Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem
Today, I have three little stories to tell, and they all have the same theme which relates to today's Scripture portion.
1. The huge, beautiful clay pots were very low in price at the yard sale, and would make perfect features for the front walkway. Some gravel for the bottom, potting soil, and some palms, and VOILA! Instant Landscaping! The intricate glazed designs on the huge pots complimented the Spanish-Style stucco facade of the house, and was a lovely aesthetic upgrade. But, alas, the palms died, and so did everything else that was planted in the pots. They had no holes in the bottom, so the water that went in could not come out. The potting mixture soon became stale and poisoned anything that was planted in it.
2. The Dead Sea in Israelis fed by the Jordan River, which also feeds the Sea of Galilee (Kinneret) far to the North. Unlike the Galilee, however, the Dead Sea has no southern outlet for the water to pass through to somewhere else. hence, the water that goes in, does not go out, but sits there, evaporates, and leaves behind a salty, poisonous soup.
3. My sister bought a house that adjoined her property, because the reclusive man who was building it was so negative to his neighbors that his wife nearly died of loneliness. During a particularly harsh winter, when all the neighbors helped each other out, the man stood aloof from all around him, adding to the wife's isolation. They moved out, selling the property "AS IS" at a considerable bargain. When my sister and her husband obtained the property, they found the walls lined with bookshelves, full to bursting with RELIGIOUS Books.
The theme of these three stories (all true!) is the same. In the first chapter of the Epistle of James, we are told
"22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."
The Pot, the Dead Sea, and the Recluse all were receivers, but none were channels for the blessings they received.
Now, you may think that Today's passage from Exodus (and ones to follow,) are merely repeats of the previous one. Here we see the Ark, The Tabernacle, and the Furnishings mentioned AGAIN in detail. What happened? Did the pages in my Bible get mixed up or duplicated?
On closer examination we see that the previous mention of these items were the instructions and patterns for these sacred items. Now we are reading of the construction and production of these items, in obedience to God's Word. It is, Indeed, Being "doers of the word, and not hearers only".
Come and Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.
God Bless America!
Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.
This Symbol Represents Christians in The Middle East, who desperately need our Prayers.
Hallelujah and Amen
ML/LTOS