Mood:  accident prone

John 19:41, 42a  Now in the place where He was

crucified (to utterly distroy the flesh by using a pointed, upright stake; to stand immovable)

there was a

garden( A plot of land used for the cultivation of flowers, vegetables, herbs, or fruit. A delightful spot),

and in the garden a

new tomb (a fresh memorial, monument in order to remember something or someone)

in which no one had yet been laid (fixed, established).

So there they laid Jesus,...

Observation:

We can take a fixed and established stand in our faith in order to distroy our sinful inner selves. Like Jesus, we are laid/set in a delightful spot as we stand, pierced. We are given this 'spiritual garden place' in order that we can remember what God has done for us, refreshing and renewing the memories of these things in order to strengthen us.

Application:

When I am pierced by being changed, cleansed and tested, I can stand firm and fixed in the position of the 'delightful spot', the garden. Even in the pain of piercing, I receive refreshing memories of what God has done for me. Remembering these things brings renewed spiritual strength and hope and a searching for what He is teaching me through these new tests and trials.

Prayer:

The garden of memories that You give me is so beautiful. Refresh that garden in me daily, Father! Help my memories of our times together to be ever renewed in my mind and spirit in order to keep my spirit strong!

Mood:  lazy

John 18: 1 HAVING SAID these things, Jesus went out with His disciples beyond (across) the winter torrent of the Kidron [in the ravine]. There was a garden there, which He and His disciples entered.

Observation:

In the middle of 'Kidron' (a 'dusky place' during a 'winter torrent') Jesus took His disciples to a 'garden'. (dict. "A rich, well-cultivated spot or tract of country; a delightful spot.") Here, herbs, flowers and plants of many kinds, grew. It was a 'delightful spot' full of life, growth and things to eat to promote growth. Jesus took His 'pupils' to THIS spot during 'torrents'...troubled times. And in this place, we, His pupils, can still go during 'torrents'.

Application:

When life gets rough, I can ALWAYS go to the 'garden' that God has provided for us....in my mind and spirit. Here is the peace He brings, the growth and food He provides for us during troubled times. Jesus took His pupils there. In my spirit/mind, I am provided with this place, too. I just follow Jesus there.

Prayer:

Take me to Your garden, Lord. Remind me that You have provided the food and growth and peace I need to grow...in that place...even during troubled times.

John 17:23 I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one and perfectly united, that the world may know and [definitely] recognize that You sent Me and that You have loved them [even] as You have loved Me.

Observation:

Oh how we have messed this up! If God is in Christians, then why doesn't His love shine out in order that ALL can see it? Why doesn't the Love of Jesus flow out from us, drawing others? Because, we have failed in this. No, there is not unity in the Church. And we are far from where we need to be in order that God's love would flow out from us. Aparently, we really don't 'GET' this.

Application:

I, too, have lacked in loving others as God loves me. I, too, lack unity with the church. I just want to 'catch' this love and unity for others and be able to really shine it out. So, the question is, why haven't I 'caught' it? Am I truly on the right track? Searching, always searching....

Prayer:

Help me to find the REAL truth! What is the answer to Christian love and Christian unity? WHERE IS IT?

Mood:  d'oh

S.

Hebrews 12:13 (AMP) And cut through and make firm and plain and smooth, straight paths for your feet [yes, make them safe and upright and happy paths that go in the right direction], so that the lame and halting [limbs] may not be put out of joint, but rather may be cured.

O.

This scripture directs us to remove the obsticles from our 'walk/conduct of life' that causes us to 'vear off the right/straight path' and could cause us to 'limp' and become weak and spiritless. Having a 'rutted' path could cause us to 'trip up' and make us 'lame'. If we become 'lame' then it is harder to walk straight...we may 'favor' that leg and not be able to 'turn' from 'sin and error'. This would be because we have formed a 'habit' or a 'rutted course' that is a fixed routine in our life's course. We need to 'turn from that habit/fixed course, in order to get out of that 'rut' before we become 'lame'...and are unable to 'turn' because our 'rutter is broken'.

A.

When I am 'stuck in a rut', I get bored. When I have a same routine, I get bored and it causes me to think and act more desperate. This causes me to 'vear off the course' that God has given me. We are not to be 'rituolistic', doing things over and over in order to 'please God'. This is actually a 'habit' and not a good one. Life is full of change, and we have to change to be renewed. We are to get out of that 'rut' and watch out for obsticles that can cause us to trip up in our walk of life. We are to fill in those 'ruts' and make the path straight, so as not to come into sin and temptations. The 'ruts of life' can cause our 'rutters' to be broken.

P.

Father, You know me better than anyone! You know that I get stuck in the 'ruts of life'...causing me to be bored. I know that You set me here to help me crave change. I do, Father, crave the adventures You have for me. Keep me OUT OF THAT RUT, and without a LIMP! Heal my 'rutter', Father, as to keep me going on Your straight path of life!

Mood:  chatty

 (PERSONAL NOTE): Bringing hope to others by using God's Word is the job of every Believer in God. If our words are not trustworthy...if we don't follow through on what we say in order to show ourselves as trustworthy...then why would anyone believe us when we say God exists and He is the Bringer of hope? If OUR words don't stand up as truth, we are NOT telling the TRUTH of God to others...they just won't believe us!

S.

Hebrews 11:1,3 (AMP)   NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].

By faith we understand that the worlds [during the successive ages] were framed (fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose) by the word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible.].

 O.

Becoming certain and assured that something is trustworthy...this is the 'support' in which we can trustingly expect. This is the tried-and-tested-proof of the existance of some action that we do not understand.

Hope comes from trusting something. If we trust something, we stand on that as a foundation of truth...we rely on it and expect it to become true.

God's words created/prepared/restored eternity for us.

His words are creative, and if we trust His words...by proving them in testing...then we know this is truth. We then have hope in what God's words/His Bible says. We believe in and trust that He has told us truth and it raises our hopes for His promises/words to happen...His words that are producing and creating.

A.

My hope comes from trusting and being certain that something will happen...expectation in the trusting of something. God's words have created this world that I am standing in right now. If He said the 'word' and it happened when it comes to creating the universe, how much more can I trust Him for the little things that He said I could have...?

So, I am putting my trust in His Words. I am believing and having confidence and trusting in what He said I could be and could possess. I am hopeing in God!

P.

I trust You, Father. I have conficence in You. My hope comes from Your Words, those thoughts that You speak in order to create. I will speak Your words, Father, that my hope and expectations will be manifested. Thank You, Father, for Your hope!

P.S. Bringing hope to others by using God's Word is the job of every Believer in God. If our words are not trustworth...if we don't follow through on what we say and show ourselves as trustworthy...then why would anyone believe us when we say God exists and He is the Bringer of hope? If OUR words don't stand up as truth, we are NOT telling the TRUTH of God to others...they just won't believe us!

Mood:  bright

S.

Hebrews 10:32 (AMP) But be ever mindful of the days gone by in which, after you were first spiritually enlightened, you endured a great and painful struggle,...

O.

Be observant, repeatedly squeezing and handling, with your mind, the former, fixed, instrumentally positioned and pin-pointed spiritual insights that were meant for information and instruction, personally for you...found through the endurances of misfortunes, calamities, emotions and experiences..even mind-impressions...that you have endured, having not fleed or receded from them.

A.

Being mindful/sensitive of all harmful situations helps us to see what God is teaching us. These 'situations' are selected just for us to teach us where to be strong in the places that we are weak. Like rays of light, these 'calamities' are pin-pointed for us, illuminating our problem/weak areas in order that we will be made stronger. If we keep our minds focused on what God has taught us through troubles, in former times, then going through NOW-troubles, will help us get through them easier. 'Chewing' on that 'ray of light' will help us become mindful of the 'whys' of new trials.

P.

Help me learn quickly what You, Father, have illuminated in that ray of light for me. When I go through 'troubles', remind me that it is for my spiritual education. Keep me mindful of that, Holy Spirit!

Mood:  happy

S.

Hebrews 8:10 (AMP) For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will imprint My laws upon their minds, even upon their innermost thoughts and understanding, and engrave them upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

O.

This is God's expressed wish with regards to the disposal of His property after death...that He will transfer by giving and positioning His wishes to His 'Dwelling Place/Temple/US'.

He will do this jus before the 'Light'/Jesus comes. This is the time when sin is abstained and 'darkness' leaves.

God says He will furnish/give, as a gift, His 'Perscription for living here on Earth'...His Law...to His those who are His 'kin'.

He will do this by OVERLAYING His way of thinking, feeling, understanding, desiring and imagining OVER THE TOP OF His 'kin's' minds/souls (the seat of our intelligence, will and character).

He will then exist as a God to us (His 'kin').

We will then exist as His 'kin' to Him.

A.

By rubbing a pencil over paper that sits on a rock, we get the impression of that rock. This takes pressure and friction, along with the tools to use in order to capture that impression.

This is what God does to our minds/souls when we decide to accept Him as our God. He changes our way of thinking, feeling and imagining...our will and character...into what He desires for us. This is His 'will & testiment' for us, since we are now dead to sin. We die, and His will & testiment is overlayed onto our mind/soul...just as the 'Rock rubbing'. It takes time, pressure and a desire to get that 'impression'. But we can have the exact 'overlay' that God has designed for us IF we stick to it and keep that 'picture' in our mind...IMAGINE IT!

P.

Thank You, Father, for the Mind Overlay! Help me to imagine what You imagine, see what You see...and rub, rub, rub!

Mood:  amorous

S.

Hebrews 7:14, 17 (AMP)For it is obvious that our Lord sprang from the tribe of Judah, and Moses mentioned nothing about priests in connection with that tribe. 

For it is witnessed of Him, You are a Priest forever after the order (with the rank) of Melchizedek.

O. 

It is obvious that Jesus was set into the job of finishing the 'valueing, thanking and approving' of God. Moses' words germinated nothing (made nothing sprout or grow) concerning what is beyond having the 'authority to act in the name/character of God' (Priesthood).

(17) For he was a witness, having seen, heard or experienced this authority, when he said, "You are one who has authority to act in the name/character of God...FOREVER...having arranged and distributed us in the same position as the 'King of Righteousness'.

A

Jesus came to finish the job of revealing God's value to us. He came to show us what we needed to do to BE what God created us to be in the first place.

Then Jesus showed us that we have the authority to act in the same 'character/attributes/traits/abilities' as God by KNOWING who God is, His character, abilities, personality, etc...intimately.

How can we BE like someone if we don't KNOW them intimately?

Through Jesus, and submitting to Him, we can KNOW God and have a intimate relationship with Him. In knowing God and His Son, we are to imitate who they are. We become their 'priests', acting on their behalf here on Earth.

 P,

The only way I can be Your 'rep', Father, is to know You personally. Show me how to come closer to You, Jesus, in every step I take here on Earth. I can't BE like You without KNOWING who You are!

Mood:  celebratory

S.

Hebrews 6:19,20AMP) [Now] we have this [hope] as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whoever steps out upon it--a hope] that reaches farther and enters into [the very certainty of the Presence] within the veil, 

O.

within the veil

A.

"The soul clings, as one in fear of shipwreck to an anchor, and sees not whither the cable of the anchor runs - where it is fastened: but she knows that it is fastened behind the veil which hides the future glory."

P.

Thank You Father for Your Anchor of Hope! You thought of everything!

Mood:  hungry

S.

Hebrews 5:14 (AMP) But solid food is for full-grown men, for those whose senses and mental faculties are trained by practice to discriminate and distinguish between what is morally good and noble and what is evil and contrary either to divine or human law.

O.

The spiritually mature person, got that way by making a habit (by practicing over and over) the discernment of what is spiritually useful and what is spiritually useless; what is spiritually valuable and what is spiritually destructive. This is achieved by meditating on what is questioned. The thing in question has to be exposed and made naked and then vigoursly thought out. It is then discerned whether it is spiritually useful or harmful, vaulable or destructive.

A.

I'm always looking for what feeds my spirit full. If it is bad in any way, then it has to be taken out of the way of my spirit.

My spirit can not grow where there is obstructive things. What is good, spiritually, will have growth and result in fruit. This is how I can discern what can stay in my life or what has to go.

P.

Holy Spirit, be BIG in me. Help me to spiritually KNOW what produces fruit in my life. I want a FAT SPIRIT! I pray the fruit that produces joy and contentment. These are my spiritual quests...REAL SPIRITUAL FOOD!