If you are thirsty, there’s water for all.
    Whoever is poor and penniless can still come and buy the food I sell.
    There’s no cost—here, have some food, hearty and delicious, and beverages, pure and good.I don’t understand why you spend your money for things that don’t nourish or work so hard for what leaves you empty.
    Attend to Me and eat what is good; enjoy the richest, most delectable of things.Listen closely, and come even closer. My words will give life, for I will make a covenant with you that cannot be broken, a promise of My enduring presence and support like I gave to David.See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander among the nations.Now you will issue a call to nations from all over the world - people whom you do not know and who do not know you.
    They will come running, because of Me, your God because the Eternal, the Holy One of Israel, has made you beautiful.Isaiah 55: 1-5 (The Voice)come here; comecome even closer.your Godhas made you … [Read more...]

At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you."He said to them, "Go and tell that fox for me, 'Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.'Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, 'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.'" Luke 13:31-35How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings.You a chicken, Lord?This is one Biblical symbol at first I had trouble grasping.Then I watched a hen protect … [Read more...]

Now Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wild. For forty wilderness days and nights he was tested by the Devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when the time was up he was hungry. The Devil, playing on his hunger, gave the first test: “Since you’re God’s Son, command this stone to turn into a loaf of bread.” Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: “It takes more than bread to really live.” For the second test he led him up and spread out all the kingdoms of the earth on display at once. Then the Devil said, “They’re yours in all their splendor to serve your pleasure. I’m in charge of them all and can turn them over to whomever I wish. Worship me and they’re yours, the whole works.” Jesus refused, again backing his refusal with Deuteronomy: “Worship the Lord your God and only the Lord your God. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness.” For the third test the Devil took him to Jerusalem and put him on top of the Temple. He said, “If … [Read more...]

The Israelites would see the face of Moses, that the skin of his face was shining; and Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with him. Exodus 34: 35And while Jesus was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Luke 9: 29Lord, may my life shine with dazzling light for You.Purify me, Lord, so no tarnish blocks Your rays.Moses spoke face to face with You.Jesus conversed intimately with You, His Father.I come to Your throne not knowing what to say. What to do in Your presence. How to approach you carrying my sin smeared heart.Yet You invite me to come closer, to snuggle into Your arms, to hear You whisper my name.You gently wash me clean - squeaky, shiny, pure and spotless. There is nothing I can do to remove the shroud covering my heart.  Only You can lift it with Your breath of new life.Ruth Burrows said,  “If I let God take hold of me more and more; possess me, as fire possesses the burning log, then I give off … [Read more...]

We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist.But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation:Trust steadily in God,hope unswervingly,love extravagantly.And the best of the three is love.1 Corinthians 13: 12-13 (The Message)Lord sometimes I can’t find You.I look.I listen. I seek Your face and stain to hear even a tiny whisper.I don’t see You in this fog of human living.Like driving in a murky midst of grey, I get disoriented and confused.I can’t wait until this haze lifts and I gaze directly into Your eyes.But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation:Trust steadily in God,hope unswervingly,love extravagantly.And the best of the three is love.But once again … [Read more...]

He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.   Ezra the teacher of the Law stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion. Beside him on his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah; and on his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.Nehemiah 8: 3-6 (NIV)Ezra opened the book... Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with … [Read more...]

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”“Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to … [Read more...]

But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead.Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give nations in exchange for you, and peoples in exchange for your lifeDo not be afraid, for I am with you;
    I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
    and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth—everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I … [Read more...]