People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.  When Jesus saw this, he was indignant.  He said to them, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. 

And He (Jesus) took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

I couldn’t help but think about the importance of loving  physical touches as we read the scripture passage this morning.  When my Hubby and I teach “The Five Love Languages” by Gary Chapman, we always spend some extra time talking about physical touch (this is one of the five love languages in which we give and receive love).  Mark 10:16 is always the scripture we use to talk about the importance of gentle, loving physical touch.  Physical touch can communicate love or hate.  I’m sure you understand what I mean.  Physical touch can be kind and gentle or it can be forceful and painful. For the person whose primary love language is physical touch, this is extremely important. 

As we teach about the five love languages, we always practice each love language.  For the love language of physical touch our practice symbol is called “Bear Hug ~ Have You Hugged Your Honey Today”.  Each person gets a piece of paper with instructions on it.  The instructions are an explanation of the importance of gentle loving physical touch, then we ask participants to “Hug” their Honey when we say “Go”.  When we pass out the practice symbol instructions we ask everyone to read their instructions personally and not to share while  they are reading.  It’s so cute to watch each couple give “Bear Hugs” when we say go.

Today, if you know someone who has or is experiencing the opposite of loving physical touch please pray for them.  If you haven’t hugged your Honey or your kids today, GIVE THEM A BIG LOVING BEAR HUG!   Put your hands on them and bless them.

Enjoy the remainder of your Silent Sunday.  Shhhh…..take the time to be quiet with The Lord!

Take nothing with you, except your staff

Wear sandals, but not an extra tunic

Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town

If you are not welcome and no one will listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them

Mark 6:7-11

They went out in obedience to The Master, and dependence upon the His strength and authority…

Mark 1:1-8

“The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  It is written in Isaiah the prophet:  I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way.  A voice of one calling in the desert, Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.  And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him.  Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.  John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.  And this was his message…”

“After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.  I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

“The great promise Christ makes in his gospel to those who have repented, and have had their sins forgiven them, is, they shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost; shall be purified by his graces, and refreshed by his comforts. We use the ordinances, word, and sacraments without profit and comfort, for the most part, because we have not of that Divine light within us; and we have it not because we ask it not; for we have his word that cannot fail, that our heavenly Father will give this light, his Holy Spirit, to those that ask it.”  Quote from Matthew Henry’s Commentary

U is for Un-eventful

N is for Nothing To Do But Rest

D is for Doing Tomorrow’s Work~Tomorrow, Not Today

A is for Allowing Myself To Rest

Y is for Yielding My Will To The Lord

Hey, it all sounds good to me.  Enjoy your Silent Sunday!

He Is Glorified and We Are Blessed

We Are Placed In A Position To Hear Him

He Clarifies The Vision and Desires Of Our Hearts

The More We Wait Upon Him ~ The More We Grow To Be Like Him

We Learn That His Ways and His Timing Are Perfect

Song of Ascents

The Song of Ascents is a title given to 15 of the Psalms, 120-134.  They are also called Gradual Psalms, Songs of Degrees, Songs of Steps or Pilgrim Songs.  Probably, the origin of this name (Song of Ascents) is because of the circumstance that these Psalms  were sung by the people on the ascents going up the Temple in Jerusalem, and/or by the priests as they ascended the steps to minister at the Temple.

Regardless of the origin, these Psalms are worship songs as the Temple was neared. Many of them are cheerful, and all of them are hopeful.

“In my distress I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me.”  Psalms 120:1

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.”  Psalms 121:1

“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.”  Psalms 122:1

“Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.”  Psalms 123:1

“Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”  Psalms 124:8

“They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth forever.”  Psalms 125:1

“The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.”  Psalms 126:3

“Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it..”  Psalms 127:1a

“Blessed is everyone that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways.”  Psalms 128:1

“The Lord is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.”  Psalms 129:4

“Lord, hear my voice; let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.”  Psalms 130:2

“Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty; neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.”  Psalms 131:1

“We will go into his tabernacles; we will worship at his footstool.”  Psalms 132:7

“Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”  Psalms 133:1

“Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord, which by night stand in the house of the Lord.  Life up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord.  The Lord that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.”  Psalms 134:1-3

Lift Up Your Hands ~ Bless The Lord

Amen!

Psalm 118:5

Psalm 119:32

Psalm 119:45

Luke 4:18-19

John 8:32

John 8:36

2 Corinthians 3:17

Galatians 5:1

Ephesians 3:12

The 23rd Psalm

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.  He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.  You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.  NIV 

To understand the 23rd Psalm, you must be acquainted with the shepherd, you must understand the nature of sheep, and you must understand the relationship between the shepherd and his sheep.  Quote by my Pastor, B Holman

The Shepherd provides, protects and prepares, for His sheep.  The Shepherd always guides His sheep onto righteous pathways, and at life’s end, the Shepherd’s sheep will dwell in His house forever.  Quote by my Pastor, B Holman

If you do not know the Great Shepherd (Jesus Christ), I encourage you to visit the Do You Know Jesus page on my blog.  Jesus is the only Shepherd you need, to protect you and provide for you. 

Psalm 19

Verses 1-6 ~ The heavens, themselves, proclaim that they are the Glory of God and the work of His hands.  Observe, that the creator is all powerful to the ends of the earth and the heavens.  Nothing is hidden from Him and His Glory.

Verses 7-11  ~ The Holy Scriptures

The law of the Lord is perfect ~ reviving the soul

The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy ~ making wise the simple

The precepts of the Lord are right ~ giving joy to the heart

The commands of the Lord are radiant ~ giving light to the eyes

The fear of the Lord is pure ~ enduring forever

The ordinances of the Lord are sure AND altogether righteous

These are more precious than much pure gold ~ are sweet than honey from the comb

By these laws, statutes, precepts, commands, fear of the Lord, and ordinances we are warned; in keeping them, there is GREAT REWARED!

Verses 12-14 ~ Pray for the benefit of all these things

Lord,

Forgive my hidden faults

Keep me from willful sins, that they may not rule over me ~ so that I may be blameless and innocent of great transgression

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer ~ Amen!

We are overcomers by…

AND

Revelation 12:11