My Morning Do . . . “Love”

~~ by tkbrown

21 September 2020 — Do you know the meaning of the word ‘love’?

I have decided to look at the meaning of the word ‘love’ this week. I already knew the Greek language embraces several different words in the expression of ‘love.’ I had thought I would first give the definition of ‘love’ from the Meriam-Webster dictionary and then cover the Greek definitions. However, when I opened Merriam-Webster to the word ‘love,’ I found more definitions for the word than are found in the Ancient Greek language. Ergo, since the New Testament of the Holy Bible was originally written in Aramaic Greek, I decided to cover those definitions first. Then, I will cover the English language definitions of ‘love’ later.

The Ancient Greeks identified six words which defined various definitional approaches of the word ‘love.’ Those words are:

  • Eros, or sexual passion . . .
  • Philia, or deep friendship . . .
  • Ludus, or playful love . . .
  • Agape, or love for everyone . . .
  • Pragma, or longstanding love . . .
  • Philautia, or love of self . . .
    • (Krznaric, 2013).

Throughout my lifetime, I have frequently listened as ministers of God’s Word and various speakers referenced the definitions of ‘love’ as applied by the Ancient Greek civilization. Those definitions have aided me many times over the years, not only in studying the New Testament, but also regarding life issues in general.

The reason I decided to look at the word ‘love’ is the same as the topic of today’s “My Morning Do . . . “Love”. More specifically, love as it describes God. I want to focus on four verses which just barely scrape the tip of the iceberg when describing ‘love’ as it relates to God. The first of these is Ephesians 5:1, which I present below.

Ephesians 5:1 — “Therefore, be imitators of God as dear children, (NKJV).

Ephesians was written to the Christians at Ephesus by the apostle Paul around 62 A.D. while imprisoned at Rome, (Wikipedia, Eds., 2020). The verse says we are to be imitators of God ‘as dear children.’ How often do we see young children imitating ‘Daddy’? As children of God, we are to do the same. Thus, it is necessary to know God pretty well. Searching the scriptures on ‘God’, we find multitudes of descriptors. So, I decided to narrow it down and start with three verses in 1 John 4:7-9:

  • 7 — “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.”
  • 8 — “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”
  • 9 — “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.”

The authorship of First, Second, and Third John is disputed among Bible Scholars. Therefore, I will not discuss this today. We can look at that later. Suffice it to say, the author saw a need to pen letters admonishing Christians regarding their love for each other. In this light, the verses presented above testify to the love of God. He states, “God is love.” Thus, to be the kind of Christian God wants us to be, it is necessary to understand the various definitions of ‘love’ and how they applied–or did not apply–to Christians to whom the letters were written.

When combined with all the other topics I am addressing in “My Morning Do . . . ” it will take a few weeks to cover all aspects to which I wish to relate my discussion, because I do not want to take away from my other topics. So, I look forward to meeting with you (in blogosphere) regularly to discuss these various topics related to ‘love’ in “My Morning Do. . . . ” With that, I bid you Adieu until the morrow!

Blessings to all!

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Sources:

Scripture References are from the Holy Bible — New King James Version (NKJV).

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Photo Above: from pexels.com.

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Jesus Talks with Nicodemus

John 3:2 — “This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, ‘Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.'”

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Scripture is from the Holy Bible — New King James Version (NKJV)

Notes on Scripture (below) by tkbrown

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Lesson Scripture — John 3:1-36

  • 1 — “There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.”
  • 2 — “This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, ‘Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.'”
  • 3 — “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.'”
  • 4 — “Nicodemus said to Him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?'”
  • 5 — “Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.'”
  • 6 — “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.'”
  • 7 — “‘Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again‘.'”
  • 8 — “‘The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.'”
  • 9 — “Nicodemus answered and said to Him, ‘How can these things be?'”
  • 10 — “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?'”
  • 11 — “‘Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness.'”
  • 12 — “‘If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?'”
  • 13 — “‘No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.'”
  • 14 — “‘And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,'”
  • 15 — “‘that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.'”
  • 16 — “‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.'”
  • 17 — “‘For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.'”
  • 18 — “‘He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.'”
  • 19 — “‘And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.'”
  • 20 — “‘For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.'”
  • 21 — “‘But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.'”
  • 22 — “After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized.”
  • 23 — “Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized.”
  • 24 — “For John had not yet been thrown into prison.”
  • 25 — “Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification.”
  • 26 — “And they came to John and said to him, Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified–behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!”
  • 27 — “John answered and said, ‘A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.'”
  • 28 — “‘You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him‘.'”
  • 29 — “‘He who has the bride is the bridegroom, but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is fulfilled.'”
  • 30 — “‘He must increase, but I must decrease.'”
  • 31 — “‘He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.'”
  • 32 — “‘And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony.'”
  • 33 — “‘He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true.'”
  • 34 — “For He who God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.'”
  • 35 — “‘The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.'”
  • 36 — “‘He who believes in the Son has everlasting life, and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.'”

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Old Testament Prophecy Related to John 3:1-36

v 8Ecclesiastes 11:5 — “As you do not know what is the way of the wind, or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, so you do not know the works of God who makes everything.”

v14Numbers 21:9 — “So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole, and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.”

v16Isaiah 9:6 — “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulder, and His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

v231 Samuel 9:4 — “So he passed through the mountains of Ephraim and through the land of Shalisha, but they did not find them. “Then they passed through the land of Shaelin, and they were not there. Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find them.”

v28Malachi 3:1 — “Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming, says the Lord of hosts.’

v29Song of Solomon 5:1 — The Beloved: “I have come to my garden, my sister, my spouse; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk (To His Friends) Eat, O friends! Drink, yes, drink deeply, O beloved ones!”

v30Isaiah 9:7 — “Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”

v34Deuteronomy 18:18 — “I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him.”

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New Testament Scripture Related to John 3:1-36

v 2John 7:50, 51

  • 50 — “Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus by night, being one of them) said to them,”
  • 51 — “‘Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?'”

v 2John 19:39 — “And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.”

v 2John 9:16 — “Therefore some of the Pharisees said, ‘This Man is not from God because He does not keep the Sabbath.’ Others said, ‘How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?’ And there was a division among them.”

v 9John 9:33 — “‘If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.'”

v 2Acts 10:36-38

  • 36 — “The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ–He is Lord of all–“
  • 37 — “that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached;:
  • 38 — “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”

v 31 Peter 1:22-25

  • 22 — “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,”
  • 23 — “having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,”
  • 24 — “because ‘All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away,'”
  • 25 — “‘but the word of the Lord endures forever,'”

v 5Acts 10:36-38

  • 36 — “The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ–He is Lord of all–“
  • 37 — “that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached;”
  • 38 — “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”

v 61 Corinthians 15:50 — “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.”

v 9John 6:52 — “The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, ‘How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?'”

v 9John 6:60 — “Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, ‘This is a hard saying; who can understand it?'”

v11Matthew 11:27 — “‘All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.'”

v11John 3:32 — “‘And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony.'”

v11John 8:14 — “Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I came from and where I am going.'”

v13Ephesians 4:8-10

  • 8 — “Therefore He says; ‘When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.'”
  • 9 — “(Now this, ‘He ascended’–what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?”
  • 10 — “He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)”

v14John 8:28 — “Then Jesus said to them, ‘When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself, but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.'”

v14John 12:34 — “The people answered Him, ‘We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up?’ Who is this Son of Man?'”

v14John 19:17, 18

  • 17 — “And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Galgotha,”
  • 18 — “where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center.”

v15John 6:47 — “‘Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.'”

v15John 3:36 — “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he wo does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

v16Romans 5:8 — “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

v17Luke 9:56 — “‘For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.’ And they went to another village.”

v18John 5:24 — “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.'”

v18John 6:40 — “‘And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life, and I will raise him up in that last day.'”

v18John 6:47 — “‘Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.'”

v18John 20:30, 31

  • 30 — “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book;”
  • 31 — “but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”

v19John 1:4 — “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.”

v19John 1:9-11

  • 9 — “That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.”
  • 10 — “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.”
  • 11 — “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.”

v20Ephesians 5:11-13

  • 11 — “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.”
  • 12 — “For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.”
  • 13 — “But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.”

v211 Corinthians 15:10 — “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”

v22John 4:1-3

  • 1 — “Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John”
  • 2 — “(though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples),”
  • 3 — “He left Judea and departed again to Galilee.”

v23Matthew 3:5, 6

  • 5 — “Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him”
  • 6 — “and were baptized by Him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.”

v24Matthew 4:12 — “Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee.”

v26John 1:7 — “This man came for a witness to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.”

v26John 1:15 — “John bore witness of Him and cried out saying, ‘This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.‘”

v26John 1:27 — “‘It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.'”

v26John 1:34 — “‘And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.'”

v26Mark 2:2 — “Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door, and He preached the word to him.”

v26Mark 3:10 — “For He healed many, so that as many as had afflictions pressed about Him to touch Him.”

v26Mark 5:24 — “So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him.”

v271 Corinthians 3:5, 6

  • 5 — “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one?'”
  • 6 — “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.”

v271 Corinthians 4:7 — “For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?”

v28John 1:19-27

  • 19 — “Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?'”
  • 20 — “He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, ‘I am not the Christ.'”
  • 21 — “And they asked him, What then? Are you Elijah?’ He said, ‘I am not.’ “Are you the Prophet?’ And he answered, ‘No,'”
  • 22 — “Then they said to him, ‘Who are you, that we many give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?'”
  • 23 — “He said: ‘I am The voice of one crying in the wilderness; make a straight the way of the Lord.’ As the prophet Isaiah said.'”
  • 24 — “Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees.”
  • 25 — “And they asked him, saying, ‘Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?'”
  • 26 — “John answered them, saying, ‘I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know.'”
  • 27 — “It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.'”

v292 Corinthians 11:2 — “For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”

v31John 3:13 — “No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.'”

v31John 8:23 — “And He said to them, ‘You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.'”

v311 Corinthians 15:47 — “The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven.”

v31John 6:33 — “‘For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.'”

v32John 3:11 — “‘Most assuredly, I say to you, ‘We speak what we know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness.””

v32John 15:15 — “‘No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.'”

v331 John 5:10 — “He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself, he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His son.”

v34John 7:16 — “Jesus answered them and said, ‘My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me.'”

v34John 1:16 — “And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.”

v35Hebrews 2:6-8

  • 6 — “But one testified in a certain place, saying: ‘What is man that You are mindful of him, or the Son of Man that you take care of Him?'”
  • 7 — “‘You have made Him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned Him with glory and honor and set Him over the works of Your hands.'”
  • 8 — “‘You have put all things in subjection under His feet.’ For in that He put all in subjection under Him; He left nothing that is not put under Him. But now we do not yet see all things put under Him.”

v36 John 3:16, 17

  • 16 — “‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.'”
  • 17 — “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.'”

v36John 6:47 — “‘Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.'”

v36Romans 1:18 — “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.”

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Notes on Scripture: by tkbrown

Nicodemus came to Jesus by night to discuss differences of opinion he had been hearing and to get some clarification on some specific points. Nicodemus is a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews. He told Jesus they knew He was from God because, if He were not, He would be unable to do the many signs and wonders. He also wanted to find out how he might become a part of the kingdom of God about which Jesus taught. Jesus told him,, “unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” This confused Nicodemus and he asked, “How can one who is old enter his/her mother’s womb and be born again.”

Jesus explained, one must be born of both water and the Spirit to enter the kingdom. He differentiated the fleshly birth from the Spiritual birth. He and John had been baptizing with water; so, this indicates one must be baptized of water and the Spirit. Nicodemus struggled to understand.

Using the example of wind blowing and the inability to “know” from whence it comes or where it goes, Jesus told Nicodemus it is not something one can fully understand. “It just is.” Still confused, Nicodemus said, “How can these things be?” Jesus referenced Nicodemus’ position in the Jewish community–teacher of Israel,”–and pointed out that he should know these things. He said, “I have told you earthly things which you do not understand; so, how are you going to understand heavenly things.”

Jesus proceeded to discuss His coming down from heaven as the same Son of Man who was then in heaven–meaning He was both places. He discussed the need to be ‘lifted up’–crucified–because God is not willing that any should perish but that all might have everlasting life. He explained, “God loves the world so much He sent Jesus to earth to die for every man/woman so their sins did not have to keep them from heaven. Everyone who believes He is the Son of God might, thus, enter the kingdom. Anyone who does not believe He is the Son of God has already condemned himself, or herself.” Then He repeated, “God’s desire is that every person be saved, so His coming to earth was never to condemn anyone– that condemnation is fully completed by every man or woman who does not go to heaven. The love of darkness and evil keeps the sinful from the light. Those who believe and adhere to truth live in the light. Their deeds are clearly seen–not hidden as those of persons preferring darkness.

After His meeting with Nicodemus, Jesus and His disciples went to Judea and remained there teaching and baptizing. Jesus taught; His disciples baptized. John was also teaching and baptizing not far away. He had not yet been imprisoned. The Pharisees were confused by the need for both John and Jesus to be teaching and baptizing. A dispute arose among them and some of John’s disciples who then took the matter to John for answers. John reminded them he had always told them there was One who came after him who was before him– whose sandal strap he was unworthy to loose. Finally, they specifically asked him if he was the Christ. John replied he was not. They asked if he was a prophet, or Elijah. Each time, John responded in the negative. They ultimately asked him, “Then just who are you that we might tell the true answer to those who sent us?”

John, using the example of the bride and the bridegroom, stated it is the bridegroom who has the bride, and the one who stands with the bridegroom is his friend. The friend is happy for the bridegroom, but once the bride belongs to the bridegroom, his friend must discreetly disappear. They mentioned that Jesus was now baptizing more than John. This, John explained as being God’s plan in that Jesus, having the testimony of God via direct contact, had certified that God is real and true. Thus, He would continue to increase in followers and John would steadily decrease and fade from the picture.

John then reiterated what Jesus had told Nicodemus. God sent His Son into the world to save everyone from their sins. God desired that every man and woman be saved and have an eternal home in heaven. Therefore, everyone who believes Jesus Christ is God’s Son has the opportunity to be saved. Those who do not believe He is the Son of God have already condemned themselves.

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  • Lesson One: Zacharias to Have Son
  • Lesson Two: Jesus Birth Foretold
  • Lesson Three: Zacharias’ Son, John, is Born
  • Lesson Four: Jesus is Born
  • Lesson Five: And Jesus Grew . . .
  • Lesson Six: John Begins His Ministry
  • Lesson Seven: Jesus is Introduced to the World
  • Lesson Eight: Jesus’ Ancestral Lineage
  • Lesson Nine: Jesus is Tempted by Satan
  • Lesson Ten: Jesus Begins His Ministry (Part 1)
  • Lesson Eleven: Jesus Begins His Ministry (Part 2) — Sermon on the Mount (Part 1)
  • Lesson Twelve: Jesus Begins His Ministry (Part 3) — Sermon on the Mount (Part 2)
  • Lesson Thirteen: Jesus Begins His Ministry (Part 4) — Sermon on the Mount (Part 3)
  • Lesson Fourteen: Jesus Begins His Ministry (Part 5) — Sermon on the Mount (Part 4 — Conclusion)
  • Lesson Fifteen: Jesus Turns Water to Wine — The Wedding at Cana
  • Lesson Sixteen: Jesus Heals the Sick, Casts Out Demons
  • Lesson Seventeen: Jesus Talks With Nicodemus

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Photo Above: by en.wikipedia.org.

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My Morning Do . . . “Blessings”

~~ by tkbrown

20 September 2020 — This morning, I decided to do a search for scriptures related to blessings we are to give others. This is the flip side of receiving blessings from God through Jesus Christ. The scriptures abound regarding blessings from God–a topic of which I needed no convincing. God Blesses me daily in some way–at least once a day! I am ever thankful to Him for that! The convincing I needed was regarding my certainty I had seen scriptures depicting ‘our blessings granted to other people.’

Thus, my reasoning for searching out scriptures related to blessings from us to others is based on the topic of us receiving Blessings from God. When Jesus came to earth, through His life, He left an example of how we are to live. Since He regularly proffered blessings upon others, it seemed to me we must proffer blessings upon others. After all, to be a “Christian” means to be “like Christ,” “Christ like,” etc. Christ was always in prayer to God, thus I try to “pray without ceasing” as the apostle Paul taught us. So, I began my search . . . .

I found three New Testament scriptures related to us offering blessings to others. What intrigues me, is: We are to bless “those who curse us, those who render us evil, and those who revile us.” This is so very intriguing to me. I would have thought we should bless those needing encouragement. Then, when I thought on it, these would be precisely the ones needing encouragement in order to learn to live like Christ lived. This says, I am to bless those who practice witchcraft. I am to bless those who practice all manner of evil–which is Satanic, and I am to bless those who revile me. In other words, whatever the form of persecution directed toward me, I am to deflect it with a blessing in return. This would say, too, when someone does or does not agree with me, I should bless them. So, I believe my tendency to end my comments and responses with “Blessings!” is not a put-down or telling you I am being persecuted. I believe it is to be received in the Spirit intended–which is: “I care about you and any sufferings you may be going through, thus, I am blessing you in hopes of minimizing any suffering you may be receiving. When I do this, God Blesses me! Amazing! Simply Amazing!

Thank You, Jesus, for such a simple message in a world of such complexity!

Below, I leave you with the three New Testament Passages I found related to us giving blessings to others. If you know of any I missed, please comment and let me know their location. Also, please comment below and let me know what you thing of “Blessings” extended as a Sign-off Salutation.

Blessings to all!

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Romans 12:14 — “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”

Luke 6:27, 28

  • 27 — “But I say to you who hear, ‘Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,'”
  • 28 — “‘bless those who curse you and pray for those who spitefully use you.'”

1 Peter 3:8, 9

  • 8 — “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous,”
  • 9 — “not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.”

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Photo Above: by sachbearbeitung at pixabay.com.

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My Morning Do . . . “Losses”

~~ by tkbrown
19 September 2020
Midst all the grieving and lamenting
with such intensity the heart doth ache.
Whom can I trust? The pain, the not feeling
is more than this old, feeble soul can take.
One disaster hits, and then another.
Before I can stand up straight, I smother
the screams of anguish inside, and I hide
the pain because my neighbor cannot find
half of her belongings. How can I scream?
I need to be strong and help mend the seam
the storm ripped open before something else
renders it irreparable. Immense
are the threats to my survival, but I
am not important right now, and I sigh--
deeply, longingly--and look to the sky.

There is death and dying all around me.
Ash and charred wood, far as the eye can see
and I wonder, how will it ever be
the same; and I just want to run, to flee
and forget the loss stretching, engulfing
all. No home, no  business, no feeling
to express the emptiness entrenching
the dried riverbed; ash coating, drifiting
between the stones--gray, forlorn, seemingly
afraid to hope for better day. Achingly
eyeing the chard remains, desperately
recalling beauty--incongruently.
This is not a scene one would ever want
to revisit. Even new growth could not
erase the scars, the memories so scant.

As I contemplated the losses our country
and my fellow-citizens have experienced this week--
from fires and storms,
I grieved with them--for them;
and I penned these words
as an expression of my condolences.

To those not suffering loss at this time,
if you are ever in the path of such powerful forces,
evacuate!

Leave hearth and home!
No material belongings are worth your lives!
This cannot be stressed too much. 

The country, the world is already reeling
from unfathomable loss,
and the grieving process has begun.

The five stages of grief:
Denial,
Anger,
Bargaining,
Depression,
and Acceptance
have begun.

No two persons experience them in the same order
or to the same depth.
Oftentimes more than one can be seen at the same time.

Therefore,
no two countries will experience them the same.

Denial is not yet past--for us--
here in America!
The Anger has begun,
mostly in the form of rioting,
looting,
violence,
and mayhem
focusing on other areas
rather than the death and dying
all around us
directly related to coronavirus--

in our families
and in society.

So, the Denial has not passed.
It is still going on
along with the Anger,
and some Bargaining.

Expressions of Anger are being blamed
on events not truly related
to society's loss from the pandemic.

It is hard to separate personal loss
from societal loss.

Is that even possible?
I don't think so. 

Be strong enough to feel--more than the anger!
Be strong enough to heal--more, more than yourself!
It will take introspection refueled
to collectively grieve and to rebuild.

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Photo Above: by Dylan Nolte @Unsplash.com.

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Source: Kubler-Ross, M.D. and D Kessler. (August 2014). “On grief & grieving: Finding the meaning of grief through the five stages of loss.” Scribner. New York. (16 September 2020).

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My Morning Do . . . “Loss and Grieving”

~~ by tkbrown

18 September 2020 — The loss being felt by every person in America is unmistakable, but indescribable. The amount of economic security that existed, for the most part, prior to the onset of coronavirus was more than ever known. A mental review of our nation’s good times–and bad– show an economy never so fully engaged with the world. Now, the trust linking countries and economies has been severed in many cases. Some–stronger–are weathering the storm, but so much worse for the wear. This loss is not limited to that of individuals within the country. This loss is of the country. Our nation is hurting right along with every citizen, resident, and alien. We are not alone in this loss. Every nation in the world is reeling with us.

The sheer number of deaths in the six months since the pandemic struck American soil are unprecedented. For many, there has been no time to truly grieve for want of trying to survive. Those in the health professions have been too busy trying to save lives to properly grieve losses in their private lives. The illness is so insurmountable, neither individuals suffering from the virus nor those caring for them have been spared the trauma of long-term suffering. Post traumatic stress disorder is a given for many of the survivors and for their caregivers.

Here in America, a “lockdown” perse could not be implemented. Such is the cost of freedom. Most other countries do not enjoy “freedom” to the extent Americans do. Our constitution engenders the right to refuse such imprisonment, and our citizens did just that. The consequence of that refusal has been the insurmountable death toll we are seeing because that refusal brought with it a spread of the virus not seen in other countries where true lockdowns could be enforced. Our government has told its citizens, “you are free to choose; so, you have the responsibility to choose wisely or suffer the undesirable consequences that accompany poor decision making”. The whole country has this freedom, and much of the country did not choose wisely.

The losses associated with preventive efforts, such as self-quarantine, has been the closing of many thriving businesses. Even with efforts to minimize the impact, the individual lives scarred by sacrificing all will never be the same. Jobs, businesses, schooling, production, productivity as a whole has been limited to such a degree it may take years to overcome the setback.

No one saw it coming. No one had a plan because there was no guidebook. Nothing outlined before even came close to including all losses being experienced today. It is a “one step at a time” endeavor. We have made mistakes, but much has been done right too. For every choice, there is a consequence. When we do not know what the consequence will be for a particular action, we make regrettable mistakes. However, we do not have the time to moan and groan over those mistakes, and we do not have time to point fingers regarding mistakes. No one is immune; everyone has made mistakes.

The blame game wastes precious time. It is a form of denial regarding the true severity of the situation. Our citizenry must stop the infighting and admit the feelings associated with the losses without hurting self or others. The anger being expressed in the violence and rioting must stop. It is hurting innocent people, and it is hurting those inflicting the harm.

These societal losses are experiencing the same stages of grieving seen in individual loss, but on a much larger scale. The anger is a symptom of being ready to address the underlying feelings. So, it is time to begin communicating those underlying feelings. To do this, it is necessary to understand the stages associated with grief. Our society, as we knew it, has died–worldwide–and it is left to us to pick up the pieces, one at a time.

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Photo Above: by Dylan Nolte @Unsplash.com.

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Source: Kubler-Ross, M.D. and D Kessler. (August 2014). “On grief & grieving: Finding the meaning of grief through the five stages of loss.” Scribner. New York. (16 September 2020).

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My Morning Do . . . 17 September 2020

The Supernova

~~ by tkbrown
The path to somewhere comes out of nowhere,
curves out of sight up beyond yonder bend.
Perchance twill meet a worthy source out there
with whom to ponder just how we got here
and destination just out past Land's End.

Perhaps there will be a quaint launching pad
from whence to be flung past each orbital
rung, far outpacing mechanical cad
where stars procreate amongst ironclad
components of every known mineral.

Out where the white dwarf stars dance side by side
until one pulls too hard, with a great 'kaboom'--
a new supernova's elemental glide
casts heavy metals in universe-wide
spectacular view--chemical mushroom.

This luminous dispersal from the core
of a massive star in nuclear fusion
or gravitational combustion for
white dwarf collapse with outside forces more
than internal mass--remnant explosion.

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Photo Above: by Alex K 83 @pixabay.com.

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Just a Note: by tkbrown

The cosmos, with all its mystery, is an uncharted frontier yet to be explored. Will man ever truly know all that makes these uncharted spaces, or will it be like studies of the human brain in which we have found: “The more we know–the more we know we don’t know.”

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My Morning Do . . . “Grief”

~~ by tkbrown

16 September 2020 — The world’s anticipation of the year 2020 was something of a phenomenon. The 1920s were known as “The Roaring Twenties.” Perhaps we were wondering if the 2020s would be remembered in similar fashion. As the year began, we were looking at a world where economic recovery seemed to take hold, then it began to grow. Hopping a flight to the other side of the world was as commonplace as a trip to the next state was in the Twentieth Century. The concept of the end of the year being less was not one the world could grasp. There was no anticipation for the grief that lay ahead.

Today, six months into the coronavirus pandemic, the United States is groaning with grief. The country is coping with grief from losses no one could have dreamed of as the New Year took hold nine months ago. Now there is loss of loved ones, loss of work, loss of family gatherings, loss of in person worship services, loss of businesses, loss of seeing school friends, . . . the loss of life as we knew it. The United states is not alone in these losses. In many ways, the world is groaning too.

There is also anticipatory grief for the loss possibilities which lie ahead. The questions are just under the surface in most minds: “What next? Will I lose a loved one? Will I get sick and lose my life as I know it? Will I die too?” Everyone is thinking these things, but few will admit it. According to Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler, the anticipation of future loss is a grieving process in itself.

Are you grieving a loss? Are you anticipating future loss? Both forms of loss create the need to grieve, but few will acknowledge the fact. “Hold your chin up!” “You will survive!” “Suck it up and go on!” “No one wants to hear you whine!” One or more of these statements–and others–are heard by most as the struggle to get through the death and dying around us goes on. People are exhibiting every stage of the grieving process, but few feel free to let it show. Grief is discussed so very little–even though it is happening all around. Most probably do not even recognize the symptoms.

I am not going to discuss the various stages of grief in this writing, but over the next weeks I will describe the stages and some of the societal symptoms of those stages. Even the violence seen in this country, and in others, is a symptom of societal grief. I believe it is time for us to look at the multiple sources of grief around us and begin to embrace the associated needs–in society and in our own lives. It is time to truly begin the grieving process for all of the losses we are trying so hard to pretend do not matter. They do matter! Our societal ills are saying if we do not allow ourselves to admit the reality of it all, human behavior will regress even more.

Yes, we must go on, but we must also stop and take some time to grieve the loss of a close family member and of other losses. The losses in areas of daily living as we once knew it need to be waded through. It is important to remember, “We must go on!” Somehow, we must pick up the pieces and patch them back together. We must, and we will, survive! This is ‘the scraps’ life gives us sometimes. So, feel it and move on.

Have a Blessed Day!

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Photo Above: by Dylan Nolte @Unsplash.com.

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Source: Kubler-Ross, M.D. and D Kessler. (August 2014). “On grief & grieving: Finding the meaning of grief through the five stages of loss.” Scribner. New York. (16 September 2020).

‘Old Souls’

~~ a Sonnet ~~

~~ by tkbrown
All of us are 'old souls' at heart--sometimes
--when we tire of tuning out mem'ry chimes
from days gone by when hearts and souls were young
with dreams where 'old souls' upon hopes were hung.
Our drift in night mist yields fleeting coup d'oeil.
Fetching rumination: "What is the deal?"
These souls--now old--wafting solo concept
of youthful observance fleetingly kept.
Just when we think we have accepted age,
up canters a grandchild--modern-day sage--
strumming and singing on our private stage;
reviving mem'ries from 'young souls' of yore
as magical wings proffer buoyant core
envisioning dreams, aspirations soar.

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Photo Above: freeimages.com

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My Morning Do . . . “Logical Reasoning”

~~ by tkbrown

15 September 2020 — While social distancing, by design, necessitates families spending more time together, time spent playing board games and other games strengthen a number of skills needed throughout life. Card games, checkers, Monopoly, Dominoes, Scrabble, and myriad others available for purchase online and in stores require players to look, listen communicate, and act. Decision making plays a large role in winning and losing.

In order to win at a game and in life, rules must be followed. It is necessary to pay attention to what is being done by all players. Math skills are needed in Dominoes, cards, Monopoly, Yahtzee, and others. Thus, when daily chores are completed, sit down together and play games. Communication skills improve because individuals discuss more when sitting together than when each is off doing his or her own thing.

It is imperative to be able to go out and function solo, but success also requires the ability to interact with others in a productive manner. Family mealtimes is an ideal time to increase discussion about the day’s events and any lingering concerns. Even when not spending so much time together, it is important to try and have one meal each day together. Sometimes this may require getting up a bit earlier, making breakfast for everyone so this can occur with all family members sitting around a table or in the same room eating and talking with no distractions.

When the pandemic is over, it will be important to continue these activities with family. Thus, you will be able to influence patterns of behavior with regard to decision making, problem resolution, communication skills, working–and playing–together. Television time and individual computer time can be adjusted to make time for these activities thereby teaching time management. All activities taken together as a family improve abilities to function in activities away from family. So, do not just work together at home, play together too!

Have a Blessed Day!

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Photo Above: by Tai’s Captures @Unsplash.com.

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My Morning Do . . . “Expectancy”

~~ by tkbrown

14 September 2020 — How has the coronavirus pandemic impacted your expectancy of things to come?

When COVID-19 struck with force in March and April of this year, each of us had expectations of things to come. Many were about to graduate–high school, college, grad school. A number of this group were in for great disappointment when announcements were made that graduation ceremonies had been put on hold. Then those ceremonies were backed up again, then again. Some were so upset by the loss, they scheduled their own ceremony, or party. When these events were held, scheduled at the spurious demands of those who had been set aside by the virus, and subsequent illness occurred, who was blamed but the system?

When shelter in place orders were given with guidelines of groups no larger than ten were violated and illness occurred, who was to blame but the system?

When self-quarantining grew old and monotonous, governing bodies were entreated to open beaches and bars. When those requests were denied, it was demanded. The bars were not reopened, but beaches were. Who, but the system, was blamed for resultant spikes in new COVID-19 cases?

Time passed, and it was determined the fall semester would see the reopening of colleges in some areas. As the Fraternities and Sororities began to gather–weeks before the first day of classes–COVID-19 parties were held. Did those students claim responsibility for the subsequent spikes in cases? No! Not a word was said, by the students or by the system, about those parties. Very little was said about the increases in illness–until now. Suddenly, people are blaming the student parties for the resurgence of pandemic illness. Now, who would have thought it? Wait until after the younger students are in classes to blame student parties for more cases of coronavirus.

It seems our expectancy has been a bit out of whack in recent months. Perhaps the extended quarantine is what brought the conundrum about, but we really were not quarantined for that long considering the extensive and extended ramifications of the illness. Perhaps our expectancy was impacted by expectations as they existed prior to the beginning of the pandemic. Whatever the reason, we have expected miraculous treatment rates and cure rates.

No system in the world has successfully controlled the pandemic. Some have fared better than others, but every country has experienced at least one resurgence by now. Some have experienced many. The United States consists of a huge land mass when compared to most other countries in the world. Most of our state areas compare with countries elsewhere in the world. When we look at individual states, many have had moderate success in limiting cases–some initially, others with regard to resurgence. How can our national health agencies accomplish anything without the support of state and local health agencies? How can any of these agencies succeed in minimizing cases if the constituents will not cooperate?

Our expectancy of the governing agencies in our country has become exorbitant. I realize I am only one voice in hundreds of millions. However, I see a need for the constituents to begin speaking out about this. I am begging all who read this to spread the word ‘responsibility.’ Take responsibility for your actions and try to healthfully influence the concepts of responsibility in those around you. Please, lets make it our goal to survive this pandemic by being more responsible in our response to the bacteria. It is a deadly disease! I pray we all will work together on this, for it is the only way we will minimize the destruction meted out by the time a vaccine and/or/treatment is in place. Love, not only your neighbor, but your enemy as well.

Stay Well! Have a Blessed Day!

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Photo Above: by Peggy Marco @ pixabay.com.

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