So I decided to go on a Facebook fast for a week. I realized that I had spending way too much time on Facebook and not enough time in the Word of God. The first thing I listened too was a sermon called And They Crucified Him by Art Katz. Thank you Tim Rector for suggesting this sermon for me to listen to. I strongly encourage anyone who has not listened to this sermon to do so.
Here are the notes I took and what I learned from the sermon:
Matthew 27:35-54 (New American Standard Bible)
35And when they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments among themselves by casting lots.
36And sitting down, they began to keep watch over Him there.
37And above His head they put up the charge against Him which read, "THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS."
38At that time two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left.
39And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads
40and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross."
41In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying,
42"He saved others; He cannot save Himself He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him.
43"HE TRUSTS IN GOD; LET GOD RESCUE Him now, IF HE DELIGHTS IN HIM; for He said, 'I am the Son of God.'"
44The robbers who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him with the same words.
45Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour.
46About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" that is, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?"
47And some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, began saying, "This man is calling for Elijah."
48Immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink.
49But the rest of them said, "Let us see whether Elijah will come to save Him."
50And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.
51And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split.
52The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;
53and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many.
54Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"
This passage does not milk the event sentimentally or emotionally. No drama.
The cross of the crucified Christ.
The Jewish intellect like to know many things.
Do not let our minds be a mish mosh of things.
We are most of us guilty of making God in our image. Not us in His image as it should be. We need to know Him exactly as He is.
Too many times in worship, Jesus is like a "buddy, buddy."
The cross was the most horrible form of death. As Art Katz was describing crucifixion, quoting from a bible dictionary, I never realized Christ's death was that horrible. Our knowledge of God and His crucifixion is distorted when we see images of Christ crucified today. We live in a civilization that has no tolerance for suffering. Truth is suffering on the cross. We have tragically avoided the cross of Christ because of the worlds influence. Only the cross can crucify the world from us and us from the world. The world is too much with us because the cross has been neglected in our understanding and our experience. Nothing but the cross can. Luke says that what is esteemed by men is judged by God.
Are you longing for Christ to take you out of this world? I have to say that I have not been which I know is wrong of me..
In missing the cross we have missed the power of the resurrection.
The denial of self is a form of suffering. The avoidance of pain is a costly avoidance.
I found this from Art very powerful. He said "If God's people do not become radically sacred, then the world will become radically profane." This is so very true! We can see it today! It's right in our face!
Manipulation is the antithesis to faith. Church has become performance.
How much of our modern religion has become like the old tale of the "Emperor's New Clothes?" Until we come to the nakedness of the cross we will not have His garment of righteousness. The Spirit of God is first the spirit of truth before He is any other.
Are we willing to bring our total life to Christ for His total correction?
The cross should be our standard and that through it, our own life should be squared. How then are you assured of being built straight in Him?
We still want a King who will come down from the cross. We don't want to join Him on it.
To see Him as He is, is to see ourselves as we are. We need to. We need to have our vision corrected. We have become too used to the cross. We need to make the cross an event. There is nothing more difficult to proclaim then the cross. We have made the cross a theory for salvation.
The veil of self interest has still not been torn in two.
God will be pleased to afflict suffering. Are you willing? Walk in the way of the cross and then graduate to the truth and then the taste of the life. It begins with the way and ends with the life.
Do away with yourself. Give everything to Christ.
Are you willing to suffer for Christ? We need to all think about this as we go through trials. Nothing we will ever face, not trial or tribulation, will ever be as horrible as Christ's death on the cross.
And remember this...
Romans 8:35-9:1 (New American Standard Bible)
35Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36Just as it is written,
"FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG;
WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED."
37But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
38For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
39nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Think on these things and be encouraged and challenged to give everything to Christ.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Helping others with Through A Different Lens
Dear Friends,
As many of you know, the Lord has allowed me to develop a love for photography. And by His grace, He has allowed me to encourage some of you with my photos. Not all of my photographs have been posted on the blog Through A Different Lens but have been posted on my page on Facebook for Through A Different Lens
Recently, my dad has been studying much about the biblical concept of being otherminded--putting others before one's self, as we are commanded in Scripture (Phil. 2:3-4). As I've thought about the subject, I've asked myself how I might use my photography to be otherminded. As I thought and prayed about this, an idea came to mind.
There is a wonderful sister in Christ, in my church, who, due to a host of significant medical issues, is presently unable to work. My family and I love this sister very much and, I believe, the Holy Spirit has pricked my heart to help this sister in a more tangible way.
In order to raise funds for my sister in Christ, I am going to begin offering prints of my photography for sale. 100% of the proceeds will be given to my sister in Christ, as a love gift to help meet her needs.
I am still working out some of the details, but I wanted to share my idea with you to see if any of you would be interested in purchasing prints of my photography to help this sister in need.
Please prayerfully consider helping me to be otherminded, by helping our sister in Christ.
Thank you.
Blessings,
Michelle Miano
As many of you know, the Lord has allowed me to develop a love for photography. And by His grace, He has allowed me to encourage some of you with my photos. Not all of my photographs have been posted on the blog Through A Different Lens but have been posted on my page on Facebook for Through A Different Lens
Recently, my dad has been studying much about the biblical concept of being otherminded--putting others before one's self, as we are commanded in Scripture (Phil. 2:3-4). As I've thought about the subject, I've asked myself how I might use my photography to be otherminded. As I thought and prayed about this, an idea came to mind.
There is a wonderful sister in Christ, in my church, who, due to a host of significant medical issues, is presently unable to work. My family and I love this sister very much and, I believe, the Holy Spirit has pricked my heart to help this sister in a more tangible way.
In order to raise funds for my sister in Christ, I am going to begin offering prints of my photography for sale. 100% of the proceeds will be given to my sister in Christ, as a love gift to help meet her needs.
I am still working out some of the details, but I wanted to share my idea with you to see if any of you would be interested in purchasing prints of my photography to help this sister in need.
Please prayerfully consider helping me to be otherminded, by helping our sister in Christ.
Thank you.
Blessings,
Michelle Miano
Monday, July 26, 2010
Proverbs 8
Wisdom appeals to everyone to listen to her. They should listen to her(v.1-4).
She tells them to understand prudence(v.5).
Wisdom shall speak noble things. Her opening her lips will reveal right things(v.6).
Wisdom's mouth will utter truth. Wickedness is an abomination to wisdom's lip(v.7).
All her utterances of her mouth are in righteousness. Nothing crooked or perverted in them(the utterances)(v.8).
They are straightforward to him who understands and right to those who find knowledge(v.9).
Instruction is better than silver. Knowledge is better than gold(v.10).
Wisdom is better than jewels. All desirable things cannot compare to her(v.11).
Wisdom dwells with prudence. If you are wise than you will be prudent(v.12). You will also find knowledge and discretion.
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil. Wisdom hates pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverted mouth(v.13).
Counsel is mine and sound wisdom. She is understanding and power is hers(v.14).
Kings reign and rulers decree justice by/with using wisdom(v.15).
Princes rules and nobles judge rightly when using wisdom(v.16).
Wisdom loves those who love her. Those who diligently seek wisdom will find wisdom(v.17).
Enduring wealth and righteousness are with wisdom(v.18).
Her fruit and what she will yield is better than pure gold and the choicest silver(v.19).
Wisdom walks in the way/path of righteousness and justice(v.20).
Those who love her(hold her dear), she will endow/give wealth and their treasuries be made full(v.21).
The origin of wisdom(v.22-31).
Wisdom possessed by the Lord at the beginning of His way. Before His works of old. Before even the Earth was formed there was wisdom(v.22-29).
Wisdom was a master workman(v.30).
Rejoicing in the world, His earth, and having delight in the sons of men(v.31).
Wisdom again appeals to his sons to listen to him for if they do, if they keep Wisdom's way, they will be blessed(v.32).
Heed instruction and be wise; do not neglect it. Do not just toss it aside and think who cares what they say(v.33).
He who finds wisdom finds life. He/she who does this will find favor from the Lord(v.35).
He who sins against me injures himself. All those who hate me love death. This is beginning to sound more like wisdom is Christ. Those who hate me love death. Those who are rebellious and unrepentant will want to have nothing to do with Christ. They will hate Christ and his followers. They will be lost sinners, trying to entice others to follow their ways, on the path to destruction and away from Christ. Those people sometimes may have no knowledge that they are doing this because they cannot see that what they are doing is wrong. That is why we need to be alert, watchful, and helping our sisters/brothers in accountability and rebuking them so that they do not become enticed and trapped and snared in their friends, who are unbelievers and worldly, ways.
This is what I learned from Proverbs 8.
She tells them to understand prudence(v.5).
Wisdom shall speak noble things. Her opening her lips will reveal right things(v.6).
Wisdom's mouth will utter truth. Wickedness is an abomination to wisdom's lip(v.7).
All her utterances of her mouth are in righteousness. Nothing crooked or perverted in them(the utterances)(v.8).
They are straightforward to him who understands and right to those who find knowledge(v.9).
Instruction is better than silver. Knowledge is better than gold(v.10).
Wisdom is better than jewels. All desirable things cannot compare to her(v.11).
Wisdom dwells with prudence. If you are wise than you will be prudent(v.12). You will also find knowledge and discretion.
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil. Wisdom hates pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverted mouth(v.13).
Counsel is mine and sound wisdom. She is understanding and power is hers(v.14).
Kings reign and rulers decree justice by/with using wisdom(v.15).
Princes rules and nobles judge rightly when using wisdom(v.16).
Wisdom loves those who love her. Those who diligently seek wisdom will find wisdom(v.17).
Enduring wealth and righteousness are with wisdom(v.18).
Her fruit and what she will yield is better than pure gold and the choicest silver(v.19).
Wisdom walks in the way/path of righteousness and justice(v.20).
Those who love her(hold her dear), she will endow/give wealth and their treasuries be made full(v.21).
The origin of wisdom(v.22-31).
Wisdom possessed by the Lord at the beginning of His way. Before His works of old. Before even the Earth was formed there was wisdom(v.22-29).
Wisdom was a master workman(v.30).
Rejoicing in the world, His earth, and having delight in the sons of men(v.31).
Wisdom again appeals to his sons to listen to him for if they do, if they keep Wisdom's way, they will be blessed(v.32).
Heed instruction and be wise; do not neglect it. Do not just toss it aside and think who cares what they say(v.33).
He who finds wisdom finds life. He/she who does this will find favor from the Lord(v.35).
He who sins against me injures himself. All those who hate me love death. This is beginning to sound more like wisdom is Christ. Those who hate me love death. Those who are rebellious and unrepentant will want to have nothing to do with Christ. They will hate Christ and his followers. They will be lost sinners, trying to entice others to follow their ways, on the path to destruction and away from Christ. Those people sometimes may have no knowledge that they are doing this because they cannot see that what they are doing is wrong. That is why we need to be alert, watchful, and helping our sisters/brothers in accountability and rebuking them so that they do not become enticed and trapped and snared in their friends, who are unbelievers and worldly, ways.
This is what I learned from Proverbs 8.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Proverbs 7
Treasure God's commandments within you, within your heart.
Teaching as the apple of your eye- which is the pupil of the eye, a precious thing to be guarded with the utmost care.
Write them on the tablet of your heart- memorization, meditate on this.
Let wisdom and understanding be your intimate friend. If you will have them as a companion they will protect you from the enticements of the adulteress.
Adulteress is described as the foreigner who flatters with her words.
The victim (v.6-9) does/goes to the adulteress house when it is evening/darkness as if to keep it a secret.
The adulteress is described as dressed as a harlot, cunning of heart, enticing, boisterous, and rebellious.
An adulteress tactics include kisses (v.13), flattery (v.15), sensuality (v.16-18), reassurance that the victim will be fine and not be caught because her husband isn't home and won't be coming home for a while (v.19-20), and persuasion (v.21).
The young man is fooled and trapped and heads to his doom for he does not know it will cost him his life (v.22-23).
Pay attention to the words of my mouth- listen attentively it says.
Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways or stray into her paths. She has many victims that she has cast down and slain. Her house is the way to Sheol, descending to the chambers of death.
I have one thing to say that although in Proverbs the adulteress is described as a female that males are not without sin in this area too. I believe that adulteress can be changed to adulterer and seen in men as well as ladies.
This is what I learned from Proverbs 7.
Teaching as the apple of your eye- which is the pupil of the eye, a precious thing to be guarded with the utmost care.
Write them on the tablet of your heart- memorization, meditate on this.
Let wisdom and understanding be your intimate friend. If you will have them as a companion they will protect you from the enticements of the adulteress.
Adulteress is described as the foreigner who flatters with her words.
The victim (v.6-9) does/goes to the adulteress house when it is evening/darkness as if to keep it a secret.
The adulteress is described as dressed as a harlot, cunning of heart, enticing, boisterous, and rebellious.
An adulteress tactics include kisses (v.13), flattery (v.15), sensuality (v.16-18), reassurance that the victim will be fine and not be caught because her husband isn't home and won't be coming home for a while (v.19-20), and persuasion (v.21).
The young man is fooled and trapped and heads to his doom for he does not know it will cost him his life (v.22-23).
Pay attention to the words of my mouth- listen attentively it says.
Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways or stray into her paths. She has many victims that she has cast down and slain. Her house is the way to Sheol, descending to the chambers of death.
I have one thing to say that although in Proverbs the adulteress is described as a female that males are not without sin in this area too. I believe that adulteress can be changed to adulterer and seen in men as well as ladies.
This is what I learned from Proverbs 7.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Proverbs 6
Proverbs 6:1 explains that the person is liable for financial obligations of another.
v.2-The person makes too many promises and is committed to too many things
v.3 says "deliver yourself" which means get released from the obligation.
v.6-19 talks about how the person should shun laziness.
v.6-8 Ant-mentioned only here and in Proverbs 30:25 in the Bible. It has no physically present leader, yet it works with initiative, diligence, and foresight which is in contrast to the sluggard.
v.9 Sluggard- slothful person. Does not begin things as seen because it says- "when will you arise from your sleep?" and "how long will you lie down?"
v.12-13 Body language- What I am saying has another meaning to it. Express dishonesty attributed to crooked speech.
A worthless person is a wicked man.
.Perverse mouth, winks with eyes, signals with his feet
.Points with his fingers, perversity in his heart continually, devises evil, who spreads strife. Calamity will come suddenly.
.Instantly he will be broken and there will be no healing
v.16-19 Poetic emphasis. God hates the sin but loves the sinner. These aren't sins, they are sinners. Got hates the wicked. Makes grace all the more amazing. Christ died for sinners, not just sin.
v. 20-35 The theme of this section is the seventh commandment.
v. 21 Bind them continually on you heart. Always remember these things in your thoughts and heart.
v.22 Let them guide on your way through life. Always on your mind.
v.23 Commandment is described as a lamp. The teaching is the light coming forth from the lamp. Reproofs for discipline is the way of life.
v.24 Evil woman- adulteress- who has a smooth tongue.
v.25 Do not desire it and let it capture you. This is the first step that leads to adultery.
v.27-29 It is impossible to engage in adultery without suffering consequences for the actions they have done. Those who commit adultery will not go unpunished. It may not occur right away but they will get caught one day...
v.32 The one who commits adultery lacks no sense.
v.30-35 With a thief, they are able to repay for what he has stolen and paid more than that an extra amount on top of that. With an adulterer it is not possible to pay the person back. That person will always be jealous and never satisfied because you took that away from him.
This is what I have learned from Proverbs 6.
v.2-The person makes too many promises and is committed to too many things
v.3 says "deliver yourself" which means get released from the obligation.
v.6-19 talks about how the person should shun laziness.
v.6-8 Ant-mentioned only here and in Proverbs 30:25 in the Bible. It has no physically present leader, yet it works with initiative, diligence, and foresight which is in contrast to the sluggard.
v.9 Sluggard- slothful person. Does not begin things as seen because it says- "when will you arise from your sleep?" and "how long will you lie down?"
v.12-13 Body language- What I am saying has another meaning to it. Express dishonesty attributed to crooked speech.
A worthless person is a wicked man.
.Perverse mouth, winks with eyes, signals with his feet
.Points with his fingers, perversity in his heart continually, devises evil, who spreads strife. Calamity will come suddenly.
.Instantly he will be broken and there will be no healing
v.16-19 Poetic emphasis. God hates the sin but loves the sinner. These aren't sins, they are sinners. Got hates the wicked. Makes grace all the more amazing. Christ died for sinners, not just sin.
v. 20-35 The theme of this section is the seventh commandment.
v. 21 Bind them continually on you heart. Always remember these things in your thoughts and heart.
v.22 Let them guide on your way through life. Always on your mind.
v.23 Commandment is described as a lamp. The teaching is the light coming forth from the lamp. Reproofs for discipline is the way of life.
v.24 Evil woman- adulteress- who has a smooth tongue.
v.25 Do not desire it and let it capture you. This is the first step that leads to adultery.
v.27-29 It is impossible to engage in adultery without suffering consequences for the actions they have done. Those who commit adultery will not go unpunished. It may not occur right away but they will get caught one day...
v.32 The one who commits adultery lacks no sense.
v.30-35 With a thief, they are able to repay for what he has stolen and paid more than that an extra amount on top of that. With an adulterer it is not possible to pay the person back. That person will always be jealous and never satisfied because you took that away from him.
This is what I have learned from Proverbs 6.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Proverbs 5
Proverbs 5:1- Again the father tells his son to pay attention to wisdom.
Reasons are that you may maintain discretion and that your lips may preserve knowledge according to verse 2.
Proverbs 5:3 starts to describe the adulteress...
Lips-- drip honey (vs. 3)
Speech-- smoother than oil- I would think that means crafty with her words. (vs. 3)
Bitter as gall/wormwood (vs. 4)
Sharp as a double edged sword-- At first someone thinks they are going to be able to do it all in secret and not get caught but in the end it comes back to bite them. Reminds me of the problems Tiger Woods had been having. (vs. 4)
Feet go down to death (vs. 5)
Steps lead straight to the grave. Hebrew is Sheol. (vs. 5)
Gives no thought to the way of life. (vs. 6)
Her paths are crooked but she knows it not. Not sure what this means. Maybe it is how believers and unbelievers can not even realize that they are committing adultery when they just look at someone with lust. They don't realize that they are breaking one of God's commandment. She doesn't realize how lost she is. (vs. 6)
Father says to keep to a path FAR from her. (vs. 8)
They realize what they have done and it is already too late (vs. 12)
Lust leads to public disgrace (vs. 14)
Find contentment with your own spouse (vs. 15)
Springs=children. Should you have children through relationships with various women? NO! (vs. 16)
Healthy view of sex. Have sex only with the one who you are married to. (vs. 18-19)
Why should you be having sex with a foreigner or any other person that is not your spouse? (vs. 20)
The ways of a man are before the eyes of the Lord. God is always watching what we are doing. (vs. 21)
The wicked will die for his failure to heed divine instruction. (vs. 23)
This is what I've learned from Proverbs 5.
Reasons are that you may maintain discretion and that your lips may preserve knowledge according to verse 2.
Proverbs 5:3 starts to describe the adulteress...
Lips-- drip honey (vs. 3)
Speech-- smoother than oil- I would think that means crafty with her words. (vs. 3)
Bitter as gall/wormwood (vs. 4)
Sharp as a double edged sword-- At first someone thinks they are going to be able to do it all in secret and not get caught but in the end it comes back to bite them. Reminds me of the problems Tiger Woods had been having. (vs. 4)
Feet go down to death (vs. 5)
Steps lead straight to the grave. Hebrew is Sheol. (vs. 5)
Gives no thought to the way of life. (vs. 6)
Her paths are crooked but she knows it not. Not sure what this means. Maybe it is how believers and unbelievers can not even realize that they are committing adultery when they just look at someone with lust. They don't realize that they are breaking one of God's commandment. She doesn't realize how lost she is. (vs. 6)
Father says to keep to a path FAR from her. (vs. 8)
They realize what they have done and it is already too late (vs. 12)
Lust leads to public disgrace (vs. 14)
Find contentment with your own spouse (vs. 15)
Springs=children. Should you have children through relationships with various women? NO! (vs. 16)
Healthy view of sex. Have sex only with the one who you are married to. (vs. 18-19)
Why should you be having sex with a foreigner or any other person that is not your spouse? (vs. 20)
The ways of a man are before the eyes of the Lord. God is always watching what we are doing. (vs. 21)
The wicked will die for his failure to heed divine instruction. (vs. 23)
This is what I've learned from Proverbs 5.
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