Category Archives: Sunday

Today’s Word – Temple “Walk”

Posted on January 16, 2022 | Leave a comment

1 Kings 6:11 Now the word of the Lord came to Solomon, 12 “Concerning this house which you are building, if you will walk in my statutes and obey my ordinances and keep all my commandments and walk in them, then I will establish my word with you, which I spoke to David your father. 13 And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.” RSV

Let me tell you how I’ve chosen to cherry pick this verse lest you imagine something far deeper.  1 Kings in the BibleGateway word search returned the most hits in the Old Testament for “walk:” 23 from this one book.  This passage was one that used the word “walk” more than once.  I am like a tourist, if you will, I’ve found one attraction to look at in this new place but I’ve got the whole chapter to walk me though what to see.  

Solomon is exercising his heart, his creativity and his wallet to build this structure.  The central part of this historic house, built for the Lord, was essentially a stand-alone sanctuary surrounded by many other rooms. I am thankful to have been compelled by my cherry picking to walk through this chapter and notice two things. The construction is unique in that the supporting beams of those external rooms were not directly tied into the structure of the sanctuary. Instead those beams rested on a ledger board much like we’d construct a deck against a house today, tied together but not an integrated part of each other.  That’s interesting. The chapter is filled with explicit details of the construction and grandeur of the structure EXCEPT for these 3 verses, and that’s interesting too.

The word of the Lord came to Solomon
concerning this house
IF
you will walk in my statutes
and obey my ordinances and
keep all my commandments
and walk in them,
THEN
I will establish my word with you,
I will dwell and will not forsake my people.

Amid all the verses filled with mind-blowing details of how luxurious this structure was, then, there was still not an integrated connection between the sanctuary and those outer rooms of the temple.  God has used my cherry picking to help me see how IF has become the reality of THEN, now.

IF Jesus, THEN the statutes, ordinances and commandments are established as the permanent, integrated connection between the sanctuary and those outer rooms and this is the fruit of reality now “concerning this house.”

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God?”
1 Corinthians 6:19

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Today’s Word – Work

Posted on January 9, 2022 | Leave a comment

There’s an important qualifying phrase Jesus spoke in that last passage I used from Matthew 11:28-29, The Message, that made the words “walk, work and watch” important: [with me].  OK, I admit this whole theme is going to be cherry picking Scripture and versions too.  I had some anxiety about that until I remembered this is THE Word of God.  It’s the baseline of truth and the reality of guidance for every day of life and it’s all fruit! That’s what I want you to trust.  I trust that the Holy Spirit is going to personally administer the application of His Word to each of us as needed.  

Colossians 3:23-25
Servants, do what you’re told by your earthly masters. And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t cover up bad work.  MSG

We understand the definition of work.  It’s our individual activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to produce, to provide and to preserve our position.  Work is a job, but Jesus promises you confidence that your individual activity involving mental or physical effort [with me] is the work that will produce, provide and preserve your position and inheritance with HIm.

Work [with me] from the heart
for your real Master, for God.
The sullen servant who does shoddy work [with me]
will be held responsible.
Being a follower of Jesus
doesn’t cover up bad work [with me].
The ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ.

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“New” Year’s Revolution

Posted on January 2, 2022 | Leave a comment

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”  Matthew 11:28-30 MSG

These words of Jesus are meant to be very personal but personal is different than private.  This is the year in which my husband of nearly 63 years was killed in a tragic accident, and life continues despite the confusion of learning all the things I must now do alone, AND, life is still impacted by a relentless pandemic.  The temptation has been to let grief lure me into believing that isolation must be like rest, right?  Not so!  Over this last year I have learned a “new” thing about the reality of grace.  The less private I’ve allowed my awareness of grace at work in my life to become, the more personal it has become to me.  

In this “New” Year of my life I am not relying on a New Year’s resolution, but on the revolution of recovery that Jesus offers me keeping company with Him and other people of faith.  We can learn to live the “unforced rhythms of grace,” together, walking and working with Jesus, watching how He does life so we can make living “freely and lightly” both personal and possible.  I hope you will join me in this New Year’s Revolution to “recover your life” and to “take a real rest.” Love, Shirle

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To Put the World Right Again

Posted on December 26, 2021 | Leave a comment

He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him. John 3:16-18 MSG

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Poetry by the Book – Galatians 6:1-10

Posted on December 19, 2021 | Leave a comment

Poetry: Literary work in which special intensity is given to the expression of feelings and ideas by the use of distinctive style, rhythm and structure.a 


Brethren,
bear one another’s burdens
and so fulfil the law of Christ.
He who sows to the Spirit
will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
So then,
as we have opportunity,
let him who is taught the word share all good things
with him who teaches.
Let us do good to all men,
and especially
to those who are of the household of faith.

God is not mocked!
Whatever a man sows,
that he will also reap.
He who sows to his own flesh
will from the flesh reap corruption.
If any one thinks he is something,
when he is nothing,
he deceives himself.

Do not be deceived.
Look to yourself,
lest you too be tempted.
Let each one test his own work.
Each man will have to bear his own load,
then his reason to boast will be in himself alone
and not in his neighbor.
Let us not grow weary in well-doing,
for in due season we shall reap,
if we do not lose heart.

a My poetry structure was created from the RSV Bible using sentences and phrases verbatim.

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Poetry by the Book – Galatians 5:1-15

Posted on December 12, 2021 | Leave a comment

Poetry: Literary work in which special intensity is given to the expression of feelings and ideas by the use of distinctive style, rhythm and structure.a

You were running well!
Who hindered you from obeying the truth?
If you receive circumcision,
you who would be justified by the law,
you have fallen away from grace.
You are severed from Christ!
Christ will be of no advantage to you.
I wish those who unsettle you would mutilate themselves!
He who is troubling you will bear his judgment,
whoever he is.
But if you bite and devour one another,
take heed that you are not consumed by one another.

Do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
For in Christ Jesus
neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of any avail.
Every man who receives circumcision
is bound to keep the whole law.
A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
In that case
why am I still persecuted?
The stumbling block of the cross has been removed
if I, brethren, still preach circumcision.

I have confidence in the Lord
that you will take no other view than mine.
For freedom Christ has set us free.
We wait for the hope of righteousness,
through the Spirit, by faith;
faith working[made effective] through love.
You were called to freedom, brethren.
Do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh.
Through love be servants of one another.
The whole law is fulfilled in one word—
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 

a My poetry structure was created from the RSV Bible using sentences and phrases verbatim.

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Poetry by the Book – Galatians 4:8-20

Posted on December 5, 2021 | Leave a comment

Poetry: Literary work in which special intensity is given to the expression of feelings and ideas by the use of distinctive style, rhythm and structure.a


Brethren, I beseech you.
Become as I am, for I also have become as you are.
I bear you witness,
I preached the gospel to you at first
because of a bodily ailment.
My condition was a trial to you.
You did not scorn or despise me.
You did me no wrong,
but received me as an angel of God,
as Christ Jesus.
You know
you would have plucked out your eyes
and given them to me
if possible.

Formerly, when you did not know God,
you were in bondage to beings that by nature are no gods,
the weak and beggarly elemental spirits,
whose slaves you want to be once more.
I am perplexed about you!
What has become of the satisfaction you felt?
You observe days, and months, and seasons, and years!
Have I then become your enemy
by by telling you the truth?
I am afraid I have labored over you in vain.
They (the Judaizers) make much of you,
but for no good purpose.

You have come to know God,
or rather to be known by God,
for a good purpose.
It is always good to be made much of
and not only when I am present with you.
My little children,
until Christ be formed in you,
I am again in travail!

a My poetry structure was created from the RSV Bible using sentences and phrases verbatim.

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Poetry by the Book – Galatians 3:19-29

Posted on November 28, 2021 | Leave a comment

Poetry: Literary work in which special intensity is given to the expression of feelings  and ideas by the use of distinctive style, rhythm and structure.a

Why then the law?
It was added because of transgressions,
till the offspring should come
to whom the promise had been made.
If a law had been given which could make alive,
righteousness would indeed be by the law.
Is the law then against the promises of God?
Certainly not!

Scripture consigned all things to sin.
We were confined under the law,
kept under restraint until faith should be revealed.
It was ordained by angels through an intermediary.
An intermediary implies more than one.
God is one!
The law was our custodian until Christ came,
that what was promised to faith in Jesus Christ,
might be given to those who believe.

Now that faith has come
we are no longer under a custodian.
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ
have put on Christ.
You are all sons of God,
through faith.
There is neither Jew nor Greek,
neither slave nor free,
neither male nor female.
You are all one in Christ Jesus,
heirs according to promise
that we might be justified by faith.
You are Abraham’s offspring,
if you are Christ’s!

a My poetic structure is created verbatim from the sentences and phrases of Galatians 3:19-29 in the RSV Bible

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Poetry by the Book – Galatians 3:1-14

Posted on November 21, 2021 | Leave a comment

Poetry: Literary work in which special intensity is given to the expression of feelings and ideas by the use of distinctive style, structure and rhythm.a

Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified
before your very eyes.
Are you now trying to finish by means of  the flesh[sinful state of human beings]
after beginning by means of the Spirit?
Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law,
or by believing what you heard?
You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?
I would like to learn just one thing from you:
are you so foolish?
Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? 

So again I ask,
does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works
of the law or by your believing what you heard?

Scripture foresaw
and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham
that God would justify the Gentiles by faith.
Abraham “believed God
and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
Those who have faith are children of Abraham.
Those who rely on faith are blessed
because “the righteous will live by faith.” 

The law is not based on faith.
All who rely on the works of the law are under a curse.
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law.
He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus,
so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

a My structure created verbatim from the sentences and phrases of the NIV Bible.

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Poetry by the Book – Galatians 2:1-10

Posted on November 14, 2021 | Leave a comment

Poetry: Literary work in which special intensity is given to the expression of feelings and ideas by the use of distinctive style, structure and rhythm.  

After fourteen years
I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas.
I took Titus along also
meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders
in response to a revelation.
I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles.
I wanted to be sure I was not running,
and had not been running, my race in vain.

Some false believers had infiltrated our ranks
to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus
to make us slaves.
Yet not even Titus, who was with me,
was compelled to be circumcised
We did not give in to them for a moment,
so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved.

God does not show favoritism
for those who were held in high esteem.
They recognized
I had been entrusted with preaching the gospel
to the uncircumcised
just as Peter had been to the circumcised.
For God,
at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised,
was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles. 

Those esteemed as pillars,
they agreed.
James, Cephas and John,
gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship
when they recognized the grace given to me.
We should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised.
The very thing I had been eager to do all along
was that we should continue to remember the poor.a

a NIV scripture used

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