Tag Archives: Jesus

Jehovah Jirah

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tetragrammatonOf all God’s names and characteristics Jehovah Jirah speaks most loudly to me.  There are actually several interlacing characteristics to this Hebrew term.

First, He is the One who sees.  He sees every second of my life and knows what is needed.  He puts everything in place so that my life will play out His purpose.  Galations 4:4 gives us a great picture of what this means.  It says, “When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman…”  The fullness of time refers to the fact that everything was in place, everything had happened as it needed to, and God was providing what was needed.  Is that awesome or what? Every single gift, event, circumstance, trial and more is planned out by My Provider so when it reaches me it is the ‘perfect gift’. (James 1:17)

Another layer of Jehovah Jirah is that He is showing us.  He is revealing to us what He wants us to know as we seek His purpose for our lives.  He supplies everything that that we need for every part of our lives.  Paul tells us, “My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in Glory…” (Philippians 4:19)

The third part of the Name is He is my provider.  Even though it is often the first thought that is applied to the Hebrew word (Jehovah Jirah)  the actual meaning goes far beyond material needs.  As the Creator of ALL that is, was, and is to come, there is nothing that is not at His disposal for me (us).  It is His to give whether it be physical or spiritual.  And more than that He wants to!!!!

Worship Him in song!     JEHOVAH JIRAH

Jehovah Jirah, my Provider, how can I say thanks for what You have provided and will continue to provide.  Yet I must.  It is incredible that my little speck of life is of such importance to You that You have orchestrated all that must happen to show Your Glory!  Thank You for humbling me with Your greatness!  Use my life, Lord!  Make it so in Jesus Precious Name!

The Stations of the Cross

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triptychI spent most of yesterday at the Toledo Museum of Art. (BTW one of my favorite places to visit) I love Monet and Van Goth.   However, for me, the best part of the Museum is the Cloisters.  It is designed to look like a commons area for a monastery or convent.  Around the  room are placed many Christian art pieces.  My favorite is a very small triptych of the Stations of the Cross.  Thinking about the pictures and their significance to the believer I decided to do some research as to what these ‘stations’ were.

This liturgy (set of scriptures) is often used on Good Friday to focus the mind on Jesus’ final week.  The stations range from seven to fifteen.  Interestingly, I found only one that included the Resurrection.  This made me wonder what is the point of the Cross without the Resurrection?

The stations and their matching Scripture:

gardenJesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Matthew 26:36-41

judasJesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested.  Mark 14:43-46

 

 

 

sanJesus is condemned by the Sanhedrin.  Luke 22:66-71

 

deniedJesus is denied by Peter.  Matthew 26:69-7

 

 

 

judgedJesus is judged by Pontius Pilate.  Mark 15:1-5, 15

 

 

 

 

scourgedJesus is scourged and crowned with thorns.  John 19:1-3

 

bearsJesus bears the Cross.  John 19:6, 15-17

 

 

 

 

helpedJesus is helped by Simon to carry the Cross.  Mark 15:21

womenJesus meets the women of Jerusalem.  Luke 23:27-31

 

 

 

 

cruxJesus is crucified.  Luke 23:33-34

 

thiefJesus promises His Kingdom to the good thief.  Luke 23:39-42

 

 

 

 

marryJesus speaks to His mother and the Beloved Disciple (John)  John 19:25-27

diesJesus dies on the cross.  Luke 23:44-46

 

 

 

tombJesus is placed in the Tomb.  Matthew 27:57-60

aliveHe is risen! As He said!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

I sincerely hope those of you reading this will take the time to look up these scriptures and ponder the Via Dolorosa.  Another name for the Stations of the Cross.

Father, You alone created this event to pave the way for our sins to be forgiven.  The Last Sacrifice has been made.  The Lamb is on the Throne.  He is Risen!  Amen and Amen!

Colorful Worship

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I discovered that God is very explicit about the colors He wanted used to decorate the Tabernacle while reading Exodus 26.  He told Moses to use blue, purple and scarlet.  I began to wonder why these colors?  What is important about them?

The colors are used for several articles in the tabernacle: the curtain – Ex. 26:1, the drape that separates the Holy of Holies from the rest of the tabernacle – Ex. 26:31, the High Priest ephod – Ex. 28:15, are only a few examples.

tzitzitThere is no mention of what the colors stood for but there could be a direct relationship to the idea that Jesus is fully God and fully man.  (According to Jewish scholars.) Blue always represents Yahweh.  In the tzitzit, the prayer shawl, there is a blue thread to symbolize God and His Commandments.  There is also a scarlet thread to symbolize mankind.  Woven between these colors is purple which is a combination of the primary colors – red and blue.  God (blue) and man (red) were separated by the sin in the Garden of Eden.  God never intended to leave it that way.  His plan was to have a go-between to restore the fellowship between Himself and His creation.  The go-between would be all God (blue) and all man (red), our Jesus (purple).

The colors also represent other aspects of the Judeo-Christian culture.  Holy of HoliesPurple is the color of royalty.  Jesus is the King of the Kingdom and would rightfully wear a purple robe.     It is also the color of the Royal Priesthood. Blue is the color of God’s chosen people dating back to the time of David.  The restored throne of David is described in Ezekial 1:26 as being made of sapphire (blue stone).  Red is a primary color and can not be made from any other color(s).  It is interesting that the Hebrew root word for Adam is oudem which means red clay.   Red symbolizes atonement, sacrifice, life, death, and flesh.  

I found it interesting to learn what these colors may mean.  I do not intend this to be any more than interesting information that may make your study of the Word more informative.

Heavenly Father, what a heritage You have provided for us.  Help us to remember, in whatever way necessary, that You alone are God.  Make it so!

 

 

Breathe on Me

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I just came across another example of God’s ‘aliveness’ while studying His Word. Second Timothy 3:16 tells us that ALL scripture is God-breathed.  I found another set of scriptures that reinforces and strengthens this concept.

Turn Back To God

In John 20:22 we once again see the Breathe of God in action.  After Jesus’ Resurrection the Disciples have locked themselves in a room because they were afraid of the Jews.  Jesus had come to them to prove He really was Jesus.  After He spoke with them and reminded them of their mission He breathes on them and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit”.   As Jesus breathed on the original disciples His very breath is on us as we disciple those around us.  Are you saying, whoa, wait a minute here, how did she come to that conclusion?  It’s really quite simple.  I believe God’s word is God breathed and is alive and active in me AND every time I open the Word it is the Breath of God.  Verse 17 of 2 Timothy 3 says that the Scripture completes me and equips me for every good work.  The Breath of God is both on me and in me.

pentecost-small-1

Think about Pentecost.  Acts 2:1-4 tells us that on Pentecost, (By the way, Pentecost is not a new Holy Day to the Jews.  It is the second of the OT established harvest festivals occurring 50 days after Passover.)  the sound of rushing wind came from heaven and filled the house where they were gathered.  Tongues of fire rested on them and they were filled with the Holy Spirit.  This time the Breath of God is perceived as what sounded like rushing wind.  (Scholars believe this outpouring of the Spirit filled the 120 present in the Upper Room.  The 120 represent those Believers who were part of the larger group that followed Jesus.  The 12 Disciples that were closest to Jesus were a part of this group but had already received the Spirit directly from Jesus.)

Whether God’s Breath is directly breathed as with the Disciples, sounds like a rushing wind as with the 120 or is breathed through the Scripture it is still His Breath.  Isn’t it awesome that we can experience it whenever we want to just by opening His Word.  Praise You Jesus!

Worship Him in Song!  Breathe on Me

Heavenly Father, breathe on me.  Fill me with Your Holy Spirit.  Make me constantly aware that You are constantly with me.  All praise to You, my God and King.  Make it so!

God Is Who HE Says He Is!!!

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thI read the article “Higgs-Boson Particle May Spell Doom” and wondered – really?  Is God so small that He can be a tiny speck created by a collision in the Large Hedron Collider?  Can the theories created by this possible discovery predict the end of the universe and time as we know it?

Let me tell you what I personally know about my God.  HE is not one tiny little particle.  HE is everywhere, in everything and every one, ALL the time.  He is the ONLY One who knows the time of the end and since He didn’t share it with Jesus (Matthew 24:36) I’m very sure it hasn’t been discovered in a mathematical theory based on a teeny-tiny speck that may or may not exist.th (1)

How about on a more personal level.  How do I know God is who He says He is and can do what He says He can do?  I survived a dysfunctional childhood because I knew HE is always with me (Even though at that point I hadn’t publicly accepted Him as my personal savior.)  HE was carefully holding me when a tornado ripped our first home apart, turned it on it’s roof, and I was on the inside.  HE was watching and protecting me when a truck ran a stop sign going the full speed limit and T-boned my car, making it a total loss.  The three people on the inside were kept safe with just a few minor injuries.  At a hearing where my personal integrity was being questioned and my job at stake HE showed up, made His presence known with what felt like the slightest breath of fresh air, and all charges against me were dropped.  He was present during the 20 days I sat by my husband Ray and waited for him to wake from a coma.  It was only with His incredible downloadstrength that kept me from being a crazy, sobbing lump as those days went by.  Not only did Ray wake with all his mental facilities, He is a walking, talking Miracle.  I know He is who He says He is and can do what He says He can do because I’ve seen Him at work!

Worship Him in Song: How Great Is Our God (in several languages)

Heavenly Father, You Are the I Am!  You are Jehovah Jirah, my Provider.  You are the Is, the Was, and the Always Will Be.  You are my Rock, my Fortress, my Shepherd, my always present Help.  Ah, Lord, God, what a humbling honor it is to be called Your own.  I give You all my praise, my heart, my life, my all.  Amen and Amen!!