Tag Archives: Wing His Words

Bible Studies, Devotionals, Resurrection

Plot and Main Character

 

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The plot was conspiracy.  

The MC (main character) was Christ.

“When Jesus had finished all these words, He said to His disciples, ‘You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man is to be handed over for crucifixion.”

Then the chief priests and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, named Caiaphas; and they plotted together to seize Jesus by stealth and kill Him.  But they were saying, ‘Not during the festival, otherwise a riot might occur among the people (Matthew 26:1-5 NASB).”   

Many people witnessed Jesus’ crucifixion.

Mary first witnessed the resurrected LORD!

“But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb;  and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying.  And they said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.’ When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.  Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?’ Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, ‘Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, ‘Rabboni!’ (which means, Teacher).  Jesus said to her, Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’ Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord,’ and that He had said these things to her (John 20:11-18 NASB).”

 

 

 

 

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Devotionals

Purple Patti

*Old 2009 Challenge writing contest [creative non-fiction article] (with a few edits)

In the memory of my dear friend, Pat Liesche McNamee (2/24/1935 – 7/20/18)

Purple Patti lives in the land of Sedgwick and welcomes you today. Enter the door to enchantment and fulfillment. Fear not, change leads to freedom. Leave your cares behind and be prepared for many pleasant surprises.

Patti moved to the mysterious Sedgwick kingdom seven years ago. She tip-toed inside looking back over her shoulder at the security she left behind. She knew there would be no turning back. She’d make this her new home and make emotional adjustments. The rulers of the land welcomed her. Would others be nice or would she be an outsider left to cower in a corner?

Residents came from various villages and backgrounds. Each shared their unique stories that led them to Sedgwick kingdom. Some would embrace her warmly. Others like her were afraid and would keep her at arm’s length. What would be her place?

Would she have a role to play or simply pass time marking days off a calendar?

Patti first reacted to this big change with depression and resentment. She did not belong in this foreign land. Why didn’t she hear from those outside of the kingdom walls? They could call or visit. She felt like the doors and windows held invisible bars keeping her in and others out.

Slowly, she began to put down roots to make Sedgwick her new home. Looking for the positive side in change, she found a new outlook. The leaders did seem to really look out for her best interest. She not only received three square meals a day but also medical care and a large variety of forms of entertainment and recreation.

Maybe this would not be so bad after all…

Purple Patti is now a regular greeter at ‘Sedgwick Heights’ assisted living facility. Her bright smile, cheerful laughter, and warm embraces help newcomers feel welcome. She knows from personal experience how difficult those first months can be.

Her desire is to encourage others and lead them to see the benefits provided. She continues to serve on the Residents Council giving input on upcoming activities, menu planning and more.
Purple Patti lives with passion.

She tenderly shares her passion for her Lord Jesus. Memories of being born again bring thanksgiving and faith. When she hears residents complain about their lot in life she reminds them of their many blessings. She trusts God with her problems and they can, too. The passion for people follows her passion for God.

It is easy to see why she calls so many people her friends. She shows genuine interest in their stories. There is always something going on in her new home. They take walks together, go for day shopping trips, and dine at the finest restaurants. Each summer they enjoy luncheon lake boat cruises and more. Friendships are built upon trust and Patti is tried and true. Purple Patti will be remembered by residents and staff as the little lady with a ‘passion for life.’

She doesn’t believe in getting old and giving up. She is too busy living each day with the excitement of a child on Christmas Eve. Mystery is tucked behind each sunrise and she can’t wait to follow the clues. Surprises include visitors from all age groups.

Children think she is one of them because her 4’ 8” frame is not much taller than theirs. Visitors bring dogs, which quickly snuggle up in her lap and relax under her tender touch.

How did Patti get her nickname?

Our little lady is passionate about purple.

Her room, wardrobe and jewelry box display a variety of shades of purple. Deep purples, delicate orchid and lavender are seen everywhere. Her birthday falls in February and amethyst is a regular reminder of her purple passion. It is easy to shop for Patti; if it is purple, it will be perfect. Everyone can learn valuable life lessons from Patti.

Look around you and see who needs an extra touch of tender loving care. Hugs are free and we have a never ending supply. The more you give away, the more you will receive. Live today like Patti, with passion and purpose.

Tomorrow will be a better day!

 

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Bible Studies

Solomon, The 2nd Time Around

 

 

photo credit: king David Israel <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/37017545@N03/3573882493″>JERUSALEM.</a&gt; via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a&gt; <a href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/”>(license)</a&gt;

Twice blessed…

Solomon had his first major encounter with God.

“In that night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, ‘Ask what I shall give you.’

Solomon said to God, ‘You have dealt with my father David with great lovingkindness, and have made me king in his place.  Now, O Lord God, Your promise to my father David is fulfilled, for You have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people, for who can rule this great people of Yours?’ God said to Solomon, ‘Because you had this in mind, and did not ask for riches, wealth or honor, or the life of those who hate you, nor have you even asked for long life, but you have asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge that you may rule My people over whom I have made you king, God said to Solomon, “Because you had this in mind, and did not ask for riches, wealth or honor, or the life of those who hate you, nor have you even asked for long life, but you have asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge that you may rule My people over whom I have made you king,  wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you. And I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings who were before you has possessed nor those who will come after you (2 Chronicles 1:1-12 NASB).”

The 2nd time around…

“Now it came about when Solomon had finished building the house of the Lord, and the king’s house, and all that Solomon desired to do, that the Lord appeared to Solomon a second time, as He had appeared to him at Gibeon. The Lord said to him, ‘I have heard your prayer and your supplication, which you have made before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built by putting My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. As for you, if you will walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you and will keep My statutes and My ordinances, then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, just as I promised to your father David, saying, You shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’

‘But if you or your sons indeed turn away from following Me, and do not keep My commandments and My statutes which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land which I have given them, and the house which I have consecrated for My name, I will cast out of My sight. So Israel will become a proverb and a byword among all peoples. And this house will become a heap of ruins; everyone who passes by will be astonished and hiss and say, ‘Why has the Lord done thus to this land and to this house?’ And they will say, ‘Because they forsook the Lord their God, who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and adopted other gods and worshiped them and served them, therefore the Lord has brought all this adversity on them (1 Kings 9:1-9 NASB).”

 

 

 

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Devotionals

PRAY FOR YOUR PASTOR

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Is your pastor a man of integrity?

Are you praying for him?

Since giving my life to Christ (in 1967), I’ve had the privilege of being a member of Bible believing Southern Baptist churches. I am grateful for each of our pastors. Many have passed on into eternity.

I appreciate the dedication of Brother Eddie Fuller; our bi-vocational pastor at Epps Baptist Church, Epps, Louisiana.

“I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness
In the great assembly;
Indeed, I do not restrain my lips,
O Lord, You Yourself know.
I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart;
I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation;
I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth
From the great assembly (Psalm 40:9-10 NKJV).”

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Christian Growth, Devotionals

SIT UP & BEG

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Sit…

Speak…

Shake…

Fetch…

Stay…

Roll over…

It IS hard to each an old dog new tricks; especially if I’m the old dog.

I’m on & off the computer daily.

As long as I use functions I’m familiar with I manage fine. Move me out of my comfort zone  and I’m ready to sit up and beg…

Help; I need a teacher!

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will guide you with My eye (Psalm 32:8 NKJV).”  

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Christian Growth, Devotionals

More Than Duty

 

photo credit: wallyg <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/70323761@N00/3655803246″>Virginia – Arlington National Cemetery: The Tomb of the Unknowns</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a&gt; <a href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0 /”>(license)</a>

The United States remembers their unknown fallen at the ‘Tomb of the Unknowns’ in Arlington National Cemetery.

Soldiers around the world unite to honor the memory of those killed in battle. It is more than duty; it is a desire to keep memories of the fallen fresh in our minds.

It is especially painful to survivors when their husbands, wives, sons or daughters bodies have not been found and identified. This led to resting places in numerous nations for those listed as ‘unknown soldiers.’

Apostle Paul walked the streets of Athens and felt sadness as he observed the worship of idols. It compelled him to share his knowledge of Jesus and the resurrection in synagogues and the market place. The crowds thought the message was strange but they enjoyed discussions about new ideas. (Acts 17:15-21)

Paul seized the moment as an opportunity for evangelism.

“And Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, ‘Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ What therefore you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you (Acts 17:22-23 NASB).”

Apostle Paul introduced them to their Creator, the giver of life.

God does not record a list of unknowns.

“O LORD, Thou has searched me and known me (Psalm 139:1 NASB).”

He knows you; He knows me.

“Thou does scrutinize my path and my lying down, and art intimately acquainted with all my ways (Psalm 139:3 NASB).”

Nations are unable able to identify all fallen soldiers; yet, God calls them all by name.

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals, Men, Women

THE ACCUSERS

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Men are making the news.

There are two sides to every story.

“Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them.  Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act.  Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?’ This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.

So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, ‘He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.’And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.  Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, ‘Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?’

She said, ‘No one, Lord.’

And Jesus said to her, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more (John 8:1-11 NKJV).”

If caught in the act, where was the man?

‘The man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, he who commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress, shall surely be put to death (Leviticus 20:10 NKJV).”

 

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals

Good Advice

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Want some good advice?

Turn to the LORD for guidance.

“How happy is the man
who does not follow the advice of the wicked
or take the path of sinners
or join a group of mockers!
Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction,
and he meditates on it day and night.
He is like a tree planted beside streams of water
that bears its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.

The wicked are not like this;
instead, they are like chaff that the wind blows away.
Therefore the wicked will not survive the judgment,
and sinners will not be in the community of the righteous.

For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to ruin (Psalm 1:1-6 HCSB).”

 

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals, Redemption, Salvation

Fire Breathing Dragon

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Though not a fire breathing dragon, he was once as deadly…

“And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem (Acts 9:1-2 KJV).”

Saul (Apostle Paul) He received the transforming breath of the Holy Spirit.

“And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?

 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ (Acts 9:3-22 KJV).”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals

The Father Has Provided

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“And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together (Genesis 22:8 KJV).”

God provided.

“And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen (Genesis 22:13-14 KJV).”

Provided and seen…

“The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing (Psalms 34:10 KJV).” 

The Father has provided.

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19 KJV).”

‘The Father Hath Provided Again’ https://www.elyrics.net/read/l/larnelle-harris-lyrics/the-father-hath-provided-lyrics.html

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