You are Family

~~~ EX 14:21—15:1 ~~~ Psalm (Exodus 15) ~~~

~~~ Matthew 12:46-50 ~~~

The story of how God saved his people from the Egyptians

 is recounted in the book of Exodus in great detail.

Over the years many film makers have taken such scenes as this one

and made grand movies for us.

We love to see all of the graphic details.

Even without the silver screen we get the picture.

God rendered his justice upon the wicked followers of Pharaoh.

At the same time God saved his chosen ones in a magnificent fashion.

Parents will do most anything to protect their children

even if it requires sacrifice on their part.

Parents will come to their children in times of need.

It is our natural instinct.

The Blessed Mother was no different...

She was concerned for the well being of her son, Jesus.

While Jesus was speaking to the crowds,

his mother and his brothers appeared outside,

wishing to speak with him.

Some of the followers of Jesus 

have told Mary that Jesus is in danger.

He has been quite critical of the rulers and others.

It is becoming obvious that his life may be in jeopardy.

When Mary, along with other family members,

arrive to the place where Jesus is preaching

they send word to Jesus.

They want him to come out to speak with them.

If my child was in danger I too would try to intervene...

to talk some sense into him.

Jesus' reaction was not expected...

Jesus responded in such a manner

as to challenge and expand Mary's heart.

He does not send the message that he would be right out.

Instead he looks at the crowd and labels 

them as part of his family.

 ...stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said,

“Here are my mother and my brothers.

For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father

is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

Jesus stretches out his hand as if to bless the crowd...

he stretches out his hand and gathers them to himself as family.

You too are gathered to Jesus...

You too are part of his family...

You too stand beneath his outstretched hand.

God protected the people with Moses...

Mary came to Jesus because she was concerned for his safety...

Jesus claimed those who do the will of the Father

as his brothers, sisters, and even mother.

You are Blessed...part of the family...

adopted and chosen...

loved, and protected from harm.

~~~Peace~~~

Blessings for 2014

~~~ Happy New Year~~~
~~~2014~~~
~~Numbers 6:22-27~~Psalm 67~~Galatians 4:4-7~~Luke 2:16-21~~

This is how you shall bless...
Say to them:
The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace!

In Biblical times the words in Hebrew had very concrete meanings.
The Hebrew word for bless is 'barak' which literally means 'to kneel'...
A blessing is gift brought to another on bended knee.

The Hebrew word for 'keep' is 'shamar' which literally means 'to guard'...
A related word is 'shamiyr' which means 'thorn'.
In an effort to protect their sheep
 a shepherd would construct a corral of thorn branches.
This was a way to 'guard' their sheep.

God surrounds us guards us and protects us
letting the light of his face shine down upon us.
While we are in his protection
we will also experience his kindness and peace.

May this year bring greater blessings than you could imagine.
We begin this new year with his blessings.
May your heart be filled with peace, joy, and love.

!!!Happy New Year!!!

911: The Prayer for Protection

~~~ Genesis 28:10-22a ~~~ Psalm 91 ~~~ Matthew 9:18-26 ~~~

 

In you, my God, I place my trust.

 

Psalm 91 has a message for each one of us...

personal, parents, military, firefighters, police officers.

When we are faced with danger this psalm is prayed most often.

 

The Lord is the only one who can offer protection in all circumstances.

You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty...

 

If you are in the shadow of the Almighty you are near to him.

A shadow is near to that which is blocking the light.

Even though one appears to be in darkness God remains near.

 

If we cannot see the light of the Lord, then standing in his shadow

 is to be close to him.

 

Psalm 91 is a prayer of protection that has been prayed

by many throughout the ages.

It is prayed in times of danger. It is prayed when we are tempted to despair.

It is often called the 'soldier's prayer'.

 

Until today I never connected our emergency call number

 of 911 to this psalm of protection.

Could this, psalm 91:1, have been on the minds and hearts of those

who chose our emergency number?

I do not know, but today I see the connection.

 

In times of temptation we should recall this psalm to give us the necessary strength

to resist...to be strong

Under his wings you are covered from danger; you are protected.

God draws us closer to be near to him...to trust in his protection...

to trust when we are presented with hopeless situations.

 

 

We may not know for certain who composed this psalm,

some believe Moses,

but we can be sure it was inspired by God.

 

God wants us to rely on him for all things in our life.

We see strong evidence of this in the gospel reading today from Matthew.

The suffering woman and the official who's daughter had died

 relied on Jesus for healing and protection.

The woman had spent much of her life seeking a cure

only to face more disappointment.

Each time she was able to grasp on to hope

 it was quickly dashed as the hemorrhaging continued.

 

The official knew of his daughter's death, but he still approached Jesus for help.

He had extreme faith and trust in the healing power of Jesus.

 

Because he clings to me, I will deliver him....

...I will be with him in distress.

 

Comfort is available for those who believe the Lord is with them.

In times of great danger and distress

 the presence of God does bring comfort and peace.

 

In those times when death seems evident

the words of this psalm gives one

strength in knowing that God is with them.

The God who saves...the God who raises up the lowly.

The God of psalm 91

 is the God of divine protection.

 

I invite you to pray for those who have lost their lives

 in combat and as first responders.

The God of psalm 91 grant them shelter in the shadow of your wings.

Dear Lord, give the surviving family members your peace.

 

The blessings today come in trusting in God.

 

In you, my God, I place my trust.

Protected from Insects

~~~ 1 John 2: 22-28 ~~~ Psalm 98 ~~~ John 1: 19-28 ~~~

 

As for you,
the anointing that you received from him remains in you,
so that you do not need anyone to teach you.
But his anointing teaches you about everything and is true and not false;
just as it taught you, remain in him.

We have been anointed by God.

Do we really appreciate what that means?

In Biblical times people were anointed with oil

to signify God's call or blessing.

Anointed meant you were chosen by God.

 

The use of oil today is symbolic of what God is doing.

The shepherds used oil on the heads of their sheep for a real purpose.

Insects would get into the wool of the sheep.

If these insects reached the head they would

burrow into the ears often causing the death of the animal.

The oil would make the wool too slippery and the insects would fall off.

 

Anointing with oil is symbolic of blessing,

protection, and empowerment.

It is mentioned at least twenty times in the Bible.

Mary anoints the feet of Jesus before the crucifixion not his head.

Blessing his feet as they would make the long journey to the cross.

 

Jesus left us the Holy Spirit.

He called us his chosen thus anointing us for himself.

 

'...But you have the anointing that comes from the holy one,

and you all have knowledge...'

(1 John 2:20)

 

Our anointing gives us the strength we need

in times of trials and tribulations.

The Lord truly has done wondrous things for us.

 

 

The good shepherd has anointed his sheep

protecting them from death by even a tiny insect.

 

We are the ones he has chosen to anoint with his holy oil.

Assuring us of his protecting presence

all the days of our life.

Let us be glad and rejoice!