Author: Bill

Hebr 4:15-16 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy & find grace to help us in our time of need. Eph 3:12 In Him & through faith in Him we may enter God’s presence with boldness & confidence. — Did you know that you have to find grace & receive mercy! When you were young did you ever play the game hide & seek outside? Sometimes it was hard to find my oldest brother bc he could hide so well! What joy we had playing this game with all our family & friends. Or have you ever lost something that was important to you? Did you take time to look & look? — Luke 15:18-9Or what woman who has ten silver coins & loses one of them does not light a lamp, sweep her house, & search carefully until she finds it? & when she finds it, she calls together her friends & neighbors to say, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost coin. — I assure you when you find Him you will certainly rejoice & be filled with His joy. He is worth the time spent to find His grace & to find His mercy! Be young again. Love Mel

Frustrated? 1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your cares on Him, because He cares for you. Matt 11:28-29 Come to me, all who labor & are heavy laden, & I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, & learn from me, for I am gentle & lowly in heart, & you will find rest for your souls. Gal 6:9-10 Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, & especially to the family of faith. 2 Thes 3:13 As for the rest of you, dear brothers & sisters, never get tired of doing good. Eph 2:19 Therefore you are no longer strangers & foreigners, but fellow citizens of the saints & members of God’s household. — When frustrated it is the best time to remember Who’s we belong too & override the frustration by doing good! Love Mel

Bible History from Bill—Gen 1:14 “God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, & let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, & days & years.” —I am reading “Reversing Hermon” by Michael Heiser which is a fascinating study of Genesis 6:1-4 & the “watchers”. In one of his chapters I came across this gem I had to share. It is based upon scriptures from Matthew, Luke, Rev 5 and 12:1-7, & the signs in the heavens accompanying Jesus birth. Specifically when The regulus King star, Jupiter, the constellation Virgo, the sun & moon were all appropriately aligned. Credit to Heiser, Martin & others. Rev 12:1 states “A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, & the moon under her feet, & on her head a crown of twelve stars; & she was with child; & she cried out, being in labor & in pain to give birth.” From the text & others, the woman represents Israel & is the constellation Virgo with the sun mid-bodied & the moon at her feet. The “child is Messiah” Rev 12:5). Above the woman’s head is the constellation Leo (the lion) which was a royal constellation with the “king star” Regulus dominating. Further at the time of Jesus’ birth, Jupiter (the king planet to first century Jews) was aligned with Regulus which is very significant. Jupiter is also the best candidate for the star guiding the magi as well. This is based upon astronomy now able to look back to that time to see this conjunction. From Heiser’s book ch 4: “This combination of astronomical signs produces a unique set of circumstances that can only be accounted for by one date (& in point of fact, a ninety-minute window on that date). This date, as we will see momentarily, has dramatic significance in the Jewish calendar. According to these signs in the heavens, the date of Jesus’ birth would have been September 11, 3 B.C.” How about that! From the Bible, the approximate month of Jesus’ birth can easily be demonstrated a number of ways starting with John the Baptist’s father ministering in the temple & Mary’s visit to Elizabeth. The year can be discerned by the verses regarding Herod’s death. But this is the first I read with the actual month & day called out. & that year it was the Day of Trumpets – Tishri 1!!  Trumpets always preceded the arrival of the King. How amazing. — Our King arrived with Trumpets blowing! Love Mel

From Bill- “Two natures beat within my breast. The one is foul, the one is blessed. The one I love, the one I hate. The one I feed will dominate.” – Anonymous. In Romans 7 Paul details this struggle. Letting go and letting God does not mean being hands off with your nature. Decide what you think about. Decide what you do. Don’t let it just happen. One of the fruits of the spirit is self discipline. Abiding in Christ is 100 choices a day. We must be deliberate in our quest to live for God. It does take effort. Mike Murdoch said “you cannot change what you are willing to tolerate”. You need a hunger and thirst for righteousness that creates dissatisfaction with undesirable current tendencies. We heard of the will to win. A crusty old Colonel once taught me about the will to prepare to win. It’s different. What to eat, when to exercise, when to spend time with God, etc. Run with endurance the race God has set before us. The rewards are great.  Love Mel

From Bill- “Two natures beat within my breast. The one is foul, the one is blessed. The one I love, the one I hate. The one I feed will dominate.” – Anonymous. In Romans 7 Paul details this struggle. Letting go and letting God does not mean being hands off with your nature. Decide what you think about. Decide what you do. Don’t let it just happen. One of the fruits of the spirit is self discipline. Abiding in Christ is 100 choices a day. We must be deliberate in our quest to live for God. It does take effort. Mike Murdoch said “you cannot change what you are willing to tolerate”. You need a hunger and thirst for righteousness that creates dissatisfaction with undesirable current tendencies. We heard of the will to win. A crusty old Colonel once taught me about the will to prepare to win. It’s different. What to eat, when to exercise, when to spend time with God, etc. Run with endurance the race God has set before us. The rewards are great.  Love Mel