Twittering Revelation - Go Figure

I'm working on an article about a local pastor who is tweeting on the book of Revelation! To me, Revelation has always been a scary book, though I've often said sometimes reading the front page of the newspaper is like reading Revelation (and yes, it is singular despite common usage as plural - Revelations.) As part of my research, I opted to read the first chapter of this last book of the New Testament - akin to dipping my toes in a chilly stream. Found a verse I loved, and one I'd read before I'm sure but nevertheless, it moved me. "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending," said The Lord, which is and which was and which is to come." Revelation 1:8. Take this with you today and have a great one!
Photo is part of my Artes de Calle series - rusty metal pieces found in out-of-the-way places.

Bikers and Bibles

A recent article I wrote dealt with the Black Sheep Harley-Davidsons for Christ organization - an international group of committed Christian bikers who minister to Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.) members and other motorcyclists. The passion of the Arizona regional director Tom Anthony and his wife Tina, one of the first women chapter presidents (there are still only 3 worldwide) is palpable. My lead mentioned they not only wore leather but carried it in their saddlebags (their Bibles). They spoke of how ministering the mercy of GOD to folks who might never go inside a church propelled their mission (though a membership prerequisite for all Black Sheep is they attend a local church ). Mercy of GOD got me to Psalm 136 with its 'call and response' refrain. "For His mercy endureth forever" is repeated in all 26 verses!

Verse 1: O give thanks unto The Lord: for His mercy endureth forever!" and verse 26 "O give thanks unto The GOD of heaven: for his mercy endureth forever!" Its a wondrous read and I encourage you to check it out. Regardless of where we are or what we've been, we can be assured "His mercy endureth forever!"

Photo is a budding ornamental plum tree in Prescott. Don't you LOVE spring??

Unsung Heroines of the Nile

After Saturday's 'Ten Commandments' movie, I decided to do a bit more research on Moses and that time.
In my reading I found two very-much unsung heroines: Shiphrah and Puah. Heard of them? If I had, I certainly didn't remember but these two Israelite midwives were brave women.
Worried about the increase in Israelites in Egypt - where they'd been invited to live during Joseph's time as he was the then-ruling Pharaoh's top man - the new Pharaoh told these two midwives to kill every baby boy born to their countrywomen. "But the midwives feared GOD and did not," says Exodus 2:17. When Pharaoh called them to the palace to ask why they said,"The Hebrew women are not as Egyptian women, for they are lively and deliver ere the midwives come." Smart. Of course Pharaoh eventually ordered the people to cast every son born to them into the river, but as we know, Moses' mother put her own spin on that ruling, prefering to place him in a river-ready basket before putting him in at 3 months of age. The rest, they say, is history..or movie.You might enjoy reading Exodus 1-3 for a bit more background. Photo herein makes me think of what the Nile may have looked like but in fact was taken last week at Tucson's Aqua Caliente Park. A true desert oasis.

Moses and the Big 10

On Easter Eve, for the first time in my life, I watched the 1956 movie "The Ten Commandments". Most of you have probably seen this Oscar-winning Cecil B. DeMille epic, but I never had. Though ABC aired it the same night, I watched it on a digitally-remastered DVD and was enthralled. Some liberties were taken, doubtless, but it was nevertheless quite moving - especially the Passover scene as recounted in Exodus, chapter 12 and the crossing of the Red Sea in chapter 14. This morning, I read Psalm 113 and was taken by the fifth and sixth verse which reads "Who is like unto the Lord our GOD who dwelleth on high; who humbleth Himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in earth." Isn't that what happened with Moses and the Israelites? Isn't that what happens with us? Verse 7: "HE raiseth up the poor out of the dust and leadeth the needy out of the dunghill that HE may set him with princes, even the princes of His people." Aren't you thankful GOD still beholds us, raises us up and leads? Me, too.
I took this photo of the Ten Commandments erected in the Library Park of Yuma, Arizona in 2007. I learned today it is still there. Cool.

No Fear

Had a friend last week who rhetorically asked 'So where do you think this week's quake will hit?' Yikes. It seems to be a wobbly world we're inhabiting of late, but perhaps it seems so because we have such unprecedented communication access - researching online I see there were 10 quakes yesterday, from northern Alaska to Chile (and L.A.) Having experienced SoCal quakes, I know the fear that strikes when the earth moves, but today's Encouraging Word from Psalm 46 is a fear salve - "GOD is our refuge and our strength a very present help in trouble." That's verse 1; verse 2 reads "Therefore we will not fear though the earth be removed and though the mountains be carried into the sea."
Whether we experience a physical earthquake, emotional or spiritual one, know that HE is your strength and refuge to which you can flee for safety.
Photo is of a favorite church of mine on the island of K'auai where my adopted children and two Godchildren live. On the island, not in the church!

Does He Hear? Does He Help?

Back to the Psalms, and one I find very dear. Also one I know to be so true.

"I love The Lord because He hath heard my voice and my supplications; Because He hath inclined His ear unto me, therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live." Psalam 116:1

And further down in verse 6 and 7 , two verses that mean a great deal to me, the first one, for reasons I'll share with your personally sometime, always makes me smile. The second ends up on my chalkboard perennially.

"The Lord preserveth the simple; I was brought low and he helped me."

"Return unto thy rest, O my Soul; for The Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee!"

Photo here is of a spectacular February sunset on the Bradshaw Mountains, taken from my bedroom window.

Comfort and Beauty

Been traveling, thus my lack of 'Encouraging Words' posts. Back and ready to go!
This past weekend, I noted a note (among many) in the front of my Bible that said 'Two Favorite Pages: 648, 649'. As I looked for them, curious, I assumed they would be in the Psalms as you all know how I love the Psalms. To my surprise, it was four Old Testament books further in Isaiah. Indeed, two well-marked pages with hearts in the margins (indicating favorites). Chapters 54 from verse 10 onward over to verse 19 in Chapter 57 (your Bible will probably have different page numbers.) This week I'd like to share a few with you starting with the first onces I had marked: "Oh thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colors, and lay thy foundations with sapphires. And I will make thy windows of agates and thy gates of carbuncles (a red garnet cut with facets), and all thy borders with precious stones." (Note here - isn't this a beautiful symbolism? Especially for rock and gem lovers like me.) And THEN: "And all thy children shall be taught of The Lord, and great shall be the peace of thy children." As the Psalmist David would say, "Selah": or 'think on these things'.
Photo herein was taken last week, south of Tucson looking from the desert to the snowdusted Catalinas.