It’s ALL about HIM working through ME and I’m RELENTLESSLY UNAPOLOGETIC
Jesus Blesses Little Children
13 Then children were brought to Jesus so that He might place His hands on them [for a blessing] and pray; but the disciples reprimanded them.
14 But He said, “Leave the children alone, and do not forbid them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
15 After placing His hands on them [for a blessing], He went on from there.
Matthew 19:13-15 (AMP)
The Lord’s Glory and Man’s Dignity.
To the Chief Musician; set to [a]a Philistine lute [or perhaps to a particular Hittite tune]. A Psalm of David.
1 O LORD, our Lord,
How majestic and glorious and excellent is Your name in all the earth!
You have displayed Your splendor above the heavens.2 Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babes You have established strength
Because of Your adversaries,
That You might silence the enemy and make the revengeful cease.3 When I see and consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have established,4 What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of [earthborn] man that You care for him?
5 Yet You have made him a little lower than [b]God,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,7 All sheep and oxen,
And also the beasts of the field,
8 The birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,
Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.9 O LORD, our Lord,
How majestic and glorious and excellent is Your name in all the earth!Psalm 8:1-9 (AMP)
Footnotes
[a] Psalm 8:1 Or perhaps to a particular key; meaning uncertain.
[b] Psalm 8:5 LXX reads angels; Heb Elohim is usually translated “God” or “god.” But it can also mean “gods” (with a lowercase “g”) when it is used with reference to the pagan gods of other nations. See, for instance, Ex 20:3: “You shall have no other gods (Elohim) before Me.” Since there are no capital letters in Hebrew as there are in English, the meaning of Ps 8:5 is ambiguous. It may be saying that humans were created a little lower than God Himself, or it may say that humans were created a little lower than the heavenly beings.
On Life and Conduct
1 A good name [earned by honorable behavior, godly wisdom, moral courage, and personal integrity] is more desirable than great riches;
And favor is better than silver and gold.2 The rich and poor have a common bond;
The LORD is the Maker of them all.3 A prudent and far-sighted person sees the evil [of sin] and hides himself [from it],
But the naive continue on and are punished [by suffering the consequences of sin].4 The reward of humility [that is, having a realistic view of one’s importance] and the [reverent, worshipful] fear of the LORD
Is riches, honor, and life.5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the obstinate [for their lack of honor and their wrong-doing traps them];
He who guards himself [with godly wisdom] will be far from them and avoid the consequences they suffer.6 Train up a child in the way he should go [teaching him to seek God’s wisdom and will for his abilities and talents],
Even when he is old he will not depart from it.7 The rich rules over the poor,
And the borrower is servant to the lender.8 He who sows injustice will reap [a harvest of] trouble,
And the rod of his wrath [with which he oppresses others] will fail.9 He who is generous will be blessed,
For he gives some of his food to the poor.10 Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go away;
Even strife and dishonor will11 He who loves purity of heart
And whose speech is gracious will have the king as his friend.12 The eyes of the LORD keep guard over knowledge and the one who has it,
But He overthrows the words of the treacherous.13 The lazy one [manufactures excuses and] says, “There is a lion outside!
I will be killed in the streets [if I go out to work]!”14 The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit [deep and inescapable];
He who is cursed by the LORD [because of his adulterous sin] will fall into it.15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
The rod of discipline [correction administered with godly wisdom and lovingkindness] will remove it far from him.16 He who oppresses or exploits the poor to get more for himself
Or who gives to the rich [to gain influence and favor], will only come to poverty.17 Listen carefully and hear the [a]words of the wise,
And apply your mind to my knowledge;18 For it will be pleasant if you keep them in mind [incorporating them as guiding principles];
Let them be ready on your lips [to guide and strengthen yourself and others].19 So that your trust and reliance and confidence may be in the LORD,
I have taught these things to you today, even to you.20 Have I not written to you excellent things
In counsels and knowledge,21 To let you know the certainty of the words of truth,
That you may give a correct answer to him who sent you?22 Do not rob the poor because he is poor [and defenseless],
Nor crush the afflicted [by legal proceedings] at the gate [where the city court is held],23 For the LORD will plead their case
And take the life of those who rob them.24 Do not even associate with a man given to angry outbursts;
Or go [along] with a hot-tempered man,25 Or you will learn his [undisciplined] ways
And get yourself trapped [in a situation from which it is hard to escape].26 Do not be among those who give pledges [involving themselves in others’ finances],
Or among those who become guarantors for others’ debts.27 If you have nothing with which to pay [another’s debt when he defaults],
Why should his creditor take your bed from under you?28 Do not move the ancient landmark [at the boundary of the property]
Which your fathers have set.29 Do you see a man skillful and experienced in his work?
He will stand [in honor] before kings;
He will not stand before obscure men.Proverbs 22:1-29 (AMP)
Footnotes
[a] Proverbs 22:17 These verses (17-21) introduce a special collection of wisdom sayings compiled by Solomon.
Beloved, in this season I am pouring out grace for deeper fellowship. Come and gather from the storehouses of Heaven the resources, the time, the energy, everything you need. It is time to stretch wide, open your home, feed many, and embrace depth, vulnerability, and generosity.
The enemy is prowling and looking for those who are isolated. Be surrounded, but also look out for those who need drawing in. I will make the dinner table like a fortress, releasing power through laughter and transformation through conversation. In that place you will move from defence to offence and the strength of my people in community will strike fear in the enemy.
Activation: Spend time honestly asking yourself what holds you back from deeper relationships or building new relationships. Ask the Holy Spirit for His strategy and provision for overcoming this. How does He want you to grow in relationships?
And all those who had believed [in Jesus as Savior] [a]were together and had all things in common [considering their possessions to belong to the group as a whole].
Acts 2:44 (AMP)
Footnotes
[a] Acts 2:44 One early ms does not contain wereand and.
15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people,
16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers;
17 [I always pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may grant you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation [that gives you a deep and personal and intimate insight] into the true knowledge of Him [for we know the Father through the Son].
Ephesians 1:15-17 (AMP)
For His divine power has bestowed on us [absolutely] everything necessary for [a dynamic spiritual] life and godliness, through [a]true and personal knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
2 Peter 1:3 (AMP)
Footnotes
[a] 2 Peter 1:3 There is no “secret knowledge” or “better way” or alternative belief system which God has revealed to some unique group or teacher. The truth is available to everyone.
#lionbites
The meal table is changing.
I am changing the way that you will see My table and how you are to approach it. In this season, I will train you on how to effectively use the meal table for My purposes. I want to show you how you will use it to minister to others in the days to come.
In the past, you have used the meal table for connection, laughter, and feasting, but now you will see how the table brings breakthrough! You will see the power of hospitality, community, communication, and communion. There is great power in breaking bread together, and dinner tables have the potential to be the most influential places in your life.
I am the Bread of Life and the bread on the table. Come, join Me at the meal table to explore with Me and learn what happens. Watch how I do things. As you learn and understand the power of this table, then your table will be able to transform others.
I want you to begin asking Me about who to invite to the table so that they too will experience the power of hospitality and communion. And as you and I set the table together, trust Me to do something special.
Activation:
Ask Holy Spirit to show you who to invite to your dinner table. When He tells you do not brush off or ignore what He says. Once you have your list of names, ask Him for the next steps to prepare your table.
Jesus replied to them, “[a]I am the Bread of Life. The one who comes to Me will never be hungry, and the one who believes in Me [as Savior] will never be thirsty [for that one will be sustained spiritually].
John 6:35 (AMP)
Footnotes
[a] John 6:35 Jesus uses the words “I am” over twenty times in this Gospel. Especially memorable are those places where “I am” is followed by a metaphor that declares His deity and His relationship to mankind as Savior (this is the first of seven such references); see 8:12 (Light); 10:9 (Door); 10:11 (Good Shepherd); 11:25 (Resurrection); 14:6 (Way, Truth, Life); 15:5 (Vine).
And when He had taken bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
Luke 22:19 (AMP)
#lionbites
Preparing the Passover
1 Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching.
2 The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put Him to death; for they were afraid of the people [who listened devotedly to His teaching, and who respected His spiritual wisdom].
3 Then Satan entered Judas, the one called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve [disciples].
4 And he went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him and hand Him over to them.
5 They were delighted and agreed with him to give him money.
6 So he consented, and began looking for a good opportunity to betray Jesus to them [at a time when He was] separated from the crowd [because the people might riot or stop them from seizing Him].
7 Then came the preparation day of [a]Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.
8 So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover meal for us, so that we may eat it.”
9 They asked Him, “Where do You want us to prepare it?”
10 He replied, “When you have entered the city, a [b]man carrying an earthenjar of water will meet you; follow him into the house that he enters.
11 And say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’
12 Then he will show you a large upstairs room, furnished [with carpets and dining couches]; prepare the meal there.” 13 They left and found it just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover.
The Lord’s Supper
14 When the hour [for the meal] had come, Jesus reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him.
15 He said to them, “I have earnestly wanted to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;
16 for I say to you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
17 And when He had taken a cup and [c]given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves;
18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.”
19 And when He had taken bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
20 And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup, which is poured out for you, is the new covenant [ratified] in My blood.
21 But listen, the hand of the one betraying Me is with Mine on the table.
22 For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe (judgment is coming) to that man by whom He is betrayed and handed over!”
23 And they began to discuss among themselves which one of them it might be who was going to do this.
Luke 22:1-23 (AMP)
Footnotes
[a] Luke 22:7 This remembrance lasted eight days. The Passover lambs were selected on the tenth of Nisan (March/April) and sacrificed on the fourteenth of Nisan (the first day of the feast). The Passover meal was eaten that same night (15 Nisan). This was immediately followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread (15-21 Nisan). The terms “Passover” and “The Feast of Unleavened Bread” were used interchangeably.
[b] Luke 22:10 It would have been unusual to see a manservant carrying a jar of water, because that was considered a woman’s task.
[c] Luke 22:17 Giving thanks consisted of two benedictions, one over the wine (Blessed are You, Lord our God, who has created the fruit of the vine!) and one for the return of the Feast Day with all it implied, as well as being allowed once more to witness it.
Words to the People
26 Jesus answered, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, you have been searching for Me, not because you saw the signs (attesting miracles), but because you ate the loaves and were filled.
27 Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures [and leads] to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you; for God the Father has authorized Him and put His seal on Him.”
28 Then they asked Him, “What are we to do, so that we may habitually be doing the works of God?”
29 Jesus answered, “This is the work of God: that you believe [adhere to, trust in, rely on, and have faith] in the One whom He has sent.”
30 So they said to Him, “What sign (attesting miracle) will You do that we may see it and believe You? What [supernatural] work will You do [as proof]?
31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written [in Scripture], ‘He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.’”
32 Then Jesus said to them, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true [a]bread out of heaven.
33 For the Bread of God is He who comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.”
34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.”
35 Jesus replied to them, “[b]I am the Bread of Life. The one who comes to Me will never be hungry, and the one who believes in Me [as Savior] will never be thirsty [for that one will be sustained spiritually].
36 But as I told you, you have seen Me and still you do not believe.
37 All that My Father gives Me will come to Me; and the one who comes to Me I will most certainly not cast out [I will never, never reject anyone who follows Me].
38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me.
39 This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but that I [give new life and] raise it up at the last day.
40 For this is My Father’s will and purpose, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him [as Savior] will have eternal life, and I will raise him up [from the dead] on the last day.”
John 6:26-40 (AMP)
Footnotes
[a] John 6:32 i.e. salvation and everlasting life through Christ.
[b] John 6:35 Jesus uses the words “I am” over twenty times in this Gospel. Especially memorable are those places where “I am” is followed by a metaphor that declares His deity and His relationship to mankind as Savior (this is the first of seven such references); see 8:12 (Light); 10:9 (Door); 10:11 (Good Shepherd); 11:25 (Resurrection); 14:6 (Way, Truth, Life); 15:5 (Vine).
Unapologetically Marcia