ON THE third day there was a wedding at Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited with His disciples to the wedding. And when the wine was all gone, the mother of Jesus said to Him, They have no more wine (John 2:1)
Hey Neighbor!
So, from the Scripture above, we can see that Jesus and His disciples were invited to a wedding feast in Cana of Galilee.
Now we know that Jesus had very recently called his first few disciples in the previous Chapter of the Gospel of John.
In fact, John 1:35 tells us that Jesus was initially followed by two men, who were both (originally) disciples of John the Baptist. – We will soon learn that one of those ‘followers’ was named Andrew – Peter’s Brother, where the other ‘follower’ remains unnamed.
⁃ Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, And he looked at Jesus as He walked along, and said, Look! There is the Lamb of God! The two disciples heard him (John The Baptist) say this, and they followed Him (Jesus)
So at some point, after those (2) men followed Jesus, “to see where He was staying,”Andrew departed, to go and find his own brother, Simon Peter.
–One of the two who heard what John said and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter“s brother. He first sought out and found his own brother Simon and said to him, We have found (discovered) the Messiah!–which translated is the Christ (the Anointed One). (John 1:40-41)
So now we have a total of (3) Disciples: Andrew, Peter, and that ‘Unnamed’ Follower.
The very next day, Jesus calls Philip… (#4)
⁃ The next day Jesus desired and decided to go into Galilee; and He found Philip and said to him, Join Me as My attendant and follow Me. (John 1:43)
And Then, Philip finds Nathanael…(#5)
⁃ Nathanael said to Jesus, How do You know me? [How is it that You know these things about me?] Jesus answered him, Before [ever] Philip called you, when you were still under the fig tree, I saw you. (John 1:48)
So all together; we have a total of 5 Disciples😉
Initially I could only identify 4 disciples, like several of you guys…but then I read this:
“The disciples also were invited, those five whom he had called ( ch. 1), for as yet he had no more; they were his family, and were invited with him. They had thrown themselves upon his care, and they soon found that, though he had no wealth, he had good friends.”
This is a quote from Matthew Henry’s Commentary, which caused me to go back and search for Disciple #5.
Just thought I would share what I found with you guys, and I hope you enjoyed🤩
Can the wedding guests fast (abstain from food and drink) while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and they will fast in that day (Mark 2:19)
Hey Neighbor!
In the Scripture above, Jesus is explaining that there are appropriate occasions for fasting, as well as for feasting.
A wedding ceremony is definitely an appropriate occasion for feasting- a time of joy…filled with eating and drinking- where all of the invited guests, join together to eat 🍽️ toast 🥂 and Celebrate 💃🏽 Alongside The Happy Bridegroom.
We can even find Jesus, Our Spiritual Bridegroom, feasting at a wedding ceremony, in The Scriptures…just before his mother alerted him that they had run out of wine!!
How many of Jesus’ ‘freshly-caught’ disciples were invited to that Wedding 💒 Celebration in Cana…where as guests…they also went in to feast, alongside ‘The Bridegroom??’
–There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
(1Corinthians 10:13)
Hey Neighbor!
Here is an Oldie but -A- Goodie Trivia Question – I think it’s a perfect one for this Good(ie) Friday!!
Enjoy🤩
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Sometimes the man or woman of God can grow weary and/or become deeply discouraged because of the overwhelming evil in the world and/or because he perceives that God has given him a burden that has become too heavy to bear.
Now Scripture reminds us that God will not put more on us than we can bear, so we can remain confident that God will always send help or provide support to he, whom God has equipped for service!!
Look at Jesus, when he was in the Garden of Gethsemane. He was nearly having a nervous breakdown, as He prayed and pleaded with His friends to wait and watch with him.
–And He said to them, My soul is exceedingly sad (overwhelmed with grief) so that it almost kills Me! Remain here and keep awake and be watching. (Mark 14:34)
Wow!! Even Jesus became overwhelmed during his ministry, but God sent Help!!
–Saying, Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but [always] Yours be done. And there appeared to Him an angel from heaven, strengthening Him in spirit. (Luke 22:42)
God sent an angel to come to Jesus to encourage and strengthen Him…And Praise God Jesus, Our Lord and Savior, Who was both Our High Priest and Prophet, continued on to finish The Work of God!!
Now let’s take a look at 3 additional prophets, who also felt overwhelmed, very much like Jesus while they were in service to God!!
Their souls were vexed and they too felt overwhelmed with grief, so much so that they would rather die!!
Can you identify the 3 prophets below who, in times of strenuous strain, preferred for God to take their lives, rather than continuing on to complete their assignments??
_________________________said, “Therefore now, O Lord, I beseech You, take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”
__________________________said, “And if this is the way You deal with me, kill me, I pray You, at once, and be granting me a favor and let me not see my wretchedness [in the failure of all my efforts.”
___________________________said, “He said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am no better than my fathers.”
When one told me, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking he was bringing good news, I seized and slew him in Ziklag who expected me to give him a reward for his news. (2Samuel 4:10)
Hey Neighbor!
I’m sure you noticed that Tuesday night’s trivia question looked quite familiar…
And Yes it was…it was from a fairly recent Trivia Tuesday Question posted on Valentine’s Day of 2024.
Well, Kim and I took on a last minute Facebook Bible Study for a friend…
Kim was just getting back home from Ireland and I was running into the house to get signed on, after my son’s Middle School Track Meet…
Well…we made it in…with just 2 minutes to spare before going live!!
Here is that Facebook link, if you would like to watch…as we resolve ‘Who Shot King Saul??’
The young Amalekite, from the scripture above, received an immediate🤺 death…instead of an instant 💰reward…after he attempted to take credit for God’s kill!!
In 1 Chronicles 10:13, God tells us that He killed Saul‼️
And there is no need to lead Him into the interrogation room for questioning, because God told us exactly why He killed Saul…even before God, quite unashamedly, confesses to his murder!!
God was fed up with Saul’s antics…and just like God killed Er, because he was wicked…
– And Er, Judah“s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord slew him (Gen 38:7)
And God killed Onan…because He displeased Him…
– And the thing which he (Onan) did displeased the Lord; therefore He slew him also. (Gen 38:10)
So too, did He slay King Saul!!
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Here is God’s Confession:
So Saul died for his trespass against the Lord [in sparing Amalek], for his unfaithfulness in not keeping God“s word, and also for consulting [a medium with] a spirit of the dead to inquire pleadingly of it, And inquired not so of the Lord [in earnest penitence]. Therefore the Lord slew him and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse. (1Chronicles 10:13)🔥☄️
What more can be said??🤷🏽♀️
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Great Job, G.W‼️👏👏👏
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Thanks for Participating Guys 🙏🏾
If you missed any of this weeks CareBibleStudy Trivia Questions, including the one tilted, ‘Who Shot Saul,’ here are links:
When one told me, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking he was bringing good news, I seized and slew him in Ziklag who expected me to give him a reward for his news. (2Samuel 4:10)
Hey Neighbor!
I’m sure you noticed that Tuesday night’s trivia question looked quite familiar…
And Yes it was…it was from a fairly recent Trivia Tuesday Question posted on Valentine’s Day of 2024.
Well, Kim and I took on a last minute Facebook Bible Study for a friend…
Kim was just getting back home from Ireland and I was running into the house to get signed on, after my son’s Middle School Track Meet…
Well…we made it in…with just 2 minutes to spare before going live!!
Here is that Facebook link, if you would like to watch…as we resolve ‘Who Shot King Saul??’
The young Amalekite, from the scripture above, received an immediate🤺 death…instead of an instant 💰reward…after he attempted to take credit for God’s kill!!
In 1 Chronicles 10:13, God tells us that He killed Saul‼️
And there is no need to lead Him into the interrogation room for questioning, because God told us exactly why He killed Saul…even before God, quite unashamedly, confesses to his murder!!
God was fed up with Saul’s antics…and just like God killed Er, because he was wicked…
– And Er, Judah“s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord slew him (Gen 38:7)
And God killed Onan…because He displeased Him…
– And the thing which he (Onan) did displeased the Lord; therefore He slew him also. (Gen 38:10)
So too, did He slay King Saul!!
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Here is God’s Confession:
So Saul died for his trespass against the Lord [in sparing Amalek], for his unfaithfulness in not keeping God“s word, and also for consulting [a medium with] a spirit of the dead to inquire pleadingly of it, And inquired not so of the Lord [in earnest penitence]. Therefore the Lord slew him and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse. (1Chronicles 10:13)🔥☄️
What more can be said??🤷🏽♀️
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Great Job, G.W‼️👏👏👏
****************************************
Thanks for Participating Guys 🙏🏾
If you missed any of this weeks CareBibleStudy Trivia Questions, including the one tilted, ‘Who Shot Saul,’ here are links:
And Abraham called the name of the place, The-LORD-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided (Gen 22:14)
Hey Neighbor!
Here is Part III of our Journey with Joseph; Another CareBibleStudy, Blast from the Past!!
Enjoy 🤩
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In our last lesson, we learned that Joseph grew up in a very dysfunctional family, and that his father, Jacob was not very attentive to his older sons, nor did he discipline them for their wrongdoings.
This is a poor parenting style that never profits the sons, nor the fathers.
Here is even more evidence, from a previous CareBibleStudy Lesson, where we learned about another dysfunctional family and their father, ‘Pastor’ Eli, who also refused to chastise his two wicked sons – and the tragic consequences thereafter.
But For Today- As We begin Part 3 of our Lesson, we find that young Joseph has had yet another dream…and unfortunately, he has decided to share all the details with his green-eyed brothers.
This is not a Good Idea!!
Well…This 2nd dream was the straw that broke the camel’s back…so at this point, Jacob’s sons are fed up with Joseph, his dreams, and of course, his coat!!
Now Joseph’s Father, Jacob would from time to time, send Joseph out into the fields, to check on his brothers, as they went about feeding their flock.
If you will recall from our Bible Trivia- ‘Jacob’s Sons,’ this was how Jacob acquired that bad report about his 4 sons – who Jacob had by his 2 concubines, Bilhah, and Zilpah.
So of course, we are not surprised to learn that Joseph’s brothers were never excited about him showing up on the job-site. They knew that Joseph was going to return to their father, Jacob with a full and detailed report about all of their antics!!
Genesis 37-12
But here we find that Jacob has cause to, once again send Joseph out to check on the older boys, but unbeknownst to Jacob, today he would be sending his favorite son to the slaughter!!
Now, as Joseph approaches Jacob’s bloodthirsty sons in Dothan with their flock, they are not at all surprised to see him coming.
They have spied 🔍him out!!
And the brothers are watching Joseph…from the distance…
And poor Joseph is walking right into their trap!!
And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh. Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams. (Genesis 37:18-20)
Having conspired together against Joseph, the majority of the brothers have cast their votes, in the AFFIRMATIVE – to rid themselves of ‘the dreamer,’
But they remained ‘1’ vote shy…
Who was the hold-out??
That would be Reuben – Jacob and Leah’s first-born son, who voted against killing his brother, saying: Let’s not kill him, but instead we will just throw him into a nearby pit.
Scripture tells us that Reuben was secretly planning to return to the pit, maybe after the brothers were headed home, with every intention to rescue Joseph, and to return his little brother back home, securely into his dad’s arms.
You see, as the oldest son, Reuben would be held responsible if anything had befallen his little brother, and Reuben had already made a stink of himself in Jacob’s household, when he secretly ‘went into his dad’s concubine’ – he ‘polluted Jacob’s couch.’
To say this in more plain terms- Reuben secretly had intercourse with one of his dad’s wives- Bilhah, his step-mother.
So, as you can imagine, Reuben could not afford to be found in-league with his brothers and their plot to shed Joseph’s blood.
So now…in full agreement…the boys have decided to toss Joseph into a pit/dry well – but first they stripped Joseph of his colorful coat!!
Then, believe it or not, they sat there callously, around the pit and very casually ate their lunch- as if they were at a church picnic!!
Wow!!
Can you believe that??
They seemed to be quite pleased with how they had so humiliated their brother.
All the while, I’m sure that Joseph was in anguish and agony…cold and thirsty…and maybe even hungry, as he pleaded with his brothers for mercy.
But there was no mercy for Joseph…OR WAS THERE??
Now another one of Leah’s, profit thirsty sons, Judah, arbitrarily decided that it would be more advantageous if they sold the lad to the passing caravan of merchants, who were now heading to Egypt.
After all…How could the ‘dreamer’s’ expectations of become their Master come to pass, if Joseph, first becomes a Slave??
We’re not told why Judah introduces this alternative suggestion.
Maybe Joseph’s repeated cries of distress had begun to tug at Judah’s guilty heart…
Or…
Was it that God was providing a ‘Ram in the Bush’…thus, sparing Joseph’s life?
I believe the latter!!
But here, scripture simply tells us that…like his older brother Reuben…Judah did not want to shed his brother’s blood either.
Now when Reuben returns to the pit…finding an empty hole…with no Joseph in it – HE IS LIVID🤯‼️
He is boiling over when the brothers confess that they have sold Joseph out of his hands of surety.
But why did Reuben expect to find honor amongst thieves??
Remember, these are the same guys who ran in to pillage the land, for profit, after Simeon and Levi had killed Shechem and his household!!
For some reason, Reuben had separted himself from his brothers- maybe he was preparing things for his later return and rescue of Joseph.
We are not told, but while he was away…Judah, and his two murderous brothers, Simeon and Levi…as well as the other remaining brothers took secret council and voted to sell the lad!!
They profited themselves 20 pieces of silver for the sell of Jacob’s beloved boy, Joseph.
So now Jacob’s most deceitful sons must again, conspire to cover-up their devious deed!!
They have done a treacherous thing in Israel!!
They have dishonored their brother, Joseph!!
They have dishonored their father, Jacob!!
And Most of All…
They have dishonored The God of their father, Jacob!!
But God had seen this Evil thing that the brothers thought was being done, in the dark!!
And Although they had set a trap for Joseph and stripped him of his coat…
They could not strip Joseph of his Comforter.
God had indeed provided a 🛟 rescue…and Joseph’s life was preserved…but unbeknownst to Joseph’s brothers…it would be all 10 of them, who remained in that lair.
They had set themselves up to live with the consequences of the lies and deceit from this 1 day…for the next 15+ years of their lives…
Always fearing that their father would someday learn the truth of their treachery.
What a ‘PIT-I-FULL’ Life!!
Joseph’s God had pulled him up and out of the pit, but now Joseph’s brothers have fallen into the depths of the pit themselves!!
-Whoever digs a pit [for another man“s feet] shall fall into it himself…(Proverbs 26:27)
Neighbor…Have You Fallen into A Trap??
If so, today You too can cry out from the pit…for Mercy and Deliverance!!
Your Father, God will hear Your cries of distress and He will Provide a Ram for Your Salvation!!
That Ram’s name is, Jesus‼️
And today, You can receive Jesus, as Your Own Personal 🛟 Savior.
Good News!!🗞️
There’s no hard work involved…if You will simply Believe that Jesus Christ is the Resurrected, Son of God…
And confess with your mouth that “Jesus is Your Lord and Savior,” then instantly, Your heart will beat and circulate the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ‼️
The Blood Of Jesus will wash you clean 🧽 from those heart-heavy burdens, that have kept you entrapped in sin for years and years!!
God Loves You…and He is Listening…Cry out to Him today and receive Jesus Christ!!
Give Him Your Life Today and He will Reward You with an Everlasting Life‼️
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Thanks For Stopping by Today!!
Next week…We will complete Part 4 of the Pit Before the Palace, where we will see how Joseph’s ‘Pit-i-full’ brothers attempt to pull off their cover-up!!
Until Next Time, Remember…
Jesus Loves You 💕and So Do I!!
–Tam
Don’t forget to Share The CareBibleStudy Blog with YOUR Family, Friends, Co-Workers and Your Neighbors also – Loving Them As You Love Yourselves!!
–You are jealous and covet [what others have] and your desires go unfulfilled; [so] you become murderers. [To hate is to murder as far as your hearts are concerned.] You burn with envy and anger and are not able to obtain [the gratification, the contentment, and the happiness that you seek], so you fight and war. You do not have, because you do not ask. [I John 3:15.] (James 4:2)
Hey Neighbor!
Here is Your Flashback Friday Lesson…It’s Part II of ‘The Pit Before The Palace.’
Just when you thought you were the only one with a dysfunctional family….🤦🏾♀️
Well after today’s lesson, I hope you realize that You are not alone.
Here is Jacob’s Dysfunctional Family!!
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Sometimes…we can read a scripture and simply overlook the Truth of The Word, on that page…because we haven’t actually fought that particular battle in our everyday lives…Yet the Scriptures are ALWAYS current and relevant!!
Well…I would imagine if Jacob’s sons had been born, after James had written the verse above, I think his message, would have been more than relevant, during that particular time in their lives.
Maybe Judah might have read that page, in the Book of James…IN AWE…and then stopped to say…
“Oh My Lord!”
“Brothers…That’s Us!!”- right 👉🏼 HERE, on the pages of Scripture!!
You know that’s what happens when we find ourselves convicted by the Truth of God’s Word!!
Maybe the brothers would have repented of their sins…and reversed their paths…
Maybe they would have found themselves saddened and/or grieved because their hearts were filled with murder, and cruel covetousness against their little brother!!
Well…hopefully you have already read through ‘Part 1 of the Pit Before the Palace.’
If not, you will want to go back and check it out.
Now here we see that Jacob’s sons not only hated their little brother…Joseph…but they also hated that coat!!
And the brothers were very unhappy and extremely angry with their father Jacob, because he had been far too attentive to Joseph, leaving them feeling left out and neglected.
You know, sometimes kids will ‘act-out’ to get their parent’s attention….although Jacob’s children were extremely misguided, and had misbehaved to a much, much, higher degree…I think they were simply fighting for their father’s attention.
They didn’t understand that they could just talk to their dad about the bitterness they felt towards Joseph, and explain that they were hurt by the open favoritism that Jacob had shown amongst his sons…
Neither did they think to talk to God about this problem- They just declared war!!
Reuben was warring with his father, Jacob when he went up to ‘sleep’ with his stepmother, Bilhah (Jacob’s concubine.)
Simeon and Levi were warring with Jacob when they decided to usurp Jacob’s authority, and to take charge over their sister, Dinah’s future, by killing Shechem.
Now, Scripture tells Us that God chastens those whom He loves, but these boys were not chastened by their father…at all!!
-Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasten [I discipline and instruct them]. Revelation 3:19
Have You we read where Jacob disciplined His sons for their wrongdoings??
Therefore his Son’s…spared by their father’s rod, have now decided to take the battle to the next level!!
Jacob’s sons have now turned their ‘swords’ of war away from their father…and onto his Beloved Son (the son whom their father dearly and tenderly loved) and now they are planning to advance the battle, with murderous intentions in their hearts.
–He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly. (Proverbs 13:24)
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You know, My mother used to say, parenting doesn’t come with an instruction manual…but maybe she was looking for a ‘man-made’ manual…when what We (as parents) really need, is the Holy Spirit Breathed- Word of God!!
The Bible is our instruction manual for living and we can pick it up, read it, and pray that The Holy Spirit will show Us how to troubleshoot the error codes in our parenting styles.
None of Us have been…nor will ever be…perfect mothers, nor fathers…and that’s inclusive of our patriarchal father, Jacob!!
But praise The Lord 🙌🏾🙌🏾 We have a Perfect Father in Heaven!!
And we have His Son, Jesus…and We can assuredly rest in His Perfection!!
***************************************** Next Friday: Part III of The Pit Before the Palace!!
Thanks for Stopping By!!
💕Tam
Jesus Loves You and So Do I!!
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Don’t forget to Share The CareBibleStudy Blog with YOUR Family, Friends, Co-Workers and Your Neighbors also – Loving Them As You Love Yourselves!!
THEN JESUS was led (guided) by the [Holy] Spirit into the wilderness (desert) to be tempted (tested and tried) by the devil. And He went without food for forty days and forty nights, and later He was hungry (Matthew 4:1)
Hey Neighbor!
In the Scripture above, Matthew tells us that Jesus had gone without food for…FORTY DAYS‼️
WOW‼️
But was Jesus theFirst to Fast, in The Bible??
No. He was not!!
But Jesus was One, of just a few ‘Prophets’ from the Bible, who fasted for a whole FORTY DAYS and nights!!
Who else was gifted with such spiritual and physical fortitude, as to endure a FORTY DAY FAST, from the Bible??
In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. (Mat 28:1)
Hey Neighbor!
From the scripture above, it is pretty evident that there were several women called Mary, in the Bible…and we meet most of them in the New Testament.
Amongst them are…Mary – the mother of James and Joseph, who Matthew refers to as “the other Mary” in the Scripture above.
Of course we all recognize…Mary- the Mother of Jesus
Mary (of Bethany) – Sister of Martha and Lazarus
And from the Old Testament, there was Moses’s sister…Miriam (Hebrew) = Mariam (Greek) = Mary
But there were also several men in the bible, who were called, Joseph!!
Of course we all recognize…Joseph – the ‘father’ of Jesus
And there was…Joseph – Jacob’s ‘favorite’ son
But are there any more Joseph’s in the Scriptures, whom we can learn about??
⁃ And they said one to another, See, here comes this dreamer and master of dreams. So come on now, let us kill him and throw his body into some pit; then we will say [to our father], Some wild and ferocious animal has devoured him; and we shall see what will become of his dreams (Genesis 37:19)
Hey Neighbor!
Here’s Your Flashback – Friday!!
Many of us just recently realized, (in our Trivia Thursday) that Joseph’s baby brother, Benjamin…was not quite a ‘baby,’ after all…on that fated day, when he walked across that threshold, in the The Land of Egypt.
Unfortunately, we cannot pinpoint Benjamin’s exact age…but we now know that the age gap between Jacob’s last two sons, was more likely, that of just a few years.
Now we do know that Joseph would have been about 39 years old when he laid eyes on his baby brother, Benjamin- but let’s go back…
Back to the land of Canaan, when Benjamin was indeed a baby, and Joseph was just a ‘lad’ himself….around the age 17.
It might be an oldie, but it’s still a goodie!!
This is Part I…Enjoy🤩
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I was reading this morning about Joseph, the ‘master’ of dreams, as he was ‘so called’ and viciously mocked by his ‘green-eyed’ older brothers, who had grown to hate him.
Yes! I did say that Joseph’s brother’s hated him.
Why??
Well here is some family background first, which should help us understand why:
Joseph was the 11th son of 12 boys born into a household filled with jealousy and envy. Their father, Jacob, had 4 different wives… and 2 of those wives (Leah and Rachel) were sisters, who were constantly in strife, competing for their husband’s love, time, and attention, even though Rachel was openly recognized as Jacob’s favorite wife.
Now Jacob still had two 2 more wives, Bilhah and Zilpah- they originally served as handmaids to each of the sisters, but were now given, (in the spirit of competition) to Jacob, as concubines (secondary wives.)
Can you imagine the ongoing arguments inside of their tents??
Drama! Drama!! Drama!!!
Well…it didn’t make things any better after Jacob unashamedly proclaimed Joseph (Rachel’s boy) as his ‘favorite’ son and openly bestowed upon him a coat of many colors!
Now this is when we first learn (from Scripture) that Joseph’s brothers’ jealousy had been building and fermenting in their hearts and had matured into full grown hate! – Scripture tells us that they hated him so much that they would not speak to him- not even so much as to say Good Morning to him- Nor Good Night!!
I would imagine that each time they looked at Joseph wearing this beautiful, colorful coat…feelings of covetousness overcame them and thus they became even more enraged.
Now we know that Joseph did not hide this coat away in some secret drawer, as to calm and/or pacify his brothers’ rage.
And why would he??
Joseph both loved and honored his father, therefore he felt blessed to receive this precious gift and he was happy that his father had chosen to honor him with it – above all of his sons.
I’m sure that Joseph diligently cared for his coat, as this young shepherd had also cared for his fathers’ flock. I’m sure he was dutiful to keep it fresh, and crisp, and spot free. I’m sure that Joseph and his colorful coat were inseparable. In fact, We know that he was wearing his coat on the very day that his hate-filled brothers conspired to take his life.
-When Joseph had come to his brothers, they stripped him of his [distinctive] long garment which he was wearing; Then they took him and cast him into the [well-like] pit which was empty; there was no water in it (Gen 37:23)
Well you may say- what kind of dream did this boy have that would tick his brothers off to such an extreme that they would conspire against him and throw him into a pit??
Well….Here is Joseph’s 1st dream:
-We [brothers] were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright, and behold, your sheaves stood round about my sheaf and bowed down! His brothers said to him, Shall you indeed reign over us? Or are you going to have us as your subjects and dominate us? And they hated him all the more for his dreams and for what he said (Gen 37:7)
At this point, these wicked brothers were burning with anger and hatred. They were just about fed up with Joseph and these dreams, perceiving that Joseph viewed himself as superior to them. They feared this 1st dream was a prediction that Joseph would have dominion over them, and thus they feared that they would eventually become servants to Joseph.
Perhaps they were even more concerned that their much loved little brother, might usurp them chronologically and be given the birthright by Jacob- that is the double portion of their father’s blessing – which is traditionally given to the eldest son- that would be Reuben.
How could the youngest brother reign over the oldest?
How could this one son- reign over the many?
Well God explains why this thing would come to pass in 1Samuel 2:30, in regards to Eli’s two wicked sons- when He says:
-I will honor those who honor Me and I will lightly esteem those who despise Me.
Although the brothers were much offended by Joseph, his coat, and his dreams, God was using all of these these things for stumbling blocks to them, because they had despised their brother and their F(f)ather(s).
God had lightly esteemed Joseph’s older brothers because He knew their hearts to be wicked and He had witnessed their deceitful behavior. They had repeatedly dishonored their earthly father, Jacob and had therefore dishonored their Father in Heaven.
But God also knew Joseph’s heart. And… in Contrast, He had seen Joseph’s faithfulness- in that he was dutiful to his ‘dear old dad’ and all that Jacob possessed- Therefore, God chose to honor Joseph above all of his brothers, by causing Jacob to make this ‘son of his old age,’ a beautiful coat, which represented his future ‘prince-hood.’
Yes! Joseph’s dreams were indeed confirmation of things that were certain to come to pass.
And God had blessed Joseph ‘the dreamer’ with a prophetic peek into the Palace.
Yes! Joseph, the younger would indeed reign over the oldest- in fact, He would receive the birthright instead of Reuben.
Yes! Each of Jacob’s 11 (eleven) sons would indeed bow before the more righteous, (1) one- and they once again call him ‘master’- in all his splendor!!
After all, God says the wealth of the wicked is stored up for the righteous. And very soon, Joseph will find himself in the Palace – Prince over great abundance, in a wicked land called Egypt.
We will continue this lesson next time and learn about Joseph’s 2nd dream and we will also learn why he would first find himself in the pit.
Along the way, we will gather some more history/background about the nature and character of Joseph’s brothers, who would continue to dishonor their F(f)athers.
Thanks For Stopping By, Neighbor!
Until Next a Time, Remember…
God Loves You and So Do I!!
💕Tam
Don’t forget to Be a Blessing… Share The CareBibleStudy Blog with YOUR Family, Friends, Co-Workers and Your Neighbors also – Loving Them As You Love Yourselves!!
What is the use (profit), my brethren, for anyone to profess to have faith if he has no [good] works [to show for it]? Can [such] faith save [his soul]? If a brother or sister is poorly clad and lacks food for each day, And one of you says to him, Good-bye(Keep [yourself] warm and well fed, without giving him the necessities for the body, what good does that do? (James 2:14-16)
Hey Neighbor!
Here is Another Oldie -But a-Goodie!! This one was a riddle reveal for A Super- Faith Sunday female, from 2023.
Her name was Tabitha, and her name meant gazelle; thus the name accurately reflected the pleasantness and the kindness of this most tender woman.
If you would like to tune in, to watch this CareBibleStudy Lesson on YouTube, here is your link.
Otherwise, Carry on…Read on…and Enjoy🤩
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Tabitha, (Acts 9:36) was an Israelite from the tribe of Dan.
She was called Dorcas by her Greek-speaking friends, who she no doubt clothed with the beautiful garments that she had designed and created, with her very own hands.
Tabitha was a ‘faith-full’ follower of Jesus Christ, and thus, she was called a ‘disciple’ of Jesus!!
Yes! Tabitha was the first female in the bible, who wore the ‘title’ of disciple, implying that she was a witness for Jesus in Jerusalem, and all Judea, as well as Samaria…even to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8)
But Tabitha was not a woman who witnessed for Jesus with her words only…she was not like one of those trees, spotted from the distance, because of its’ abundance of leaves blowing about in the wind, only to find up close….that there is no fruit on the branches…like that cursed fig tree that ‘fooled’ Jesus!!
In contrast, Tabitha was a righteous and flourishing tree with an abundance of fully ripened fruit, whereby she freely and cheerfully shared her bountiful harvest with the widows and the poor in the neighboring communities!!
The Apostle, James tells us that faith without works is dead!!
– So also faith, if it does not have works (deeds and actions of obedience to back it up), by itself is destitute of power (inoperative, dead). (James 2:17)
But Tabitha was a woman, ‘full of faith,’ and because she was also a seamstress, she dutifully sewed feet 👣 onto the faith, the she so boldly wore, before all men and women.
This was not a woman who merely eyed the weary widows in her community, and the ‘coat-less’ orphans, while they shivered near the nighttime fires, believing that her fervent prayer was sufficient enough to keep their bones warm overnight.
Tabitha weighed out her faith, and balanced the scales with her works, while sewing beautiful garments that both clothed and covered the nakedness of the widows, from the snow and the rain.
This woman was not idle with her hands; nor was she miserly with her wealth;
But like the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31, Tabitha sought out and purchased wool and flax and worked willingly with her hands.
She was not one with merely a heart, full of compassion for the hungry and the poor, but she was a wealthy woman, who opened her hands to the needy; and her hands were filled with charitable abundance and cheer!!
Not only did she plant fruitful vines in her vineyard, but she also shared the fruit of her faith, as she boldly confessed her belief in the resurrected Jesus Christ before the congregation, and also inside of the tents and huts of the helpless, in her community!!
And because so many non-believers witnessed Tabitha’s faith, plus her works…Tabitha’s ever-shining light drew many to Christ!
But unfortunately, Tabitha had fallen sick, and now her bright light had been quenched: for she was found dead.
Oh how the community mourned and grieved because of her death!!
Indeed the abundant joy and the ‘faith-full’ cheer that she shared with so many would be greatly missed!!
Tabitha’s death was a great loss to the community in Joppa.
When the local disciples heard of Tabitha’s passing, they sent two men to Peter, begging him to come to Joppa to stretch forth his hands upon the Lord’s deceased disciple.
Having heard that Peter was near Joppa, where he had recently spoken to a man called Aeneas, Peter proclaimed that Jesus Christ had made him whole; and this man, who had been paralyzed for more than eight years, instantly stood upright and was now walking about in Lydda…full of faith!!
Peter was so inclined to go to Joppa with the other disciples, and before he could reach the upper chamber, where they had laid Tabitha’s body, Peter heard the sorrowful cries of those who were in attendance at her funeral!!
But what Peter noticed more-so than the outpouring of cries, were all the the dresses, the tunics, the coats, the blankets, and all the wonderful workings of this woman’s hands, who now lay lifeless before him.
This was not your average ‘going home’ ceremony, where the surviving friends and relatives stood before the church, bearing ‘word of mouth’ testimony to the decedent’s well run race…in a matter of two minutes or so!!
But this was a very sad funeral, where each arm, every back, and all the warmly clad bodies of the widows, the poor, and the ‘least of these’ bore witness and showed evidence of Tabitha’s love and her flourishing faith in Jesus Christ!!
When Jesus was sick, Tabitha Fed Him!!
When Jesus was thirsty, Tabitha gave Him drink!!
When Jesus was naked, Tabitha clothed Him!!
And When He was sick, Tabitha visited Jesus!!
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (Mat 25:40)
And now, We see Jesus reciprocating the ‘faith-full’ favor that Tabitha had bestowed upon the widows and the poor, as He sends forth his apostle, Peter, possessed with the healing power of the Holy Spirit, to visit His ‘ever-faith-full’ disciple, Tabitha.
But Peter put them all out [of the room] and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, Tabitha, get up! And she opened her eyes; and when she saw Peter, she raised herself and sat upright. (Acts 9:40)
We Praise God for His ‘faith-full’ disciple, Tabitha, who Jesus Christ revived…restoring her health, so that she might continue her charitable lifestyle, in a community with a great need; and where she – no doubt – became a walking, talking testimony to the Healing, Redeeming Power of Jesus Christ, Our Savior!!
And you said to your servants, Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes on him. And we said to my lord, The lad cannot leave his father; for if he should do so, his father would die (Genesis 44:21)
Hey Neighbor!
In the Scripture above, we’ve just read where Judah plead with The Prince Of Egypt- (Joseph) -for Benjamin’s life…and he (Judah) goes on further still…even offering up his own life…and his own freedom, in exchange for his youngest brother’s.
Now before the (11) brothers departed for Egypt together, Judah had promised his Father, Jacob that he would be ‘surety’ for Benjamin’s life, reassuring his father that nothing bad would befall ‘the lad’ while in his hands, and that he (Judah) would return Benjamin home to Jacob, in one piece.
Now we do know that the Prince of Egypt finally revealed himself- as Joseph- to his very frightened brothers.
And of course the irony here, is that Joseph was only a ‘lad’ when he found himself in Egypt…after having been sold into slavery…by these very same brothers.
But here we find Joseph’s brothers, quite sorrowful about the real possibility that they may be loosing yet another ‘baby-brother’ to a life of servitude in Egypt.
Now, although Judah referred to Benjamin lovingly, as just a ‘lad,’ while pleading with his brother, Joseph; Benjamin was actually, a full-bodied, adult male, with ‘lads’ of his own. 🤯
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Just how many ‘lads’ had already been born to Benjamin, when he arrived in Egypt??
– Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son, Amon his son, Josiah his son. The descendants of Josiah: firstborn, Johanan; second, Jehoiakim; third, Zedekiah; fourth, Shallum (1Chronicles 3:13)
Hey Neighbor!
Here is this week’s Trivia Thursday Answer: King Manasseh and King Amon – of Judah!!
They were the Grandfather and great-grandfather, of our wicked King, Jehoiakim of Judah…as per the above Scripture.
Jehoiakim’s Great-grandfather, Manasseh was also a wicked King in Judah…and after he ‘slept with his fathers,’ he was not buried in the king’s sepulchers…he was buried in his own household garden.
– The rest of the acts of Manasseh, all that he did, and his sin that he committed, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? Manasseh slept with his fathers and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza. Amon his son reigned in his stead (2Kings 21:17)
In fact, Manasseh’s wicked son, Amon, after his death, ‘did sleep with his dad,’ Manasseh,’ – Because he was buried in that same garden of Uzza – with King Manasseh.
The rest of the acts of Amon, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? He was buried in his tomb in the garden of Uzza. Josiah his son succeeded him. (2Kings 21:25)
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If you missed the CareBibleStudy Trivia Question on Thursday, Here is that link for review:
-Up to this time you have not asked a [single] thing in My Name [as presenting all that I AM]; but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy (gladness, delight) may be full and complete-
(John 16:23)
Hey Neighbor!
Here is Part 2 of last week’s Flashback Friday Lesson!!
Enjoy🤩
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I am hoping that You read or ‘watched’ Last week’s Lesson on YouTube…otherwise You will be completely miffed today.
Last Week’s Lesson was titled, ‘Quit Looking and Start Leaning on The Holy Spirit!’- Part 1.
So, After I finally learned how to keep my part of Our agreement…I finally ceased my search –
I Quit Looking‼️
And at some point during that week, I started to notice that I wasn’t worrying anymore…
God was giving Me His Grace in this trial/test, and I was learning to receive It!!
He was giving me His ‘special’ favor to accept and deal with my problem, with a sort of ease, that I was not accustomed to having, under similar circumstances.
The Holy Spirit was setting me free from the tormenting, anxiety that would normally, hover, linger, and keep me awake at night…
But because I was resting in God’s grace…I was sleeping peacefully, through the entire night – even after my 3am trip to the bathroom, when my mind would normally begin to start racing –
I continued resting‼️
Also, The Spirit of Expectancy was upon me, and I was starting to feel a sense of excitement, as I began anticipating that there was good news coming, in regards to my lost ticket…
I was Confidently Waiting on God…
Full-of-Faith‼️
So as I was going about my normal routine (remember…that was my part of our deal), Hubie, my baby boy, and I proceeded with cleaning 🧹up my bedroom, together.
So, Hubie was helping me to pick things up off the 🧸🪀🪁floor, so I could vacuum.
We picked everything up, and We placed it all on top of the chaise lounge, in my bedroom.
Ok! So now, if you can picture it….a mound of stuff…clothes, books, and toys…all piled up on the chaise lounge.
Hubie, was about two years old then, so he was naturally drawn to the top of the mound🔝
Plus…That’s where he felt safe, from the noise of, ‘The Cleaner‼️”
Funny…It Seems like All toddlers are afraid of the Vaccuum Cleaner😂
Anyway, after I was done with the vacuuming, Hubie was ready to jump up and down on the chaise, because He thinks it’s really…a trampoline…Uh-Huh!!
So as he began to push all of the stuff off of the chaise…and onto the floor…again, I caught Him!!
As I proceeded to fuss at the 2 year old about this brand new mess he was making, My eyes caught hold of a phone book that had fallen off of the chaise…and it was opened wide…pages exposed…and inside was an envelope that read…’Amtrak.’
You could have bought me with a Penny!!
I could not believe my eyes, as I grabbed the envelope and verified that the tickets were still inside.
I had absolutely no remembrance of even placing those tickets in that phone book…but The Holy Spirit Remembered‼️
I was overjoyed, because The Holy Spirit had come through for Me!!
I was like the Woman with the Lost Coin in Luke 15:8-10…
I was calling everybody on the planet, saying…
“Rejoice With Me…that which was lost, has been found!!”
God Is So Amazing!!
I Thank God for His Holy Spirit‼️
Remember…This agreement was His idea.💡
He had whispered to me, through all my blubbering and boohooing, reminding me that He was there…living in my heart…where Jesus had sent Him.
He was telling me that He did not want to Be ignored, anymore.
He wanted to play a FULL, ACTIVE, role in My Everyday Life!!
He wanted to begin to Reveal The Power of God to Me…and show me that I can’t do this ‘Christian Walk’ Victoriously, without tapping into His Grace…that empowers me to Do ALL Things Through Jesus Christ!!
HE was making His gentle declaration, that ‘He Was That Same Spirit of God, that raised Jesus from the dead!!’
He Was Alive…dwelling in Me, and He had Dared Me to Ask Him For His Help!!
I Did…And He Came Through‼️
And He wants You to ‘Ask Him,’ Today!!
If You have Not accepted Jesus Christ, as Your Personal Savior, NOW is the Time..
Today is the Day…This is Your Year‼️
Ask Jesus to Come In and Reign as The Lord of Your Life…He Will Come in and Sup with you too…
Sending You His Precious, HOLY SPIRIT –
Your very own, built-in Life Coach!!
And If Jesus is Already the Lord of Your Life…Permit The Holy Spirit to Operate, In Your Life…Let Him Do His Job‼️
He Is Your Counselor, Comforter, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strenghthener and Your Stand-by!!
– I have told you these things while I am still with you. But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you.-
(John 14:25-26)
I Dare You to Ask Him!!
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💕Tam
Jesus Loves You and So Do I!!
Thanks So Much For Reading…And Don’t Forget to Leave Your Comments!!
Be A Blessing…
Share the CareBibleStudy Blog With Someone You Love, Today!!
He will be buried like a dead donkey – dragged out of Jerusalem and dumped outside the gates! (Jeremiah 22:19)
Hey Neighbor!
In the Scripture above, we can see where the Prophet, Jeremiah had just pronounced doom and gloom, upon the Vainglorious, King Jehoiakim of Judah.
And Jeremiah went on to prophesy, just how callously Jehoiakim’s corpse would be treated, after his demise; This King’s corpse would lie out under the elements, exposed to both heat and cold – UNBURIED!!
If you can recall, Jehoiakim was that certain king, that casually burned the Lord’s 📜scroll, while sitting quite comfortably, beside his luxurious fireplace…at his stately, winter mansion.
We have previously featured, King Jehoiakim, as Our Foolish, Unrepentant King, in a prior CareBibleStudy Trivia.
Below is the ‘Name That King’ link, if you would like to check it out.
Well….Jeremiah and Baruch, were directed by The Lord to do a scroll 📜’rewrite.’
However….in version two, God decided to add in a special note 📝 that wasn’t originally written onto that original scroll (that burned.)
God’s special annotation, was specifically directed to the personal attention of this Unrepentant King!!
⁃ Then say to the king, ‘This is what the Lord says: You burned the scroll because it said the king of Babylon would destroy this land and empty it of people and animals. Now this is what the Lord says about King Jehoiakim of Judah: He will have no heirs to sit on the throne of David. His dead body will be thrown out to lie unburied – exposed to the heat of the day and the frost of the night (Jeremiah 36:29)
So God was letting King Jehoiakim know, that his wicked tail would soon be ‘sleeping with his fathers,’ but not quite like how his dad, Josiah slept!!
Now Jehoiakim was not the first wicked King, who reigned in Judah…
Neither was he the first King of Judah, who was not buried in the sepulchers of his fathers.
In fact, Jehoiakim had several deceased predecessors that did not ‘sleep with their fathers,’ as we have so often read – “In the Book of the Chronicles of Judah’s Kings,” but instead, these Kings were buried elsewhere, in Judah.
–Is anything too hard or too wonderful for the Lord? At the appointed time, when the season [for her delivery] comes around, I will return to you and Sarah shall have borne a son-
(Genesis 18:14)
Hey Neighbor!
We’ve All seen the Love story, Cinderella…and at the end of the tale, we all watched Cinderella and the Prince enter their Castle of Love, to live their happily ever after…
But after the final scene cut…I hope you know that everything wasn’t all wine 🍷and roses 🌹for Cindy and her Prince!!
They had hardships and marital troubles just like everybody else does‼️
But were they able to overcome their marital issues, and were they able to withstand the temptations to just give-up and divorce??
That’s a Good question…huh??
And we may never know how things turned out…
But Here is Real LoveStory, where the two main characters fought like cats and dogs, while traveling from place…and where the husband, in the story, would sometimes relinquish his authority and possession of his beloved bride, to Kings of Foreign Countries.
Wow!!
Yep!!
This is The Story of Abram and Sarai- before they became Abraham and Sarah!!
They had a very tumultuous marriage, before they learned to trust God for their marital bliss, and for the survival of their union.
But once they Believed- with Full-Faith…God showed up – and I mean literally!!
If you prefer to watch: Here is Abe and Sarai’s Story (recorded) on YouTube!!
Kim and I invited our husbands to join in on our Valentine’s Day, CareBibleStudy Lesson!!
Otherwise..You can just read, and carry on 🤩
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So Sarah was finally holding her baby in her bosom. – It was a boy, and she called him Laughter!!
Why Laughter??
Well, You see – just the year before, Sarah had been standing inside her tent, when she had overheard the Angel of the Lord prophesying to her husband; proclaiming that she – Sarah – a 89 year old woman would soon bear a son.
Sarah LOL’ed!! [ Laughed Out Loud]
To Sarah, this was hilarious!!
In fact…it was so funny, that Abraham laughed also!!
In Genesis 17:17, scripture tells us that Abraham was ROFLMAO!! – [Rolling on the floor, laughing his *** off]
– Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said in his heart, Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a son? (Gen 17:17)
Still, God kept his Promise to Abraham and Sarah. He remembered Sarah and gave her Laughter!!
Again, God Always Keeps His promises!!
Even though Abraham and Sarah had been spiritually shackled by their doubt and unbelief, God graciously intervened and severed their chains!!
NOTHING is too hard for God!!
You see, God had stopped by to see Abraham, just to remind him that He had not forgotten him!!
God was saying,
“Abe…This baby thing is not a big deal.”
I GOT THIS!!
And Even though Abraham and Sarah laughed and giggled as if the ‘Angel of the Lord’ had been an angelic comedian on tour, God had shown up to fulfill His Promise!!
The Angel of The Lord was prophesying restoration and reconciliation for Abraham and Sarah!!
You see, Abraham and Sarah had suffered great turmoil in their marriage, after Abraham slept with Hagar…and Hagar had Ishmael.
Yes!! It had been Sarah’s misguided suggestion for Abraham to sleep with Hagar. And we know that Sarah ended up regretting that foolish idea.
Sarah grew extremely jealous of Abraham and Hagar!!
She blamed everything on Abraham, but she took her frustrations out on Hagar.
Now Hagar had played her part in this as well, Hagar had despised Sarah, once she learned that she was pregnant with Abe’s baby.
I can imagine Hagar taunting and provoking Sarah, and flaunting her baby bump!!
But after Isaac was born…Sarah had reached her boiling point with Hagar!!
Sarah demanded that Abraham put Hagar out!!
She was fed-up with Hagar’s ‘games’ and now Hagar’s son, Ishmael was also teasing and taunting Sarah’s son, Isaac!!
I guess Ishmael learned it from his Momma!!
Abraham was very upset with Sarah, because he did not want to be separated from his first born, but God confirmed to Abraham, that it was time to send them away!!
It was time for Abraham and Sarah to stop fighting and to share their Laughter together, in peace!!
It was time for Abraham and Sarah to experience joy and pleasure in their marriage, and to put away the pain of their past and to walk ‘faith-fully’ with God… And to enjoy His Promise!!
Oftentimes, we find it extremely difficult to get passed the hurt and pain that we’ve suffered in our marriages, but God wants to mend those broken hearts ❤️🩹 and He wants to restore the sanctity of the marriage.
God wants Us to Enjoy The Abundant Life with our spouses!!
What Has God Promised You regarding your Marriage??
⁃ “You have condemned yourself,” David said, “for you yourself confessed that you killed the Lord ’s anointed one.” (2Sa 1:16)
Hey Neighbor!
Back in the late 1970’s, my mom and dad would faithfully watched their favorite tv show called, ‘Dallas.’
This tv 📺 series became a prime time television hit; and many, many American households, in the 1980’s, tuned in every Sunday night to watch it.
Especially, when the ‘villain’ of the show was suddenly shot, in his office, by an unidentified, ‘disgruntled’ visitor.
What a Cliffhanger!!
Now that was the very dramatic ending to Season three of Dallas. And of course, Season four followed, later in the fall, revealing to the viewers, the identify of the actual assailant.
But this gap in time, made for a very long summer, back in 1980…and all talk was about Dallas and it’s possibly, ‘slain’ main character, J.R. Ewing, played by Larry Hagman.
Inquiring minds wondered, pondered, and queried this question, over and over…all summer long….
WHO SHOT J.R.??
I have often pondered this same question myself, when it comes to King Saul’s death, in the Bible.
WHO SLEW KING SAUL??
Well, what we know is: King Saul died on the battlefield at Mt. Gilboa, while fighting against Israel’s enemies, the Philistines…
But it seems as if we are given, at least two different versions of how Saul might have died that day.
Who Slew Saul?? – Version One– (as told in both 1Chr 10:3 and 1Sam 31:4)
–And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him, and he was wounded of the archers. Then said Saul to his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. So Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.
Who Slew Saul?? – (second-hand) Version Two:
– And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me. So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord (2Sa 1:8-10)
See what I mean?? 🤷🏾♀️
So now we’ve just read at least two of the versions, regarding how King Saul may have met his final demise, but what else does Scripture say about King Saul, regarding both his life and his death…as it identifies Saul’s actual assailant…and…
– Is there a thing of which it may be said, See, this is new? It has already been, in the vast ages of time [recorded or unrecorded] which were before us (Ecclesiastes 1:10)
Hey Neighbor!
Sometimes, when I’m reading the Bible, The Holy Spirit says, “Look…💡That’s where “IT” all started!!”
What is, “IT??”
“IT” is that certain tradition that has been carried forward into most of our modern cultures, but we’ve never really looked back to see where the thing might have originated.
Many times, these ‘customs’ originated in the Bible days w/Hebrew/Israelite Peoples, and has been copied/mimicked throughout history.
But either way…King Solomon tells us, in the Lead Scripture Above,that there is really nothing new under the sun…whether recorded, or unrecorded.
So on the 1st Fridays of each month, I would like for us to look through the Bible’s records, and try to identify where some of our current traditions might have originated.
This 1st Friday’s Trivia was inspired by my first pastor – Beloved (Retired) Pastor, Rev. E.L. O’Bannon, Sr., who is now 95+ years old, and much like Caleb, he is still as strong 💪🏽 as he was at Age 45.
Now, Rev. O’Bannon held the best Wednesday Night Bible-studies…Ever‼️
And he always closed the night out with a Great Trivia Question.
Here is one of my favorites❣️
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Who had the First Funeral Procession, in The Bible??
–He gives the childless woman a family, making her a happy mother. Praise the Lord! (Psalm 113:8)
Hey Neighbor!
In the Scripture above, we see where God is able to remove the reproach of the barren woman, by opening her womb, and blessing her with a sweet, bundle of joy, to nurse at the breast.
Now, we know that Isaac was one of these little bundles of joy, that nursed at his mother, Sarah’s breast.
And Sarah explains to us, in Genesis 21:6, just how awed with God’s wondrous works she was…and how truly happy The Lord had caused her to become.
-And Sarah said, God has made me to laugh; all who hear will laugh with me. And she said, Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children at the breast? For I have borne him a son in his old age.
Well Sarah was not the only woman from the Bible, who had been transformed from a barren woman, marred by melancholy and shame…to a Happy Momma, brimming with Merriment…after having been visited by The Lord.
-For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. (Rom 14:17)
Hey Neighbor!
My mother was notorious for a couple of her sayings:
1) I’m going back on my diet tomorrow…
2) It wouldn’t hurt you to miss a meal, or two!!
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To the first saying…
My (silent) response…“Yeah right!”
To the second saying…
My facial response…😲
Then, after my gasp of shock and awe, my Mother would continue on to say,
“You have enough fat reserved, back there👇to make it‼️”🤣
Now this was spoken jokingly – as banter – but my mother was right‼️
Several weeks ago, I spoke at a church about Intermittent Fasting…and my mother’s second saying (from above) regarding ‘stored Fat,’ was the perfect lead-in to my lecture.
My Mom was a Registered Nurse, and she was also very practical about ‘dieting,’ and keeping her weight under control, because she suffered with hypertension…and later-in-life…with diabetes.
I’ve tried ‘diets’ over the years, but they were never a good long term solution for me.
Exercise- in the form of Aerobics, Yoga, and Walking, have always been more beneficial for me.
But as I continue to age, and my metabolism continues to slow down…😢
I have found that Intermittent Fasting is a better way to burn that stored fat, as my body’s primary source of fuel.
Believe it or not…if we could just learn how to run our bodies on fat, for its primary fuel source…instead of glucose – We could actually beat pre-diabetes!!
Did you know that the literal definition of diabetes means…EXCESSIVE URINATION??
The body is constantly trying to rid itself of EXCESS glucose, in order to protect itself…
So when there is too much glucose in the body – We go pee!!💦
Believe it or not…this urine is often sweet, and it is sometimes referred to as, ‘honey urine.’
Many diabetic, and pre-diabetic males, have found, particularly during the summertime, that ants are drawn into their bathroom, and they surround their commode…
Why??
The ants are seeking out that sweet smell of ‘honey urine.’
Where does this EXCESS glucose originate??
To keep it simple..
When we eat, the body secretes insulin, in order to push the glucose, (from that meal) into your cells…to be burned for energy.
Pretty straightforward, Right??
Now, if there is any ECXESS glucose, the body saves that glucose (AS GLUCOSE) in your liver – For more energy, later!!
But…
If there is still more (excessive) glucose, beyond that…that glucose will be converted and stored, AS RESERVED FAT, in either your liver, Or…
Uh-oh…wait for it….
On Your Hips, Stomach, 🫃Thighs, and Butt!!
So that’s what my mother meant, when she said I had enough ‘FAT’ reserved – back there👇– to make it, til my next meal😂😢
So, just how do we get our bodies to switch-over, from glucose-burning mode, into fat-burning mode??
It’s Easy…but that’s next weeks Nugget of Wealth and Health!!
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Once Again…I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV!!
So Ultimately, You must do your own research, and talk with your physician, in order to make the best health choices for yourself, and for your family.
I will be sharing Part 2 of Our Fasting/ Intermittent Fasting Series with you next week.
And Egypt [Mizraim] became the father of Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, Pathrusim, Casluhim (from whom came the Philistines), and Caphtorim
(Genesis 10:13)
Hey Neighbor!
The Philistines had been a thorn in the Hebrews’ sides, since they could remember…
In the Scripture above, we are told that the Philistines were sons of Noah – via Ham, but they were not the sons of Noah’s ‘Blessed’ son, Shem…who became the ancestral Father of ‘Faith-Full’ Abraham.
These Philistines greatly envied the Hebrews/Israel, and refused to let them alone, to live in peace.
They pestered and pursued the Judge, Samson.
They arrayed in battle time after time, seeking revenge against King David, because he slew their brethren, Goliath.
They even took The Ark of The Lord, and antagonized the Hebrews by stopping up many of their wells.
Scripture tells us that these exceptionally jealous Philistines, maliciously stopped up and seized the wells of a certain descendant of Shem’s, because they envied him, and because The Favor of The Lord was upon him; which was evident by his great prosperity.
-The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe. (Prov 18:10)
Hey Neighbor!
I really appreciate all of your lovely comments regarding my ‘lost son’ story, from last Friday!!☺️
When I posted this story last week, I had no intention of sharing it on YouTube and Facebook, but the Lord obviously had other plans for me.
On Tuesday night, I shared my story on my church’s Facebook Livestream, and invited my girlfriend, Kim to share her ‘lost son’ story as well.
Kim and I are both mother’s to autistic children. Kim’s son, Zach is now 29 and my son, Dewitt is now 28.
And by the grace of God, they are now both thriving adults, but as toddlers they struggled with speech and language, sensory etc., etc…But God!!
We had both lost hold of our son’s hands, when they were both so young and venerable, but the Lord knew of their whereabouts, and they were both found safe and secure.
Mary and Joseph also located their Son, Jesus…safe and secure…
Where??
In the House of The Lord‼️
So if you are lost today, what better place to look for Your Soul’s Safety…You may also find Jesus there!!
Here is Part 2 of last week’s story, which you can watch on either Facebook or YouTube.
I am including links to both.
Oh! and please Be Sure to 👍🏾 Like and/or Subscribe to my New Youtube Page!!
– And Zachariah said to the angel, By what shall I know and be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years. And the angel replied to him, I am Gabriel. I stand in the [very] presence of God, and I have been sent to talk to you and to bring you this good news. (Luke 1:19)
Hey Neighbor!
In the Scripture Above, we see where the Angel, Gabriel came forth, Identifying himself, before the aged Priest, Zachariah.
Now Gabriel had been sent from God’s Very presence, with Good News!!
It was an affirmative answer to Zachariah’s, and his wife (Elizabeth’s) prayer – A Son!!
But because Zachariah responded to Gabriel with doubt and unbelief; he was struck dumb until after the birth of his son, John The Baptist.
Can you name another (doubting) husband from the Bible who so boldly requested the Name and Badge # 🤣 of an Appearing Angel, who had come before his wife with similar Good News!!
Once again, this faith-less’ father-to-be, much like Zachariah, could not receive God’s promise of a forthcoming son, by Faith.
Therefore, when asked to identify himself, this Appearing Angel refused to answer!!
– His parents didn’t know what to think. “Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.” (Luke 2:48)
Have You Ever Lost/Misplaced A Child??
Hey Neighbor!
Tam and Lil’ Dewitt (at Age 3)
Some of you know that my oldest son, Dewitt is Autistic.
Now as a toddler, Dewitt could not comfortably tolerate the traditional hand-holding that most of us utilize, as we’re walking alongside our children.
Back then, Dewitt’s neurologist and his Speech therapist believed this stemmed from an overstimulation issue, and so they taught me that it was more productive to take hold of Dewitt’s wrist when walking, instead of the direct hand holding…and that helped us tremendously!!
But prior to that, before learning this handy dandy trick, one day I lost grip of Lil’ Dewitt’s hand…
And I lost my son🤯
Well, the hubby and I, and two other couples, had gotten together for a kids weekend trip to our local Six Flags Rollercoaster Park.
Our children had attended the same school together, and over the years, we had become very good friends w/these two couples, and we depended on each other for support w/our kids.
And indeed one of those parents, proved to be a Right-on-time figure of support, and a fruit-full friend when Lil’ Dewitt wiggled his hand loose from my grasp, and had slipped out of my site, while we were in the theme park.
Of course, I had become frantic, and so was the hubby, but our friend, Carlos was a well-trained, police officer, who reminded us to stay calm and directed the adults to split up into groups and assigned each group of parents, a section of the park to search; after first, reporting Dewitt as lost, with the park authorities.
Now Carlos also knew to just post himself up near the park exit, because during his training, he’d learned that a child-abductor, would generally take hold of a lost child and head directly for the park’s exit.
Looking back, I am so glad that Carlos didn’t disclose to me exactly why he had chosen to ‘man’ the exit, because I would have reallllly freaked out‼️‼️‼️
Now, we were all in constant communication by cell phone, when suddenly, Carlos called us saying, “I found him!!”
Praise the Lord that Carlos spotted Dewitt wandering between the park exit and the public bathrooms, where he had taken Dewitt up into his arms, and securely held him until we received our son, once again.
Now Dewitt was only about 3 years old when we lost him.
I can’t remember how long we searched for our son; although it seemed like forever, but it certainly wasn’t a three day ‘son-search’ like the one endured by Mary and Joseph, after they misplaced Jesus.🤯
Scripture tells us that Lil’ Jesus was 12 years old when Mary and Joseph lost Him.
Now Jesus’ parents were obviously not sure, nor certain about Jesus’ whereabouts, because Scripture tells us that Mary and Joseph had traveled from Nazareth to the Temple in Jerusalem to celebrate The Passover, and on the way back, having assumed Lil’ Jesus was somewhere amongst their tribesmen and/or kindred…i.e. family…everything was all good.
Until it wasn’t….because Lil’ JesuswasLost!!
⁃ But, supposing Him to be in the caravan, they traveled on a day“s journey; and [then] they sought Him [diligently, looking up and down for Him] among their kinsfolk and acquaintances. (Luke 2:44)
Now when they finally located Lil’ Jesus in the Temple….3 days later…Jesus said this to His parents…
– “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father“s business?“ (Luke 2:49)
REALLY…Lil’ Jesus?????
I hate to say it, but I am glad that Autism had a ‘hold’ of my son’s tongue at that time, because if he had told me that he had broken loose from my grip, and had disappeared so that he could handle ‘his father’s’ business’ it would have seriously been on, right there in that theme park!!😂
This was Part 1 of Mary’s Roller Coaster Ride w/Lil’ Jesus!!
–For the wages which sin pays is death, but the [bountiful] free gift of God is eternal life through (in union with) Jesus Christ our Lord-
(Romans 6:23)
Happy 2024, Neighbor!!
How Did You Bring in the New Year??
Here’s another Oldie, but a Goodie, just in case you were wondering where the idea of a ‘Watch Service’ originated.
This Post is from 2015…modified for 2024, and it should explain why ‘church folks’ bring in the New Year together, during a Midnight Church Service. 🕛
Enjoy??
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God is So Awesome!!
He’s Blessed our Eyes to See a New Day and A New Year, so We Must Give Him Glory and Praise!!
I’m sure Last Night, Many Christians brought in The New Year at a Night Watch Service in Churches all over the World, but do You know When and Why this Tradition began??
It was originally called ‘Freedom’s Eve.’ And the initial gathering was held on December 31, 1862.
During that first gathering, Black Slaves and Free Blacks had come together, in churches to await the stroke of Midnight, January 1, 1863, when the Emancipation Proclamation would officially become law, and all the slaves in the Confederate states would be legally declared ‘Free!’
They celebrated together with prayers, shouts, and songs of joy, thanking God for their freedom.
And So now, over a century later, We continue this tradition, as We gather together in our churches…thanking God for bringing us safely through the past year and praying for His Blessings over our lives into the New Year.
Look where God has brought us from…
He freed us from 400 years enslaved by the U.S. Government, but more importantly…
He freed US from enslavement to Sin!!
satan had Us Bound…but Love Set Us Free!!
Jesus has redeemed Us from both the Curse of The Law of Man…
And the Law of Moses…
Neither of which We, nor our father’s could endure!!
Jesus declared Our Freedom on the Cross at Calvary, when His cleansing Blood washed away Our Sin and Shame.
He freed Us from eternal damnation in the Lake of Fire.
So…I’m Sure that those Newly Freed Black Americans, proclaimed their freedom to every other African American that they came across, in the days that followed ‘Freedoms Eve’…wanting to ensure that each of them had heard and received the Good News about their New Freedom.
So Let Us still, continue in their tradition this year, 2024…
Spreading the Good News about Jesus everywhere We Go…
Ensuring that each and Everyone has heard about Our Freedom in Jesus…
And receives Their Free Gift of Eternal Life!!
Again, I say..Happy New Year, Let’s Spread the Love of Jesus…All Year Long!!
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God Loves You and So Do I!!
💕Tam
Don’t forget to ‘Follow’ the CareBibleStudy Blog in 2024!!
– Then said Absalom, If not, I pray you, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said to him, Why should he go with you? But Absalom urged him, and he let Amnon and all the king“s sons go with him (2Samuel 13:26)
In the scripture above, we see where David’s eldest son, Absalom made a request to King David, asking the king to permit his brother, Amnon to come and to feast with him during the sheep-shearing celebration.
Now we know that this was not a solemn, nor sincere request on Absalom’s part, because Absalom had clandestinely planned to kill his brother, Amnon…like Cain slew Abel…because Amnon had raped his sister, Tamar.
Now Absalom had an ancestor, who was as deceptive, and just as conniving…if not more-so.
This kinsman of Absalom’s made a pretense of possibly throwing a party, filled with the 🥁 timbrel, the 🎶lyre, and with much 🎤singing and 💃🏽dancing, as if to celebrate the leaving and departure of his daughters’ from his own household….when in all actuality, this ancestor of Absalom’s, was ready to kill or maim, in order to retain and maintain a firm grasp upon his ‘personal’ possessions and upon his property.
But God spoke to Absalom’s conniving ancestor, in the night…stilling his hand; as to prevent him from hurting or harming God’s Highly Favored!!
IN THE beginning God (prepared, formed, fashioned, and) created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and an empty waste, and darkness was upon the face of the very great deep. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters (Genesis 1:1)
Hey Neighbor!
Here’s Your First Crossword Puzzle For 2024!!
*Each of Your answers can be found in the Book of Genesis.
And he answered, Brethren and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our forefather Abraham when he was still in Mesopotamia, before he [went to] live in Haran, And He said to him, Leave your own country and your relatives and come into the land (region) that I will point out to you (Acts 7:2)
Hey Neighbor!
I just love it when God says He’s about to do a new thing…And I’m certain that He is about to do a new thing, in both You and I, in this Wonderful New Year, that You and I have never seen before…And I’m excited!!
How about You??
So according to the scripture above, God was doing something new in Abra(ha)m, but He needed Abram and Sarai to walk away from their past; and to let go of everything that they had become too comfortable, and too familiar with, back in Mesopotamia…including their father’s idols.
But Abraham took Lot!!
I often think that Lot was more like the son that Abram never had; and Abram treasured that relationship.
Now, when David left his home in Bethlehem…headed for Gibeah, he took with him bread, wine and a kid, but I’m sure that David also took his treasured harp/lyre, because after all, David was a worshipper…and he certainly couldn’t leave home without his trusty slingshot…just in case he needed to get after a bear or a lion…or even a blasphemous Giant.
Now, when Pharoah finally permitted Moses and Israelites to depart from Egypt, to trek through the Wilderness to worship God….
What treasured item did Moses’ Sister, Miriam take??
Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27)
Hey Neighbor!
Happy New Year to Each and Everyone of You‼️🎆🎊🎈
As I was reviewing some of my most popular posts from 2023, I decided to go back and read through some of my Faith-Full Man’s Monday Riddles from last year.
Right away, I was able to guess many of them. But there were a few that I wasn’t certain about and had to review.
Can You identify these Five Faith-Full Men, From Monday’s Past??
I hope that You have spent the first day of this blessed New Year with The Lord, and surrounded by loved-ones…And I pray that The Prince of Peace will bless you daily, with an overflow of that very same peace that Jesus bequeathed to us long ago, in John 14:27!!
Awaken In It!!
Walk In It!!
And Wallow In It!!
It’s Yours and It’s Mine, and No Devil in Hell can take it Away…not this new year, nor the next!!
Ok, I know Christmas is over…but since we all have been reading quite a few blogs recently, about The Christmas story, and The Birth of Jesus, this puzzle will be easy-peasy!!
And whoever will not receive and accept and welcome you nor listen to your message, as you leave that house or town, shake the dust [of it] from your feet. (Matthew 10:14)
I hope that each of You enjoyed a Blessed Christmas with Jesus, Family, and Friends!!
And because I’m sure most of you are still busy cooking, eating, visiting, and enjoying your time off…
I have another easy one for you today!!
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Now, when a prophet is not received in his own hometown, he must shake the dust of that place off his feet, and move on to the next place, where the hearers of the gospel are ready to accept and receive the peace of God.
In the Scripture above, Jesus was warning and advising His own disciples, that they would receive ‘in house’ rejection, just as He had experienced in His own hometown of Nazareth.
Jesus had been previously rejected in Nazareth because the people still saw Him as – ‘little Jesus, Mary and Joseph’s boy;’ and not as a Holy Spirit filled, Man of God, sent to them to prepare their hearts to receive the Love and Reconciliation of God.
But Jesus was not offended; and He reminded those in Nazareth’s sanctuary, that He wasn’t the first prophet to have been rejected by his ‘own’ people.
However, the people of Nazareth were quite offended by Jesus’ comments, and they proceeded to run Him out of town, by force!!
What did Jesus Say to set them off??
And which two ‘rejected’ prophets did Jesus mention on that sabbath; causing such an uproar in the sanctuary??
-Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture-
(Romans 8:31)
Hey Neighbor!
This was my pre-Christmas post from 2022!!
It was a very bittersweet post for me, but God has since removed the bitter, and stirred up the sweet!!
So be sure to read the update at the end oftodays Re-post.
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It’s Another Oldie but a Goodie Friday, and today is my (deceased) Brother’s Bday….December 16th.
Tony, my big-brother, has been gone now since February of 2015, but just a few months prior to his death, he reached out to me at Christmas time, during the wee hours of the morning.
Here is that ‘oldie’ Story of Forgiveness from December 2014!!
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I’m so excited today, because NOTHING…can separate Us from the Love of God!!
I wasn’t planning on posting today.
I figured I would give you a break today, but God had another plan…
Here’s the Story…
It was 5:30 in the morning, and somebody was texting me😡
Now, I normally turn the sound off on my phone, but I guess I had forgotten.
I was in a deep sleep, so I nearly fell back asleep; but the Holy Spirit knew it was an important message!!
It was my brother, from California…which meant it was 3:30am on the West coast.
God Was Working the Night Shift!!
We called him Tony…that was his nickname…and I hadn’t spoken with him in years.
I’ve forgotten just how many!! Lol
He called me Nookie!!
That was my nickname…and I can’t believe I had forgotten that!!
It had been so long since I’ve heard it.
Nowadays, my identity is Tam…Wife…Momma…
Niece…Cousin…Landlady…etc.
but never Nookie, anymore!!
It was so nice to hear that again…it brought tears to my eyes and it brought back a long, lost, but comforting identity for me…Sister!!
Sure!! I’m Sister Tam with my Church Fam…and I love it!!…but this was my Blood!!
My brother and sister and I had become distant after our Father died…of course there was plenty of family drama that took place since Daddy’s death that further separated us…and so now we don’t talk to each other anymore…and I’m sick of it!!
I’m over that mess!!…I’m Sooo over that!! I love my Big Sister, and I love my Big Brother!!
You see, I was the baby…and they both looked after me.
So If some boy was bullying me…I went and told my big brother…and Tony took care of it!!
If Tony was bullying me…I went and told my big Sister…and Treecy took care of Him!! Lol
Nobody messed with Nookie!!
God is So Awesome!!
He still knows My Name…even when I forgot It!!
…Even when We forget who We are and where We came from…God Still Knows!!
And He loves Us no matter how far away We’ve gone…and no matter what We’ve done wrong!! He still Loves Us!!
…And He’s already forgiven Us…
He just wants Us to receive it!!
And if we’ve been Forgiven…shouldn’t We be Forgiving??
How long can we let that same grudge keep us separated from the Ones We love??
Jesus Forgave Us, and gave His life for Us, while we were still sinners…
That means He died while Momma was out there tripping…
and Brother was out there cheating…
and Sister was out there stripping…
and Cuz was out there robbing…
and Uncle was out there drugging…
and Auntie was out there ‘dranking’….
and when we were ALL, just Out There Bad!!
He Still loved Us…and He Still Forgave Us in the midst of our filthy, raggedy, wretched sins…while we were still wallowing in our mess…and loving it!!
Now, If God has Forgiven Us…when we didn’t deserve it…
Then maybe we should forgive somebody else…when they don’t deserve it.
God did it, for Christ’s sake…so I can do it too!!
I Forgive my Brother, Tony – For Christ’s sake!!
I Forgive my Sister, Treecy – For Christ’s sake!!
I pray that they both can Forgive Me – For Christ’s sake!!
You can’t give a better gift this Christmas than to Give Somebody Your Forgiveness!!
-But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us. Therefore, since we are now justified (acquitted, made righteous, and brought into right relationship with God) by Christ’s blood, how much more [certain is it that] we shall be saved by Him from the indignation and wrath of God-
(Romans 5:9)
Remember…
God Loves You Today, and So Do I!!
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*****UPDATE!!
As of December 21st, my Big Sister and I are speaking once again 🙌🏾💃🏽🙌🏾
And I give God all the Glory; for only He could have mended our broken hearts❤️🩹
Believe it or not, we ran into each other while we were both visiting a new church…on the same day!!
I was attempting to surprise a long-time friend, who had invited me to her church…And if I am not mistaken, it was my sister’s first visit there, as well.
How Ironic!!
So, I spotted her right away, when we came through the church doors. Tunnel vision kicked in immediately after, and I was locked and loaded…in her direction.
I didn’t care if she resisted or protested!!
I was going for it!!
I was going to grab her, hug her and tell her how much I loved her…and to my amazement, she lit up like a Christmas tree and smiled at me, then motioned for me to come and sit next to her.
We hugged, and she hugged my kids as well.
We sat together, and worshipped together, and I’m sure we were both lit up, like two little kids on Christmas Day!!
Now, I still don’t know what kind of surprises that my hubby and my kids have wrapped-up for me under our Christmas tree, but God has already outdone them this year…when He gave me back my beloved Big Sister, Treecy💕💕💕
So if you’re still looking for that last elusive Christmas present for someone special in your life, Give Forgiveness!!
It’s Free, and it will outshine Anything and Everything else, under their tree!!
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God Still Loves You and So Do I!!
💕Tam
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NOW THE serpent was more subtle and crafty than any living creature of the field which the Lord God had made. And he [Satan] said to the woman, Can it really be that God has said, You shall not eat from every tree of the garden? (Genesis 3:1)
Hey Neighbor!
I have an easy one for You Today!!
Now satan(no capital for him) often uses our closest acquaintances and/or our loved ones to tempt us to sin against God’s Word/Plans.
In the scripture above, I like to believe that the serpent came after Eve, because she was the ‘weaker’ sex, and also because she very likely did not receive God’s admonishment not to eat of the ‘tree,’ directly from the Lord’s mouth; but second-hand from her Husband, Adam’s.
Also, Adam would have been quite familiar with every ‘non-human’ creature in the garden…remember Adam named each and every one of these living creatures on the sixth day.
So Adam, knowing every individual creature that God had given him dominion over, including their conduct, each of their characteristics, and their behaviors; he would also known that none of these living creatures had the ability to speak🗣
So how could satan stealthily, successfully, and verbally tempt 🎯 Adam, except through his wife??
Well, we’ve seen where satan repeated that same M.O. – motus operandi to tempt Job, after he refused to curse God and die.
His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.” But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong (Job 2:9)
Yep! satan went after 🎯Job – via his wife!!
Now we know that Jesus was unmarried; thus having no wife for satan to come after, who could satan use to stealthily tempt 🎯Jesus to forsake God’s Word/Plan for our Salvation??
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Can You Name That Acquaintance/Loved One??
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And Can you think of any others, from the Bible that were 🎯targeted by satan- through their ‘spiritually’ weaker friends/loved ones??
⚔️And He humbled you and allowed you to hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you recognize and personally know that man does not live by bread only, but man lives by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord (Deuteronomy 8:3)
Temptation #2: Upon The Mountain –
⚔️You shall not tempt and try the Lord your God as you tempted and tried Him in Massah. (Deuteronomy 6:16)
Temptation #3: Upon Pinnacle of The Temple –
⚔️Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name. (Deuteronomy 10:20)
And/or
⚔️You shall [reverently] fear the Lord your God and serve Him and swear by His name [and presence]. (Deuteronomy 6:13)
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I don’t know about you, but this just reminds me that if Jesus, The Son of God, neededthe S(Word)⚔️ of God…How Much More Do We⁉️
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Thanks to Warren, Pedro, GW, Pat, Anneta, Belladonna, Jeanie, Beverley, Joseph, Pflkwy, and All for Particpating!!
The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written: “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come. (Luke 4:18)
Hey Neighbor!
In the text above, we’ve just read where Jesus entered the synagogue, in his boyhood town of Nazareth, unrolled the scroll 📜 and begin to read from the Book of the Prophet, Isaiah.
Now just prior to Jesus’ return to Nazareth, being full of The Holy Spirit, He had just finished a 40 day fast in the wilderness, wherein He had been tempted by, and successfully prevailed against that rotten serpent, the devil!
Jesus prevailed against satan’s trickery, because He was well-armed with The Word of God ⚔️, on which He had meditated on day and night and had thus…hidden God’s Word in His Heart.
But which ‘Sword,’ from the Scriptures did Jesus wield exclusively, to cause the devil to flee from Him??
Here I am; testify against me before the Lord and Saul His anointed. Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded or oppressed? Or from whose hand have I received any bribe to blind my eyes? Tell me and I will restore it to you. (1Samuel 12:3)
Hey Neighbor!
In the scripture above, we see where the Prophet/Judge, Samuel was lecturing the congregation, who had rejected him as their great leader, and had instead demanded that a king (not God) should rule over them, in Israel.
Samuel, unlike his two sons, loved justice and truth; therefore, he refused to accept their bribes to just look the other way, and/or to repeat their lies, like a serpent.
1 Samuel 8:3, is where we learned that Samuel’s sons, Joel and Abijah, although they were also seated, by Samuel, as judges in Beersheba, they were nothing like their dad.
Both of Samuel’s sons routinely, accepted bribes, and perverted truth and justice in Israel.
Who else, in the Bible, readily received a large bribe (much more than 30 pieces) into ‘their’ hands as hush money…to “blind their eyes” and to repeat a lie; therefore establishing a false narrative about the death of another great leader, in Jerusalem?
And the man said, The woman whom You gave to be with me–she gave me [fruit] from the tree, and I ate. And the Lord God said to the woman, What is this you have done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled (cheated, outwitted, and deceived) me, and I ate.
(Genesis 3:12)
Hey Neighbor!
Now we have talked previously, about certain Bible Characters, who played the ‘blame-game’ here on the CareBibleStudy.
And So….we know that nobody played the Blame-Game better than 👉🏽Adam and 👉🏽Eve!
Look at Adam, in the Scripture above!!
He just blamed both the 👉🏽 ‘Woman’ and 👉🏽God, in the same sentence‼️
I see You Adam👀
Eve, immediately followed up, also blaming God; and although she is recognized as the first female in the Bible, to blame God for her unfortunate circumstances, Eve wasn’t the Last.
Since we’ve endured some tough trivia questions, as of late…particularly those that originated from the Bible’s ‘begats’ 😂🤣
I will make today’s Trivia question an easy one…and also an open-ended question.
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Can You Name another Female, from the Bible, Who Blamed 👉🏽 God??
⁃ “You have condemned yourself,” David said, “for you yourself confessed that you killed the Lord ’s anointed one.” (2Sa 1:16)
Hey Neighbor!
Back in the late 1970’s, my mom and dad would faithfully watched their favorite tv show called, ‘Dallas.’
This tv 📺 series became a prime time television hit; and many, many American households, in the 1980’s, tuned in every Sunday night to watch it.
Especially, when the ‘villain’ of the show was suddenly shot, in his office, by an unidentified, ‘disgruntled’ visitor.
What a Cliffhanger!!
Now that was the very dramatic ending to Season three of Dallas. And of course, Season four followed, later in the fall, revealing to the viewers, the identify of the actual assailant.
But this gap in time, made for a very long summer, back in 1980…and all talk was about Dallas and it’s possibly, ‘slain’ main character, J.R. Ewing, played by Larry Hagman.
Inquiring minds wondered, pondered, and queried this question, over and over…all summer long….
WHO SHOT J.R.??
I have often pondered this same question myself, when it comes to King Saul’s death, in the Bible.
WHO SLEW KING SAUL??
Well, what we know is: King Saul died on the battlefield at Mt. Gilboa, while fighting against Israel’s enemies, the Philistines…
But it seems as if we are given, at least two different versions of how Saul might have died that day.
Who Slew Saul?? – Version One– (as told in both 1Chr 10:3 and 1Sam 31:4)
–And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him, and he was wounded of the archers. Then said Saul to his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. So Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.
Who Slew Saul?? – (second-hand) Version Two:
– And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me. So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord (2Sa 1:8-10)
See what I mean?? 🤷🏾♀️
So now we’ve just read at least two of the versions, regarding how King Saul may have met his final demise, but what else does Scripture say about King Saul, regarding both his life and his death…as it identifies Saul’s actual assailant…and…
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