation be pleasing to
him, as I rejoice in the Lord.” Psalms 104:34 NIV<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“For great is his love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord.” Psalms
117:2 NIV<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Be joyful in hope, patient in
affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12 NIV<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“The Lord is my strength and shield.
I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I
burst out in songs of thanksgiving.” Psalms 28:7 NLT<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Every single day of our lives we get a new set of
twenty-four hours to be the people that God calls us to be. The people who are
kind, generous, thoughtful, social, thankful, and fully devoted to following
Jesus…all year long.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">God is good, He does good, and He wants to do good things in
our lives because He loves us!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Have a grateful, safe, and healthy </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: #2e75b6; font-size: 26pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #2E75B6; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent5; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">2022</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7MMNfnaf-RfPI_W-MpLLAqECbEBThbdHHYFhX2cXpqHKAqavtscZH1oYzxupPErFr_Y1Vwya0D58UKnrbm0gL6tzUAVOpSRaCsTgLlEDEm6dlmRNC2LL2O67x-5ERN0xgHhjGcrHibwvxFR_d-pkIHbg1EdDJ8moTphXZ3EsWjP1pLnMkmPRxbSSJ=s2948" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1752" data-original-width="2948" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7MMNfnaf-RfPI_W-MpLLAqECbEBThbdHHYFhX2cXpqHKAqavtscZH1oYzxupPErFr_Y1Vwya0D58UKnrbm0gL6tzUAVOpSRaCsTgLlEDEm6dlmRNC2LL2O67x-5ERN0xgHhjGcrHibwvxFR_d-pkIHbg1EdDJ8moTphXZ3EsWjP1pLnMkmPRxbSSJ=w640-h380" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7hlyaIRTit4wOGarpj-UkDWlsndkZBAWAR1rldq5-fsrXNK-7To4t_502rDbXxCp1jliN-nyljyiSYEN_cfQD7aZcseQZ_W7Si-f2tFtgYSJKmqQDz5eE2IURe1zWf6aEaCs7AdwFkcfrnAiP6iJZBOBg5VoC2oKIOM0ukEr_GNqcWMm6lQ3FMnAl=s1102" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="1102" height="62" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7hlyaIRTit4wOGarpj-UkDWlsndkZBAWAR1rldq5-fsrXNK-7To4t_502rDbXxCp1jliN-nyljyiSYEN_cfQD7aZcseQZ_W7Si-f2tFtgYSJKmqQDz5eE2IURe1zWf6aEaCs7AdwFkcfrnAiP6iJZBOBg5VoC2oKIOM0ukEr_GNqcWMm6lQ3FMnAl=s320" width="320" /></a><p></p><br /><p><br /></p>ChickChathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871618401992515942noreply@blogger.com0