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Praise and worship

2023 The First 100 Days – Reading Wisdom and Praise – Day 7

2023 First 100 days day 7, January 7

Day 7 discussed by Chris Wildman from The WildBerry Patch

Image by Myriams-Fotos from Pixabay

Wisdom and Praise Collection
Psalms 7, 37, 67, 97, 127 and Proverbs 7

Today’s readings were so fun.  I really focused on Psalm 37 in the video, and it has songs!  I also put Psalm 67 at the end as a prayer, but here, I’ll put them all in order.

 

  • Thanks for joining me in this study of Wisdom and Praise.  Would you like to help others to be touched by this? 
  • Please go to the Facebook “The WildBerry Patch” page and join, and like and comment. 
  • Also, The WildBerry Patch site you can add a comment. 
  • Just for fun, you can join me at ChristArtist on Twitter. 
  • Thank you.  
prayer

Image by reenablack from Pixabay

  • Psalm 7 – David’s Prayer Journal
    • Ps 7:1-2
      • Yahweh my God, I seek refuge in You;
        save me from all my pursuers and rescue me
        or they[c] will tear me like a lion,
        ripping me apart with no one to rescue me.[d]
    • Ps 7:3-5 seeking his own heart
      • Yahweh my God, if I have done this,
        if there is injustice on my hands,
        if I have done harm to one at peace with me
        or have plundered[e] my adversary without cause,
    • Ps 7:10 GoTo verse
      • My shield is with[k] God,
        who saves the upright in heart.
    • Ps 7:17 GoTo verse
      • I will thank the Lord for His righteousness;
        I will sing about the name of Yahweh the Most High.
Praise and worship

Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

  • Psalm 37 very musical
    • Ps 37:1 in various versions
    • (NIV) Of David. Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong;
    • (NLT) Don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong.
    • (KJV) A Psalm of David. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
    • (HCSB) Davidic. Do not be agitated by evildoers; do not envy those who do wrong.
    • Psalm 37 song by Sons of Korah
    • Ps 37:3-6 Song number 1 – Trust in the Lord and do Good
      • Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

        Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

        Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

      • I sing a version of this on the video.  If anyone knows where this  comes from , please comment and let me know!
    • Ps 37:7 – This could be a GoTo verse
      • Be silent before the Lord and wait – our responsibility when seeking the Lord.
        • (KJV) Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
    • Ps 37:8 a GoTo verse to be like Christ
      • (KJV) Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
      • (HCSB) Refrain from anger and give up your rage;
        do not be agitated—it can only bring harm.
    • Ps 37:16 – another GoTo verse
      • The little that the righteous man has is better
        than the abundance of many wicked people.
    • Ps 37:21 – Great Wisdom for knowing character
      • The wicked man borrows and does not repay,
        but the righteous one is gracious and giving.
    • Ps 37:23-24 another song!
      • The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

        24Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

      • The Steps of Good man by Jack Marti 
    • Ps 37:27 another GoTo verse
      • (KJV)27Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
    • Ps 37:28-29 talks about our future in God
    • Ps 37:30-31  tells more about the character of the follower of God in Christ
      • The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom;
        his tongue speaks what is just.
        31 The instruction of his God is in his heart;
        his steps do not falter.
      • this is because we have hidden His word in our hearts
        • 11I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

    • Ps 37:37 – a word of wisdom – watch the blameless, watch the man of peace, they will have a future
    • Ps 37:39-40 Is a promise of refuge, Salvation and Deliverance from the Lord
  • Psalm 67 -a prayer
    • Ps 67:1- 2
      • May God be gracious to us and bless us;
        look on us with favorSelah
        so that Your way may be known on earth,
        Your salvation among all nations.
  • Psalm 97 – Several GoTo verses
    • Ps 97:1 GoTo Verse – choose  your  version  from  BibleHub.com
      • (ESV) 1The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad.
    • Ps 97:2-6 Glorifying the Great God Jehovah
    • Ps 97:8-9 Praise
    • Ps 97:10 GoTo Verse – all or just the first part!
      • You who love the Lord, hate evil!
        He protects the lives of His godly ones;
        He rescues them from the power of the wicked.
    • Ps 97:11-12 Beautiful Praise
      • Light dawns[c][d] for the righteous,
        gladness for the upright in heart.
        12 Be glad in Yahweh, you righteous ones,
        and praise His holy name.[e]
  • Psalm 127 – a song about wisdom and grace
    • Ps 127:1-2 GoTo Verse, all or first part. choose your version from BibleHub.
      • (HCSB) Unless the Lord builds a house,
        its builders labor over it in vain;
        unless the Lord watches over a city,
        the watchman stays alert in vain.
    • Ps 127:3-5 – the Joy of having children
      • (AMP)

        3Behold, children are a heritage and gift from the LORD, The fruit of the womb a reward.

  • Proverb 7 
    • Pr 7:1-5 a plea for the child to seek out wisdom and to hold on
      • part of the training of a child – teach them the Bible
    • Pr 7:6-27 more on the danger of the harlot
    • The American Bible Society has a great study on how to flee from sin.

Hi! My hope in the midst of despair and my joy in the face of depression is because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do not have one, or are not sure you will join him in heaven, please check out these links.

Thanks for joining me in this journey, In His hands and under His wings, ~Christi Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

M. Christine Wildman“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear. If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation. If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

Copyrights and Legal-eze There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Advent Day 1

Advent day 1 (The first Sunday of Advent – often the first Sunday following Thanksgiving, or the fourth Sunday before Christmas)
If using an Advent Log, light candle one.

One candle in the darkness

If using an Advent Wreath, light candle one.

New this year is a Facebook group Advent at the WildBerry Patch, where we can discuss ideas, recipes and photos of our advent preparations!

My first thing for Advent is the tree.

For many, Jeremiah 10 describes a Christmas tree, and
Psalm 135:15-18 and following warns against similar idols.
I do not sing “o Christmas tree”.

So, Why a tree?
An evergreen tree remind me of the gift of everlasting life given to me by Christ. Evergreens seem to endure all weather and still show the growth and greenness of life. The giant redwoods are evergreen!

We used to buy living trees and then plant them, as a reminder, but that tradition fell as we lived in rentals.

evergreen tree

Evergreen in Batelle Darby Metro Park

Jesus Christ, everlasting, eternal, life. Is 9:6-7

Now, we use a representation, because of the ornaments that I use to represent the story of Christ.

tree3dec2015

Then, our Advent devotions. Based around an Advent Log.

Jim reading the devotional

Jim reading the devotional

One candle in the darkness

One candle in the darkness

Father God,
Please help me to remember that each and every day is a gift from you.
Help me to remember that my life is eternal through Christ Jesus.
Help me to remember that Life is precious, growing, and to be rooted into the source, I can be green and weather every storm.
Help me to remember that even one flickering flame, in the darkness, can be a source of light and guidance for those lost.

Psalm 1
1 Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.

Advent Resources
Advent Tree Crafts

More Advent Devotions

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

I want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” –
from My Utmost for His highest

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
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Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here is one that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Fourth Sunday of Lent – I Thirst

Lent Devotions
Lent Week Three – for Catch up.
Week four started March 11, and Week five starts March 18. I’m so sorry for the delay – thank you for your patience with me as we prepare to move!

Fourth Sunday of Lent
I thirst


Music

Ho Everyone that thirsteth – Sheri Yohe
(I like the version that we used to sing, but, it’s not available!)

Scripture

John 19:28-30 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
The Finished Work of Jesus
28 After this, when Jesus knew that everything was now accomplished that the Scripture might be fulfilled, He said, “I’m thirsty!” 29 A jar full of sour wine was sitting there; so they fixed a sponge full of sour wine on hyssop[a] and held it up to His mouth.

30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” Then bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

Devotion

Jesus was giving up his life, for us.
Jesus was suffering intensely, for us.
Jesus was dying, for us.

And he says “I Thirst”

I have been meditating upon these words, and I have found a blog that explains very nicely what I’d like to present.
Adam Hamilton’s Blog “I thirst”: More here than meets the eye.”

One that I was looking for was to what prophecy did this refer? Quoting from Adam Hamilton’s blog:

At the surface, Jesus’ words, “I thirst,” John tells us, lead to the fulfillment of Scripture. What Scripture did Jesus fulfill by making this statement? Most scholars think it is Psalm 69:21b: “For my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” When he said he was thirsty and was offered wine vinegar, Jesus was pointing us back to this verse from Psalm 69. He was saying, “Look, what I’m doing now was written centuries ago. It is part of God’s plan that was set in place long before now.”

The others being his humanity – thirsting; His reference to the drinking his blood; his reference to HIMSELF drinking of the cup; and reference to the living water.

There is a comment on this blog that talks about some other symbolism in this event, written by anonymous. It gives some food for thought:

My friend, I’m sorry but I think you missed it. “as a sponge was dipped in wine vinegar, affixed to a stick and lifted up to Jesus.” That stick holds the key to the passage which John is talking about.
Numbers 19 is the laws for purification in which a Red Heifer (Jesus) is sacrificed outside the camp, then burned in a fire with cedar wood (the cross) scarlet yarn (the robe which was put on Jesus while they were mocking him) and hyssop (the very wood used to raise the wine to Jesus.) The ashes from that fire were mixed into water from a running water source (the hebrew for running water, moving water, and Living Water is the same). It was that water which was used to purify the parts of the tabernacle worship as well as to purify the people who were unclean from touching a dead thing, they would be washed on the third day and on the seventh day then at the beginning of the eighth or new day they would be clean and allowed back in the camp. This is all a picture of how Jesus sacrifice on the cross is for our purification.
When John says that Jesus was fulfilling Scripture it wasn’t a fulfillment of prophecy, an emphasis on His humanity, an expression of finishing his suffering, or that the Living Water had dried up, but it was actually a fulfillment of the Law.
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Matthew 5:17

Even with this comment, I believe that Adam does a wonderful job of speaking to those concepts of this very passage, therefore, I’m going to speak to OUR thirst!

Isaiah 55:1-3 King James Version (KJV)
55 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

3 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.

When Jesus spoke to the woman at the well, he talks about a different kind of water…one that would never leave you thirsting again.
There is talk in the Bible about fresh water and that from cisterns – and that some will choose cistern water over fresh.
When Jesus talks to the disciples, He warns them of false sheep – lions that seek to devour…to test the spirits.
There is TRUE water, and there is FALSE water.

What are we to thirst after?
First – WHY???
BECAUSE water is so vital to our life.
USGS says that our bodies are approximately 60% water.
A medical article says that the body us up to 75% water, and talks about the symptoms of dehydration.

Years ago, I was struggling with my own issues with dehydration.
My electrolytes would get out of whack, and I could not function.
I was missing the signs of dehydration – I was so far PAST thirst.

Dehydration is deadly – both physically, and spiritually. I compared the two!

We are to remember Jesus’s sacrifice by eating his flesh(bread) and drinking his blood (wine) – we are to remember, so that we continue to desire HIM.

Then WHAT are we to thirst after?
We are given a promise, if we thirst after righteousness:

Matthew 5:6 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
6 Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed,
for they will be filled.

When Jesus speaks, even in a very seemingly simple phrase such as “I Thirst” – there is so much to be gathered from him. It was said of Elijah that not one word of his ever fell to the ground wasted. How much MORE the words of Jesus.

He was broken and spilled out for us…and as he was breathing his last words, he gave us a reminder…a proof text…and a promise…in one simple phrase – ‘I thirst’.

Broken and Spilled Out – Steve Green

Are we willing to be broken and spilled out?

Do we thirst to be filled with the living water by turning away from the worldly cisterns?

Do we remember daily the price with which we were purchased?

Prayer and Worship
Come to the Water – Matt Maher
Come to the Water – Paul Baloche
All Who are thirsty – Vineyard

 

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” –
from My Utmost for His highest

Copyrights and Legal-eze
There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Lent Week Five – upper room talks, and then the Garden (TBD 2024)

What is LENT? (a link to all of the LENT devotions)
Wikipedia has a very complete explanation for many of the Christian denominations that observe LENT.
Short and simple, it’s making oneself prepared through humility to celebrate the resurrection of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is the Christian equivalent to Passover for the Jews.
We’ve created a facebook group to follow and discuss, please join us! – 40 days of Lent!

Lent Week Five – Upper Room Talks, and then the Garden

TBD – by Lent 2024
23 – (3/20) Spirit of Truth – John 16:5-16
24 – (3/21) Sorrow to joy – John 16:17-33 smiley face sad face flipper
?? – Upper Room – Advice – to Simon, to all Lk 31-38; John 16, maybe John 16:1-4
25 – (3/22) Jesus’ prayer for Himself – John 17:1-5
26 – (3/23) Jesus’ prayer for disciples John 17:6-19
27 – (3/24) Jesus’ prayer for believers John 17:20-26
28 – (3/25) Gethsemane – Lk 22:39-46; Mt 26:36 – John 18:1

(3-26) 4th SUNDAY WORSHIP – REMEMBER THE RESURRECTION “it is finished” guest post

Lenten Cross Instructions
Our Lenten cross in progress.

I want these to be family activities, therefore, I’m going to list a few free coloring page websites here:

 

~~~~~~~

Hi!
My hope in the midst of despair and my joy in the face of depression is because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do not have one, or are not sure you will join him in heaven, please check out these links:

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

Older woman with shades of coral in jewelry and sweater, glasses, silver and brown hair.

M. Christine Wildman

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” –
from My Utmost for His highest

Copyrights and Legal-eze
There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Third Sunday of Lent – Why hast thou forsaken me?

Lent Devotions

Lent Week Three just passed.
Lent Week Four is coming up.

We have created a facebook group in which to follow and discuss, please join! – 40 days of Lent!

If you are doing the Lenten Cross – light all but two. I am starting from the bottom, it seems symbolic to me. Here’s a photo of my cross:

third Sunday of Lent

Music
At Calvary – Casting Crowns
Didn’t He – Randy Matthews

Scripture

Matthew 27:45-48 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
The Death of Jesus
45 From noon until three in the afternoon[a] darkness came over the whole land.[b] 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Elí, Elí, lemá[c] sabachtháni?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken[d] Me?”[e]

47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling for Elijah!”

Mark 15:33-36 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
The Death of Jesus
33 When it was noon,[a] darkness came over the whole land[b] until three in the afternoon.[c] 34 And at three[d] Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lemá[e] sabachtháni?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”[f]

35 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “Look, He’s calling for Elijah!” 36 Someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, fixed it on a reed, offered Him a drink, and said, “Let’s see if Elijah comes to take Him down!”

Psalm 22

Devotion
Have you ever felt like you were so bad that God turned his back on you? I have!

Have you ever felt like God just wasn’t listening? I have!

Have you ever heard the scripture verse about the heavens are brass?
Check out all the variations of Deuteronomy 28:23 – talking about God will not hear the prayers of the people!

When I am in times of depression, distress, despair, my mind does not work correctly. I have cognitive disorders and distortions from the various mental illnesses. I have struggled with fear of abandonment! Fear of betrayal! And fear of being left behind! I also can imagine all sorts of unforgivable sins I’ve committed…though theologically, they are NOT the unforgivable sin!

Jesus saying these words strikes me to my heart. Jim is going to talk about the theological aspects of this but just on the surface to think that Christ would feel forsaken by his father hurts my heart. The fact that Christ is one third of the whole Godhead, boggles my mind! How does one part forsake another part?

I’m going to talk about the feeling of being forsaken.

I will never leave you nor forsake you!

Hebrews 13:5 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
5 Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you.

I Will
This is a promise, that is so dear to my heart.

Never! That is an eternal word! Never ever will he leave us.

Leave!
I’ve talked a lot about how sin separated us from God and from fellowship with God.
I’ve talked a lot about Christ dying on the cross specifically to give us a way back to fellowship.

From Come Back to Jesus
Jesus talks about us being in the palm of God’s hands and no man can take us out.
In Lent day 16, Jim gave us some links about Calvin’s teaching on the security of the Saints. If we are in the palm of God’s hand, and no one can take us out of that Palm, then we are always always with God.

I admit, there are times it does not feel like it. To Me.

Nor!
That’s a contraction that specifies negatives. Which makes it say I will never leave you oh, I will never forsake you. Never no never! Pretty definite!

Forsake!
Forsake has so many connotations in my mind.
It’s not just leaving, it’s betraying a trust!
It’s breaking a promise!
It’s not just leaving, it is leaving someone high and dry!
Interesting that Jesus asks us to forsake the things of this world to turn towards him.
That connotation of forsake talks about making sure that those things are no longer in our heart, and that Jesus is more important.
So if we go back to Jesus saying he will not forsake us there is nothing that is more important to him than us.

My God…why hast thou forsaken me?
I know that this is the first line of Psalm 22.
Psalm 22 is a cry of someone who believes that they have been forsaken by God! David has written out his heart cry!

  • It turns from despair that God is not listening
  • to remembering the promises and times that he did in past and
  • declaring that he will in the future.

I’m not really sure of the timing of this song. I don’t have it in the notes that I have here. There are so many times that David was in trouble and was crying out to God and was praying for deliverance! Therefore, Pick a time!

Back to Hebrews 13:5:
With me.
Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psalm 23
I am a little dense sometimes, but I just realized that Psalm 23 comes after Psalm 22. I’m not sure of the order in which they were written, but I believe that there is a purpose for this order!

The Valley of the shadow of death is a dark place. It doesn’t say that God will take us out of the Valley of the shadow of death, but that he would be with us and walk with us. With the rod and the staff, He will guide us and keep us safe, like a Shepherd does his sheep as they go from one place to the other. It might be a dangerous place that they have to get through to go from one good feeding place to another. The Shepherd keeps a watch on the sheep, and does all, including laying down his life, to protect the sheep.

John 14:23 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
23 Jesus answered, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

Luke 23:43 New International Version (NIV)
43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

In the garden, Adam and Eve walked with God. The break, the leaving, is what we cause when we sinned.
Genesis 3

Enoch walked with God and was no more because God caught him up in the clouds. Enoch walked so closely with God, that he didn’t even have to die!

Genesis 5:24 King James Version (KJV)
24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

The key here that I want to point out is that God the son has promised to never leave us nor forsake us.
When David cried out “my God my God why has thou forsaken me,” God had not forsaken him. He just felt like it because he couldn’t see what God could see.

I have an inkling that that is exactly what Jesus was stating that, not so much that he was stating that God had forsaken him, but the fullness of Psalm 22. Where David was saying why did you forsake me and he goes on with the rest of the psalm and basically says God never forsakes us and God keeps his promises and God.

As we know the end of the story is that Jesus went to deliver the captives, He rose from the dead and talked to all the folks that were there. If you look at one of the gospels it says that hundreds came to life when Jesus rose from the dead, and were walking around and people saw them. Then Jesus ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father. God kept his promise. But in the mortal, finite mind, when darkness fell and Jesus’s body died it looked as though all hope was lost.

Here’s a twist. As Jesus was talking to the disciples and he let them know that he was leaving but that he would send a comforter, which was his way of saying I’m not going to leave you alone. This is just part of the Triune God, that Jesus had to die on the cross to pay the price for our sin, so that the Holy Spirit could come and dwell our hearts. We HAD TO BE MADE NEW SO THE HOLY SPIRIT COULD INDWELL US! and help us to take control of our minds and emotions and spirits.

The disciples had walked with God as in Walking With Jesus for 3 years. Now he tells them he’s going to die. Then he tells him that he’s going to leave, and they’re freaking out.

We have to remember that the Jews were very anti polytheism, therefore they didn’t really know that God was Triune. Jesus came and said that he and the father were one and the Holy Spirit came down like a dove as He,  the son, was being baptized and the Father’s voice says “this is my son” proving that there are three Personalities in the Godhead. This is rather disconcerting to these Jewish men. He’s going to send a comforter, and it’s supposed to be as good as having Jesus? They had no idea what was going on.  Of course they had seen Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead, but if Jesus Is Dead who’s going to raise Jesus from the dead?. That is a very good question and they didn’t have an answer.

So the big theological question is if God is Triune and God the Father, God the son and God the Holy Spirit are all one, how does God the Father turn his back on God the son?

~~~~ Jim’s thoughts ~~~~

My thoughts on Christ’s cry of forsakenness.

I love what Matthew Henry points out that it was a “loud cry”, not a whimper.  He did not die gradually, but suddenly.

For all of Christ’s utterances on the cross, I like to keep in mind the point of Him being there.  To be the perfect sacrifice for our sins. We know that the sacrifices in the OT were a type (or pointed to) the cross. Whatever is true of them is true of Christ’s sacrifice as well.  Nothing that Christ said on the cross or that was done to Him can make His sacrifice violate the pattern; it has to fit the type.

  1. The sacrifice was chosen
    1. Ex 12:3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
    2. Math 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
  2. The sacrifice was perfect and w/o blemish “a lamb w/o blemish”
    1. Ex 12:5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:
    2. John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
  3. The sacrifice had to be applied in the way specified in order to be effective
    1. Ex 12:7And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.
    2. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
  4. Christ was our sacrifice (so He did what was necessary)
    1. Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor.
    2. Heb 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
    3. Heb 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

It seems to me, that as Christ was fully God, it was impossible for Him to be killed in any normal sense; so His death (no matter what was done to His body) had to be a voluntary one.  

John 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

John 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Everything Christ did, He did volitionally to fulfill the Father’s will and plan.

John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

I have no idea to what extent the Father and the Son were separated at Christ’s death, just like I have no idea how the eternal God spent 9 months in Mary’s womb, then 2-3 years not being able to speak, and 12 years or so not being able to take care of Himself (as to earning a living, etc.) and 30 years not revealing Himself to anyone.

Just as we can not really understand the “how” of the Incarnation, I don’t think we can really understand the “how” of Christ’s death on the cross.  I like to think that His cry of forsakenness was the indication that He had fully suffered as a man, that He had reached the point (known only to God) that was necessary for Him to be our perfect sacrifice.  “It is finished”

John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

~~~~ end of Jim’s thoughts ~~~~

There are other thoughts in the commentaries that Bible Hub provides for Matthew 27:46

 

One of the things that is said is that Jesus has experienced all that we have experienced.

Hebrews 4:15 New International Version (NIV)
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

Until his death on the cross, he never felt like there is a possibility that God had forsaken him. Now as our high priest he knows what that feels like even though he knew what God was going to do.

The one thing that I can absolutely State without any doubt is that God keeps his promises.
He promised to never leave us nor forsake us.
Who chose to sin and separate themselves from God?
First it was Lucifer,
then it was Adam and Eve,
and then you can go on down the line until we are the ones that chose to separate ourselves.

God has given us two great works to show his presence and to draw us to him.
One being creation that screams of a Creator,
and the other being the Bible that tells how to be reunited with the Creator.

So the choice now is are you going to forsake God or not?

Worship and prayer
At Calvary – Mercy Me
Your Grace Finds me – Matt Redmon

If you are not sure if you have ever made the choice FOR God…not FORsaking God…Here are some links to help:
Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
Billy Graham’s version of the Plan of salvation

 

~~~~~~~

Hi!
My hope in the midst of despair and my joy in the face of depression is because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do not have one, or are not sure you will join him in heaven, please check out these links:

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

Jim and Christi Wildman November 2020

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” –
from My Utmost for His highest

Copyrights and Legal-eze
There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

2018 Lent Day Eleven – 2/26 – Remember

Lent Devotions
Lent Week Two for catch up.
Lent Week Three – this week.

We have created a facebook group to follow and discuss, please join! – 40 days of Lent!

Lent Day Eleven
COMMUNION – The Lord’s Supper – Eucharist
the bread and the cup will be day thirteen

Music
The Table of Grace – Phillips, Craig and Dean
I am the Bread of Life by Collin Raye

Scripture

Luke 22:14-20 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
The First Lord’s Supper
14 When the hour came, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him. 15 Then He said to them, “I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 Then He took a cup, and after giving thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

19 And He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “This is My body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.”

20 In the same way He also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant established by My blood; it is shed for you.

Matthew 26:26-30 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
The First Lord’s Supper
26 As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take and eat it; this is My body.” 27 Then He took a cup, and after giving thanks, He gave it to them and said, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood that establishes the covenant; it is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 But I tell you, from this moment I will not drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it in a new way in My Father’s kingdom with you.” 30 After singing psalms, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Mark 14:22-26 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Devotion

The words about the bread and the cup do not seem to be the FIRST thing that occurred after they arrived at the Upper Room, and yet, to me, for me, the bread and the cup ARE the major players, the crucial items upon which to focus first.

There is apparently disagreement amongst Christian denominations and theologians whether this was THE seder meal of Passover, or just some meal as Passover was about to start. It’s amazing what you can find out on Wikipedia! My position is that Jesus said:

Luke 22:15 Then He said to them, “I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.

Therefore, I’m going to ‘hang’ with Jesus on this one!

I try not to claim something is mine unless it is.
In that vein, I want to provide two websites that provide great explanation of what Communion , Lord’s Supper, Eucharist means to the Christian. They have done a much better job than I could, and I think you will be blessed by them.

NewSpring has a very nice explanation.

Where Did Communion Come From?
Jesus started the tradition of communion. He instructed His followers to use bread and wine to remember the sacrifice He was going to make when He died for our sins on the cross (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

Jesus called Himself “the bread of life,” which means that we’re nourished by Him, we survive because of Him, and He satisfies us when everything else leaves us empty (John 6:48-51). There’s a connection between our nearness to Jesus, believing in Him, and being fulfilled by Him (John 6:35).

The early Church celebrated Jesus by taking communion, sometimes every day (Acts 2:42-46). They saw that every time they gathered around a table to eat and drink, it was a chance to recognize Jesus and thank God for all He’s done.

All About Jesus Christ includes a response.

The Apostle Paul gives us the order for the practice in

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when He was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, 24 gave thanks, broke it, and said,[a] “This is My body, which is[b] for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.”

25 In the same way, after supper He also took the cup and said, “This cup is the new covenant established by My blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

You may wonder how Paul got to carry this information…if you remember, part of his training was having supernatural training from Jesus after his conversion. It’s assumed that he received this revelation then, and, since all of the disciples that attended the Last Supper were still alive, and did not dispute his revelation, we can take it as, well, gospel.

What does COMMUNION mean?

Oxford D-Xictionary Definition of Communion
— the word:
mass noun – The sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings, especially on a mental or spiritual level.
Shared participation in a mental or spiritual experience.
– the celebration:
The service of Christian worship at which bread and wine are consecrated and shared.
The consecrated bread and wine administered and received at Communion.

And, the word Eucharist

Eucharist
The Christian service, ceremony, or sacrament commemorating the Last Supper, in which bread and wine are consecrated and consumed.

My focus goes to that definition of the word COMMUNION -the sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings, especially on a mental or spiritual level.

Jesus had already talked to the disciples – and in the next few days we will talk about some of those talks and actions. As I said above, My highest focus on the activities in the Upper Room are about the cup and the bread.

Two reasons that I consider this very act important come from His words in the above passages::

“Do this in remembrance of Me.”

and

For this is My blood that establishes the covenant;[a] it is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins.

First, He commanded us to do this! Many Christians have thrown out all of the OT festivals.

He commands us to do what? Do this in remembrance of me.

All of the festivals in the Old Testament talk about remembering what God has done for us. Passover is for remembering how God, through Moses and the ten plagues and the blood over the door posts, delivered the Israelites from the bondage of Egypt.  The Passover story also remembers crossing the Red Sea and how bitter their life was at and the mortar of there slavery bondage and over and over and over just remembering on an annual basis what God did for Israel.

Here are two offerings to look at Passover!

Jew’s Belong
Judaism 101

There are a few other OT holy days:

  • First Fruits – Spring Barley Harvest – part of the Passover timing….this is waving the sheave of wheat – thanksgiving
  • Feast of Weeks – Shavuot or Pentecost – Remembering the giving of the Law
  • Feast of Trumpets – Rosh Hashanah – Beginning of the Civil New Year – precedes Yom Kippur
  • Day of Atonemnent – Yom Kippur – atonement for sin – remembering when the high priest made sacrifice for the whole nation
  • Feast of Boothes – Sukkot – remebering the 40 years in the wilderness
  • Simchat Torah – remember the reading of the torah
  • Hanukkah – remember the purification of the Temple – and the Maccabees victory
  • Purim – remember the preservation of the Jews – lines up with the book of Esther.

note – I gathered these from a resource Feasts and Holidays of the Bible by Rose Publishing. ISBN – 1-890947-58-X

God seems to want us to remember what he has done in our lives, and HE set up holy days to constantly remind the Jews of this. Jesus, in the midst of the Holy day that celebrates deliverance from Egypt(the foreshadowing of the Christ Messiah) says to REMEMBER what HE is about to do!

So when we participate in communion, the Lord’s Supper, the Eucharist, what actually happens?

The definition that I started this with says the sharing of intimate emotional and spiritual things, For me, this really says what this is all about! As two or more gathered Jesus is in our midst. (Matthew 18:20)
When we gather together, we acknowledge that we are all part of the body of Christ and that is a sharing of sorts. (1 Corinthians 12)

In another way, when we participate in this celebration, we are saying that we are willing to take up our cross, to crucify our flesh physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually – whatever is needed to grow into the fullness of Christ. We are saying that we believe that the blood of Jesus Christ was perfect to cleanse us and we’re making sure that our accounts with God are kept short. In a way, we are choosing to participate in his suffering symbolically. There are many on this planet that don’t have the choice whether or not they suffer with Christ or participate in his sufferings because they are under horrendous persecution. They can have their heads cut off, they can be burned at the stake, they can have acid thrown on them, and/or they can be raped, pillaged, whatever without any protection.

In the United States of America, we are kind of handicapped in that we have a soft cushioned, velvet covered cross that’s only holding our arms up with suspenders that don’t really hurt. They’re a little uncomfortable, maybe. Our feet and hands? Well, actually, we can get down off our cross anytime we want to! Because we have to choose! We have a choice.

A very scary verse for me is “too much to whom much is given much will be required.” (Luke 12:48) Those who have nothing don’t have any difficulty giving up their nothing for Christ! Yes, they do have to make choices. I’m not belittling their choice, but if you have no food you don’t have to give up food for Christ because you don’t have to give up what you don’t have! If you have access to fast food restaurants everywhere and you have five or ten dollars in your pocket anytime and you can go and get whatever burger, fries and chocolate shake you want anytime, anywhere and God asks you to give that up, sometimes we take that personally! “You want my burger and fries God?”
And God says
“no, I want your heart.”

Here’s some personal opinion – you are forewarned!
To me, one of the saddest parts of the non liturgical churches is the lack of the ability to celebrate the Lord’s Supper on a regular basis. Now, there is an option here to remind you that you are not take the Lord’s Supper unworthily. I’m assuming that many churches decided not to continue the monthly or weekly communion offerings because they want to make sure that their people are prepared to take communion. I’ve also heard that it is the reason. Also, that they do not want their people to take communion for granted.

I want to let you know, I drink water everyday and I don’t take that for granted. Now yes, I do more than those without water, but I am thankful that I have water. I also have to choose to participate in this water, and there are places that I can drink water that makes me sick because it is not good water. I am thankful for the clean water that is provided for me, daily.

Also, I have access to a toilet that is indoors and is in climate controlled environment. I have one at church and in my home. When I go hiking, and I can’t get to the Outhouse latrine easily, then I really appreciate the fact that I have access to running water and and toilets! I use it everyday. I only need to not have access to a toilet once for me to really, really appreciate the availability of the toilet! Or even worse, when I need a toilet in home, as in, a very often type of need, and I need to be able to get to the next toilet between places I’m going so that (you know what I mean) there’s no accidents, I really do appreciate toilets. Like I said I appreciate running water.

I appreciate that I do not have to grind my own wheat and make my own bread. I can go get toxin laid, dead flour, and garbage filled loaves of bread by the pound, if I want to. This is the blessing and the curse of having an abundance! We, in America, have so much, and so many options that we tend to take it for granted. Yet, do we choose to go without?

Why do I appreciate running water toilets and being able to pick and choose what kind of bread I might want? It’s because I have chosen to have a heart of gratitude and to remember
1. What it was like to have the well go dry in our house in Indiana,
2. what it was like to grind our wheat and make our bread from scratch because our children had allergic situations,
3. what it was like to be out hiking in the wilderness and needing to go to the bathroom and there is nowhere to go.

Personally, I appreciate the way the book of common prayer and the order of service leads a person right through Confession of sins and thanks for forgiveness before we take part in communion, to remember that the reason that I have forgiveness, the reason that I have Grace, the reason that I have mercy, is because Jesus Christ died on the cross, shed his blood and loved me enough to do it for me. The Order of Service promotes preparation for taking communion.

I’m supposed to pray every day – does that mean I take it for granted? I can. It can become ‘rote’ and ritual, but whose fault is that? MINE
I’m supposed to read my bible every day – does that mean I take IT for granted? I can. Again, we in America have access to every type of Bible,in whatever color, size, shape, design and version, whereas, others in the world have difficulty obtaining ONE piece of Bible without putting their life on the line. Whose fault is it if I take this for granted? MINE.
I’m supposed to practice Christianity every day – does that mean it becomes a habit, without meaning? It can! Again, whose fault is it that my heart loses it’s connection with the Father through the son, via the Holy Spirit? WHO moved away? ME!

So how often should I participate in communion?

The Episcopal Church doesn’t want you to have communion more than once a day. Jesus says “As soft as you shall do this eat of this bread drink this cup, do this in remembrance of me.” Now does that mean as often as you eat this special bread and drink the special drink? Of course.

Could that mean I would say we should look upon every time that we are given something to eat and drink that we should look upon the food part that is nourishing our body reminding us of his body broken for us? The drink part, could it be remembering his blood that was poured out for us? I don’t know.

I do know that most Christians give thanks for their food before their food gets eaten every time. Why are we giving thanks? Granted, we are thanking God for giving us this food and “in everything give thanks for this is the will of God!” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) I’d like to challenge us all to look at our food as a gift from God to nourish our bodies the way Jesus’s body was broken to nourish our spirits.
I’d like to challenge us all to look at the liquid that we drink, whatever it is, at a meal and remember it is washing us and it’s hydrating us and the blood of Jesus Christ washed our sins away and reconstituted our dead dry bones and heart.

I keep hearing that we should have Christmas everyday! People should celebrate Christmas all year long! Here’s my concern. While he had to be born fulfilling all of the prophecies, if he had not gone to the cross, none of the other would have mattered.

Let’s celebrate Resurrection every day! Give thanks every day for what Christ did for us on Calvary!

Prayer and Worship
Come to the Table – Sidewalk Prophets

Communion Song – Bethany Worship and John Stockstill

Lent Day Twelve we’ll talk about the New Covenant!
 

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” –
from My Utmost for His highest

Copyrights and Legal-eze
There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Midnight Musings – the Pain of Night – Jan 22, 2018

The Pain of Night

The pain of night has no Delight
And to the Lord, I set my sights

My heart is filled with joy and fear
Because I know that He is near.
Then why the fear if He is near?
Will He choose to hear my tears?

My heart is sad because of pain
It’s nothing, I look to the blood-soaked stains
Of what He suffered for me on the cross
And I think of my life and count it for  loss.

But still my flesh does scream and cry,
I know for me He chose to die,
And by His stripes I’m told I’m Healed.
Why this pain still do I feel?

What lesson in this for me to learn?
I really pray that I discern
I want to learn my lessons well
I want to hear Him to me tell,

“Peace my child and do be still!”
“I will do the work in you until
My fullness in you does dwell
And you are set free from this Earthly hell.

“So tell your story far and wide
How I was ever by your side
When darkness threatened to settle in
And the demons try to do you in.

“But to My face you turned to seek
And in My light you knew we’d meet
The day will come, this flesh will die.
You with me, to be glorified.

“So do the work on Earth for now.
I give you Grace and make a vow.
I’ll be beside you until the end
And you reach heaven with Me, amen.”

What can I say, Lord, when you speak like this?
When your words are gentle like a butterfly kiss.
When I know what you suffered on the cross for me
What else can I do, but to learn to be –

Be still
Be patient
Be loving and kind
I know that my God is in charge of all time

To be more like Jesus is my prayer
And to share His love everywhere.
And if my suffering in faith and peace
Is what the Lord desires of me,

Then I pray that I will suffer well
And that I can go and tell
Others about the Amazing peace
Of knowing that he died for me!

My prayer was that He’d speak to me
My prayer was so that I would see!
If He chooses not to heal
My soul declares Peace, be still.
(c) 2018 MCWildman

 

Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

James 1:2-5
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Jim & Christi 2017

 

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” –
from My Utmost for His highest

I want to thank
for the ability to search the Bible online.
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I’d love to stay in touch with you – we are working on email subscriptions…sign up! 
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

TV Show Review – Star Trek Discovery(from my one word 2018)

I admit it, I’m a treky. I have been since the original series. Yes, in the 60’s.
I’ll also admit it – Star Trek does NOT coincide with Christian beliefs.
It was never meant to.
Gene Roddenberry

For me, as an artist and writer, I have enjoyed the cinematic evolution that is Star Trek.
The artistic aspects of the sets, the clothing, the scenes…all of that.
The humanistic study of humans…from a psychological and sociological point of view.

This is my review of the new series, Star Trek, Discovery, currently only available on CBS All-Access.
I utilized the free 7 day trial.

While all of the Star Trek episodes are/were meant to push the social envelope(Kirk kissing Uhura – first mixed race kiss on TV) – I’m feeling a bit pushed over the edge.

What I’m going to write next is NOT politically correct. This is MY review, this is MY opinion. Everyone has one!

Pros:
I love the strong women!
I love the reality of their back stories!
In only 10 episodes, I love their growth.
I love the dealing of PTSD in the life of Tyler, after being tortured by Klingons.
I love the character development.
I love the equality of the story line – mixed skin-color couple, mixed race couple(Klingon and Human) and the same sex couple. Since this is NOT a Christian statement show…I appreciate the balance from a humanistic point of view).

Cons:
This is NOT a show that will encourage my Christian faith.(sometimes, non Christian shows do give me food for thought)
This is a much more RAW Star Trek – while there are good parts…it feels much more savage and violent.
This series has been promoted as the series to push the women’s movement, and the LGBT movement into mainstream.
This is NOT a show that will encourage my Christian faith. (yes, I said that before…I’ll explain the reasoning behind this CON later)

PROS:
As a survivor of abuse, and having PTSD and anxiety issues, and to some extent, having been ‘brain washed’, the little bit of Tyler’s story, having been a POW in the Klingon camp, and having been tortured in ways we do not understand at this time, I am intrigued by his character development. In one episode, he has horrible flash backs and goes almost catatonic, and the other character talks him through the flash back. The words she says to him are the very words needed when PTSD flashbacks come.

Focus on the sound of my voice.
These are not happening, these are memories.
They didn’t defeat you then, they won’t defeat you now.
breathe.

MY Views:

My comfort when going through PTSD flashbacks sometimes needs to be from a human voice outside of my raging head filled with memories and negative self talk. Sometimes, I just need a human to keep me grounded to the present. I believe the Bible has the answer to this. I do not want my heart and mind divided.

1 Corinthians 12
26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

As an abuse survivor that has suffered from every cognitive distortion, I have struggled with not being good enough – and with suicidal thoughts. For a few of my thoughts, I submit:

Like I said above, the episode where Tyler is crashing from the flashbacks of his torture, the Admiral, a Psychiatrist, gave him simple, exact support to pull him back to reality.
A human voice on which to focus, can break through the (enormously loud chaotic) noise in my head.
As a mental healt awareness advocate, this is great exposure to how someone feels going through an episode.
In case someone needs this, here are 21 Anxiety Grounding Techniques.

As a Christian, my healing is based on my faith, my relationship with Jesus and with the Word of God speaking into my life. That is evident in my blogs above. And, prayer, Bible Verse recital, and Worship songs, and the like are VERY important safety/grounding techniques for MY healing. I believe the Bible has the source of healing that is eternal. I do not want my heart and mind divided. I’ve added some Bible verses at the end, but not about mental health at this time.

Powerful women…wow. What a change from the damsel in distress women in the original Star Trek.
Over coming mistakes.
Overcoming abuse.
Overcoming life long ridicule.
and rising up, taking back your power, and using the past to empower your future.

MY views…….
While they are encouraging and inspirational – they do not fill me with the love of Jesus that is MY healing power.

1 Peter 2:9English Standard Version (ESV)
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

You see, I need to remember that I belong to another…Another…and HIS light is a light that I desire…not the light of this world. Or any light that star trek can offer.

Luke 11:34-36English Standard Version (ESV)
34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. 35 Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.”

I’ve written many blogs about how to overcome the above issues with scripture, prayer and a relationship with Jesus Christ. Some are listed above. I believe that the Bible supports women rising up, taking back their power, and using the past to empower their future. I am one of them. I do not want my heart and mind divided.

Tolerance – all are one blood – no color seen by God. Acts 17:26
From a humanist point of view – the equality is refreshing. Including the very “normal” treatment of the prominent gay couple.

MY Views….
From a legal, and humanist point of view – this is great. From an American point of view, all are equal – We the People.
From MY Christian point of view –
all are equal before God, before salvation.
all human life is valuable to God – because he sent his son to die for the WHOLE WORLD.
all have the opportunity to be reconciled to God.
all have the opportunity to be members of the Kingdom of God.
And the method I believe in is through the Lord Jesus Christ’s death, burial and resurrection.

As with all countries – I believe every sovereign country has the right to choose who may enter their borders.
God(Jehovah, Yaweh, Yeshua, Jesus, Messiah, Emmanuel – the God that created the world, and created man, and gave His son, wholly God and wholly man to be the sacrifice for our sins, and indwells the believer with the Holy Spirit, also wholly God) – has given his requirements for entry…and that is to be a citizen.
To be a citizen, one has to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, renounce their sins, receive Him as Lord and Savior of their life, and live their life to glorify God until we meet him face to face.
I have followed the citizenship steps, and I am a citizen of the Kingdom of God.

Phillipians 3
18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

I believe the Bible, and I do not want my heart and mind divided.

CONS
The violence…period.
the deceit being rewarded.
The gay couple.
The embracing of a very over the top women’s movement.

MY views.
So, basically, my cons are pretty much that this show does not promote my beliefs.
I didn’t expect it to.
But I do need to make a choice…or be divided.

James 1:8King James Version (KJV)
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

1 Kings 18:21
Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him a word.

Isaiah 29:13
The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.

James 4:8 gives me the solotion:

Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Isaiah 55:7
let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Isaiah 5:20
“How terrible it will be for those who call evil good and good evil, who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness, who substitute what is bitter for what is sweet and what is sweet for what is bitter!”

For the Christian, it is not as easy as just turning off the tvs how.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

2 Peter 2:
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

Psalm 106:35English Standard Version (ESV)
35 but they mixed with the nations
and learned to do as they did.

Hosea 7

Those chapters are convicting, but here is the verse that really settles things in my heart:

Luke 9:
62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Yes, those words are in red, because they are the words of Jesus.
So, while I like some of the ways that this show is going, and I do not like the raw ness of it with the violence and such, I will discontinue my All-Access membership before I am charged, and choose not to watch this.

This will have an affect on my other watching habits, as well.
You see – the impression I’ve been given for this year is
“the end is near,
the time short…be like Jesus.”

There are so many more eternally profitable things I can be doing with my time.
There are so many more things that could help me to grow into Jesus’s likeness.
Star Trek is not one of them.
many of the things I’ve watched are not.

Why do you watch what you watch?
Does it further you toward your passions?
Does it help you to fulfill your calling?
If not…what do you choose?

Joshua 24:14-15
14 “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Joshua 24:14-15

Joshua 24:14-15

I admitted at the beginning that I was a trekky – that is my confession, and I am not going to stop being a trekky.
I’m a child of God – and I have a job to do – and being a trekky keeps my heart divided and distracted.
Several things I’ve allowed into my life are causing division and distraction.
The time is short, the end is near…I need to get about the job at hand, the purpose for which I was saved.

 

Jim & Christi 2017

 

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” –
from My Utmost for His highest

I want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

Some artwork is from me – ChristArtist. It is copyrighted – by me. Please do not share it without my permission. The same goes for my written work.
Some artwork is from ChristArt – not me! I have purchased a membership, and the art is copyrighted by them.
Some artwork is from FreeClipArt Library. copyrights belong to them.

I’d love to stay in touch with you – we are working on email subscriptions…sign up! 
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

My prayer – 2018 day 4/100

Day has come
The night is gone,
My will to live
Today is strong.

My children hurt,
And so I burn
With desire to help.
To the Lord I turn.

Please be with them,
In all their needs,
For them, O Lord,
To You, please lead.

Remind them of
The verses true
That in their heart
Do speak of you.

Declare to them
That you are near,
And to their prayers,
You listen and hear.

Repentance, Lord,
Is always new,
Because we sin,
And disappoint you.

So day by day,
We have to start,
And end to say,
Please cleanse my heart.

Please draw me near
And hold me close,
For I cannot touch
Those that I love.

But you, O Lord,
Do reach near and far,
In your hands you do hold,
Them, as from the start.

Their children, too,
I must remind,
Are declared for YOU,
To love and to bind.

Sickness and wounds,
And financial burdens,
Are things you handled,
On your earthly sojourn.

You promised your Word
Would heal and provide,
And draw all my children,
Back to your side.

My husband, dear Lord,
The one you have given,
Is struggling, too,
With the trial you have given.

Please touch his heart,
his head his body,
And give us the wisdom
To trust in you wholly.

My heart is filled
With worry and fear,
My head is filled with
What ifs, and tears.

I love you Lord,
And I know you love me,
And I know that you love
My whole family tree.

I pray this prayer,
In Jesus’ name,
And I give over my fear,
To one and the same.
(c)2018 MCWildman

 

Jim & Christi 2017

 

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” –
from My Utmost for His highest

I want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

Some artwork is from me – ChristArtist. It is copyrighted – by me. Please do not share it without my permission.
The same goes for my written work.
Some artwork is from ChristArt – not me! I have purchased a membership, and the art is copyrighted by them.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or choose to LIKE me on facebook, follow me on Pinterest, or other social media!
I’d love to stay in touch with you – we are working on email subscriptions…sign up! 
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here is one that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

2018 first 100 days – day 3 – Priority to Love

I started this year with wondering what my word 2018 would be.

I was impressed with “the time is short” and “the end is near”.
My question to Jesus was “for what?”
His answer was “to be like me”.
My first thought was – does that mean my word for this year is “JESUS?”
Can’t be…that’s so WWJD, and cliche’.
I couldn’t pick a WORD last year, either…basically, I got a verse!

This year, I keep getting VERSES…and the word Jesus just keeps popping up!
And I kept refusing it (ok, today is only Jan 3, and I started this after Christmas, so I haven’t been sinning quite that long…it just feels like it!)

Then, yesterday, dear Ann Voscamp wrote her word for the year. Jesus.

Great – now it’s going to look like my obedience is actually imitating Ann Voscamp!
I can see it now…all those bracelets with the name JESUS on them…everyone wearing them….

GET THEE BEHIND ME SATAN!
HOW GREAT WOULD 2018 BE IF EVERYONE FOCUSED UPON BEING LIKE JESUS???
Ok, attitude checked.
Repentance requested, Forgiveness received.
Moving forward!

My focus this year – is BE LIKE JESUS.
And, yes, my memory word will be…..

And, today, I’m working on my priorities to be like Jesus…#5.

  1. Praise
  2. Prayer
  3. Promises (Bible READING – PRAISE FOR THE PROMISES)
  4. Purpose (writing)
  5. Priorities(those things that God brings to mind each day – family, self care, others, etc.)

Priorities – THOSE THINGS THAT GOD BRINGS TO MIND EACH DAY
Last night, God brought to mind that my husband said something very sweet to me:

Your hair is aging very lovely

I have had years of getting strange types of comments from my husband.
He has a different way of expressing himself than most.
Because of that, I’ve not accepted many of the compliments he gives me.
There is also the issue of horrible self worth, negative self talk, and all those self-condemning voices in my head that out number and out yell him!

This time…THIS TIME…I heard Jesus whisper…listen.

What is he saying?
He likes my long hair – even if I feel it’s stringy
He likes my grey hair – even if I keep trying to convince myself they are tinsel!
He likes my hair, as it’s aging, and he’s not hankering for the day when my hair was young, fresh and …well, I’ve never been happy with my hair! He, on the other hand, has loved my hair from the start!
In fact, it was my hair that almost gave away that he intended to marry me!

Story time:
It was 1979. I’d been out of the Navy for a couple of months. Therefore, I could let my hair grow!

 

I went to dinner with my best friend, Jim – my bible buddy.
He looked across the diner table and said “are you letting your hair grow?”
“yes” I replied…we talked about anything and everything, so this was not strange.


“Great, I always wanted a wife with long hair”

WAIT! WHAT???
My immediate reaction was “I’ll never marry you, it would ruin our friendship!”
Little did I know how close that was to prophecy!
Understand, I was reacting out of the mouth of a child of divorce…I didn’t know married couples could be friends!
Besides, he was the guy I asked about all the other guys that were proposing to me…”is this the one?” “No, I don’t think he is the one”

Hmmm, all along, he had ulterior motives! And, one year later, give or take a month – we were married!

 
So, a comment about my hair goes all the way to the beginning.
GOD wanted me to HEAR Jim’s heart! And I felt loved.
My love languages are quality time and words of affirmation.
His aren’t. hahaha! Isn’t that about the truth for most of everyone?
I need to hear HIS words, trying to speak to me in MY language.

Now, what does this have to do with what God led me to do today?
Remember my word for the year…yep – Jesus.

Colossians 3:23-24King James Version (KJV)
23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

Ministering to MY husband.
Guess what HIS love languages are?
Acts of Service and Physical Touch…
These are troubling for me for several reasons.

  • I don’t do the hold on until we melt into each other hugs…they are vulnerable.
  • I have physical issues that make hugging painful.
  • We used to live in a cold environment – and kissing too much caused chapped lips.
  • I have physical issues that cause me pain when I do cleaning, decorating, moving – acts of service.

Those who have followed this blog for any length of time, know that I am a broken mess!

I want love, but I’m afraid of it.
I want trust, but I’m afraid to trust.
I want peace, but I’m afraid…period.

So, God told me to listen to the words my husband said – so that I could hear love.
And this morning, God pointed out something that blesses Jim.
He asked me to do it way back in the beginning.
Many life organizers list it as one of the first things to do in the day.
I did it every day in the Navy boot camp – on the top bunk(and I’m short).
WHAT IS IT?
MAKE THE BED!

Yes, something my mom was always telling me how to do.
So, I know the nurses way to make a bed(yes, with flat sheet corners)
I know the Navy way to make a bed (and, no, the quarter didn’t have to bounce, but the top of the bottom sheet and the roll down of the top sheet both had to be 7 inches exactly. the distance between my thumb and my little finger spread out is almost exactly 7 inches).


I know the OCD way – lines must be straight, each side must be exactly the same distance…
I’m learning the ‘IT’S OK TO BE REAL’ way…here’s today’s work:

I lost one of the shams when I was matching colors for the house.
The pillows should not be showing…but I don’t have the strength to pull the quilt up further.
I never intended to have that many sleeping pillows on the bed…and, interestingly enough, I have a similar colored bed at our daughters, with cute extra pillows that the dog loves to walk around with!
I even cleaned up the dresser before taking a photo…
and I can go on and on and on about how this is not up to my standards.

But it is…IT IS…up to my dear husband’s standards!
THIS blesses him.
Actually, me just pulling it up and straightening a bit blesses him.

I get hung up on doing this as unto the Lord, therefore it needs to be perfect.
You know that verse?

Matthew 5:48King James Version (KJV)
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

or this one?

1 Peter 1:15-17King James Version (KJV)
15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

I get so hung up on doing something perfect, or being holy about doing something…that I just don’t.
a quote from my earthly father:

If I can’t do it right, it’s not worth doing.

I do know that neither my earthly nor heavenly father meant for me to just quit.
I do know that OCD, anxiety, and such are Giants in my Land that I need to slay.
I do know that pain prevents me from doing some of the bigger, more impressing things I used to do for my husband(moving whole rooms while he was gone..yeah, that’s not happening anymore!).

What I needed to learn – from listening to God tell me to LISTEN to my husband’s attempt to speak my language was that I don’t have to be perfect in result…I just have to perfectly try.

Language – several years ago, I made a trip to Germany.
I created a cheat sheet of some words I thought I might need to say.
I listened to some of those language trainers to get a feel for the sound.
I was told that the nationals would be offended by me trying to speak their language without getting it right.
My experience? 100% of the time, I might get a smile, but I always got a very warm thank you, and an attempt to communicate – even if they knew no English.

I don’t speak Jim’s love languages.
Jim doesn’t speak mine.
We are as different as black and white, cold and hot, wet and dry…etc.
We’ve been hung up on the other speaking our language.
I’VE been hung up on JIM speaking MY language – and my inability to DO things…or be touched, as a failure as a wife.

I’m not perfect.
Jim’s not perfect.
Jesus IS perfect…and I don’t believe he expects me to BE PERFECT – NOT AS HIM….BUT AS THE FATHER!
And yes, there are plenty of Bible studies about this…and the word meaning and such.
But, I’m simple…this is what the Bible says…and I know that one of Jesus’s love languages is GRACE!!!

Jesus doesn’t ask me to speak the language myself.
He will be my cheat sheet!

He’s commanded me to Love!

John 13:34-35English Standard Version (ESV)
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Because HE IS LOVE!
Therefore, if I let Jesus reign in me, work on being like Jesus – I will be able to speak Jesus’s love languages of LOVE, GRACE, MERCY, FORGIVENESS, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, LONGSUFFERING….you get the point!
Because of JESUS in me – I can love.

1 John 4:19English Standard Version (ESV)
19 We love because he first loved us.

1 John 3:1
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!

and of course:

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 5:8English Standard Version (ESV)
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Jesus asks me to Love my husband.
yes, there are others, too.

If Jesus can choose to come and die for me, while I am yet a sinner, because HE LOVED ME…THE FATHER LOVED ME, THE HOLY SPIRIT even chose to MOVE ME BY GRACE…then to be like Jesus – surely I can love one that is not as ugly to me as my sin was to MY FATHER.

AND surely I can extend grace to my human husband(I have no other), as he attempts to speak love to me.

I made our bed today.
Jim – I love you, and Jesus Loves You! Thank you for loving me, too!

 

Jim & Christi 2017

 

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” –
from My Utmost for His highest

I want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

Some artwork is from me – ChristArtist. It is copyrighted – by me. Please do not share it without my permission.
The same goes for my written work.
Some artwork is from ChristArt – not me! I have purchased a membership, and the art is copyrighted by them.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or choose to LIKE me on facebook, follow me on Pinterest, or other social media!
I’d love to stay in touch with you – we are working on email subscriptions…sign up! 
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here is one that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.